Disclaimer: The characters from Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling. The
others are totally fictional and from my mind. This story takes place
during OOTP
Chapter 1
"Mother, lots of teachers and witches go to England every year." Pause
"Yes, I know there are rumors that Voldemort is back." Pause
"Yes, I will be safe. I am sure Professor Sedgewick would not let me go there if I was in any sort of danger. They only send one teacher every 7 years and this is the only chance for me. Plus, I have never been to England. I will be safe, mother!" Pause
"I know, I know, you are just being a mom. I appreciate it. Truly. And, yes, I will phone dad and I will send you an owl when I get there. I love you, too."
Lexi placed the mirror down and sighed. She knew her mom was just worried, but she was 28 and could take care of herself. Besides, it was just England, not another dimension or something. And, Voldemort was not likely to have any interest in a visiting professor from America who was only a Halfling.
She stared around her room willing herself to finish packing. The quicker she was done, the quicker she could watch TV. And, Sasha and Becky were likely to descend any minute for one last Imagitini and gossip session.
Lexi stood up, stretched and knotted her blonde hair back. She strode with purpose to the closet and flung open the door. Right. Dress code list in hand, she whisked her wand over her clothes.
"Dressunium Hogwarts!"
A stack of clothes came flying out and landed with a thud at her feet. No denim, no Capri capes, no bikini. She knew that Hogwarts was far stricter than her own Islandwood, but this was ridiculous! Did they truly expect her to look like some Victorian witch all year?
She sorted through the pile. At least the Capri pants had made the cut. Why Capri capes were off limits then seemed beyond her.
She selected her khaki overalls and black knit shirt with her favorite cardigan for travel.
"Jumper," she muttered, "must get used to calling it a jumper."
The rest she slowly folded and stuffed into the trunk.
Next came the shoes. "Ped Hogwarts" had only landed her keds, black boots and Doc Martens on the floor. That was not acceptable. She stuffed in 2 pairs of Francos and her spiky black heels just in case. Oh, and the fabulous cocktail dress she got at Good Witches last year. It was a wizard store. It really should be acceptable.
Her eyes flickered over the rest of her room. She decided that her cosmetics and hair stuff could quickly make it into her backpack in the morning. She could deal with her cat's things then, as well. Her class books had gone on ahead. She added a couple of photo albums and a picture of her with Sasha and Becky playing tag with some guys on the coast last summer. Becky and Sasha waved and laughed while Travis blushed and turned away. Wizards.
As she laid the picture in her trunk she heard a "Tsk, Tsk" from across the room. "Yes grandma, I was getting to you," she stated. "And, no, Travis and I are not together any longer," she added for good measure. Even her grandmother's photo did not approve of her still being single. She added that picture and one of her mother looking concerned. She also grabbed one of her Muggle father looking very uncomfortable in a wizard picture.
Her investment banker father had never truly been comfortable with his daughter and ex-wife's magical status. He truly had beloved that her mother, Nora, was only being "hippie-ish" when she had told him she was a witch back in the late 60s. And, he had stuck with that belief for 7 years. Now he lived in Phoenix with his fitness trainer second wife and told his friends that his daughter taught at an exclusive private school off the Oregon coast. Well, at least it was somewhat true!
Lexi added her old muggle teddy bear, a few novels and CDs to her trunk. She stuffed her CD player, 2 CDs and the most recent issue of "Pacific Northwest Witch" into her backpack. As it was very long flight, so she added her favorite Muggle book, "Bridget Jones' Diary" to the bag. She had read it 4 times already, but here she was heading off for her own adventure in England, so that should be a good enough excuse to re-read it.
"That should do it", she thought, as she grabbed her wand and prepared to close the trunk. Several flourishes, spells and some re-packing later her trunk shrunk to the size of a small, rolling suitcase and she was ready to go.
She started to close her backpack when her mirror started to flash red.
"We are coming over!" cried Sasha even before Lexi turned the mirror over.
"We have pizza and Verisum's Vodka!" added Becky. "Everything a good American witch needs for her last night at home!"
The mirror went dim just as the doorbell rang.
Chapter 1
"Mother, lots of teachers and witches go to England every year." Pause
"Yes, I know there are rumors that Voldemort is back." Pause
"Yes, I will be safe. I am sure Professor Sedgewick would not let me go there if I was in any sort of danger. They only send one teacher every 7 years and this is the only chance for me. Plus, I have never been to England. I will be safe, mother!" Pause
"I know, I know, you are just being a mom. I appreciate it. Truly. And, yes, I will phone dad and I will send you an owl when I get there. I love you, too."
Lexi placed the mirror down and sighed. She knew her mom was just worried, but she was 28 and could take care of herself. Besides, it was just England, not another dimension or something. And, Voldemort was not likely to have any interest in a visiting professor from America who was only a Halfling.
She stared around her room willing herself to finish packing. The quicker she was done, the quicker she could watch TV. And, Sasha and Becky were likely to descend any minute for one last Imagitini and gossip session.
Lexi stood up, stretched and knotted her blonde hair back. She strode with purpose to the closet and flung open the door. Right. Dress code list in hand, she whisked her wand over her clothes.
"Dressunium Hogwarts!"
A stack of clothes came flying out and landed with a thud at her feet. No denim, no Capri capes, no bikini. She knew that Hogwarts was far stricter than her own Islandwood, but this was ridiculous! Did they truly expect her to look like some Victorian witch all year?
She sorted through the pile. At least the Capri pants had made the cut. Why Capri capes were off limits then seemed beyond her.
She selected her khaki overalls and black knit shirt with her favorite cardigan for travel.
"Jumper," she muttered, "must get used to calling it a jumper."
The rest she slowly folded and stuffed into the trunk.
Next came the shoes. "Ped Hogwarts" had only landed her keds, black boots and Doc Martens on the floor. That was not acceptable. She stuffed in 2 pairs of Francos and her spiky black heels just in case. Oh, and the fabulous cocktail dress she got at Good Witches last year. It was a wizard store. It really should be acceptable.
Her eyes flickered over the rest of her room. She decided that her cosmetics and hair stuff could quickly make it into her backpack in the morning. She could deal with her cat's things then, as well. Her class books had gone on ahead. She added a couple of photo albums and a picture of her with Sasha and Becky playing tag with some guys on the coast last summer. Becky and Sasha waved and laughed while Travis blushed and turned away. Wizards.
As she laid the picture in her trunk she heard a "Tsk, Tsk" from across the room. "Yes grandma, I was getting to you," she stated. "And, no, Travis and I are not together any longer," she added for good measure. Even her grandmother's photo did not approve of her still being single. She added that picture and one of her mother looking concerned. She also grabbed one of her Muggle father looking very uncomfortable in a wizard picture.
Her investment banker father had never truly been comfortable with his daughter and ex-wife's magical status. He truly had beloved that her mother, Nora, was only being "hippie-ish" when she had told him she was a witch back in the late 60s. And, he had stuck with that belief for 7 years. Now he lived in Phoenix with his fitness trainer second wife and told his friends that his daughter taught at an exclusive private school off the Oregon coast. Well, at least it was somewhat true!
Lexi added her old muggle teddy bear, a few novels and CDs to her trunk. She stuffed her CD player, 2 CDs and the most recent issue of "Pacific Northwest Witch" into her backpack. As it was very long flight, so she added her favorite Muggle book, "Bridget Jones' Diary" to the bag. She had read it 4 times already, but here she was heading off for her own adventure in England, so that should be a good enough excuse to re-read it.
"That should do it", she thought, as she grabbed her wand and prepared to close the trunk. Several flourishes, spells and some re-packing later her trunk shrunk to the size of a small, rolling suitcase and she was ready to go.
She started to close her backpack when her mirror started to flash red.
"We are coming over!" cried Sasha even before Lexi turned the mirror over.
"We have pizza and Verisum's Vodka!" added Becky. "Everything a good American witch needs for her last night at home!"
The mirror went dim just as the doorbell rang.
