AN: Just a note… I do love Harry Potter. I'm not a HP hater writing a story.

Chapter Two

"Hello?" I said groggily. I looked at my alarm clock next to my bed. One in the morning. Who in God's name calls someone at one in the morning!

"Why didn't you tell me you were going to boarding school!" Taylor screamed.

I forgot. Taylor, my Coldplay-loving-dramatic-Mr. Darcy-obsessed-brilliant best friend, calls me at one in the morning. Usually just because she feels like it. I let out a groan. "Tay, I'm sorry, I just found out last night."

"I'm sorry, but you can't go."

I rolled my eyes. "And why can't I?"

"Because I need my best friend!"

I glanced at my packed trunk. Mum's old Hogwarts robes lay atop it, mocking me senselessly. Before I went to bed, Aunt Mabel brought this book (Hogwarts, A History I think it was called) to me. Besides using to kill a spider, I found out that not only are electronics outlawed (ie: iPods, cell phones, kindles), but they won't work. Like no service 24/7. So my only way to contact Aunt Mabel and my friends is via snail mail.

How am I supposed to explain to my Muggle best friend that an owl with large yellow eyes will arrive at her doorstep bringing news of my week at magic school? Oh yeah, that doesn't sound crazy at all.

"Elena?"

"Still here, Tay."

She let out a sigh. "How can your Aunt just ship you off like that? School already started." Oh but no worries! Hogwarts hasn't started! So I haven't missed anything!

"Plus, we were going to go Homecoming dress shopping this weekend!"

You mean the one dance that Devin asked me to? My first high school dance? The same dress that I eyed over the summer with silky blue material that looked amazing with my dark curls and ivory skin? The same dress that some little poof (oh God, I'm becoming Aunt Mabel) like Frannie Diradelli will buy?

"It's not a big deal," I choked out. But it was. This year was supposed to be perfect: perfect guy, perfect friends, perfect everything God damnit! "You know that if I had the choice I'd stay here, but I can't."

"But why? Why did your Aunt enroll you at St. Margaret-Mary's only to pull you out the second week?" I didn't respond. What am I supposed to tell her? "Does she think that the prank was your fault?"

Ah, the prank. "I don't think she knows about it."

"Then what!"

I took a deep breath. "Aunt Mabel doesn't want me here because…" I could feel the tears welling up. But I went on and said the poisonous words. "Because she thinks you're a bad influence on me."

Taylor didn't respond. I could picture her sitting crossed-legged on her bed, digging her nails into her bare legs. Taylor never let her mask down, let weakness through. She was strong. And I just broke through her façade.

Aunt Mabel told me that everything would work itself out, that everything happens for a reason. She said that I had to lie to my friends to protect them. The more they knew about my world, the more they would be in danger.

"Well, then. Bye, Elena."

"Wait, Tay!"

But there was only dial-tone. In a total of ninety seconds I burned the bridge with my best friend.

I don't care if I have the world's best magical education. I just wish that I could take back everything that I just said. Why couldn't I just tell Taylor the truth? But a little voice inside of my head reminded me:

"Because, Elena, nobody cares if you're happy as long as they get what they want."

I slammed my phone shut and threw it at the wall. I heard a faint crack! Swearing under my breath, I leapt off the bed and retrieved my phone from the pile of dirty clothes it fell into. Sure enough a crack ran across the screen. I grabbed my wand. Clearing my throat, I muttered "Reparo." The crack disappeared.

I tucked my phone at the bottom of my trunk. I'll find a way to make my phone work. If I'm stuck talking to a bunch of magical nerds for the next few months, I'll go crazy. I smiled to myself, maybe I won't have to if I'm already expelled.

"Elena!" Aunt Mabel continued to pound on my bedroom door. "Elena! Get your lazy butt into the shower! They'll be here in five minutes!"

I groaned and pulled my covers back over my head. Do you think they'd expel me for smelling like month old ham? "No thanks!" I called.

Aunt Mabel threw open the door. "AGUAMENTI!" A jet of water soaked through my comforter. I screamed and tumbled out of bed. "If you won't wash yourself than I will! Aguamenti!" The ice cold water drenched me.

"REALLY?" I bellowed. I snatched my towel and bathrobe off of my desk chair and stomped into the bathroom. I just love having a witch for a guardian. Who needs alarm clocks when you have Aunt Mabel? Don't worry if the carpet is ruined, or if your homework gets wet! Just tell your teacher that her magic wand got a little over zealous.

No problem.

Five quick minutes later (complete with a random burst of cold water from Aunt Mabel to keep me moving), I dragged my trunk down the stairs, making sure that it hit every step with a deafening thud! Aunt Mabel glared at me from behind her Witch Weekly magazine.

She jumped up and grabbed the cauldron from the kitchen. "Now, I stuck some of extra potion ingredients in there. Don't let them tell you how to handle your potions. I've taught you better than that."

I rolled my eyes. Obviously she forgot the multiple times I've caused minor explosions in the kitchen. "Promise me you'll talk to the Ministry."

"I promise."

I raised my eyebrows. "I'm being serious."

She grabbed me and hugged me. "It's going to be fine, Elena. I'm going to work it all out." Trust me, for a split second I almost believed her. I wanted to believe her. Honestly, the only way that everything will "work itself out" is if I'm back here, at St. Margaret-Mary's Academy. From then on I'll never use my powers again. Dear Higher Being, Superior Powers in the Heavens, don't make me go.

Knock! Knock! "I'm here to pick up an Elena Bowman."

Damn you all.

Aunt Mabel gave me a quick hug. "Keep your nose clean. Show them that you have control over your magic." She opened the door.

In our tiny doorway stood the largest man I've ever seen. He bent over to get through the door. His face was covered in a grizzly black beard, streaked with grey. His tire-sized feet made large booms! as he entered. The windows and pictures shook. Hell, the whole house shook.

"Hello to yeh," he said, waving. As he stood up straight, his head nearly touched the ceiling. Lord, who is this man? "I'm Hagrid. Keeper of Keys and Groundskeeper of Hogwarts." Oh he's Hagrid. What the hell is a Hagrid? He eyed the trunk. "I see yer packed. Ready t'go?"

Oh dear God, his grammar. I hope everyone doesn't talk like this. I nodded curtly and picked up my cauldron. "Bye, Aunt Mabel."

"So, Elena, how old are yeh?" Hagrid asked when we got onto the bus. Yes. A bus. If this giant man really was a wizard, than why didn't we Apparate or fly? I eyed Hagrid out of the corner of my eye. Let's face it, Hagrid probably surpassed the weight limit on brooms several hundred pounds ago.

"Fourteen," I mumbled.

"Hmm?"

"Fourteen," I said a little bit more clearly.

Hagrid's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "But it says that yer registered for yer fifth year."

Great. So now only will I be the new girl, but I'll be the new girl in the most difficult year. Fabulous. "Well, I'm turning fifteen next week." And I had plans with Taylor and Devin to go see Mumford and Sons at their low-key concert at the Pretty Parrot next week.

"Yer probably not going to even be in fifth year classes, anyways."

Because I'm a dumb rock.

"And there's no way yeh could take yer O. properly with such little training."

Nope. Didn't I tell you that I was a dumb rock?

"But luckily yer going to Hogwarts. They'll catch yeh up in no time."

Because Hogwarts is a pro at educating dumb rocks.

I pursed my lips. "I can only hope so," I said as sweetly as possible.

Three awkward hours, another bus and a boat later, I stood on Hogwarts' front steps staring at the huge oak doors in front of me. In around thirty steps, I'll actually be a student here. That means I'm thirty steps away from my new life, and miles and miles away from my old one.

If only Taylor could see me now.

I dragged my trunk up the steps. A woman with grey hair pulled tightly into a bun opened the door. Her lips were caught in a permanent grimace. She surveyed me like I was a moldy steak and sighed and held open the door. "Come in, Miss Bowman. We've been expecting you."