Hey guys! I'm finally back! I am so sorry for making you all wait this long as I have been super busy in the past few months but I am back! And (cover your ears) I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER WHATSOEVER! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE QUEEN HERSELF! Whoo!

Except for my OC's. Those, are the sole property of moi :)

After walking for a few miles all the way into Manhattan, Johnnie Crosswell stopped at a local pay phone to call a someone. It took a few minutes, but as soon as Johnnie hung up the phone, he led his family to a local popular cafe, called Starbucks. Once they got inside from the outside summer, Johnnie nodded at his mother and cousin, and waved at one of the waiters at the counter.

"Hey, Eduardo!" The teenager looked up at the travelling family. He had a crooked jaw, long floppy hair and russet toned skin that almost looked bronze in the neon pink light. He had just put down a latte on a table when he walked over and gave his old friend a hug.

"It's so good to see you again, mi amigo!" The Mexican born wizard then took a look at Johnnie's mother. "I see Manhattan's flower has returned!" Then he took a look at Tess. "I assume this is the famous Tess Crosswell."

"Yes, I am." She said.

Eduardo whispered to Johnnie. "I don't know who is muy bonita now. Your mom or your cousin?"

"Watch it." Johnnie warned playfully. "Both are off limits."

"Let me guess." Eduardo gestured to an empty table behind him. "Mermaid Frappuccino?"

"Not tonight mi amigo." said Johnnie. "Remember what we discussed?"

"Right this way." Eduardo quickly hustled the Crosswells through the back in a dark alley behind the cafe.

"The glove is on the floor." Eduardo pointed to a ratty baseball glove on the floor. "It should be able to get you to this Leaky Cauldron in un rapido minuto."

"I may not know who you are, young man, but I can't thank you enough." Sara gave the Latino wizard a bone-crushing hug.

"Gracias señorita."

"Thanks man!" Tess high fived Eduardo and gave him a fist bump. "Hey cuz, how'd you find a nice guy like this?"

"Long story short," Eduardo clapped Johnnie's shoulder. "When he came to the US, I helped him escape Border Patrol."

America was a melting pot even in the 90's and a lot of people from all over the world moved to the United States to start a new life in the land of opportunity. But Eduardo Garcia one of a group of travellers, many Americans referred to as "illegal immigrants", meaning they used unconventional means to get by Border Security. So to most Americans, it doesn't matter that they are criminals or innocent people, even infants were branded as "illegal aliens".

Whenever they arrived to the United States, immigrants had to be put on a waiting list and fill out a long trail of paperwork to become a citizen of America. But some immigrants didn't want to wait for so many years. To escape poverty in Mexico, Eduardo Garcia snuck on a boat and smuggled himself to the United States. If he hadn't ran into Johnnie Crosswell at the airport one day (Johnnie was meeting Cody Smith, one of his friends) Eduardo would have been held in custody like a criminal and deported back to Mexico.

"I should get back." said Eduardo. "My boss will fire me if I sleep on the job."

"That is if you actually sleep." said Tess.

"I like this one." Eduardo nudged Johnnie.

"Garcia!" A Brooklyn accent yelled through the door. "Get your Spic ass back in here!"

"That'll be him." Eduardo sighed. "Hey, Johnnie, this world, it's changing. I suggest you hold onto your family before something bad happens."

"Eduardo." He stopped when he opened the door. "Good luck, man."

After a wave of goodbyes, it was just the three Crosswells in the Manhattan alley.

"Uh sweetie?" Sara asked tentatively. "May I ask why you went through all of this trouble to get a baseball glove?"

"See, this is why I never take you games Mom." Johnnie rubbed his hands together. "But to sum it up, this baseball glove is how we escaped Border Patrol in a flat second. Now, everybody, put your hands on the glove. And you might wanna hold onto your stuff and not look down."

"No, please tell me this is not what I think it is!" Sara exclaimed, already dreading what was coming.

"Probably should have gotten a trash bag." Tess grabbed onto the glove. "Aunt Sara, come on."

With a trembling hand, Sara Crosswell gripped onto the glove and the three New Yorkers felt the world violently spinning and dissolving into thousands of colors. It was a good thing their fingers were attached to the gloves like magnets or they probably would have gone flying into nowhere. For a tiny second, Tess could see Sara's face darken to a sickly shade of green.

Before they knew it, they landed on a street, their luggage still with them. While Johnnie and Tess were clutching their heads from the dizziness they experienced, Sara jumped up and looked around before running off to a corner in search of the nearest trash can.

"Every time." Tess shook her head in pity.

"I got this." Johnnie stretched his legs for a bit before jogging to where his mother was emptying her stomach of their dinner.

Johnnie had already pulled back his mother's hair before she even noticed him. "Take your time. Mom."

After emptying out the last of her stomach's contents. "Thanks honey." She whispered raspily.

It wasn't a secret that travel by Portkey was the Squibb's least favorite way to travel. No matter how far she went, Sara was prone to violent vomiting as soon as they landed in their destination.

"Come on." She wiped her lips. "Let's get back to your cousin."

When they met up with Tess, who fortunately had already recovered from her dizzy spell (no pun intended), she led them into the first door she saw, which was under a sign that said, "Leaky Cauldron."

"Ah!" A bartender exclaimed from near. "Travellers I assume?"

"Yeah, you could say that." said Johnnie. "Who are you?"

"I'm Tom." The bartender said. "I run the Cauldron. Are you in need of rooms?"

"Yes." said Sara immediately. "Yes, thank you. Kids, I'm gonna take care of the room business while you two go take a seat."

While Sara arranged the living spaces for her family, Johnnie plopped in a nearby chair like a rag doll.

"Maybe I should have taken that Frappuccino." He rubbed his temple in irritation as he felt a headache start to creep on him.

"Mope all you want." Tess piped up sarcastically. "I'm going to explore."

Leaving her possessions next to her cousin, she made her way upstairs, undetected of course and was walking down the first corridor, when something quite interesting caught her ear.

"...Accidental Magic Reversal Department was dispatched immediately, she has been punctured and her memory modified."

With curiosity getting the best of her, she casually walked in like it was just another day and leaned against the wall. Surprisingly, no one, not even the hunchback in the room (literally) heard her footsteps. It was as if she floated her way into the room. Standing in the middle of the room, talking to a boy in a green chair was none other than Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic. And even though she couldn't see the boy, she'd recognized the animal's nest that was Harry Potter's hair.

"She will have no recollection of the incident, whatsoever." Fudge said to Harry. "So that's that, and no harm done. Pea soup?" He lifted the lid of a silver bowl.

"Uh no thank you." Harry responded politely. "Um, Minister?"

"Yes?" Fudge had almost brought a crumpet up to his mouth.

"I don't understand." said Harry.

"Understand?" Fudge questioned the young wizard.

"I broke the law." said Harry, to which Tess in the background rolled her eyes. "Underage wizards are forbidden from using magic at home."

Tess brought her palm to her face in annoyance. Still a two shoes. She thought to herself.

"Oh come now, Harry." Fudge replied cheerfully. "The Ministry doesn't send people to Azkaban for blowing up their aunts!"

"Oh I see how it is." Tess finally spoke up. "I turn a pen into a sugar quill and I get a letter from you guys. But when Mr. Harry James Potter blows up his aunt, he gets off clean. Come on guys, where's the love?"

"Tess!" Harry ran to the blond witch and hugged her. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you!"

"Alright, alright, let's not be sappy." Tess hugged him only tighter, while Fudge whispered to Tom (the hunchback), "Did you see her come in?" Tom shook his head no.

"I'm a ninja, that's what." Tess boasted.

"I see the infamous Tess Crosswell has made her entrance." said Fudge. "You have grown quite a reputation since I last saw you."

Tess smiled. "Guilty."

"I had heard about the financial issues in America." Fudge said sadly. "I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do."

"I wasn't gonna ask that." said Tess. "But thanks, I guess."

"On the other hand, running away like that," Fudge turned his attention back to Harry. "Given the state of things, was very irresponsible."

"The 'state of things', sir?" Harry asked.

"We have a killer on the loose." Fudge clarified.

"You mean that Sirius Black?" Tess asked. "Yeah, us Americans have heard of him.

"Right you are." said Fudge. "Mr. Black is a very, very dangerous man. If you see him, do not hesitate to run from him."

"We'll be sure to avoid him." said Harry.

"Tess!" Johnnie's voice came from downstairs. "Mom's got a room for us!"

"Coming!" Tess shouted back. "I better go, I gotta help with the luggage. Harry, wanna come with?"

"Yes, speaking of rooms." Fudge said. "I will arrange for an available room for you, Harry."

"Hedwig." Harry spoke to his snowy owl who instantly came to her companions outstretched arm.

"Oh and while you're here, you two," Fudge added on. "It would be best if you didn't...wander."

"Who? Us?" Tess scoffed. "Never!"

Before Harry left with Tess, he turned around and said,

"Er — Minister? Can I ask you something?"

"Certainly," said Fudge with a smile.

"Well, third years at Hogwarts are allowed to visit Hogsmeade, but my aunt and uncle didn't sign the permission form. D'you think you could —?"

Fudge was looking uncomfortable. "Ah," he said. "No, no, I'm very sorry, Harry, but as I'm not your parent or guardian —"

"But you're the Minister of Magic," said Harry eagerly. "If you gave me permission…"

"No, I'm sorry, Harry, but rules are rules," said Fudge flatly. "Perhaps you'll be able to visit Hogsmeade next year. In fact, I think it's best if you don't… yes… well, I'll be off. Enjoy your stay, Harry."

Once Fudge was out of sight, it was just Tess and Harry alone in the corridor.

"Good try though." She said.

"Thanks." Harry said bitterly. "I don't even know how I'm going to go to Hogsmeade now."

"Hey." She clapped his shoulder. "We'll find some way."

Once they got to the inn parlor, Harry was surprised to see Johnnie talking with his mother. He had expected only Tess to be there, knowing how independent she was, but not her cousin and aunt.

"Harry!" Johnnie walked up to Harry. "What's up little man?" He and Harry made a fist bump, followed by a high five.

"It's good to see you Johnnie." said Harry.

"Mr. Potter, right?" The bartender finished coming down from the flight of stairs. "You have room eleven and I carried your things there already."

"Thank you." said Harry.

After Tom left the parlor, Harry found himself being squeezed by a blonde heap of excitement, ie, an excited Auntie Sara.

"Oh I've missed you! And before you ask, any friend of Tess' is family to me. So of course we're all happy just to see you!"

At this point, it was getting difficult for Harry to breathe. "It's great to see you Miss Crosswell." He managed to croak through his crushed windpipe.

"Like I said before." She cupped his cheeks. "Call me Sara. You've grown so much! But we'll have to continue this reunion upstairs. You look tired."

They all headed upstairs, each carrying some luggage. Of course Harry volunteered to help was carrying a suitcase for Sara.

"Are you all on holiday?" Harry asked out of the blue.

"What?" Johnnie asked, not having heard Harry's question.

"I noticed you all have a lot of suitcases." said Harry. "Is that why you're all in London at this time of year? For holiday?"

"He means vacation." Both Sara and Tess translated in unison.

"But yeah." Tess dejectedly said, as she opened the door to the Crosswell's room. "You could say that."