Thanks for the great responses to the first time this story was posted! I hope you all realize that it is all in good fun and I made the story after thinking there was a serious lack of international wizarding from across the pond. As I said before this story takes place in the fifth year because frankly, I can't live without my Weasley twins. No voldemort or any of that because I don't think I could do that plot line any sort of justice.

Okay so I completely re-wrote this whole chapter because it has been two years since the last one and my vision of the Salem Institute has changed slightly. I should be getting a new chapter up soon so please read this and enjoy!

Chapter 1

The people of Salem Massachusetts had been whispering about the Dark Woods for as long as anybody could remember. It seemed that nobody had ever known exactly what was inside them. Rumors of people hearing the laughter of children and seeing dancing lights coming from the forest ran rampant across the town and soon a story was woven about a township that had once been built within the trees. It was said that the mayor of this township was caught cheating by his wife and in anger she took her children and burnt the entire town to the ground, leaving an army of trapped angry spirits to roam the trees together.

The town teenagers had made a game of daring one another to run in and explore, risking the wrath of what ever lay inside, but no matter how much money or taunting had been put on the line, every person who got too near the woods seemed to be hit with a feeling of paralyzing fear just as they came to the outskirts of the trees. Even the bravest of "ghost hunters" were unable to conquer their fears and enter the dark depths of the trees.

Had anybody entered those woods on the night of August 25, 1996, they would have heard the laughter and talking that people had whispered about so often. They would have undoubtedly seen many flashing lights being cast through the trees. If anybody had walked into the forest and followed those voices, followed where the lights had been coming from, they would have come upon an unknown clearing and the sprawling campus of the Salem Institute of Magic and Higher Learning in the middle of its start of term banquet .

Robes of every color swirled in the breeze as eight hundred teenagers chattered wildly about their summers and moved through the cobble-stone courtyard to the brick dining hall that sat at the center of the campus. They poured from the doors of the four dormitories where they had spent the last two days busily putting up posters and unpacking belongings in preparation for a new year. Excitement swept them all with the promise of the arrival of the new first years, the sorting into the four houses and a delicious feast sat before them.

Emerson Reynolds searched the crowds for the unmistakable forms of her best friends as she exited the ebony doors of the Maniyakal house, her burgundy robes blowing their way up and down the legs of her torn jeans as the wind caught them.

"Emmy-poo! Oh our little lady Emmy-poo!" The call rang out across the court yard and Emerson quickly located the yeller who sat straddled over the statue of Padmine the Promiscuous, his black converse kicking dully at her stone breasts. She laughed and moved towards the boy who now climbed down slowly towards the other three guys that stood below him, careful not to catch his purple Mohawk on the statue and ruin it.

"Trippe!" She exclaimed, embracing his gangly figure in a hug and ruffling his plaid robes.

"We've reached a conclusion in the past twenty minutes of being around the rest of the males in the household," Trippe's shaggy haired companion said as he hugged Emerson as well.

"And what would that be Sir Nicklaus?" she asked, playfully ruffling his blond hair which hung to his chin in dirty strands. "By the way, nice attempts at a goatee, I see you still can't grow an even patch of hair."

"We have concluded," the third boy announced, pulling his black fedora low on his bald head. "That due to the fact that ninety percent of the male population in the Maniyakal house is discussing how hot you are now that your boobs grew and you wear clothes that aren't four sizes too big, you are too attractive to hang out with us."

"Xander that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, nobody is talking about me," she laughed as they made their way into the mess hall, choosing spaces in the group of tables designated to their house.

"It's actually true," Trippe added. "One would have thought that you would have stayed a repulsive little tomboy forever." He was answered with a slap upside the head.

"But since sixteen seems to be a good year for you and you've taken to wearing make up-"

"And a bra," Xander injected, interrupting Nick.

"Yes, let us not forget the bra, you have gotten too hot and we can no longer make fart jokes and blow up toilets with you. We must instead stop talking to you for months on end save for unwelcome advances and whistles every time your robes get blown up."

"Man power!" Xander grunted and the other two grunted in response.

"I hate you guys," Emerson shook her head before launching them into a conversation about their summers.

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"Hurry up you old bag, I'm starving," Ron mumbled, rubbing his stomach as he watched the white haired figure of Dumbledore cast his eyes across the newly seated first years and the returning students. A sharp pain overcame his side as Hermione elbowed him even though she knew full well that he was only joking.

"Ah, and now for some extremely exciting news," Dumbledore beamed down at the students after relaying all of the usual beginning of term notes. "For some time now the Ministry of Magic has been consulting with the American Supernatural Government to arrange a very exciting event that has been going on every fifty years for the past 200 years. This year, two houses from our very own Hogwarts will be traveling to Salem, Massachusetts, America to compete in The Youth International Quidditch Championships." The Great Hall erupted into fevered discussions and cries of excitement. Dumbledore peered happily at his ecstatic students before clearing his throat which returned the Great Hall to its normal silence.

"The two houses that will be attending will be those that were the highest scoring in the last quidditch cup, which I believe to be Gryffindor and Slytherin. And while I wish we could send students of all ages, only fourth years and older will be attending this tournament," The tables at the two opposite ends of the hall erupted into more cheers, punctuated by longing groans from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw houses and anyone of the third year or younger. "Due to the lengthy nature of the competition, the competitors and their house mates will be leaving via port key at the end of the week. All classes and exams will still be conducted but according to the standards of the Salem Institute of Magic. I hope that everyone, not only members of the quidditch teams, will be taking this time to take advantage of all that America has to offer-"

"Hot girls!" Fred Weasley yelled and was high fived by his twin.

"As well as excellent food, beautiful scenery, and cozy socks Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said with a smile before finishing his speech.

"Those Americans play a dirty game of quidditch," Seamus Finnegan said before biting a chunk out of his roll. "They fouled thirty two times within the first twenty minutes of their first match in the world cup this year. Broke three ribs, two noses, and almost blinded a player from Japan."

"Best beaters in the world," Ron said with a nod.

"How can that be baby brother?" Fred asked, puffing his chest out.

"When the two of us sit right next to you?" George finished, prodding Ron sharply in the forehead.

"Don't go abandoning your family to drool over some wimpy yanks now,"

"Ronniekins needs to learn his loyalties."

"It's not loyalties," Ron said, angrily rubbing the spot he had been poked. "It's facts. If the amateurs are anything like their pros, Harry's going to be looking at another broken arm."

"Yes, let's plan for the injuries before we even get there," Harry said, rolling his eyes.

"Well I personally think that it will be a great way to make international connections," Hermione piped up from next to Ron.

"I'd like to make some international connections," George said and made a thrusting motion.

"America is the only country to legally liberate house elves as well as granting squibs duel citizenship in both the muggle and magical world," she said knowingly to anybody that was still listening.

"Oh good, then there will be no need for Spew recruitment," Ron said cheerfully.

"You know that is actually a wonderful idea Ron! Getting people who already believe in the ideals of the organization to join and help promote the cause would do wonders for S.P.E.W.! I had better make more badges," She stood up hurriedly from the table and rushed out of the great hall before anyone had a chance to protest.

"Nutters, absolutely nutters," Ron groaned.

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