Chapter 1

Tiannah woke up to a body on top of hers.

"Agh! Ollie! Get off!" she yelled. Her best friend and rival, Oliver Wood, had decided to wake her up extra early for Quidditch practice.

"Get up Tiannah! It's a beautiful day!" Oliver said to the sleepy girl. Tiannah and Oliver were both ten years old and 100% Quidditch obsessed. Oliver was part of a small Quidditch league, founded by his favourite team, Puddlemere United. The aims of the league were to improve Quidditch skills. Oliver, with his tall body and quick reflexes, was very suited to being a Keeper. Tiannah, on the other hand, was quick, agile and her aim was impeccably superb. Thus, the spot of the Chaser was suited to her. After much grumbling, Tiannah finally got up and dressed into suitable playing clothes.

"So," Oliver began, as they reached a playing field, "are you excited about going to Hogwarts?"

In six months time, Oliver and Tiannah would be starting their magical education.

"Yeah! But my parents told me that you don't get picked for the Quidditch teams until second year," Tiannah replied, feeling slightly gloomy.

"It gives us time to observe the teams' train, which could be useful for us," Oliver reasoned.

Three months later, Tiannah was sitting on a blue couch, her legs crossed and holding a mug of tea. Her mother sat down and started to talk to her in a serious tone.

"Tiannah, after some consideration between your father and me, we have decided not to send you to Hogwarts."

Tiannah cried in outrage.

"Why? You know I have been waiting to go there my whole life!"

She was very confused. Why did her parents suddenly have a change of heart?

"Sweetie, we know. But we are going to send you to The Salem Witches' Institute, in America." Tiannah's mother chose her words carefully, as she could feel her daughter's anger rising rapidly.

"America! America!" Tiannah shrieked, her blue eyes brimming with tears.

"I know that you are angry, but this school brings marvelous Quidditch opportunities. Part of the tuition money we would pay would go towards a private Quidditch tutor. In The States, there are more team agents, so when your schooling is over, chances of getting onto teams are higher," her mother said, trying to console her daughter. Tiannah considered this for a moment. She loved Quidditch, and this way, her dreams of getting onto her favourite team, the Holyhead Harpies, were higher. Nevertheless, she would miss Oliver, and how dare her parents not mention this earlier!

"I need to see Oliver," Tiannah said, getting up and stretching.

Oliver heard a knock on his door and went to answer it. Tiannah stood on the threshold, looking pale.

"What's wrong?" Oliver asked, concern in his warm brown eyes. Tiannah was thinking of how she would phrase the news. She and Oliver had been talking about going to Hogwarts together for years, and now, all those hopes had been crushed. "Can we go to the place?" Tiannah asked, referring to the lake they had found two years previously

"-And so my Mum tells me, three months before, that I'm not going to Hogwarts!" Tiannah said angrily.

"So you're not going to be with me," Oliver said, looking upset.

"Nope," Tiannah replied, staring into the clear, beautiful lake. Oliver put his arms around her.

"Well, let's make the most of the time we have together," he said, grabbing Tiannah's hand and leading her to the lake. Oliver took off his grey cotton shirt and ran into the lake.

"Come on!" he beckoned in his Scottish accent. Tiannah smiled and took off her shirt, leaving herself in a white singlet. She ran into the water and pushed Oliver over, smiling. He shoved her back in retaliation and she feel into the cool, soothing water.

The day came when Tiannah left to go to The Salem Witches' Institute. Her term started a week before Oliver's did. When all of her possessions were packed, she walked downstairs to meet Oliver. The Scottish boy was looking upset that his best was going away for a year. Tiannah was feeling equally upset. He ran up to her and hugged her tightly, his warm arms comforting Tiannah immensely.

"I'll write to you. Every day," Oliver whispered.

"I will too," Tiannah replied, tears sparkling on her cheeks.

"And if The Institute let first years onto a Quidditch team, you will be the best bloody Chaser there is!" Oliver said, completely honestly.

"Thank you Oliver. It means a lot to me," the upset brunette girl replied, quickly pecking Oliver's cheek.

Tiannah arrived at The Salem Witches' Institute twelve hours later, after taking the Salem plane. A tall young man with blue eyes and black hair greeted the eleven year olds who came from Britain.

"Welcome to the Salem Witches' Institute. You have all arrived from Britain, yes? Well, most of the girls here are from America, but you will all settle in fine," the man said, taking in the appearance of the new girls. "You will be sorted into rooms, based on your preferences. Quidditch will be played against two nearby schools. Your bedrooms will hold five girls, who must be in your year level. My name is Professor Harvey, and I teach potions," Professor Harvey stated. "So, the common room is that way for first years, so just follow the people heading there now," the Professor concluded, pointing at a group of American girls. Tiannah grabbed her suitcase and heard a British voice. "Are you excited?"

Tiannah nodded.

"The name is Hestia," the British girl said, sticking out her hand. Hestia had dark blonde curls, green eyes and tanned skin. She contrasted largely to Tiannah, who had dark brown hair that only curled at the ends, bright blue eyes and pale skin. She thought that Hestia was very pretty. After a few minutes, they reached the first year common room. "Wow..." Hestia said in awe. Tiannah was equally impressed. The common room was massive. Its walls were a rich purple, and the furniture was the same shade, with black velvet trimmings on every piece of furniture. A fire was roaring in the hearth. Overall, it looked like a cozy place to stay. The dormitories were decorated in the same elegant manner.

"Well, do you want to sleep in this dorm together?" Tiannah asked Hestia nervously. To her relief, Hestia nodded enthusiastically. Hestia found a few other girls from America with whom she bonded with.

"Hello! What's your name?" one raven-haired American asked.

"Tiannah Summers," she replied, smiling brightly, hoping that she would make a good first impression. The raven-haired girl introduced herself as Calista Perkins. The two other girls, Sally, a shy girl, and Lilliana, a smart and bookish girl, chose beds on the left side of the room, next to each other. Calista chose the middle bed and Hestia chose the bed next to her. Tiannah chose the bed on the other side of Hestia. The brunette started unpacking her items, admiring her mahogany wand, with unicorn hair core, and set it on her bed.

"Wow. He is cute!" Hestia said, as Tiannah placed the picture of herself and Oliver, with their arms around each other's shoulders, on the wall. The photo was a moving one, taken days before she left. Tiannah scrunched up her nose.

"Ollie? Really?" she said, looking at Hestia.

"Yeah! Is he your boyfriend?" the blonde girl asked, her bright green eyes glinting.

"Ew! Nah, we are just best mates. We have known each other since we were babies," Tiannah replied, rolling her eyes. People had been asking Oliver and herself that question for years. The thought of dating each other was a funny concept to both Tiannah and Oliver. There had never been anything but friendship between them both, and they intended for it to stay that way.

Oliver was going through his Hogwarts textbooks, when there was a tap on his window. His features broke into a grin when he saw Athena, Tiannah's snowy owl. He missed Tiannah a lot. There was barely a day when they had been apart since they were babies. Even when they were apart, they had never been countries apart.

"Hello, Athena!" Oliver greeted the bird, who hooted in return. Oliver took the letter from Athena and opened it.

Dear Oliver,

Hello from America! The Institute is so cool! Firstly, I have made some friends. My best friend here is Hestia Lawrence. Honestly, she is the most eccentric person I have ever met. She's from Britain, but apparently she was 'too good looking to go to a school called Hogwarts'. Well, that's what her parents said. Anyway, campus is cool. Every year level has up to 150 girls, and each year level has their own common room. There are also dorms, each holding 5 girls. Ten prefects sleep in a large dorm so we don't do anything wrong, and it stays like that until 5th year. The prefects also are captains of the young Quidditch teams, as they are in 5th year. For Quidditch, each year level verses their matching year level from The Salem Wizards Institute and the Lastrygonian Witchcraft and Wizardry Academy. So, the prefects, as I said, are captains of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd year teams, until we are old enough. So, I can do Quidditch this year! But out of 150 first years, there are two teams formed, each one alternating every second match. Not everyone is chosen, so there isn't a big chance that I will get on a team. Oh, and senior students can go in groups to World Cups! Anyway, we were having a tour of The Salem Wizards Institute, and I kid you not, the whole time Hestia was saying how every guy was cute and crap like that. She even said you were cute, and, surprise surprise, she asked if we were dating. Anyway, how are you? Well, I had better go.

Missing you,

Tiannah

Oliver smiled at the letter and began to compose a reply.

God, I miss her, he thought. I wish she were here with me. Then we could go to Hogwarts together.

Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. Any names, places or objects that you do not recognise belong to me.

Author's Note: I know that the first chapter wasn't very interesting, but things certainly pick up. Please stay tuned because my writing gets better. I am writing this note as I finished the story, so I know.