CHAPTER ONE

TRAVELING TO SURREY

Amelia, Kaley, and Shawn were on their way with their parents to Little Winging. They really didn't want to go there, they were happy at the school they attended in America.

"Mom? Why do we have to go to the country where Uncle Albus is? I liked America!" Shawn complained.

"I told you, he wants us closer to him. He's very powerful and can help us if we need it," his mother answered.

He sat in the back and pouted. He would miss all of his other friends, as would his sisters Amelia and Kaley. They said nothing the whole way to the 'meeting spot'.

Once there, they were greeted by a fairly large man.

"Ah. Rubeus Hagrid, I presume?" their father asked.

"Yup. These young 'uns must be our new students. We have Shawn?' Shawn nodded his head. "Kaley?" she mimicked her brother. "And Amelia?" she smiled shyly. "Okay, Little Winging is just about an hour or so this area," he showed their father a map. "Ya have been informed of the other resident next door?" he asked.

"Yes, we have. And he has been informed of our arrival?"

"Yea, Dumbldore made sure he sent a letter to him at top speed the other day. He'll be waiting for ya when ya get there. He knows his duties and will assist when needed," Hagrid said.

The three teens behind them were highly confused by they didn't ask questions. They knew they wouldn't get told anything even if they did. Kaley turned to her brother.

"Hey, Shawn? Any idea what's going on?" she asked.

"Nope, but apparently wherever we're going, the neighbor knows us and 'will assist when needed', whatever that means," he said back. She playfully smacked him on the head. "Ow!"

"Well, no der on that one!" she said. She turned to her sister. "Well, Amelia? What do you think?"

"I think that our new neighbor is someone like us," she said. "You know? Mag-" She was cut off by her sister putting her hands over her mouth.

"Shh! Mother and Father told us to never say that aloud when we're not at home or school!" Kaley reminded her. Amelia nodded and her sister removed her hands.

"I was just saying!" Amelia said. "It's a possibility, isn't it?" she looked to them for their approval. They both nodded.

"Amelia's logic makes more sense than mine!" Shawn said.

"Anyone's logic makes more sense than yours," Kaley replied. As the kids finished their conversations, so did the adults. Before they left, Hagrid wanted to speak to the three.

"Okay, ya may know and ya may not know, but the boy you're going to live by is in the same boat as ye. The reason he be helpin' ya is 'cause he's faced it b'fore. Please don' make it 'ard for 'im, eh?" he said. The all nodded. "Very good. Well, I'll be seein' ya at school," and he walked away.

"Okay, kids, back in the car, we've got a long way to go. On their way there, they saw a huge green skull with a serpent protruding from its mouth in the sky to their right. They stopped the car immediately.

"Stay in the car, kids," their father told them. They nodded and he got out.

"Shawn?"

"Yes, Mother?"

"Can I see Ellise?" she was referring to his owl.

"Yeah, sure," he handed her the cage. She opened the cage and quickly scribbled a note. Then she connected the letter to the owl's leg. She then flew out of sight.

"Who was that to, Mom?" Amelia asked as her father leaned in by the window.

"Uncle Albus." Then she turned to her husband. "Well?"

"It looks like the real thing but I can't say for sure. We had better get going before any come back for…" he dropped off and gave a nervous glance to the kids in the back.

"Yes, I agree. I just sent Ellise to Uncle Albus. He'll send someone to check it out, I'm sure."

"Yes, no doubt that he will." He went around and got into the car. He looked to his kids in the back seat. "Kids?" You see that mark?" They nodded. "Okay, don't go into a place that ahs that above it. You'll only endanger yourself. The boy next to us knows that. Okay, kids?"

"What exactly is it, Dad?" Kaley asked.

"The Dark Mark," he answered. The teens looked confused in the back seat. "You-Know-Who's mark." The kids gasped. "Yes, so beware of it."

"Why is it there, Dad?" Shawn asked.

"I'm not sure, but we're not going to stay and find out. Uncle Albus will send someone, probably an Auror, out soon to investigate and get rid of it," he explained.

They continued on their way to Surrey. Something else happened as they got closer. Ellise came out of nowhere and latched herself to the car. They pulled over and grabbed her. Their father handed Amelia the letter to read aloud.

"Dear Timothy and family,

"I received your owl informing me of the Mark. I thank you for telling me. I sent an Auror immediately and they dispensed with it after fully checking the house to find nothing out of the ordinary.

"I also forgot to tell you about the boy's family. They may not be so willing to allow things. His aunt and uncle completely despise the wizarding world and do everything they can to keep him out of it during the summer. Not to mention they don't care for him to have fun.

"I don't know if he'll tell you this himself, but if you wish for him to come over to your house to meet the kids, he may not be able to. Do whatever you have to to let him be able to come to your household. I know he'd enjoy it. I just hope that he'd accept it.

"Please make sure you don't overdue it, Timothy. I know you would. Just do enough to get them to let him over. He needs some wizarding contact besides notes to his friends with his owl during the summer.

"I am yours most sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

"P.s. They are mortified of Harry's wand." She finished reading the letter and put it down. "The poor guy," she said. "I feel sorry for him."

"Don't worry about it too much, Hun, he'll be able to come over," her father said with a mischievous smile.

"You heard what Albus said, Timothy!" his wife warned. "Don't overdue it! We don't need anything to go wrong!"

"I know, I know. I just have a really good idea of what I can do if they don't let him come willingly," he grinned.

"Oh, brother!" Shawn said in the back. He knew his father better than any of his siblings and knew he'd do something terrible to the Muggles. "Dad, you better be careful. I don't think Uncle Albus would appreciate it much if you decided to blow up his family." His father gave him an appalled look.

"Who said I'd blow them up? I never said anything of the sort!"

"Yeah, but you were thinking it." They all started laughing. Eventually the laughter died down.