Olivier and Rachel stepped into the Leaky Cauldron, their sharp clothes a stark contrast to the surrounding environment, making heads turn and conversations die around them.

They approached the bar and sat down, waiting for the hunched man to turn his attention to them. The longer they waited, the more impatient they grew, Olivier's showing more than Rachel's calm demeanor.

"Tom."

The hunchback turned and smiled at them. "Mr. Duval, Ms. Duncan. Welcome."

"Our room is ready I presume?" Rachel said, lifting her chin a bit.

Tom raised his eyebrows, not expecting such language to come out of an 11 year old, "Yes, right this way."

The two followed the hobbling innkeeper to a small, shabby conference room. The walls shook as a train passed by, dust falling from the ceiling. Rachel sat down in the chair that Olivier pulled out for her, dusting off her shoulder.

"Do you both want anything?" Tom asked.

"Tea would be appreciated, Tom." Rachel said, clasping her hands together on the table and crossing her legs.

"Of course," Tom said, bowing slightly and walking out.

After five minutes of silence, Tom came back in with two teacups. "If you need anything, I will be right outside."

Olivier nodded as Rachel sipped her tea.

After the both of them were done with tea and about three train passes later, the door opened to reveal a young girl with blunt bangs and a pink sweater. Following her was a man with a balding head and a mustache, and a woman with frizzy hair, and a sweater almost matching that of the young girl's. The young girl saw the girl with a blonde bob cut and gaped stupidly.

"Hello," The older woman greeted kindly with more than a hint of nervousness in her voice, "I'm Michelle Hendrix, this is my husband, Joseph, and my daughter, Alison."

"Hello," Joseph said, sweat building on his forehead.

Alison stood at the door still, her mouth still open.

"Hello, I'm Olivier Duval, and this is Rachel Duncan." Olivier said, ignoring the young girl's clear bewilderment.

"Um…" Alison finally said, "It's nice to meet you Rachel," she finished, offering her hand to Rachel, who made no effort to take it.

"It's a pleasure," Rachel said coolly.

Michelle and Joseph looked at each other, half impressed, half offended.

"Hopefully the others will be arriving soon. I have much to do."

"Oh, so do I," Alison said, trying to spark any conversation, "I haven't started my school shopping yet, but I'm really excited. I've never heard of any of these things before."

"Oh?" Rachel said interested, "So you all must be muggles," she finished, turning her attention to the parents.

"Um, excuse me? Muggles?" Joseph asked, turning an ear to Rachel.

"That's what we call people of no magical background or abilities," Rachel explained.

"Ah." Joseph said, leaning back into his chair. He shot another look at his wife, who looked mildly offended.

The door opened again, revealing a girl with half of her hair in braids, sporting an... alternative outfit. She was soon followed by a taller woman with brunette hair.

"Er… Oi, whas goin' on," Sarah said, greeting the group. Alison gaped again as Rachel turned her head ever so slightly.

"Hello everyone," Siobhan greeted, "I'm Siobhan, and this is Sarah."

"Hey," Sarah said with a small, plopping into a chair at the end of the table.

"I'm Joseph, and this is my wife, Michelle, and my daughter, Alison," Joseph said from the chair against the wall.

"Hello," Alison said with a tight smile.

"I'm Olivier Duval, and this is Rachel," Olivier spoke, growing tired of the introductions.

"Pleasure."

"Er, yeah," Sarah said, scratching her scalp, turning her attention back to Allison "So what, are you all from America or somethin'?"

"Um, Canada, actually. Ontario," Michelle said.

"Yeah we must have missed the England memo," Joseph said with a chuckle, attempting to break the ice.

No one laughed, and Alison shook her head, but Siobhan gave him a sad smile.

"So is someone supposed to meet us here or what?" Sarah asked. The situation was a bit too forced in her opinion, and it made things awkward. This Alison girl was visibly uncomfortable, squirming in her seat.

"Yes, Professor McGonagall is supposed to talk to us more about your situation." Siobhan explained.

"You all don't know?" Rachel asked, again intrigued.

"No, apparently my foster mother was part of a world that I didn't even know existed," Sarah grumbled, still bitter.

"I couldn't tell you, love. I was instructed not to."

"Yeah, well she knows," Sarah spat, gesturing to Rachel, "How come she's in the inner loop?"

"She wasn't exactly part of the same program,"

"What does that even mean?"

Before anyone could answer her, the door opened again, this time revealing an elderly woman with a pointy hat and long black robes.

"Hello, everyone." Minerva greeted.

"Minerva, It's been a long time." Siobhan said coolly.

"It has. Too long, Siobhan."

"Minerva?" Alison asked, "Are you the one who sent us the letters?"

"Yes, Alison. I send all the students their acceptance letters." Minerva said with a tight smile.

"…Oh."

"Are you here to explain things to us?" Sarah asked, eager for information.

"Yes, once all of you are here."

"Wait, who's not?"

"Cosima," Minerva said casually, "But since she's a bit more informed than the two of you, I can answer your question about the school."

Sarah threw up her hands, "Why is everyone more informed than me?"

"Oh, believe me, I have less of a clue than you do, Sarah." Alison said with her hand on her cheek.

"That's slightly reassuring."

"Cosima was raised in a fully magical environment. Her adoptive parents are Hogwarts Alumni." Minerva said informatively.

"What's an alumni?"

"A graduate. They went there for school before," Alison answered politely. Minerva's eyes shone, that one was going to be a pleasure.

"Where is this school? Why haven't I heard of it?"

"It's located in Scotland, hidden from plain view. We take various precautionary measures to make sure no information of our existence is revealed."

Sarah sat back in her seat, absorbing the information, and thinking of questions to ask.

"I assure you that any and all questions you have will be answered within two days."

"Is there anyone from Canada there? Or anyone from North America for that matter?" Alison asked. Surely everyone couldn't be British.

Minerva smiled, "There is one other."

"Who?"

Minerva would have answered had the door not practically busted open.

"God, I knew I was late. Sorry guys, I overslept. Pre-school excitement and all that," Cosima said with a smile, adjusting her glasses. Taking in the sight in front of her. After looking at all of her clones, she laughed in disbelief. "This is totally trippy, man."

Everyone just stared back at her.

"Oh! Yeah, I'm Cosima," she said with half a wave. "Sorry Prof, my dad couldn't make it, he had work."

"It's no problem, send him my greetings." Minerva said calmly.

"So, let's get this party started, eh?" Cosima went and shook Sarah's hand, "Cosima."

"Sarah."

"Awesome hair, dude."

"Thanks, same to you." Sarah said with a start of a smile, finally someone who wasn't a prude.

Cosima went over to Alison, shaking her hand, "Nice to meet you, too."

"Yes, um… I'm Alison," She said hesitantly, taken aback by her enthusiasm.

"Oh, where are from?" Cosima asked, surprised by the lack of an English accent.

"Ontario," Alison said with a tight smile.

"Oh, cool! Yeah, I'm from San Fran."

Alison's eyebrows raised as she shook her head in misunderstanding, "Sorry, San…"

"Oh, it's in Cali. Uh, California. West Coast."

"Oh." Alison said satisfied. At least she didn't have an accent.

Cosima shuffled over to Rachel and offered her hand to her as well, not at all phased by her cool exterior, "What's up?"

Rachel furrowed her brow and took Cosima's hand gingerly, "Rachel."

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Rachel said, turning away. She wanted nothing more than to just leave.

When Cosima sat down, Minerva sat up straighter in her seat, "Ok now that everyone is here, we can begin."

"So we're clones?" Sarah asked, bewildered. She looked up at Siobhan, who shrugged.

"This is the first I've heard of it, love."

"Holy watershed," Cosima said after a long period of silence, for Cosima. "I knew we were clones or whatever, but I didn't know about the circumstances."

"I… I only have one fifth of a soul?" Alison said, rubbing her cheek, tears in her eyes.

"Yes, but we have a theory, dear." Minerva reassured.

"And what theory is that?"

"It is our belief that as you were only born with a fifth of a soul, it was able to complete itself with the surrounding environment, and make itself whole again. Much like how a baby with half of its brain removed can still grow into a healthy adult."

"How d'you mean?" Sarah asked.

"This could explain anything from voice quality, to Rachel's hair color, to consistent tardiness."

"Hey!" Cosima shouted. "The Floo Network was hella packed okay? I had to say 'the Leaky Cauldron' like eight times."

Minerva shook her head, she was going to be trouble.

"Either way, that is all the information I have to offer. If you have no questions, you may leave to go get your school items."

No later than when Minerva finished her sentence, Rachel stood from her seat, nodded to everyone, and left. There was a beat of silence before Sarah spoke up, "Okay, did she have a problem or was it just me?"

"Nah dude, she had a huge Cool Ranch Dorito on her shoulder, man." Cosima said, playing with a braid.

"Do you all have any questions?" Minerva asked.

Cosima shook her head, and Sarah stayed silent.

"I guess I'll just have to see it for myself," Alison said.

"Me too," Sarah agreed.

Cosima grinned, "Can I show them around?" she asked to Minerva, who just shrugged.

"Sweet," Cosima said, grabbing Sarah and Alison, who yelped. "We'll meet you at Ollivander's!" she got out before running out the door.

"Tom! We need to get through the wall!" The adults heard from the conference room. They all chuckled.

"That girl has a lot of energy in her. Doesn't seem like she has a fifth of a soul." Siobhan said casually.

"Yes, well, I doubt any of them will. But we will watch them closely at Hogwarts, I assure you. I think they'll do well. Now if you all will come with me, I think it would be wise to take a trip to Gringotts.

As Tom finished tapping on the brick wall, that Alison made a quick note to memorize, The bricks rolled and shuffled revealing an alley filled with people and shops that were decorated with a spectrum of colors that the two could have never imagined.

Cosima watched their awestruck faces and grinned, "Welcome to the trip, man."