We drove to my house. My parents probably were going to say no about me going to Hogwarts. Plus I mean I would be leaving everyone behind. Jeremy, Andy, Cat. Everyone. Even so, I would be getting away from the high school. I hoped they would say I could go. Willow nudged me. I looked to her and saw she had a book in her hands. I took it slowly and saw it was: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk. I looked over to Willow. She smiled and encouraged me to open the book. I opened it and began to read. Well I tried. “Wingardium Leviosa” I said slowly. I hoped I had said that correctly. Willow smiled. “Good job. Good pronunciation too” Dumbledore said. “Yes I agree” Alice said. I smiled. Maybe this wouldn’t be too hard.

Ten minutes later

I continued reading the book until we got to my house. I saw that both of my parents were at home. I sighed and closed the book. We pulled into the driveway. We all got out of the car. I got out my house key. “If I had a wand wouldn’t alohomora open the door?” I asked looking back at them. They smiled and nodded. “See I told you, you would learn quickly” Willow said. I unlocked the door and opened it. I let everyone in and closed the door behind them. “Victoria? Is that you?” Dad asked. “Yes” I said. “Your home a bit early” Mom said. “You guys in the living room?” I asked. “Yeah” Dad said. “The pictures don’t move” Alice said. “This way to the living room” I said quietly. I dropped off my bag in its usual spot. Dad had the newspaper and Mom had my little sister, Carrie, in her lap. Carrie is only two so she knows few words. “Mommy” she said. “Yes?” Mom asked looking down to her. Carrie pointed to us. Mom looked over. Her eyes first went to me then to Professor Dumbledore. He was dressed oddly compared to us. “Oh um Victoria. Who are your friends?” Mom asked standing up. I introduced everyone. Mom slowly nodded. Dad had put down the newspaper. Professor Dumbledore began to explain why they had come. Dad was staring and Mom had blankness over her face. “A witch!” Mom exclaimed when Dumbledore said it. “I don’t think so” Dad said. “Why? What is wrong with it?” Dumbledore asked calmly. “What isn’t wrong with it?” Dad muttered. “I assure you both that Hogwarts is a safe environment” Dumbledore said. Dad sat back and stroked his beard. “Do you really want to go to this school called Hogwarts?” Dad asked. I nodded. “Rob you can’t be serious about letting her go” Mom said quickly. “Honey we need to let her make her own choices” Dad said. Dumbledore smiled. “Hogwarts is a great school. I have been attending for 2 years now going on my third” Willow said. “And where exactly are we supposed to get your school supplies?” Mom asked. She seemed as if she didn’t want me to go. “Diagon Alley of course” Alice said with a smile. “Oh, well when does school start?” Mom asked. “September 1st” Dumbledore said. Mom nodded. “I can take you to Diagon Alley” Willow said. “Not by yourselves of course” Mom said. “No you guys can come with us” Willow said. “You guys will get along with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Merlin’s beard! Mr. Weasley is going too fascinated by you guys” Alice said with a laugh. “You will get along with Fred and George very well” Willow said looking at me. “And Ginny” Alice said. “And Luna” Willow said. “Yes and Miss Granger as well” Dumbledore said. “So when do we go to Diagon Alley?” Dad asked.  

1 week later- August 16

I stood in the garage with Jeremy, Andy, and Cat. Andy had his bass, Jeremy with his guitar, and Cat was back on her drums. I had my guitar, it was already tuned. I heard a knock at the door. “Come in” I said. Willow opened the door and smiled. “Hey” she said. “Hey” I said. I still hadn’t told everyone about how I was transferring schools. I looked at Willow. She seemed to have known I hadn’t yet. I didn’t know how I would tell them I would be going to another school. I sighed and turned to all of them. “Guys I have some news” I said slowly. They all turned to look at me. “Yeah?” they asked. “I’m transferring schools” I said. “What?” Jeremy asked. “I’m transferring school in about two weeks” I said. “W-what?” Cat asked. I nodded. “Why?” Andy asked. “I am going into a private school” I said. They all looked upset. “I’m going to miss you” Jeremy said.  “I will miss you all” I said. I hugged them all. “Now come on guys lets rock out” I said with a smile. Willow smiled and took the bass guitar. She slung it over herself. I handed Andy my guitar and he slung it over his shoulder. I walked to the microphone. We began to play Any Last Words by New Year’s Day.

Four days later- August 20

We are Diagon Alley walking to some store. We had already been to Gringotts and gotten our money converted to some Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. We went past a shop that said ‘Broomstix’. Not hard to figure out what is sold there. We continued and I saw a sign that read ‘Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop’. I laughed remembering that this is where Willow told me Fred and George usually hung out when school wasn’t in session. “Fred and George, I’m guessing?” I asked Willow. She smiled and nodded. “That or Zonco’s.” She said. The doors were open and we entered with my parents and Alice not far behind. I looked around the shop and saw different types of candies whose names I didn’t recognize. Candy was on every shelf surrounding me. “I have never seen so much candy in my life” I said looking to Willow. She smiled. “Willow I am going to take Rob and Pam to the Leaky Cauldron” Alice said as she left. Willow waved goodbye as they left. “Well go find yourself something! I recommend a chocolate frog. They are pretty good” Willow said. “Chocolate frog? Like an actual frog?” I asked. “No. Just what they are called” she said. I nodded and began to roam the store. I looked at all the different kinds of candies. Liquorice wands, one box read. Bertie’s Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, another said. I wasn’t watching in front of me and ran into someone. “I’m sorry” I said quickly. I noticed I had knocked some things out of his hands. I bent down and quickly picked them. I heard him chuckle. “It’s quite alright” he said. “Hey! You’re new here! Right? I mean I remember pretty girl who comes in here” he said. “Yeah I am new here” I said blushing. I handed him things back. I looked up to him and saw he had red hair, brown eyes, and about a head taller than I was. “You must be one of the Weasley’s” I said with a smile. “Why yes I am! I’m Fred” he said proudly. I smiled. “See that you two found each other without our help” someone said. I looked back and saw Willow and someone who looked like Fred. Probably his twin, George; as Willow had told me. “Well I accidently ran into him” I said. “Awe was poor Freddie hurt?” George joked. “Oh yes completely. I don’t know if I can carry on Georgie” Fred said acting like he actually hurt. We all laughed. “This is George. Fred’s twin” Willow said. “Nice to meet you George” I said. “Fred, George, this is Victoria. She is my newest friend and witch in training” Willow said. “Witch in training you say?” Fred asked. I slowly nodded. “She’s joining the first years?” George asked. “No she is going to join mine and Ginny’s year” Willow said. The twins nodded and said oh. “Haven’t found the chocolate frogs have you?” Willow asked. “No” I said shaking my head. “Come on! I will show you where they are” Fred said. He put his arm around my shoulders. We began to the front of the store. We came up to a cabinet and saw that it had chocolate frogs in it. “Each one of them has a famous witch or wizard in it” Willow said. I looked at them carefully and then chose one. “Now to the cash register” Willow said pointing to it. “Nah I got it Willow” Fred said. “No Fred I will buy it” Willow said. “No I am gonna buy it for my new friend” Fred said motioning to me. “No Fred. It’s fine I will buy it” Willow said. “Willow I will argue all day” Fred said crossing his arms. “Fine! But I own you” Willow said pointing to him. Fred shook his head. We walked up to the cash register with Fred he paid for the chocolate frog. “Well thank you Fred” I said. “Don’t mention it Vikki” he said with a smile. I returned a smile. I have a new nickname. “Well I guess I will see you guys at Hogwarts?” I asked them. They nodded and both said yes. Willow and I both said goodbye to them and exited the store. “So I take it you like the Weasley twins?” Willow asked. “Yeah they are pretty nice” I said. “That they are” she said. “Just wait till you meet Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Oh my god I can see Mr. Weasley now, he would be completely fascinated by you guys” she continued. We began to walk somewhere. I supposed it was the Leaky Cauldron to reunite with our parents. Willow opened the door and we entered. I saw someone standing at the bar. It was man who had dark clothes and black hair. Willow walked on by him. He glanced at me but looked forward again as soon Alice spoke. “Speaking of Victoria and Willow” Alice said as she saw us. I saw a very large man was sitting with them. “Hagrid” Willow said. “‘Ello Willow. You must be Victoria” he said. “Yes that’s me” I said. “Rubeus Hagrid. Gamekeeper, Master of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts” he said introducing himself. “Nice to meet you Rubeus” I said. “Please call me Hagrid” he said with a light smile. “Hagrid” I said. He nodded. “So I take it as you are going to coming to Hogwarts this year?’ he asked. “Yes I will be” I said with a smile. “You’ll have to come visit me sometime” he said. “We will” Willow said. “Well I must be off. Dumbledore wanted me to run some errands for him. Goodbye ‘eryone” Hagrid said as he left. “Hagrid is always so nice” Alice said. “He is” Willow said. “Have you opened your chocolate frog yet?” Willow asked. “No” I said. “Come on open it” she said as we sat down. I took it out of my pocket and examined it. “Chocolate frog?!” Mom exclaimed. “It’s not a real frog just a name” Alice said. “Oh” Mom said with a sigh. I laughed. “It’s alright I thought the same thing” I said. I looked back to it and began to open it. The chocolate frog jumped out. Willow quickly caught it. “Nice catch” I said. “Thanks” she said with a smile. She handed me the chocolate frog. I slowly took a bite. “Not bad” I said. I looked back to small carton it was in. I saw a card and pulled it out. “Hmm” I said examining the card. “It reads Severus Snape” I said looking up from the card. “Really Professor Snape got on one?” Willow asked. She leaned over and looked at the card. I looked back to it. “How in the world did he do that?” Willow asked. I looked up and saw the person from the bar again. The eyes pierced me. I looked back down to the card. “It says; Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Skilled well in Defense against the Dark Arts. Aided in the original capture of Sirius Black” I read. “Interesting. No wonder he has been after that job” Willow said. “Something’s off about your card though” she continued. “What's that?” I asked. “He hasn’t shown up. They usually show up on the card” Willow said. “That is true” Alice said. “Well maybe Professor Snape doesn’t want to be seen” I said attempting a joke. I heard someone at the bar chuckle. Well at someone found it funny. Well if they were even laughing at my joke. I looked up and saw it was the one with dark eyes. I looked back to our table. Willow had said something. I felt the card begin to burn. I sat it down immediately. “Something wrong with the card?” Willow asked. “It was burning my fingers” I said. “That’s unusual” Alice said. “I bet Fred or George did it” Willow said. Alice laughed. I can see them doing that. “True, being their usual prankster selves” Willow said. “Fred and George?” Dad asked. “Yeah they are 2 of the Weasley’s’. They very nice if you ask me” Alice said. ‘They are good kids too. Don’t worry” she continued. “Everyone has been nice here” Mom said. “Be glad you have yet to meet Professor Snape. Greasy haired-” Willow said. Alice looked to Willow. She became silent for second. “There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class” Willow said. She stood up and moved to my other side. “I can teach you to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper on death” Willow said throwing her arms up and popping her hip out. “I am bloody fabulous” she said with a smile. I laughed. “Best Snape impression ever” Alice said sarcastically. “Thank you. I need an award” Willow said bowing. She returned to her seat. “But Snape isn’t too nice. He doesn’t even like his house” Willow said. “His house?” I asked. “Oh yeah! We gotta find out which house you’re in!” Willow said. “Anyway there are 4 houses at Hogwarts. Gryffindor, who Head is Professor McGonagall. She teaches transfiguration. Ravenclaw, which is the house I’m in, Head is Professor Flitwick, who teaches Charms” she said. She took a drink then continued. “Hufflepuff, who’s Head, is Madam Sprout. She teaches Herbology. And finally Slytherin. Slimy Slytherin, who’s Head, is Professor Snape. Who teaches Potions” she said. “Why is it called Slimy Slytherin?” Dad asked. “Well most of the wizards and witches who have been in Slytherin go to the bad side” Alice said. She looked around. “Even You-Know-Who” she said quietly. “Who?” I asked. “We must not speak his name” Willow said. “He is a very bad wizard” Alice said. “He is a murder” Willow said. “Oh” I said slowly. “You guys want a Butterbeer?” Alice asked changing the subject. “YES!” Willow said. “Butterbeer?” I asked. “It’s really good!” Willow said. “It’s not alcoholic is it?” Mom asked. “Of course its non-alcoholic” Alice said. “Sure I guess” I said. “Two Butterbeers please” Alice said. Someone at the bar nodded. “What does it taste like?” I asked. “Well kinda like butterscotch cream soda to put it in Muggle terms” Willow said. “Muggle?” I asked. “Oh. It’s what we call non magic folk” Alice said. “Oh” I said. The Butterbeers were brought over. ‘Thanks” Alice said. Alice handed them to Willow and I. “Thanks” we said in unison. I slowly began to take a drink. It did taste like butterscotch. I sat the glass down. “So?” Willow asked. “It’s pretty good” I said setting the glass down. I saw someone swiftly leave through the way we came in. It was the man I had seen earlier in all black. He left with no words. “We still need to buy your school supplies” Mom said. I nodded. “We can go get them if you want” Willow said. I nodded along with my parents. We finished our butterbeers and left to get my supplies.  First to the wand shop. I was handed a wand of twelve inches, made with dragon’s heartstring. The wand didn’t suit me. Next Ollivander handed me a wand made of ebony, which had a core of a phoenix’s talon. It was twelve and half inches in length. I felt a rush of warmth and knew it was mine. Next we got my uniform and books.