Well, this is a generation before Harry's going to special school fic, only it has a real plot. Please review, even if you want to critique my writing. I'm open to constructive criticism, so if you see something don't be afraid to tell me so I know for next time! I have four OC's with the other fifth years in the school, but the rest are all cannon. Just read and enjoy! Or don't enjoy. I can't tell you how to feel.

Severus Snape both loved and hated summer holidays. He loved them because he was with his few friends; he was away from the Marauders, the other idiot Gryffindors, and his housemates trying to convince him to be a death-eater. (His only friends were muggles. Couldn't they figure out he didn't want kill people just because they weren't witches or wizards?) He hated summers because there wasn't a decent potions lab at his house, and well, he was in this run-down dump. He couldn't say he was too excited to see his family. Yes, he loved his mother, and his little sister, Skylar, but he already saw his twin sister, Macaria, 24/7, and saying he wasn't too pleased to see his father was an understatement.

His summer hadn't exactly been out of the ordinary. He'd spent most of it cooped up in his room reading. The other bit he spent babysitting Skylar, and hanging out with his few friends-most of whom got sent to the Juvenile Jail for robbing a store. The police over-reacted anyway. It was just one little hold-up. (Anyone in their right minds would tell you that the hold-up was a big deal, and it wasn't their first offense either but Severus was fiercely loyal to the few he would call a friend.) He couldn't blame them either, since nobody in his end of town had much money. It was extremely likely they were starving. That was the only real out-of the ordinary thing until the end of the summer. It all started on a normal day.

"Severus! SEVERUS! Sev, where are you?"

Severus put his book down and left his room to face his twin sister. "For the last time, don't call me Sev."

"Whatever you say, Sev." Macaria shrugged. "Don't hear my news then. I'll just keep it all to myself."

Severus just stood and waited for a second while she walked away. Macaria's moves began to get slower, and she glanced back at him a couple times. He raised his eyebrows at her. "Fine!" she growled in defeat, walking back to him, holding and envelope out towards him. "I got a letter for the both of us about a special school." Severus went to snatch the letter out of her hand, but she danced out of the way. "Now, now, what do we say?"

Severus rolled his eyes. "I'm not saying please, if that's what you mean."

Now it was Macaria's turn to roll her eyes. "Yes, because were obviously diplomats. 'Oh please sir! Oh, thank for your kind sir! Oh, that's so sweet madam!'" she mocked them freely and openly. Her icy blue eyes bore into his onyx, and the she smirked, before continuing to mock them, "Oh, yes, thank you! Let's all throw rainbows and sunshine out of our ass!" One of the reason the Snape twins had so little friends, was they were both fairly insensitive and rather ill-mannered. Before sending them off to Hogwarts, their diplomatic mother had managed to drill some things into their heads, but other kids perceived them as rude. It wasn't their fault, they had grown up at the rough end of town, where spitting in one's hand before shaking the other person was considered sealing a deal, and sarcastic and hurtful remarks were a part of everyday life.

Though they never showed it had Hogwarts, both the twins had quite a bit muscle. Another, though this one pleasant, side-effect of growing up in the rough end. Their town was indeed like Skid Row from Little Shop of Horrors, but if ever asked by their classmate's, they would deny it. They'd probably deny the muscle too, for they were both under the impression that if they never talked about, they would forget about it, thus relinquishing much of the urge to give on their tormentors a good broken jaw. (It never worked.) Neither twin wanted to get expelled, though they both hated Hogwarts with a fiery passion, which is precisely why they got so excited about the prospect of a special school. (They would never admit it, but they rather liked Dumbledore, the headmaster of their school.)

Macaria, after waving it in front of his face for a few minutes, finally gave him his letter-after he said their super-top-secret password. What it said was this:

Dear Mr. Snape

You have cordially been invited to attend Silverlight's School for Magical Prodigies in the United States of America, co-head mastered by Albus Dumbledore & Robert Lynch. You shall receive a special visit from Headmaster Dumbledore & Headmaster Lynch at precisely 7:00 pm August 15, regarding your admission to Silverlight.

You have won a full scholarship, meaning all costs of attending the Silverlight School will be covered by Silverlight School, including transportation to and from Silverlight, all food, clothing, and necessary materials.

There was then a list of accomplishments of the headmasters, but Severus barely glanced at it. He was busy thinking about one line in the letter. You shall receive a visit from Headmaster Dumbledore and Headmaster Lynch at precisely 7:00 pm, August 15. "Ria," he said, referring to Macaria's long time nick-name, "what time is it?"

"6:56," Macaria said promptly, "which means they're going to be arriving in exactly three minutes at twenty three seconds." One of the great things about Macaria was she always knew the exact time-right down to the last second. "And if you were wondering, Mom was supposed get off work fifty six minutes and twenty seconds ago, but she's not actually going for another seven minutes, and, let's say, thirty-three seconds." Yep. That was Ria for you. "Skylar's at Kayla's of the weekend, if you were wondering, and Father's some place or other. So we're the only ones home tonight." Macaria paused, and then snidely added, "Unless you want to invite your girlfriend over."

"For last time, she's not my girlfriend! She kissed me, not the other way around."

"Not according to her. She's telling EVERYONE you two are dating. She seems really excited about it too."

"Well, we're not dating!"

"Don't worry, I'll tell her you're into Andrea."

"Don't you dare," Severus warned his sister.

Macaria, sensing his mood, immediately backed off. "Fine, I'll just break-up with her for you," she teased. "Two minutes and fifteen seconds."

"Would you really?" Severus asked, in regard to the break-up question.

"Sure. I owe you after I got you into that Lily mess at school." Severus winced, remembering the rumors flying around that the two friends were dating-giving James Potter reason to hate him even more. Severus did love Lily, but as a sister, not a as girlfriend. "Two minutes and nine seconds."

Severus reminded Macaria they might not come on the dot, but she seemed so confident they would he just gave up. The only person he wouldn't fight with until; he was blue in the face was Ria, solely because he never felt like arguing with a girl who was literally inside his head. Last he got in a big fight with her, she woke him up one of few times he actually fell asleep by screaming inside his head.

In case you didn't get it, the twins are telepathically connected. They usually had mind shields up-the same kind used for occulemncy-so they didn't accidently pick up comprehendible thoughts or accidently send a message to each other, but it took a lot of energy to block the other twin out if they really wanted to send a message. Usually they just kept enough up so it was easily penetrable, but enough to keep them constantly being inside each other's heads. There was a moment of silence before Macaria said "One minute and forty-seven seconds."

Severus sighed, as Macaria began walking down the stairs and flopped herself on the couch. Severus liked to think that all the houses had once been a grand neighborhood, but people had let it become run-down. It was true, in a way. Almost all the houses were two stories, but had become rundown and disgusting. Macaria kept counting down the time at random intervals. Normal people would be in a mad cleaning frenzy, but the Snape twins a) didn't care and b) they knew they would never get it done on time.

"Forty-six seconds," Macaria said proudly. "Hey you wanna watch a movie later?"

"No," Severus said with certainty.

Macaria sighed and popped her gum before saying, "Suit yourself. Twenty-four seconds." Severus glared at her but she remained unaffected. Another thing about Macaria, she is so far the only person completely unaffected by his death glare. Macaria complained that she was hungry, and Severus told her to put a sock in it. She made a face at him, then announced, "Fifteen seconds."

Just then, the doorbell rang. "They're thirteen seconds early!" cried Macaria, sounding thoroughly enraged they had not arrived at precisely seven o'clock. Severus chuckled as he opened the door, knowing full well Macaria would be mad about it for the next hour.

Professor Dumbledore and the man next to him, who Severus assumed was Professor Lynch, were waiting outside the door. "Severus," he said warmly. "Can we come in?"

Severus shrugged. "You're here, aren't you?"

Lynch raised an eyebrow at Dumbledore, almost as if to say 'Really?'

Dumbledore stepped inside and looked amusedly and Macaria glaring them from the couch. "Am I correct, my girl, in saying you are mad because we arrived early? Twelve whole seconds early, I believe."

"Thirteen," Macaria muttered.

Dumbledore smiled. "Quite right, my girl, I do believe you are correct. Now, are your parents home?"

"No," Macaria said flatly. "And in case you were wondering, my mother won't be home for another four minutes. By the way, it's rather rude to just tell people when you're coming. What if we weren't here?"

Dumbledore ignored the question and Lynch stepped forward. "The first matter is, of course, the most important. Do you two want to attend Silverlight?"

"Yes," the twins chorused.

"And you are aware this is a school for magical prodigies, not just an average wizarding and school? And that by coming, you will be dropping out of Hogwarts to go to schooling in America."

Severus and Macaria just looked at each other for a minute, and then Severus said, "No," flatly.

Macaria rolled her eyes, knowing he was being sarcastic. "He means yes," she explained seeing Lynch's confused face. "Why don't you come in the kitchen while we wait for my mother to come home," she added thoughtfully.

Just after Lynch and Dumbledore had sat down in the kitchen, Eileen Snape came home. She greeted the twins warmly and looked in surprise at Dumbledore and Lynch. "What have the twins done now?" She asked worriedly.

"Why do you always assume that we did something?" muttered Severus, looking rather displeased. Eileen lightly smacked his arm.

"The only thing your children have done is get accepted onto Silverlight's school for magical prodigies. We were just waiting for you to discuss the details," Dumbledore said happily.

Eileen's eyes, as blue as her daughters, were as round as Silver dollars.

"I thought Hogwarts was the only school for witches and wizards?" Harry Evans said, confused. "And aren't you the headmaster of that school?"

"Mr. Evans, Silverlight is a new school which as just recently been developed. Lily, as a recognized magical prodigy throughout the school board, has been invited to attend, full scholarship. And I will be co-head mastering with Mr. Lynch, along with having my duty's at Hogwarts." Dumbledore smiled at him like greeting an old friend. "Lily will be able to develop he abilities at an accelerated and advanced pace at Silverlight," He grinned at Lily who was staring at him, an eyebrow raised skeptically. "Only eleven students have been accepted for my whole year." Lily's mouth dropped and her eyes widened.

"Eleven? Only eleven students in my whole year?" She asked, in complete disbelief. "And I-I'm one of them?" Lynch laughed and nodded.

"What does it even matter?" Petunia, Lily's older sister, sneered from the stairs. She looked like a horse with a make-up addiction. "She's a prodigy at being freaky, even among freaks. Good job, Lily. We're real proud."

"Petunia! Apologize to your sister," Mrs. Evans

"If you're going to be a smartass, first you have to be smart. Otherwise you're just an ass." Lily waited for her sister's response to that at her sister.

"Lily!" cried Sarah Evans, horrified that her daughters were fighting in such a way in front of guests. "Be nice."

"You and all your little freaky magic friends are freaks. Outcasts. You think anyone will like you now?" Petunia was shaking in anger, glaring ferociously at her sister.

"I'd agree with you-except then we'd both be wrong," Lily retorted, without missing a beat.

"Well I don't hang around with those poor kids from Spinners End, like those horrendous Snape twins. I mean honestly. They're so poor they couldn't even afford to be second-hand clothing-I bet by the time your little friends get their clothes it's been through five or six owners."

"Somewhere out there, there is a tree working tirelessly to provide oxygen for you to breathe-I think you owe it an apology." Lily narrowed her eyes sat her sister both girls looked at each other, glaring before Petunia turned on her heel haughtily and marched up the steps, her nose held up in the air.

"I'm sorry about her," Lily said to the professors. "I think I would like to go to Silverlight-provided my parents agree."

Harry and Sarah Evans just looked at each other for a minute. "This school is more-advanced than Hogwarts?" Harry asked "America is awfully far away,"

"Dad for you it'll be no different than sending me off to Hogwarts. This is a great opportunity."

"I don't know, Lily. America is far away."

"So is Scotland! Dad, please."

Harry looked into his daughters pleading eyes. He sighed, "All right, you can go."

"This school is in America?" Dorea Potter asked Lynch the next day. "And James has been accepted?"

"James has shown exceptional magical ability, most so in the area of transfiguration. I do believe," Lynch looked at James, who had remained silent for majority of the conversation, "that James as shown an unheard of ability that could aid quite a lot of people." James shifted nervously in his seat, as Robert Lynch stared at him.

"James, what is he talking about?" asked Mrs. Potter sharply.

James rolled his eyes, and turned to Lynch and Dumbledore instead of answering his mother's question. "I don't see how it could help anybody. I can't control them after they come to life. They kind of have a free will. I just figured out how to unanimate them!"

"Unanimate isn't a word," Dumbledore said fondly. "Though I do believe it could become if you got other people to say it. Besides, you will quite a lot of time to practice at Silverlight, as it mainly geared to put the most emphasis as possibly on each individual's talent. So you spend most time on that and transfiguration, while, let's use Macaria Snape as an example. She will be spending most of her time on defensive spells, martial arts, and developing her extraordinary mind abilities."

"The Snape twins are going too?" James groaned. "Maybe I should just make some of their stuff come alive."

"James!" Mrs. Potter snapped. "You will do no such thing, or I won't let you go to Silverlight at all! And what on earth do you mean by unanimate, and making things come alive?!"

James sighed. "Look, all I know is I can somehow make inanimate objects come to life, and just recently I figured out how to make them go back to being inanimate."

"Which is precisely the reason James needs to come to Silverlight, not only to work on controlling this power but also so nothing can try to take advantage of this gift he has."

Dorea leaned back in her seat, took a breath and sighed. "I guess it's for the better," she said reluctant. "So long as my husband agrees, he can go."

Mr. Potter did agree, and James was admitted into Silverlight's school for magical prodigies.

"He's not going!" screeched Walburga Black, glaring furiously at Dumbledore. "Who knows what sort of things you'll be teaching at America?! It's bad enough he somehow managed to get sorted into Gryffindor, but at least I can know there are some good teachers there who have been in Slytherin! He is absolutely not going!"

"With all due respect, Mrs. Black, I do believe it Sirius's choice if he wants to go." Dumbledore said, taking a bold step forward towards the raging mad woman, "If he says he does not want to go, we will leave you alone, but we do at least need to know what he thinks of it. It is usually normal for the student to be a part of these conversations. Where is Sirius?"

"He is being punished," snapped Mrs. Black. "It doesn't matter where he is, or what he thinks, because he's not going."

"On the contrary," Lynch said, taking a seat. "I am not leaving until I hear Sirius's opinion. He is also one of our last stops and I'm sure that Professor Dumbledore can leave to do the last few, and then come back if necessary."

"You will do no such thing," sputtered Mrs. Black. "I have company coming for diner, and I will not have you two in my house!"

"Then," said Dumbledore, eyes flashing dangerously, "I suggest you get Sirius down here to be a part of this discussion.

"I'm getting Orion too," said Mrs. Black indigently, storming up the stairs. First, she got her husband Orion, who flew down the stairs to scream at Dumbledore at Lynch (both of whom remained unaffected by his raging), then she marched into Sirius's room, disgusted to see he had managed to cover up the last of the green and silver painted walls with a Gryffindor banner, and an enlarged picture of him and his friends. She made a move to rip down the banner, but found it stuck with a permanent sticking charm.

"Sirius," she said, rounding on the boy who was furiously scribbling something on a piece of parchment. "You have people downstairs waiting to see you." She was practically shaking with anger, but Sirius remained either unbothered or oblivious to it.

"Oh, does Bellatrix want to curse me again? Or is it Narcissa's turn to tell me what a disgrace I am to the family? Or are you all going to sit around the table and talk how horrible my friends and I are-no, you did that yesterday. Uncle Cygnus wants to smack me around doesn't he?" Sirius didn't look up from his work when he said all this, leaving Walburga even angrier than before. She grabbed by the ear and yanked him off his bed not wincing at all when Sirius gave a yell of pain.

"You stop being a smartass!" she yelled in his ear before letting him go with a shove that caused him topple over his school trunk and have his head hit the ground with a resounding thud. "It's Dumbleodre and some American fool about a special school!" She grabbed him by arm and pulled him up, with a grip so strong Sirius was sure it would leave bruises. "Now get down there so they'll leave!" She pushed him out the door. Sirius had to bite tongue to keep him from saying something that could easily get him smacked.

Dumbledore had expected to feel a little bit better when he saw Sirius, since that would mean Sirius would get to decide whether or not he would go to Silverlight, but instead his mood worsened when he saw Sirius stumble into the room looking like he had just hit his head hard. He swallowed his concern for the time being and greeted Sirius warmly, explaining that he had been accepted into Silverlight, and all details and the regulations. As he did this, the Blacks guests filed in (which was just more of the Black family) and actually listened to what Dumbledore was saying, almost as intently as Sirius was. "It is, of course," he said to Sirius, "entirely your decision whether or not you want to go."

"Great, you told him about the stupid school, now get out." Walburga said impatiently.

"I think you're missing the point about why we told him about the 'stupid school' as you put it. We haven't heard what Sirius thinks of it yet," Lynch looked critically at Walburga.

"Well he's not going so I don't see how it very much matters what he thinks. Besides it's obvious he doesn't want to go." Somehow, this sparked a heated debate between the families, in which the volume of the argument quickly rose.

Lynch sighed and looked over at Sirius, who had slumped in his seat and seemed to be waiting. He held up three fingers and silently began to count down. 3 . . . 2 . . . 1"HE'S NOT GOING!" Walburga screeched.

"Doesn't anyone care what I think?" Sirius asked rather loudly.

Everyone in family fell silent and looked at him for a moment before his cousin Bellatrix sneered at him and told him no, and with that said the family continued their argument.. Sirius once again leaned back in his chair before finally saying, rather quietly in Dumbledore's opinion, that he wanted to go. The entire family somehow heard him, and once again fell silent.

"YOU'RE NOT GOING!" Walburga screeched yet again.

Lynch stood up. "I believe we've heard quite enough. Sirius, if you'd step outside for a moment with us."

Orion made a swift move towards the professors. "We're not paying for him to go, so I don't see how he can," He spat in their faces.

"Sirius, if you'd step outside for a moment with us," Lynch repeated, looking disgustedly at Orion and Walburga. Sirius got up and followed them outside, only to be stopped by his cousin Bellatrix.

"You're not seriously going, are you?" she sneered at him.

"Actually, I am." He said pushing past her.

She made a move to block him again. "Don't you know how awful it's going to be for you?" She seemed to have her face frozen in a permanent sneering position. Bellatrix then went on listing how many things were obviously going to be wrong with the school. Sirius just kept pushing past and she kept jumping in front of him "None of your stupid Gryffindor friends are gonna be there," she said condescendingly as he reached the door.

Thatfloored him. Lynch finally whirled around and cut Bellatrix off before she could change Sirius's mind. "Mr. Black, Mr. Potter was just admitted earlier this morning and we will be visiting Mr. Lupin this evening. Please don't listen to your deranged cousin; she doesn't know what she is talking about." Sirius grinned, made a face at his older cousin, ducked under her arm which had been flung out in attempt to stop him, had darted out the door, leaving Bellatrix gaping at him before she ran screeching back to her mother and father.

"Well, in a way your father was right about the money issue, but you've been awarded a full scholarship to attend. I think all of the kids in your year have, actually." Lynch told him.

Sirius's eyes grew wide. "That's a lot of scholarships."

"Not really," Dumbledore laughed eyes twinkling yet again. "There are only eleven students admitted into your year. Only eight of them are from Britain, the other three live around America. Since this year everyone will be getting a special tour of the school, we'll be bringing everyone personally, thus eliminating transportation fees for those without wizarding parents. However, we have special offer for you. You could come to Silverlight on the date scheduled to bring you, or you could leave later today after we visit Mr. Lupin. That'll only give you a few hours to pack, but I believe it might be the-" Dumbledore paused and glanced at the morbid looking Black house, "desired option."

Sirius immediately responded that he would go with them tonight .Dumbledore smiled. "Great. We'll be here to pick you up at about-how's eight o'clock?" Sirius nodded and Dumbledore continued, "Make sure you have anything you want take with you for the year-since you have a full scholarship books and required items will be provided for you. You'll be needing your wand, of course, and anything you want to bring to decorate your dorm room. I do advise you though, not to bring anything Gryffindor related. We don't have separate houses at Hogwarts. I suggest you get packing, you only have a few hours."

Without even responding, Sirius darted into his house and ran up the stairs leaving the door wide open. Dumbledore and Lynch looked at each the other and began to laugh, hearing Mrs. Black screeching again about something or the other.

"I don't know-America is awfully far away away-and Remus has friends at Hogwarts-I don't know anybody of the teachers-besides you, of course, Dumbledore,-and"

"Mum," Remus cut his worrying mother, "I'll be fine."

"If it makes you feel any better, Mrs. Lupin, Mr. Black and Mr. Potter were both admitted into Silverlight earlier today." Lynch said.

"Oh, no, it's just Katherine. I stopped being Mrs. Lupin a long time ago."

Lynch looked over at Remus, who had winced at his mother's words. "I see."

"Is Peter going too?" asked Remus, obviously eager to change the subject. He was referring to the fourth and last Marauder, Peter Pettigrew. The Marauders were what Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter called themselves. They were almost like a gang but they were actually friends, and they always had prank up their sleeves.

Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "No, I'm afraid Mr. Pettigrew didn't get a letter of acceptance. We considered it, but it was determined that it would be unlikely he would be able to keep up with the fast-paced curriculum." Lynch looked at Dumbledore, because they hadn't really considered it at all. They'd done a magical scale of anyone under eighteen Britain and America, and anyone who's name showed up on the list was marked down to have above-average magical talent. Peter Pettigrew hadn't shown up on even the first list, which was then narrowed down, narrowed down again, and then narrowed down some more. Only eleven students from both countries had made it on to the fifth-year list, and eight of them were from Hogwarts. Remus had slumped back in his seat at Dumbledore's words. Not wanting to discourage the teen, Lynch spoke up.

"Remus, there's a special training program at the school you qualify for. Silverlight is designed to advance magical abilities, but some students have opted to under-go this training."

"Training for what?" Remus asked suspiciously. Lynch held back a smile, knowing he had piped the young boy's interest.

Lynch glanced around the house, and peeked out the window, trying to make sure nobody was listening. He cast a charm on the house just in case. "Have you ever heard of O.D.A.D.A.?"

Alice Macmillan folded her arms across her chest. "The ODADA? What does that stand for?"

Lynch gritted his teeth. "Don't call it ODADA, it's not meant to spell anything. It stands for the organization for defense against the dark arts."

Alice thought about this for a minute, and then said: "I'm still gonna call it ODADA."

Lynch sighed but Dumbledore grinned. "Your classmate called it, and I quote, the dumbest acronym on the face of planet."

Alice smiled at this. "Really? Which one? That'd must have been funny."

"It was Macaria Snape, and yes it was. But I believe her mother's reaction to those words was far more humorous than the actual comment was."

Alice's smile dropped. "The Snape twins are going?" Her voice sounded flat, plain, and like she genuinely disappointed. 'That'll be fun." She rolled her eyes before a small smirk came to her face. "I can imagine her saying that." She turned her head thoughtfully. "Let me guess, her brother said something sarcastic about right after that."

"He said we might as well call it the organization with dumb acronyms for dumb-asses," Dumbledore chuckled again.

Alice laughed. "Yeah, I guess I'll go. When's it start?"

"Technically September fifth, but everyone is coming earlier this year to get used to the place, get to know your way around, get to know you roommate, and all the other people in your year. Oh, and everyone gets a private tour," Dumbledore explained. "You'll be going on the twentieth, with the other fifth years."

"Sirius Black, I will not have you going off to some school run by mudblood lovers! It is bad enough Dumbledore is the head of a half-way decent school like Hogwarts, but going to a place that I don't know without a Slytherin in sight-"

"Sounds like heaven." Sirius muttered, enraging his mother further.

"Don't you talk back to me! I gave birth to you, and what lousy, mudblood loving fool you turned out to be! I can honestly say I've never been so ashamed in of anyone in my life-"

"And I more ashamed then anything to have you as mother!" The minute Sirius yelled these words; the Black house went so silent you could a pin drop. Walburga raised her hand as if she was going to slap her son, but Sirius took a step back out of her range. "You wouldn't dare," he said through gritted teeth. "You wouldn't. Not with Lynch and Dumbledore coming here in just a few minutes." Although he had started out small for his age, Sirius had grown a lot since he had turned thirteen a couple of years ago. Now he was almost sixteen years old, broad shouldered, not yet taller, but almost as tall as his mother. It was quickly turning into a glaring match between the two, that nobody wanted to interfere with.

Regulus's eyes darted between his mother and his brother. Everyone was tense. Of course, Dumbledore chose that moment to walk in. "Sirius," he said cheerily, "are you ready to go?" Then he stopped dead, looking at Sirius and Walburga glaring at each other like they were mortal enemies rather than a mother and son.

Sirius looks away from his mother and grabbed his trunk. "Yeah," he muttered. "Get me out here."

Walburga sucked in her breath. "Remember what we talked about earlier, Sirius. I'm doing it the second you leave."

Sirius acted like he didn't hear her and started to walk out the front door. Walburga lit a cigarette and followed him out, but stopped at the front door. "Oh, and Sirius, darling," she said, taking the cigarette out of her mouth and rolling between her fingers. Against his better judgment, Sirius turned around. Walburga bent down just slightly enough so that she could look him in the eye. "Don't come home for Christmas." Then she stuck the cigarette back in her mouth, and slammed the door in his face.

"I'm sorry that happened, Sirius," Dumbledore said, almost as if he really the full depth of what had just happened.

"Are you kidding me?" Sirius laughed. "I've been dying to get away from them since the day was I born. I'm damn happy." And he laughed. He laughed for longest time, but Dumbledore wondered just how happy he really was.

"Now, it's only 3:00 over in America, and you're the first student to be arriving. Try to stay awake as long as you can so you can get accustomed to the time-zone difference and not be awake at five in the morning and asleep in class."

Sirius, who had finally managed to stop laughing, shrugged and said, "I don't get much sleep anyway." Then he started laughing again, like there was nothing funnier on earth than whatever he was thinking of at that moment.

Dumbledore shook his head, but couldn't help laughing along with the boy. "Sirius Black, you are insane. I pity your poor friends. You're going to do side-along apparition with me, and then we'll walk the rest of the way to the school." For amount he just stopped and looked at Sirius, who had now doubled over from laughter. "Sirius, honestly. I can't get you to America until you stop laughing. What on earth is so funny?"

Sirius just shook his head, laughing too hard to answer.

"I'm sorry Dumbledore isn't here too," Lynch apologized to the Longbottom family. "He would've come too, but there was an … issue with another student."

"It's alright." Augusta Longbottom said, letting Lynch in. "I'm just so happy Frank got accepted into a school for prodigies."

"I'm guessing he wants to go then. If that's settled, we just need to discuss the details. I'll be back to pick him up on the twentieth, I know it's a little early, but all the fifth years are coming in on that day to get shown around, and get to know each other. Frank already rooms with three of them though, so I'm not sure how much of problem that'll be," he laughed. "Since he has a full scholarship he won't need to bring anything other than clothes, a pet if he wants too-but I need to approve it-anything he wants to decorate his dorm with, and anything else he might want to take with him."

Augusta nodded, looking rather interested. "If you don't me asking, who else is going?"

Lynch paused, "In his year, I think, Lily Evans, James Potter, Alice Macmillan, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Macaria Snape, Severus Snape, and three Americans we haven't visited yet got their letters."

"And I know everyone you mentioned." Frank laughed. "I ought to go get packing."

Carolyn Wynters, an American witch, stood on her back porch, glaring at the sun. Why did it have to be so hot all the time? Her hand was sneaking out to the icebox when she heard her dad yell "Carolyn! You stay away from that icebox. Today's not that hot, a little warmth will do you some good." It was true, today was considerably cool for august weather. But Carolyn Wynters lived up to her last name; she loved the winter and the cold. So while everyone else was suited up with sweaters and scarves, she was slipping out of the house in t-shirts and shorts. Despite the fact she hated the heat, she had nice tan, largely due to the fact she wore a bikini almost every day of the summer. It was less of the fact that she liked to go swimming a lot, and more of the fact that she couldn't stand the heat of wearing anything else.

"Dad, I'm going swimming!" She yelled, standing up.

"Oh no, you're not! The professors from that Silverlight School said they'd be here at four o'clock, and its three thirty now! Go get something other than a bikini on!" Carolyn sighed, and darted into the kitchen. She changed into tank-top and shorts in lightning speed, then she waited in the air vent for a while. She tried to read a book while she was waiting, but the vent kept blowing pages around while she was reading them. With a sigh, she put the book down. She was too nervous to read anyway. She was tired of Salem and wanted to go to Silverlight really bad. She hoped Silverlight would updated and compatible with muggle technology, because they had some really cool inventions-like air conditioning, for example.

The doorbell rang but Carolyn didn't move. She just let the fan blow in her face. One of her parents would get it. Then they'd call down for her, but just a couple more minutes in front of the fan …

"Carolyn! Professor Lynch and Professor Dumbledore are here! Come downstairs!" Her mother called. She scrambled from her seat next to the vent and walked down the stairs. The first thing she noticed was that one of the Professors was very old, and had a very long beard. They both smiled at her, and the old one greeted her like she was an old friend. Maybe he's senile, Carolyn thought, shuddering at the thought. But she just smiled and sat down like nothing was wrong. She was itching to stick her head in the fridge, but she resisted the urge. She felt so weak in the heat.

Travis Ashbel stood on the corner of Fifth Avenue, looking wistfully at the shops. He remembered his old childhood friend, Ivvy Richards, and how she would love to window shop with him. A small smile flickered onto his face, as his hair fell into his eyes. He quickly brushed them out of his eyes and turned away. He needed to catch the subway train downtown.

"Travis," his mother gave him a very tight-lipped smile, her bathrobe was on and she didn't have a trace of make-up on. "You didn't tell me you were got an admission letter from a special school. Why didn't you warn me?" Travis just looked at her. Her voice was about an octave higher than usual, and he could tell she was shaking.

"What do you mean I got an admission letter? I didn't get anything."

"But professor Dumbledore and Professor Lynch said you should've got it at nine o'clock this morning. An owl delivered it-special post."

Travis just shook his head. "I was out by then. No wonder I didn't get it."

"Well, why don't you take a seat? You need to be here for the discussion." Travis took a few steps forward and his mother jabbed him in the back. "Go on, now, Travis. Take a seat."

At the small kitchen table there were two men, one who looked to be in his mid-thirties, and the other a very old man. The younger spoke first. "Travis, I am Professor Lynch. Since you didn't get the letter, I guess I'll just have to tell you everything. You have been accepted into Silverlight's school for magical prodigies."

"I-I already go to Salem academy."

Dumbledore laughed. "We know, Mr. Ashbel. Silverlight School is just opening this year, and I believe you'll find it more-advanced than Salem."

"Salem let me have a miniature pet dragon," Travis blurted out. "Can I take her with me?"

Both the professors stared at him Travis slumped back on his seat, worried he had gotten his admission revoked. "Just how big is this dragon?"

"She's about-" a tiny red, orange, and yellow dragon waddled into the room, emitting tiny roars and little bursts of flames and sparks. She was only about three feet tall. "Professors, this is Ami."

They gaped at him, but Lynch nodded. "She's not going to grow any bigger is she?"

Travis shook his head. Ami, who looked like a fire that had caught on fire, was just about done growing.

"My granddaughter is not going to that school of yours. How could she be a magical prodigy when she's a squib?"

Ivvy Richards stood, listening, against the door. What on earth was her grandfather going on about?

"We can assure you Mr. Thompson that Ivvy does indeed have a reminiscent of her parents' magical abilities-"

"Then how come she's a squib?" Her grandpa asked, mad as hornet. What's a squib? Ivvy thought, extremely confused. Magic? What's going on?

"I'm not denying the fact that Ivvy is a squib, Mr. Thompson. But Ivvy still has gift that are attached to the reminiscent of her parents. It's like how squibs can see dementors, only it took a more powerful form."

"She can't go to your school! She is not a witch!" Ivvy stumbled as her grandfather flew open the door. She fell on the wood floor.

Jack Thompson helped her up, and then asked, "How much did you hear?"

"I got here around the part you said I couldn't go to some school because I'm a squib. Grandpa, what is a squib?" Ivvy folded her arms across her chest and looked at her grandpa, daring him to try to not tell her today. He fidgeted nervously.

"Well, Ivvy, I guess I have some explaining to do. Take a seat." So Ivvy did. Her grandpa took a deep breath and said, "Now, don't freak out okay? Witches and wizards-they real." Ivvy fell off her seat.

It was the twentieth. Ivvy fidgeted in her seat. Whoever this boy was, he was making her uncomfortable. Why did he have to stare at her like that? Why couldn't he look away? If this continues for much longer, she'd snap. Luckily the door opened to two chattering teens, obviously brother and sister. They might even be twins. Both fell silent open the see the boy who would not stop looking at Ivvy. "Great," the girl muttered. "He's here."

They made their way across the room, and sat down on the couch. The boy didn't even notice them. He was too busy staring at Ivvy. She looked at the siblings-they looked even more like twins up close-then back at the boy, then back at the siblings-Ivvy was almost sure they twins-then back at the boy, then at the open door. Twins, door, random boy, door, twins, random boy, door. Ivvy jumped up and ran towards the open door\. "See ya later!" she yelled, right before she collided into the person headed into the room. They went sprawling on the ground. "Ow," she muttered.

"Ivvy," said a soft voice. She sat up and rubbed her head. Blinking, she opened her eyes to a tan face with dark brown puppy dog eyes and dark brown hair. Her eyes lit up.

"Travis!" Ivvy cried, and then she gave him a tackle hug. They once again went flying on the ground, laughing like little kids. The boy he was looking at her, whoever he was, finally looked away. She could see the girl twin trying not to laugh, and the boy twin hiding a smile beneath a book he had pulled out. They untangled themselves from each other and Travis led her back to her seat.

"So, how you've been doing?" He asked.

Ivvy laughed. "Pretty good. You?"

Travis shrugged. "Holding up." Small talk continued for another few minutes, before a boy with messy blond hair and glasses came running in.

"Hey Sirius! I didn't know you'd be here." The handsome yet creepy boy who had been looking at her jumped up, grinning like the Cheshire cat. Another boy, taller than glasses but even with 'Sirius', who looked a little ill but other than that okay, walked in behind glasses, also grinning like it was Christmas, Easter, and his birthday rolled into one big, fun mess.

"Remus! Man, did Peter get into." 'Remus's' grin disappeared and he shook his head. "No, I asked during my first. James-did you-?"

"Excuse me." A short, blond girl with a brilliant tan and large brown eyes interrupted them. "Can I get in the room?" The boys sheepishly moved out of the door way. She moved into the room, and her eyes, fell on Ivvy. She smiled and gave a half-wave to her and Travis so they waved her over to sit with us.

"Hi, I'm Carolyn Wynters." She held out here hand. Ivvy shook it and said, "Ivvy Richards."

"Travis Ashbel." Travis said, also shaking her hand. They might've gotten more of the conversation in, but a squeal cut them off.

"Severus! Macaria! You didn't tell me you guys got in two." A beautiful red-head had entered the room, and she was looking right at the twinsies. Then, a slightly chubby but kind looking girl entered. She beamed at the red-head and frowned at the twins. Ivvy wondered why. Finally, after six more minutes of everyone playing catch-up, another boy entered with the headmasters.

"Well, I do believe it's time for your tour. Everyone, come with us." Dumble grinned at them all and lead them downstairs.