The Salem Chronicles

Chapter 1

~ Eileen ~
I couldn't believe it. After spending eight years of my life at the Salem Witches Institute, I had finally gotten my letter. The letter. My Hogwarts acceptance letter.
My parents had been thrilled, of course. Our entire family tree consists of Regulars, non-magic folk, so when I blew up the neighbours' lawn mower at age six, it had been, well, surprising would be an understatement.
Of course, I wasn't the only one. Some of my classmates, Mark and Oliver, had gotten in on Quidditch scholarships.
Because we all had attended the Michigan branch together, our parents organized tickets to London on the same flight, where we would be 'trusted to behave', check into a hotel called the Leaky Cauldron, 'act like adults for god's sake', and 'don't go too crazy, it's only for eight days, then you'll all be shipped off to that school and we'll never have to see you again'.
Our parents think they're funny. Long story short, when the three of us had been brought to the office at SWI and told about our acceptance to Hogwarts, we got really excited, and our parents had to be called in to 'deal with us properly'. In my defense, Mr. Raft looked good with no hair, and the scorch marks on the walls didn't look too bad.
Back to the subject of Hogwarts. The prestigious school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry Potter had gone there as a child, fighting for the sake of the world, Wizarding and not. It's been 17 years since the war, and much has changed by then. More and more students are accepted and transferred each year, like us.
"Thank god for that," I muttered aloud.
Mark stirred next to me, blinking his eyes blearily. "What?" He mumbled, staring at some point above my head. I smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Nothing. Go back to sleep, we still have four more hours."
He sat up and yawned, stretching. "Nah, I'm awake. So, what's up?"
We had only known each other from our English Lit. classes before this, but his and Oliver's personalities were likable(if not borderline annoying), and they were close friends. Very close friends. But more on that later.
"I'm just reading up on the school's history. Did you know that, in the 80's, a toilet was accidentally brought to life and flushed down eight students before the staff could stop it?"
"Nerd. Who reads up on school history?" Mark rolled his eyes.
Five... four... three... two...
"Wait, did they die? Not that I care or anything."
I held back a grin. "Yes. Totally."
His eyes widened, missing the joke, and shrank into his seat. "What else should I know?"
"Well, for Regular-born, it's optional to take science, English, or math."
"Thank god I don't have to," Mark said. He then sat up. "Wait, do I?"
"Hate to break it to ya buddy, but I overheard our moms talking the other day."
He leaned back and groaned. "Fuck."
A sleepy voice piped up to Mark's right. "Watch your language, man."
He whipped around, grinning. "Oliver! You're awake!"
And that's how I spent two dollars on ear plugs.

As soon as our feet touched the ground, the pair declared a sudden need for caffeine, and ran off laughing before I could protest.
"Little shits," I muttered under my breath. But, after finding our luggage and wandering around for half an hour, worry started to set in. Facing no other option, I ducked behind a potted plant and pulled out my wand.
"Accio Mark and Oliver," I whispered.
Nothing happened.
"Accio Mark and Oliver!"
...
"Accio OliveArk!"
And poof, there they were. I smiled and my wand. "Even you ships them!" Then, hearing the grumbles and curses of the two picking themselves off the ground, I straightened up and faces them, lecture ready."
"We brought hot cocoa!" Oliver held up a styrofoam cup, smiling sheepishly. I snatched it from his hands and frowned.
"This doesn't mean I forgive you," I grumbled, "now come on, our cab is waiting."
•••
After checking our bags into the Leaky Cauldron, we decided to go and explore the famous Diagon Alley.
"Why don't we get some of the shopping done while we're at it?" I suggested, but Mark and Oliver were nowhere to be seen. I cursed under my breath.
"OI! You there, in the purple!" I whipped around and spotted a man leaning on the doorframe of a shop. "Chin up, darling! The sun is smiling, and so should you! Have an ice cream, on me!"
I followed him into the small building, bewildered. Was he trying to kidnap me, or were all British people this friendly?
I walked away from the shop, cookies and cream in hand, with one though on my mind: British people are friendly! And you know what? I thought, waving back at a little girl about half my age. I'm going to have a little of my own fun. I can get supplies later.
So, with a new mantra in my head(Chin up!), I decided to do a little me shopping.
First stop: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
The storefront was completely mind boggling, with colours exploding from every window, signs waving and calling out, staircases that lead you upside down and sideways, and explosions going off at random intervals. I had to stop for a minute or two to take it all in, before giggling madly and running in.
Wow.
There were fireworks that put on plays, hair tonic that guaranteed eight meters in one night(and not just on your head), trick wands that turned into anything from boxing kangaroos to and entire swamp, and Grow Your Own Man-Eating Cacti kits. Once ore twice, I even caught a glimpse of Oliver.
I left with a complete Tricks 'n Treats set, two trick wands, and... a bright blue egg the size of my fist.
I don't know what it is, but I had tripped over it coming out of the shop and, seeing that I couldn't just leave it there, I picked it up.
Later on, this would save my life.