A/N: The following people are NOT dead (the deaths really upset me and since this is my story, I can bring them back if I wish): Sirius, Dumbledore, Snape, and Fred. I might bring more people back later on, but as of now, this it.

Chapter One

Taylor's POV

Things hadn't been the same for the last month. Not since my dad was offered a job at the Ministry. The war had done quite a number on everyone. Even those who weren't in the direct line of fire. Even though we lived in Baltimore, Maryland, we were hit with reverberations from the war and even a few Death-Eaters had the gall to show up at our house. I thought my dad was gonna have conniption when the two hooded figures showed up at our house stating we needed to go through 'testing' to make sure our blood was 'pure' enough for their 'new' world.

Luckily, mom was visiting with her sister in Utah at that time. Who knows what could've happened if they found out my mom was a muggle. We got lucky though. When they came to our house and gave us our 'call date', the war was pronounced over two days later and mom came home the day after that. A week later, dad was offered a job in London and we were set to move the next month.

"Everything'll be fine, Taylor. Hogwarts is a wonderful school. Some of the worlds greatest wizards attended Hogwarts. Not to mention your great grandmother went there and always said she would've liked for me to attend as well." dad told me as we sat on my bed the night he told me I wouldn't be going back to Timberwood for my seventh year. I'd heard a lot about the famous wizarding school. Especially after the infamous battle that took place on the school grounds.

"But, dad, what about everything we've worked for here? Everything we have here?" I asked, still not wanting to believe what I was hearing.

"I know this is hard on you, sweetie, but this is for the better. It'll be good for us to get into one of the larger wizarding communities. Trust me." he said and kissed me on the head before getting up to leave my room. He paused at my door for a moment and turned around to look at me again. "I am sorry about when we're moving. I didn't intend for the date to be your birthday." he said and with an apologetic smile, left me to my thoughts. Laying back on my bed, I sighed. I had one more year till I graduated!

I opened my eyes when I felt something jump onto my bed and then rub up against my knee. Sitting up, I smiled down at the cat mom had gotten me when I got my letter to attend Timberwood. He was a pure white Ragdoll with, as result of a spell that went wrong in Transfiguration third year, black spot of fur on his right eye. "What do you think about all this, Apollo?" I asked and he only purred and rubbed up against my hand. "You're not much help." I mumbled and continued to run my fingers through his fur until there was a knock on my window.

Getting off my bed, I walked over and opened the window to let the owl in. The owl flew in and landed on my desk, dropping a letter. Apollo hissed at the owl and the owl flapped its wings and squawked in return. "That's enough." I said, picking up the letter.

To: Taylor Andramida Hawkins (Baltimore, Maryland)

From: Headmaster Dumbledore of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Dear Ms. Hawkins,

I'm pleased to hear that you will be transferring to Hogwarts. It has been quite some time since we've had an exchange student and I'm looking very forward to meeting you. I would just like to inform you that upon your arrival, you are to meet with me personally and I shall have you sorted into a house before you begin your classes. Once sorted into your house, they will become like your family. Also, I have received your transcript from Timberwood and have placed you into the classes that you had signed up for your old school, with the exception of Muggle Mathematics, that has been swapped with Arithmancy. You shall receive your official schedule at breakfast on the 2nd. I hope you find your last year of schooling at Hogwarts to be enjoyable.

Yours truly,

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

With a sigh, I dropped the letter onto my desk. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out an owl treat and gave it to the bird and then a pat on the head. "Thank you." I said and the bird gave a squawk before flying out the window. "Of course I wouldn't be able to take my best class. What the hell is Arithmancy?" I mumbled and walked back over to my bed. Instead of sitting on it this time, I dropped to my knees and leaned on the bed so I was face to face with Apollo.

The cat only yawned and went back to his nap, curled up on the edge of my bed. Giving him a quick kiss, I stood up and made my way downstairs. I immediately regretted doing so when I found my parents packing. "Taylor, there you are, sweetie. Could you get me that stack of books on the counter?" mom asked when she saw me at the base of the stairs. Without a word, I walked over and grabbed said stack and took them over to her. "Is everything alright, sweetie? You look a little pale." she said, brushing my red bangs out of the way so she could feel my forehead.

"I'm fine, mom. Really. Just a little tired." I said and kneeled down to put the books in the box. "Are you sure?" she asked and I smiled at her once I stood back up. "Of corse. Like I said, just tired." I reassured her and she nodded. "Alright. Oh, you got a letter from Ellie. I set it on the counter for when you came down." she told me and I nodded. Heading into the kitchen, I saw the stack of mail from the day and went to sort through it so I could find the letter.

"Are you sure this is what's right, John?" I heard my mother ask and I couldn't help but eavesdrop. "It's not like we have a choice, Gwen. It's either we stay here, where there's no work for a wizard like myself, or we go to London, where I'm promised a job with the ministry." I heard my dad reply. I knew the reasons we were leaving was because the wizarding community in America was one of the worst in the world.

Deciding not to eavesdrop on my parents anymore, I found the letter mom had told me about and headed back upstairs to my room.

A/N: Leave a review please! I'd like to know what you think so far!