Disclaimer: No, neither I nor Jmacsgurl15 own Harry Potter.

Spoilers: This story takes place after book 4 and does not follow the plot line of book 5.

Author's Note: This story is being reposted after someone (who has cowardesly remained annonymous) has reported it to the administration of this site. I would just like to tell that person that if she has a problem with this story than she should not place her comments in a review, but rather email me personally. I will gladly reply to your emails.

Now, I want to tell everyone that in this story a character makes a comment that some may find offensive. If you do find this statement offensive then please do not flame, but calmly state your case and I will consider taking said comment down.

Now since all that is said, I shall allow you to read the story.

Exchange of a Lifetime

Chapter One- Sara: The letter

August 9, 2004

What a beautiful, wonderful day in the neighborhood. Oh gosh, I sound like Mr. frickin' Rogers. But I can't help it, life is…perfect.

Summer break has been great, but I'm so totally ready to get back to school, and my gorgeous boyfriend Mr. Hunter Reynolds. Swoon. How did I ever get so lucky as to score such a hottie? I swear the boy could make any woman weak in the knees. But he's mine, all mine!

Nikki is seriously doubting this year. Kevin has yet to pay her any attention, and she's just dying to know if he even notices her existence. I keep telling the girl to get over this crush, that Mr. Kevin The-World-Should-Bow-At-My-Feet Sawyer is so not worth her time and attention. But the girl just doesn't get it. I've tried getting Hunter to set her up with some of his buddies, but they're all a little intimidated by her. And who wouldn't be. No offense to her, but Nikki can get a bit, how shall I say it, in your face. But that's what I love about her. We make the perfect pair. Her with her in-your-face attitude and natural take chargedness, and me with my non-confrontational, happy-go-lucky, and sometimes (as Nikki is always pointing out) doormat-let-everyone-walk-all-over-me attitude. But we fit, and have fit ever since kindergarten when my family moved into the house across the street from hers. We're best friends and never afraid to tell the other what we think of them, even if it sometimes makes us sound a little bitchy. But hey, what are best friends for?

Oh man, I can't wait to get back to school. I know, I know, I already said this, but I am totally excited here! It's going to be my fifth year at the Salem School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which ironically is not even anywhere near Salem, or even located in Massachusetts for that matter. But who cares about that part, all that matters is that WE'RE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!

> > > > >

The owl landed on my windowsill almost as soon as I closed my journal. It startled me to look up and see him there, letter tied to his leg. Even after four years of being a witch I was still not used to everything that happens within the world of magic.

The owl, a tawny barn owl, tapped the glass with his beak. I got up off my bed and opened the window for him. He hopped inside my room and held his leg out to me. Petting his head I untied the rolled up paper, gave him a treat from the bag I keep handy, and sat down to read the letter. He hopped onto my desk and looked at me, his head cocked to the side. Chuckling at his expression, I focused on the perfect scrawl of our headmistress.

Miss Sara Kendal,

I am pleased to announce that you have been selected for the exchange program between Salem School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As your class was informed at the end of the school year, our school has, this year, begun an exchange program between America and various other schools of magic including Hogwarts in England. Each student to participate in the exchange program has been picked at random from our topmost students. I hope that you enjoy your experience in England and that you serve as a worthy ambassador for our school. We look forward to hearing all about your adventures next school year.

Sincerely,

Headmistress Loraine Mason

I stared at the paper, not fully comprehending the words. Exchange program? England? Next school year? What the hell was going on?

I slumped down on my bed, the letter clutched tightly in my hand. My eyes scanned over it once more. I vaguely remembered Headmistress Mason mentioning some kind of exchange program between our school and some of the ones in Europe, but I didn't remember signing up for anything. Could the school really just pick students at random and ship them off to God knows where? Apparently so since that was what was happening to me.

Well I wasn't about to stand for it. This was supposed to be the year that Hunter and I got…ahem…closer. Not have sex per say, but maybe get to third base or something. There was no way in hell that I was going to let some stupid exchange program keep me from feeling up, and in return getting felt up by, my boyfriend. No, no, no.

> > > > >

August 12, 2004

Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT. I talked to the school this morning and guess what…THEY WON'T CHANGE THEIR MINDS ABOUT ME GOING ON THIS STUPID EXCHANGE PROGRAM. How idiotic is that? If I don't want to go they can't force me…can they? Well it doesn't matter what they can or can't do, I'm not going and that's FINAL.

August 13, 2004

Mom and Dad are making me do this exchange thing. They think it'd be good for my "social development" and prepare me for "all the conflicts and changes of adulthood." What a load of crap. I feel like punching someone or screaming or something. Maybe I'll talk to Nikki, see what she has to say about all this.

> > > > >

If you had told me that I would actually be excited about this whole exchange program I would have laughed in your face. At least I would have until I went and talked to Nikki.

Nikyshia Campbell has been my best friend since we were little girls. Contrary to her name, Nikki is not black. Actually, she's white. Shocking? Very.

I realize that by saying black, instead of African-American I'm not being very PC (politically correct), but I've never been one to be PC. I just don't see the point in it. I mean what's the bigdeal in saying gay instead of "homosexual?" Or what's wrong in saying someone is mentally retarded instead of "developmentally challenged?"That's the one thing about me that I'm not a pushover about. I won't let people dictate the way I can or can't talk. I'll say what I want, however I want. At least I will when I'm alone or with Nikki or Hunter.

Anyway, I'm digressing here.

Nikki was nearly bursting at the seams when I met her at our usual hang-out: the local Krispy Kreme. She had just gotten back from camp the night before and I had been at work all that morning, so our hanging-out time was the first we'd seen of each other in awhile. So Nikki was sitting there, her usual cream filled with chocolate frosting in front of her, looking as if she were the Cheshire cat her grin was so wide. I could tell that there was something she wanted to tell me, and, knowing Nikki, it was probably about a guy she'd met.

I slumped down into the chair opposite her after ordering my own jelly filled doughnut and coffee and sighed. Her grin faltered slightly, but didn't completely disappear.

"What's up girl?" She asked, taking a bite of her doughnut. A bit of frosting ended up on her nose and I handed her a napkin.

"I got a letter from Mason last week." I said.

"Really?" I could almost see her ears perk up at this. I didn't see how she could be so excited about a letter from Mason.

"Yeah," I sighed, "and I've got bad news."

"What?" She was biting her lip, anxiously awaiting my news.

"I got picked for that exchange program-" My next few words were cut off by Nikki's excited squeal.

"Oh. My. God." She was bouncing up and down in her seat.

"Nikki, are you on drugs or something?" I asked, looking around at the people staring at my friend. She shook her head, too excited to speak.

"What's going on?" I looked at her. Our eyes met and she sobered slightly. She leaned forward as if what she had to tell me was some great secret. I leaned forward too, waiting to hear what she had to say.

"I got picked too."

> > > > >

August 31, 2004

Well, I am on the plane to London where Nikki and I will then take the train to Hogwarts. Now that I know that Nikki's going too, I have to admit, I'm a little more psyched about this than I was. Don't get me wrong, I still don't want to give up my time with Hunter, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. And this is definitely something that I gotta do. Besides, maybe this really could be a learning experience for me. I mean, a girl's gotta experience new cultures and stuff sometime or another, doesn't she? Hmm…I wonder if I'll meet any cute guys.

> > > > >

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