I'd been working at the Ministry of Magic for nearly two years after graduating from Hogwarts. It was a job my parents secured for me, being that they were already employed in the department of International Magical Cooperation. It was a well paying job and I was happy for a while, but I began to get bored. I wanted to explore my options outside of magic. As I stepped off the plane in Boston, I was very excited to see what life in the Muggle world would be like. I hadn't travelled to another country before, so being in the U.S. was new to me. I was still waiting for my hearing to catch up with me from the plane ride. I yawned, popping my ears for the seventh time. I'd flown a broom plenty of times, but I'd never been inside one of the Muggle contraptions they call airplanes. The end of summer air was warm and welcoming as I made my way to luggage claim. I kept my eyes peeled for the sign that would reveal my host family as I waited and watched a machine that rotated, people grabbing their suitcases as they came into view. I couldn't wait to move into my dorm and start the school year. I never dreamed of the day I would graduate from Hogwarts, and I never thought that afterward I'd decide to go to Muggle college. It was all so new to me. I constantly had to remind myself not to pull my wand out of my pocket, because I knew I wasn't amongst witches and wizards. When finally my two suitcases came into sight, I pulled them off the conveyor belt and started to make my way towards a place called Starbucks, where I was told by my host family they'd be waiting for me when I arrived. I had to learn how to get used to cell phones as well; I'd purchased one in London before coming over, and would sometimes forget how to answer the damn thing. I knew I was going to be accompanied by another exchange student, who I was informed was also from Europe. All I knew was that his name was Dustin Manning and I was curious to meet him, as we were both going to attend the same university. I thought it odd that this host family was taking in two students, but apparently they didn't have any children of their own, so perhaps it was their way of getting a sense of what it would be like. I ran my hand over my ponytail, wanting to make sure I looked almost as fresh as I had before getting on the plane. I jumped when something vibrated against my leg. I looked around a minute and then remembered that I put the cell phone in my pocket. I laughed at myself and then picked it up.
"This is Angelina Johnson," I answered.
Mr. Grayson spoke, "Oh, are you here yet? I think your flight should have arrived about twenty minutes ago," he said. His voice was friendly, as I remembered it.
"Yes, I just got my luggage. I'm making my way towards Starbucks. I see it now, actually," I said, approaching the green sign.
"I think I see you!" Mr. Grayson said, loud enough that I could hear him not far from where I was walking. I looked about and saw a man standing beside a woman who was smiling, scanning the crowd in search of me. She was holding a sign that read my last name. Her bright red hair reminded me momentarily of George and I thought about home. Hogwarts was the farthest I'd ever been from home until now.
"Oh," I said, putting the phone back into my pocket as I approached Mr. Grayson. He was a rather tall man with dark brown hair and matching eyes that had a faint glint in them as he looked down at me.
"Welcome to the United States, Angelina," he said, extending his hand. I shook it and his wife put down the sign she was holding on a table behind her, where someone was sitting with a hot cup of coffee.
"Pleasure to meet you," I said smiling. Instead of shaking my hand, Mrs. Grayson hugged me. Already, I began to feel at home. I laughed.
"Oh, you look great for such a long flight!" she said. "Welcome to Boston, dear."
"Dustin, come meet your fellow exchange student," said Mr. Grayson, turning around to speak to the person sitting at the table. I really looked at the man for the first time. He was sitting so that I could just make out his profile, but as he stood up and started towards me, I almost turned around to get back on my plane and fly home to England. It was none other than Draco Malfoy.
"What the hell?" I muttered under my breath, quietly enough that neither Mr. Grayson, nor Mrs. Grayson heard me. Draco's eyes were wide for just a second before he took a few steps, making his way between the Graysons.
"You're both from London?" Mr. Grayson asked.
He himself had some sort of accent that I found curious to listen to. Draco's visage was out of the Grayson's view and he glared down at me before extending his hand with a fake as folly smile on his face.
"Pleasure to meet you, er…" he trailed off.
"Angelina Johnson," I said, returning the glare.
"What did you say your name was? Oh, right, Dra—"
"Dustin Manning," he said, squeezing my hand for a painful second.
"Right, yeah. Nice to meet you," I said. I closed my eyes for a second, hoping I was still en route in the sky and that this was all a very strange dream, but when I looked, Draco was still there looking down at me, an eyebrow sky high as if to ask me what I was doing there.
"We've been a host family for three years now. Thankfully there are two of you so moving in should be much easier. More hands," said Mr. Grayson cheerfully. I wanted to die.
