Author's Note: So, I think it's kinda dumb that witch and wizard are gendered, especially since wizard was a word for a philosopher and witch was gender-neutral. So whether they are male or female, I will be referring to magical folk elsewhere in the world as witch. I'm also not going to italicize when they're speaking in Spanish for these chapters because I feel that would be overdoing it and distracting.

Space Address: C2 - Dusk

They might as well have punched him in the gut. Did they really hate werewolves that much?

"Werewolf?" the first years whispered.

"Hey, don't be prats," said Red. "Let Cedric through."

"Oh, please," said Daven. "As soon as we turn our backs, he'll go savage on us! My dad says all werewolves go savage at one time or another!"

"Do you believe everything daddy tells you?" Cedric asked, clenching his fists. "You guys have known me for years! So much for loyalty!"

"I'm only loyal to those I trust," said Aiden. "Face it, Cedric. You're just another Greyback waiting to happen."

"I'm not!" His hands shook. "Come on… Chester?"

Chester looked away.

"Kyle… mate, what about all the fun we used to have?"

"Things are different now," he muttered.

"What's going on here?"

Professor Sprout entered the Common Room, led by Lisha.

"Professor," said Red. "Aiden and Daven won't let Cedric into the dorm."

Professor Sprout gasped. "I'm surprised at you two!"

"I'll write my father!" said Aiden. "He's got friends on the school board and they're sure to agree."

"Well where am I supposed to sleep?" Cedric demanded.

"Outside where you belong."

"That's enough! Alright, come on," said Professor Sprout. "Everybody, get to bed or detention for you as well."

Cedric followed Professor Sprout all the way down the hall, even past the bathrooms. At the end was a door labeled Head Boy.

"Every House has these," she said. "It's up to the Head Boy or Girl to use them. Most prefer to stay in their old dorm."

"With their friends," Cedric muttered.

"Well, think of it as your own flat," said Professor Sprout. "To prepare you for Japan."

"Thank you for your letter of recommendation for that."

"Of course." She smiled and patted his cheek. "For what it's worth, I'm proud of you."

Cedric gave her a hug, then entered his dorm. It was about half the size as his old one, but with only one bed, it felt huge. He had his own desk and even his own bathroom complete with a water closet. He slowly closed his door behind him and went about unpacking, knowing very well that he wouldn't want to tomorrow.

Once he was changed into his pyjamas, he sat down on the double bed and removed his mirror out of his backpack.

"Hermione," he said. "Hermione!"

Voices emitted from the mirror.

"Herminia, your mirror is talking to you."

"Oh!"

In an instant, Hermione's face appeared and then disappeared in a mass of brown curls.

"Hi, Farm Boy," she said, pushing her hair back from the wind.

"Hi, love," he said and furrowed his brow. "Where are you?"

"On the ship," she replied. "On the way to school. Hold on."

He got a good view of her shoes and the wind stopped.

"Okay," she said, appearing once more. "I know it hasn't even been a day yet, but I miss you so much."

"I miss you, too," he said. "Hogwarts feels so weird without you here. During his speech, I could tell Dumbledore was about to say your name for the school tour before saying mine."

"So," she said. "Who's the unlucky S.O.B. that got landed with the defense position?"

"Some lady called Dolores Umbridge," said Cedric, slumping back against his pillows.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Umbridge?"

"Yeah."

"That's the weird lady that was at Harry's trial!" she said. "Oh… oh, this is bad. Do you know what this means?"

"I do, but tell me anyway."

"The spy they're placing in Hogwarts has more power than we realized," said Hermione. "Oh, Cedric, please be careful. Someone like that is dangerous."

"I know," he said. "Besides, if Defense sucks I can just drop the class, right?"

"Right," she said. "Don't need Defense to be an engineer."

"Oh, by the way I met a couple new students today," said Cedric. "Could you ask Tía Constanza to send her book on magic in British-English braille?"

"Certainly," said Hermione. "I hope the kid was able to get their textbooks in braille."

"I'll double check. Also, could you ask Esperanza if there are any books for how she does magic? This one girl is a bit like you except she doesn't speak at all and I know Esperanza does sign for some of her spells."

"Yes, of course," said Hermione. "I'll let Cecilia know."

"I heard, Herminia," came Cecilia's voice. "We're almost there so wrap up your call."

"Alright," said Hermione. She looked at Cedric. "I have to go."

"Just as well," he replied. "I should get to bed anyway. I've got tours to run in the morning."

Hermione blew him a kiss. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Cedric replied then closed his mirror with a snap and rolled onto his side. Just as well that he didn't get a chance to tell her what happened with Aiden and Daven. Knowing her, she would turn that boat around and come back for him.

Heaving a sigh, Cedric plaited his hair, took off his arm, and used his wand to douse the lights.

~o0o~

Hermione put her mirror in her purse and went back to the deck. Maybe this was a bad idea. Cedric wasn't in his normal dorm room, she could tell. What kind of girlfriend—no—what kind of best friend was she to leave him to the wolves? Er, so to speak. She knew very well what people thought of werewolves, especially in England.

Why didn't she convince him to go to Castelobruxo with her? Even if prejudices weren't any better, he would have seven Sanchezes to back him up.

"Are you okay, Herminia?" Noa asked.

"I'm fine," said Hermione. "I'm just worried about Cedric."

"He's a big boy," said Abril. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

Hermione touched her wood pendant lightly and sighed. It was just nine and a half months and he'd be free. Four months until they saw each other again. And if things got bad, she'd find a way to help him transfer.

"Herminia, come see your new home."

She went to the side of the boat and sighed in awe.

After passing through a cloud of wards, they floated above what looked like a small city. Three pyramids rose in the center, two of colorfully painted stone and one that looked to be made of pure gold. They were surrounded by canals that led to other buildings made of colored glass in a Neo-Andean style. She spotted a high cathedral, a mosque with an obsidian dome, and a white synagogue with brown trimming near each other and connected by a spanning Plaza that Bianca explained was where they held the quinceañera celebrations. Just beyond was the midnight blue Astronomy Tower and the faculty living quarters. Past the main canal, Hermione could see the spanning zoo containing habitats for all the creatures and the gardens, each contained in their own microclimate. The setting sun gave everything a dreamlike glow and Hermione barely remembered to take a photo of it all before they drifted down near buildings made of clay and stone.

Each building was painted differently, had a different architecture, and each had a statue of their dorm mascot. As they landed, Hermione could see a giant porcupine, a macaw, a jaguar, a llama, a caiman, a bear, and a wolf guarding the entrances to the dorms. She was certain there were more in front of the others. They were all neon colored and slightly off from the creature they appeared as, like alebrijes. The jaguar had wings, the llama had spines, the porcupine had an armored tail, and so on.

"You'll be in Hystrice with us," said Emilia. "Dormitories have a sort of mascot and Doña Claudia likes to keep families together. But there's not really a divide it's just so you can remember where to go."

"Alright," said Hermione, becoming more overwhelmed as they landed when she saw the high trees hiding the path that was clear from the sky. "H-How will I know where to go?"

"Well, based on your grades," Noa mused, "you'll probably be in Group A with me. See, we're randomized our first four years and our last three years we're divided by grade so we can choose our courses based on that."

"Since you were number one at Hogwarts, you'll be with the smarties like Noa," Bianca assured. "And you'll get to pick your classes."

"When do I do that?"

"When we land."

Their boat slowed to a stop beside a building that was beautifully painted in blue, green, and gold and had the phosphorescent porcupine statue in front of the entrance doors. Students were already dragging in suitcases and one girl was levitating the biggest teddy bear Hermione had ever seen onto a balcony.

Noa's chair was levitated to the ground by Emilia and Cecilia.

"Bye, Herminia," said Cecilia.

"Bye, Ceci." Hermione gave her a giant hug and scaled down the ladder, her purse banging against her hip. "Say hi to Tonks for me."

"Oh, I will." Cecilia giggled with delight and steered the ship away.

Oh, Hecate, it was hot! Hermione summoned a fan and fanned herself as sweat pricked at her forehead.

"Don't worry, it's much cooler inside," said Josefina. "We have to check in anyway so that we can get our packets."

Inside the lobby, a man in a t-shirt with the school crest and cargo shorts was standing behind a folding table stacked with welcome packets in manila folders.

"Hola, Señor Luna," said Noa. "This is our cousin, Herminia. She's new."

"A transfer!" said Señor Luna, giving her hand a firm shake. "Nice to meet another Sanchez. I swear your family keeps growing all the time. I am Señor Luna and I am your Den Mother. If you have any trouble you're welcome to come to me or your assigned counselor Senhora Roque, I am trained in Healing magic and I oversee tutoring sessions. On this floor is the recreation room, Hystrice's personal library, and downstairs is the laundromat, we do have a rule here at Castelobruxo to keep yourselves well-groomed and your dorm clean. Go ahead and sign in here."

Hermione scrawled out her signature and accepted her welcome packet.

"Looks like we're on the top floor," said Paula.

Hermione followed her cousins to the staircase to the right. Noa pulled on a lever and her wheels unfurled into many legs that scuttled up the staircase. They were on the fourth floor and when they reached it, they found their rooms at the front of the hallway. There was a small mailbox and a removable slip of paper listing the name of the occupant.

Hermione found her room key in her packet and unlocked the door. She was greeted with a rush of cool air and she sighed.

"Unload your trunk and we'll show you where the cafeteria is," said Noa. "Bring your packet so you can sign up for your electives."

"What about books?"

"There's a school bookstore," said Josefina.

"Besides," said Abril, "Esperanza already wrapped up the books you'll need for this year for us to give to you. They don't really change, so it's not uncommon for some students to rent their textbooks or even for siblings to share them. Unfortunately, if a new edition comes out the school will update and that can screw you over."

It all sounded a lot like university to Hermione. After releasing their pets and unloading their luggage, the gaggle of girls walked down to the canal where they hitched a ride on one of the many rafts. Hermione turned her head this way and that trying to take it all in. The administration buildings were easy to remember as they were red with gold trim and on the same path to get to the gold pyramid. As the sun set further, witches walked along the sidewalk and flicked their channels (wands, staffs, one even tapped the poles with his shoes) to light the lanterns. They passed a plaza that Paula explained was for market day every other weekend.

The mess hall was several stories tall and each level had a kitchen to make sure all 3,000+ students and faculty got food in a decent amount of time. It wasn't terribly crowded, but people would be arriving from all over Latin America and the Caribbean all weekend. On the ground level there were tables on a veranda that overlooked the gardens and two walls were taken up by food lines.

"They serve different food every day," said Emilia. "So don't worry about getting bored with the meals. However, I would recommend stocking up on snacks in your dorm whenever you can. We're allowed to eat in every class except potions and creatures."

Hermione got the arroz con pollo, a pudding cup, and a juice then sat at a table. She opened up her welcome packet and flipped through the handbook before moving on to the sign-up sheet.

"Wow…" she said, looking over the electives. "That's a lot of classes. Er—what are you guys taking?"

"You should do Capoeira with me," said Bianca. "You're good at that fighting stuff and we incorporate it with magic."

"Okay," said Hermione, checking off Capoeira. "How many electives do I get?"

"Depends," said Josefina. "Do you want this year to be a fun year and get your remainder credit hours the next two years or let Seventh Year be all fun courses? The only ones required until seventh year are Horticulture and Creature Care. So you have six spots open."

"I suppose I would want to get core classes done first," said Hermione.

"You're in A-Group," said Noa, looking at the packet. "So I recommend the doubles so we can take class together and you can learn even more. We can take Charms/Transfig., Potions/Alchemy, and Runes/Arithmancy. That's five with Horticulture and Magizoology, oh, Capoeira, so you get two more."

"What about History?" Hermione asked.

"That was required the first four years, now it's an elective," said Emilia. "Charms and Transfig is always doubled because they're similar branches."

"I should warn you," said Paula, "the A-Group classes are really fast paced. You're going to have reading and homework nearly every day. You got to be disciplined."

"I can be disciplined," said Hermione. "I was homeschooled for a couple years and Mum and Dad would let me loose with the option to go to them for help."

"You can take beginner's curse breaking with me," said Noa. "I'm not really interested in becoming a curse-breaker, but the class just sounds so fascinating. They teach you how to deactivate wards and how to tell if an object is cursed."

She thought of the locket that had made its home in her pocket. She was so afraid of it being lost that she carried it with her everywhere. Unfortunately, the dark energy and the whispering coming from it was getting worse.

"That sounds useful," she said, marking it.

"You should take debate with me," said Josefina. "I'm not very good at it, but I did the club last year and I think it's helping with my shyness."

"Ooh! Debate," said Hermione. "I'll take that. Okay. Capoeira, Beginner's Curse-Breaking, and Debate. Plus Alchemy/Potions, Transfig./Charms, Runes/Arithmancy, Horticulture and Magizoology."

"Final answer?" Noa asked.

"Final answer," said Hermione, filling out the papers.

When she was done, Emilia folded them up and cast a charm on it. Now in the shape of a bird, it flew away.

"What was that for?" Hermione demanded.

"Check your schedule in ten minutes."

Sure enough, ten minutes later ink bled through the blank sheet of paper that was labeled as her class schedule.

"Group A," she read.

"¡Vaya!" said Noa, looking over her shoulder, "We have the same time block. So, every week it's going to invert. So, Monday you'll start with Transfiguration-slash-Charms and the following Monday you'll start with Horticulture."

"Why do classes start at ten?" she asked.

"Doña Claudia read that getting children up at the crack of dawn during important stages of development was bad for growth and overall well-being," said Abril. "We're allowed to have snacks in most classes, because she believes well-fed children are more productive."

It looked like on A-days she had Transfiguration/Charms starting at 10:00, then Arithmancy/Ancient Runes, followed by A-Lunch. After lunch, she had Potions/Alchemy, then Capoeira. On B-days, she had Horticulture, then Magizoology, then Debate and, finally, Beginner's Curse Breaking. After dinner there was a slot designated for screaming time, which would explain study hall back at Hogwarts. However, something on Saturday caught her eye.

"What's transportation?" she asked.

"Oh, Apparition lessons," said Paula.

"And driving lessons," Emilia chimed.

"It's required," said Abril.

"I thought Sixth Years took Apparition," said Hermione.

"Ah, no!" said Emilia. "Sixth years are too busy preparing for their Level 2 E.D.A.M.s, it's too much work. No, fifteen and sixteen is the best time to start learning and then once you get your license near the end of the school year, you'll be prepared."

"You'll have to schedule your own driving practice times," said Paula. "You can get a note to miss class for them, but I recommend doing the ones in the morning because the instructors are more patient with the first kids of the day."

"Good to know," said Hermione, her stomach twisting in knots at the thought of driving.

"Next weekend, I'd recommend checking out the clubs," said Bianca. "They're not required so you can come and go as you please."

"Depending on who's running them," said Josefina. "Noa doesn't like people who come in and out of her club."

"It's disruptive!" Noa defended. "I prefer consistency and that means people who show up to every meeting."

"Which is why you only have Bembe, Kyoko, and Linda," said Bianca.

"Bembe, Kyoko, and Luiz are my friends," said Noa. Bianca covered her mouth with her hand in embarrassment. Noa dropped her voice and leaned over to Hermione. "I'd appreciate it if you could stop anyone who tries calling Luiz from his dead name. He just started transitioning after the quinceañera. Despite her troubles with Viktor, Esperanza made him a new wardrobe since he wanted to be more masculine."

"Of course," said Hermione. She tipped her head. "Is Kyoko a Japanese name?"

"Brazil has a pretty big Japanese population," Emilia explained.

Hermione didn't know that. There was still so much she didn't know.

She looked at her schedule and felt a little overwhelmed. It was a lot and she was still training to be an Animagus.

"Don't worry," said Noa. "You have your family here with you to help you."

"Exactly," said Paula. "You can come to any of us if you need us."

Hermione smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

After dinner, they returned to their dorms. Hermione was finally able to get a good look at her room. There was a water closet (girls showers were at the end of the hall), as well as a full length mirror on the door. There was a dresser and a loft bed with a desk underneath. There was also a sliding door leading to a shared balcony. It looked like she shared it with Noa. Through the window, she got an excellent view of the park across the dorms. Some people had already started a round of football. Hermione hoped the school had a baseball diamond.

After making sure her beloved cat was taken care of, Hermione unpacked her things, lined up her books, and put up her posters and pictures. At least she had the weekend to figure out where her classes were and explore her new home. She went out to the balcony, collapsed in a chair, and sighed.

It was weird not being in Gryffindor Tower. Instead of the howling wind, there was a cool breeze and the sounds of millions of insects, birds, and frogs calling out into the night. She spent the evening reading through the student handbook and the events calendar as well as her weekly schedule, making sure to include times to look into that locket and notebook. Perhaps the Castelobruxo library would have something.

"Hola."

Noa entered onto the balcony and moved into the chair across from Hermione.

"You okay?"

Hermione shrugged. "This is all so new. I'm worried about Cedric and Harry. They've both dealt with so much and I realized how much I do for them. What will they do without me?"

"Grow up," Noa suggested. "Listen, you can't do everything for everyone all the time, it will drive you insane."

"True…"

Hermione leaned back and looked up at the stars. They were so different here…

"You look tired," Noa commented. "You should get some rest."

"Good idea."

Even so, she didn't go to sleep right away. After she was in her pyjamas, she sat down on her bed and read through the student handbook. Unlike Hogwarts, she would have to take care of everything except for meals. She'd need to do her own laundry, make sure that her living quarters were cleaned for weekly inspection, and clean up after Crookshanks. There would also be a scheduled time a week where she and her class would be in charge of harvesting food for the meals or even planting the food for meals. It would be extra work but she was pleased that Castelobruxo didn't rely on slave labor to tend to their students, plus it taught responsibility.

The rules also seemed to be more updated thanks to Doña Claudia. Hermione studied the map for the school and counted herself lucky she had a cousin that already knew where everything was and could show her where to go. It was so big. Bigger than the grounds of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts put together. Castelobruxo even had a church, a synagogue, and a mosque. Students were allowed to set up shrines in their rooms or on their half of the balcony. She reminded herself to bring her camera tomorrow so she could put together a scrapbook.

She also went through the social events and saw numerous holidays and festivals in respect to each country and culture, the ones for D.R. and general celebrations for witches in bold. Hermione didn't even know there were magical holidays.

It was going to be quite an adjustment.