Breaking the Seal
I sat on my suitcase, wondering where I was going to go. Lou was sitting next to me, watching me with his brilliant blue eyes. I sighed and placed a hand on him. I had been here all my life. I supposed either way I would still go to Salem.
I heard a knock. This was it.
"Miss Evelyn Martin, age sixteen, in sixth year in Salem Institute?" A man in a bright yellow poncho asked me. I looked outside, but there was no sign of rain. Apparently, this man didn't have the same affinity for dressing like a muggle as the previous witch.

"Yes." I answered dully.

He looked up and smiled at me. "You'll be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He said. I looked at him in shock.
"You're moving me to a different country?" I asked, horrorstruck.

"Yes, it's better for you to have a fresh start. Most children of drug users do have a better lifestyle if they are somewhere completely new. Hogwarts has gladly accepted you and will pay for your school books and robes. So no need to worry about any of that." He said, in a very business-like manner. He looked around him. "I assume you're all packed?"
I nodded, still a bit horror-struck that I was going to a different country entirely.
I dragged my trunk to the living room, pulling Lou up on my way.
The man pointed his wand at my trunk and it disappeared. Lou disappeared a second later.

"Wait, where did my cat go?" I demanded angrily.

"I sent him on his way. We'll have to take a Portkey, I'm afraid." He said, pulling out a huge, broken down clock, which was beginning to get a faint blue glow around it. "Op, almost ready, Grab on!" I latched a finger to it and immediately felt a jerk in my navel. I was spinning fast.

I landed in a pile on the floor of what looked like a bar. It was dark and the barstools were upturned on the bar counters. Morning light was streaming into the windows, which momentarily confused me until I realized that the time zone had changed.
"Where are we?" I asked the man. He stood up and pulled me up as well.

"The Leaky Cauldron." He said. He looked around while I patted off the dust on my jeans.

"Where's Hannah, she said she'd—ah! Hannah, dear, this is Evelyn Martin." He said, gesturing to me.

"Eve." I corrected. Hannah was a plump woman who must have been in her mid-thirties. She was pretty and had warm eyes.

"Nice to meet you, dear." She said, in an English accent, before pulling me into a hug that I wasn't ready for at all. I stiffened immediately and pulled away. She looked momentarily confused, but it was gone soon.

"Well Tim, you can leave her here and go now. I'll take good care of her." Hannah said, turning to the man, who was apparently named Tim. He gave me a polite nod before walking out of the bar. Hannah turned to me.

"You're room is on the second floor. I'll show you there. Your cat and belongings are already there, waiting for you. I hope you'll find London enjoyable while you're here." Hannah said. I followed her up the stairs, staying quiet.

"The train leaves on September 1st at exactly eleven. You'll have to board on platform 9 and ¾ on Kings Cross Station."

"I have no idea where that is." I said. "I drove to school."

"Hogwarts has arranged transport for you." Hannah said. I nodded.
We stopped at a door which she unlocked and pushed open. It was a quaint room, with dark purple bed-sheets on a one-person bed. The walls were neutral colored, and there was a desk in the corner of the room.

"Hogwarts has sent you a letter by owl, which I've put on that desk for you to read. There's also a pouch of money which the school sent for you to buy the correct robes and there's a stipend for you to buy anything else you'll need." She smiled kindly at me. "I'd save some for the train though. The trolley candy is to die for."
I nodded and walked inside the room. I took a seat on the chair in front of the desk, fingering the envelope in front of me. I turned to Hannah, who was watching me expectantly.

"Where do I… well, where do I buy all the things you're talking about?" I asked.

"You have a wand?" She asked. I nodded.

"Well you'll walk down to the back of the bar. There's a courtyard there, with a brick wall lining the back. Count three up and two across three times. Tap the brick that you count to. A portal will open and step through. If you can't remember that, come ask me."

"I'll remember." I assured her, picturing what she was saying.
Photographic memory was something that came in handy more often than not.

"Alright. Breakfast is at nine. Lunch is at noon. Dinner is at six. Just pull the string there if you need anything. Don't stray away from Diagon Alley, and be back here for supper time." Hannah said, before leaving.
I looked back at the envelope sitting on the desk.
I couldn't open it.
I got up and lay across my bed, wondering if my mom was okay. I had wrote them a list and placed it on the fridge before leaving, reminding them of everything that needed to be done. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

Something bright was hurting my eyes. I opened one eye and saw bright sunlight streaming in through the window. Grumbling, I stood up and shut the blinds. There was a tray of food sitting on the corner table and I looked at it hesitantly. I was very hungry and it looked very good. There was steak and kidney pudding, with a flask of pumpkin juice and a nice warm roll. I gulped them all down hungrily.
I looked over at the desk again and saw the letter. Sighing, I pushed the hair out of my face and picked it up, turning it over in my hands, looking at the dark green writing on the cover and the blood red seal.
I stuffed it into my pocket, grabbed the tray, and walked down to the bar. It was full of people, and it scared me. I tried to remain as unseen as possible and slipped behind the bar and toward what I figured was the kitchen.
I pushed the door open and Hannah was standing at the stove with her back to me.
I found the sink and walked over to it. I began washing my tray and Hannah looked over at me.
"No need to do that dear. I've got it with a simple wand flick."

"Oh… well, I can do—"

"Nonsense. Go explore, dear." She said kindly, flicking her wand and making the dishes wash themselves.

"Thanks." I mumbled, before walking out of the kitchen. I kept one hand in my pocket, fingering the thick parchment of the envelope. I stared at the back of the bar, where I saw a few wizards disappear to. I quickly made up my mind and followed. The portal was closing as I reached, and I pulled out my wand.
I tapped in the formation she told me to and the bricks splayed open. I couldn't help but gape open-mouthed at the scene before me. The place was bustling with wizards and witches. They looked like they were from every walk in life. I wished I was invisible, because a lot of people always made me uncomfortable. There were Wizarding villages in Salem, but nothing like this.
I stepped out into the street and started walking down the cobbled road. There were little Wizarding shops all around me, filled with all sorts of weird stuff. I felt the pouch of money in my pocket and the envelope as well. I should probably read it, I thought to myself, looking for a bench.
I saw a bookstore instead, called Flourish and Blotts and went inside. There were lines of books against every wall and I walked deeper inside until I found a small, abandoned reading table. It seemed to be the only place in the store which wasn't teeming with people. I sat myself down on the cushioned seat, dug in my pocket, and pulled out the envelope.
I lay it on the table and stared at it.

"Um… hi, do you—are you ok?"
I looked up quickly to see a girl with brilliant red hair looking down at me with a worried expression.
"What?"

"Well… you've just been sitting here and staring at that for so long. Did you need help?" She glanced down at the envelope. "Oh, do you go to Hogwarts? I've never seen you before." She said, looking a bit surprised.

"Who are you?" I asked her, confused.

"Oh I'm sorry. I'm Rose Weasley." She said, smiling at me.
Weasley. Weasley. Where had I heard that—"Oh, are you…you're a Weasley?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah." She sat down across from me. "There are a lot of us. You sound American."

"I am." I said, eyeing her suspiciously. "I um… moved here."

"What year are you in?" She asked.

"Sixth year." I replied.

"I'm in fifth. Open that letter. It probably tells you what you need to buy." She said, looking at the letter. I had a feeling she was being nosy.

"Right, I will." I said. "Do you mind if I do this alone? It was nice to meet you and all, but—"

"Of course, I understand." She said, standing. "It was good meeting you."

"Take care." I offered before she left.

I tore the seal. I did that much.
Why was this so hard for me to do?
The parchment inside was heavy and I unfolded it to reveal neat, cursive handwriting.
Miss Martin
We are looking forward to your presence at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will be beginning your sixth year studies, and we have confirmed with Salem Institute that you have covered everything up to the sixth year level.
You will be sorted into one of our four houses—Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin—after the first years are sorted. Attached is a copy of your school supply list. All your books have already been purchased for you based on the classes you picked at Salem. I hope you find the transition comfortable, and feel free to write me about any questions you may have.
Looking forward to seeing you,
Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress

I stared at it and felt dread bubbling in my stomach once again. I had to be the new kid. Everyone would stare. Everyone would hear the story of my drug addict mom and her poor, abused daughter. I would get the pitying looks I dreaded.
I would be known as Hogwarts' charity case.
I pulled out the school list and saw book names I didn't have to worry about. I did have to worry about robes though. Sighing, I stood up and walked out of the bookstore. It was becoming darker outside, and I checked my watch.
It was almost seven. Shit. The robes would have to wait.

"Sorry!" I gasped, bursting through the door to the Leaky Cauldron. Hannah looked up at me in surprise.

"Well that's okay, dear. Just try not to do it again. Dinner's on the table."

A/N: Second chapter up! I had the first two written together. Expect a teensy bit of time before the next one. I hope to keep you riveted though! Love you christywithaCH!