Chapter One: Meet Gabby

I always loved looking in mirrors. When people first heard that they always thought I was stuck-up or snobby. But I wasn't. I didn't like to look in mirrors for reasons of vanity, but to try to figure out exactly who I was. I had never been able to figure myself out. I could tell easily what others were thinking, but my own mind was an enigma, it couldn't figure itself out.

Perhaps this love of mirrors is what attracted me to my next favorite thing: the ocean. Specifically, the warm, sunny southern California Pacific. My family was undoubtably the most prestigious wizarding family in California - on the entire West Coast, in fact. My father, Kevin Marshall, was the head of the American Ministry of Magic (AMoM)'s West Coast division; he managed everything magic-related that went on in California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada. My mother, Serenity Hayes-Marshall, was the daughter of a rich Floridian wizard, and she was the magical socialite du jour in wizard California. We had a lot of money, and we lived in a huge, luxurious beach house in Malibu with my sister Angelique, my brothers Mason and Greg, baby Harmony, and a veritable army of house elves. Me, Angelique and my brothers went to Malibu Magical Day School. The best part, however, was the beach. Oh, the beach. Toward one end it was sunny, and there were a few cabanas, lounge chairs and a deck on that side. But over to the other side - that was the place I loved. It was rocky, with tide pools, full of life, each one a little world of its own. I would flit from pool to pool, immersing myself in the life, the vibrance, in each little pool. When the tide came in I would climb onto the flat rock which my parents named Gabrielle's Rock, stretch out on my towel, and read or just lay there, listening to the cries of the seagulls and the soft lapping of the waves. I could stay there forever.

My mother said that my eyes were the color of the sea. It was true, they were a deep, ocean blue, exactly the color of the wild, yet inviting Pacific. They were my father's eyes, and my hair was a deep golden blonde. It fell straight almost to my waist, curling at the ends. I rarely cut it, it didn't need much maintenance. I was fourteen years old, tall and slender (I was 5'6" and only weighed around 100 pounds), with skin that was perpetually tanned, long, slim, shapely legs and B-cup breasts. Every time I went into town to do some shopping or go to school, guys asked me out. To the movies, to the park, to get some ice cream, just to make out (those were the most annoying ones.) I always said no. Hopelessly romantic as it seemed, I still firmly believed in true love conquering all. And I wasn't about to squander my life away with boys who only wanted me for physical reasons.

It was mid-August, nearing the end of a long summer of reading and relaxing on Gabrielle's Rock. That's my name, by the way. Actually, it's Gabrielle Serenity Marshall, but most people call me Gabby. On this particular day, I was extremely sad. For, you see, today would be my last night at home. Tomorrow I would be leaving to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was one of the best wizarding schools in the world, and lots of wealthy American wizards sent their children there. My father had gone there, and he was sending me there to "get a good magic-based education." Even though MMDS was a good school, it wasn't tailored to the needs of someone of my social background. At least according to Dad. So I was going away to rainy, dreary Scotland. Sure there would be vacations, but I wouldn't be able to do my homework in the calming lull of the waves anymore. It was twilight, and the milky gray light was just beginning to replace the purples and pinks of sunset. I was straing dremily out the window, at the waves crashing on the beach, when I heard a knock on the door. "Come in," I said loudly. Freda, one of our house elves, came in.

"Miss Gabrielle, your mother said that dinner is ready on the terrace." I thanked her and went down to the terrace overlooking the ocean. We were having sushi, my favorite, tonight, to celebrate my going-away. I'm leaving! Yay! Sarcasm! My parents plastered big fake smiles on their faces throughout the whole meal, while my siblings unrolled the little maki rolls and Harmony spilles soy sauce on her white shirt. Finally, I couldn't take it any more. "Mother, can I be excused?" I asked. My parents exchanged glances but my mother finally said "Yes, Gabby."

I went out onto the beach. On my way out, I caught my reflection in the hall mirror. I was wearing my favorite sky blue tank top, it was the same color as my eyes, with a pair of white capri pants. I slipped on my white flip-flops and ran outside. I climbed up onto Gabrielle's Rock, getting my feet wet in the process, it was high tide and the water swarmed around my favorite rocks, eclipsing the tide pools. It saddened me to think that the next time this happened I would be in London, rainy, gray London, so far from home. I knelt down and unfastened the gold chain around my neck. It had been given to me when I was a baby, and there was a diamond pendant hanging from it. It had been charmed so that I could open it and put things in it, but no one else could. I opened it up and scooped up some of the warm, salty seawater. I closed the locket and held it against my heart. Now, even when I was far away, I would have part of home with me. Then I ran up to my room, got ready for bed, and climbed into my hammock outside, letting the waves soflty lull me to sleep.

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AN: Did you love it? Did you hate it? Please review!