Chapter 1 Edit

Prologue

They say we are the copycats. They say we took magic and destroyed it, ripped it to shreds, until we got it to work our way. They say we do not deserve to live with equal gifts of theirs or with their prodigies. They say our children and nieces and nephews are living in a world of vein that has never faced hardship. They say we are ungrateful of what we have. They say we are polluting magic with our scum.

They do not know how wrong they are.

The Salem Institutes of Magic reside in the United States of America. There are three different locations, governed by the same board in the American Ministry of Magic. The first school was developed when the colonies formed; it is located in Massachusets, named after the town of Salem that it resided in. Soon though it's location shifted when population began to grow. It now resides a little off from Salem, but close to nonetheless. The second was created when settlers began to move South and further West. near a town called Winters in the state of Texas. Of course more immigrants arrived and more of them moved further West. In the early 1900s the final school was established around 30 miles West of Fresno, California.

Canada and Mexico were allowed to enroll in Salem, but they also had private smaller schools for themselves, which most went to.

Salem is an Eight-Year program which young witches or wizards begin at the age of ten, leaving at eighteen. This leaves a full year or so when one is of legal wizarding age. Salem is a largely modern school; whereas large quantities of magic cause technology to stop working, the Board of Directors, with Ministry approval, created a blocking wall in certain areas for telephones and radios to work (such as the dorms and common rooms). This way we could be in touch with the world outside of the walls of Salem.

Yes, we're different. But because we have to be. We're not copycats; we adjusted. Sometimes we are the same though. Each school has three main towers, each named after a famous inventor. West's are Laverne, Damocles, and Stroulger. Up until your fifth year you're forced to room with every other student of your gender, in a room for your age. It gets difficult living with more than a hundred other girls. So at the end of your fourth year one gives their request for the tower, and with whom to the transfiguration teacher. The final that year is to create your room. We got extra points for creating an undetectable extension charm with the help of one of my friend's older brother. Way advanced.

We have other stuff that's the same as the other schools as well. Our classes were the same, we played quidditch, etc; it was the history that was different. And the way. But that is going to change.

Chapter 1: Start of Term

"You were supposed to meet me in the garage!" Adriana's voice rang through the room, snapping me out of a wary sleep.

"What?!" I sat up quickly, too quickly, hitting my head on the shelves above my bed, causing a momentarily lapse. "Ouch!" Then I saw my best friend smiling at the door, jet black hair pulled into a bun at her neck as usual, T-shirt tied at her waist from the hot air with jeans; she had a few bags at her feet, and pygmy puff, Reg, on her shoulder. "Adriana!" I cried, jumping up and wrapping my arms around her tall athletic-like frame.

She hugged me back tightly. "You should've visited, Leah."

Salem: West stayed open durring the summer for misfits like we without anywhere to go. Adriana always tried to get me to go with her to Las Vegas, where her mom and dad are, but I was always scared of her dad's pure-blood nonsense.

A few moments later we stopped hugging, both with tears in our eyes. "Missed you, Redfoot," she said, using my animagus nickname.

"Missed you to, Saint," I smiled. "You got more stuff in your car?" I gestured to the bags at her feet.

"Nah, learning to pack light." She said , smiling brightly, pulling her three duffel bags and bookbag on her bed. As she started putting stuff away she asked, "So how's Salem? Did you get Quidditch captain for Stroulger?"

"No word yet," I grumbled. "Usually it's out before this, but I haven't heard."

"If anyone should get it it's you," she said. "You've been on the team second year, chaser reserve for a year, and now that Kirk's gone you're sure fire. Only this year and next."

"Gee, thanks, Adriana," I shook my head. "I know, I know. I just don't get it. But there are four more continuing on, so I guess we'll just have to see." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"You'll get it," Saint reassured me. "Definitely."

"When's Jen getting in," I asked; Jenny, or Goldy being one of our remaining two dorm-mates.

"Five," Saint answered, smiling slightly to herself. She adored Jenny. "And right now it's Four-Thiry, so we have an hour."

"Dinner's at Six," I said. "And it takes about fifteen minutes to walk to the bus stop. I don't know if we have time..."

"Oh," Saint said quietly before looking up at me with big hazel eyes and whining like a dog.

"I don't want to go to the kitchens," I replied, trying not to look at her.

"I can tell." She poked at my ribs. "Have you eaten anything? Looks like you've only been living in here." She gestured to the hidden cave that is or bedroom, consisting of clothes thrown out of the closet, and empty junk food containers.

"I've been doing other things," I said defensively. "I go into the city sometimes. Or practice Quidditch."

"I told you to do other stuff, Redfoot," Adriana said with the motherly town of voice she sometimes got.

I rolled my eyes. "Things aren't going that great, Saint."

"Your dad?"

"Supposidly." I layed against the pillows on my bed, Adriana came and sat cross-legged at the end of my bed.

"What happened?" She asked.

"I got a letter." I smiled begrudgingly. "For the first time in six years, a letter, that wasn't a check and a 'Hope everything's good, kiddo.'"

"What did it say?" Saint asked tentatively.

"He's getting married."

"It was an invitation?"

I shook my head. "An announcement. She probably doesn't know I even exist. Like he barely acknowledges." I stopped seeing my dad when Napier, our Divination teacher, came to the foster home I was at to tell me about Salem. I didn't know where I got the magic from.

"It's okay, Redfoot," Adriana said. "It'll be okay."

We decided to go raid raid the kitchens until it was time to leave for Jenny's bus. We put the food in my messenger bag and hauled it out to a courtyard that was shaded by big oak trees, keeping out the San Joaquin Valley air.

"Meet anyone?" I asked Adriana.

"Meh," she shrugged. "Here and there. Nothing special. What about you? Kenny still trying?"

"Only a friend, Saint," I smiled. "Destined for the friend zone. Did hang out with him and Alan for a bit though. They both came back a month or so ago."

"That's good," She agreed. "You needed some company."

"I am my own company," I scoffed.

She just shook her head and took a bite of the chicken sandwich she made in the kitchens. Although we had house elves, Adriana preferred to cook herself. They didn't mind.

I looked at her eat and took a bite of the cucumber and pepper jack sandwich she made me. I understood people who ate meat, but I couldn't myself anymore. Too used to not having it.

We started heading down the path to the bus stop, muggle buses ran back here, from the amtrak station. The muggles didn't know why they were stopping in the middle of the mountains, but it worked.

We were mostly silent, panting from the heat and stopping in the shade. It was 5:25 when we finally got there; I had shed my overshirt and was just wearing my tank top, and had her jeans rolled up. We flopped onto the ground under the tree by the stop.

Soon enought a bus rolled to a stop by us. We watched as the doors opened and an exhausted-looking blonde stepped out. Adriana and I smiled brightly as the third of our pack smiled back.

"Jenny!" We both yelled at the same time, scrambling to our feet. She dragged her bags over to where we were laying. She stopped, panting in baggie jeans, tank top, and a pullover sweatshirt tied at the waist. Adriana reached her first and hugged her tightly; Jenny buried herself in Adriana's hair. I waited patiently for a few seconds until they parted. I reached out and hugged her briefly.

"How are you?" I asked as we each grabbed a bag and started heading back to the school.

"Alright," she smiled. "Missed you guys mostly. I don't get why we don't hang out over summer..."

"Because Cottontail's afraid of the floo," Adriana replied, "My parents wont let me, and Leah thinks she enjoys being holed up here."

"I-" I began.

"Do like it," Adriana finished. "We know."

I ignored her. "Anything big?" I asked Goldie.

"Not really," Jenny shook her head. "I heard some weird stuff about Salem though."

"Like what?" I asked.

"You know how Dad was recently elected to the Board?" We nodded. "Well, he wouldn't tell me what exactly, but they were planning something. It's never been done he said. I don't know."

"That's..." Saint trailed off.

"Weird." I finished.

We got back to the castle in time for dinner, but decided to just grab snacks from the kitchen and stay in the dorm for the night.

The next morning was greeted by a small squeak in the doorway.

"Danni!" We all cried in unison, bombarding her with hugs. Danni, or Cottontail, was a small girl, easily the most bullied girl there was when we first began. Then we were forced into detention with her because of the curse (long story) and we became her protectors, and she the last of The Pack.

We lounged around the fountain in the courtyard most of the day. Saint made us sandwhiches that we packed up and brought down it some cold pumpkin juice. This way we could catch occasional sprits from the fountains and watch students arrive. The feast was later. A few hours before then a couple of our guy things, Kenny and Alan, came down from the tower to wait for their friends. Kenny was a well built blonde chaser, like me, and Alan was the tall and skinny, dark haired Keeper for our team.

"My Adriana has returned to me," Alan said kneeling in front of her in a knight-like manner. "How I've missed my fair beauty."

"Oh, shuttup," Saint kicked him in the leg, causing him to fall into sitting position in front of her. Kenny sat in front of me and Danni.

"Good to see you, ladies," Kenny nodded at us.

"Hi, Kenny," Jenny said before turning back to her book.

"You know," Adriana said, directing her question at Alan, "if you insist on flirting with me, why don't you just ask me out?"

I looked over to Alan, but on the way noticed Goldie staring at her book, not reading it.

"Alright," Alan smiled. "Adriana Simms, the love of my life, will you accompany me on a date?" He looked at her with big dark eyes that anyone would say yes to.

Anyone except, of course, Saint. "Nah," she answered.

We all laughed, including Alan, but I think it was an act. Kenny had told me how Alan felt, just as Alan told Adriana how Kenny felt about me.

An hour or so later Ricky and Brandon showed up, the last of the boys' clique. We hugged them hello as they sat down, using their lugage as chairs. We stayed out awhile before going up to the tower. Me and Kenny, Alan, and Brandon discussed quidditch; Brandon being the other Chaser. None of them got captain, and we were the only ones left.

As it grew closer to seven kids started to file into the great hall, us included. Headmistress Sligh's speeches were always the best, even if some students didn't enjoy them. When she was appointed many other wizards were upset because she's young, but she had a knowledge that made her a very strong headmistress.

We took our seets at one of the tables (the hall had an assortment of tables filling it, and then a long one at the front of the table for the professers). Once everyone was in, food began to appear on the tables. Ham and turkeys, soups and salds, fruits and vegetables, on and on. We held conversations with each other, across tables and across the hall. Girls would try to get our advice on something, guys would try to get us to talk to them. When this first started happening I hated it. But by now I accepted it; I knew how to use it at least.

When dessert had disappeared from the tables, Sligh stood up and spoke.

"Good evening to you all. It pleases me to see so many old faces return, and so many new faces arriving. For some this means new rooming arrangements," she smiled over to the new fifth years, "and for others it's making new friends," she looked to the first years, "and to the rest it means seeing missed friends," she glanced at our classmates. "So as a message to the new-and a reminder to the old," this time she looked directly at our table, "any rule breaking will be taken in a serious manner."

Adriana chuckled quietly, but Sligh didn't miss it.

"This is no joking manner, Ms. Simms," she said smiling. "You and your friends barely get out of trouble as it is. You are the prime example of the rule breaking we'd like to fish out." She raised her thin eyebrows menacingly.

"Just doing our duty, proffesor," Saint answered.

"Wont happen again," I added.

Sligh just shook her head. "Anyway, I would also like to remind you that fifth years and above are allowed into town on weekends, unless there is a school event." The last part was new. Usually there was just Quidditch, but only if they chose so. "Which brings me to my next point," Sligh continued, "There will be no Quidditch competetion this year."

"What?" I almost shouted, but I wasn't the only one; plenty of other students were outraged as well.

"This is at the request of the Ministry in coordinence with the British Ministry. Due to a rather unenthusiastic performance by Durmstrang Institutes, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic have extended their hand in courtesy to all three of the Salem Institutes to combine and join in the TriWizard Tournament."

"Holy shit," Cottontail breathed.

"That's impossible," Goldie said.

"She's joking," Saint shook her head.

"She's not," I disaggreed.

The whole school was buzzing-even the muggleborrns knew of the tournament. Especially what happened the last time the tournament was resseructed; the greatest dark wizard of the age returned with it. The story lived through the thirty years since.

"Quiet," Sligh said. It was soft, but that made it much more harsh. "As I am sure most of you know, the Triwizard Tournament was formed a couple centuries after Hogwarts was, which means plenty of time before Salem. It was a competition ....

That's all i got