Here's the next bit!...Graham and Garrett adjust to their new surroundings...and...well..they begin school. It will flip a few times between locations but you'll see the notice. Also, the students will refer to Garrett* as Raven...please refer to previous chapter for explanations.

Remember: Garrett* is really Graham

Graham* is really Garrett

Enjoy! :P

Chapter Five-Adjustment

Back in Bellerose, Louisiana..

The red pickup slowed to a stop in the rocky driveway outside a large, one-story brick house. The yard was enormous and grassy, possessing a mixture of cypress, oak and willow trees. Stepping out of the truck, Garrett* gazed about.

'Not a bad dwelling. It's calm, quiet, except for the birds and frogs.' A loud barking caught his attention. He turned to see two dogs barreling towards him-one was a young bloodhound who sniffed his feet, gazing up at him with lazy eyes. The other, a sleek doberman that warily approached him, slightly growling.

''Quit dat! You know 'im, now behave!" Robert scolded the fierce canine who whimpered and sat down.

'Brownie and Killer. I am so thankful Garrett told me about you two. I don't have to worry about the bloodhound though, he's nice to everyone. The doberman on the other hand, still, don't show fear. He can sense it.' Garrett* eyed the doberman who watched him with cautious amber-brown orbs as he entered the threshold. The aroma of sausage, onions, peppers and celery hit him as soon as he shut the door. Josephine was cooking.

''Jo! Guess who's home?!"

"Oh, Robert, you know not to yell when I-Raven!" a beautiful blonde but short woman rushed over to Garrett* and embraced him, nearly squishing his face in her pronounced bosoms.

''Don' suffocate da boy, let 'im get settled.'' Robert laughed as Garrett* drew in a deep breath and politely smiled.

'Merlin, that woman has a grip!'

''Now sugar, go put yo' stuff away an' come eat. Yo' brothers an' sister are waitin' on ya.'' he nodded and headed down the hall, taking a right.

' Last door on the left.'

Entering the decently-sized bedroom, he saw a full-sized bed covered in a blue duvet with pillows to match. The walls had posters of professional fencers, tv shows, various bands, tribal artwork and a banner of Salem Academy over the closet.

' Not bad, now I gotta hurry and get to dinner.'

Fifteen minutes later, Garrett* arrived in the spacious kitchen and dining room to see five happy faces smiling at him-Robert, Josephine, Leland, Daniel and little Candace. Garrett happened to inform Graham that after he turned three, his mother was miraculously able to bear children; most likely due to a fertility potion Carson put in her drink the last time she visited New Orleans.

After receiving several hugs and kisses from Josephine and Candace, Garrett* got to eating.

"I made yo' favorite...extra spicy shrimp jambalaya."

'Oh god..extra spicy? You can do it, just be careful.' he slowly drew the fork to his mouth and tasted the rice dish. His eyes started to water as he swallowed the bite.

''Raven, honey, are you all right?"

"Uh..yeah...uh...I think it's 'cause I haven' eaten none o' dis in a while. Fo'got how spicy it is.'' he rasped out.

''It's dat damn fancy bland food dey be feedin' ya'll o'er at dat plantation, I tell ya. Don' worry, son. Give it a day or two, you'll be ok. We'll also be headin' to get yo' books fo' school in three days.'' Robert said matter-of-factly.

'Merlin, I hope I can continue this until I leave for Salem.' He continued to eat as he ignored a curious look from Leland.

Over at Montague Manor..

Graham* was up in his room, going through the closet. 'Holy shit, these clothes are expensive as fuck! Dey are custom-tailored, too.' He mused in awe over the mixtures of silk, cotton and other foreign labels of clothing. A popping noise behind the door told Graham* it was one of the house elves, Tibbly. She was Graham's favorite since she was the only one who'd play with him when he had no one else.

"Master Graham, Tibbly is here to tell you dinner is ready and Lord Michael is anxious to see you." she relayed in a squeaky voice that strongly reminded him of his little sister, Candace.

''Thank you, Tibbly. I'll be down shortly." she nodded and disappeared.

'Aw man, here we go. Time to meet da man who sired me an' Graham.' He wandered down the winding staircase, through an archway past two suits of armor. The dining room was brightly lit, a long mahogany table nearly stretched from one end of the room to the next. 'How many guests do dey even get? A whole platoon?'

The table end furthest to him had several mouthwatering gourmet dishes and of course, had multiple utensils per placement. A firm hand on the shoulder stirred Graham* from his thoughts. Standing at least two inches taller than his own 6 foot 2, was Lord Michael Montague, his father...the same man in the photo.

'Same black hair, onyx eyes...everythin'. 'Cept his hair is much longer.'

"Welcome home, son. How was your trip?"

"It was eventful."

"Oh? How so?" Sitting down with his parents, Graham* relayed the fabricated story of how his 'vacation' went, smoothly leaving out anything having to do with his twin and their unconventional activities. "I almost forgot, how was the tournament? Did you win?"

Swallowing his chicken cordon bleu, he responded. "Not exactly, it was a tie. The first they've had in a few centuries."

Raising an eyebrow, Lord Montague queried. "Who was your opponent?"

"Some muggleborn. I can't remember his name, exactly. For a muggleborn, he provided quite the challenge. We matched attack for attack."

"Hmm..sounds as if he was your double."

"Perhaps.." 'You don' know da half o' it.' he thought as he caught himself heading for the fish fork.

Three days pass and the twins adjusted perfectly to their routines, even Brownie, the snapping hound, simmered down and allowed Garrett* to pet him. His adventure at the American version of Diagon Alley, Camelot Way, went by smoothly. The stores were a little more modernized with magically-powered electronics, yet they still held an old world charm. One day, he was definitely going to tell his friends about it.

Graham* was amazed when he first went into Gringotts, though he had to strain to keep an impassive face, if that was even possible. The Gringotts in America was also ran by goblins but had more humans to help keep things modern with the changing times. By the time he reached Diagon Alley, he was floored by how rustic the place appeared. Nonetheless, it was also elegant and charming.

'Wow. Flourish n' Blotts, Madame Malkin's, Eeylops Owl Emporium...just like Camelot Way. Sorta...kinda, but no computers. It's da 21st century, w hy not have 'em here but powered with magic? Guess it's an American thing?'

September first rose with the morning sun. It was time for both Montagues to head off to their schools- Garrett* to Salem, and Graham* to Scotland. The Americans didn't take a train, they had a special Portkey (that was virtually impossible to lose) to take them to Salem Academy due to the fact muggleborns lived at so many different ends of North America, it would have been a mess to get everyone there on time with a train.

Touching the round marble stone engraved with the Salem crest, Garrett* waved one last time before he vanished. Now standing next to his trunks, he stared upon a castle modeled much like Hogwarts, except for several architectural differences which held more of a tribal flair due to the fact the states are still Native American land.

"Yo, Raven!" a rough, Brooklyn accent called out to him. It was Tony Matarazzo alongside a few others-Jason, Camden, Eddie and Sam, the Salem pals Garrett told him about. "Hey man, let's hurry up and get our seats..you know I have to swipe the first block of tiramisu before that bastard Tommy does!" the Brooklyn Italian dragged Garrett* off with their brood to the fortress.

Graham* was dropped off at Kings' Cross station. Remembering his twin's advice, he pushed his cart through Platform 9 3/4, chuckling that it was in the middle of the other trains.

'Yeah..dis is creative.' he sarcastically thought. Graham* found an empty compartment and took a seat, shutting the door behind him. The glass door suddenly slid open, six guys lumbered their way in.

"Hey Montague, how was your holiday?" a sandy blonde-haired cutie asked.

'Terence Higgs...damn. Graham wasn't lyin'. He's a babe, too.' "It was fine, not much happened. Usual stuff. Vacation, food, sight-seeing... you know the deal." he shrugged, facing out the window as Graham normally did on the way to Hogwarts.

Terence grinned. "Alright, mate." he turned back to Adrian as the rest resumed their conversation.

As the train pulled into Hogwarts three hours later, Graham* headed into the Great Hall for the feast and Sorting.

'Dis place is mo' than I expected. Da Sortin' hat, Dumbledore's weird speech, all dis food...not a single damn Cajun dish, man! Well, da upside is dat I only have one fork!' he inwardly laughed as he dug into what Graham described as shepherds' pie.

I hope you enjoyed it! Anyway... another piece of random info-for Raven/Garrett's adoptive mom...just picture Renée Zellweger with a larger chest and Cajun accent. And there you go. (Haven't seen her in a while..but just look back at when she was in that flick-My, Myself & Irene...with Jim Carrey...)