Chapter One
The News
"I can't believe this!" Jess Rice screeched at his parents, not believing what his ears were hearing. "What do you mean I have to go to Hogwarts?"
His parents were sitting on the sofa calmly in the living room when they had sprang the news on him. Anglica Rice sighed and folded her hands in her lap. "You know that they wanted you first."
"I remember!" Jess fumed and threw his hands in the air. "But you guys wanted me to go to Durmstarng. Beauxbatons wanted me too, if I remember correctly, Mother!"
"We know," Anglica said and looked at her husband. "We wanted you to have a well rounded education."
"But why Hogwarts?" Jess demanded, flopping angerily into a chair. "I'm quite happy at Beauxbatons, thank you."
"You know perfectly well why, Jess," his father said flatly and gave him a knowing look.
Of course he knew why. Everybody did. Lord Voldemort had returned. The Dark age had passed and prosperity had been brief. Lord Voldemort's henchmen, the Death Eaters, were back in action. Many witches and wizards were in a great panic. Jess's parents both believed the safest place for their son was at Hogwarts, where Albus Dumbledore was headmaster. Many magical people believed he was more than a match for Lord Voldemort. And of course there was Harry Potter, who had survived numerous attacks from Voldemort. Jess knew the stories well. He could understand his parents' concern, but he had other ideas.
"Yes I do! But Beauxbatons is safe enough!" Jess declared. "The professors will see to it!"
"We know," Anglica agreed. "But we feel you will be safest at Hogwarts."
"But what about what I feel?" Jess screamed and stood up. He walked over to the sofa, fell on his knees and took his mother's hand. "What about my feelings? My choices? I don't want to go to Hogwarts! I have my friends, my boyfriend, and my whole school social life at Beauxbatons!"
"We are aware of that," John Rice replied. "But our destion is final. Hogwarts it is."
"I'm not even in a house at that school!" Jess protested and jumped up. "And how do you even know I'll get in?"
"We sent Dumbledore a letter and he said he would be glad to take you," Anglica informed. "He likes the idea that you have gone to the other two European schools of magic. He believes that will be very good on your applications when you apply for a job. And you will be sorted with the first years."
Jess glared at the both of them. "You really have decided on this, haven't you?" They both nodded. "And nothing I can say will change your minds?" They nodded again. Jess, knowing he had lost this battle, sighed and said, "very well, I'll go."
"We knew you'd turn around," Anglica said and smiled brightly.
Jess gave her a cool look. "I'll be tanning outside if you need me." And with that he turned on his heel with a flourish and stormed out of the room.
In the next couple of weeks Jess sent many letters on his snowy owl, Polgara, to all his friends and told them about his parents' desion. The hardest letter he sent was to his boyfriend. He knew he probably would never see him again. He had finally find a boyfriend who he wanted to date more than two weeks.
Dear Sean,
I have the worst news. My parents have decided that I am to attend Hogwarts for the rest of my school years. They believe it is the safest place for me to go because of Albus Dumbledore and his ability to beat Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters. I argued like crazy with them but they won't listen. I really don't know if they heard anything I said. They had their minds made up before I even began.
I really am going to miss you. I liked you better than any of my other boyfriends I've had over the years in both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. It makes me so angry that they want to do this to me. I swear they don't have one care about the way I feel in this matter. But there is nothing I can do. I guess the only thing we can do is write to each other and posssibly hook up on the holidays. You're always welcome here in California, you know. I'm really going to miss seeing you everyday! I'm pretty sure we could have been a very serious couple. Fate has something else in store for me. Maybe you'll be a part of it later in the game! I will really miss you!
Love Always and Forever,
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo,
Jess
Jess reread the letter he had written to his boyfriend and then put it in the envelope he had already written the address on and sealed it. He attached the letter to Polgara's leg and sent her off with it. He glanced over at his digital clock on his nightstand and saw that it was time to go to driver's ed. He knew most people in the wizarding world would consider learning to drive a waste of time but Jess figured Muggle skills would come in handy someday and he wanted to have use of them. He grabbed his bag and made sure his permit was in his wallet. Then he headed downstairs and his mother took him to his driveing lesson.
A few days later Jess came into the house around five in the evening after spending the entire day at the beach perfecting his surfing skills. One of his favorite things to do was surf. He spotted some letters on the table addressed to him and picked them up on his way to his room. Most of them were from his friends and even one was from Hogwarts telling him what he needed for school. The last one was from Sean. Jess ripped it open and read it carefully.
Dear Jess,
What do you mean that you're going to Hogwarts? When did your parents decide to pull this? And why did they do it? I don't see the point in it. Beauxbatons is safe enough! Do they feel you need to be around Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore to be safe? I'm going to miss you too! I would switch to Hogwarts but my parents would never go for it. I wish you were staying. But like you said, you have no choice. Say hi to Harry for me when you get there.
I love you,
Swan
Jess stared at the letter from Sean. He knew he would miss him. He looked at the time. In about fifteen minutes his parents would be calling him down for dinner. And the next day they would be off to Diagon Alley. Jess wasn't so sure he was excited about that. He put the letter away and sighed. His life was out of control. The only thing he could do was jut go along with it. And that is exactly what he would do.
