The Reigning of Hogwarts

Chapter 1:"I've got this"

A thin layer of sweat covered Reign's face as she bolted upright, the image a cold stone walls closing in around her, still prominent in her mind. She sucked in a breath, holding it for two seconds then blowing it out; 'in, two, three, out, two three' she repeated in her head, over and over, just as her dad had taught her. The cool air soothed Reign's burning skin and she pushed her long hair out of her face.

Today was the day. The day she had been dreading. Today, she was leaving. For fifteen years, her life had been perfect, she had the perfect dad, the perfect family, the perfect home and the perfect school, and now, her dad had to go and ruin it all by shipping her off to some fancy british boarding school. Reign had never been to england, but she knew that it was nothing like home. For starters she knew it was cold- really cold. And it rained. Alot. But despite the atrocious weather and the contradictions of her still fast heart, Reign wasn't absolutely dreading it. For England did hold something she wanted. Something she had longed for her entire life- her mother.

Often, Reign would lay in her bed, eyes closed and try to imagine what her mum looked like. What colour eyes she had, how tall she was, if her hair was curly or straight. The kind of things that every girl should know. In Reign's mind, she was around 5'5, with blonde hair, or maybe brown, it often changed. But she knew for a fact that her mother had brown eyes. She knew because she saw them every morning when she looked in the mirror. Reign's father was the typical Aussie surfer- long, wild blonde hair and sea blue eyes. Reign definitely had his hair- long golden locks that had been bleached in the sun and not cut in years, but her eyes? No, they were definitely her mothers.

After finally slowing her breathing, Reign pushed her covers back, letting the cool morning air hit her bare legs. She tiptoed to her wardrobe and pulled out swimsuit. She slipped of her pyjamas, before pulling on the costume and quietly exiting her room. Reign grabbed her surfboard on her way out the door, holding it firmly under one arm as she ran down the stone path that led to her favourite place in the world. Once on the sand, she dropped her board to the floor and flipped her head forward, securing her golden mane in a messy, 5am ponytail. Like most mornings, Reign was greeted by the sight of her stepmother's silhouette on the water in front of her. She paddled ou to meet her, the orange hue of early morning sun colouring the familiar blue beneath her. "Hey em." she smiled, reaching the brunette woman.

"Morning sweetie." she replied with a tired smile. Emma and Reign's early morning surfing tradition had started years ago, completely by chance.They both loved morning, they both loved surfing and they both loved spending time together, so it was bound to happen sooner or later. Em turned away from the horizon, looking at her step-daughter. "I'm going to miss you Reigny." She whispered "So, so much." They hadn't had this conversation yet and Reign would be lying if she said she hadn't been dreading it. "You know we wouldn't be doing this if we didn't think it was the right thing to do, right?" Reign simply nodded, not taking her eyes off the gentle waves in front of her. "we just want what's best for you." Emma sighed.

"I know." Reigned whispered. "And i'm sure i'll stop hating you for it eventually." Emma let out a short laugh and wrapped an arm around her daughter, pulling the teen in for a hug. "I just can't imagine not doing this every morning." Reign sighed into her shoulder. "I can't imagine not see you and dad everyday." The fears that she had done so well at hiding for the past six months, escaped Reign's lips before she even knew what was happening. "I'm scared Em." a few tears rolled down he face. "I'm scared about being alone." Her step mum rubbed soothing circles on her back as she cried. "I don't want to be alone."

"You won't." Emma lifted her hands to cup Reign's cheeks, forcing her to look up. "You will never be alone, my darling. Not ever." But her words meant nothing, Reign would be alone. She was being shipped halfway around the world, into a new school that belonged to a culture she new nothing about, with no friends or family.

Still, she smiled and said "I know." before pulling away, lying down on her board and enjoying the morning surf.

*****

At around half six, Reign and Emma made their way back up to the house. The golden sky had transitioned into a pale blue, the spring air surprisingly cool. This was the best time of the day. With only the sound being that of gentle waves and silver gulls, the world seemed such a peaceful place. On this particular morning, Reign couldn't' help but feel as though she was leaving her sea behind. Every morning for the past 8 years, she'd been out there and today was the last time- for a while at least.

Once at the house, the girls stood their boards up against the entryway wall and ran to shower before breakfast.

The warm water cascaded down Reign's face, concealing her tears in the water. It wasn't that she didn't understand why she had to go, Hogwarts was the best place to teach her magic and it was a miracle she got accepted. But, the thought of being in a place so different, a place she had never been, alone, was terrifying.

Truthfully, there was one thing about England that scared Reign more than anything. Her whole life, she had blamed the absence of her mother on the distance that lay between them, but once in England, that distance would be gone. Reign knew herself, she knew what would happen the moment her feet touched English soil- she would want to find her. But what if her mother didn't want to see her? What if she didn't like her? These questions would be so much harder to squash when her mother was so close.

*****

After finally gathering her thoughts, Reign showered quickly, then dressed. She wore a baggy t-shirt and leggings, throwing her damp hair into a ponytail.

Her dad and Emma were already sat at the table when Reign entered the kitchen, a plate of fruit waited for her by her usual seat.

"Mornin' baby." Her dad smiled, blue eyes shining.

"Morning Papa." He placed a quick kiss on her forehead. Reign dove into her food while the couple chatted quietly between themselves, all three of them trying desperately to ignore the elephant in the room.

"You need any help to finish up your packing?" Emma asked.

'Real subtle Em.' Reign thought, rolling her eyes. "No thanks, I'm nearly done." She stuffed in the last of her pineapple, practically threw her plate at the sink, then ran beck to her room.

Reign pulled her half-packed trunk out from under her bed, heaving it up onto the mattress. She and Emma had spent about four hours making sure she had everything she needed, but Reign still had to finish of adding the last-minute things; deodorant, hairbrush, toothbrush, diary and of course 'Frodo', the stuffed dragon she had received from her father on her eighth birthday.

Reign would be traveling to London via the international floo network. She had traveled this way a few times, but no where near as far as London, or by herself. Which made this whole thing extra daunting.

Reign closed her eyes again, she knew the time was nearing. Her heart was beating so loud, she was sure the neighbours could hear it.

"Reigny!" She heard her dad call up the stairs. "It's time baby."

After lugging her trunk off the bed and grabbing a coat (its always cold in England). Reign took a final look in the mirror. She looked different than usual. Her usually free-flowing hair was tied up and her eyes, usually a light care-free brown, were darkened with anxiety. A single tear slipped down her face and Reign hastily wiped it away. She would not cry.

"Reign, please don't make this any harder than it has to be." She heard her dad call out. Typical. Always thinking that she would crumble at the last minute.

"I've got this" She said to herself, huffing one last time and picking up her trunk. "I've got this."