The New Girl

Chapter 1

Vivian Longbottom:

I turn to look at the clock on my nightstand, almost 3 AM. I lay awake in bed, tossing and turning, in pain but also with the feeling of excitement and nervousness creeping up. In a matter of hours, I will be on my way to Hogwarts.

---

I've spent the last 5 years at Ilvermorny, and exploring the castle quickly became my favorite pastime. There was nothing I loved more than sneaking out after hours and finding hidden hallways or secret rooms. I've gotten caught past curfew a handful of times, but I have my own ways of evading punishment.

I was sorted into Thunderbird house during my first year, and I quickly befriended Sonia. She now stands 5'3, with glowing dark skin, and has a relaxed feel to her. Her round amber eyes glow when anyone brought up magical creatures, as it is her dream to become a Breeder. Sonia is a muggle born witch, and her family lives outside of Washington DC. During the summer break, Sonia's family loved to road trip around the country, and I have joined them the last few years along with our friend Dominic.

Sonia and I met Dominic during our second year, while we were lost and looking for our Transfiguration class. Dom was sorted into Pukwudgie, but the three of us swiftly became inseparable. Dom now towers over us, standing at 6'3, with curly dark hair and bright green eyes. He can be hard to read at times, and he is often hesitant to mine and Sonia's shenanigans, but we drag him into our adventures nonetheless.

I grew up in Salem, Massachusetts. Halloween had always been my favorite time of year, not only because it was fun to watch my muggle friends engage in the town's history, but because the fall in Salem truly feels like magic. My parents and I live in an enchanted home, hidden between two other townhouses, and across the street from a cemetery. Both of my parents work for the Magical Congress, located in Manhattan. I'm not sure exactly what either of their roles are within the Congress, but both of them are called away for weeks at a time fairly often.

When I am home, I spend a lot of time with my muggle friends Rosalind and Julian. Ros, standing short and athletically built with fair skin, this girl has a rebellious feel about her. While Julian was tall and lanky, with dirty blonde, shaggy hair that gently hangs over his fresh, charming face. We grew up in the same neighborhood and they both attend the local high school. They think I go to boarding school upstate, and enjoy hearing my funny stories about unique classes. Of course, I have to lie to them about school but i tell them about Sonia and Dom, and how we sneak out to explore the campus.

I was now 5'8, taller than both my parents, and have finally grown into my curves. I usually wore my hair long, and have let it get down to the small of my back. I liked to keep my hair dark, but I quickly get tired of the color and I tend to switch it up often. I grew up loving Quidditch, but was never much of a player, since I'm scared of heights. I've always liked playing sports with my neighbors and liked to jog, it always helped me clear my head. My neighborhood friends and I have gotten a reputation as being mischievous, just because we like to pull pranks and have a good time.

Two days ago, my parents pulled me out of Ilvermorny and told me we were leaving Massachusetts. It was almost Halloween, and I was just starting my sixth year. The closest thing i've gotten to an explanation is that my father got a promotion within the Ministry of Magic and we had to move immediately. Most people would be sad, that they had to uproot their life and start over somewhere new, but I didn't mind. I am looking at this as a new adventure.

I didn't have time to properly say goodbye to Sonia and Dominic. Thankfully, I was able to see Rosalind and Julian last night and I told them I was moving to Europe. They were shocked, but we made the most of it.

It was a clear, but chilly night. Julian swiped a bottle from his dad's liquor cabinet and we brought it to Rosalind's place, her parents were gone for the night.

"Let's go get tattoos!" Rosalind hiccuped. I couldn't help but laugh, Ros was always the one who came up with these ridiculous ideas. I was really going to miss her.

"Yes, I'm so down! We have to commemorate tonight somehow" Julian piped up.

"No way, not only would my parents kill me - but my parents would kill me" I laughed.

"But we have to do something memorable! Come on Viv, what's something you've always wanted to do but were too scared?" Ros asked.

I smirked, and grabbed the bottle out of Julian's hand and took another shot.

---

Twenty minutes later, we were standing outside of a tattoo and piercing shop. Ros and Julian looked at eachother with surprised looks on their faces.

"Are we actually doing this?" Ros asked.

"Well, i don't know about you two, but I've always wanted my nipples pierced. And what a better time than my last night in America with my two best friends?" I shrugged.

An hour later, now completely sober, we each walked out with fresh piercings. Ros had gotten her tragus done, Julian got his nose pierced, and I had gotten both of my nipples pierced.

We walked Ros home, and I said my goodbyes. She hugged me tight and I yelped in pain from my fresh piercings, but I didn't dare let go.

"You'll call right? I know we'll be in completely different time zones, but we have to make it work." she cried.

"I promise." I whisper to her as she slowly loosens her grip and I wipe away a tear from her face.

---

After Ros went inside, Julian insisted on walking me home.

"You know, after all these years, we've never seen your place!!" Julian said with the look of realization on his face.

"Umm, yeah my parents don't like me having people over at the house. They're super weird about their stuff" I said awkwardly.

"No, I've never even seen your place" Julian said again. I laughed, because it's true. We lived in an enchanted house so I couldn't exactly bring over my muggle friends.

"Come on Juls, let me take you home. I think you're still drunk." I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and walked him the two blocks from Rosalind's house.

We were standing on the street, right outside his house and I was about to say my goodbye. Before I could even get a word in, Julian kissed me. He took me by surprise, but I leaned into it. We've hooked up in the past, but have never spoken about it outloud. Like a secret agreement that didn't need any words.

Julian put one hand on the small of my back and ran the other through my hair. He pulled me closer and deepened the kiss. I had my hands on either side of his face as I arched my back into him. I parted my lips slightly, and I felt him washing over like a wave of warmth. As if time had stopped right there, we stood propped against a car, glued to one another.

"Hey! Get a room you two!" a random guy exclaimed "and get off my car." I dropped my hands off of Julians face and grabbed him by the arm, giggling.

We ran inside his house and he wrapped me into a warm hug. "I should get going, my parents are probably worried" I said sheepishly.

"Yeah, I don't want you to get in trouble for breaking curfew." Julian said calmly, breaking our embrace. He looked down at me, our foreheads touching, and gave me a warm smile. We said goodbye and I hurried home. I made it home before midnight, but my parents were already asleep.

I crawled into bed, hoping to get a few hours of sleep before having to travel. I thought about the last few hours with my friends, and I refused to be sad. I knew I would be back to see them again soon. I thought about Hogwarts, and the secrets the ancient school holds. I could not wait to explore the castle. I would be seeing my cousin Neville, for the first time in years. I was eager to see him again, and meet his friends. Neville was sorted into Gryffindor during his first year. I thought about what house I would be placed in. I didn't know much about the four houses, except what Neville had told me in the past. I tried to sleep but unfortunately for me, the sharp pain of my new piercings kept me awake.