"Keep your hands and arms inside the carpet, and we're outta here!" -Aladdin

Chapter 3

Sunlight peaked through a small hole in the wall; the light burned brightly into the backs of my eyelids. It took me a second to realize that the hole was actually a small curtained window and that I must be in my relatives' house. I shifted under the covers, stubbornly pulling them over my head.

"Ah, damn that's bright!" Giving up I rubbed my eyes and made various disapproving noises that would have done a mountain troll proud.

Remembering my rough landing I stretched, trying to sense any soreness. Not a thing, I was perfectly fine. I gave an appreciative grunt and swung my legs out of bed. Stacked up against the wall across from me were all my things. The room was quite small and shabby looking, but that didn't really register. It was a room I could sleep in and claim as my own and that was all that really mattered.

I listened for a minute but couldn't make out any noise or smell anything cooking. I decided to lay down for a few more minutes and allow myself to wake up a bit more. No need to give them all a heart attack by coming down the stairs in all my morning glory. I listened to the various chirps and twitters from birds outside my window. The absence of any sort of clamor from traffic suggested that the house was situated in the country. Out in the boonies and away from any type of civilization. Great. A few groans and shuffling feet a half hour later told me I better get my lazy bum up out of bed.

"Hello? Astrid, are you up?" A girl maybe a couple years younger than me peaked into the room as she knocked. Her face was freckled and fiery red hair had been pulled back from her face.

"Unfortunately. May I ask why you even bothered to knock if you didn't plan on waiting?" I drawled. The girl turned pink, but quickly shrugged it off.

"Nope. Well, anyway mum's serving breakfast." She gave me a hesitant smile and closed the door.

Rolling out of bed I nodded absently to myself and scratched my back as I knelt before my battered looking bags. Digging through them I threw on some sweats and headed down. I navigated my way safely down the rickety stair case that zigzagged up to the higher stories. It was a good thing my room was on the second level because there was no way in hell I was going to hall my arse up and down that every morning. You could easily twist and ankle and easily break a few other bones on the way down.

I came through a narrow hallway that led into an overcrowded kitchen. A scrubbed table and chairs had been somehow squeezed into the small space along with a merrily burning fireplace and other kitchenware. Oblivious to the curious stares of the rest of the family I plopped down in the nearest chair.

"Good morning Astrid." A happy, and well, utterly motherly voice greeted me kindly. I'm not a morning person and therefore exonerate myself from all accusations concerning my attitude.

"What's so good abo-out it?" I grumped through a yawn. A snicker on my left caused me to glare in that general direction.

"Touchy. Someone woke up on the wrong—."

"Don't finish that sentence if you wish to keep all protruding body parts intact." I said calmly, yawning yet again. Whether they believed me or not I don't know but they didn't speak again, although there was some good-natured chuckling. I took a deep breath and perked up at an all too familiar smell.

"Coffee?" I asked hopefully. A steaming mug was set down in front of me and I sighed with pleasure. The sound of someone groggily making there way down those cursed stairs reached my ears. I ignored the new arrivals and took a couple sips from my mug, grunting in approval at its flavor.

Feeling more alert I looked around the table. A tall, lanky boy had just stumbled into the seat across from me. A pair of twins sat to my left, and on my right was that girl. At the end and head of the table were the two adults I greeted with a respectful nod. Beside the lanky boy, sat two older boys. And every single one of them had flaming red hair.

What is this a cult?

"Feeling better?" The matronly woman who'd I assumed had given me my coffee asked. She had a kind, open face.

"Much." I gave her a mock salute with my raised mug.

"Well, um it's nice to finally meet you, Astrid. I'm Arthur and this here is Ron," A man who must be the woman's husband said, pointing at the lanky youth.

"You've met Ginny there, and those two are Fred and George." The identical twins grinned evilly. I guessed this was supposed to intimidate me. I just snorted before having more of my coffee.

They raised their eyebrows, turning to one another before coming to a silent agreement and then eyed me gleefully.

"You left quite an impression mate. I don't think the yard is ever going to be the same." They said together.

Okay kinda creepy. I thought before turning my attention back to Arthur.

"That over there is Bill," The taller of the two eldest boys who had long hair pulled into a ponytail waved. An earring hung from one of his ears.

"—And that over there is Charlie and my wife Molly." The other guy was on the short and stocky side like the twins, however his whole body was covered in freckles making him look tan. His arms were muscled and had scars here and there, reminding me of my own.

"Hi." I said, addressing them all. I don't think they cared for my shortness, but I really didn't care. It was too early and truth be told I was nervous. Hesitantly, I started to dish up with the others. It wasn't long before they began to ask about my life back in America.

"I went to the Salem Witched Institute in Mass, better known as Massachusetts, and lived in Oregon during summer vacation with my dad until just recently. I've been staying with some family friends since then. I hate animals, like brooms, and worship coffee. Not really much to tell." I shrugged.

They seemed at a loss for words and a little taken aback by my abruptness. Good, that was the effect I'd been aiming for.

Not.

"To be honest I'm only here to see what it's like. You'll only be stuck with me for a couple months though-"

"Oh, that's no trouble dear. You are family and we always help each other." Molly said in a loving but somehow matter of fact voice that clearly said she'd have it no other way. I warmed toward her considerably, glad that she didn't hold whatever nonsense I spewed out at the moment against me. I even gave her a small smile.

"Um, you're going to Hogwarts with us now right?" Ron asked curiously through a mouthful of eggs. I pretended not to understand him.

"I'm sorry, what was that? I was too busy watching you chew your food." I said lightly. His ears turned red and I sensed a little bit of tension fill the room. I swore silently. Damn, I hadn't meant to say that. Truth be told though, his manners or lack there of were disgusting.

Finally Bill, the one with longish hair, broke in before the tension could grow into anything serious.

"She's right Ron. Finish chewing your food before you speak." He slapped him on the back, causing Ron to move forward a little bit. Ron seemed to make a decision and gave me a sheepish smile.

A bit embarrassed, I ignored him and decided to act like I hadn't said anything. He shook his head and muttered some unintelligible words to himself.

"Yes, Astrid will be attending Hogwarts with you this year. Dumbledore has been asked to form a Magical Exchange Program along with several other schools. With everything that's happened lately the Minister has been inundated with letters from families demanding he let their children exchange schools. You see, with the up coming war," here everyone's faces became grave, "people want to have their families close at hand. Although it surprises me that they aren't demanding that their children be admitted to Hogwarts. Everyone with an ounce of sense knows it's the safest place compared to anywhere else."

What?

I might be a foreigner, but I'd read enough to know what was going on over here and that was a stupid comment. Hogwarts was the last place someone should send their children.

For a few minutes no one spoke. We were all reflecting in our own thoughts. Personally I was furious that my Ministry would shove me onto this family who barely seemed to be getting by as it was if their humble abode was anything to go by, not to mention this Voldemort character. I'd heard about him, but it was more from a historical point of view. I was going to have to get used to everyone's accent also. I'd almost lost her there for a second as she ranted.

"Well, anyway, are you planning on going to Diagon Alley sometime today?" Bill, who appeared to be the official silence breaker asked.

"No. Not until the post arrives anyway. Arthur?" Molly gave her husband a questioning look.

"That seems about right—" A whoosh from the fireplace interrupted him. Instantly every single one of the Weasleys were on their feet, their wands aimed toward the offending noise. A ragged looking man with graying hair had stepped out of the fireplace.

"Remus! My goodness you scared us half out of our wits. What in the world were you thinking? We could have cursed you senseless and then where would we be?" Molly said. He eyed them all gravely and the room was suddenly dominated by fear and worry.

"It's time Arthur. Severus just informed Dumbledore. You must leave as soon as possible. I'm here to help you pack." Molly had stopped berating him and was trembling slightly.

Arthur hugged her to him and she seemed to pull herself together. She spun around and I swear she grew ten feet tall.

"I want you all down here in twenty minutes with your things packed! MOVE!" She bellowed like a general ordering her troops.

I watched the others scramble up the stairs, Ron in the lead.

"Fred, George, I want you to use magic to help your sister and brother. I don't know when we'll be coming back." Arthur told them. They nodded grimly and with a crack were gone. I was surprised that they had disapparated, another form of transportation that allowed one to instantly transport to other places. Only wizards and witches who were of age and passed a test received a license could apparate or disapparate.

"What are you sitting around for Astrid? GET MOVING!" Taking her own advice Molly began firing off all sorts of packing charms. Arthur and Remus helped her.

Charlie, or I think it was Charlie, grabbed me by the elbow and began steering me toward the stairs.

"Let go of me please." I said patiently. I did realize that this was some sort of emergency but I was already packed.

"Sorry. But it wasn't safe for you to stay in the kitchen. Mum's been preparing for this since we found out. It will only take about ten minutes for everyone to be completely ready. They should be already packed. We have to get out of here as fast as possible."

Not knowing what else to say I nodded. I'd stalled out of habit, as it annoyed the hell out of my teachers and other authority figures.

"Right." Pulling away from him I ran to my room and quickly slung on my backpack. Charlie grabbed my duffle bags and hurried down stairs. I grabbed the handle of my trunk and drug it onto the landing. I gave it a hard shove that sent it thundering down the steps.

"Look out below!" I hollered. Bill, who must have already packed his stuff along with Charlie's, appeared at the bottom steps and quickly snatched up the trunk and hauled it away. I heard a noise of frustration from the room up the way and sighed as I reluctantly went to help.

I peeked in and found Ginny trying in vain to lock her trunk. I tapped her on the shoulder and gestured for her to move over as she was already sitting on it.

"Okay then, one. Two. Three!" We both jumped down on it hard and were pleased to hear it snap shut.

"Alright, let's toss this baby." I said, helping her drag it onto the landing. She grinned and promptly sat down on it.

Rolling my eyes I followed her example and then shoved off. I instantly regretted it. I'd forgotten that this was not a straight stairway, but one with vicious twists and turns. We only rammed into three walls on the way down.

The commotion drew the tired and drawn looking man named Remus over. He gave us a concerned look.

"Sorry." Ginny said sheepishly, wincing as she rubbed her shoulder.

I groaned and unceremoniously tumbled off the trunk. "Next time I'll remember to put my tray table in it's up right and locked position before take off."

"Look out!" I heard the commotion of another speeding trunk coming down the stairs and rolled out of the way. It was closely followed down by Ron and the twins.

A minute later we were all standing in front of the fireplace. The other luggage had already gone through, or had been apparated there. With a nod from Arthur the twins disapparated, the rest stayed behind to ensure our safety. Remus handed me a slip of paper as the others stepped through the fireplace yelling out something that seemed to slip around my hearing range.

"Quickly, read this." It was an address. I suddenly understood. This was a place that was hidden by a charm I'd heard about in school. I couldn't remember what it was, annoying me to no end; however this was not the time.

"Done." I grabbed a handful of floo powder, a dust that activates fireplace travel, and tossed it into the flames. They leaped higher and turned emerald green.

"Number 12 Grimmauld Place." I stated clearly. One did not have to yell the wished destination. The green flames engulfed me and I was whisked away. I made sure to keep my elbows tucked tightly to my sides. I didn't want to run into any of the passing fireplaces.

A/N:

Still plodding away, the author.