Hello all & welcome to my second fic!

This fic might look familiar because I posted it once before… but when I went back and re-read it… I wasn't happy with how juvenile and amateurish it was written. So, I tweaked it a bit and here it is, revamped and ready to go. [revised as of 9-22-18]

I'm having a lot of fun re-writing this so I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter in any way, shape, or form, but I do own Rihanna Hale (Rain), her father Samuel (Sam) and any of her extended family who won't appear until later!

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The move & the meeting

Rihanna is a 14 year old, American, Navy Brat, who also happens to be a witch. She is what would be considered a "half-blood", because while her mother was also a witch, her father's a "no-maj" (meaning a person with no magic). While she wouldn't describe herself as a supermodel, she knows she's not exactly average looking ether. Like all teenage girls, she has her insecurities, but she also has enough confidents in herself to keep from developing any sort of complexes about them... Rihanna is five foot six and is usually mistaken for a 17 year old. She has healthy pale skin, wavy-auburn hair that falls to the middle of her back, and blue eyes that change shade with her moods (electric-blue when happy, gray-blue when sad, and midnight-blue when angry). They also turn black when it's time for her to take her tonic (which you'll find out more about that later).

What is most important about Rihanna at the moment, is that she is unhappy. We're talking 'my social-life is over' level teenage broodiness here. Even the weather helped to accent her mood by soaking the gray cityscape in a seemingly never-ending drizzle.

"I still don't see why you have to be restationed!" Riana huffed in frustration at her father as she sat sulking in the passenger seat of her dad's silver, 1993 Vauxhall Astra. She pressed her forehead against the window to farther punctuate her obvious teenage angst she felt about the current situation they'd found themselves in.

"I've already explained this to you a hundred times, Rainy." Her father, Samuel, responded with a sigh that managed to express both guilt and frustration at the same time. "I've been promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer… all the positions were taken up back home so they're sending us to England. An E-9 honey, you know how long and hard I've worked for this position."

" But why did they have to move us now? I've already started my 5th year at Ilvermorny, meaning I just had the trace taken off. My friends and I have plans for the weekends and break sessions already. Don't even get me started on all that hard work and practice I put in over the summer for the Wampus House Quodpot team... completely wasted!"

"You can still use that foo network thing can't you?"

Rihanna snapped her head back towards her father's side of the car to be sure that he caught the dramatic eye-roll that she performed at his expense.

"Floo network dad, and yes I can, but cross-continental Floo powder is expensive.

"Cross-continental?" he gave her a funny look.

"Ok, that's not what it's really called, but it's just a little…. Well…. a lot stronger than regular floo powder. So, yeah, more expensive."

"Ok, so why is the 'trace' going to be a problem?" He asked to humor her.

"Dad! In America, they take it off at 16, but you can take a test to have it taken off early. Sort of like a magical learners' permit. I took the test this past summer and passed." She tried to explain with as little tantrum in her voice as she could manage at the moment. "In Europe, they don't take it off until you're 17, no exceptions. I don't want to have enjoyed a short while of freedom only to have it not only taken away again, but also extended an extra year!" She groaned in frustration. "The European magical schools are so medieval."

Samuel gave her a warning look.

"Sorry, I meant 'schools for the gifted'." She scoffed.

Her father sighed tiredly, changing his look to one that was more apologetic.

"Rainy, you know I'm not prejudice against the magical community, I did marry your mother after all, but you have to remember, we're a military family. I'm not having you snatched up to some lab to have God-knows-what experiments and dissections done to you and your friends."

"You know the magical community wouldn't let that happen right? Besides, you and I both know that the government's higher-ups are well aware that people like me exist. We're only supposed to keep the secret from all the no-majs and for that matter, I seriously doubt that any of them can hear me from inside the car."

He suddenly looked sad. "I'm sorry, I'm just being a little over cautious. It's just... I promised your mother before she died... and you know that you get your overdramatic side from me..."

"It's all right, dad, I'll be more careful." She couldn't stand it when he looks like that and the thought of her mother's death still made the both of them cry. They didn't need that right now.

"That's all I ask, hun." Trying to change the subject he added… "By the way, I spoke to your principal about your transfer; she's taken care of everything. Apparently, there are three really good schools in Europe- "

"Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, and Hogwarts." She finished for him.

"Right, and since you don't speak Hungarian and you're not a boy, the first second one is out and even though you do speak French and I would have personally prefer it, I knew you'd never forgive me if I sent you to an all girls school... so there went the first one. Besides, Hogwarts is in Scotland, so it will be easier for you to come visit me whenever you want... well, on holidays that is."

Rihanna nodded along in agreement until that last bit, where her eyes went wide in worried confusion.

"Wait! What do you mean 'visit' you?"

"Well, Hogwarts isn't a day school like the ones back home. It will be like going off to college." He said reassuringly, trying to stave off any potential fit she might jump into.

"Don't try to sugarcoat it dad!" She snapped in bewilderment. "You're saying I'm being sent to a full-on boarding school! I bet they make you wear a goofy uniform and give you a curfew and cut you off from the world too."

"You're such a drama queen, Rain. Oh, and I think I was told they ware robes or something like that there."

"WHAT?!"

"Robes." He reiterated slowly, with a teasing smirk.

"What'd I tell ya'? Bunch of medieval crazies still stuck in the dark-ages!" She groaned in annoyed misery.

Her dad gave a small chuckle, unable to help the amusement he felt at the sight of her childish pouting.

"I bet it's like a prison. I bet they restrict your magic to classroom use only. I bet the student body is full of pureblooded jerks who think they're better than everyone else."

"Drama queen." He muttered under his breath. "Honestly, Rain, I think you're over reacting and Ithink, you'll love it there... eventually. Just give it a chance. Mrs. Cromwell assured me that the campus is magnificent. She's friends with the headmaster, Albus-something or other- "

"Dumbledore? THE Albus Dumbledore?" Rihanna gasped in awe.

"I take it you've heard of him?" Samuel prompted with a smirk, glad that something seemed to finally cheer her up a bit.

"He's only one of the most amazing wizards alive!"

He gave her curious look.

"I know, I know, fan-girl moment. Don't go thinking I'm suddenly ok with all of this because of it though." She warned him.

"Just give it time... I'm sure it's not as bad as you think." He smiled at her.

"Whatever." She huffed, sinking lower in her seat, trying to get back into proper brooding mode.

They continued their drive in mutual silence for a while before Samuel caught her attention again. Rihanna could tell by his body language that whatever he was about to say was on a more serious note.

"By the way….. did you remember to take your tonic today?" he asked slightly worried. "Your eyes are looking a little dark."

"Yes." She sighed in a bored tone. "I'm just a bit peeved."

Conversation ended, the two went back to their own thoughts and the car filled once again with the sound of silence.

Riana and her father had been driving around London for the past several hours before Samuel finally spotted what he'd been searching for and pulled the car over.

"Here we are! Odd…. This is the right address, but it looks like a rundown pub that's been out of business for years." He said, looking confused.

Riana sighed. "It's bewitched dad, to keep no-majs away."

"Right, I knew that."

She couldn't help but smirk at him. After all these years, her dad still hasn't fully grasped the whole 'it's magic' concept. The two then gathered up all of her belongings to head inside. Knowing now that her new school was more of the long-term type than her old one where she had at least been allowed to return home on the weekends, explained why her father insisted that she pack so much in the first place.

"Well, after you." He prompted a bit unsurely(though trying to hide it).

She rolled her eyes and stepped inside warm establishment were she and her father immediately drew the snooping attention of several of the customers who were already settled inside. Her stomach rumbled a bit at the delicious smell of food drifting in from the back.

"Hummm, well what do ya' know, it is a pub," Samuel mused while surveying the room with a new-found interest before glancing down at his watch. "Ok, this Dumbledore guy should be meeting us here any moment now."

Rihanna was actually excited about meeting the world-renowned wizard... knowing she would have him for a headmaster was making her jump up and down on the inside. She looked around the room, eagerly searching for him. In her search, she noticed something odd about the way everyone was dressed.

"I guess the school's not the only place people ware robes." She thought out loud. 'no wonder they're staring at us…. It's like we've stepped back in time.' She continued the thought in her head.

Technically, they weren't all warring robes. Some were even warring regular clothes… if you could call them 'regular'. They were miss-matched with crazy designs and odd colors. She was so busy taking it all in she didn't even hear her father calling for her attention.

"Ahum." Someone cleared their throat behind her making her whip her head around.

Her eyes went wide… there, standing next to her father was Albus Dumbledore.

"Holy snap! I'm so, so, so sorry sir. I-"

"It's quite all right Miss Hale." He shook their hands and smiled. "Now, If you and your father will follow me, we can convene back in my office."

"Yes Sir." Rihanna and her father said in unison.

"This way." he led them towards the fireplace. "I trust your trip was pleasant?" he asked.

"Same old, same old." Rihanna sighed with a hint of boredom.

Dumbledore raised a questioning eyebrow.

'Crap…I finally meat one of my idols and I come off as rude' She chided herself in her head before trying to explain... "Well, what I mean, Sir, is that it was no different from any of the other times I've had to pick up my life and rearrange it to suite the whims of the U.S. government. I'm use to it." She sent an accusing look at her father. 'I suppose that was still rude too, but it's the truth...'

"Now Rain, you know it's not like that." Her father chastised, giving Dumbledore an apologetic look. "Now you can see one of the many reasons they're called military BRATS." He emphasized the last word.

Dumbledore gave a small chuckle. "It's quite all right."

Riana flicked her dad in the arm making him smirk.

"Now," started Dumbledore, prompting them to continue on their way, "we're going to have to use the floo network to get to my office. Chief Hale, are you all right with going along with me?"

Samuel tensed. He was never happy with ridding along with his wife ether. The green flames and weird sensation always freaked him out.

"Yeah, ok, sure thing." He agreed looking a little queasy.

"All right then, Miss Hale, your father and I will go first and then you will follow. Just say 'The Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts', yes, that should do it."

She gave a nod.

"See ya' in a sec, dad!" she smirked.

She knew her dad hated traveling this way.

The two men stepped into the fireplace. Dumbledore said, "My Office", dropped the floo powder and FWOOSH! They were gone. At the last second, Rihanna saw her father clench his eyes shut making her chuckle a little at his expense.

"Some Chief… what a goober." She laughed.

She then loaded her bags and luggage into the fireplace before stepping inside herself.

"The Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts." She dropped her floo powder and FWOOSH! In a swirl of green flames, she felt a jerk as her feet left the ground for a few seconds and then she touched back down in another fireplace. When she stepped out, her mouth dropped. Her father walked up to help with her luggage. She leaned over to him and whispered, "This has to be the most crazy awesome office I've ever seen!"

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Well, there's the first chapter! Sorry it's so short, but I hope you liked it… the next one will be up as soon as possible… I'm working on several fics at once so I'll be trying to spend equal amounts of time on all of them!

You can check out the other ones, of cores, by visiting my profile!

Comments are welcome but no howlers of doom please!

Until next time...