Surviving the Oregon Trail
Disclaimer: I am not making money for writing this story. It is purely for fun and entertainment. Anything affiliated with the "Harry Potter" series or "The Oregon Trail" does not belong to me.
Chapter 1 – Test Day
"I hope everyone studied extraordinary well for this exam," warned Professor Charity Burbage once class time had begun.
The 5th year students in her Muggle Studies class exchanged concerned glances. For the past 4 months they were learning the history of The United States of America – particularly from the mid 1800s. It was a time when Muggles and some well-hidden witches and wizards were headed West in search of a better life and, in most cases, gold.
The students weren't sure exactly why they were learning about North America in a class geared toward studying Muggles, or why it was so important, but Professor Burbage kept insisting that they study and learn a major part of American Muggle history. Many of the students suspected that their professor's ancestors were involved in the journey, and that's why she found it so "intriguing" and "essential" to the curriculum.
"In place of the usual written exam, I have put the class into four groups of six. Together, you will be taking a journey on what is called The Oregon Trail."
Professor Burbage paused dramatically to let her words sink in before continuing.
"The object is simple enough: Make it to your destination! Of course, all of you will be stripped of all magical powers in order to make this an educational and fulfilling experience."
As Professor Burbage shifted through a thick stack of papers in her hands, the classroom door opened and the professors Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, and Filius Flitwick entered.
"Oh! Right then! Class, these professors are graciously offering their time to assist me in monitoring the teams. We will be recording progress, looking over the teams' journals, and sometimes giving advice. Be assured that we are NOT going to hold your hand and be at your beckoned call," Professor Burbage warned.
"Remember, this journey is going to seem very real – as it very well should! But should you be injured or deathly ill, you will probably feel some discomfort, but nothing too serious. If you make a poor decision or run into a terrible disaster and die, the professor monitoring your team will immediately remove you out of the game. The downfall to dying, of course, means that you have failed the test if the death could have been prevented. Sometimes deaths can come out of nowhere, however, and in those cases I will decide your grade based on your performance and survival skills."
Professor Burbage passed the papers out to the students, and then asked the other professors to follow her to her office for their monitoring materials.
The moment the door closed, the classroom erupted in loud, excited chatter. Students were beyond anxious to find out who was on their team and what the experience would be like. Some students were so full of worry for not studying as hard as they should have, they immediately began memorizing their notes and scanning their text books.
After what seemed like hours, the professors filed back into the classroom looking just as anxious as the students to get started.
"Students, please quiet down while groups are assigned. Once your team and monitor have been named, please go to your monitor and wait for further instruction," Professor Burbage began as she unrolled a parchment. "Team One will be monitored by yours truly."
Professor Burbage rattled off names for her group and Flitwick's group before Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger all thought, "Please don't let me be in Snape's group!"
Harry turned and noticed Draco Malfoy and a few other Slytherins were still waiting for their teams.
"Professor Snape's team includes Draco Malfoy.."
"Of course," thought all the students who weren't in Slytherin.
"Ron Weasley.."
"Damn! Of all the bloody, rotten luck," muttered Ron, standing up.
"Neville Longbottom.."
"No! Why me?" Neville asked Hermione.
"Sorry, Neville. At least you've got Ron," Hermione commented.
"Pansy Parkinson.."
Ron couldn't help but groan in disgust.
"Vincent Crabbe..and Gregory Goyle."
"What?!" yelled Ron and Neville in unison.
"Hmmm..," Professor Burbage said while looking through her list. "Professor McGonagall? Would you be willing to make a trade to even out the Slytherins?"
"Of course, Charity. Hermione Granger can be switched with either Vincent or.." Professor McGonagall stopped short when she saw the horrified looks on the boys' faces. "Would you two like to stay together?"
Crabbe and Goyle nodded frantically but looked at Draco with concern. Draco and Pansy looked warily at one other when Professor McGonagall looked at them.
"Erm..If I may, Professor," Harry started, "Goyle can take my place if Crabbe is taking Hermione's so that they can be together."
"How thoughtful of you, Mr. Potter, but then that leaves Team Three with one too many Gryffindors..Unless Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall have no objections," Professor Burbage said.
Professor Snape opened his mouth to object, but Professor McGonagall cut him off.
"That's fine by me; I'll consider it a challenge. What do you say, Severus? Are you up to the task?"
Professor Snape paused for a moment before giving a curt nod and striding away to Team Three's designated area. Draco and Pansy weren't hiding the fact that they were pissed about loosing two fellow Slytherins as they glared at their Gryffindor teammates.
"Pull up a chair, students, and Professor Snape will explain anything I forgot to mention and answer any questions you may have. Good luck and make wise decisions!" said Professor Burbage with a smile as she headed off to talk to her group.
Each member grabbed a chair and made a half-hearted circle. Professor Snape looked them over in silence before speaking.
"First, the team needs to choose someone to be the leader. That person will keep track of everything from food to directions. I advise you to choose wisely, because it could determine the fate of your grades."
"Well, Professor Snape, I think it's completely evident that Draco should be this team's leader," Pansy suggested as she looked dreamily at Draco.
Professor Snape smirked in agreement as Draco displayed a smug smile.
"And why's that, Pansy? Isn't he just barely passing this course?" questioned Hermione.
"If you ask me, Hermione should be the leader," Neville piped up.
"Yes, well said! She is acing this class and grew up with Muggle parents, so she'll know more than, well, most of us," Ron suggested, glancing at Harry.
The group argued for a bit before they finally decided to draw numbers.
"Number 2," revealed Professor Snape as being the leader. Draco swore and Hermione frowned.
"Who's the leader then?" Pansy demanded after no one said anything.
"Ummm..I guess that it's me," said Harry, looking uncomfortable.
"Figures! Leave it to the famous Potter to be the leader of our team!" spat Draco.
"Hey! He won fair and square. Don't be a sore loser, Malfoy," Ron shot back.
"Shut your face—"
"Will you two shut up so we can get started already? We've wasted enough time," complained Hermione as she looked around the room and saw that two of the teams were gone.
Draco glared at Hermione then sat back in his chair muttering something about a know-it-all. Professor Snape had been enjoying the whole ordeal, but he decided it was time to move on and stood again.
"Now that that's decided, you need to choose a level. There are three levels, but Professor Burbage will only allow you to pick from the first two - seeing how you're all inexperienced in how this works. You can either be Greenhorns or Adventurers. As a Greenhorn, you are an ordinary member of the wagon train. The decisions you make only affect you and your party. As an Adventurer, you serve as the train's captain. Decisions you make will affect the entire train. Bonus points, however, will be awarded if you reach your destination as captain. If morale falls, you will be demoted to a Greenhorn. The key difference between the two is time. As a Greenhorn, you have no control over how long you travel or which roads to take. As an Adventurer, you could either add or subtract time from your journey. So, Mr. Potter, which will it be?"
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, out of habit, and then said, "I'd like to discuss it with the group first."
Snape simply folded his arms across his chest, waiting for another argument to start.
"It's obvious that we should be Adventurers, that way, even if we screw up with the directions or something, we're still in the game! Besides, of all goes well, we could get bonus points in the end," said Hermione.
"True," said the rest of the Gryffindors in agreement.
Pansy looked at Draco, who appeared to be thinking.
"Are you good with maps, Granger?" Draco asked, mockingly. "Otherwise, I think we'd be better off letting that hideous cat of yours choose the paths."
"I think we'll manage just fine, Malfoy," Hermione shot back, "and I won't be the only one reading the map, remember?"
Draco hesitated with a sneer before throwing his hands in front of him and saying, "Fine then! Just don't blame me for anything later."
After going through many more group decisions (occupation, departure date, departure city, destination, skills), the team decided to let Harry be a pharmacist in order to have medical and botany skills, leave on April 1, 1855, set out from Independence, Missouri, travel to Oregon City, Oregon, and have the extra skills of riverwork, carpentry, and tracking.
"Now, let's get the lot of you into this game and let the real fun begin," Professor Snape said with a smirk before saying a large and complicated spell none of the students had ever heard before.
Everything turned bright green before Harry's eyes, and he felt as though he was swimming through one of Snape's potions. Suddenly, he felt the sun shinning down on him, a cool wind blowing through his hair, and the ground covered with something soft before he opened his eyes.
"Ummm..Harry? I think Snape made a terrible mistake!"