I like the beginning!! Great Story! PAMS!

First Reader!!

Here's the second chapter of the story. Hope you enjoy and comments = love

I stepped out of the fireplace and coughed as a huge pile of ash flew into my face. I opened my eyes and saw my mother screaming at some small child running down the street. I turned to look at him and heard hahaha going through his head. Small children...what else can I say?

"Are you alright?" my mother asked as she brushed some of the ash off of my shoulders.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said and stepped out into the street. Instantly I was met with a swarm of voices filling my head. Happy voices, angry voices, confused voices, lost-touristy voices. I put my fingers to my temple and closed my eyes. It didn't didn't seem this bad the last time I was here.

"Don't worry sweetie. We'll try to get everything you need as quickly as possible," my dad said putting his arm on my back and guiding me forward. I opened my eyes and started to walk. Perhaps the worst part about the whole thing was I was too busy hearing what everyone else was thinking about Diagon Alley and what everyone else felt about Diagon Alley that I wasn't really sure how I felt about it. I tried to push all the voices into the back part of my brain and focus on the different buildings in front of me. It helped a little bit.

"Here's where we're going to get your robes," my mom said leading me into a small shop. There was a huge glass window that took up the whole front of the store. Behind it were robes in all kinds of fall-themed colors. I cringed when I saw a neon yellow robe staring at me. I guess if you were placed in Hufflepuff that would be the perfect robe.

"Welcome to Maggie's Robes!" A short, plump woman came as we entered the store. This woman's going to be easy to sell. There's this expensive robe I've been trying to sell and she definitely seems like she would take it. How can I help you today?"

I glared at her. The one thing about reading minds was that you always knew what the person was really thinking or feeling. The smell of her perfume made me want to gaga and I couldn't help but feel annoyed. I looked to my mother with hesitant eyes.

Well. Isn't that just the cutest thing? My mother started to move towards a robe to her left. It was black and classic looking with deep purple buttons and a purple lining inside of the robe. Just the kind of thing that my mother would love. Personally I just wanted a plain old all black robe. The chances of that happening appeared to be slim.

"That is a very popular style for young witches. We've had several ordered already this week. Actually, no one has ordered that robe, it's simply hideous. Who would want it? Would you like to try it on?" The woman smiled and her teeth were slightly tinted yellow.

My mom turned and looked at me expectantly. "Actually, Mom, I was thinking more of a classic, just all black robe. You know, just to start off. Then maybe once we figure out what house I'm in we can add some coloring to it."

"Oh. Well I guess that makes sense. You're so much like your father. Always the practical thinker." My mom started to wander to the back of the store where the all-black robes were hanging. The saleswoman turned and looked at me. I do hate it when small children get in the way of things. Shouldn't a girl like you want something expensive? What are you a freak of nature?

I smiled at her. "You know I don't understand why girls waste so much money on something as ugly as that. My bet is they probably don't, that's why it's in the front of the store. You know in an attempt to sell it. But maybe that's just me." I shrugged my shoulders and stepped around her to follow my mom. I could feel the woman's confusion on how I had answered exactly what she was thinking. I could help but laugh to myself.

We ended up getting a fairly cheap all-black robe. She had to hem it a little shorter, so we had to come back and pick it up in a couple of days. My mom and I met up with my dad, who couldn't help but go to the bookstore to look for new ways to turn ordinary muggle objects into extraordinary wizard ones, and continued to the book store.

The store was musty and crowded. I let out a deep breath at the flood of emotion that hit me as we entered. The common feeling from the people in the ridiculously long line was annoyance. I tried to push all the annoyed what is taking so long up there?'s out of my head. I walked up the side staircase since there were fewer people on the top floor. My mom and dad stayed downstairs to pick up the school books displayed on tables in the front. I found a large plushy red chair and sat down in it.

I had gotten better over the years at pushing people's thoughts into the back of my head. I had almost gotten it to the point where they were more like whispers than actual talking voices. I was surprised at how well I had been handling the crowded streets. I looked around at all the dusty bookshelves that were tall enough that they touched the ceiling. As I was reading the random titles of the books on the shelf in front of me, I all of the sudden felt a partly nervous, partly anxious emotion coming my way. I took my eyes off the shelf and looked to my left. At the end of the hallway was a kid who looked to be around my age. His eyes were a deep green color and he had deep brown hair. His skin was smooth looking from a distance, and he was toned in a way that made you think he lifted weights. He caught me staring at him and returned his gaze to the shelf. I tried to focus in on his voice.

Way to go Derek. Could you make yourself any more obvious? Now she's just going to think you're some crazy creeper who looks to spy on girls at a bookstore.

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. I got up out of my chair slowly and I felt his nerves shoot through the roof. I turned to the left and began to walk down the opposite side of the aisle he was on.

What is she doing? Did I scare her off? So much for talking to her Derek. Once again your tactical approach has scared off another attractive girl. Derek zero, karma one.

I tried to keep the laugh in. I could feel defeat starting to creep into his emotion. I continued down till the end of the aisle and stopped. He was directly across from me. I was wondering myself what the best way was to do this. Would coming around the corner so suddenly scare him? Before I could hear him think about trying to find me again he was right in front of me.

"Oh!" I jumped knocking into a small display behind me. It tumbled to the ground, sending a pile of books flying across the room.

"I'm so sorry!" Derek practically screamed.

"No, no, it's okay," I said.

[i]For God's sake. That was really great. Not only did you scare her you also helped to knock over a bookstore display. Just charming...so charming.[i]

I couldn't help but chuckle. He looked up at me and blushed.

"Really, it wasn't your fault. I just didn't expect you to come around the corner the same time I did. What timing, huh?"

He laughed nervously. "Yeah. How about that?"

I smiled as we both bent down to pick up the books from the display.

"So, you going to Hogwarts?" he asked me as he picked up two books.

"Yeah, I am."

Great. So hopefully you'll have more time to show her you're not a complete idiot. I could feel his hope rising. As I was about to ask him if he was, even though I already knew he was, I heard an old lady coming down the aisle.

I wish couples would take their romantic business elsewhere. I couldn't help but laugh as I realized from a distance, the knocked over display, Derek's blushed cheeks, and my shocked face did all point to two teenage kids who probably were doing something they weren't supposed to.

New Reader!! Love it!! Can't wait for more!!


~Codi~

Thanks Codi! I'm glad you like it! Here is the rest of chapter two. I decided after I wrote it that I needed to expand on it more. Enjoy!!
comments = love

Once Derek and I had gotten the display to look good enough for the librarian, we went back downstairs. My parents had a huge pile of books in their hands and were close to the front of the line. I felt all the annoying emotions flooding in. I tried to focus on Derek's nervousness which was a much more pleasurable feeling to have.

"Wow. This place is always so crowded. Not the best place to talk to someone," Derek muttered trying to see over all the heads. He was tall so it wasn't like he had to crane his head very far.

"Do you want to go and wait outside?" I volunteered.

"That would be great." I felt the emotion of happiness fill his body and I smiled.

I generally tried to not tell people right off the bat that I could feel whatever they were feeling and hear whatever they were thinking. It tended to give people a feeling of being violated. If there was anyway to shut it off, and only be able to hear and feel when I wanted to, I would do it gladly. Derek and I sat on a small bench to the left of the store window. There were more people outside than before. I figured it was because it was getting later in the day. Derek and I sat next to each other without really saying anything. We watched the numerous people go by. I laughed as I listened to his inward thoughts on certain people. It was like my own personal comedy act. I stopped smiling at the comment he made about a woman's bushy eyebrows when I felt an overwhelming feeling of panic coming from the bookstore.

I had found out slowly that despite how many people were around me I was always able to feel the emotions of my close family. People who studied phoenix animagi could only find one reasonable answer, and that was the longer I was around a certain person the more I could connect to their emotions and thoughts.

Where in the world could she be? My mother came flying out of the bookstore.

"I'm right here mom," I said getting up off the bench. Derek seeing the panic on my mother's face stood up as well. His feeling of awkwardness began to fill the tiny space.

"Oh. There you are! I was so worried. I thought something had happened. Your father and I managed to find everything. How are you doing?" My mother looked at me with concern.

"I'm fine. Mom, Dad, I'd like you to meet Derek."

My mom shifted her gaze to Derek. My dad, who had been completely undeterred looked up at Derek with shock. Derek smiled and waved his hand lightly in the air.

"Well hello Derek," my mom said extending her hand out to shake his. "I'm Mrs. Carson. My goodness, isn't he a charming little fellow?"

"Nice to meet you." My mom nudged my dad and he hesitantly stuck his hand out. They shook hands stiffly. Derek. What kind of a name is Derek? Jessica dated a Derek once, and well, look how that one turned out. He looks like a troublemaker. Maybe I should forbid Abby from seeing him. Besides why does she need to be talking to boys anyway?

I glared at my dad. He didn't notice. "Well I better be finding my parents as well. I'm sure they're done looking in the antique store by now. It was nice meeting you all." Derek turned to me and smiled. "I'm sure I'll see you at Hogwarts?" he asked. I could feel the expectancy.

"Sure. I'll see you on the train."

Derek nodded one last time to my parents before walking away. He had a little bounce to his step as he walked. I turned to my dad and he looked at me innocently. "You know Dad I just met the guy today. That doesn't mean I'm going to marry him."

My mother turned and smacked my dad in the stomach. "Behave yourself. Let's go find Jessica and Nate. I think they were heading off to find a pet for Abby. We all know you'll be needing an owl so that you can keep in contact with us while you're gone."

My parents and I began to head towards the small owlery squished between two popular restaurants. No matter how the store manager decorated the outside of the store it always looked out of place. I gave him an a for effort though. We walked up the steps into the store. Jessica was looking at a small brown owl sitting in a cage, while Nate had some rather large snake wrapped around his arm. Nate always did have a thing for reptiles.

"Did you find an owl for her yet?" my mom asked Jessica. They started to walk along the aisle, Jessica explaining which owls would be good for me. My dad headed over to the small rats. I never understood why he paid so much attention to the behavior of rats. He said we could learn a lot from them, but I didn't understand how or why. I walked down the side of the store a couple paces behind my sister and mom. They turned off down a side aisle, but I kept walking straight. Now we were getting more into the tarantulas and all kinds of spiders. I stopped at a large, fluffy, spider sitting on a stick. All eight of its eyes were starring at me.

It was hard to feel the emotion of an animal, but with a lot of concentration I could usually get some kind of hint of what the animal was feeling. But the smaller the animal the harder it was. I tried concentrating deeply on the spider, waiting for any sense of emotion. I jumped when I felt a wave of hostility coming from behind me. My eyes came out of focus from the spider to the glass. I gasped at the reflection of two emerald green eyes, the same intense color as mine but in green form, starring at the back of my head.

I slowly turned around and looked at him. His hair was a dark brown color like mine, and his complexion was smooth. He had a little smug smirk on his face. His hands were crossed across his chest and he was eyeing me curiously. Isn't she quite the little beauty.

"Abby, you ready to go honey? We got your owl," my mom called from the front of the store.

I stared at the guy. His gaze softened before it looked to the ground. I turned and walked away feeling confused. I couldn't understand why he had looked at me with such hostility, but as the door to the store closed I felt one last wave of emotion: amusement.

love it!! can't wait for more!!


~Codi~

this sounds great. I loved the chapters and I can't wait to read about her at Hogwarts

Thanks for the comments everyone. I'm glad you like it! Here is the beginning of chapter three. Hope you enjoy it

As I stood starring at the wall that I was supposed to walk through I couldn't help but wonder where in the world the past three weeks had gone. Everything seemed to have just gone by in a flash and I wasn't sure what had happened.

"Go ahead through honey. We'll be right behind you."

I smiled at my dad and got a firm grip on the cart with my luggage in front of me. I ran at a somewhat decent pace and went straight through the wall, and nearly crashing into a man on the other side. Or should I say boy. He was tall and skinny with horrible acne. My god she's hot. I hope she's not a first year. The guy smiled at me to show me a bunch of crooked, yellow teeth. Feeling totally creeped out and not wanting to hear what he was on the verge of thinking, I snuck around him, over to a guy taking people's luggage. His name was Hank and he was close friends with my brother Nate. They were both already talking about their "prank plans" for the year.

"I can't believe my little sis is coming to Hogwarts," Nate said in a mockingly sincere way.

I rolled my eyes and turned around as soon as I felt mom's excited presence coming towards him. Her excitement and anxiousness was so intense it was giving me a headache. My dad was calmer, fighting conflicting emotions of happiness and sadness.

"All aboard the Hogwart's Express!" Nate and Hank both slid into the train, Nate waving once to mom before he was completely out of sight. Nate had never been one to show much affection. My mom leaned in to give me a big hug. Her emotional self was making my head want to explode. My dad leaned in next when she finally let go. He gave a tight squeeze before he let go. I waved to them both before hopping through a door onto the train. Witches and wizards of every age were walking up and down the train, looking for the booths that their friends were sitting in. I started to walk down the right side since more people were on the left.

"Abby?" Derek called out. I turned around to see him pushing past a group of girls that were eyeing him. "Isn't he hot?" a girl with firey red hair thought to herself.

"Hey. Are you looking for somewhere to sit too?"

"Yeah. I think the compartment all the way at the end was free when I first passed it."

Derek and I began to walk down the aisle, pushing past a couple of clumps of people along the way. I could feel Derek's nervousness coming from in front of me. I couldn't help but smile to myself. When we got to the end I felt disappointment creeping into Derek's nervous emotions. Someone else must have taken the booth.

"There's someone else in there, but maybe he'll let us sit with him since it's just him."

Derek pushed open the door. I couldn't see around him to see who was the boy sitting in there. Derek asked if we could sit down, and he must have nodded because I didn't hear a response, and Derek walked into the compartment. I followed him and took in a short intake of breath.

Sitting on the seat across from where Derek was now sitting was the boy from the owlery. His green eyes looked up at me with such intensity I was afraid I was going to fall over. I sat down nervously next to Derek.

Well, well, well. What are the odds?

"I'm Derek, what's your name?" Derek asked extending out his hand.

"I'm Caleb," he said, reaching his hand out to shake Derek's. I felt Derek shiver next to me as Derek's hand connected with Caleb's.

"Wow, you've got cold hands. You need some gloves or something," Derek laughed and Caleb smiled lightly.

"I get that a lot," Caleb said. He turned his focus back to me. "And what is your name?" Caleb leaned forward on the seat a little.

"I'm Abby," I said quietly. I kept my hands folded in my lap.

"Abby. Hmm. Pretty name. Nice to meet you." Caleb extended his hand out towards mine. I nervously lifted mine, not sure what to expect, and shook his. His hands were actually a comfortable temperature, different from almost everyone else's hands that I touched which were extremely hot. He held my hand for a moment before letting it go. It was so fast I wondered if Derek had even noticed it.

"So, what houses do you think you guys are going to be in?" Derek asked leaning back against the seat, and stretching his legs out.

Caleb looked at me for a response. I hope we're in the same house. It would be nice to get to spend more time with her...she's not like the others.

"I'm not sure," Caleb said, still keeping his eyes on mine.

"I hope I'm in Gryffindor, that's where all my family has been placed. What about you Abby?"

As I was about to respond I was stopped by the sudden presence of three boys. The one in the front was almost as tall as Derek. His hair was extremely blonde and he had blue eyes. He a smug smile on his face. The other two boys were around the same height but looked more like bodyguards than actual teenagers. What do we have here? I bet I could have a lot of fun with her. The leader boy smiled while he said it, looking me up and down.

All of the sudden I felt a rush of hostility coming from across the seat. Caleb, anger coming from every fiber in his being, shot up from his seat. How dare you think that about her you worthless...

Derek stood up too, more before he was not quite sure if he should still be sitting. I stayed seated. Derek's confusion at Caleb's sudden burst up made it clear that the lead boy had in fact thought that, and had not said it. I couldn't help but wonder, had Caleb heard that? Was he a phoenix animagi like me?

love it!! can't wait for more!!


~Codi~

Yay! A new reader Thanks for the comments. Here's the rest of Chapter three. Enjoy!

"Woah, woah. Such hostility. We were just passing by to see who all was in this compartment. No need to bring such anger," the lead boy said with a smirk. I could tell from the emotion coming off from him that he was looking for a fight, and was hoping that Caleb would take the bait.

"There's no hostility, right Caleb?" Derek said putting his hand on Caleb's shoulder. Please Caleb, I would prefer not to have to write to my parents that I got into a fight before my first class.

Caleb relaxed a little and sat back down on the seat. He kept his eyes locked on the lead boy. I could still feel the hostile vibes coming from Caleb, and a new wave of disappointment coming from the right.

"Mind if we have a seat?" the lead boy asked, walking into the compartment without even waiting for a response. The led boy squeezed in between Derek and I. This aroused annoyance from both Caleb and Derek.

"How rude of me to not introduce myself. My name is Chase, and my two friends here are Reid," said Chase pointing his hand at the larger boy to the left, "and Aaron." Both the boys nodded when Chase spoke their names but remained positioned by the door. Neither of them looked to eager to sit next to Caleb. "Now, what is your name," Chased asked, keeping his focus on me.

All the tension and hate coming from Caleb was making it hard for me to keep a neutral face. I dared a look up at him. His blue eyes were starring at me with deep amusement. I swallowed nervously and replied, "Abby."

Chase nodded his head, his mouth forming into a little smile, before he turned his focus to Caleb. Caleb's hands were balled into such tight fists that his hands were actually turning a lighter shade of white. The thought flickered into Chase's mind of asking what the other two boys' names were, but he thought better of it. Instead he got out from in between the two of us, and headed out through the door. Before he left he turned around in the door frame.

"It was nice to meet you all. I hope that we get to see more of each other," said Chase, smiling at me as he said it. Then him and his two body guards were gone, leaving the three of us in silence.

I could feel some of the tension coming from Caleb lessen as soon as we heard the door to go to another train compartment open and close. He unlocked his fist and turned his focus to something outside our window. Derek, who had moved closer to me to fill the gap between us, let out a deep sigh.

"Well, wasn't he quite the fellow. Although I don't think we'll have to worry about him. Chances are he'll end up in Slytherin. So, anyway Abby, before that whole ordeal, what house do you think you'll go into?"

To be quite honest I hadn't put much thought into where I would be placed. All the men in my family had been placed into Gryffindor, but the women had been put mostly in Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. But to be quite honest, I wasn't like most of the people in my family and knowing my luck I would probably be put into Slytherin just for joke's sake.

Caleb had returned his focus to Derek and I, curious as to what my answer would be.

"I'm actually not sure. My family has kind of been spread out in every house, except for Slytherin of course. I have a brother in Gryffindor and a sister in Ravenclaw, so who can honestly say."

"What about you Caleb?" Derek asked.

"I'm not sure either. Both my parents were in Gryffindor, and my grandparents didn't go to Hogwarts. So, it's hard to say."

"Well I'm excited to find out. Hopefully we'll all be in the same house."

The rest of the train ride went by with small conversations, mostly about what we thought Hogwarts would be like, and what professors we might have. I mostly zoned out, choosing to look out the window at the different scenery that went by. It wasn't much longer though till the train was coming to a stop at a small station. We heard all the compartment doors open as kids began to file out onto the sidewalk. We followed them, both Derek and Caleb staying close to my side. Luckily I didn't see Chase and his two friends when we got out. What did get my attention however was the incredibly large man that was standing at the end of the sidewalk. It was hard to tell with all the people around which emotion was his, but he had a huge smile on his face. His hair was a dark brown color, and he had a long beard that was bushy. His hands were about the size of my head, and he could have easily stepped on me and squashed me as flat as a pancake.

"Who in the world is that?" Derek asked, tilting his head back slightly so that he could see the man's face.

"That would be Hagrid, the groundskeeper," Caleb told us.

"How do you know him?" I asked Caleb.

He was about to respond when Hagrid yelled out in a deep, husky voice, "First years, follow me!"

All the first years, which was a large number of us, pushed to follow him. The other year students were pushing us as well, trying to get to their designated locations for transportation to Hogwarts. Fearing that I was going to fall behind I took a hold of Derek's robe. I felt his body tighten for a moment, before it relaxed and he managed a weak smile. I was unsure whether or not to grab onto Caleb's robe as well, but the decision was already made for me since Caleb was no where to be found.

Derek and I continued along, me not being able to help but feel nervous and excited since everyone around me was. Once we reached a large lake Hogwarts came into view. Hagrid helped put us into small boats, and led us across the lake. The castle was huge, a black silhouette against the deep blue night sky and yellow stars. The windows were shining a pale yellow color, giving the castle a glisten. Around me I could feel everyone's amazement and appreciation. Once we arrived on the other side of the lake we followed Hagrid up the steps and into the castle. Waiting for us inside the doors was a tall skinny woman, almost bird like. She had on a long emerald green robe and a matching had with a peacock feather sticking out of it. Her eyes were rather beady and looked at us questionably.

"Please, follow me inside the great hall so that you can be sorted into your houses and be seated at your house tables for dinner."

There was a mutter of excitement. The woman shushed us before she pushed open the doors to the Great Hall. I took a small intake of breathe. This time the emotions I was feeling were definitely mine.

first to post! love it!! can't wait for more!!


~Codi~

When's the next chapter coming out?? I love it!

PAMS PAMS PAMS

xx byez

Hey guys! Sorry that it has taken me so long to update. I've started applications for college and they are rather time consuming I'm surprised I can even think straight But here's the beginning of Chapter Four. Enjoy!

Spreading along the length of almost the entire room were four long, brown, old tables filled with people. All their heads were turned in our direction, some laughing at us, and others standing up slightly to see over the tall people blocking their view. Along the whole bench of people decked out in green, which I was sure was the Slytherin table, I could feel a sense of mocking cockiness coming from each and every one of them. The table next to them, full of people wearing yellow, were eyeing us curiously, more hopeful than curious. There was a space between the next two rows of tables, which was where we all nervously began to walk down. There was the table decked out in red which was pouring excitement and the other was of blue, and they had a more sophisticated air about them.