PART 1: TOLBLOX
Chapter 1: Welcome Home
'Finally!' she thought, 'How I missed this old place.'
J.D. Miller sat in her usual chair in the Main Hall waiting with the rest of her schoolmates for the Welcoming Dinner to begin. As the headmistress, Stefanie Upenowse, stood up to make her usual speech, J.D. was busy looking around at the familiar faces. She was eager to begin her fifth year at Tolblox School of Witchcraft, hoping that this year would be an improvement over the previous one. She shuddered as she remembered the sight of her dormitory going up in flames, while there was nothing she could do or say. Giving herself a little shake, J.D. turned back to Professor Upenowse's speech.
"... This year should prove to be an excellent one and I know my students will make me proud." She paused a moment, as one of the teachers to her left whispered something in her ear. "Oh yes, I nearly forgot. This year we are pleased to announce that one the most famous schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogwarts, is accepting four transfer students from our humble school. In order to determine who should take advantage of this wonderful opportunity we will be holding a contest at the end of the week. Because we feel that you need a strong foundation in magic, the contest is only open to fourth year students and above. The heads of your houses will explain the details later on."
The Hall was filled with excited chatter. J.D. was only thinking about one thing. Professor Upenowse had said Hogwarts was a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A school with boys? J.D. had spent the majority of the past four years at Tolblox, a private, all girls, academy. Occasionally the school held balls with a neighboring all boys school, but those weren't very common. She glanced down the table to see how her sister Crystal was reacting to the announcement. Crystal looked like her usual self, sullen and silent. J.D. wished, for probably the fiftieth time, that Crystal would lighten up and enjoy life.
Looking up as if she could feel J.D. watching her, Crystal turned to look at her sister. She smirked and then went back to her meal. Crystal could be so annoying. Lost in thought J.D. did not realize that Professor Upenowse was not through talking.
"Since this is another new year, it is time for our annual tradition. I will explain to those of you who are new to our school. Every year at the Welcoming Dinner, each student and member of the staff," she glanced around quickly, "fills out one of those small strips of paper on your table. On the paper you are to write your 'New Year's resolution' and place it into the small bear statue that is also on the table. At the end of the year those students who successfully complete their resolutions win their house twenty points. However, in order to make this a challenge," she said eyeing some students who were obviously thinking that they would simply make an easy resolution, "the statue will reject your slip if it is not about something you really need to work on." She paused, "I am very glad to see all of you again."
J.D. felt a tap on her shoulder and came back to Earth.
"J.D. your resolution. What's it gonna be this year?"
Sitting next to J.D. was her best friend at Tolblox, Serena Goldfaden. They had met in their first year and were very close. Serena was the only student at Tolblox who knew the big secret about J.D. and Crystal.
"Oh, I don't know, probably the same as every other year. I can never seem to actually accomplish it. How 'bout you?"
"I guess I'll resolve to exercise more. I am horribly out of shape. Hey, I wonder what that contest thing is all about."
"You mean that you don't know?"
J.D. turned to look at the girl who had just walked up behind them. 'Oh not Gabriele again.' she thought. Gabriele Soroka was the daughter of an rich internet tycoon and she thought she knew everything.
"Look, Gabby, either tell us or don't tell us. Either way we really don't care." Serena replied. She and Gabriele couldn't stand each other.
"For your information, Goldfaden, the contest is really a series of tests to see if your smart enough for Hogwarts. There are tasks to complete for each of the main subjects. I know I'll do well and I'll have Daddy get me into the final four."
Completely ignoring the last two sentences, Serena said, "That's it? Well Miss Priss, I know for a fact that J.D. will be first on that list. She can pass any task they throw at her."
"Her? Puh-lease! She couldn't make it to Hogwarts if she bought her own ticket and flew to England!"
J.D. was beginning to be annoyed. "Look Soroka, just shove off will you? Come on Serena, let's go to our dormitory."
She shoved out her chair and started walking away with Serena hurrying to keep up.
"Who does she think she is anyway?" J.D. and Serena were walking down the third floor hallway watching as the statues along the wall kept moving positions. Soon they arrived in front of the entrance to their Dorm rooms. A large banner with the name Delphinus in a perfect sea blue color was printed across the top and a picture of their house mascot, the dolphin, below. Taking out her wand, J.D. looked around quickly to make sure no one was watching and whispered, "Baraque". Music poured out of her wand, sounding like Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, and a door slowly appeared in the smooth sandstone wall in front of the two girls. Grasping the handle Serena pushed it in and they entered the common room. They were immediately greeted by another friend, Cynthia Morris.
"Hi, guys," Cynthia said somewhat shyly, "Did you guys hear about all of the tests for Hogwarts? I wish I could go, but I probably wouldn't do very well."
"Cynthia, you've really improved since our first year! You've even been doing better in Charms." exclaimed J.D.
"Yeah, I guess, but..."
"Cynthia, have you been talking to Gabriele again? You know she's just jealous of us because Velox has never beaten Delphinus in Quidditch. She's just putting you down, don't let her get to you," said Serena.
"I try, but sometimes I think she may be right." Cynthia said dejectedly.
"That's just nonsense. Why don't you go for it? The worst that happens is that you don't get to go and you stay here. I mean, this place would be perfect if there were some boys here. I know that they're supposed to 'disrupt the learning process' and all, but really. You'd do fine." said J.D.
"Thanks J.D. Maybe I will try it. You guys want to play a game of Travel Ding-Dong?" Ding-Dong is a popular American magic game very much like ping-pong only there are no paddles and every time the ball is returned it makes a noise.
"No thanks Cynthia, I think I'll go upstairs and unpack." J.D. started to walk away, with Serena following closely behind.
* * *
She was standing in front of the mirror wondering how this seemingly ordinary girl could be the one with all of the secrets. Two blue-green eyes, chin length curly brown hair, a regular person's nose, nothing out of the ordinary in her appearance. Yet she was one of the True Seers. J.D. sometimes hated her so-called 'Gift'; it wasn't a gift it was a burden.
No one could understand how horrible it was to have been the only one who knew that the dorm rooms were going to go up in flames that night. She had had a vision the night before, of everything burning, and she couldn't say a word. Professor Upenowse was the only one, besides Serena, who knew that she and Crystal could know the future. J.D. sighed and turned away from the mirror. Going over to her twin-sized bed (blue of course)she listened to the sounds of the girls already asleep in the other beds.
'I want so badly to go to Hogwarts,' she thought, 'but what if, with my gift and all, they wouldn't want me? I know I could pass the tests; Charms is my best subject, I do fine in Transfiguration, I'm okay in Potions, I'm pretty skillful with those curses, and Divination will be a snap with my knowledge of the future. I should at least give it a try.'
Having reassured herself sufficiently she climbed under the covers and fell asleep. The dreams she had that night she would not remember in the morning.