Two
Dinner that night was almost chaotic. The students of the three houses in the school filled the thirty or so circular tables that lined the Dining Hall in rows and columns. In addition, even though there were no strict seating arrangements and students could choose to sit where they wished, most of the students sat with those in their houses. The only mixed table was where the members of the Quodpot team sat. Even then, most of the Hissdores sat at their own separate tables around the team table.
One girl, Ashley, who was a Talonaire, frowned to April over their supper and motioned towards the Hissdore table. "I don't know why they get on the team each year but refuse to even acknowledge us!"
April shrugged. "They play because they're good. And there are only three of them. We have eleven players. And the three Hissdores on the team are our Guard and two of the Trailers… That is it though. And as long as I'm captain, I will only have the best of the best players on my team." She looked around her table and focused on Kevin, Jack, and another boy named Corey. "You three need to back up me and Ashley this year. We are quicker and lighter fliers than the three of you. Your main focus is going to be defense. Surround and making sure that Quod does not explode on us. Cost us a player last year."
"She was a Hissdore!"
"Yes I said 'cost us a player'," April grinned. "I never said it made any difference…"
The others laughed and continued with their dinner. July walked over and took a seat next to April with Jack on her other side. "Discussing oh-so-important Quodpot events?"
"As a matter of fact," Kevin stated, eyebrow raised. "Yes."
April smiled to her potential boyfriend and took another bite out of her hamburger. She and Kevin had been what teens her age liked to call "talking" for the past couple months of grade nine the previous year. They had gone out on a few dates over the summer vacation but it hadn't turned into anything overly serious as of yet. But still April was labeled as being Kevin's and he didn't seem overly eager to squash the rumors. This of course made her happy, as she hadn't had a boyfriend in some time.
A tap on crystal glass acquired the attention of the student body as Headmaster Patrick Healey of Mayflower stood to address his students. "I haven't stood to repeat my start of the year speech again, so you can wipe that scared face off yourself Mr. Reynolds." The school laughed as a whole and turned to the Talonaire seated in the middle of the hall. Mr. Healey quieted the group with a few waves of his hands. "Settle down, settle down. Okay now you are all by now aware that students from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be visiting our school for the next six months. Your teachers and I have decided that instead of throwing the entire group of them into one of your houses, a select few will be based upon my better," Or worse, he added mentally. "Judgment to act as 'buddies' for the English."
April raised her hand high enough for a lookout in the next town to see, if such one existed.
"Yes, Miss Merriwether?"
"Why?"
"A good question. The British have decided they want their kids to experience life in the United States." He smiled to his students. "The selected few I have chosen to show these fifteen Brits around will be called down as a group tomorrow morning. I expect that you will show the English the better aspects of American culture. And do your best not to scare them." He finished the speech with a raised glass to his students. "Now if you would like to turn your attention to the windows against the wall, I do believe our beloved guests are arriving right now."
What ensued was enough to scare any proper British kid. Or entertain the ones who were not so apt. The Marauders were nothing less than amused by the sight of kids flocking to the windows of what they assumed was the Mayflower Wizarding School of the United States in Salem, Massachusetts.
After a full day of traveling, threstrals, which had been brought for the Hogwarts students, carried the kids to Mayflower. The "horseless" carriages approached the long gravel, swinging driveway of the school. Tiny pieces of rock flew from the wooden wheels as the carriages made their way forward. The Hogwarts kids were treated to a driveway lined with Weeping Willows that reminded them of their own single Whomping Willow. The driveway veered to the right and followed in a circular path at the front of the school. A large marble fountain of a large ship was in the grassy center of the circle.
"I don't understand!" James exclaimed, pointing at the fountain.
Remus sighed. "That's the Mayflower."
"NO Moony. Mayflower is the large building behind the fountain."
"No Prongs, Mayflower is named for that ship."
"The school was named after a fountain probably built after the school was finished and running?"
Sirius smacked his friend upside the head. Remus sighed exasperated. "I thought you were smart. The Mayflower was one of the American pilgrim ships that brought settlers to the Americas from home in England. The school was named after the Mayflower, which landed in Plymouth."
"How in bloody hell do you know that?"
Remus shrugged. "Brochure thing Dumbledore read from and told us about before we left."
It was then that they noticed the students staring from one very large window on the gray-stoned, vine-covered building.
Sirius frowned. "A bit unsettling, no?"
James laughed. "Only a little. But, there was no doubting they would fall in love with me at first sight!"
A scoff was heard as the threstrals came to a stop at the front of the school. Lily Evans had been walking past their threstral carriage on her way inside with the others, and made the sound.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Problem Evans?"
"Cram it Padfoot," James glared at his friend. But he turned a charming smile upon Lily. "My dear Lily. How would you like to be escorted into the school by none other than…"
"The suspense is killing me." Lily said dryly.
"Moi?"
Lily laughed and kept walking.
Remus grinned. "Smooth."
"A raging success!" Sirius beamed. He ducked the blow James tried sending him. "Well looks like we should get going."
"Might as well, wouldn't want to make an overly late appearance."
Inside the Dining Hall, the Quodpot team was the one of the only tables that hadn't stood to flock around the window like a group of crows around a trashcan. July looked on, clearly amused.
"Look at the lovely impression we're making on the Brits." April mused.
Jack laughed. "We should probably get out of here before they come in. Wouldn't want to be thrown into the category of 'star-struck' Americans."
"I highly doubt we should consider them 'stars'," Kevin smirked.
"Well, let's just get going now." Jack replied.
The other nodded and stood up, plates only half-empty from dinner. They would, naturally, come back later that night and sneak some food from the buffet area. They noticed the Hogwarts kids coming in as they walked into the Vestibule Room. The entrance hall was enormous, boasting a large crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling and large oak double doors leading both into the main school and outside. The students knew that outside, the school only appeared to be a large colonial mansion. But once walking in, the size was almost tripled, allowing room for the almost four-hundred fifty students that occupied the school. Mayflower was indeed one of the larger American wizarding schools. The Vestibule Room was evidence enough to that.
April, July, Jack, and Kevin watched from the far end of the Entrance Hall as the Hogwarts students entered Mayflower. April regarded them serenely, not showing the curiosity she felt within. July smiled to them, hoping to show they weren't all like her twin. Jack stood next to July, his arm around her shoulders. Kevin was positioned behind April, next to Jack.
"They sure do like to stare," April muttered under her breath to July.
"Look at their uniforms. All the same!" July looked astonished at this fact. But the reaction was normal. At Mayflower students were, of course, required to wear a uniform. But they were lenient in their rules with them. The boys were allowed to wear any shake of khaki pants they wanted along with a button-down polo shirt; color of their own choice again. They had to wear a white tie with their uniform. Girls were required to wear a plaid skirt of any color combination with a button-down polo of any color as well. They were allowed to wear knee-highs, tights, or ankle socks but had to wear white shoes that covered their feet.
April looked disgusted. "Gray? No thank you, I'll stick with the pink." April's uniform for that day had been a dark pink plaid skirt with white top. July's had been a pale blue polo with a green and blue skirt.
The Marauders walked into the school last, but not trailing very far behind their fellow peers.
"This place is much bigger on the inside," James said aloud, looking around the Vestibule Room. As he faced the doors that led to the hallway with some classes, bathrooms, offices, and the stairways, he noticed on his left, double mahogany doors that were open and a rather gigantic room behind them. He decided he would have to explore more of this place that night. His gaze continued to travel over the portrait-adorned walls when he noticed a foursome standing by a doorway that appeared to lead into some kind of Great Hall.
He nudged Remus. "Moony, what's with them?"
"How would I bloody know?" Remus grumbled, trying to stay with the group.
James made a face at his friend and got Sirius's attention. "Look over there. You'd think they would know it's a bit rude to stare, no?"
Sirius looked to where James motioned and grinned. He naturally noticed the two girls standing there also. But as one had a male arm around her he avoided her gaze. He instead focused on the other one and whistled loudly. She was attractive after all.
He felt a yank on his ear and gave a small yell. He looked over and noticed McGonagall, who had accompanied the students on the trip, glowering at him. "There should have been a second rule for going on this trip, Mr. Black, besides achieving good grades in school."
"What's that Professor?" Sirius asked innocently.
"Good behavior!" McGonagall snapped, shooing the last three students into the Dining Hall.
April was practically snarling. July was laughing. Jack and Kevin looked a bit aggravated.
"Oh lighten up Apes," July giggled. "He probably won't even notice you again."
"Well it's not my fault he's a moron and we're part Veela." April growled back at her twin. The Merriwether twins were indeed part-Veela. Their mother was half, and their grandmother full. It always made the holidays interesting for the family. But luckily enough for the girls, the Veela traits extended only to their outward appearance. When enticed, the girls did not turn into human-sized vultures, nor did their presence attract the slightest amount of testosterone to their very toes. They were only gifted with stunning features. Both had very pale, blonde hair that hinted at shining silver. They each had green eyes the color of the purest emeralds and ivory skin that was still aglow with tan from summer vacation. Their appearances alone left July unsurprised by the whistling assault on her twin.
"Get over it, Apes."
"God help that kid if I ever see him again."
"April it's fine." Kevin said, grinning although he was a bit troubled by rude behavior of some kid who didn't even live in the same country as them.
"Yeah well let's go into the Mahogany Room until lights out time."
As the group was about to move towards the said room, a voice sounded behind them. "And just where do you four think you're going?"
It was the voice of their principal- Mr. Healey.
"Into the Mahogany Room," April replied quite truthfully.
"You may want to be present for the miniature ceremony we're having tonight for the Hogwarts kids."
April raised an eyebrow. July nudged her and allowed their principal to continue.
"We're matching up each of the students with one of our own. We discussed the students coming here with Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts Headmaster, and he told me a little about each of the students. I paired you all up by houses for the most part. As Hogwarts has four and we have three, the pairings may be off but personality wise you should all get along fine.
April nodded. "Okay."
Kevin looked past Mr. Healey and into the Dining Hall. "So are you hinting at the fact that the four of us are going to be leading them around?"
April stomped a foot on the ground. "I knew we'd be leading them by leashes!"
"Oh shut up April," July grinned.
Mr. Healey nodded. "April be quiet please. Thank you. Now, I would like you all to rejoin your classmates in the Dining Hall so that we may get this ceremony over and done with. I never did like formal gatherings but the Brits seem to be fond of them."
"Well that's the first difference then." April said, rolling her eyes.
