WAKE UP YOU IDIOT!"

I opened my eyes to see that we had arrived at the toy store. I sighed, long and loud and slid out of the car.

Aunt Rose had her hands on her hips and was tapping her foot on the black top, one eyebrow slowly rising. I made no move to hurry and soon was pushing the cart towards the doors of the store.

Bobby was waddling around excitedly, his stomach jiggling like Jell-o.

He grabbed something off the shelf and tossed it into the cart. I glanced at the label. A 3ds. As expected, Bobby tossed at least fifteen games inside the cart, then waddled over to another aisle.

I want to strangle this family.

I just sighed and followed them, keeping at least five feet away.

We had been in the store for about forty five minutes when nature called me.

"Lady Rose?" I asked her. She let out an irritated sigh. "What now?" She snapped. "I need to use the restroom," I said and did a little jig so that she knew I meant it. Aunt just sighed and waved her hand at me dismissively. "Fine fine, but if you aren't back in ten minutes we are leaving without you!" She called after me as I raced to the stalls. You'd think she was joking. I did too, until she literally left me at the store until it closed. I was only five when it happened, and I just crawled into the janitor's closet and stayed there until she picked me up.

Isn't my childhood wonderful?

After I had relieved myself, I washed my hands then walked outside. As I was making my way back to Aunt Rose, I ran into Bobby.

Without his parents.

Sh-it.

He cracked his knuckles.

"About time I ditched them," He said and took a menacing step towards me. "Now then, I need some target practice." His fist flung my way, and I ducked. His hand slammed into the wall, and Bobby howled in pain. "I'll kill you!" He screamed.

But I was already running. I jumped over fallen toys, small toddlers and dashed around the endless maze of aisles. Anything to avoid Bobby and future bruises.

I dashed around a corner and straight into a girl.

"What was that for?!" She cried out indignantly, but I slammed a hand over her mouth and put my finger to my lips in a gesture of silence.

I gingerly removed my hand and got a good look at her. She looked my age, with emerald colored eyes and dirt blonde hair. She picked up her baseball cap that had fallen to the ground and crammed it back onto the top of her head. She stood up and dusted off her t-shirt with the words Kawai Me! on the front. "What are you running from?" She whispered. "My cousin," I replied gravely in a hushed tone. She cocked her head, like a pigeon, then asked "Is he younger than you?"

The idea of Bobby being a pestering toddler made me laugh. I immediately slammed a hand over my mouth, begging my humor to punish me sometime later. ""No," I answered. "He's the same age as me and is super fat," I explained, stretching my arms wide to give her an idea of how round he is. She giggled and helped me to my feet. "The name's Sairen." She introduced. "I'm Hadrian." I replied and snuck a glance side to side of the aisles. "You know…" She started and pulled out a long, smooth, slender stick. "Does he bully you?"

I nodded, staring at her stick. It was similar to the one my Dad wielded in my dream- the thing that made pretty lights.

Sairen gave me a smile that made me glad she was on my side. "I think I can fix that."

Sorry for the break but hey! This is actually shorter than I thought...

And I know you all need some Hogwarts, but I'm going to take this story and plot developments slowly. In all my others, people are always saying I take the plot too fast. They are right. And are you happy he meets Sairen here? YES SHE WILL BE ON THE TRAIN! NO NEED TO PANIC! XD

Here is a cookie for all the patience you have had for waiting until Hagrid, or in this world, Onido. [Onee-doe] :]

[::]

Actually, have some more.

[::] [::] [::]

Your welcome!

"Are you sure this will work?"

Sairen had gone over the plan with me three times, but I still had my doubts. She, on the other hand, seemed confident that everything would happen perfectly.

Then she didn't know me too well.

Sairen walked up to me and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I jumped a foot in the air from the unexpected contact with someone, and Sairen gave me an apologetic look before shoving me out into the open, where Bobby would surely see me.

And see me he did. When he saw me, his porky face turned a deep shade of red and he ran towards me.

"Stick to the plan, stick to the plan," I recited over and over in my mind. When Bobby was ten feet away and gaining ground, I yelled "Hey Bobby! Too slow? Or too porky?"

This infuriated him, and he barreled straight for me like a rhino.

Seven feet…

Five feet…

Three…

Two…

One…

"NOW!" Sairen yelled, and I jumped out of the way of Rhino Bobby. His face change from rage to surprise when he realized he didn't hit me. Sairen lifted up her light stick and chanted strange, garbled words. Then she pointed her stick at Bobby. There was a flash of light, and in Bobby's place was a pig. A very round, very Bobby looking pig.

I stared at the animal at my feet, then looked up at Sairen.

"If this is a dream, don't wake me up." She opened her mouth to respond, but I went on. "This just went from the worst to the best day of my life."

Sairen laughed, and I joined her. I looked at Bobby, now an overly fat pig.

"Is it permanent?" I asked hopefully. Sairen shook her head. "Sorry, but he can't stay like this. What I can do…" She started and waved her wand over his head. "Is make him extremely terrified of you so that he will never think of bothering you again."

My heart became more lighter, but then she pointed her stick at me.

"Uh…" I started and backed up a step. "What are you doing?"

Sairen sighed. "I'm supposed to erase your memories of me and turning Bobby into a pig…" She sighed and put her stick into her pocket. "But I'll let you remember as long as you never tell another soul about it or me, okay?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Hey, um, Sairen?" I asked. She looked at me and cocked her head again. "What?" I felt heat rise to my face and I knew I was blushing. "Uh… do you live near Picket Drive? My house is number Four."

Sairen nodded and a grin spread across her face. "I live on that street too! My house number is Forteen!"

I smiled, and my heart soared. I finally had someone my age! Toel didn't really count, he was a garter snake, but I finally had someone who I could laugh with and understand!

I looked down at the pig and sighed. "I guess you should turn him back now." I said.

Sairen cocked her head at me again. "What, no picture?" She asked. I grinned and tapped the side of my head. "Nah, I have it all in here."

Sairen nodded her approval and took out her stick. She checked to make sure no one was watching, then Bobby was sitting there in front of me. Sairen quickly slipped her stick in her back pocket and repositioned her hat farther onto her head.

Bobby took one look at me and his face went pale. "Stay away from me!" He cried, much to my amusement. "MOMMY!" He screamed and ran away from our aisle.

Sairen and I made eye contact, then burst out laughing. "Please tell me that's permanent!" I begged through laughter. Sairen nodded, still giggling. "Yep."

I grinned, and before I could regret my descion, pulled her into a hug. I squeezed her tightly and enjoyed the feeling of touching another person. It was pleasant. Sairen hugged me back after a second of hesitation, and after a moment, I let her go.

"I should get going," I said to her. Sairen nodded and grinned. "Come to my house tomorrow!" She called. "My mom is cooking salmon!"

I nodded my head to make sure she knew I heard, then made my way back to where Aunt, Uncle and Bobby was waiting.

"You took fifteen minutes!" Uncle roared. "Rest of the day in the cupboard and no supper!"

I barely heard him. My heart was light, and for the first time in years, I actually felt happy.

I have a friend. Her name is Sairen. She is ten years old, like me.

And she can use magic.