July 4 may have seemed like another indescript day to anyone else in Erseen. It wasn't a holiday of anysignificance. At least not to the vast majority of people. But to Nick Baldwin, it was his 18th birthday. That meant one thing: he would begin his journey to hogwarts. Today, Nick Baldwin was going to meet his friends at diagon alley so they could get their starter. It was a right of passage for every would be trainer. Nick's friend Alexa was a 4th year at hogwarts and had agreed to help him and her sister viola get their starter Pokémon. There was only one problem: Nick had overslept.

He was supposed to meet Viola and Alexa at Alexa's apartment, but the stream of angry texts he had gotten from them both told him to meet right outside of diagon alley. Nick had quickly put on his lucky polo and was ready to head out to meet his future. That was until ...

"Nicholas!", Nick topped just as he was about to leave. He knew that voice that haunted him. He took a deep breath and turned around. There before him stood his mother. She was a tall and eloquent blonde haired woman. She had a scowl on her face.

"Do you think you can just leave without saying bye? I raised you better than that.", her eyes welled with tears. It was Ms. Baldwin at her peak dramatic. Nick just rolled his eyes.

"Mum, I am just going to meet up with Viola and Alexa. I'll be back in a few hours. I'm not going to hogwarts now. I'll be back." Nick hoped that would pacify his mom. It did not. Instead she wailed loudly which caused nick to shrink.

"BUT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TOGETHER. INSTEAD YOURE GOING WITH THAT TROUBLE MAKER AND HER SISTER!", Nick just rolled his eyes. Viola was his best friend. They had grown up together along with Viola's sister, Alexa. The blonde was a party girl even in high school. Sure she had gotten nick into trouble a number of times, but that had a,so been nick's choice. His mom did not see it that way. She thought viola was a bad influence on nick. Of course his parents did not realize that nick too was also an influence on Viola as well.

"Mom look", she decided a new tact was needed. So he bent his head in faux reverence. "They're the only friends I have. Dad and you are so busy at the gym. Viola and Alexa just offered to help me get started. It's Viola's first year too. I promise I will stay away from them when I get to hogwarts. But to get started, I just need them."

Of course it was a lie. He was off course attached at the hip to viola and Alexa in a sense. So he would hang out with them when he arrived at hogwarts. He hoped they were in the same house. Nick gave his mom lillipup eyes. She sighed.

"Fine Nicholas, but you must promise me that you have to stay away from those two when you get to hogwarts.", the tone was stern. Nick never fully understood why his parents hated viola, but both of them had hatred towards the family. Nick would just play along.

"I promise mum. I won't hang out with Viola or Alexa when I get to hogwarts. You have my word." Of course his fingers were crossed behind his back. This seemed to satisfy his mother. She hugged him and sent him off to begin his journey to hogwarts.


Diagon Alley was notorious this time of year. The stores thrived at this time as every 18 year old in Erseen that had gotten their Hogwarts letter had to shop at Diagon. It was the only area to get the necessary Pokémon equipment, starters, food, etc for a beginning trainer. So of course it was packed. That had been why viola and Alexa had wanted to meet up early. But of course nick was late. He had a reputation as being less than punctual, but this was ridiculous. At least to the blonde and brunette who were waiting at Dragonite Pub for him.

"Let's just go Viola. Nicks being a dick.", the brunette older sister said. The red panda like Pokémon in her lap nudged Alexa as he wanted to be petted which she complied with.

"Volpan", it murmured happily as it nuzzled up to Alexa.

Viola sighed as her sister was right. Afterall this was also her day to try and find her starter Pokémon and get ready for hogwarts herself. She thought that her and nick could go together. But he was late again. "I'm going to murder him", the green eyed blonde said. She looked at her phone one last time, hopeful that her best friend had not ditched her.

Alexa took a drink from her mug as she put the red panda like Pokémon on the ground. She patted her sister on the back. "Look Viola, people are going to disappoint you. It's just a fact of like. But you can't let that get you down." She smiled at her sister. Both Alexa and viola knew better than anyone about people being disappointments. "Come on let's go. I'm sure that the line for Olivander's is out of the door."

Just as about Viola was about to follow her sister, her phone went off. She rolled her eyes as she answered her phone. "Yes dick,...what do you mean? ...oh what a bitch. Fine, fine. We'll meet you outside." She clicked her phone off as Alexa just shook her head and sighed. Her sister still hadn't learned.

The sisters met Nick just outside of Dragonites. Nick was out of breath and panting heavy. He had bikes all the way here from his home. To say he was out of breath was an understatement. Of course the sisters did not seem that compassionate to his plight. Viola had her arms folded across her chest as Alexa just gave him the death stare.

"What took you so long?", Viola pouted. Her stare sent shivers up nicks spine. He knew when she was pissed and this was one of those times. Those green eyes stared a hole through Nick. He gulped. An angry viola was worse than even n angry version of his mother. Nick didn't know what was worse: Viola being angry or a rampaging gyrados.

"Sorry Viola. My mom was just upset with me about some things. So I got tied up that way.", he hung his head in shame. Viola and Alexa gave each other a look. Nick's mom in particular had been vehemently opposed to their friendship with their neighbor. Alexa and Viola did not understand the animosity that woman had for them. It was weird.

"Nick, you have to tell your mom I haven't done anything wrong.", she shook her head emphatically. "I don't get why she hates me and Alexa. Is it because I didn't like her food when I was younger and she would bring it by? Is it because she thinks I took her little baby's virginity?"

Alexa nearly choked to death after that comment. Even her Volpan had its eyes raised in confusion. Nick turned a bright, bright red. If it were possible to die from embarrassment, he would have. Viola just cackled as she slapped Nick on the back. She continued to cackle and wheezed as she tried to catch her breath from the laughter.

"Baldwin, you need to realize when I'm joking with you. A little pay back for you being late.", she flashed her wide winning smile. Of course nick was not in the mood for joking. "I can't help it if your mom is just some control freak. What's she going to do? Come with you to Hogwarts?"

"Enough V. Just enough", Viola never knew when to quit. Yes his mom was centering, but now his best friend was going a bit too hard on his mother. There was a line and Viola had crossed it. "Plus, you did not even wish me a happy birthday." He stuck his tongue out at viola.

Alexa had enough. Sure she remembered turning 18 and how excited she was. But she was 21 now and had bigger fish to fry at hogwarts, She and Spark were going to enter the goblet of fire tournamemt. She should be training, but wanted to help Viola and Nick select the correct starter. Now they were annoying her. "Um as much as I love a lovers quarrel, we have to go if you want to end up with good starters."

Viola and Nick nodded. It was time to get their starters.


To say Diagon Alley was crowded would be an understatement. In fact you couldn't walk without running into someone. And of course Olivanders had the biggest and longest line. This of course caused the sisters to glare at nick. Even Spark, the volpan, gave nick a dirty look. He just threw his hands in the air as the line seemed to move at a snails pace. Alexa looked at her cell phone and shook her head. She was on a strict routine for training. But this was cutting into said training. She just mumbled something to Spark which caused nick to raise an eyebrow.

"What's up Alexa? You seem to be distracted." The brunette had always been friendly and kind. Alexa was probably the most popular person in the town. Boys and girls all loved her. But since meeting up something was off about her. It was as if Alexa wanted to be anywhere, but there. Viola nudged nick 8n the ribs as if telling him to shut up. Alexa meanwhile stared at nick and finally sighed. It was as if the world had finally been placed off her shoulders. Even Sparks looked relieved.

"Sorry. You're right Nick.", Alexa flashed her familiar wide smile. She put her phone down to look at her friend. "I've just been training so much for the Goblet of Fire tournamemt that I have been focused on this. I know this is a big day for you guys. I've been selfish. But it's just rough with...", her voice seemed to crack. Nick knew why this was and didn't want to cause Alexa and viola pain by talking about it.

"It's fine Alex. Just wanted to check in.", he smiled s viola hugged her sister to comfort her. She had said something that intrigued him though. "What's the Goblet of Fire tournament?", he had heard the term before, but he didn't know exactly what it was. Viola rolled her eyes. She had tried to explain it to him before, but apparently her friend had forgotten quite easily what it was.

Alexa meanwhile seemed to light up as they moved closer to the entrance to olivander's shop. She was always eager to discuss the Goblet of Fire. "It's a year long competition where other Pokémon universities besides hogwarts come and compete." the brunette started. "There's various puzzles, battles, and other aspects that trainers have to compete in. At the end, the best trainers from each school battle in a last person standing competition. It's intense."

Nick's eyes widened. He was practically jumping out of his skin to participate in the goblet of fire. Oh yes he imagined himself winning it in his first year. The girls flocking to him. People chanting his name. It would be glorious. Viola meanwhile was holding her head in her hands and trailed to distance herself from Nick.she was beyond embarrassed. Alexa just sniggered.

"It's fourth years and up only.", Nick immediately turned crimson. Alexa walked over and patted Nick on the back. "It's ok. You'll get your chance. But this tournament is very hard. It takes a toll on not only your body, but mentally. It breaks people." Alexa's voice seemed to trail off a bit. It was clear that even the training had drained her fortitude. Alexa looked skinner and more worn than Nick remembered. Perhaps the Goblet was not as fun as Nick had thought.

"You don't even have a starter Pokémon yet.", Alexa patted Nick again. "But hey you have a lot to look forward too. Trust me, Hogwarts is great. There's so much to do. You and Viola are going to have a great time." The brunette flashed a smile at nick. Sparks got off of Alexa shoulder and nuzzles against Nick's leg. Nick bent down to give the adorable Pokémon a pet behind the ear. Nick couldn't wait to get to hogwarts and experience everything for himself.

Viola meanwhile let out a squee. Alexa and nick both looked and saw that the group was close to the entrance to Ollivanders. Viola grabbed Alexa and intertwined their arms. "Come on sis, we're almost there!"