A/N All names and places belong to J.K. Rowling. There will be a few non canon characters thrown in including RavenclawJace Liam Howard. Reviews are appreciated. Currently betaed by a dear friend
It seemed like just an ordinary day on Privet Drive. The hot summer sun beat down on the gossiping women of the neighborhood as they talked about a rather strange occurrence. Normally Petunia Evans Dursley would join in on such juicy gossip; but this time the gossip had been turned on her.
Strange characters had begun turning up ever since the beginning of the summer. They sometimes came in twos or threes, wearing such outlandish outfits that all the women of Privet Drive save one older woman turned their noses up at. They were people the Dursleys dreaded, but had known that in a way it was inevitable. Petunia had known that Harry would one day not be able to escape the gawking wizarding menace no matter what they should do.
The women gasped as these strange people gravitated to the Dursleys' home. How could such respectful people suddenly allow such vagabonds into their lives?
It was the day of Harry's sixteenth birthday. Harry sat gazing into rosebushes in the garden, oblivious to all, when suddenly Hedwig swooped down and deposited a letter on his lap. He saw the emblem of the famous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and just touted it inside believing it to be just his school list for his sixth year at Hogwarts. But Hedwig wouldn't go away.
She swooped into the window of his room and angrily beat her wings at him. "What?" he asked her looking at her piercing glare. He then picked up the letter and tore it open to find a different letter then what he was used to.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you are one of twelve students chosen to participate in a school exchange program this year. Three members of each house have been given the distinct honor to spend a year at the American Academy of Magic in order to support intercontinental relations.
Attached is your school list for the American Academy of Magic as well as an airline ticket.
Sincerely yours,
Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall
Harry felt stunned as he read through it. Suddenly a little fuzzy ball of energy slammed against his window. He shook his head as he let in Ron's owl,Pigwidgeon.
As he opened the window, a more gracious owl swooped in after the zipping little owl. Clearly both his friends had written him and Harry was pretty sure what it was about.
Sure enough, they were the two other Gryffindors that would be coming. Hermione was excited, saying it would be "an excellent international educational experience of a life time." Ron was not near as enthusiastic. "What the bloody hell does Dumbledore expect us to do? I mean, where is this bloody American Academy of Magic anyway?"
As Harry sent confirmation back to the other two that he was definitely the third Gryffindor, he thought about where possibly this academy would be. Perhaps it was in Salem, Massachusetts. After hearing about the witch hunts there, it did make sense.
He picked up the envelope that contained his letter and ticket and pulled out the ticket. Harry read all that was printed on it and was surprised to learn that the academy wasn't in Salem, Massachusetts. It was in none other than New Orleans, Louisiana.
The day set for the students of Hogwarts to leave for New Orleans soon arrived. The sun was bright the morning of August fifth when they arrived at the airport.
Ron gawked at every little thing, and Harry and Hermione just laughed at him. Having been raised in the Muggle world, they were used to such things. Harry hadn't ever flown on a plane before but he had been dragged here all to often to pick up some relatives of the Dursleys who were filthy rich.
They walked to the gate where they had been told to meet. It was a gate not open for the public. It was only used to receive private planes for Diplomats, rock stars and the like.
"Well. Well. Well. It seems Potty, Weasel, and the Mudblood are to join us, How quaint," Daphne Greengrass sneered. She stood glaring at them with her arms crossed alongside Draco Malfoy and BlaiseZambini. Blaise wore a matching sneer but surprisingly Draco's face stayed placid. Harry noticed this and a look of confusion must have been clear on his face because Daphne continued with, "Seems Potty has lost quite a few brain cells."
"Shut your mouth, Greengrass. Harry is bloody smarter than you will ever be," Ron spat at her.
Daphne just rolled her eyes and turned back to her carry-on and swiped on some lip-gloss. Hermione rolled her eyes, and Harry just shrugged. It had to be some sort of girl thing. He didn't really care. He was more preoccupied Draco hadn't been making snide remarks. It really wasn't like the Slytherin to not say anything mean to him.
Suddenly they heard a yell of greetings and they all looked over to where Justin Finch-Fletcher, Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, Luna Lovegood, Terry Boots, Jace Liam Howard, and Madame Hooch were walking up.
Immediately Madame Hooch began barking orders and they began to load themselves onto the plan. Within twenty minutes, they had taken off, heading to a land unfamiliar to them all.