A/N: Probably shouldn't be starting another story, but why not. I have so many non-fanfiction projects going on that I might as well have multiple here. I'm setting this in the series, but messing with dates so Year 1 is 2007-2008, instead of during the 90's as per books.
Disclaimer: profile please.
An American Wizard
Year 1
Chapter 1
Jake Collins didn't like England so far. The people talked funny, there were too many pigeons, and it smelt funky. He couldn't place the smell, but it was so bad he couldn't see why anyone would live here. It also didn't help being 11 and half way across the world from his family and friends. He had arrived two days ago, only a couple of weeks after being invited to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was rare for them to invite someone from beyond the British Isles, but it did happen.
It happened to me. He was in King's Cross on the First of September, searching for a Platform 9 and ¾. His father, the last American to attend Hogwarts, had told Jake to search out a group of unusual people and ask them about a "Voldemort". Whoever that is, dad said they'd flinch. His Vans plopped along the concrete ground as he searched out anyone who'd know the name.
That was when he saw another boy his age pushing a similar cart. Jake smiled and walked over, pushing his trolley. The kid looked over at him as he pulled up besides. His black hair was messy and hid everything above his green eyes. His glasses were round and taped together at the nose. Much different from my short blonde hair and brown eyes. Dad always said it was a curious mix that appeared once a generation.
"Have you heard of Voldemort?" Jake asked. He spotted a small fidget around the boy's eyes. Traces of insecurity and doubt played out on his face.
"Are you like me?" the boy asked, whispering. The white owl he had hooted at him and some people looked over, glaring. Jake nodded and the boy smiled. A new friend already. "My name is Harry Potter. What's yours?"
"Jake Collins." They continued on a while before Harry spoke.
"You don't know where you're going," he said. "I don't know either. I mean, where is a Platform 9 and ¾?" Harry asked, throwing his arms out. They stopped and looked around.
"What about them over there? You think they could be like us?" Jake asked, pointing at a group of gingers, all dressed in ratty clothes.
"They could be," Harry replied. "Let's check." Before he could continue, Jake began across the platform. He hurried across to catch up with his newest friend.
Jake pulled up alongside the plump lady. He heard her speak something about "bloody Americans having to come back." She glanced over at him and looked away, deeming him unimportant. "Excuse me miss, but have you heard of a Voldemort?" he asked, loud enough that her entire family could hear. She spun around to face him, her eyes large. The others were staring at him, scared as if saying that word would summon a demon.
"What did you just say?" she asked. Her tone threatened of bloody violence and Jake wanted to run, a sudden feeling that flooded his body.
"Voldemort," he said once more. She flinched, along with the members of her pack who had stopped. Jake turned to Harry, who had just arrived. "Look, more wizards!" They all looked to him for a second before back to Jake.
"Well, you two should come along since we'll be late if we gawk," the lady said. Jake and Harry formed up with the family of gingers. The youngest male drifted over to them.
"Are you first years also?" he asked. They both nodded and he smiled. "Wicked. My name is Ron Weasley."
"Jake Collins."
"Harry Potter." The entire group stopped, both from reaching their destination and the name spoken. They all murmured amongst themselves as the older boys ran through the illusionary brick wall that hid Platform 9 and ¾.
"No time to talk right now, Ronald," his mother said. "Go follow after Fred and George. We'll send Percy after your new friends." Jake and Harry looked at the large woman as if she was jumping ships too sudden, but she smiled at them.
"So all we do is run at the wall?" Harry asked. Jake took in a deep breath in order to not smash his head against his trolley. Poor British wizards getting all freaked out about some weird word and a kid who's both stupid and famous? Jesus Christ this'll be a long year. Maybe I'll get lucky and get thrown into, say, Slytherin. They watched as Ron chased after his twin brothers. He disappeared from sight when he hit the wall.
"Harry dear, you next." Potter nodded before lining up his trolley with the wall. He glanced around before racing towards the wall. He passed through and Mrs. Weasley turned to Jake. "Your turn!"
"Just so you know, I'm American," Jake said. He took off before she could yell after him and went right through the wall. He slowed down once on the other side, spotting a looming red locomotive. He raised an eyebrow, surprised they were still using such ancient technology, but then again they didn't use Pounds. God-awful system of theirs. Thank God Dad kept his entire stash of money after he moved back home to hunt, since I don't the transfer rate from US dollars to Galleons is good.
Looking around, Jake spotted a large group of people standing to the side of the train, some of them crying and hugging and others climbing onto the train, waving. A man in uniform came up and took his luggage away. He also said that he'd need to get his uniform and change into it before they reached Hogwarts. He nodded before walking into the crowd.
"Jake," two familiar voices called. Ron and Harry were climbing onto the train and were waving for him to follow. He shrugged his shoulders and pushed his way to them, nobody glaring at him when he forgot to say "excuse me". He climbed on and followed them into the carriages. They walked around until they found an empty compartment.
"This looks good," Harry said. He went in first, followed by Jake, and Ron, who was looking around to see if anyone was watching. Why? Jake asked himself. They settled themselves into the compartment as the train began moving. It wasn't until the train was a good half hour out of London that they began talking.
"So Jake, where are you from?" Ron asked. His dull red hair sat on his head like a mop on the ground.
"Northern California," Jake said, looking out the windows. He tried to not look impressed by the scenery. "I come from a town called Modesto. It's well known to Muggles." They nodded.
"Blimey," Ron said. "You're the American. My mum was goin' on 'bout how you'd be all arrogant and mean." Jake laughed.
"I can be, at times." He sniffed. "What is that smell?" The other two stared at him as if his marbles had fallen onto the floor until they began sniffing also.
"I dunno," Harry said. Ron's face lit up.
"The candy cart!" He went straight to the door and pulled it open. Just down the corridor was a plump old lady with a massive cart, filled with all sorts of sweets. They pulled Ron back in and waited for her to arrive.
"What do you want, dearies?"
"Do you have any Mars bars?" Harry asked. Ron's head tilted and Jake stifled a laugh.
"I'd like a Charleston Chew," Jake said. "Oh, and maybe one of those Chocolate Frogs. Dad told me that they made a new card since his last trip to the Ministry." The lady went through her trolley and pulled out a Chocolate Frog box.
"Sorry dears, but we don't have either 'Mars bars' or 'Charleston Chew'." She turned to Ron. "What would you like?"
"I'd buy something, but I don't have money," he said, looking away. Harry began scrambling through his pockets until he pulled out a handful of gold coins. And he's rich. Dear spirits. They bought three of everything, except for Acid Pops. Ron complained about an experience with them as a kid.
By midday only a third of the candy had been eaten and the rest was scattered on the floor and in the empty seat. "So my brothers showed me this spell to turn Scabbers yellow," Ron said. He pulled out his ugly rat, the hair patchy. He set it down on the empty seat and aimed his wand at it.
The door opened and a girl popped her head through. Her brown hair had the appearance of overgrown lichen. "Have you seen Neville's toad? It answers to Trevor." They all stared at her. "My name's Hermione and I'm helping him find it." She noticed Ron's wand. "Performing some magic are we now?" He nodded. She waited for a couple of moments before saying, "are you going to do it?"
"Yeah," Ron said, shaking his head. He took a couple deep breaths in. "Sunshine daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow!" Sparks jumped off of the wand and hit the rat. Instead of turning yellow, it raced into an emptied box of Berry Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
"How about I show you some real magic," Hermione said, entering the compartment. She stood in front of Harry and said, "reparo". He pulled his glasses off and looked at them; the taped middle was gone, no longer needed.
"Thanks."
"Well wasn't that nice," some said from the doorway. They all turned to see three boys. The middle one was pale, with hair that matched his skin and a smirk on his face. "Rumor has it that Harry Potter himself has come to Hogwarts." He looked over at Harry, who had just replaced his glasses. "I'm Draco Malfoy and this is Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle." He stuck out his hand.
"Malfoy, eh?" Jake asked. "My dad told me about the Malfoys." Draco glared at him.
"What did he say?"
Jake smiled. "He said you're all a bunch of rich snobs and traitors." Goyle lunged at him, but his wand was faster. "Stupefy." They all watched as Goyle was shoved back by the flash of red light. He crashed into Malfoy and Crabbe, who were both standing behind him. The three fell into a pile before Draco pushed them off.
"I'll get you back, you bloody American." They then ran off, dragging Goyle. Jake stood up and closed the door.
"Pretentious shit," Jake said. He turned and Hermione was right behind him.
"I need to get going. I'll get your names later, hopefully during the Feast." She opened the door and stepped out. "Oh, and get dressed. Don't want to be in Muggle clothing when we arrive."
They all glared at her, but soon realized the importance of what she said. They raced off to get their uniforms and changed into them in their compartment, which nobody had stolen.
They were almost to Hogwarts, and the rest of their wizarding life.
A/N: I know, horrible ending, but I needed somewhere before I write a metric asstone.