1 Chapter 1
Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Professor Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher of the same school, were walking down a drafty stone corridor. McGonagall was tense and finally broke the silence. "I just don't think it's a good idea," she said.
"Whatever for?" Dumbledore asked incredulously. "I thought you held Maria and Jason in more regard than that-"
"Not about Phoenix, she's a special case, I understand. But, Albus, all the other Americans you're accepting this year as well?" she specified.
"What about them?" he asked. "They have as much right to come here as do any other student."
"_I_ agree, of course, but on the whole, I don't think the magical community would," she pointed out. "They might add it to your already highly questionable list of accomplishments."
"Highly questionable?" Dumbledore repeated.
"Well, to start off with, you let that vampire not only teach but head a House. Then you let Hagrid stay as gamekeeper and now you're accepting _Americans_ to Hogwarts," she reminded. "You're not making yourself very popular, I daresay."
"I take responsibility only for Hagrid," he said coolly. "Angel was approved by the ministry and he has been a very good teacher in his time here. As for the Americans, there is no reason they shouldn't be allowed to enter the school."
"Yes but they have their _own_ school in America that they could attend that's just as good as ours," she said.
"Forgive me if I sound vain but it's not and you know it," he said firmly. "Besides the American Institute of Magic isn't nearly as selective as we are and is far too crowded. We'd be doing them a favor."
"I hope you know what you're doing," she said, shaking her head.
"You don't trust me," Dumbledore stated.
"Of course I trust you!" she said, glaring at him. "However, I _don't_ think you always make the best choices."
"Things change, Minerva, they must," he said. "We can't stop it, only help it."
"How will the Americans get here?" she asked, changing the subject.
"I'll send Hagrid around with their letters so he can help explain and they'll meet him at the Portkey destination," he said.
She sighed. "If you must you must. Very well, Albus."
********************************
Phoenix was deep in her books at the library. It was a few days after her birthday but, naturally, it had been overlooked at her house. Jessie however had gotten her her own book on magic; the topic Phoenix was still looking into even after half the summer. She looked up suddenly when she heard loud thuds coming from the main library and frowned before going back to her work. She was suddenly aware that the noise stopped in front of her and she looked up…and up…and up until she saw the face hidden behind a mass of curly black and smiling black eyes. The guy was about twice as tall as a normal man and wrapped in a great overcoat with huge boots Phoenix could probably stand in with room to turn. "Uh…hi," she said uneasily.
"Phoenix Hart?" he boomed.
Phoenix winced as his large voice sliced through the silence of the library. "Yes?" she squeaked. She cleared her thought. "I mean, yeah?"
"Nice ter meet ya. Come ter give ya this," he said, the longer sentence showing he had an English accent. He handed her a thick parchment envelope.
"O-OK," she stuttered, taking it. He took a seat in one of the wooden chairs at the table while she opened the envelope. She couldn't help but notice the sound the poor chair made.
1.1 Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Dear Miss Hart,
We are please to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Europe's top school of magic. We realize this is an unusual occurrence however, your parents were adamant about the choice of school for you. Although you live in America, the proper arrangements will be made if you decide to attend the school. Start of term begins September 1st and we await your response no later than August 15th.
Yours truly,
Professor M. McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Phoenix set the piece of parchment down and looked at the giant who was beaming at her. "Who are you?" she asked quietly.
"Rubeus Hagrid, groundskeeper o' Hogwarts," he answered promptly.
"Well, Mr. Hagrid," she said, putting the letter back in the envelope. "You can tell whoever sent you that this is a very cruel joke and I don't appreciate it." Suddenly feeling very bold, she threw the envelope at him, grabbed her things and stalked off.
He caught up with her outside the library where she was leaning against the cool stone and rubbing her tears from her eyes. "Sorry miss," he said uncomfortably. "I know how dear ter ya yer parents must have be. They were great set, them two."
She looked up at him. "You…you knew them?"
"O' course," he said like it was obvious. "Never been a better Minister o' Magic then yer father. Mind you, Professor Dumbledore hasn't been in the position yet…"
"W-what are you talking about?" she asked, holding her head.
"You remember how yer father was always away on them 'business trips' o' his when you were younger?" Hagrid asked, his eyes twinkling. "He was in England dealing with the Ministry o' Magic. The only reason he didn't live there was 'cause o' yer mother. Maria loved Spain and Jason loved Maria."
"Right," she said skeptically. "So what's to keep me from believing that this is all a joke, Mr. Hagrid?"
"Just Hagrid's fine," he said, shrugging. "And I guess your instinct will tell ya this is real. I'll be back in two weeks." He handed her the envelope back. "You think about it."
************************************
True to his word, Hagrid was back in exactly two weeks. He found Phoenix at a playground, sitting on the bar that held the swings. "So what's it gon' be?" he asked.
She sighed. "Say I do believe you and want to do this," she said. "What about my foster parents?"
"I'll go with yer ta tell them," he said. "And if ya _really_ want to go, there's nothin' they can do ter stop ya."
"They're my legal guardians, yes they can," she pointed out.
He smiled. It seemed an easy thing for him to do. "You have a lot ta learn about our world. _Nothin's_ impossible if you know the right people who know how ta do the right things."
She sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know."
"Is that you talkin' or yer bad experiences?" he asked knowingly. She looked at him, eyes wide in surprise that he knew that. He gave her a comforting smile. "For once this is real. Swear on me dad it is. Take the chance, I promise ya won' regret it."
She was quiet for a few beats. "And…you'll come with me to tell Amanda and Derek?" she asked.
"We can go now if ya want," he said.
She nodded, sliding down the bar.
***********************************
Derek and Amanda had a little denial problem as well but Hagrid had…persuaded them in the end. Before Hagrid left, he gave Phoenix a slip of paper. "In a week exactly, go to this address before noon. You'll find an old deflated basketball and make sure yer holdin' it before the hour hits. Understand?" he asked.
She frowned and shrugged. "I-I guess. What'll happen?"
"I'll meet ya in London!" he said casually. "See ya then."
Before she could question him any further, he left.
*************************************
On the slip of paper there was a list of things she needed to bring with her and she was surprised that there wasn't much. But on continuing to read it, she saw that the school had uniforms that were worn most of the time. She packed up her messenger bag the night before she left and, naturally, went through everything half a dozen times. The next morning about five more times, just to be sure.
Derek and Amanda were at work so she left at 11:30 to give her time to find the address. She silently cursed herself for not trying to find it earlier. Ten minutes to noon, she finally found it and picked up the flat basketball near the old Chinese restaurant in the back alley. She tossed it from hand to hand, wondering what would happen. Then, quite suddenly, something seemed to seal her hands to the worn leather and it felt like a hook had latched on behind her belly button. She was pulled forward and the ball seemed to carry her.
Then her feet hit the ground and she dropped the ball. "Whoa!" she said, staggering before she sat on the hard dirt-packed ground. "Nice trip?" Hagrid's familiar voice asked jovially.
She looked around as about a dozen other kids her own age appeared around her, some as disoriented as she had been but a few only needing a step or two to get coordinated as if they were used to it. She gave a fake, shaky smile as Hagrid helped her up. "Yeah," she said sarcastically. "What was that?"
"Portkey. Good fer transportation," he answered before addressing the whole group. "Right, now I want you all ter follow me. Diagon Alley isn't too far from here, ya can get situated at the Leaky Cauldron."
He herded the kids to a door and knocked five times in sharp succession before opening it. Stricter herding was needed as they entered the long lane full of shops and the children's bodies wondered with their eyes. "Ye'll get yer chance soon enough, don' worry," he said as he grabbed back a girl with dark auburn hair who tried to slip into a shop that sold racing flying broomsticks.
She sulked and went back to her spot in the group. When they got to the Leaky Cauldron, a grubby little pub at the end of the lane, Hagrid said "Righ', now, I have a list here about who goes in what room. Yeh'll be havin' roommates so you'll get ter know at least one other person here, if yeh haven't known them before. Here ya go, pass it aroun' and find yer rooms. I'll come by later ta talk ter ya."
When the list reached Phoenix, she saw a girl named Holly Wilson was in her same room. Not knowing who that was, she decided to just find the room and see who showed up. She was on the second floor in the far back, the door next to the end wall. She went in and set her bag on a bed in the corner, claiming it as her own. An auburn head suddenly poked into the room; it was the girl who'd tried to drift to the brooms. "Hey! You Phoenix?" she asked.
"Yeah, you Holly?"
"Bet you're butt I am," the girl said and came in, dropping her stuff on the other bed. "So where're you from?"
"California," Phoenix answered, watching the other girl move around the room, checking it out.
"Lucky," she muttered. "I'm from Chicago. Not a bad place but it's not California."
Phoenix shrugged. "Eh. I'm glad to be here."
Holly smiled. "Who isn't? So what'd your parents think when they found out you were coming here?"
"Well, they were my foster parents. Apparently my real father was the old Minister of Magic in England or something like that," she explained.
Holly nodded. "Hm. So'd your foster parents flip?" she asked, opening a window.
Phoenix considered. "They took it pretty well."
"Mine didn't," Holly said, sitting on the sill. "Dumbledore himself had to come and convince them to let me go. Gawd, it was nuts." She shook her head.
"Hey, who is Dumbledore, Hagrid mentioned something about him but I had no idea what he was talking about," Phoenix said.
"Oh, he's the Headmaster of Hogwarts. You know, kinda like a principal," she said. "He's a great, kinda like a mature teenager in an old guy's body and he's really nice."
Phoenix nodded. "That's good. At least we know there's some decent people over here."
Holly wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, but have you talked to some of the people from our own America? They'll probably make us look bad here."
"Stuck up preps?" Phoenix asked knowingly.
"Ugh, you know it," Holly said darkly. "Especially that little bleach- blonde, Ravyn?"
"You mean that girl with the negative two pants size?" Phoenix asked.
"Exactly!"
"Jeez, I know! Did you see her looking around at the rest of us like we were beneath her or something?" Phoenix asked as Holly came over and sat on the bed next to her.
"And that little bright green miniskirt and black top?"
"'It's all the rage in New York'," Phoenix mocked with a shrill voice and over exaggerated gestures.
Holly laughed. "Yeah, like she's so great because she's from the Big Apple. She wouldn't last two days away from Daddy's paycheck and penthouse."
"That or she's glad to get away to make people think she's independent and a rebel," Phoenix said, rolling her eyes. She went deep into concentration. "I can just see the posse she'll create at school."
"Sure you can, all you have to do is picture Ravyn times five or six," Holly pointed out. "I doubt she'll take any less."
There was suddenly a knock on the door. "I got it," Phoenix said, standing to open the door.
It suddenly flew open and the topic of their conversation flounced in. Bright blonde, blue eyes, fairly short, clothes that could fit a doll and a sneer on her nearly white glossy lips. "I hope you're almost done putting your stuff up here," she said in that superior voice she often used unconsciously. "Hagrid wants us downstairs, the old innkeeper didn't want him stomping all over the upper floors."
"That's great, thanks," Holly said with a fake smile.
Ravyn looked at the curly-haired girl and wrinkled her nose in disdain. "Haven't you ever heard of straightener? I mean, come on. That color with that style on top of that complexion? You look like a deliberate mess." She turned to Phoenix. "And the whole black-hair-with-pale-skin-goth thing is so over it seems like you purposely tried to look like an idiot."
"Hey!" Holly snapped, jumping up. "Anyone ever told you that fake-bake and fried hair on top of that nasty outfit makes you look like a complete phony?"
Ravyn scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You're one to talk," she snapped and stomped from the room.
Phoenix snorted a laugh. "What was that supposed to mean?"
Holly smiled smugly. "I cornered her and she didn't like it," she said, nodding.
"Right, well she gave us a decent message, we'd better get downstairs before Hagrid sends her back," Phoenix pointed out.
"Yeah." Holly sighed as her and Phoenix walked out.
In the courtyard, Hagrid said "Righ', now most of you are here on a kind of scholarship so the school will pay fer yer school things only. If ya have any of yer own money or money from yer parents, yer free ta do whatever ya want with that.
"OK, so ta get yer money, we'll have ta take ya ter Gringotts. When we get there, I'll see to it that ya get yer money then I'll turn ya loose so you can get yer things as long as yer back to the Leaky Cauldron before dark. You can get yer things now or later as long as ya have them in a week, seeing as that's when we're leavin'. Understand?"
They all nodded and followed him back to Diagon Alley. Near the entrance they saw a large white marble building. He led them through the double doors into a giant lobby. All around them scurried creatures that were barely waist high. "What are those things?" Phoenix muttered to Holly.
Before she could answer, Ravyn said "They're goblins. If you ask me, I thought it was pretty obvious."
"Yeah well, no one asked you now, did they?" Holly said, annoyed.
Ravyn made a face and went up to use her sick-sweet voice on Hagrid. "Hagrid, how will you be sure that some people don't use the money they get other on things besides school supplies?" She shot a distinct look back at Phoenix and Holly.
"Yeah, because preps never steal," Holly said sarcastically.
"Alright, that's enough, you three," Hagrid growled. "And, Ravyn, the money is differen' so the store owners know it's supposed ter be spent on school stuff. And they have a list so they know what the school stuff is."
"_That's_ good," Ravyn said, giving her enemies dirty looks when the giant's back was turned.
Holly made a small noise and wrapped her hands around an invisible neck. "Gawd, she makes me angry."
"Calm down, Holl," Phoenix said, patting her new friend's arm. "In a few weeks, we won't even have to be seen with her."
"I can't wait," the other girl said, glaring murder at the blonde's back.
*****************************************
Phoenix and Holly waited a few days to get over the time change before they went shopping. They did their best to steer clear of Ravyn and were successful for the most part. But when they went to get their uniforms, there she was, getting fitted. She was complaining to Madam Malkin, the owner of the shop who was also pinning the dress, about how depressing the uniforms were and couldn't she make an exception for her? As kindly as she could, Madam Malkin was telling her that it was the school's policy and she could do nothing about it. "What's the matter Ravyn, angry that you have to wear something that matches?" Holly asked sweetly, unable to stop herself.
Ravyn's blonde head snapped up. "You two!" she said angrily. "What would you know about matching, you guys look like you got dressed in a closet?"
Phoenix looked at her denim bibs and white long sleeved shirt then at Holly's dark green T-shirt and black jeans. "Um…how do our clothes not match?" she asked Holly.
"You're color blind, aren't you, Ravyn?" Holly asked. "Is that your big secret?"
"You two are the dogs, you're the ones who're probably color blind," Ravyn shot back.
"Ooh…" Holly started to take a step forward but Phoenix held her back.
"Hey, hey. Takes one to know one, right?" Phoenix reminded her, glaring over her shoulder at Ravyn.
"That's you done," Madam Malkin said to Ravyn a little coldly.
"Thankfully," Ravyn said, jumping off the stool. She pulled the simple ankle-length black dress off then all but shoved it into the short witch's face. "I'll be back for them in a hour."
Madam Malkin glared after her and handed the dress to an assistant before smiling at Phoenix and Holly. "Hello, dears. Hogwarts I take it?" she asked.
"Yeah. Don't worry, we Americans are all like that," Holly said, nodding to the door.
"I hope not, that must be a sad country if you are," Madam Malkin said with a teasing smile. "Well, let's get you up here…"
****************************************
Hagrid took them to King's Cross Station a few days later and showed them onto the platform 9 ¾. There were other Hogwarts students everywhere, milling around the crimson steam engine and waiting for the departure whistle. Phoenix and Holly found a back compartment to put their trunks in and decided to hang out there for fear of running into Ravyn. When they'd been getting their books for school, Phoenix had found a book called "Hogwarts, A History" and was able to get it with the money she had left over from home. "Look at this," Phoenix said, pointing to a certain part in the book. "There's four Houses at Hogwarts, Griffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin."
"What're Houses?" Holly asked, looking over Phoenix's shoulder.
"Well, it says they're like families in the school. They have their own dormitories, Quidditch team, they have classes together, that kind of thing."
"Kind of like fraternities and sororities," Holly said.
"Kinda sorta in a not-really way," Phoenix said. "That's the right concept but the Houses are co-ed. There's separate dormitories but on a whole, it's combined."
"I think I get it. What's the difference between them?"
"According to this, Griffindors are the brave ones, Ravenclaws are the smart ones, Hufflepuffs are the nice ones and Slytherins are the clever ones. Why do I have the feeling that that's a nice way to say they're jerks?"
"'Cause they are," a voice panted from the doorway. A natural blonde head looked up at them, blowing sweaty bangs from her eyes. "Hey, mind if I sit in here? Everywhere else is full."
"Sure," Phoenix said, standing to help the girl pull in her heavy trunk.
"Thanks," she said, her British accent adding character to her voice. "I'm Samantha but everyone calls me Sam."
"Phoenix, Holly," Holly said, pointing to Phoenix then herself. "So what about Slytherin?"
"Oh, they're a bunch of… I don't think there's a word for them," Sam said, wrinkling her nose. "Not nice people, I can tell you that."
"Preps," Phoenix translated, nodding knowingly to Holly. "Figures."
"Some things you can't escape," the other American sighed. "So what about the other Houses? You can probably tell us more than the book can."
"Like the best one maybe?" Phoenix hinted.
"Personally, I think Griffindor sounds nice. But Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad," Sam added thoughtfully. "Hufflepuffs are… nice but everyone says they're a bit stupid. Don't get me wrong, I know some nice people there but… I wouldn't really want to be in it."
"What're the first two like?" Holly asked.
"Well, most of my family is in Griffindor," Sam said. "The really smart people usually go to Ravenclaw but then again, there's smart students in all of the houses as well. I'm not really sure how they decide."
"As long as we're not with Ravyn," Holly said with a grimace. "That girl can drive you nuts just by looking at you."
"Just like back in the Dakota," Phoenix said thoughtfully, nodding.
Holly looked at her. "_What_?"
The other girl looked down sheepishly. "It was on the Atlantis movie. Except they could smell fear-just by-looking at you…" she trailed off as the others just stared at her. She shifted uncomfortably. "Leave me alone."
"It's OK, I'm sure there's help for you yet," Holly said, patting her arm. Phoenix just glared. "So what's this Quidditch we've heard about?"
Sam's eyes widened. "You've never heard of Quidditch?!"
"No?" Holly said nervously.
"Ohmigosh, it's the best sport ever…"
The rest of the trip was taken up with Sam telling them of Quidditch and the classes and teachers she'd heard about from her parents. The call came a few hours later and told them they'd be approaching the school soon and that they should get dressed. So they changed into their dresses and cloaks as the train began to slow down. They were told that their trunks would be taken to the castle separately so they were to leave them. They climbed off the train in a mass of black. The boys' uniforms were black pants and a matching button-up shirt but they also had cloaks on as well. Above the din, Phoenix, Holly and Sam suddenly heard "Firs' years! Firs' years, over here, this way, c'mon!"
"Hey, it's Hagrid," Phoenix said, nodding to the towering giant who was waving the youngest students over.
He scanned the faces of the first years and smiled. "Glad ter see you all here," he said. "Now if yeh'll follow me, we'll be goin' a different way than the others."
He led them to a fleet of boats at a lake's edge and told them that there were to be no more than three to a boat before taking up one by himself. "Righ' then," he said. "Onward!" The little fleet began moving across the small bay they were in. "Yeh'll get yer first look at Hogwarts 'ere in a minute."
As the boats rounded the corner, they saw the castle looming in the distance. It looked like carved black marble against the stormy sky, the illusion barely broken by forks of lightening. It was titanic; they could barely make out numerous stories and a massive expanse of grounds around it. Holly leaned closer Phoenix and Sam with whom she shared a boat with to mutter "I just know I'm gonna get lost in there."
Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Professor Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher of the same school, were walking down a drafty stone corridor. McGonagall was tense and finally broke the silence. "I just don't think it's a good idea," she said.
"Whatever for?" Dumbledore asked incredulously. "I thought you held Maria and Jason in more regard than that-"
"Not about Phoenix, she's a special case, I understand. But, Albus, all the other Americans you're accepting this year as well?" she specified.
"What about them?" he asked. "They have as much right to come here as do any other student."
"_I_ agree, of course, but on the whole, I don't think the magical community would," she pointed out. "They might add it to your already highly questionable list of accomplishments."
"Highly questionable?" Dumbledore repeated.
"Well, to start off with, you let that vampire not only teach but head a House. Then you let Hagrid stay as gamekeeper and now you're accepting _Americans_ to Hogwarts," she reminded. "You're not making yourself very popular, I daresay."
"I take responsibility only for Hagrid," he said coolly. "Angel was approved by the ministry and he has been a very good teacher in his time here. As for the Americans, there is no reason they shouldn't be allowed to enter the school."
"Yes but they have their _own_ school in America that they could attend that's just as good as ours," she said.
"Forgive me if I sound vain but it's not and you know it," he said firmly. "Besides the American Institute of Magic isn't nearly as selective as we are and is far too crowded. We'd be doing them a favor."
"I hope you know what you're doing," she said, shaking her head.
"You don't trust me," Dumbledore stated.
"Of course I trust you!" she said, glaring at him. "However, I _don't_ think you always make the best choices."
"Things change, Minerva, they must," he said. "We can't stop it, only help it."
"How will the Americans get here?" she asked, changing the subject.
"I'll send Hagrid around with their letters so he can help explain and they'll meet him at the Portkey destination," he said.
She sighed. "If you must you must. Very well, Albus."
********************************
Phoenix was deep in her books at the library. It was a few days after her birthday but, naturally, it had been overlooked at her house. Jessie however had gotten her her own book on magic; the topic Phoenix was still looking into even after half the summer. She looked up suddenly when she heard loud thuds coming from the main library and frowned before going back to her work. She was suddenly aware that the noise stopped in front of her and she looked up…and up…and up until she saw the face hidden behind a mass of curly black and smiling black eyes. The guy was about twice as tall as a normal man and wrapped in a great overcoat with huge boots Phoenix could probably stand in with room to turn. "Uh…hi," she said uneasily.
"Phoenix Hart?" he boomed.
Phoenix winced as his large voice sliced through the silence of the library. "Yes?" she squeaked. She cleared her thought. "I mean, yeah?"
"Nice ter meet ya. Come ter give ya this," he said, the longer sentence showing he had an English accent. He handed her a thick parchment envelope.
"O-OK," she stuttered, taking it. He took a seat in one of the wooden chairs at the table while she opened the envelope. She couldn't help but notice the sound the poor chair made.
1.1 Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Dear Miss Hart,
We are please to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Europe's top school of magic. We realize this is an unusual occurrence however, your parents were adamant about the choice of school for you. Although you live in America, the proper arrangements will be made if you decide to attend the school. Start of term begins September 1st and we await your response no later than August 15th.
Yours truly,
Professor M. McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Phoenix set the piece of parchment down and looked at the giant who was beaming at her. "Who are you?" she asked quietly.
"Rubeus Hagrid, groundskeeper o' Hogwarts," he answered promptly.
"Well, Mr. Hagrid," she said, putting the letter back in the envelope. "You can tell whoever sent you that this is a very cruel joke and I don't appreciate it." Suddenly feeling very bold, she threw the envelope at him, grabbed her things and stalked off.
He caught up with her outside the library where she was leaning against the cool stone and rubbing her tears from her eyes. "Sorry miss," he said uncomfortably. "I know how dear ter ya yer parents must have be. They were great set, them two."
She looked up at him. "You…you knew them?"
"O' course," he said like it was obvious. "Never been a better Minister o' Magic then yer father. Mind you, Professor Dumbledore hasn't been in the position yet…"
"W-what are you talking about?" she asked, holding her head.
"You remember how yer father was always away on them 'business trips' o' his when you were younger?" Hagrid asked, his eyes twinkling. "He was in England dealing with the Ministry o' Magic. The only reason he didn't live there was 'cause o' yer mother. Maria loved Spain and Jason loved Maria."
"Right," she said skeptically. "So what's to keep me from believing that this is all a joke, Mr. Hagrid?"
"Just Hagrid's fine," he said, shrugging. "And I guess your instinct will tell ya this is real. I'll be back in two weeks." He handed her the envelope back. "You think about it."
************************************
True to his word, Hagrid was back in exactly two weeks. He found Phoenix at a playground, sitting on the bar that held the swings. "So what's it gon' be?" he asked.
She sighed. "Say I do believe you and want to do this," she said. "What about my foster parents?"
"I'll go with yer ta tell them," he said. "And if ya _really_ want to go, there's nothin' they can do ter stop ya."
"They're my legal guardians, yes they can," she pointed out.
He smiled. It seemed an easy thing for him to do. "You have a lot ta learn about our world. _Nothin's_ impossible if you know the right people who know how ta do the right things."
She sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know."
"Is that you talkin' or yer bad experiences?" he asked knowingly. She looked at him, eyes wide in surprise that he knew that. He gave her a comforting smile. "For once this is real. Swear on me dad it is. Take the chance, I promise ya won' regret it."
She was quiet for a few beats. "And…you'll come with me to tell Amanda and Derek?" she asked.
"We can go now if ya want," he said.
She nodded, sliding down the bar.
***********************************
Derek and Amanda had a little denial problem as well but Hagrid had…persuaded them in the end. Before Hagrid left, he gave Phoenix a slip of paper. "In a week exactly, go to this address before noon. You'll find an old deflated basketball and make sure yer holdin' it before the hour hits. Understand?" he asked.
She frowned and shrugged. "I-I guess. What'll happen?"
"I'll meet ya in London!" he said casually. "See ya then."
Before she could question him any further, he left.
*************************************
On the slip of paper there was a list of things she needed to bring with her and she was surprised that there wasn't much. But on continuing to read it, she saw that the school had uniforms that were worn most of the time. She packed up her messenger bag the night before she left and, naturally, went through everything half a dozen times. The next morning about five more times, just to be sure.
Derek and Amanda were at work so she left at 11:30 to give her time to find the address. She silently cursed herself for not trying to find it earlier. Ten minutes to noon, she finally found it and picked up the flat basketball near the old Chinese restaurant in the back alley. She tossed it from hand to hand, wondering what would happen. Then, quite suddenly, something seemed to seal her hands to the worn leather and it felt like a hook had latched on behind her belly button. She was pulled forward and the ball seemed to carry her.
Then her feet hit the ground and she dropped the ball. "Whoa!" she said, staggering before she sat on the hard dirt-packed ground. "Nice trip?" Hagrid's familiar voice asked jovially.
She looked around as about a dozen other kids her own age appeared around her, some as disoriented as she had been but a few only needing a step or two to get coordinated as if they were used to it. She gave a fake, shaky smile as Hagrid helped her up. "Yeah," she said sarcastically. "What was that?"
"Portkey. Good fer transportation," he answered before addressing the whole group. "Right, now I want you all ter follow me. Diagon Alley isn't too far from here, ya can get situated at the Leaky Cauldron."
He herded the kids to a door and knocked five times in sharp succession before opening it. Stricter herding was needed as they entered the long lane full of shops and the children's bodies wondered with their eyes. "Ye'll get yer chance soon enough, don' worry," he said as he grabbed back a girl with dark auburn hair who tried to slip into a shop that sold racing flying broomsticks.
She sulked and went back to her spot in the group. When they got to the Leaky Cauldron, a grubby little pub at the end of the lane, Hagrid said "Righ', now, I have a list here about who goes in what room. Yeh'll be havin' roommates so you'll get ter know at least one other person here, if yeh haven't known them before. Here ya go, pass it aroun' and find yer rooms. I'll come by later ta talk ter ya."
When the list reached Phoenix, she saw a girl named Holly Wilson was in her same room. Not knowing who that was, she decided to just find the room and see who showed up. She was on the second floor in the far back, the door next to the end wall. She went in and set her bag on a bed in the corner, claiming it as her own. An auburn head suddenly poked into the room; it was the girl who'd tried to drift to the brooms. "Hey! You Phoenix?" she asked.
"Yeah, you Holly?"
"Bet you're butt I am," the girl said and came in, dropping her stuff on the other bed. "So where're you from?"
"California," Phoenix answered, watching the other girl move around the room, checking it out.
"Lucky," she muttered. "I'm from Chicago. Not a bad place but it's not California."
Phoenix shrugged. "Eh. I'm glad to be here."
Holly smiled. "Who isn't? So what'd your parents think when they found out you were coming here?"
"Well, they were my foster parents. Apparently my real father was the old Minister of Magic in England or something like that," she explained.
Holly nodded. "Hm. So'd your foster parents flip?" she asked, opening a window.
Phoenix considered. "They took it pretty well."
"Mine didn't," Holly said, sitting on the sill. "Dumbledore himself had to come and convince them to let me go. Gawd, it was nuts." She shook her head.
"Hey, who is Dumbledore, Hagrid mentioned something about him but I had no idea what he was talking about," Phoenix said.
"Oh, he's the Headmaster of Hogwarts. You know, kinda like a principal," she said. "He's a great, kinda like a mature teenager in an old guy's body and he's really nice."
Phoenix nodded. "That's good. At least we know there's some decent people over here."
Holly wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, but have you talked to some of the people from our own America? They'll probably make us look bad here."
"Stuck up preps?" Phoenix asked knowingly.
"Ugh, you know it," Holly said darkly. "Especially that little bleach- blonde, Ravyn?"
"You mean that girl with the negative two pants size?" Phoenix asked.
"Exactly!"
"Jeez, I know! Did you see her looking around at the rest of us like we were beneath her or something?" Phoenix asked as Holly came over and sat on the bed next to her.
"And that little bright green miniskirt and black top?"
"'It's all the rage in New York'," Phoenix mocked with a shrill voice and over exaggerated gestures.
Holly laughed. "Yeah, like she's so great because she's from the Big Apple. She wouldn't last two days away from Daddy's paycheck and penthouse."
"That or she's glad to get away to make people think she's independent and a rebel," Phoenix said, rolling her eyes. She went deep into concentration. "I can just see the posse she'll create at school."
"Sure you can, all you have to do is picture Ravyn times five or six," Holly pointed out. "I doubt she'll take any less."
There was suddenly a knock on the door. "I got it," Phoenix said, standing to open the door.
It suddenly flew open and the topic of their conversation flounced in. Bright blonde, blue eyes, fairly short, clothes that could fit a doll and a sneer on her nearly white glossy lips. "I hope you're almost done putting your stuff up here," she said in that superior voice she often used unconsciously. "Hagrid wants us downstairs, the old innkeeper didn't want him stomping all over the upper floors."
"That's great, thanks," Holly said with a fake smile.
Ravyn looked at the curly-haired girl and wrinkled her nose in disdain. "Haven't you ever heard of straightener? I mean, come on. That color with that style on top of that complexion? You look like a deliberate mess." She turned to Phoenix. "And the whole black-hair-with-pale-skin-goth thing is so over it seems like you purposely tried to look like an idiot."
"Hey!" Holly snapped, jumping up. "Anyone ever told you that fake-bake and fried hair on top of that nasty outfit makes you look like a complete phony?"
Ravyn scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You're one to talk," she snapped and stomped from the room.
Phoenix snorted a laugh. "What was that supposed to mean?"
Holly smiled smugly. "I cornered her and she didn't like it," she said, nodding.
"Right, well she gave us a decent message, we'd better get downstairs before Hagrid sends her back," Phoenix pointed out.
"Yeah." Holly sighed as her and Phoenix walked out.
In the courtyard, Hagrid said "Righ', now most of you are here on a kind of scholarship so the school will pay fer yer school things only. If ya have any of yer own money or money from yer parents, yer free ta do whatever ya want with that.
"OK, so ta get yer money, we'll have ta take ya ter Gringotts. When we get there, I'll see to it that ya get yer money then I'll turn ya loose so you can get yer things as long as yer back to the Leaky Cauldron before dark. You can get yer things now or later as long as ya have them in a week, seeing as that's when we're leavin'. Understand?"
They all nodded and followed him back to Diagon Alley. Near the entrance they saw a large white marble building. He led them through the double doors into a giant lobby. All around them scurried creatures that were barely waist high. "What are those things?" Phoenix muttered to Holly.
Before she could answer, Ravyn said "They're goblins. If you ask me, I thought it was pretty obvious."
"Yeah well, no one asked you now, did they?" Holly said, annoyed.
Ravyn made a face and went up to use her sick-sweet voice on Hagrid. "Hagrid, how will you be sure that some people don't use the money they get other on things besides school supplies?" She shot a distinct look back at Phoenix and Holly.
"Yeah, because preps never steal," Holly said sarcastically.
"Alright, that's enough, you three," Hagrid growled. "And, Ravyn, the money is differen' so the store owners know it's supposed ter be spent on school stuff. And they have a list so they know what the school stuff is."
"_That's_ good," Ravyn said, giving her enemies dirty looks when the giant's back was turned.
Holly made a small noise and wrapped her hands around an invisible neck. "Gawd, she makes me angry."
"Calm down, Holl," Phoenix said, patting her new friend's arm. "In a few weeks, we won't even have to be seen with her."
"I can't wait," the other girl said, glaring murder at the blonde's back.
*****************************************
Phoenix and Holly waited a few days to get over the time change before they went shopping. They did their best to steer clear of Ravyn and were successful for the most part. But when they went to get their uniforms, there she was, getting fitted. She was complaining to Madam Malkin, the owner of the shop who was also pinning the dress, about how depressing the uniforms were and couldn't she make an exception for her? As kindly as she could, Madam Malkin was telling her that it was the school's policy and she could do nothing about it. "What's the matter Ravyn, angry that you have to wear something that matches?" Holly asked sweetly, unable to stop herself.
Ravyn's blonde head snapped up. "You two!" she said angrily. "What would you know about matching, you guys look like you got dressed in a closet?"
Phoenix looked at her denim bibs and white long sleeved shirt then at Holly's dark green T-shirt and black jeans. "Um…how do our clothes not match?" she asked Holly.
"You're color blind, aren't you, Ravyn?" Holly asked. "Is that your big secret?"
"You two are the dogs, you're the ones who're probably color blind," Ravyn shot back.
"Ooh…" Holly started to take a step forward but Phoenix held her back.
"Hey, hey. Takes one to know one, right?" Phoenix reminded her, glaring over her shoulder at Ravyn.
"That's you done," Madam Malkin said to Ravyn a little coldly.
"Thankfully," Ravyn said, jumping off the stool. She pulled the simple ankle-length black dress off then all but shoved it into the short witch's face. "I'll be back for them in a hour."
Madam Malkin glared after her and handed the dress to an assistant before smiling at Phoenix and Holly. "Hello, dears. Hogwarts I take it?" she asked.
"Yeah. Don't worry, we Americans are all like that," Holly said, nodding to the door.
"I hope not, that must be a sad country if you are," Madam Malkin said with a teasing smile. "Well, let's get you up here…"
****************************************
Hagrid took them to King's Cross Station a few days later and showed them onto the platform 9 ¾. There were other Hogwarts students everywhere, milling around the crimson steam engine and waiting for the departure whistle. Phoenix and Holly found a back compartment to put their trunks in and decided to hang out there for fear of running into Ravyn. When they'd been getting their books for school, Phoenix had found a book called "Hogwarts, A History" and was able to get it with the money she had left over from home. "Look at this," Phoenix said, pointing to a certain part in the book. "There's four Houses at Hogwarts, Griffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin."
"What're Houses?" Holly asked, looking over Phoenix's shoulder.
"Well, it says they're like families in the school. They have their own dormitories, Quidditch team, they have classes together, that kind of thing."
"Kind of like fraternities and sororities," Holly said.
"Kinda sorta in a not-really way," Phoenix said. "That's the right concept but the Houses are co-ed. There's separate dormitories but on a whole, it's combined."
"I think I get it. What's the difference between them?"
"According to this, Griffindors are the brave ones, Ravenclaws are the smart ones, Hufflepuffs are the nice ones and Slytherins are the clever ones. Why do I have the feeling that that's a nice way to say they're jerks?"
"'Cause they are," a voice panted from the doorway. A natural blonde head looked up at them, blowing sweaty bangs from her eyes. "Hey, mind if I sit in here? Everywhere else is full."
"Sure," Phoenix said, standing to help the girl pull in her heavy trunk.
"Thanks," she said, her British accent adding character to her voice. "I'm Samantha but everyone calls me Sam."
"Phoenix, Holly," Holly said, pointing to Phoenix then herself. "So what about Slytherin?"
"Oh, they're a bunch of… I don't think there's a word for them," Sam said, wrinkling her nose. "Not nice people, I can tell you that."
"Preps," Phoenix translated, nodding knowingly to Holly. "Figures."
"Some things you can't escape," the other American sighed. "So what about the other Houses? You can probably tell us more than the book can."
"Like the best one maybe?" Phoenix hinted.
"Personally, I think Griffindor sounds nice. But Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad," Sam added thoughtfully. "Hufflepuffs are… nice but everyone says they're a bit stupid. Don't get me wrong, I know some nice people there but… I wouldn't really want to be in it."
"What're the first two like?" Holly asked.
"Well, most of my family is in Griffindor," Sam said. "The really smart people usually go to Ravenclaw but then again, there's smart students in all of the houses as well. I'm not really sure how they decide."
"As long as we're not with Ravyn," Holly said with a grimace. "That girl can drive you nuts just by looking at you."
"Just like back in the Dakota," Phoenix said thoughtfully, nodding.
Holly looked at her. "_What_?"
The other girl looked down sheepishly. "It was on the Atlantis movie. Except they could smell fear-just by-looking at you…" she trailed off as the others just stared at her. She shifted uncomfortably. "Leave me alone."
"It's OK, I'm sure there's help for you yet," Holly said, patting her arm. Phoenix just glared. "So what's this Quidditch we've heard about?"
Sam's eyes widened. "You've never heard of Quidditch?!"
"No?" Holly said nervously.
"Ohmigosh, it's the best sport ever…"
The rest of the trip was taken up with Sam telling them of Quidditch and the classes and teachers she'd heard about from her parents. The call came a few hours later and told them they'd be approaching the school soon and that they should get dressed. So they changed into their dresses and cloaks as the train began to slow down. They were told that their trunks would be taken to the castle separately so they were to leave them. They climbed off the train in a mass of black. The boys' uniforms were black pants and a matching button-up shirt but they also had cloaks on as well. Above the din, Phoenix, Holly and Sam suddenly heard "Firs' years! Firs' years, over here, this way, c'mon!"
"Hey, it's Hagrid," Phoenix said, nodding to the towering giant who was waving the youngest students over.
He scanned the faces of the first years and smiled. "Glad ter see you all here," he said. "Now if yeh'll follow me, we'll be goin' a different way than the others."
He led them to a fleet of boats at a lake's edge and told them that there were to be no more than three to a boat before taking up one by himself. "Righ' then," he said. "Onward!" The little fleet began moving across the small bay they were in. "Yeh'll get yer first look at Hogwarts 'ere in a minute."
As the boats rounded the corner, they saw the castle looming in the distance. It looked like carved black marble against the stormy sky, the illusion barely broken by forks of lightening. It was titanic; they could barely make out numerous stories and a massive expanse of grounds around it. Holly leaned closer Phoenix and Sam with whom she shared a boat with to mutter "I just know I'm gonna get lost in there."