Awsome chap image by Ylime TDA

I woke in the early hours of the morning, the first light streamed through the small opening in the curtains and all around my room. It danced on my closed eye lids, its blinding glow seeping through the thin skin, causing me to see the faint outline of my veins.

I stubbornly kept my eyes closed, refusing to welcome the new day. It wasn't going to be any good, why accept it any earlier than necessary?

But I knew I couldn't avoid it forever, so I begrudgingly threw back my sheets and swung my legs around to the edge of my bed. Now in a sitting position, I rubbed my hands over my face in an attempt to rub off the fatigue that still swarmed me. Sighing heavily, I realised how big a day it was going to be and much to my dismay, I couldn't do anything about it.

This was it. This was the day my life changed forever.

It's such a corny line; so clichéd. Yet, it still caused my stomach to impersonate a towel being wrung. Why did it have to come so soon?

I just needed more time to think things over and there's only one place that gives you that ability.

I sauntered lazily over to the bathroom, dragging my patterned towel behind me. Seeking refuge in the shower was my brilliant plan. In all the movies I've watched, all the books I've read, if the character's thrown in the deep end, they have a shower. They say it allows one to forget all troubles, and become one with the free-flowing water.

Eagar to rid thoughts of the problematic day ahead, I clambered in. The water was volcanic as it thundered onto my back in powerful torrents, the effect giving a dull massage. My rigid muscles let loose, and I stood in much laxation for a while. Physically, I was calm and collected. Mentally, I was suffering some chaotic disorder in which no single thought is reasonable nor logical.

I was envious of the water. It was free to roam where it pleased, no barriers kept it back. If it wanted, it could so easily just flow away, down a drain and never be seen again. It was strong and powerful, yet so calm and serene. The splendiferous simplicity of the colour was outstanding and it gave it such a scenic look. You could fly in the water, really, you could. You could sink to the bottom and then rocket to the top all without your feet touching the hidden ground. No body could live without the water, so I had every right to be jealous of it.

I jerked my head from side to side, wishing to rid the childish thoughts. What a stupid thing to envy; water. It's a bloody inanimate object, it's not alive!

Deciding the shower did no help what so ever with juggling my thoughts, I shut off the water and emerged into the now steamy bathroom.

'Ahh, the joys of hot showers' I thought sarcastically.
I roughly rubbed my towel against my damp figure, slowly drying my skin. Glancing upwards, I noticed the ceiling covered by hazy mobs of evaporation that rolled and tumbled over top of each other, sluggishly beginning to disintegrate.
I reached up and wiped my hand over the sweaty mirror in a futile attempt to clear it, but to no avail, it just fogged back up when I removed my hand.

I tore open the window and switched on the fan before leaving the bathroom.
I walked back into my room and threw on some clothes. And then took them back off. I followed this pattern for the next ten minutes; clothes on, clothes off – like a modern version of The Karate Kid. My self-conscious mind took over and I struggled to find something decent to wear. After all, I'm going to my new school today, I can't turn up looking like a troll….or a snob, or a fashion downturn. I have to have poise, but not too much, I need to be casual, but not casually daggy. I need to be perfect.
I finally settled on a pair of blue skinny-legs, a green shirt and a pair of white ballet flats. It wasn't Vogue level fashion, but it would do. With an approving nod, I turned to put away all of the clothes that I had thrown askew across the room. Much to my surprise, there were heaps. Clothes were hanging idly of off all my furniture left, right and centre. It took a while, but eventually I got everything back to normal and decided to leave my room.

If this were a movie the music would start playing and something like 20th century fox would appear on screen.

I walked back into the now clear bathroom and went to brush my hair in front the mirror.
If this were a movie, my name would be written in the top left hand corner of the glass screen, saying which character I would be playing. If this were a movie I wouldn't have to waste time getting ready because I would have already spent hours letting people perfect my make-up.

I paused in front of the mirror, taking in my reflection. My chocolate curls reached halfway down my back in a scruffy and unprofessional manner. My currently green eyes sparkled like emeralds in the sunshine. But I looked different. I still had my perfectly shaped eyebrows and slightly large mouth, but there was something about the way everything was fixed that just looked….different.

Perhaps it was the stern way my jaw had set, or the fear in my eyes. Both happening for one reason – today was my last day in Australia.

If this were a movie, the pain those words brought would only be fake.

I took my time packing my trunk. The first time I packed it, there were too many summer clothes, second time not enough room for my books, third time enough room for my books…but not my clothes. What exactly are you meant to pack?

I could pack my laptop, but it doesn't work in the school, which mean I need to take my magical power sourcey doovey-hickey thing, but that would need an extension cord, but there's no power point to plug it into so I'd have to take my electrician kit. Then I'd look like a dork so I'd need to take some cool books but then there'd be nowhere to put them all so I'd need a bookcase, but I couldn't fit one in my trunk, so I'd have to place it all under a funny charm, but I couldn't do that because I can't do magic out of school.

"DAD!" I screamed.

"What is it, honey?" he yelled back.

"I NEED YOU TO COME UP HERE AND PUT A SPELL ON MY TRUNK"

Then there was silence. I hate this kind of silence, when you know you've done something wrong, but no one will tell you what. And you haven't got the slightest clue what it was. It's one of the most annoying 'sounds' in the world, and the suspense is deadly.

"Adelaide, you know I can't do magic, I'm a muggle" he eventually called back.

Oh, he is too. Bummer.

I turned to face my trunk, "You're a pain in the bloody hole"

For the twenty or so minutes, I stood rooted to the ground, my eyes narrowed into slits as I glared at my trunk. I just stood and glared at it, like any other normal person would. I'm a very productive girl you see, my plan is to stay here and waste time staring at my trunk until it cracks and eats up all the stuff I need to pack. That way, it saves me from having to do it and I don't have to leave some things behind because they don't fit. See, I'm really quite a bright girl. Cue the applause.
But my plan was turning out to be a lot harder than I first expected because my trunk wasn't cracking. In the strange land that is my imagination; evil trunks have giant red eyes and horns. So, I challenged my trunk to a staring contest. If I win, it eats up all my stuff. If it wins, I have to do it myself.

Yes, I was annoyed and perhaps I required a year or two in an asylum, but there was no way I was going to lose this. I crawled forward on my hands and knees until I was nose-to-imaginary nose with the evil-eyed trunk.

"I will never blink" I threatened, my voice unusually high.

"Adelaide?" Oh, of all the crappy luck.

I shot my head up to look at dad, thus loosing the contest. His eyes were wide as Jupiter and his jaw hung open in shock,
After an awkward minute of silence he continued, "A-are you ready?"

I glanced over at my trunk, the evil eyes and horns had vanished and it was the same boring brown trunk I had bought. Actually, it was exactly the same as when I bought it, because it was empty.
Dad sighed, "Just hurry up, would you?" I nodded feverishly and he trotted back down the stairs.

Abiding his demand, I quickly threw anything and everything within reach into my trunk. A short while later, it was over-flowing with clothes and shoes and books of all sorts. I pulled the lid down and waited for the fulfilling 'click' indicating the end of dreadful endeavour that is packing. Nothing. Sure enough, my trunk was too full to close, so I did the only logical thing possible…I jumped on it.

I squished and wriggled for a while before finally getting it closed. I jumped off and with a victorious "HA!" and danced downstairs to get breakfast.

Dad was leaving for England in about an hour, whereas I wanted to stay behind and say goodbye to my best friend, Nellie.

Dads said that the Headmaster of my new school would apperate to Nellie's house and then take me to Hogwarts.

Honestly, what kind of name is that? Were the founders high or something? I mean seriously, Hogwarts? Might as well be something like Monkeypubes.

Okay, not a good thought.

Taking a seat in the dining room, I looked up at the house. It wasn't big or extravagant, but it was home and I was sad to leave it. The lounge was empty, as was the rest of the house. The fireplace wasn't on and the back door was locked for the first time since we moved in.

Dad placed a bowl of fruit salad in front of me, so I beamed up at him. Fruit salad was my favourite.

"I know you're nervous honey, but it's going to be fine. You'll love it in England."

"It's kind of weird because I've never really been one to be nervous. It's just…how many times have people moved? And if they can do it so easily then why can't I?"

He glanced over my shoulder and then back at me "Because you have a kookaburra that'll eat everything" he smiled, turning away.

I spun in my chair and saw Largy, my kookaburra, eating a pair of socks.

An hour later we got in the car and I was dropped off at Nellie's.

Her house was a mix. It was homey and loving, but also stylish and new. It was relatively big and made from tan coloured bricks. A pale green roof sat atop the sandy walls and a small red peak emerged from the centre. The entire house was surrounded by small trees, rather than a fence, the larger of them only two metres high. Their lawn was the perfect shade of green, and never faltered it's colour into small patches of brown like most do. A deep mahogany door was placed in an indent in the walls, with the garage around the short corner. The lounge room had windows that stretched from the roof to the ground, giving a full view of the contents of the adorable house.

Only seconds after knocking on the heavy duty door, it was pulled back inside the house and replaced with a familiar blonde.

"Addie" Nellie screamed, jumping into my arms. I laughed at her childish antics, and hugged her back.

"Oh, it's so good to see you" she cried, directing me inside.

"You know I feel the same, but it's been what, a day?" I replied, raising a questioning brow.

"Exactly, an entire day! That's twenty-three hours and fifty-nine minutes more than I can handle" She cried, waving her hands in the air dramatically. I grinned.

"You can only last a minute with out me? God-oh-God, what will you do when I'm gone?" I laughed, cocking my head to the side.

Her smile faded and a frown took over her face, "Yeah, well, not much I suppose"
'Hey, lighten up. This is my last day and I don't want to spend it moping around like a bunch of sad gits"

A small tear rolled down her cheek, leaving a glittery streak behind.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't cry, Nellie. It's okay; I'm still here"

"Y-you're still he-ere, you're s-s-still 'ere" she mumbled, mostly to herself.

"Deep breaths, Nells" I cooed, rubbing her back. She attempted to do so, but it was shaky and caught in her throat a few times.

"Don't go" she finally got out, pouncing on me. She wrapped her arms around me tightly; possessively.

Just then dad walked inside with my bag and Largy's cage. He placed them on the bench next to the door, and beckoned me over.

"I've got to leave now" he explained, glancing at his watch. I enveloped him in a hug and said my good byes.

"I'll see you soon" he called out of the car window, before driving off into the horizon.

By this time, Nellie had recovered from her sudden outburst and was now bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement. Her layered blonde hair was curling elegantly down her back, but her hazel eyes danced with joy.

"Sooo, what are we going to do?" she asked, excitement dripping from every word.

"Well, I thought we'd just chill at your house and watch some movies" I shrugged, taking a seat at the base of the stairs.

"But, it's your last day. I mean you're leaving soon" said Nellie,

"And..."

"Well, don't you want to do something fun?" she urged, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Like what?" I asked, raising a sceptical brow.

"I don't know, maybe we could stunt the mall?" she answered casually, doing this weird kind of shrug-pout with her lips.

"Are you mad? If we got busted we'd be absolutely screwed. Screwed" I fumed, waving my arms aroubd like a mad-women.

"But, what if we don't go caught? What if we're not "screwed"" she asked, quoting me with bunny ears.

"B-but, it's just...it's mad. You're speaking absolute blasphemy!" I cried.

"But it's you last day. We have to do something interesting. You need to be remembered!" she pushed, jabbing a finger in my chest.

I crossed my arms across my chest and turned away immaturely, "Well, I refuse to do it" I said, cocking my chin out.

She sighed defeatedly, "Fine, we won't do it-"

"Good" I approved, turning back around to face her.

"-and everyone will just forget who you are. No one will care that you were a walking form of pure awesomeness" she continued, ignoring what I had said. She had her eyes closed and her head tilted upward with her hands across her heart, "And eventually, I'll forget who you are. And on the day of your funeral, I'll get an invitation and be like 'Oh, yeah. I think I knew that girl" and they'll ask me to do a speech and I'll say you were the most shy, socially awkward git who wouldn't do a small, tiny, little, wee thing to make her best friend forever happy" she chanced a peek at me through her opened left eye.

I sighed, "You're not convincing me"

She breathed heavily out of her nose, eyes brows scrunching as she thought of a different angle to attack me with. Her eyes instantly lit up and she grinned mischievously. Climbing back to her feet she marched determinedly over to me.

"Do you want to be remembered?" she pushed.

"I guess it would be nice-"

"See, this is one way of doing that"

"Exactly, one way"

She ignored me again, and walked behind me, placing her head next to my left ear.

"You could be great" she breathed, "Infamous" .

"Infamous?"

"Forever more known as 'Adelaide Lee - the girl who...did something awesome" she bluffed.

"Did something awesome? You're so original" I grinned, scoffing slightly.

"It's got a ring to it, don't you think?" she pushed.

"No, Nellie. Not really" I smirked, shaking my head.

"No? Damn, I was really hoping to come up with good names for a career"

"Don't hold your breath" I laughed.

"Mum, we're going to the shops" she yelled suddenly, without waiting for a reply, she yanked my arm and shoved me out the door.

We stumbled on to the lawn, almost falling over. Nellie regained her balance just in time to receive a rather hard shove from my behalf.

"What's got your wand in a knot?" she asked, rubbing her arm.

"I could have died" I shrieked, waving my hands in the air like the mad-women I am.

"How could you have died?" she asked, raising a disbelieving brow.

"I could have hit my head" I said, pointing an accusing finger at her.

"You're a vampire with a cranium made of granite-"

With record fast reflexes, I swooped on her and clamped my hand over her mouth, "Shh" I demanded, "Some one might here you" I instinctively whipped my head back and forth, making everything a blur. When I was certain no body was in hearing range, I let go of Nellies mouth.

"Oh, loosen your knickers. It's not like they'd make anything of it" she said.

"Just, don't talk about it"

We walked in silence the rest of the way to the shopping complex. But it didn't last long and soon enough we were back to our normal idiotic selves.

"Whoa, go boy" Nellie yelled, half hanging off of a Thomas the Tank Engine automated toy outside the super market, waving her hand in the air like a cow boy.

"Faster, faster, faster!" I demanded, shaking the machine violently.

"Calm down, Addie" Nellie cooed, her tongue half hanging out of her mouth.

"You sound drunk" I slurred, pointing an accusing finger at her. Well, I think I pointed at her.

"So do you" she retorted, poking her tongue out immaturely.

A few seconds later, the machine stopped moving.

"No, Thomas. Don't do this" Nellie wailed, holding on to the steering wheel tightly.

"Thomas doesn't love me" I sobbed, hugging Nellies arm for support.

"Well, he's missing out" she decided, pulling me out of the child's toy.

We wandered idly away from the machine and towards Toy World. As we opened the door, a small chime signified out arrival. Right on cue, a preppy lady with blonde piggy-tails and a giant ear-to-ear grin appeared.

"Hiya, girls, my name is Sandy. How can I be helping you?"

I stood where I was and stared at her dumbly. Lucky for me, Nellie knew what to say.

"Good day, fair lady. Would you kindly direct us to you weapons isle?" she said, using a completely fake English accent.

I giggled and the lady, Sandy, looked very confused.

"She needs help" I explained, jabbing a thumb towards Nellie. Predictably, this earned me a whack across the head.

"Oh, right. Well, hop all aboard the Sandy Express. Foam swords and water pistols are right this way" Sandy beamed unnaturally.

Nellie and I linked arms and made our way through the colourful store. Barbies and Buzz Light-year's and face paints were scattered all throughout the many aisles and I had to admit; I could easily spend a few hours in here.

When we arrived at the 'weapons' section, Sandy left, saying that if we needed anything, to give her a call. I don't think she realised she'd just left two sugar-hyped teenagers alone in an ocean of potentially dangerous foam.

What came next is up to your imagination, but know it involves a lot of Star Wars take offs, war cries, an angry Sandy and a raping broccoli.

"That was fun" Nellie stated, swinging her many bags in circles.

"It was, ay?" I agreed, nodding slowly.

"Do we have any jelly babies left?" she asked casually.

I looked in the bags, "Nope"

"Skittles?"

"We ate all those while in Thomas, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. What about the strawberries?"

"We had a food fight, Nells"

"Bummer. Are there any Tim Tams?"

"Weapons in the 'Great Foam Wars'"

"Jellybeans?"

"No"

"Liquoris bullets?"

"Nope"

"Chocolate Fish?"

"Nada"

"Coke bottles?"

"Zilch"

"Red skins?"

"Gone"

"Frogs?"

"Empty"

"Oh, bloody hell. Okay, what do we have?"

I searched through my bags for a few minutes before replying.

"Four shirts, three pants, six shoes, two necklaces, two foam swords, a box of face paint, Sandy's name tag, a bag of prunes and seventy-five cents" I replied, with an approving nod.

"We've got bloody prunes!?" she screeched, tearing the bag from my grasp and ripping through it's contents to obtain the prunes, "But we hate prunes"

"And we hate Sandy, but we've got her name-tag" I justified.

"Point"

We walked in a comfortable silence for the next few minutes. I'm not sure what was going through Nellie's mind, but I'm stuck on how many lollies we ate. An entire bag of jelly babies, Tim tams, red skins, red frogs, coke bottles, chocolate fish, liquoris bullets, strawberries and skittles all in just three hours. It really in no wonder we were so hyperactive. I mean that many lollies is just uncanny.

We really are a bizarre lot.

We had just arrived at Nellie's house and dumped out bags by the door when a loud yet gently 'pop' echoed around the room. With danger being my first reaction, I grabbed the nearest weapon, which just so happened to be my newly purchased foam sword. I pointed the point of the sword towards the source of the sound; it hung limply in front of me, not at all looking threatening.

As I averted my eyes up, the first thing I saw was a large gash of white. It flowed on and on and had occasional streaks of grey swimming in it. I then realised it was a beard, a beard of a rather old man to be exact.

He was quite tall and easily towered me by a foot and a half. His face was wrinkled, but the skin along his cheek bones clung as tight as leather over them. He had ghostly white hair, which rivalled his beard in length. His body was cloaked with light blue robes, which billowed terrifyingly in the faint breeze from the open door. His eyes were tired and drooping, yet held some base of laughter and excitement from behind his half-moon spectacles.

My second reaction was to scream. So I did. Nellie and I wailed for a few seconds, before realising it did no help and stopped.

"Good evening, you must be Miss Lee", he finally said, looking me up and down.

"Y-yes" I croaked, "If you don't mind me asking, who are you?"

"I am Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witch craft and Wizardry"

"Oh, of course you are" I laughed uneasily at my own stupidness. I must have looked like such a fool screaming in front of him, "I wasn't really expecting you so soon"

"I do believe I said five o'clock" he replied calmly, still looking me in the eye.

I looked down at my watch and gasped, it was five o'clock exactly. Where did the day go?

"Wow, time goes fast when you're having fun then" I mumbled and I heard Nellie smirk next to me.

"Are you ready to leave Miss Lee?" Dumbledore asked.

No. That was the real answer. I'd never be ready to leave. I'd never see Nellie again, or her house. I'll never have fun like we did today. I'll have to start a new school, make new friends; it'll be like being re-born. If anything, I at least needed a few more minutes.

"Could I please have five minutes?" I asked, unsure of how this would affect him.

"Of course" he said, not a trace of annoyance in his voice.

I turned to Nellie. Suddenly the air around me felt cold and stiff. My throat started to sting, and a small tear rolled down my cheek, shortly followed by another one. And not long after that, the whole bloody Nile cascaded down my face.

We embraced in a hug both crying.

"Come on Adz, cheer up, it's just another adventure, you'll have fun, I promise" she pulled back slightly, so we could see each others faces.

"Yeah, I just don't want to leave you, promise you'll write all the time"

"I dunno about all the time Addie, I do have a life you know" I smiled and pulled her back into a full hug.

Nellie's parents walked into the living room then, having heard us talking..

They looked at Nellie and me then at Dumbledore.

"You must be they principle" her dad said, shaking Dumbledore's hand.

"Yes, indeed, I am the Head master. We are running a tight schedule and I will need to be getting Miss Lee back before dinner." He smiled sweetly. He seemed like an alright guy.

Nellie and I broke apart and I ran over to hug her parents. During the time I had known Nells, her parents had become as good as my own.

"Take care love" her mum said, kissing me on the forehead.

"Don't worry your little head off, you'll be fine mate" her dad added, pulling me into a hug.

I turned back to Nellie and hugged her again.

"I love you Nellie" I whispered.

"I love you too" she replied, giving me one final squeeze.

I walked over to the table by the door that housed my bags and picked them up, then went back to Dumbledore.. He took my trunk in one hand and held my hand in the other.

I quickly wiped away all of the tears on my face, and forbade anymore from coming.

I waved one more good bye before being sucked into darkness, I could feel walls closing in on me, then, just as quickly as my feet left the floor, they landed back on it again. I stumbled clumsily as I landed in Hogwarts castle.