A/N: Okay, also a repost! Once again, just small changes to a little bit of
the dialogue. I STILL don't own Harry Potter, if I did I definitely
wouldn't be sitting here in my little suburb getting ready to go work at my
little deli. I also still don't know that much about New York, but it's
only in here for a little bit, so. . .here we go! All of the stuff about
Salem is mine, and so are the students and Headmistress. Enjoy. . .review,
please!!
Sammy Solo
Almost One Year Later
'Dear Jess,
Things have been really hectic around here! Escaped convicts, animagi. . .I'll tell you everything when we talk over summer holidays.
So how are things with you? Hope Salem's been a bit calmer than Hogwarts has! I've told everyone about you though, and my friends Harry and Ron can't wait to meet you. We've been trying to think of a way for the four of us to get together over break.
Anyway, finals are already finished here, so we're just waiting for the results and I'll be back home. Write and tell me how your finals go. Hoping to talk to you soon!
Love,
Hermione
Jess folded the letter and slipped it into her schoolbag. Despite the strange first encounter she and Hermione had had, they had become great friends over the school year.
Jess glanced around the large, high-ceilinged cafeteria of Salem's School for the Magically Inclined. Today was the last day, and soon she would be traveling through the fireplaces on her way back home to New York. It was always sad, the last day of school, knowing that you weren't going to see these people again for another year.
This summer, though, Jess had things to look forward to. Chess in the park, New York's busy streets, and hopefully an encounter with her new British friends. She would miss Salem, and all her wizarding friends, but she would be back next year.
"May I have your attention please?" Jess turned around as the Headmistress, Professor Heller, stood up to address the students. The cafeteria fell silent and all heads turned toward the front of the room.
"Thank you," the Professor continued. "As this year comes to a close, we all begin to look forward to the summer vacation, and then on to next year. I have an announcement that may, for some of you, change the rest of your magical education."
With such an announcement, Heller had managed to get everyone's full attention. She continued, "In hopes of furthering international ties throughout the magical community, Salem and three of her sister schools from around the world have decided to start an exchange program." An excited murmur ran through the crowd of students.
"A chance to study magic overseas?" someone at Jess's table whispered. "That would be so cool!"
"Now, before any of you go getting any ideas," the Headmistress said, silencing everyone again. "There are restrictions. Seeing as how there are three other schools in the exchange program, only three students will go."
A few protests rose up among the students, but Heller continued anyway. "You must be going into or have already passed your fourth year to be considered for this program. Also, no one going into his or her eighth year will be allowed to participate."
"Why not?" cried an angry seventh year from the next table.
"Because you have only one year left to study. It seems a waste to me when someone going into his fourth year could have the same experience for four more years." Though still obviously angry, the seventh year was silent.
"Forms will be sitting here on the head table for any student who is eligible and wishes to participate. Parental consent must be given for all students. Once again, only three people can go, so if you are not picked, I don't want to hear any complaints." She laid a stack of papers on the table in front of her, then said, "May the last meal of this school year begin!"
Jess turned back to her table as a plate popped up in front of her. "Uh...pizza," she said, and the plate was suddenly covered in two steaming pieces of cheese pizza. She began to eat, tuning in to the conversation already going on among the other occupants of the table.
"...wonder where the other schools are?" Dan, her friend and fellow Quidditch chaser, was saying. He cracked open a lobster leg and pulled the meat out as he spoke. Jess had always marveled at the food system at Salem, even after four years of using it.
With people from all over the eastern United States attending the school, the Salem staff had had to find a way to make sure everyone was happy with the food they received. The result was a spell cast on all the plates in the school. Whatever the person wanted, he got. Dan was from Maine, and therefore liked lobsters. Jess, being from New York, preferred pizza. As diverse as the students at Salem were, the food managed to keep up with them.
"I know there's a school in Britain," Jess said to Dan's question. "I dunno if it's part of this program, I just know it's there."
By the end of the meal, speculation had placed wizarding schools everywhere from Antarctica to Zimbabwe. As students began to file out of the cafeteria and back to their dorms, Jess fought the flow and approached the Head Table. She grabbed one of the forms and joined the crowd. She caught up with her roommate, Rachael, in the mix of students.
"Are you going to apply?" Rachael asked, glancing at the form in Jess's hand.
"I think so," Jess replied, surveying the form. "I told you about the girl I met from the British school, right?"
"Yes. You think you can end up there?"
"I dunno, but Hogwarts is one of the schools on the form." By this time, the girls had reached their dorm. They approached the stairs, eyeing each other suspiciously.
"Shall we?" Rachael asked.
"Why not?" Jess answered. "It's our last time having to go all the way up to the top. At least until we're eighth years."
"Alright. One, two, three!" On the count of three, both girls began sprinting up the steps. Four flights later, they stopped, breathless, outside the door to their room.
"Ya know, it takes all the fun out of being a fourth year, having to walk up all those steps," Jess said between gasps.
"Well, we'll be back on the bottom next year," Rachael replied, pulling out her key and unlocking the door. Jess strode in after her, heading right to her desk and pulling out paper and pen.
"Aren't you going to pack?" Rachael asked, stepping over her already stuffed suitcases and glancing at Jess's, which held nothing.
"I can do it tomorrow morning," Jess replied. "I wanna write to Hermione and tell her about this program." Jess lit a candle and began scribbling her letter. Rachael scoffed.
"It's a wonder you ever get anything done," she said.
"You ain't used to this after four years of bein' my roommate?" Jess asked.
"I should be," Rachael said. "Some things will never change."
The next day, after a hectic morning of packing and a bumpy ride through the fireplaces between Salem and New York, Jess stepped into the living room of her house. "I'm home!" she announced, brushing soot off her shirt and dropping her bags. "Hey Leia!" Jess gasped, bending down and rubbing her German shepherd's head. The dog licked her face joyfully. "Did you miss me?" Jess asked. Leia barked playfully.
"My turn." Jess's mother came bustling out of the kitchen and grasped her daughter in a tight hug.
"It's about time you got home!" her mom said. "So, tell me everything."
"Haven't you been gettin' my letters?" Jess asked, grabbing her bags and dragging them into the kitchen.
"Yes, but it's not the same!"
"Well, there is one thing I have to ask you about. Is Dad home?"
"He's on his way," her mother stated, standing on her tiptoes to get to a bowl at the top of one of the cabinets. "He just had to run to the office to pick up some paperwork."
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Jess said, pointing her wand at the bowl. It floated gently down onto the counter. Her mother shot her a warning look. "What?"
"You know you're not supposed to use magic after the school year ends," her mother scolded.
Jess walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a can of Pepsi. "Technically, school isn't over until the last student leaves," she said, taking a sip. "So I can still use magic!"
Her mother rolled her eyes and picked up the bowl. "I'm home!" came a male's voice from the front of the house. Jess turned around to see her father stride into the kitchen. "There she is!" he cried, hugging his daughter. "So, how was school?"
"Actually, I have something to ask you about," Jess replied, pulling the folded form from her pocket.
After reviewing the form and hearing the information from Jess, the adults exchanged glances.
"I think this is a great idea," her mom said. "A chance to continue her education in other parts of the world? That would be wonderful for Jess." Jennifer Gabriel was a muggle, a teacher at an elementary school. Of course she would see it as an educational experience.
"I dunno," Jess's dad said thoughtfully. Jess had known her father would be harder to convince. Joshua Gabriel worked at the New York Department of Magic, in the Cleanup Office. If an accident occurred and the magical world was revealed to the muggles, his office went and "cleaned up" after what had happened. Jess had learned her first spell from him: Obliviate, the memory-erasing charm.
"With that Sirius Black on the loose in England," he continued. "I don't know if I want Jess going over there, especially because he's a wizard."
"Well," Jess said, indicating a spot on the form. "Just because I apply, doesn't mean I'll be going to Hogwarts. There are two other schools on here too: Beauxbatons in France and Durmstrang in Bulgaria. Besides, only three people from the school can go. What are the chances of me being picked?"
Jess's dad still looked worried. "We'll think about it," he said. "So, what else happened this year?"
Sammy Solo
Almost One Year Later
'Dear Jess,
Things have been really hectic around here! Escaped convicts, animagi. . .I'll tell you everything when we talk over summer holidays.
So how are things with you? Hope Salem's been a bit calmer than Hogwarts has! I've told everyone about you though, and my friends Harry and Ron can't wait to meet you. We've been trying to think of a way for the four of us to get together over break.
Anyway, finals are already finished here, so we're just waiting for the results and I'll be back home. Write and tell me how your finals go. Hoping to talk to you soon!
Love,
Hermione
Jess folded the letter and slipped it into her schoolbag. Despite the strange first encounter she and Hermione had had, they had become great friends over the school year.
Jess glanced around the large, high-ceilinged cafeteria of Salem's School for the Magically Inclined. Today was the last day, and soon she would be traveling through the fireplaces on her way back home to New York. It was always sad, the last day of school, knowing that you weren't going to see these people again for another year.
This summer, though, Jess had things to look forward to. Chess in the park, New York's busy streets, and hopefully an encounter with her new British friends. She would miss Salem, and all her wizarding friends, but she would be back next year.
"May I have your attention please?" Jess turned around as the Headmistress, Professor Heller, stood up to address the students. The cafeteria fell silent and all heads turned toward the front of the room.
"Thank you," the Professor continued. "As this year comes to a close, we all begin to look forward to the summer vacation, and then on to next year. I have an announcement that may, for some of you, change the rest of your magical education."
With such an announcement, Heller had managed to get everyone's full attention. She continued, "In hopes of furthering international ties throughout the magical community, Salem and three of her sister schools from around the world have decided to start an exchange program." An excited murmur ran through the crowd of students.
"A chance to study magic overseas?" someone at Jess's table whispered. "That would be so cool!"
"Now, before any of you go getting any ideas," the Headmistress said, silencing everyone again. "There are restrictions. Seeing as how there are three other schools in the exchange program, only three students will go."
A few protests rose up among the students, but Heller continued anyway. "You must be going into or have already passed your fourth year to be considered for this program. Also, no one going into his or her eighth year will be allowed to participate."
"Why not?" cried an angry seventh year from the next table.
"Because you have only one year left to study. It seems a waste to me when someone going into his fourth year could have the same experience for four more years." Though still obviously angry, the seventh year was silent.
"Forms will be sitting here on the head table for any student who is eligible and wishes to participate. Parental consent must be given for all students. Once again, only three people can go, so if you are not picked, I don't want to hear any complaints." She laid a stack of papers on the table in front of her, then said, "May the last meal of this school year begin!"
Jess turned back to her table as a plate popped up in front of her. "Uh...pizza," she said, and the plate was suddenly covered in two steaming pieces of cheese pizza. She began to eat, tuning in to the conversation already going on among the other occupants of the table.
"...wonder where the other schools are?" Dan, her friend and fellow Quidditch chaser, was saying. He cracked open a lobster leg and pulled the meat out as he spoke. Jess had always marveled at the food system at Salem, even after four years of using it.
With people from all over the eastern United States attending the school, the Salem staff had had to find a way to make sure everyone was happy with the food they received. The result was a spell cast on all the plates in the school. Whatever the person wanted, he got. Dan was from Maine, and therefore liked lobsters. Jess, being from New York, preferred pizza. As diverse as the students at Salem were, the food managed to keep up with them.
"I know there's a school in Britain," Jess said to Dan's question. "I dunno if it's part of this program, I just know it's there."
By the end of the meal, speculation had placed wizarding schools everywhere from Antarctica to Zimbabwe. As students began to file out of the cafeteria and back to their dorms, Jess fought the flow and approached the Head Table. She grabbed one of the forms and joined the crowd. She caught up with her roommate, Rachael, in the mix of students.
"Are you going to apply?" Rachael asked, glancing at the form in Jess's hand.
"I think so," Jess replied, surveying the form. "I told you about the girl I met from the British school, right?"
"Yes. You think you can end up there?"
"I dunno, but Hogwarts is one of the schools on the form." By this time, the girls had reached their dorm. They approached the stairs, eyeing each other suspiciously.
"Shall we?" Rachael asked.
"Why not?" Jess answered. "It's our last time having to go all the way up to the top. At least until we're eighth years."
"Alright. One, two, three!" On the count of three, both girls began sprinting up the steps. Four flights later, they stopped, breathless, outside the door to their room.
"Ya know, it takes all the fun out of being a fourth year, having to walk up all those steps," Jess said between gasps.
"Well, we'll be back on the bottom next year," Rachael replied, pulling out her key and unlocking the door. Jess strode in after her, heading right to her desk and pulling out paper and pen.
"Aren't you going to pack?" Rachael asked, stepping over her already stuffed suitcases and glancing at Jess's, which held nothing.
"I can do it tomorrow morning," Jess replied. "I wanna write to Hermione and tell her about this program." Jess lit a candle and began scribbling her letter. Rachael scoffed.
"It's a wonder you ever get anything done," she said.
"You ain't used to this after four years of bein' my roommate?" Jess asked.
"I should be," Rachael said. "Some things will never change."
The next day, after a hectic morning of packing and a bumpy ride through the fireplaces between Salem and New York, Jess stepped into the living room of her house. "I'm home!" she announced, brushing soot off her shirt and dropping her bags. "Hey Leia!" Jess gasped, bending down and rubbing her German shepherd's head. The dog licked her face joyfully. "Did you miss me?" Jess asked. Leia barked playfully.
"My turn." Jess's mother came bustling out of the kitchen and grasped her daughter in a tight hug.
"It's about time you got home!" her mom said. "So, tell me everything."
"Haven't you been gettin' my letters?" Jess asked, grabbing her bags and dragging them into the kitchen.
"Yes, but it's not the same!"
"Well, there is one thing I have to ask you about. Is Dad home?"
"He's on his way," her mother stated, standing on her tiptoes to get to a bowl at the top of one of the cabinets. "He just had to run to the office to pick up some paperwork."
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Jess said, pointing her wand at the bowl. It floated gently down onto the counter. Her mother shot her a warning look. "What?"
"You know you're not supposed to use magic after the school year ends," her mother scolded.
Jess walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a can of Pepsi. "Technically, school isn't over until the last student leaves," she said, taking a sip. "So I can still use magic!"
Her mother rolled her eyes and picked up the bowl. "I'm home!" came a male's voice from the front of the house. Jess turned around to see her father stride into the kitchen. "There she is!" he cried, hugging his daughter. "So, how was school?"
"Actually, I have something to ask you about," Jess replied, pulling the folded form from her pocket.
After reviewing the form and hearing the information from Jess, the adults exchanged glances.
"I think this is a great idea," her mom said. "A chance to continue her education in other parts of the world? That would be wonderful for Jess." Jennifer Gabriel was a muggle, a teacher at an elementary school. Of course she would see it as an educational experience.
"I dunno," Jess's dad said thoughtfully. Jess had known her father would be harder to convince. Joshua Gabriel worked at the New York Department of Magic, in the Cleanup Office. If an accident occurred and the magical world was revealed to the muggles, his office went and "cleaned up" after what had happened. Jess had learned her first spell from him: Obliviate, the memory-erasing charm.
"With that Sirius Black on the loose in England," he continued. "I don't know if I want Jess going over there, especially because he's a wizard."
"Well," Jess said, indicating a spot on the form. "Just because I apply, doesn't mean I'll be going to Hogwarts. There are two other schools on here too: Beauxbatons in France and Durmstrang in Bulgaria. Besides, only three people from the school can go. What are the chances of me being picked?"
Jess's dad still looked worried. "We'll think about it," he said. "So, what else happened this year?"