Chapter 2: Three days later in England…

Part 1: Harry

Harry walked down Diagon Alley admiring the shops. He had already gotten his school supplies, but had been forbidden by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, himself not to leave the area. While he looked at the Firebolt broomstick for the umpteenth time he pondered what he had read in his letter from Hogwarts earlier that morning. Most of it was the usual, but one section was new:

"Also, we will be playing host to some exchange students from America in your year, it would be much appreciated if one or more of the students ended up in Gryffindor, that you show them around and please treat them well."

Who were these exchange students? Where was their school? And how long would they be going to Hogwarts? A familiar voice broke Harry from his thoughts.

"HARRY!" shouted his friend Hermione Granger as she ran up with their friend Ron Weasley.

Hermione looked the same as ever, bushy brown hair and large front teeth, Ron was somewhat tanner from his trip to Egypt to see his brother Bill, his Flame-like red hair seemed to glow against the dark shops behind him.

"Hey, guys!" Harry said grinning, after the disaster his summer had been, he was happy to see his best friends.

"How're… Oi!" Ron shouted as suddenly the previously unseen ginger cat Hermione was carrying jumped at Ron.

Scabbers, Ron's pet rat who he was carrying in his hand, gave a terrified squeak and leaped out and ran down the alley. After about ten minutes of chasing (and much cursing on Ron's part) they finally managed to catch, and separate the cat and rat.

"Bad, Crookshanks!" Hermione scolded as the cat stared maliciously at Ron's front pocket, where Scabbers was now held.

"That's the second time that bloody beast has tried to kill Scabbers, Hermione!" Ron said, practically screaming.

"He's a cat, Ron! Cats eat rats; you should just keep Scabbers away from him." Hermione shouted,

"YOU should keep HIM from Scabbers!" Ron retorted.

There was an awkward pause broken by the sound of people in Diagon Alley, and a muggle's car radio playing something that sounded a lot like the song "Wrecking Ball" in the Muggle world just outside, which caused Hermione to make a look of disgust.

Harry was thinking of a way to break the silence when Ron spoke up, "So, my dad said you blew up your aunt, did you really?"

Despite how angry and terrified Harry had been then, he grinned at the memory. Now that he thought about it, it had been pretty funny. Harry then told them of how his Aunt Marge, who even though she was his uncle's sister, he had been forced to call her "aunt", had come over, treated him like a slave, and insulted his parents. He ended the story with him losing control of his magic in his anger, and blowing her up like a balloon before running away. Ron busted out laughing, while Hermione looked horrified

"It's not funny, Ron!" she exclaimed "Harry's lucky he wasn't expelled."

"Actually," Harry said "I think I was lucky not to be arrested." Underage wizards weren't allowed to use magic outside of school. "Well, do you guys need to finish your school shopping?"

"No, my parents and I finished an hour ago." Hermione said "I'm also going to be staying at the Leaky Cauldron."

"Same here, mate." Ron said, "Mum booked us rooms a little while ago."

"Brilliant!" Harry said grinning, "I've been staying there the past few weeks."

"Well since were all done how about we head back?" Hermione asked.

"Sure." Harry said and the three of them returned to the Leaky Cauldron pub.

Part 2: Ron

Ron was happy to be heading back, he was hungry. He was also happy to be back with his best mates, but was annoyed at Hermione for buying that thing she called a cat. Ron had a pretty boring summer, Egypt was interesting, but he would rather have gone with Harry and Hermione. And after that disastrous call to Harry's Uncle Vernon (long story) Ron had no way of contacting Harry. When he got back from his trip to Egypt, Ron wanted to send Harry another letter just to find that Harry had run away from his aunt and uncle's house. At first, Ron was happy for Harry, he finally was able to leave the family he never wanted, but soon the news about Sirius Black hit him. Black was a mass killer that killed about fifty people with a single curse twelve years ago. Knowing that Black was at large and Harry was out there by himself was a bit terrifying, what if Black killed him? But shortly afterward Ron heard that Harry was staying at The Leaky Cauldron, and Ron was relived. Now he could focus on more pressing matters: would Snape still be teaching, who were these new kids, and what would he be eating at the start-of-term feast?

As they got back in the pub, Ron had to get out of the way as his mum basically Rigby-tackled Harry into a hug,

"Oh, we were so worried!" Ron's mum wailed.

Ron wished he could claim he wasn't her son in situations like these, it was embarrassing. Sadly, there was no mistaking Ron not being related to her, with their matching red hair. She was shorter then him, but Ron new from years of experience not to cross her, she could become a lot scarier when she was angry.

"I'm alright, Mrs. Weasley." Harry choked out.

"I know," Ron's mum said finally letting go of Harry, "but you could have been…hurt!"

Ron glanced at Hermione, and she exchanged a look with him that confirmed that she had caught his mum's hesitation. Ron's mum then turned onto him,

"Did you get your new wand?" she asked "Yes." Ron said, smiling slightly. He knew he shouldn't, he had broken his wand while crashing a flying car into a belligerent tree (longer story), but it felt so good to hear the word "new" in front of something he owned. Everything else was hand-me-downs, his robes, his books, even Scabbers.

"And did you get Scabbers checked?" Ron's mum asked; Ron nodded sadly.

Ever since they got back from Egypt, Scabbers had been under the weather, he was losing a lot of weight, he was losing fur, and his whiskers were drooping. Ron's mum had tried her best healing magic on him, but no matter how many charms she cast, or potions she brew, Scabbers just got worse. Ron bought tonic for him, but deep down, Ron had a feeling Scabbers was dying.

"The witch at the counter said to try this tonic on him." Ron said, showing off the small red bottle.

"Well, maybe that will work." His mum said tenderly "What's that you've got Hermione?"

Hermione held up her monster for her to see, "His name is Crookshanks." She said "But, after a couple of incidents we've had today, I think it's best if we keep him and Scabbers apart." she glanced at Ron.

"Hmm, well, maybe it is." Ron's mum said, obviously catching on, "Ron how about you go put Scabbers away and tell Percy it's almost time for dinner."

"Okay," Ron said, he and his older brother Percy shared a room, "Which room is it agai… Oi!" Ron said as someone bumped into him.

He turned around and thought Harry had shoved him, until he realized Harry was standing right next to him. The guy who did bump into him looked almost exactly like Harry. They had the same green eyes, and messy jet-black hair; but aside from that they did look different. This kid was about the same age as Ron, Harry, and Hermione, but was taller, tanner, and more muscular; not Crabbe and Goyle muscular, but still well built.

"Sorry, dude." The Harry lookalike said in an obviously American accent.

"S'okay" Ron said.

"Percy!" an attractive blonde girl with stormy grey eyes said in exasperation, "I told you to look where you're walking!"

"I said sorry." The kid who bumped into Ron, whom he presumed was Percy, said.

"Hey, it's okay." Ron said "I shouldn't have been standing in front of the door."

Ron didn't know why he was acting like this, or why he couldn't look the blonde girl in the eyes, it just happened like that. Out of the corner of his eye Ron saw Hermione roll her eyes. The blonde girl walked in followed by five other kids, a blond guy with sky-blue eyes, a girl with chocolate-brown hair and eyes that seemed to change colors, a burly Asian guy with a buzz cut, a Spanish guy in an army jacket, and finally an African girl with gold eyes. All of them looked about Ron's age except the black girl who was about twelve.

They all stood there awkwardly, especially the Asian guy.

"I'll make us a reservation." The blond guy said before leaving to make a reservation with Tom the Innkeeper, though Ron thought it was just to break the silence.

"Are you the American exchange students?" Hermione asked,

"Yeah," the blonde girl said, "my name's Annabeth."

"I'm Hermione, these are my friends Harry, and Ron." She said gesturing with her head as she still had that beast, Crookshanks, in her arms.

"This is Percy," she pointed at him, "Piper," the girl with color changing eyes, "Leo," the Latino kid, "Frank," the Asian guy "Hazel," the black girl "and the guy over there," Annabeth gestured at the blond guy at the reception desk, "is Jason."

"Well I'm Ron's mother, Molly." Ron's mum said sweetly, she had been so quiet, Ron had forgotten she was there.

Jason walked back looking disappointed, "Guys," he said "all the rooms are booked."

They all looked so sad about the news, especially Annabeth, Ron had to do something.

"Well," he said "I could just kick out my brother and let some of you stay with Me." He briefly glanced at Annabeth.

What is wrong with you? He thought.

At this, Percy looked very annoyed. Hermione's eyes widened and she made a hand gesture that told Ron that she wanted to whisper something to him.

"Ron," she whispered "I think Annabeth and Percy are dating."

At first this comment confused Ron, why should he care, and then two sensations hit him. The first was feeling his heart drop to his stomach; the second was shock when he realized what she meant.

They think I have a crush on Annabeth!

"Oh, sorry mate!" he said to Percy "I didn't know."

"It's okay." Percy said, though he continued to glare at Ron.

"Well anyway," Ron's mum said breaking the second awkward silence that followed, "you can't kick out Percy, Ron."

Percy looked confused for a minute, and it took Ron a second to realize she meant his brother.

"Annabeth, Piper, and Hazel can stay with me," Hermione said "I'm by myself."

"Yeah, and the other four can stay with me," Harry offered, "I'm by myself too."

"That's up to them dears." Ron's mum said.

"What do you think?" Hermione asked the Americans.

"Why not?" Percy said.

Ron was a little disappointed; he was stuck with his brother Percy, while Harry and Hermione got to stay with the foreign wizards. Suddenly his dad said something that cheered him right up.

"Dinner's ready."

"How about you dears come and eat with us?" Ron's mum asked "And tomorrow we can show you how to get onto the platform."

"Sure." Annabeth said, looking grateful.

"Good, let's get some food into all of you, and get to bed, we have a big day tomorrow."

"Great, I'm hungry!" Ron and Percy said simultaneousl.

"You're ALWAYS hungry!" Ron's mum, Annabeth, and Hermione said together.

Ron smiled at Harry and walked over to the tables, his stomach growling.

Author's Notes pt. 2: So Ron has a crush on Annabeth and doesn't even realize it. Hermione's right he does have the emotional attention of a teaspoon! XD Also I thought I'd show some of the more motherly side of Mrs. Weasley that she often doesn't show because of Fred and George. Speaking of them, they're about to meet Leo so… DUCK! Also, as a heads up; I'm making the Sorting Ceremony short to get it over with. The only person I don't have a house for is Leo. If you can think of which house you think Flaming Valdez should be in, let me know in your reviews. Thanks :)