Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the other characters mentioned in this story, Except for Kailey and Alysha. I also do not own the songs 'Hello' or 'Sweetness', which belong to Evanescence and Jimmy Eat World.

Author's Note: This is my first Fanfic, so bear with me. Please review! Thanks! Also, this takes place during Harry, Ron, and Hermione's 5th year. None of the events of the 5th book have taken place. I know 5th year was supposed to happen in 1995, but in the story, it's 2003.

Summary: A girl gets an invitation to bring a friend to stay with her cousins for a year and go to school with them. H/OC, D/OC, R/HR.

~*~*~

Kailey Barber and Alysha Mallind were best friends. The type that do everything together. They were attached at the hip. And sometimes, as cliché as it sounds, they even finished each other's sentences. Just through a glance, they could tell what the other was thinking. Nothing could tear them apart. With them, arguments that may have ruined some friendships were often resolved by the next day.

They met at the age of four, and had become friends; though, it wasn't until the age of twelve, when they started in the same middle school, did they really become close. Although they once again parted ways for grade nine at different high schools, they didn't lose touch, and still saw each other at least once a week, going to a movie or just hanging out. It was on one such Friday evening, in the middle of July, the summer after grade 9, at Kailey's house, when a letter arrived for her.

Kailey was sitting at her computer, in the front of the house, chatting with her friends online, and Alysha was sprawled out on the couch in the living room, flipping lazily through a magazine, with her mix CD playing 'Hello' by Evanescence in the background, when a loud CLUNK coming from the back of the kitchen, interrupted their thoughts.

"Holy - !" Alysha jumped up from the couch and landed with a thud on the floor, "What was that?!"

"I dunno. Just a sec, let me finish talking to Jess," Kailey called over her shoulder as Alysha cautiously ventured into the kitchen. They were alone in the house, so she was slightly nervous as to what she might find. As she neared the back of the house, she saw a feathery heap crumpled on the deck outside. She pulled back the glass door, and slid the screen to the left as she stepped outside.

Alysha bent down to try and figure out just what was lying there, and let out a startled shriek and stumbled back when the feathery thing lifted it's head and let out a loud, "HOO!".

"Are you alright?" Kailey came rushing to the back door when she heard Alysha shriek. She saw Alysha sitting on the ground with a crumpled looking owl laying next to her, "Errol?" she said, looking curiously at the owl. The owl let out another "HOO!" and hopped up and inside the house.

Alysha followed the owl with her eyes, then spoke.

"That's an owl," she said quietly.

"Well spotted," Kailey snorted.

Alysha glared at Kailey. "Oh, shut up," she grumbled, and then held out her hands, "Help me up."

Kailey grabbed Alysha's hands and pulled her to her feet. Then she motioned for Alysha to follow her into the kitchen and to shut the door once she was in.

The owl Kailey had called Errol now sat crouched on the ground. Kailey gently picked him up, and set him on the back of a chair. He swayed slightly, but she steadied him with her hand.

Alysha watched the scene before her with wide eyes. What was her best friend doing just bringing some old owl into her house? "Okay, what's going on?" she asked Kailey.

Kailey looked at Alysha, "Oh, sorry, hun. This is Errol. He belongs to my cousins from England." She looked back at Errol, "I wonder why he's here?" she said more to herself than to Alysha.

"Poor Errol, he looks dead on his feet, but no wonder, considering he flew all the way from England. Wait. If he belongs to your cousins, what is he doing here?" Alysha asked, then she paused, seeing something, and from beneath him, she pulled a piece of rolled up parchment. She handed it to Kailey, "This must be why. I wonder what it is?"

Kailey sighed and turned to Alysha. "Aly, my cousins use owls to deliver post. That's why he's here." This received a confused look from Alysha, so Kailey decided to elaborate, but before she could speak, Alysha cut her of.

"Oh! Your cousins. they're Wizards, aren't they?"

Kailey was surprised, "You know about Wizards?"

"PFFT! Of course I do. I have a bit of wizard blood in me. Not enough to actually DO Magic. But, you know." Alysha stopped herself before she started rambling on and on about nothing. "Sorry I didn't tell you."

"Don't worry about it! I have a bit of Wizard's blood in me too. but like you, not enough to actually do magic." Kailey said lightly, smiling, assuring Alysha that it didn't matter. She looked at the parchment in her hands, "Well," she said, "I should probably see what this is, shouldn't I?"

Alysha shrugged and nodded. Kailey pulled at the string tied in a bow around the parchment and as it came undone, she unravelled the roll, and began reading it.

Dear Kailey,

Hello, dear! It's just your Aunt Molly writing to tell you I have some very exciting news! Your Uncle Arthur and I have been speaking to Professor Albus Dumbledore from Hogwarts, and he has informed us that it would not only be allowed, but it would be encouraged for you to stay with your cousins at Hogwarts for the following year, and receive your studies there! I have already spoken with your mother and father, and they think it would be a wonderful experience, and have taken care of speaking to your teachers at school.

If you wish to come, please send a note back with Errol. You could come on August 1, and stay with us for the rest of the summer, until the term starts. I also have some other good news. You will be able to bring a friend with you! We thought it would help you feel more at home to have somebody you knew with you, so you won't get too homesick.

I very much hope you do decide to come, as we haven't seen you in ages. Please decide quickly!

Love, Aunt Molly

P.S. Hi Kailey! Ron here. Just wanted to say hi, and that I hope you decide to come. Ginny says hi as well! Speak to you later, Ron.

"Oh my god," Kailey suppressed the scream of joy that wanted to burst from her. She didn't want to wake the neighbours, of course. "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!"

Kailey heard Alysha ask quietly from behind her, "I guess you're going to go, then. Who're you going to bring?"

Kailey turned around and rolled her eyes. "Gee, I wonder who?" she muttered sarcastically, "Who do I spend all my time with, and consider my best friend?"

Alysha looked at her excitedly. "Really?" she asked.

"Well, I want to have a good time, and I wouldn't be able to have a good time if I couldn't see you for a year," Kailey said happily.

Alysha couldn't help it. she started giggling and threw her arms around her best friend's neck. "Thank you so much!" she squealed. Alysha had heard about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and had always wanted to visit it. "I SO owe you one!" she said as she pulled back.

"If you owe anyone anything, it would be Professor Dumbledore or my aunt and uncle. Don't worry about it. And it's not like you're the only one getting the favour here, because I get to do this as well, and I've always wanted to visit Hogwarts, just like it seems you have wanted to do as well." Kailey then grabbed a pen and scribbled a quick reply on the back of the parchment with her aunt's letter, tied it back onto Errol's leg, and after giving him some bread crumbs and water, sent him on his way.

Just then 'Sweetness' started playing on the CD player.

Alysha squealed with happiness again and grabbed the phone to call her parents.

~*~*~ Note: There it is! The first chapter! Sorry it wasn't too long. I hope the next will be longer. Anyway, keep reading!