Disclaimer: I don't own Hogwarts or any of the HP character except Callie Winnapeg. JK Rowling created this stuff and I think she's pretty damn smart so I ain't stealin it!
Summary: A fairly lengthy story that follows Callie Winnapeg's (my own character) transfer to Hogwarts from the states. She's going into her 6th year and Oliver Wood, the twins, Lee Jordan, Alicia and Angelina are main characters. Of course there's going to be Quidditch, annoying professors and a bit of romance, but I'm not going to give it all away!
*Note: I know that because I placed Oliver in the 6th year, all the other students (I mean the twins, Lee and the girls) should be in 4th year, but for the sake of my story, I put them in 5th. Okay then.. thanks!
Chapter 1: The Leaking Cauldron and the Alley
A blonde, freckled girl hurried through the streets of London. She adjusted her backpack and held a relatively large basket to her chest. She held a tiny piece of rumpled paper up to her face.
"Charing Cross Road," she repeated in a slight British accent. She crossed a road absent-mindedly and looked up at the side of a building bearing the street sign.
"Wow, I'm good," Callie commented reading the sign. "Charing Cross."
Callie walked down the road. 'Now where am I going again? Hmmm.. oh yeah.. The Leaky… Cauldron,' she thought. She continued down the crowded road, until she spotted a seemingly run-down corner shop with fogged up windows and a blank, black sign. When Callie took a second look, the words "Leaky Cauldron" and a small black cauldron appeared on the previously empty sign. Without a second thought she entered the pub pulling her basket along behind her. The interior of the restaurant looked similar to any other, yet the people and the food being served would prove otherwise. Women wearing dark pointy hats and men with hooded cloaks filled the room and everyone except perhaps the workers behind the bar, was wearing long robes.
Callie approached the bar. "Um.. excuse me? I'm looking for Tom, is he available?"
The man behind the counter turned around. He had grayish hair, an unshaven face and he was wearing a dark red vest.
"That's me miss," he said as he cleaned a glass. "What can I do for ya?" Callie rifled through the pocket of her blue sweatshirt and pulled out a piece of parchment with a note from the headmaster of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
"I'm supposed to give this to you and apparently you can help me get to… uh.. I think its called Diagon Alley."
Tom read the note over, nodded and replied, "Ah of course, good ole' Dumbledore. Hang on a moment…" He walked out of the bar area, and motioned for Callie to follow him. They continued out of the back of the bar into an alley that was enclosed by a red brick wall. Callie was confused.
"Um.. but is this…" she began. Tom cut her off.
"Don't worry love. Be but a moment." Tom took out his wand and mumbled a few words as he tapped a series of bricks. "Three up…. Two Across…"
Suddenly, to Callie's amazement the bricks seemed to fold themselves outward. As they moved, an alley filled with rushing witches and wizards came into view. Callie was amazed and afraid at the same time.
"Thank-you very much," she stammered as she steadied herself.
"No problem. Have a good one," Tom answered and made his way back to the dusty bar. Callie took a deep breath and walked into the mysterious alleyway. Stores lined the narrow street. Wizarding folk of all ages rushed around and small children stood staring into store windows. Students bustled about nagging parents to buy them things for the upcoming school year. The first stores Callie observed were the Apothecary and the Cauldron shop. "I have a cauldron," she said to herself. She took her list out once more. "I just need to pick up some books and potion supplies.. and of course robes." As she continued down the road she looked to her right and saw Quality Quidditch Supplies. 'Ohhhh,' she though. 'I have to go in there.' Checking to make sure she had money in her pocket, she slowly entered the shop.
"I don't want to buy the broomstick, I just want to see it!" A dark haired boy almost yelled. This was the first thing Callie heard as she entered the store. She silently tip toed to the book section of the store while the boy continued.
"Oh come now… Just let me take a little peak at the new Firebolt model…. Yes I know it isn't for sale until next week.. I know… but…"
Callie smiled and shook her head. She knew how it felt to be obsessed with Quidditch, it certainly was an amazing game. Yet, she didn't know if her obsession went so far as to harassing storeowners. She turned her attention back to the old bookracks. "Whisp… Whisp…" she said aloud, looking through the myriad of books the store had to offer. She crowched down to the bottom level to have a look. When she stood back up, the book she was looking for was surprisingly right under her nose…. literally. The green, leather bound book entitled Quidditch Through the Ages, was floating effortlessly directly in front of Callie's head. She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion wondering if there was a new system that could read your mind to find the book you were looking for. Yet, her questions were answered when she saw a wand sticking up over the aisle from the other side. She stood up on her toes and leaned up against the shelf to peer over. She was met with a pair of bright brown eyes staring right back at her. Startled by this, Callie was knocked off balance and she tipped over backward landing on her butt. The book also fell to the ground as the person who was levitating it rushed around the corner and down the aisle.
"Sorry love, " Callie heard in a strong Scottish accent. She looked up and… whoa. A boy.. the same boy who was previously feuding with the shopkeeper was standing in front of her. He had short brown hair, deep brown eyes and was wearing black robes with emblem embroidered them. He held out his hand, which Callie took hesitantly. She was sort of shy, especially in places she had never been, and Diagon Alley certainly qualified.
"Didn't mean to startle you," the boy continued. "I just heard you mumbling about Kennilworthy Whisp… and well you know the rest. Are you learning about Quidditch?"
Callie dusted herself off and picked up the book. "Well, I wouldn't say learning really," she began. "I just checked it out of my school library so much that I thought I might as well buy it!" The boy was silent for a moment, he just starred at her. Callie, feeling a bit embarrassed waved her hand in front his face. He immediately snapped out of it.
"Oh, ha… sorry," he said, a blush creeping over his cheeks. "I'm Wood, uh Oliver Wood to be exact," he said sticking out his hand. Callie laughed and shook her head slightly.
"Callie Winnapeg. Do you go to Hogwarts?" She asked hopefully, shaking his hand lightly. It wouldn't hurt to have him go to her new school. Oliver leaned up against the bookcase.
"Yeah. Come to think of it, I haven't seen you around. Then again, I'm not very good with remembering people.. you see, I'm known to be a bit obsessed with Quidditch," he said with a sideways grin. 'Oh man,' Callie thought. 'He's got a smile on him, that one.'
"Yeah, I can tell. I heard you battling with the shopkeeper. Anyway, I used to live in London and we moved to the states where I went to Cowlings School. When we decided to move back I got accepted to Hogwar…" Callie was cut off by the slow tipping of the book case. Oliver had apparently put to much weight on the old structure and it couldn't take it. The case tipped over causing both of the teenagers to jump back. With a loud crash, books were thrown in every direction. Callie's eyes were wide open in surprise, as were Oliver's.
"WOOD!!!" A voice yelled from the front of the store. Oliver cringed.
"Uhh.. You'd better be on your way. I don't know what he'll do when he sees what I've done. Might get messy you understand. But… I hope to see you at school." Oliver finished.
Callie grinned, and began to pick her way through the books, towards the door. She turned around when she heard Wood's voice again.
"Oh! And when they sort you, think Gryffindor!" he yelled. Callie didn't yet understand what he meant, but for some reason she knew she should keep it in mind. As she exited the store, she heard the distant rantings of the storeowner and the persistent excuses of Oliver. With one last look at the stripped Quidditch uniforms in the window, Callie made her way toward Flourish and Botts.