Disclaimer: Harry Potter Characters are the so ownership of J.K Rowling. I only claim those characters I’ve created.  This fan fiction was created for entertainment purposes only; no profit is made from this story.  All characters do not existence outside this fan fiction except the characters of J.K Rowling that can be found in her Harry Potter Books. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual events, locals, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

 

 

Exchange Students enroll at Hogwarts

By

Penny Larsen

 

Chapter One

Tour of Hogwarts

 

Pied Piper still at large....

 

            Sabrina White sighed, as she read the headline of the U.S. Oracle, the most popular wizardry paper in the United States.  It is headlines like these that have been appearing everyday for the last month since that horrible night in late May; the night that had changed her life temporally, if not forever.

            Sabrina looked up from reading the headline for the third time when her twin brother, Bryce White took her last piece of toast off her plate before flopping down in a chair next to her at the patio table.

            The patio table was set up on the deck that was on the back side of the house.  A striped awning extended out from the house to cover the deck from the early morning mid-June sun.

            Sabrina frowned at her brother when he took a large bite out of her toast and only leaving half the toast behind. He raised his eyebrow in questioning look.  Sabrina shook her head at him.

            Bryce was thin, tall and muscular with short sandy blond hair and golden eyes.  Their mother said he was the splitting image of their father, a father they’ve never met, however his eyes and hair color he inherited from their mother.  She on the other hand had her mother’s looks but she had black hair and fathomless grey eyes, her father’s eyes and hair.  She was the odd man out in a family of light hair people.

            “Hey,” mumbled Bryce after swallowing the other half of her toast.

            “Is my toast good?” Sabrina asked sarcastically.

            “Mmm hmm,” Bryce gave her his most charming smile that made all the girls at Rocky Mountain School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where they just finished their sophomore year, to swoon all over him.  It had no effect on her except to irritate her.

            “Nerk,” she said, as she snapped the U.S. Oracle and started to the read the headline yet again unable to get passed it. She was about to start reading the first line of the article when it was jerked down and she was staring into dark brown eyes of her best friend, Peta Whitefeather.

            Peta was slim and contain all the features of her Native American heritage.  Today her long dark, shiny black hear was pulled back in a ponytail that was held in place by a leather thong.  She was wearing her normal summer attire of a tank top, jean shorts and sandals. She was wearing a necklace that had an oval pendent made of silver and turquoise.

            Peta has been her best friends since they were three years old.  It was a day very much like this one, sunny, warm and not a cloud in the large Kansas sky.  Peta and her grandfather, Joseph Whitefeather came to visit her grandfather on the family ranch, the “Big W”.

            The ranch was located in the center of Kansas in the middle of nowhere. It had been in her family for over a hundred years.  The house had been added to since the first house was built in the late eighteen hundreds. It was now two stories and had a couple wings but it still had its homey feel. Which was a good thing since this is where they were raised all their lives.

            “Hi,” Peta said smiling.  “What’s it saying today?

            Peta took a seat on the other side of her at the patio table.  Peta were quickly joined by their other friends Sylvester “Sly” Volponi and Kodiak Cullen.

            Sylvester Volponi was stick thin and had reddish brown hair and blue eyes.  He had taken after his Irish-American mother then his Italian-American father.  He came to Kansas from New York City when he was ten and he still had his heavy New York accent. He chose to be called Sly instead of Sylvester because he simply hated it.

            Sly became their friend the same day as Kodiak Cullen.  It was their first day at Rocky Mountain School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Kodiak was being picked on by older students about his size and his hairiness, even at the age of twelve he was already five foot nine inches tall; thanks to his maternal grandfather that was a Bigfoot.

            Sabrina look at her friend and can still remember that day when they all met on their first day of school.  Kodiak was surrounded by about five older students and they were tormenting him.  He was trying to get away from them and keep his anger in check. He was just about to get by them when one of them made a comment about his mother and fact that she was half Bigfoot.  Kodiak lost it then and roar like bear; he grabbed hold of the one that made the comment to him and threw him to the ground. He started to pound him with his fist.

            Bryce and Sly grabbed a hold of his arms and struggled to get him off the student he was pounding to dust.  Sabrina and Peta stepped in between them and the older students with their wands pulled to keep the older students from joining in the struggle.  Bryce and Sly got Kodiak off and pulled him away.  Sabrina and Peta keep their wand posed and ready as they all back away.  They watched as the older students help their friend to his feet and scoffed off with a warning that they would have their revenge.

            They had introduced themselves to each other and found out that they were in the same dorm and had all their classes together, that was the day the Wild Bunch was born.  The name was given to them later on by the faculty and staff at the school because of their many escapades that were now legendary.

            Sabrina smiled at her brother, Kodiak and Sly normal greeting of hitting there fist together. They all have come along way but one thing that remains the same is that they’re still the best of friends.  Their loyalty to one another is unbreakable.  They are there for each other without question with whatever is needed.  It was proven that night in May. If only it could have been a week later school would have been out for the summer.  Sabrina knew that it was wishful thinking because there was a reason why it was the last week.  It couldn’t have been any other time, perfectly timing for the escape.

            “Kodiak...” Peta whispered in Sabrina’s ear, breaking into her thoughts, “...got an owl post from Betsy Templeton.”

            Sabrina smiled and looked over at her friend that was now six feet, six inches tall and can grow a full beard in two days that he wears in a goatee when not in school and clean shaved when in school. “Really.”

            Peta smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, really.”

            The “Wild Bunch” might be popular now but there was a time that they were considered teachers pets just because Sabrina and Bryce’s grandmother was the head principle at Rocky Mountain School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, affection called “The Rock” by the students and staff.

            They have done many things to over come that stigma over the last five years and many of their adventures had landed them in detention.  Their main goals are to bend as many rules without being caught and they still have many rules left to go through but that will have to wait because her and her brother will be somewhere else in September.

            Sabrina and Peta were whispering to each other behind the Oracle when Kodiak grabbed it out of Sabrina’s hands.  He grinned at the two of them as he flip the paper opened and read the front headline out loud.  “Pied Piper still at large...Another catching headline for the Oracle,” Kodiak said sarcastically.

            Sly grabbed the paper form Kodiak and started to read the article.  “The Magical Bureau of Investigation has said that there have been no new leads since that night outside the grounds of The Rock when Agents failed to capture the Pied Piper and his followers, known as Nightcrawlers.  They are suspected in several crimes beside those committed on May 28.”

             Sly sighed and slammed the Oracle down.  “The Agents...bull...there wasn’t a single agent on that mountain.  Believe me they would have been more than welcome.  It was us who fought the Pied Piper and his wacko followers.”

            Sly gestured to Sabrina. “It was you and Bryce who stunned the Pied Piper and seen his face and now...”

            “Yeah and that’s the reason your mom, grandmother and grandfather is shipping you off to Hogwarts.” Peta said sadly, finishing for Sly.

            Bryce sighed and ran his hand through his short sandy blond hair.  “Look guys we really don’t want to go either but we don’t have a choice in the matter. What happened that night...well it’s just better if we go because we could be putting you in danger because we did see his real face. We were lucky that night; if we didn’t surprise them...anyway we should have told someone instead of going after them ourselves.”

            “Hey-oh,” said Sly holding his hand up, “we saved a lot of students that night and now your saying that we were wrong.”

            “No,” Sabrina jumped in, “we just should have let a teacher know.”

            Kodiak jumped up from the patio table. “I can’t believe you are saying this.” Kodiak roared.  “We couldn’t have let them die and we didn’t have time to convince your grandmother or some other teacher that Mr. Wolfson was not actually Mr. Wolfson.”

            “Kodiak...sit down and lower your voice.” Peta ordered.  “That’s not what they’re saying.  They know we didn’t have time and they know we did the right thing that night...maybe we should have went about it another way, what’s done is done.  They just want us to understand why they have to go; that’s all.”  Peta looked at Sabrina, “Right?”

            Sabrina smiled silent thanks, “Right.”

            Peta turned back to Sly and Kodiak and said smugly, “See told ya.”

            “Listen guys, Bryce and I have had to listen for the last month about our lack of judgment on that night and how we ran headlong into a situation without a single thought to our safety or yours.  The grownups are just trying to enlighten us to the fact that we are not mature enough to handle such life and death decisions.” Sabrina said mockingly. “So off to Hogwarts we go.”

            “Whether we like it or not, hey think of the adventures we’ll have,” added Bryce.

            “Yeah, without us,” said Sly grudgingly.

            Peta, Sabrina, Bryce and Kodiak looked at each other and started to laugh and Sly frowned and then broke out in laughter as well.

            Peta finally caught her breath from all the laughter to ask Bryce and Sabrina, “So when do you Portkey to Hogwarts.”

            Bryce looked down at his watch on his left wrist. “We leave here at nine o’clock...soooo in about thirty minutes.”

            Kodiak was looking at his watch as well. “There six hours ahead of us so that would be three o’clock their time.

            Bryce jumped to his feet and clapped his hands together. “And that my friends give me just enough time to wipe the court with you two in a game of Hippogriff,” Bryce said to Sly and Kodiak. Bryce walked over to a bench seat lifted the seat and reached in and pulled out an official size basketball.  Bryce bounced down the steps and out to a rectangle area of cement where basketball goals stood at the ends.

            The basketball goals were not ordinary goals.  They had charms put on them so they could be used in Wizard Basketball.  The goals move back and forth on the baseline and would also rise and lower when someone shot at it.  So player who was planning to make a slam dunk might find themselves twenty feet in the air and need someone to get them down on a broom.

            A Wizard Basketball game in the early eighties caused school official to put height restriction on the goals when a player fell fifty feet to the court after trying to make a slam dunk.  The parents of the student raised such a fuss that the school felt it was necessary to protect future players.  But even though there is restriction on the goals sabotage is still very popular to interfere with the height restriction.

            Bryce was standing by one of the goal bouncing the basketball and looking up at the deck. “Hey, you two going to play or what?” Bryce asked Sly and Kodiak.  “Or are you afraid I’m going to kick your—”

            “Yeah, you wish,” Kodiak said cutting Bryce off.  He rose from his seat and slowly walked down the steps to the court followed by Sly.

            Kodiak and Sly joined Bryce on the court.  “So what are the rules,” Sly inquired.

            Bryce continued to bounce the ball.  “OK here are the rules: you miss and you get a letter. The first person to spell Hippogriff is out of the game.  The person with the least amount of letters wins if we run out of time.”

            Kodiak knocked the ball away and grabbed it.  He gave Bryce a cocky grin and started bouncing the ball. “I’ll go first.”  Kodiak moved to the free throw line that was about fifteen feet away from the goal and was equal distance from the sides.  He raised the ball just above his head and shot and as the ball approached the goal, the goal jumped three feet to the left and the ball whizzed right on by. “Man, so unfair,” exclaimed Kodiak, as he watched the ball bounce along the grass.

            Sly started to laugh and went running after the ball.  “My turn,” he said as he came back to the court.  Sly took two big steps bounce the ball once and shot, as he took his third step.

            The three of them watched the ball bounce off the backboard and through the goal.

            “I believe that makes me the leader.”

            “Shut up, Sly,” Kodiak said sorely.

            Sabrina and Peta watched Bryce miss his shot when the basketball goal decided to lower itself to three feet high.  The ball went flying across the yard causing Bryce to say something that would have gotten him a tongue-lashing if his grandmother if she had came out of the house at the time.

            Sabrina was watching and wiping away the tears of laughter when Peta interrupted. “That’s a nice sound.”

            “What?” Sabrina still smiling looked at her friend.

            “You laughing.” Sabrina smile slipped a little.

            “It’s been awhile, huh?” She looked back to the court to see Sly finishing up his victory dance and Kodiak bean him with the ball.

            “Yeah, it has, about a month to be exact.  You know today is the first day you every mention anything about that night.”

            Sabrina moved uncomfortable under her friend’s scrutiny. “There’s nothing really to say.”

            Peta sighed “Hogwarts won’t help.”

            Sabrina whipped her head around. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

            Peta faced her square on. “It means that you are feeling guilty and It’s not your fault or ours. What happened to—,”

            “I know that,” snapped Sabrina cutting her friend off before she could say anymore.

            “Do you?” Peta retorted.

            “Peta...just drop it OK.”  Sabrina got up from her chair and grabbed her empty plate.

            “Sabrina, come on, you know as well as I do that...” Peta trailed off as Sabrina walk away not really caring what her best friend had to say.

            “Bryce it’s time to go,” Sabrina yelled over her shoulder as she disappeared into the house.

            Bryce and Sabrina were standing in their grandmother’s study. They watched their grandmother reach in side her large mahogany desk that had been in her family since seventeen century, when straightened back up she was holding a cream white sealed enveloped that Sabrina recognized was addressed with her mother’s handwriting and a white coffee mug with the Rocky Mountain School of Witchcraft and Wizardry crest on the side.

             The crest is a red shield flank by two white stallions on either side. The stallions are standing on their hind legs and they brace themselves up on top of the shield. On top of the shield sets an ancient looking silver telescope that has one star at the end of it and one above and one below its end.  On the shield itself it has an upside down silver Y that splits the shield up in to three parts.  The top two section are larger then the bottom section.  In the left top section contains a racing broom and a snitch.  The right top section has a potion cauldron and a magic lamp.  The bottom of the shield has two crossed wands at the top of the wands is a silver R and underneath the wands is a silver M.  Along the bottom of the crest is a double bent red ribbon that the wild stallions are standing on each end. The left end of the ribbon in silver is the number eighteen the ribbon bends and in the middle in silver is Rocky Mountain and then the ribbon bends again and the right side of the ribbon in silver as well has the number fifty.

            Their grandmother, Cassiopeia White was in her mid-seventies but didn’t look a day over fifty.  She had white silver hair that she wore short.  She was lean and fit do to her regular exercise of walking ten miles every day.  She was wearing a pair of jeans and a blue blouse. She wore a pair of reading glasses that set on the top of her head when they were not in use and that was where they were setting right now.  She gave Bryce and Sabrina a smile and waved the envelope back and forth as she set the coffee mug on corner of her desk.

            “This is to be given to Professor Albus Dumbledore as soon as you arrive.  It will explain everything that he needs to know. You two got it.” Bryce and Sabrina nodded their heads and mumbled their understanding. Sabrina took the envelope and stuck it in her back pocket.

            “OK,” Cassiopeia said on a sigh.  She pulled her wand from her pocket of her jeans and pointed at the cup. “Portus.” The cup glowed blue and trembled a few seconds and then became still again.

            Bryce and Sabrina looked at their grandmother nervously.  She gave them a reinsuring smile. “It will be all right, Albus is just going to meet with you and sort you into the house you’ll be staying in while you’re there.  He may even give you a tour of the school.  All right.”

            Sabrina and Bryce nodded.

            “So on three grab the cup and it will take you to Professor Dumbledore’s office and kids, Dumbledore is an old friend so I expect you to be courtesy and respectfully.  I don’t want any of your shenanigans, got it.”

            “We know Grandma,” Bryce and Sabrina said innocently in unison.  They didn’t plan to do anything today but school has yet to start.

            Their grandmother raised her eyebrow and studied them carefully. She looked both of them up and down and shook her head.  “Are you sure you two don’t want to change your clothes.”

            “No,” they both said and they look down at what they were wearing.

            Bryce had on a pair of red basketball shorts with a white stripe down the side.  He was wearing a black T-Shirt that had a small crest of their school on the left side of his chest and on the back was a white wild stallion raise up on his hind legs.

            Sabrina was wearing a baby blue tank top and white Capri pants and flowered pink and blue flip-flops.

            “Are you ready?” Cassiopeia asked her grandchildren.  They nodded and step forward. “One...Two...Three.”

            Bryce and Sabrina grabbed hold of the white coffee mug.  They felt a powerful jerk behind their naval.  Their hands were fastened to the cup and they watched the floor of the study disappear from under their feet.  They flew forward in a swirl of colors and the rush of wind invaded their ears.  The cup was pulling them quickly and before they were ready their feet hit a solid floor and their knees buckles causing them to hit the floor with their knees.

            “I hate Portkeys.” Sabrina mumbled as she started to push herself to her feet. She felt her brother’s hand on her upper arms helping her to her feet.

            They heard a gasp as they straightened to their full height and looked at the man sitting behind an enormous, claw-footed desks and a woman standing next to him.

            Sabrina studied the man first and she conceived that he was very old do to his long silver beard and hair that he could easily tuck into his belt if he had to.  Sabrina knew by looking at him he was tall and his face showed he was thin. His eyes were a light blue and they sparkled with a brightness that she’s never seen before. He wore half-moon glasses on his very long and crooked nose.  Sabrina wondered if he broke it a couple of times but knew better than to ask.  This had to be her grandmother’s friend Albus Dumbledore.

            The woman had a stern face that made Sabrina know that she needed to tread softly or it wouldn’t be pretty.  She was also tall and her black hair was pulled into a tight bun that also gave her an air of authority. She wore square speckles on the end of her nose. Sabrina wondered if this lady ever smiled and she decided she was going to try to make that serious face crack one.

            The woman looked back and forth between Bryce and Sabrina. “Dumbledore,” She said barely above a whisper.

            “Yes, Professor McGonagall, I see it.  I just don’t understand it,” said Professor Dumbledore.”

            Dumbledore rose up from his desk and Sabrina assumption that he was tall was confirmed. He was wearing royal blue robes which Sabrina thought was odd because they only wore robes while they were in school.  He came around his desk with his hand stretch out in greeting.  “Forgive us, I’m Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and this is my Deputy Headmistress, Professor Minerva McGonagall.  She’s also is the Head of Gryffindor House and Transfiguration Teacher.”

            Bryce took his hand first. “Hello sir, I’m Bryce White.” Dumbledore gave him a gently smile and shook his had firmly.

            “I’m Sabrina White, sir.” Dumbledore released Bryce’s hand and took Sabrina’s firmly.  “It’s very good to meet you, sir.”

            “And you as well.”

            After letting go of his hand Sabrina reached into her back pocket of her Capri pants and pulled out the envelope. “’Grandma...um...I mean Principle White informed us to give you this letter upon arriving here.”

             Professor Dumbledore reached out and took the letter form Sabrina.  He turned around and went back behind his desk and took a seat.  He turned it over and seen the wax seal with a large W.  Dumbledore pulled out his wand and tapped the envelope and the flap of the envelope popped opened.  He laid his wand down on top of his desk and pulled the letter form the envelope.  He unfolded it and started to read.

            Sabrina watched as Professor Dumbledore’s eyes moved back and forth as he read the letter.  He showed no expression to give away what was in the letter she delivered from her mother. Sabrina had some idea what it said.

            Sabrina for the first time notice that Professor Dumbledore’s office was circular.  She turned her head and noticed that her brother attention was behind them. She turned around to see what he was looking at and on a golden perch sat a beautiful red and yellow Phoenix.  Sabrina smiled and her attention went back to observing the room. 

            Sabrina was still smiling as her attention fell on all the portraits on the walls of all the old headmasters and headmistress.  Several of them smiled back at her while others gave a small wave of hello, while others scowled at her. The room was full of funny noise and silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and giving off little puffs of smoke. The silver instruments were very similar to the instruments that stood on a glass top credenza in her grandmother’s office back at The Rock.  She thought it was odd that she never asked her grandmother what the instruments were and what they were used for; in fact, Professor Dumbledore’s office reminder her of her grandmother’s office.

            “I see,” said Professor Dumbledore bringing Sabrina attention back to the desk and the people behind it.  “This will answer a few questions, Minerva.” He handed the letter over to his Deputy headmistress.

            Sabrina watched her eyes widen as her eyes moved quickly over the letter. Sabrina turned her head to look at her brother to see if he was looking.  He raised an eyebrow at her and she gave a slight nod in understanding.

            Professor McGonagall reaction answered what was exactly in the letter that their mother wrote.  She told them the big family secret of who their father was.  The father they’ve never met and would never meet.

            “She told you, huh, our mother,” said Bryce. “She told you that Sirius Black is our father.”

            Sabrina remembered at the age of ten when her mother sat her and her brother down to tell them the truth about their father.

            Yeah, the infamous Sirius Black was their father but very few people knew that. It was mostly family, their mother of course, their grandparents, their mother’s older brother, their uncle, Zolton and their best friends, The Wild Bunch.

            Their mother had come to England on vacation with a few friends during their winter break and meet Sirius and his friends in a pub.  Sirius and Zoë White, their mother, hit it off right away.  Zoë spent all her free time with Sirius.  Zoë and her friends were only supposed to be there three days before they move on to the south of France but she didn’t go with her friends she stayed in London with Sirius.  In a week and a half they were married in a small ceremony.  Sirius’s friends James Potter and Lily Evans stood in as witness.  It was just a joke.  They were going to have it annulled when Zoë went back to the States. The thing was no one knew Zoë was pregnant with them. She found out a month after arrive back at school.  When their grandmother found out she was furious and demanded to be told who the father was but Zoë would not tell her who the father was not until they were two years old and Sirius was now in Azkaban.  Their mother always claimed his innocents because Sirius would never have betrayed his friends or murdered one. She had a feeling it was Peter Pettigrew she never did like him and that was what they fought about the night she left for home.  Zoë had warned her husband not to trust Peter.  He told her not to worry about it she was going home to the States. 

            Sabrina and Bryce’s mother told them she new when she said goodbye she would never see him again.  She also knew that he would be betrayed by one of their friends.

            “Yes,” Professor Dumbledore replied as a small knowing smile crossed his lips; however, Professor McGonagall’s lips thinned until they were almost non-existed.

            “Am I to understand,” a voice came from one of the portrait on the wall, “that these two claim to be my great-great-great grandchildren.  That Sirius was not the last of the Blacks.”

            “Apparently so, and it seems that they are not claiming to be Sirius’s children.  They are his children, Phineas,” Dumbledore said calmly, as though unknown children of former Hogwart’s students appear everyday.

            “So what are your names,” Phineas Nigellus demanded.

            Bryce raised an eyebrow at the rude portrait.  He looked at his sister then to Dumbledore and finally back to the portrait on the wall. “I’m Bryce White and this is my twin sister, Sabrina White.”

            “White...White...you’re Sirius’s children and you don’t go by Black,” exasperated Phineas Nigellus.

            “That will be enough, Phineas,” said Dumbledore. “Can you two please take a seat and we’ll get started.”  Dumbledore gestured to the chairs that were in front of the large claw-footed desk.

            Bryce and Sabrina sat down in the two chairs.  They watched as Professor McGonagall went to the bookcase that stood behind Dumbledore and took down a shabby, tattered wizard hat.

            Bryce looked at the old wizard hat and wondered what they were going to do with that because he really didn’t what to put anything on his head that he wasn’t so sure about.  The last hat some one gave him was from Sly and it caused him to cluck like a chicken for two hours.  He was not really ready to put some old hat on his head.

            Professor McGonagall came around the desk and stop in front of them.  “Here at Hogwarts,” she began, “we divide the students into different houses.  They’re four, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.  This ceremony is usually done at the start-of-term banquet but because you are exchange students we’ll do it now instead of with the first years.

            “What ever house you are divided into will be your family while you are here, you will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. Each house has its own distinguished history and each house has graduated outstanding witches and wizards. 

            “When you are here at Hogwarts achievements will earn your house points and breaking the rules will cause your house to lose points,” Bryce and Sabrina glance at one another and tried to hide a smirk.  Professor McGonagall continued as though she didn’t see the shared look but her tone of her voice had a new edge of authority that it didn’t have before. “At the end of the year the house that culminated the most points will be honored with the house cup. I want to enlighten you to the fact that my house has won the cup for the last five years and I’d like to keep that going.”  Professor McGonagall pin them down with a knowing stare that warned them not to step out of line if they’re put in her house.

            Professor McGonagall then raised the shabby, tattered wizard hat. “This is the Sorting Hat and this is what we use to put you in your houses,” she explained. “Who would like to go first?”

            Bryce looked over at his sister then back at the hat. “I’ll go first,” he said with confidence that he wasn’t really feeling.

            McGonagall nodded and placed the Sorting Hat on his head.

            “Umm,” the Sorting Hat said in Bryce’s ear, “Another Black that doesn’t follow the family’s views and you don’t even go by that name.  I see you have a smart mind. You are loyal to a fault. I also see your cunning had served you well in the past but bravery, is what truly is in your heart. So welcome to Hogwarts, I hope you enjoy your stay. GRYFFINDOR,” the Sorting Hat yelled out.

            “Your turn,” McGonagall said as she pulled the hat off Bryce’s head and placed it on Sabrina’s.

            “Oh-very interesting another Black who doesn’t go by the name of Black, a twin sister I see.  You are even further away from the views of your Black ancestry.  You are smart, quick and cunning just like your brother.  You are loyal to your friends and family but I can see you would give your life to save not just a friend but a stranger even an enemy, so like your brother I put you in GRYFFINDOR,” shouted the Sorting Hat before going quite again.

            Sabrina pulled the hat slowly off her head and handed it back to Professor McGonagall.  She frowned as McGonagall place it back on the shelf behind Dumbledore’s desk.

            “Is there something wrong, Miss White,” asked Dumbledore, as his blue eyes twinkled with a knowing humor over his half-moon spectacles.

            “How did it know?” Sabrina looked at Dumbledore but could not hide her worry.

            “It can see in the minds of its wearer.” Dumbledore replied simply.

            Sabrina rose from her chair and walked over to the window.  She could see the Quidditch pitch in the near distance. “Everything,” she murmured as she twisted her hands with worry. 

            She didn’t like the idea that this hat could see her darkest failures and her guilt of what accrued that night in May when she lost her naiveté that they were safe while they were in school and she could conquer anything . She no longer believes that.

            “Yes,” said Dumbledore with a hint of concern in his voice “Is there something on your mind?”

            “It’s—never mind, umm what do we need to do now?” Sabrina asked sadly.

            Dumbledore studied her intently for a few seconds then gave her a small smile. “I guess all that is left is a tour of the school starting with the grounds.  Professor McGonagall can you take these two down to Hagrid’s; he is expecting them.”

            Sabrina was wondering what a Hagrid was when Dumbledore answered her before she could even ask the question. “Hagrid is our Professor of Magical Creatures and Gamekeeper here at Hogwarts.”

 

            A few minutes later they made their way to a small wooden house next to a forest that Professor McGonagall told them was known as the forbidden forest and it was out of bounds during the school terms.  She also said “It would be safer if they both just stay a way from it because it was quite dangerous.” Like something like danger would stop them.

            Bryce and Sabrina stood behind Professor McGonagall as she raised her hand and knocked on the large wooden door.

            A loud commotion came from behind the door and several booming barks.  Then came a deep bellowing voice,

            “Back Fang—Back I say.”

            Bryce and Sabrina shared a nervous look and took a step back to put distance between them and the door.

            The door opened a crack and a face that was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild tangled beard; the eyes however, were glinting like black beetles.

            “O it’s yeh Professor McGonagall, hang on, back Fang.”  The man opened the door and he completely filled it.  He was twice the size of a normal man and one of his trashcan lids size hands was wrapped in the collar of an enormous black boarhound.

            “Well Blimey,” said the large man as his eyes settled on Bryce and then on Sabrina. “Professor, he looks like—”

            “Hagrid,” interrupted Professor McGonagall. “These are our new exchange students from United States, Bryce and Sabrina White.”

            The big man that was twice the size of a normal man, dark beetle eyes widened. “Oh yeah righ’”

            “Bryce. Sabrina. This is Rubeus Hagrid, he’s Keeper of the Keys and grounds here at Hogwarts and two years ago he took over teaching of Magical Creatures.”

            Bryce was the first to step forward and extend his hand out.  Hagrid’s hand engulfs his in a handshake that shook his whole arm. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hagrid.”

            “Just call me Hagrid,” replied Hagrid with a smile.

            Sabrina came up behind her brother.

             “Nice to meet you Mist—Hagrid,” said Sabrina taking his hand.

            Hagrid looked into her eyes and gave her a gentle smile then he’s eyes widened. “Merlin’s Beard, it’s like looking into Sirius’s eyes.”

            “Hagrid,” Professor McGonagall said sharply, “Professor Dumbledore would like for you to show them around the grounds.”

            Hagrid broke eye contact quickly. “Oh righ’” Hagrid gave Sabrina and Bryce a smile. “Righ’ away, Professor.”

            “When you are done touring the ground, please bring them to my office.” She turned to face the twins. “We’ll set up your classes when you are done here.”

            Bryce and Sabrina watched Professor McGonagall make her way back to the castle and disappear up the front steps and into the school.

            “All righ’” said Hagrid, pulling their attention back to him. “Should we get goin’?”          

            Bryce and Sabrina nodded and followed behind Hagrid as he made his way over the grounds.  They had to move quickly just to keep up because it took two of their steps to equal his one.

            “What would yeh like to see firs’” asked Hagrid looking back at them.

            Bryce and Sabrina shrugged.

            “Yeh’ll don’t say much,” replied Hagrid.

            “We don’t know what to see; whatever you want to show us would be fine,” Bryce answered.

            “All righ’,” he stroked his beard, “I can show yeh the greenhouses.”

            They made their way from Hagrid’s house through the vegetable patch and finally arrived in front of one of the greenhouses.  He knocked on the door and slowly opened it. “Professor Sprout,” he called, as he bent his head and step inside.

            Hagrid, come on in,” a voice came from the back of the greenhouse.

            Bryce and Sabrina followed closely behind Hagrid as they enter the greenhouse.  He stopped and they peeked around his massive form to get a better look.

            A squat, little witch who wore a patched hat over her flyaway hair came out from behind some benches with tall stocky plants on it.  She was covered in large amount of soil from head to toe. 

            Sabrina looked at her brother and smiled and he returned her smile.  Professor Sprout reminded her of her great aunt Athena who was always working in her gardens and looked like she rolled in the dirt.

            “Oh,” Professor Sprout said when she spotted Bryce and Sabrina and she stopped her in her tracks.

            “Professor Sprout,” Hagrid spoke, “We have here Bryce and Sabrina White, exchange students from America.”

            “Hello,” Professor Sprout said unsteadily. She gave them a look of shock and recognition.

            “Hi,” Bryce and Sabrina replied back together.

            Silence filled the greenhouse as Professor Sprout stared at them as though they were specks of dust under a microscope.

            “Umm...what are you planting?” Sabrina asked her breaking the uncomfortable silence.

            Professor Sprout smiled as though she was glad that she didn’t have to ask the question that was running through her head. And Sabrina was pretty sure it was the same one that Hagrid was asking himself since they arrived at his door. If they were related to Sirius Black.

            “I’m replanting Devil’s Snare and I have to say it’s quite tricky.” She gave a slight gesture towards the bench she was standing behind.

            “Don’t you cut off pieces of a bigger plant and plant the pieces you cut off.” Bryce gave her his most charming smile that caused Professor Sprout to giggle.

            Sabrina shook her head.  There really should be a warning label he should have to carry concerning his smile; Warning: Any female from zero to ninety-nine that could receive a smile from Bryce White should be warned that it could warp logical thought and cause you to giggle.

            “Yes, you are right Mr. White. Have you every replanted Devil’s Snare?” She asked him with a big smile.

            “No but we watch Mr. Ryder Sprig, our Herbology teacher at the Rock.”

            “The Rock?” questioned Hagrid.

            “Rocky Mountain School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,” informed Sabrina. “We call it the Rock because the full name takes to long to say.”

            “Yeah Mr. Sprig showed us how to do it at the end of last term,” Bryce said smiling.

            “Very good,” said Professor Sprout.

            Bryce took Professor Sprout’s hand in his and smiled. “It was an honor to meet you and I’m looking forward to attending your class.”

            “It was nice to meet you,” Sabrina said disgustingly, as she grabbed the back of her brother’s shirt and pulled him towards the door. “We’ll see you in class. Hagrid, what else do you want to show us.”

            “Huh, oh, yes, yes, I think I’ll show yeh the lake,” said Hagrid, “Talk to yeh later; Professor Sprout.” Hagrid laughed as he followed Sabrina as she shoved her brother out the door.

            They heard Professor Sprout say her goodbyes as they left the greenhouse.

            “I can’t believe you.” Sabrina said infuriately, as she gave her brother another shove.

            “What?” Bryce said innocently.

            “You know what?” snapped Sabrina as she walked quickly away from him.

            “She just jealous,” Bryce said to Hagrid with a laugh.

            Hagrid laughed also and they followed her until she jumped out of the way of the swinging attacking limbs.  Hagrid quickly pulled her back. “Sorry about that.”

            “What’s this Hagrid?” Bryce asked curiously.

            “This here is the Whomping Willow. It was planted sometime ago the same time...” he trailed off, “anyway the students used to play a game where they tried to touch the trunk of it but the tree doesn’t like to be touch. A boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye and Professor Dumbledore forbidden the students to every go near it.”

            Bryce and Sabrina shared a look. Bryce knew this was another thing that they would add to their list of dos.  If they were going to be stuck in no man’s land they were going to make the best of it. He was sure that Sabrina was thinking the same thing. Bryce smiled at his sister and gave her a raised eyebrow and she nodded.  Bryce knew right then that Sabrina was thinking that they would touch that trunk if it was the last thing they did before they left here.

            “So Hagrid has anyone ever touch the truck,” inquired Sabrina giving him a frank smile.

            Hagrid stroked his tangled beard. “I can’t say I recall. Well if yeh done here, we can move tah the lake.”

            “Sure,” the twins said in unison and followed Hagrid to the lake.  They were both surprised to see the giant squid sunbathing on the side the lake.  They were really interested in the merpeople and if they looked like the merpeople in the states. 

            They stood their awhile talking about the lake and its use in the Tri-Wizard Cup, a competition that took place couple years ago between the three European Schools, Hogwarts, Beauxbaton and Durmstrang.  Hagrid explained how a Hogwart’s student was murdered during the last task by He-who-should-not-be-named.

            Sabrina made a slight mistake by calling him Lord Voldemort and Hagrid flinched and Sabrina decided it was best not to talk about England Wizard Most Wanted.

            After a few minutes they started to make their way over to the Quidditch pitch that they could see a short distance away.

            Bryce, Sabrina, and Hagrid stood in the Quidditch stands and looked down on the grassy pitch.

            “So do yeh play Quidditch,” asked Hagrid?

            “No not really, we’re on our school’s Quodpot team.” Bryce looked up at Hagrid.

            “I don’t know much about the game.”

            “Well you have eleven players on each team instead of seven like in Quidditch. You also don’t have to worry about a couple of bludgers trying to take your head off either.” Bryce leaned on the railing staring blanking down on the field lost in thought.

            “Or catching the golden snitch to end the game,” added Sabrina, sitting down on the benches.

            Bryce chuckled. “But you do have to worry about the modified Quaffle exploding in your face and knocking you off your broom.”

            “And if you’re the one holding it when it explodes, you have to leave the field,” explained Sabrina.

            Hagrid eased himself down next to Sabrina on the bench.  Bryce turned around to face them and leaned back against the railing.

            Bryce gave them a half smile. “The team with the ball passes it around and tries to get it into a pot with a special potion that keeps it from exploding. The pots sit on top of a pole at each end of the field.  Your team gets a point if you get it in the pot before it explodes then a new Quod is brought out on the field. If it happens to explodes on you then you have to leave the field as Sabrina just stated. The team with the most points after ten hours of play or the team that still has players on the field wins the game whether the team that has no more players is a head in points or not.”

            Hagrid looked from Bryce to Sabrina and shook his shaggy head. “I think I’ll stay with Quidditch.”

            “We play a little Quidditch between the other dormitories,” said Sabrina, as she looked up at him.  She didn’t want him to think they didn’t like Quidditch because they did.  It just wasn’t as popular as Quodpot.

            “So are yeh good on a broom?” Hagrid inquired curiously.

            “We hold our own,” answered Bryce. “I’m going to miss Quodpot,” He added sadly looking back at the field.

            “Maybe yeh could try out fer your house Quidditch team,” suggested Hagrid. “So what house are yeh in?”

            “We’re in Gryffindor,” answered Sabrina.
            “I don’t think so,” replied Bryce shooting down Hagrid’s suggestion.

            “We’re only going to be here one year.  It wouldn’t be fair to take positions away from real Gryffindors.” Sabrina added solemnly.

            “Is there anything else to see,” asked Bryce pulling his eyes from the Quidditch pitch.

            “No...no I don’t think so. I best be gettin’ yeh up to the castle and to Professor McGonagall.” Hagrid rose to his full height and gestured for them to head for the exit.

            They climbed the front steps and walked into the entrance hall and turned and went up the marble stair case.

            They went through so many doors and down so many corridors; Sabrina was so lost and confused.  They stopped in front of a door and she had no idea how they arrived there.  She should have been paying more attention but she was to busy looking at all the portraits that lined the walls.

            Hagrid raised one of his large hands and banged on the door.

            “Enter,” Professor McGonagall commanded from the other side.

            Hagrid turned the knob and pushed it open. “Professor, here they are.”

            “Thank you, Hagrid,” replied Professor McGonagall.

            Hagrid looked at Bryce and Sabrina and then shook each of their hands. “Nice to meet yeh, I’ll see yeh in September.” Hagrid smiled turned on his heels and made his way back down the corridor.

            “Come in, Biscuit,” Professor McGonagall said standing and held out a tin of cookies.

            Bryce and Sabrina each took a cookie from the offered tin, “Thanks,” they said in unison.

            “Sit down, you two so we can get started.” Professor McGonagall lowered herself into her chair and started to shuffle a few papers around on her desk. “I just got done looking over your files from your school.  It’s quite impressive.” She picks up a couple pieces of paper. “I see here that you’ve each received very high marks on your W.A.T.s, Wizardry Assessment Test.”

            Professor laid the paper off to the side and opened the two folders that set in front of her. “You both had very good marks in Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. You did well in your other courses as well.” Professor McGonagall closed both folders and stared at them for a few minutes as though she was trying to figure out what to do with them.

            This made both Bryce and Sabrina squirm under her intense stare. Bryce didn’t like to be studying so intensely because he was afraid that he may reveal to much of himself but he manage to stare back without breaking eye contact.

            “So, are there any courses you wish to take more then others? I mean I do not know what you have planned for a career.”  Professor McGonagall asked them breaking the silence that had settled in her office.

            “Bryce shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not sure what I want to do.”

            “I’m interested in Healing,” spoke up Sabrina, “in a research standing. I would like to find a treatment to cure werewolves.  We have a friend that’s a werewolf and he feels so terrible before and after the three days of the full moon even with the Wolfsbane Potion,” Sabrina explained, “I know many witches and wizards have tried but I have a few ideas.”

            Professor McGonagall let the corner of her lips twitch as though she was trying not to smile. “Let’s see. You would need to take Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Magical Creatures, along with a few other classes.” Professor McGonagall scratched something down on a piece of paper. “I think if you’d like I could talk to Madam Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore to see if you can help out one night a week in the hospital wing.” Professor McGonagall glanced over her glasses.

            “That would be great,” Sabrina answered enthusiastically.

            Professor wrote some more notes down and raised her head to survey Bryce for couple of minutes. “So...White, with these marks you could get in almost any N.E.W.T. class, so is there any classes you really would like to take or some career you have in mind.”

            “Chicken,” Sabrina said on a cough.

            Bryce elbowed his sister. He turned and glared at her. Sabrina smiled back which caused Bryce to narrow his eyes even more.  He looked back at Professor McGonagall and she had her eyebrows raised questioningly.

            “Is there a problem?”

            “No,” Bryce said quickly. “It’s just I would like to follow in my uncles foot steps and join the Magical Bureau of Investigation.”

            “I understand from Professor Dumbledore and your grandmother that he is part of the elite at the Bureau.  So you would need to take the same classes as if you were going to become an Auror.” Professor McGonagall flip through some paper and found what she seemed to be looking for.  “All right you will need to take Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions...” She continued to write as she named off all the classes that he would need to take.  When she was done she look up and stared at the both of them like she was going to say something but changed her mind. “Let me give you quick tour of the school before we go back to the Headmaster’s office.  So he could send you home.”  She rose to her feet and Bryce and Sabrina followed suit.

            It took a good two hours before they had finished their tour of Hogwarts and was now standing in front of a gargoyle.  Professor McGonagall uttered the password, “Lollipops.” The gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside; the wall behind parted in two to show a stone staircase. It was moving up like a spiral escalator.  The three of them stepped on to the staircase and rode it up. The door closed with a thud that caused both Sabrina and Bryce to jump and spin around with their wands out and ready.

            “Oh my, put those away the wall just closed.  Nothing will happen to you at Hogwarts,” Professor McGonagall snapped. “You’d think that they would come right in here.”

            Bryce and Sabrina looked at one another and then back at the door. They looked at Professor McGonagall as the slipped their wands back away.  When their wands were a way they had arrived in front of a highly polished oak door, with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin.

            Professor McGonagall rapped on the door three times and the door swung opened.

            Bryce and Sabrina followed Professor McGonagall into Professor Dumbledore’s office.

            “Oh you are back.  Did you enjoy your tour?” Dumbledore asked Bryce and Sabrina.

            “Yes, sir,” said Sabrina.

            “Yeah sure,” replied Bryce.

            Dumbledore smiled. “Good, so are you ready to return home than?”

            Sabrina sighed. “Professor...ah...never mind.”

            No, No, please, Miss White ask whatever you’d like.”

            “Professor Dumbledore,” she looked at her brother then back to Dumbledore, “are you sure you want us here?”

            Dumbledore gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk. “Please take a seat.”

            Bryce and Sabrina sat down and watched the headmaster.  He stared at them over his tented hands. After a minute that felt like hours to Sabrina he spoke. “I have absolutely no doubt that this is where you two should be.  And your father would’ve been very happy as well.”

            “I just don’t want us to be any trouble. If—”

            “You’re no trouble,” Dumbledore said quickly cutting her off. “I’m honored to have you both at my school.”

            Sabrina smiled slightly. “Then I’m looking forward in attending your school.”

            “Yeah, me too,” added Bryce with a smile of his own.

            Dumbledore smiled and his blue eyes twinkled with humor. “Then I’d say you’re ready to go home.”

            They both nodded.

            Dumbledore pulled his wand from his robes and pointed his wand at a white tea cup with the Crest of Hogwarts on it and murmured, “Portus.”  The tea cup started to tremble, glowing an odd blue light then it finally stop as quickly as it had begun.

            “All right come here then,” Dumbledore said to Bryce and Sabrina.

            Bryce and Sabrina rose to their feet and walk over to where Dumbledore was standing.

            “You’ll be receiving your books and supply list shortly,” Professor McGonagall informed them. “You’ll need to get them in Diagon Alley. I believe your mother knows how to get there.”

            They nodded. “OK we’ll tell Mom.”

            “We’ll see you in September,” Dumbledore said, “It’s time on three.”

            Bryce and Sabrina reached out and grabbed the tea cup at the same time.  They felt the same familiar tug behind their naval and the floor disappeared and they were spinning and then they hit the floor.  Their knees buckled and they heard laughing as they quickly jumped to their feet.  They were standing in their kitchen.

            Peta, Kodiak, and Sly were sitting at the Kitchen Island in the middle of the room.

            “Nice trip,” Sly said jokingly.

            “Funny,” retorted Sabrina.

            They all started to laugh.

            “So tell us all about it,” Peta ordered quizzically.

 

 

Chapter Two

Sneaking off to Rainbow Plaza

 

 

       Bryce eased his bedroom window open and felt the rush of July’s early morning heat which is as much apart of the Kansas summer as wheat fields.  He glanced over his shoulder when he heard his bedroom door opened and his sister, Sabrina, slipped inside.  She had her saddle purse swung over her shoulder.

“Are you ready?” Bryce whispered.

            “Yeah, let’s go before anyone gets up and catches us escaping.”  Sabrina pushed him gently on his shoulder, “Go, Bryce.”

            Bryce was slipping through the window and smiled back at his sister.  “Sabrina, hand me the rope ladder.  Sabrina handed Bryce a bundle of wood and ropes and she followed after it.  Bryce steadied her on the roof.  “Ok.”

            Sabrina nodded.  Bryce gently grasped the bottom of the window and quietly eased it back closed. 

            “Let’s go.” Bryce grasped his sister hand with his free one and guided her across the slanted roof.

            They quickly and softly made their way to the other side of the house way away from the bedrooms.  The last thing they wanted was to be caught.  Bryce and Sabrina knew it was going to be rough when they got home that evening. Shoot, they would be lucky if their grandmother didn’t magically seal them in the house until they left for Hogwarts in September.

            Bryce released his sister hand and carefully inched to the edge of the roof. He slowly unrolled the bundle of rope and wood to reveal a wooden rope ladder.  He reached into his front pocket of his shorts and pulled out a ball of yellowish-orange goo.  Bryce rubbed it between his fingers and thumb until it turned neon green and then he split it in two.  He put one piece on one side of the ladder and the other piece on the other side. Bryce pressed it firmly to the roof.

            He looked back at his sister.  “I just love magical goo.  It will even hold up a dragon and a giant at the same time.”

            “What are you their new ad-man,” Sabrina said joining him at the edge of the roof.

            “Nah, just love the commercial,” he gave his sister a big smile, “Ladies first.”

            Sabrina made her way down the ladder followed closely by Bryce.  She stepped away from the ladder and looked around. “Wish we could use magic,” she said to Bryce when he landed next to her.

            Bryce wagged his eyebrows at her. “Are you ready?”

            “As ready as ever,” Sabrina replied.

            Bryce smiled at her and transformed into a large cougar.  He opened his mouth and a roar escaped.  He turned towards the woods that lined the creek on the west side of the ranch and took off on a dead run.

            “Ok, be loud and wake up the entire house why dotcha.”  Sabrina transformed into a black timber wolf and followed her brother towards the trees.

            The cougar stopped at the edge of the tree line and waited for the timber wolf.  When the timber wolf joined the cougar she gave him a nod and they walked into the trees.

       They jumped down to the creek bank and turned right and started to run.  They ran about a hundred feet or so when a loud roar came from above them on the other side of the creek.  The timber wolf and the cougar skidded to a halt and look up to see a very large grizzly bear, red fox and sitting on a low branch right above them was a golden eagle.  The golden eagle spread its wings and glided off the branch but before it landed it transformed into their friend, Peta Whitefeather.

            “About time you two showed up.  We were beginning to think that you’ve got caught trying to sneak out.” Peta said stepping up to the edge and looking down to watch the cougar and timber wolf make their way across a fallen log that lay across the creek.

            Peta glanced over her shoulder and Kodiak and Sly took the place that was just occupied by the grizzly bear and the red fox.

            The timber wolf and the cougar ran up the embankment and right before the reach the top they transformed back into Sabrina and Bryce. 

“We almost didn’t make it.  Gran’s stupid cat, Tiger was guarding our doors,” Sabrina informed her friends. “He almost caught me sneaking out of my room.”

            “I hate that cat.  If I didn’t know any better, I would say that cat was more than a Maine Coon.”  Bryce said making his normal greetings to Kodiak and Sly.

            “If Gran wasn’t a witch I would swear she was a squib with the connection she has with that darn cat.”  Sabrina added.

            “We better get going before they realized you’re gone,” Kodiak said crashing through the trees.

            Sabrina shook her head and smiled. Kodiak had picked the perfect animagus because he plowed through things just like a big old bear.  Sly was darting out of the way of the snapping back branches that Kodiak was letting go and he also pick an animagus that matched his personality, a red fox.  Peta was walking just in front of Sabrina and she was a graceful as a soaring eagle.  Even Bryce and her chose animagus that fit them to a T.

            Sabrina smiled when the memory of when they all decided to break the rules and become animagus snuck into her mind.  It was the second week of their freshman year when Peta let it slip that she learned to turn into a golden eagle over the summer for Shamanist training.

            Well that gave Bryce the brilliant idea that the rest of them just had to learn to turn into Animagus, as well, even though they would be illegal.  Bryce had stated quite clearly. ‘No one has informed them; they couldn’t try to become animagus and if they just happen to accomplish the task then no one needs to know.’

            Peta tried to inform Bryce ‘that she had permission and was legal and without special permission they could get in a lot of trouble.’

            Which Bryce’s reply was that ‘it was only breaking the law if someone finds out and with her help, who’s going to find out.’

            It took Bryce a whole week to finally convince Peta into helping them with their transformations.  Peta told them to think about what they wanted to become and a month or so later they were underway. It took them another two months with Peta’s guidance to finally succeed in becoming a full fledge animagus.

            Bryce had chosen a cougar because of its strength and sneaking ability.  Kodiak had chosen the grizzly bear because of it sheer size and nothing really messed with it in the forest. Sly chose the red fox because of its quickness and cleverness. Sabrina chose the timber wolf for its loyalty to each other and its true sense of survival.  Peta’s choice of the golden eagle was so she could soar above the ground and could see everything below and the fact that eagles are special to Native American heritage.

            After they accomplished their task and proven their cleverness they decided to celebrate the moment by issuing each other nicknames.  Bryce’s nickname was given to him by Kodiak.  Kodiak started to call him Claw.  Sly picked Kodiak nickname and it was simple because he just used his real name to be his inspiration and Sly chose the name of Bear.  Kodiak and Bryce both started to call Sly The Fox-myster but was quickly shorten to just Fox.  Sly had honor Sabrina with her name one day when she was being unusually grumpy and it took her awhile to embrace the name Growlly even though her brother thought it was a great name and used it every chance he got.  Peta’s nickname was given her as a form of thanks for everything she did to help them to become animagus and her nickname was now, Goldie.

            Three hours after going to all the muggle stores in Wichita, they pulled into a parking lot next to a row of rundown looking buildings. The brick on the buildings were black do to the dirt and grim that had attached itself to it do to years of neglect.

            Peta exited her black jeep and the others tumbled out behind her. They walk up the sidewalk until they stop in front of a building that was located in the middle of the block.

            The building had a neon sign that read Oz Bar and Grill above the entrance.  The sign, however, had seen better days because the O on Oz was blinking on and off and the R on Grill was not even lit and the other letter wasn’t any better.  The letters were faded and didn’t burn as bright as they probable once did and the sign was covered with as much dirt as the building that held it.

            The door on the building didn’t fair much better.  The red paint that covered it was now chipped, faded and peeling.  The brass handle that once was probable polished daily with care was now tarnished and ignored.

            “Shall we go in?” Bryce asked the others, as he grabbed the handle of the door.

            “Sure,” the others said together.

            Bryce pulled the door open and they all walk inside. Right inside the door, they were greeted by a girl in her early twenties in a pair of jeans and a navy T-shirt that had Oz Bar and Grill in red on the front of it in a twirling tornado.  “Welcome to Oz Bar and Grill.  Would you need a table or are you just passing through?”

            “Just passing through,” the Wild Bunch said in unison.

            “Ok, so to the back wall,” she pointed to the back of the bar, “there’s a hall go down it and turn the two fashion lanterns upside down and then tap the three bricks that are lit by the upside lanterns with a wand.

            “Thanks,” They all mumbled as they passed her.

If the outside was old and dilapidated, the inside was a complete contradiction. It was bright and friendly.  Along the whole left wall was a polished oak bar, manned by three men all wearing the same uniform of jeans and navy T-shirt and floating above the bar was different types and sizes of glasses.  There were eight enormous televisions around the bar, three of the televisions were behind the large bar and the other were scattered through out the bar for easing viewing. Each television was also showing a different sporting event both magical and non-magical.

            Sabrina watched a couple get up from a table and she watched as their dirty dishes vanished and a bus boy in a red T-shirt with the same logo and jeans came up quickly to the table and wiped it off.

            They move their way through the tables to the back of the bar.  They waved at a few friends from school and said hi to a few others.  They were almost to the back when someone grabbed Sly’s arm and made everyone else stop.

            “Hey, guys,” said Vince Maxwell, “what are you going to do?”  Vince Maxwell was a fellow student and a tackle on the Quodpot team. Also sitting at the table with Vince were Jim Crook, Cindy Stewart, and Julie Moore, they were fellow players on the Rock’s Quodpot team.

            “We’re going to do a little shopping,” answered Peta.

            Vince smiled. “Hey, that’s what we just got done doing.”

            “You’ve got to check out the new Twister F-5,” Jim Crook said to them.

            “It’s in,” inquired Sly, Kodiak, and Bryce together?

            “Yeah,” Cindy Stewart and Julie Moore answered before Vince and Jim.

            Bryce, Sabrina, Peta, Kodiak, and Sly said their goodbyes and continued to the back of the Bar and Grill.

            They move down the brick hallway to where two old fashion black lanterns hung on each side of the back wall.

            “OK, I’ll turn the left,” said Bryce grabbing hold of the lantern.

            “I got the other,” said Kodiak pulling out his wand and grabbing a hold of the lantern on the right.

            Bryce and Kodiak twisted the lanterns upside down at the same time.  The golden light had turned into a glowing blue light as they twisted upside down and the blue light lit up the three bricks right below it.

            Bryce quickly freed his wand from his back pocket and tapped the three bricks with his wand. “OK, Bear, go.”

            Kodiak tapped the three bricks on his side lit by the lanterns with his wand.

            One by one the bricks between the two lanterns begin to quiver and tremble and then they started to vanish to reveal an archway. 

A short man stood on the other side of the archway.  He was as round as he was tall.  He looked like a giant beach ball with arms, legs and a head.  He had a long handlebar mustache that had two curls on each end and a triangle beard that stopped just passed his chin. He was dressed in an odd suit.  He had on blue shoes, yellow pants, red shirt with an orange tie, a green jacket with tails and sitting on top of his round bald head that resembled a bowling ball was a purple top hat.

When the Wild Bunch step forwards the man immediately whipped off his top hat and made a wide gestured with it and at the same time he bowed his head. “Welcome to Rainbow Plaza, the greatest wizardry shopping in the Midwest.” He greeted them with, when he raised his head. Bryce, Sabrina, Peta, Kodiak, and Sly walked in and thanked the man.

They walk up to the large diamond fountain that sat in the center of Rainbow Plaza. The fountain shot up rainbow color water about twenty feet into the air and the astonishing thing was that when it fell into the basin of the fountain the water was as clear as glass. On each end of the diamond shape fountain were large triangle planters that had multicolored flowers and each contain a large tree for shading because around the fountain was a number rainbow colored benches.

Three sides of the plaza’s courtyard were store fronts.  There were two levels and each store had unique and flamboyant signs. On each side of the plaza was a spiral moving staircase that brought you either up or down depending on the direction you were coming. On the top level there were gold banisters that glisten from the sun and on each level were several colonial style lamp posts.

“So where are we going first?” Sly asked the others.

“Let’s go to Decker’s Magical Electronics. I want to get a new magical MP3 player.” Bryce said walking across the plaza towards Decker’s Magical Electronics.

Decker’s sits in the corner and takes up two levels. Its sign was one of the plainer signs in the plaza.  In bold blue letter was the name of the store and under it in blinking letters were We Have All You’re Magical Electronic Needs.

Bryce grabbed the door handle; smiled back at his friends then strolled inside.

Decker’s first level is dedicated to magical appliances, such as, self cleaning refrigerators that will get rid of old moldy food, remove any odors and keep the inside sparkling clean.  The second level is devoted to magical electronics, for instance, a television that will apparate to any room in the house with a click of the remote or non-losing remotes.

They started to head to the stairs that would take them to the second level and they passed a pearl colored stove. On top of the stove was a picture of a skinny man, who started to speak to them as they walked by.

“Do I have a deal for you, just step up and take a look at this beauty.  The answer to all your cooking needs, it apparates your food into the oven and starts to cook at a time of your choosing. It’s the newest...”

They heard the sell picture trail off as the made their way over to the brass staircase that will take them to the electronic department.

“I hate those sell pictures,” said Sly glaring at another one that started to yell at them, “they’re so embarrassing when their yelling at you.”

Bryce, Sabrina, Peta, Kodiak, and Sly took the stairs to the top level two at a time and were bombarded with the roar of all the sell pictures when they hit the top step.

“Dude, it’s loud up here,” Kodiak hollered over the noise.

“I wonder where all the salesmen are,” Sabrina shouted, putting her hand over her ears to block out some of the noise.

Bryce pulled one of Sabrina’s hands off her ears. “I don’t know.”

“Why don’t we come back later,” suggested Peta.

“No, Bryce said firmly, “I’m getting the WizDot today.”

They made there way through the other customers.  Some of the witches and wizards had their wands out and were aiming spells at the sell picture but instead of them getting quiet the pictures just got even louder.

“Don’t they know that only people whom work in the store can control them?”  Kodiak said, as they passed a wizard in stripped robes smacking the picture with his wand.  The picture started to scream and Kodiak shook his head in discuss at the wizard.

“The WizDot is over here,” Bryce yelled and pointed to the left of him.

A few aisle over was a display case and on top of it was the word WizDot and its letters were blinking in many assorted colors.

“I wish someone would shut u—” Sabrina was yelling when everything went quiet.  Everybody around them turned to look at her. She closed her eyes as her cheeks redden with embarrassment.

Bryce, Kodiak and Sly started to laugh.

“Shut up,” Sabrina said through clench teeth before a corner of her mouth twisted fighting off a smile.

The Wild Bunch made their way over to the WizDot display and standing in front of it was a boy about eleven or twelve with his very beleaguered mother.

“Hey, Toby, is this your mom?” Bryce questioned stopping beside him.

Toby face broke into a large adulate smile. “Hi Bryce. Yeah, this is my mom.”

Bryce gave the woman a reinsuring smile and proffered his hand “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Hanson.  Is this your first time in Rainbow Plaza.”

Mrs. Hanson hesitated for a second before she took his hand and gave him an uneasy smile. “Ah, yes and it’s nice to meet you, uh,”

“Bryce White,” Bryce offered with a smile, “and this is my sister, Sabrina, our friends Peta Whitefeather, Sly Volponi, and Kodiak Cullen.

Mrs. Hanson’s eyes widen when they landed on Kodiak, “Oh my, you’re tall.”

“I get it from my mom’s side of the family,” Kodiak said with a tender smile.

“Bryce, I was trying to explain wizardry money to mom but she doesn’t get it.”

Bryce smiled at Mrs. Hanson. “Mrs. Hanson it’s quite simple,” Bryce reached into his pocket and pulled out four different coins of varies shapes, sizes and colors and with his free hand he picked up a small copper round coin. “This coin is called a knicel and takes fifteen of them to equal this coin.” Bryce picked up a silver triangle coin, “This coin is called a mide and it takes twenty-five of these to equal just one of these.”  He picked up a round coin that one side is pink and the other side is green. “This is a raquter and it takes ten of these to equal just one of these.” Bryce picked up a gold octagon coin. “This coin is the sordall.  It’s easy enough.”

Mrs. Hanson frowned. “I’m not going to carry around a bag of coins, besides the sign say they except dollars.

Stuck to the side of the case was a sign in bold print:

WizDot

The newest in Wizardry MP3 Players

400 Sordall or 100 Dollars

Decker’s Electronics except:

Crystal Card, Muggle or Wizardry currency

 

Bryce smiled. “That’s why I have a Crystal Card.”  He pulled out a tear-shape crystal about two inches long.  This pulls money from your account at the U.S. wizardry bank, Blodgett-Windrim and transfers it into store’s account.

Mrs. Hanson went to take the tear-shape crystal and Bryce stopped her by closing his hand over it. “Umm,” Bryce was worried about scaring her. “Mrs. Hanson, the crystal has a spell on it that only allows the owner to touch it, if you should touch it your hand would turn purple and swell to twice it size.”

“O-oh,” she said shockingly. “Come, Toby let’s continue to look around.”  Mrs. Hanson grabbed her son’s hand and pulled him away.

“Bye Bryce, see ya at school,” Toby called back as his mother dragged him away.

Sabrina punched her brother in his arm. “That’s it Bry, terrify the lady.”

Bryce was rubbing the spot where his sister just punched him. “I wasn’t trying to scare her. I didn’t want her to get hurt.  Don’t you thing her hand turning purple and swell up twice its normal size won’t scare her.”

Sly and Kodiak were laughing. “Smooth, Claw real smooth.”

“Boys,” Peta and Sabrina said together.

Bryce shoved Sly and Kodiak, “Shut up.”

“Can I help you?” A voice came from behind them.

Bryce jumped and spun around reaching for his wand.  Sly grabbed his arm. “Easy, man.”

Bryce sighed and whispered. “Thanks.”

Sly nodded.

Standing in front of them was a tall, very thin man with long black receding hair that he wore pulled back in a ponytail.  He had a gold dragon head earring in his left ear and a pair of square reading glasses perch on the end of his large nose.

Sabrina gave her brother’s arm a little squeeze before she spoke. “We’re interested in the WizDot can you tell us about them?”

In side the display case was little pedestals and setting on them were two inch discs that were flashing in multiple colors. “What we have here is the newest in wizardry MP3 players.  It replaced the WizCube which we all know did not live up to the hype that it would play in highly magical areas; the WizDot, however, does.  You can magical download all your music into this devise.  It will also work with all Muggle music downloads; as well.

“What are also new with the WizDot are its colors.  You use to have to stay with the color you chosen when you purchased it, now with a simple spell, you can change the color with the wave of your wand or you can put a picture on it.  You can also make it match your school or your favorite team colors.  You can even have it change color to the beat of the music.

“The WizDot will allow you to use an enlargement spell on the earbuds to make them into portable speakers, so other can listen with you.

“So will any of you be purchasing a WizDot today?”

Bryce smiled. “Yeah, we’ll take two.”

The sales clerk smile grew larger as he pulled out his wand and tapped the glass.  The glass vanished and he reached in and removed two boxes that were changing colors in sequence: white, blue, yellow, purple, black, maroon, and back to white.

They followed the sales clerk over to the register. He rang them up. “That will be four hundred sordalls, and 25 raquters, or—” He waved his wand over the register, “— two hundred and twenty five dollars and twenty five cents, with tax.

“The spell you need is in the paperwork which is inside the box.”  He said as an afterthought. “Will this be muggle, wizardry, or crystal?”

Bryce reached into his pocket and pulled out the tear-shaped crystal. “It’ll be crystal.”

The sales clerk nodded. “Please drop it into the cauldron.”

As soon as Bryce dropped the crystal into the cauldron, a burst of green flames shot out of it.  They waited a few minutes and the flame died out.

“You can collect it.  It didn’t turn red so it cleared and the money was transferred.”  The sales clerk put the boxes into a plastic bag that had Decker’s Electronic printed on one side. He wished them a good day and scurried off to help his next customers; trying to make as big a commission as he could for the day.

Sabrina grabbed the bag and followed the other out the store.  Once they were back in the courtyard. Peta asked, “So where to now?”

“Let’s go to Owsley’s Optical,” suggested Sabrina. “There’s something I would like to get.”

Owsley’s Optical was on the second level in the middle of the backside of the plaza. Its sign was a pair of giant glass that would flash the name of the store in the lens one minute, with Owsley’s on one lens and Optical in the other, and then it would show scenes of Mr. and Mrs. Owsley’s vacation that they took every fall; right now it was showing their vacation that they took in the Caribbean.

 Sabrina opened the door and walked into the store.  Three of the walls were covered in pairs of glasses from floor to ceiling except for a doorway on the back wall that probable lead to a storage room and places in the center of each of the walls that had a white sign in bold red letters that would tell anyone who entered the store what glasses was on that wall.  One wall sign read, Regular & Reading Glasses, another wall sign stated, Protection Glasses, and the final wall sign declared, Specialty Glasses & Sunglasses.

Standing off to the side of the wall that had Specialty Glass and Sunglass was a cardboard cutout of a sun and shooting out from it was a sun flare and at the end of the flare was a pair of sunglasses; written in capital letters across the sun in flames was SOLARFLARES 2000.

A short thin woman in her sixties with bright orange hair came from the back room. She had on a pair of black jeans and a red shirt that clashed with her hair and a nametag pinned to her shirt that claimed her name was Wilma.  She was wearing three set of eyeglasses; one pair was perched on the top of her head, another pair set on the tip of her nose and the last pair hung on a string around her neck.

“Can I help you,” she said in a high squeaky voice that made you think of a famous cartoon mouse.

Sabrina smiled, knowing this was Wilma Owsley. “Hi, yes, I’m interested in the new SolarFlares 2000.”

“Oh,” Mrs. Owsley said happily. “The makers have fixed the problem in the SolarFlares 1900.” She came up next to them and when she finally spoke again barely above a whisper, which made her voice even squeaker. “The 1900 had a terrible flaw.  It allowed its owner to see through clothes; how shameful.” She said that last shaking her head in disgust.

“Oh what a shame, that would be the only reason to buy them,” Sly said biting back a laugh.

Mrs. Owsley stared Sly up and down with a look that he was something smelly she had the unfortunate mishap of stepping in. She harrumphed and turned her attention back to Sabrina, who she found more pleasant.

Sabrina coughed hiding a laugh. “Yes, ma’am could you tell us about the SolarFlares 2000.”

The woman pulled herself up to her full height which wasn’t very tall and gave Sly another sharp glare. “Yes, Yes.  The SolarFlares 2000 are not your normal sunglasses.  They are much more. The 2000s allow its wearer to see through objects, except clothes,” she said the last bit more harshly and her eye focused on Sly for second before returning to Sabrina. “The 2000s also let you see in the dark as though it was a bright sunny day.  You can also magnify something or see something from a long distance away.  The literature said up to ten miles.  So are you interested in buying a pair?”  

Sabrina gave Mrs. Owsley a big smile. “Actually I would like five pairs.”

“Five pairs,” Wilma Owsley said in shock.

“Sabrina,” Peta shrieked, “No.”

“Yes,” Sabrina said firmly. “Five please.” Sabrina pulled a large bag out of her purse.

Once they were safely out of the store, Peta grabbed Sabrina’s arm. “You shou—”

Sabrina held up her hand cutting her off. “Yes I should of.  Peta, Bryce and I talked about it and we decided since we’re not going to be here for Christmas or your birthdays or any other holiday we wanted to give this to you now; besides, they just might come in handy.”

“Thanks,” Peta said shyly.”

“Yeah Thanks,” said Kodiak and Sly together just as warily.

“But it would have been great to have the SolarFlares 1900,” Sly murmured to Kodiak and Bryce which they quickly agreed.

Peta and Sabrina pop them on the back of the heads. “Boys,” they exasperated, as the walk by them.

“So Whoolery’s next” Kodiak inquired?

They all answered their agreement and headed to Whoolery’s.

Whoolery’s Wizardry Sporting Goods was located on the first level right under Owsley’s Optical.  Whoolery’s was the largest sporting goods store of magical and non-magical sports equipment in the Midwest. The shelves were full of items for such sports as Quodpot or Quidditch to fishing, Basketball wizardry or non-wizardry.  Whoolery’s even carried football and soccer equipment.

Whoolery’s were split in half; one side was dedicated to wizardry sports and the other side to non-wizardry sports.

Bryce, Sabrina, Peta, Kodiak, and Sly made their way to the wizardry side to be more exacted, the racing broom aisle.

The store was so packed that they were tussled as they made their way through the large crowds in attendance for Whoolery’s Wonderful clearance sale.  The sales clerks were disapparating and apparating every time a wand would send up a red flare. They collide with one of the sales clerk when he appeared right in front of them. “Sorry wrong aisle, I just got my license and I’m still a little ruff.” The sales clerk smiled at the same time he disappeared with a pop.

“I think we pick a bad day to come to the Plaza.” Kodiak said when two little boys about five or six ran into him then looked up at him awestruck.  He gave them a smile and they ran off yelling for their mothers.

“It’s nice to know you’re good with kids,” Bryce chortled.

They ultimately they made it through the massive crowd to the racing broom aisle.  Peta and Sabrina was looking at a kit that guaranteed to make your broom flash different colors depending on the speed you were travel when Sly yelled exuberantly. “Bryce, Kodiak, it’s the Twister F5.”

Sealed in a glass case under a glowing light that brought out the red of the wood was an impressive broomstick.  Its tail was tan in color, smooth and long, much longer then the cheaper brooms. At the top of the handle inlayed with glittering gold letters outline in black was Twister F5.

And in the top left hand corner of the case was a card that read:

Twister F5

It is the newest in the Twister Series of American racing brooms. It is made of the best American Redwood chosen from the Sierra Mountains in Nevada and California.  The new longer and aerodynamic tail gives the F5 a quicker lift and more control.  The new improved braking charm allows the F5 to stop 2.3 seconds quicker and twenty feet shorter then its predecessor, the F4.  The new F5 has a sharper turn rationale and a faster recover rate in a nose dive. The F5 is more than capable to compete in the international racing broom market.

 

“Wow,” exclaimed Peta. “I’m even impressed with this broom.”

Everyone laughed. Sabrina hooked her arm with Peta and smiled.  She knew how Peta hated brooms.  Sabrina remembers when Peta first attempted to fly a broom. She was thrown off and fell twenty feet to the ground and got the wind knock out of her.  She can ride them like a pro now but she still does not like them.  That’s one of the reason she chose the golden eagle as her animagus.

Sly and Kodiak purchased some broom wax and some replacement twigs for the tail of their ancient brooms.  Sly, Kodiak and Bryce have been rebuilding brooms since they could ride them.  Their collections include the Twister and Twister F1, Jupiter 8 and a few British brooms, like the Moontrimmer.  Bryce, Sly and Kodiak real love though is taking a semi-old broom and overhauling it and compete in broom dragging.  It’s a very dangerous sport that deals with high rate of speed.  It started in the 1950s and as never lost its appeal for individuals who like to take risks.

After leaving Whoolery’s, they made their way to Trimble Trick or Treat Candy and Joke Shop.  They stack up their supplies of Frizzle’s Fantastic Fireworks because the Fourth of July was only three days away.  The bought some Volcano Rocks. The candy could explode in your mouth possible break your teeth.  The art of eating them is to know you can’t have any thing to drink with them because if you do you’ll lose your teeth.

They walked around Grigsby’s Magical Toys and Games and then went next door to Ives Family Bookstore.  Sly, Peta, and Kodiak purchased their text books for their junior year at the Rock.

Bryce and Sabrina wonder over to the wizardry self help section.  Sabrina pick up a book called, Wand Work for Dummies.  She showed her brother and he started to laugh.  He took it from her and flipped it open to a page where there was a moving illustration of a wizard in blue ropes with yellow stars showing the proper movement for a Featherweight charm. They mimicked the movements and were laughing when the others found them.

Peta and Sabrina slowed down outside Jadlow’s Jewelry Store to look at the giant diamond necklace until they were dragged away form the window by Kodiak and Bryce.  Sly made a joke that maybe diamonds have curses on them that are gender related because they seem mesmerize girls. Peta and Sabrina walk by and smacked him on the back of the head. “Ouch, why does everyone keep hitting me on the back of the head?”

They got new self-correcting quills at Penland’s Art, Hobbies, and school supplies.

The girls dragged and pulled the boys into the Raven, a popular wizardry clothing store.  Peta picked up some new dress robes for special occasions.  The boys complained the whole time they were in there.

They walked by Hornsbostle’s Magical Wands and saw wand boxes flying all over the place.  A boy of around six or seven was getting a wand jerk from his hand by Mr. Hornsbostle while his older brother, around eleven was standing with wide eyes as a glow was coming out of his wand.

Bryce, Sly and Kodiak ran into Harmonic Music to get some new guitar strings while Sabrina and Peta went to Mystical Pet Shop to see what new animals they got in.  They caught up with Bryce in front of Shazam Beauty Salon and Spa.  Where an elderly witch with tiger color hair had her wand drawn and was shooting spells at her hairstyles while she was blocking them. The Wild Bunch was laughing and still laughed when a spell hit the front window and shattered it.  The hairstyles made them move on with some unflattering words and heard the old woman send another spell after the hairstyles before she could get the window repaired.

They strolled into Zizumbo, a potion ingredients store, to see a dorm mate a class below them being cursed by tall, thin sales lady for trying to buy potion ingredients for wizards eighteen and older.  Bright red letters started to burn their way on to his forehead and when they became clear it read, Not 18.  “That’s so your parents know what you tried to do today,” sales lady yelled after him as he dragged Sabrina away with him. Sabrina was trying not to laugh but the others didn’t have that problem because they were almost rolling in the aisles.

“Sabrina can’t you help me?” He asked fretfully. 

Chuck, I’m sorry but it can only be removed by a parent.  If I attempted to remove the mark, it would change colors and start to burn even more,” Sabrina chuckled. “And besides I can’t use a wand outside of school.”

“Fine,” Chuck stormed off.

“Good thing he’s wizard born,” Peta said coming up beside her. “Because if he wasn’t it would be one long summer.”

They left Zizumbo with their potion ingredient supplies restocked. When they made their way along the walkway, they had seen a commotion coming from the Healer, a ready-made potion shop. Chuck was being kick-out of the store by the sales clerk.  The sales clerk was yelling at him so loudly that it was drawing the attention of the whole plaza unfortunately it also got the attention of his mother.  Everyone watched in silence as his fierce looking mother was leading him to the exit.

“Poor Chuck, his mother looks mean enough to scare even the most powerful wizard,” commented Sly.

They were laughing as they walked by Pots, Cauldron’s and Things.  They didn’t need anything from inside so they just kept making their way through the crowds of people stopping to stare in to the windows of the different stores.

They walked into Titus Shoes on the first level next to the spiral moving staircase.  Titus Shoes was setup just like Whoolery’s, magical shoes on one side and non-magical shoes on the other.  It was setup like every other shoe store by size and style. They had all the popular muggle brand shoes and on the magical side they had shoes that would help the wearer run faster, jump higher, they even had a pair of shoes that would help the wearer fly.  One pair of shoes claimed to protect you from mild curses.  When they final left the shoes store, Kodiak had purchased a pair of dragon skin cowboy boots.

“Ok, I’m hungry.  Where are we going to eat,” Kodiak asked putting his arm around Sabrina’s shoulder in a friendly hug. Sabrina smirked up at him. “I don’t know aren’t you buying,”

“Look, Brin made a funny,” Kodiak said mordantly. 

The Wild Bunch walked towards the food court area that was set in a corner on the first level.

“So where are we going to eat?” Kodiak asked again. “And no I’m not buying.”

Sabrina snickered. “So do we eat at Stardust Soda Shop?” Which every witch or wizard in two hundred miles radius, knew Stardust had the best hamburgers and ice cream around.  And their French fries and onion rings weren’t have bad either.

The Stardust Soda Shop’s sign was one of the extravagant of all the signs in Rainbow Plaza. It constantly blasted fireworks a few feet above it that would flutter down on the sign to spell out Stardust Soda Shop in twinkling lights. And hanging right below it was a black sign that had red letter read, Est. 1941.

The Wild Bunch peeked through the front window to see how busy they were today.  The place’s décor was the same as it had been in 1941.  The floor was covered in black and white tiles and a bright red counter stretched along the back wall and the table and chairs was the same bright red.  The walls where covered with moving photos that depicted the history of Rainbow Plaza from the time it was built in the 1800s. As kids Bryce and Sabrina always loved watching the photos because they showed the building of the plaza.

“The place is packed,” stated Sly, “We would be here all day if we tried to eat here.”

“It’s so hot and they have ice cream. Man, I’d sure love a five scoop chocolate chip dip whip cream with a cherry on top ice cream cone.” Bryce sighed disappointedly.

“Come On,” said Sabrina grabbing her brother from the back of his shirt and pulling away from the glass.  “You’re drooling all over it and if we don’t get out of here Leroy will come out here with a bucket and rag and make you clean the glass.”

Kodiak slapped him on the shoulder. “Dude and tell you it was character building.”

They moved next door to Perez’s Taco La Casa. If Stardust’s sign was the most extravagant then Perez’s sign was the least.  It was just a white wooden sign that had Perez Taco La Casa painted in blue on it. But Perez’s didn’t need a fancy sign because his food spoke for itself.

The décor in Perez’s couldn’t be any more opposite than the Stardust.  The interior of Perez’s looked like an old Cantina from the 1800s.  The floor was just an old wooden floor and the table and chairs was mix-match and looked as though they where picked up at flea markets.  The counter that extended along the back looked like it was ripped from some old barn and sanded down just enough to make it smooth.

Perez’s wasn’t as busy but they were pretty full. “I’m really not in the mood for Mexican food today,” Peta said, as she stepped back from the window.

“Then its Giovanni’s Pizzeria,” Sly said energetically, almost too energetically.

Bryce grabbed Sly into a headlock. “Like we don’t know your favorite food is Pizza.”

“Oh it has nothing to do with his love of Pizza but his love for a certain waitress that goes by the name of Brittany Giovanni,” Sabrina informed happily.

“She is just a friend, contested Sly, “Our Families had been friends for years, besides she’s a year younger.”

“And the fact that she’s beautiful and nice and smiles at you has nothing to do with it,” Sabrina counter back.

Bryce and Kodiak hooked each other arms together and started to sing, “Sly and Brittany sitting in a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G., first comes love—,” Sabrina and Peta hooked their arms through Sly’s and joined Bryce and Kodiak in singing, “—then comes marriage, then comes Brittany with a baby carriage.” They were all laughing except Sly when the open the door to Giovanni’s.

Sly frowned, “Shut up, you guys can be so immature some times and how many times do I have tell you we’re just frie…” Sly trailed off when he came face to face with the subject of the conversation, Brittany Giovanni.

Calling Brittany Giovanni beautiful was an understatement. She had long dark brown silky hair that fell like a curtain around her shoulders.  She had an olive complication that complimented her beautiful brown eyes and she had long eyelashes that brushed her cheeks when she blinked and she had beautiful full pink lips.

Brittany smiled, “Hi Guys, Hi Sly.”

            “H-Hi Brit,” stuttered Sly.

            “Do you have a table?” Sabrina inquired, biting her bottom lip to hide her smile.

            “Sure, come this way.”  She reached in a basket and pulled out five menus and reached into another basket to pull out five set of silverware wrapped in a blue and gold cloth napkin.

The décor in Giovanni’s was like an outside family café in the villages in Italy.  The walls covered in flowers and plants to give that outdoor feel. Candlelight lamp post was throughout the restaurant to give it that old world appeal.  Each cast-iron table and chairs had a colorful umbrella over it. Some areas were separated from the rest of the restaurant by vine cover trellises that gave privacy to those tables.

Brittany seated them next to a faux window that continued to change and show scenes of the Italian countryside.

Brittany laid a menu and a set of silverware down in front of them. “I’ll be back in a few to get your order.”  Brittany looked at Sly and smiled. She turned quickly and headed back to the front of the restaurant.

Bryce and Kodiak looked at each other and busted out laughing. Peta and Sabrina were still smiling when a shadow fell across their table that caused them to look up, but instead of seeing Brittany standing next to their table waiting to take their orders; it was Brutus Cain III and his cronies, Alvin Drake, Simon Leech, and Max Slaughter.

“What do you want?” Kodiak growled.

“Careful Cullen your mother’s heritage is showing,” Brutus said mockingly.

“You slimy little—” Kodiak made a move to get up and Sabrina halted him when she put her hand on top of his, when he looked at her, she shook her head.

“Brutus, can’t you see we’re getting ready to eat, so move along before you ruin our appetite with your looks,” Sly retorted.

Brutus was a tall and skinny.  He had slick back black hair and deep set soulless eyes that made you think of a Hollywood Vampire.  He was handsome enough if you liked that type and apparently many girls did because girls flocked to him but Sabrina didn’t. 

She found him arrogant, cold and a royal pain and his hair was just revolting who would want to touch that gel head. “Brutus, why don’t you take your friends and find a table on the other side of the restaurant, we don’t want any trouble.”

“And what if we want to be trouble,” Brutus whispered vemonly.

“Then we’ve got a problem,” Bryce snapped.

“Good thing we don’t want trouble,” Brutus said with leer. “We were just surprised to see you out of your hiding place. You are hiding, aren’t you? I mean the Pied Piper is looking for you isn’t he? He wants you dead and here you are out in the op—”

Brutus was cut off when Bryce grabbed him by the front of his shirt and lifted him up on his tiptoes. “Go ahead and finish want you were going to say because we’re all ears; aren’t we, guys? And just for your info I don’t need magic to rearrange your face.”

“Hey, what’s going on here?” Mr. Giovanni looked around at the group and then at Sly, “Sly?”

“We were looking at the menu when these four came up and started harassing us,” Sly answered.

Mr. Giovanni grabbed Brutus by the back of his shirt. “Come on, boys, I don’t allow trouble in my restaurant.” He escorted Cain, Drake, Leech, and Slaughter to the door.

“You have no idea who you’re messing with,” they heard Brutus Cain say as Mr. Giovanni opened the door for them.

“Oh, I think I do, an arrogant brat, who thinks he can cause problems in my place.  So leave now before I call Plaza Security and let them remove you,” Mr. Giovanni retorted, just before closing the door in their faces.

“You guys OK,” Brittany asked them coming over to their table.

“I’m sorry Brit about what happened,” Bryce said sheepishly.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, you didn’t do anything. I really hate that guy and his friends.  They’re a bunch of bullies.  He is always bragging about how his family used to go to Salem Witches’ Institute and how he’s too good for The Rock.  If he doesn’t want to be at The Rock why doesn’t he just go back to S.W.I.?” She took their drink orders. “I’ll get your drinks.” Brittany stomped off towards the bar to fill their drink orders.

Bryce smiled and then it faded when he caught the sight of Cain and his friends heading quickly across the Plaza’s courtyard. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

“To late,” Sabrina smiled at her brother.

Sly was looking over to the bar watching Brittany. “Someone should tell Brittany that his family was band from S.W.I. when his great-great grandfather was caught with some other wizards, after they massacred a whole town of muggles.”

“That can be your job, Romeo,” Kodiak chortled.

“Brittany is right they’re not happy if they’re not making someone else suffer for their enjoyment, “Peta said disgustedly.

Kodiak was watching Sabrina.  She was frowning at the direction Cain and his cronies went. “Brin, what is it?”

“Huh, oh, how does Cain know that we had to be in hiding and that the Pied Piper is looking for us? Very few people know that info or that we were even involved that night. The people include us, our families, and some high officials in the M.B.I. and they don’t know everything.  I’m pretty sure Cain isn’t privilege to that information unless…,” She trailed off when she got lost in her thoughts.

“Sabrina, hey Sabrina,” Bryce snapped his fingers in front of her face to get her attention. “Unless what? That Cain joined up with the Pied Piper.” Bryce joked.

“Exactly,” Sabrina said simply to her brother with a frown and Bryce puckered his brow as Sabrina thoughts started to have merit.

Their conversation was cut off when Brittany arrived with their drinks and took their meal order and left the table.

“When we get done eating we’d better leave,” Sabrina advised looking at her watch.

“I think we better make the jeep invisible,” Peta suggested, “Grandpa had put several protection spells and charms on it.”

They agreed and ate quickly, paid their bills, thanked Brittany and left the restaurant.  They made it to the jeep and hoped that they would make it home without incident.  This is the first time they thought they might have made a mistake about leaving the protection of the ranch. They didn’t know if Brutus and his cronies were the Pied Piper minions but they didn’t want to find out either.  Cain knew too much for it to be just a coincidence. 

They knew the Cain Family is involved in all kinds of suspicious business activities.  The Wild Bunch knew that they had been under investigation by the M.B.I for those activities but they hadn’t been able to prove anything and you couldn’t try someone for a gut feeling.

The Cain Family along with Brutus Cain III had the right personality to team up with the Pied Piper, especially if he could get them the power they think they deserve.

“I think we’re in big trouble,” Peta said breaking the silence that had settled over the car shortly after leaving the parking lot.  They all noticed the increased activity around the ranch house.

“You think,” Bryce said sarcastically.

“There’s nothing for us to do but to face the fire.” Sabrina reached over and flipped the switched and that made them visible again and drew the attention of the extra guards.  The guard at the gate frowned at them as they drove by.

“Park in front of the garage, Peta,” informed Bryce.

Sabrina reached for the door handle but before she could open it, the door flew opened and standing in front of her was her grandfather, Basil White. Her grandfather’s usually happy face was replaced by a scowl.  “Where have you been? Do you know how worried we’ve all been? You’ve put yourselves in danger after everything these people had done to protect you. All of you in the house, Now.”

They quickly entered the house and were confronted by more than just Sabrina and Bryce’s grandmother.

Their friends’ parents turned to face them when they entered the room and by the looks on their faces; they were dead. 

Kodiak’s parents were seated on the couch along one of the walls in the living room.  Sly’s parents were seated across from them in a couple of chairs.  Peta’s parents and grandfather were huddled in the corner of the room and Sabrina and Bryce’s mother was pacing in the middle of the room while their grandmother stepped into the room from the kitchen.

 “I hope you’ve enjoyed your little outing because it’s the last one you’ll be taking for awhile,” snapped Zoë White, Sabrina and Bryce’s mother. “Do you know how many people were pulled off more important jobs just to look for you?”

“No one asked you to do that,” retorted Bryce.

“Don’t you take that tone with me, young man.  You knew we would look for you when your grandmother found you missing.” Zoë said angrily.

“Oh, we all know that if Brin and I disappear your precious case falls apart and we also know that’s what’s important to you, not us. I’m going to my room.”  Bryce moved to the stairway.

“Don’t you walk away from me, Bryce Sirius White,” ordered his mother.

“I’m not walking away that’s more your thing; isn’t it? Or are you hiding and calling it work.  I’m going to my room. You still remember where that is don’t you? It’s been so long since you’ve been in it.” Bryce took the stairs two at a time.

“Sabrina?” Her mother looked at her with questions in her eyes that she wanted answered.

Sabrina raised an eyebrow at her. She reached in one of the bags she was carrying and pulled out a gift wrapped package.  She handed it to her mother without showing her any emotion, but contempt. “Happy Birthday, Mom, at least, we could give you your gift in person this year; instead of by post.” She turned her back on her mother and hugged Peta, Kodiak and Sly. She then spoke to their parents. “I’m sorry if we worried you. It wasn’t our intention.  We just wanted to get out and have a little fun by ourselves.” Sabrina smiled warily and walked up the stairs after her brother.

Sabrina knocked on Bryce’s door and opened it to find her brother lying on his bed tossing his basketball ball in the air.

She knew her brother was hurt by their mother’s word and for about thousand other things.  She was hurt; as well but she always tried to see her mother’s side.  She just could see it this time or more she refuse to see it.

“Sabrina, leave me alone. I don’t need or want a mediator with Mom.

“Who said I’m going too. I brought you you’re WizDot and SolarFlares.” Sabrina walked over and deposited the bags on the floor and grabbed his ball from him and raised an eyebrow in a challenge.

Bryce rose to his feet and took the basketball back then shot it at the basketball goal that was on his wall.  The ball hit the backboard with a bang and bounced a few times before rolling towards the door.

“I hate when she comes her and acts like she cares,” Bryce held up his hand. “Don’t say that she does because we both know she doesn’t.’

“That’s where you are wrong,” their grandmother’s voice came from the doorway.

Bryce and Sabrina jumped and spun around to face her. “Gran.”

“You are both young and think you know everything, but you don’t. Sometimes people have to do things they don’t want to do; in fact, they would like to be doing other things but can’t.” Cassiopeia picked up the basketball and set it in a chair at Bryce’s desk.

“What you two did today with your friends was irresponsible and dangerous. You could have gotten yourselves and a lot of other people hurt.  Your mother might not have used the right words but she was angry and so am I.” Cassiopeia informed her grandchildren.

Bryce flopped down on the edge of his bed. “Don’t stickup for her.  She always puts everyone before us.”

“So where’s Mom?” Sabrina asked wryly, as she slipped down beside her brother.

“Your mother along with your grandfather has return to Washington D.C.”  Cassiopeia replied.

Bryce looked at Sabrina and gestured to his grandmother, “See I told you. She couldn’t even come up here to yell at me.”

“Bryce that’s enough,” Cassiopeia retorted harshly. “I was the one who told her to go I thought it was for the best.” Cassiopeia came over and sat down between them wrapping an arm around each of them. “Your mother loves you more than you’ll ever know.  I also know you’re angry and you have every right to be but so do the rest of us.  You scared us.  I woke up and you were gone.  You didn’t even leave a note. I had know idea if you were even safe.”

“Gran we didn’t do anything wrong but we’re the ones locked in a prison. If you guys would have believed u—”

“Bryce,” Cassiopeia interrupted firmly. “I’ve already said I’m sorry but there’s nothing that can be done now but protect you so that’s what we are doing.  And the other thing is let you and your friends go to London with just Joseph Whitefeather for a week.”

Sabrina and Bryce stared at the grandmother soaking in what she just said to them. Sabrina smiled.

“Gran, really,” exclaimed Sabrina throwing her arms around her grandmother’s neck.

“Yes really,” Cassiopeia tightened her one arm hug around her granddaughter. She glanced at her grandson. “Is that all right with you, Bryce?”

Bryce gave her a half-hearted smile. “Yeah, that’d work.”  He leaned over and kissed his grandmother’s cheek and then gave her a real smile.

“You can do better than that,” Cassiopeia let go of her granddaughter and pulled Bryce in a big hug, “I love you,” she whispered in his ear.  He nodded and turned his head to hide the fact that he was wiping at his eyes.

“So when do we go?” Sabrina inquired excitedly.