Hello there! So this is my very first House of Anubis fanfiction. I plan on having three separate stories including this one that covers each season. Please bear with me, as I may not update often. I'm in college so I don't have too much time to write stories. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Please let me know in the reviews if I should continue with the story. Thank you so much for reading! :)

I originally published this under a different name, as I (shamefully) forgot the password. So here it us, under my original username!

Disclaimer: I own no part of the television program The House of Anubis. All rights are attributed to Nickelodeon.

Chapter 1: Anubis House

Settle down it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

Trouble, it might drag you down

You get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone

I'm going to make this place your home

Home by Phillip Phillips

First of all, let me say that boarding school was definitely not my idea, it was my granddad's. He, with all of his old-person wisdom, told me that I needed to think of my own education for once. I was completely against it in the first place, but he convinced me. After everything that has happened in my life, I realized that I've never once thought of myself. It's always been about my brothers and sister, never me. But now it is about me and honestly…I'm terrified.

I am currently standing on the porch of Anubis House on the Frobishire-Smythe Academy campus in England. Yep, I said England. It's two days before the start of the new term. I think I'm the last to arrive. But, in my defense, I have been on a plane for the past eight hours.

With a trembling hand, I reach out and grasp the eye of Horus shaped knocker. I inhale sharply, the crisp winter air chilling my lungs.

It's a new life, Char, I think nervously. It's your time to be who you want to be.

But then I hesitate. What if I made the wrong decision? I begin to doubt. What if something happens to Travis or Ethan or Maggie and I'm not there to make sure that everyone is okay?

Then I remember my mom's reaction to my decision.

"You deserve this, Charlotte. You're growing up and someday you're not going to be able to care for your siblings like you have in the past. You've made a wise decision."

I take a deep breath and bang the knocker against the heavy wood three times. I take a step back and curl my hand around the top of my guitar case. This reminds me of more secrets…how the heck am I going to make friends if I have so many things I can't tell them about myself?

I hear a shuffling inside and the right door opens with a creak. A shorter woman with dark hair, light caramel skin, and a pink shirt smiles warmly up at me (I am around five foot eight inches!).

"Hello, dear! You must be Charlotte Havers," she greets kindly.

"That's me," I say lightly.

"I'm Trudy," the woman introduces, "I'm your housemother. I make the meals, help clean, keep order, that sort of thing."

"Very nice to meet you, ma'am," I say, smiling.

"Oh, none of those formalities are necessary, Charlotte!" she chuckles, "Just call me Trudy. Now why don't we bring your things inside so you can get all settled in?"

"That would be awesome, thank you," I grin.

Trudy grabs a suitcase and I snag the other, along with my guitar case. We come to a halt in foyer.

I can't help but admire the interior. By the stairs, there's a glass chandelier hanging from the high raftered ceiling. The stairs themselves are a warm-colored wood and have an eye of Horus design in the banister. There's a beautiful grandfather clock on the other side of the room; most likely from the early 1900's by the looks of it. Further down the hallway, an Egyptian sarcophagus stands grandly against the wall. I notice several other Egyptian artifacts in the main entryway, but don't examine them any further, as my nerves are catching up to me. Other than that, the house seems very warm and welcoming. I can only hope the students who reside here are the same way.

"Can I have some help down here, please? Our new housemate has arrived!" Trudy calls out, her voice echoing through the house.

I anxiously untie my scarf and slip my hands out of my mittens. I stuff them into my coat pocket and wring my hands. Oh gosh, I never thought of who my roommates will be!

"Trudy, did you call?" a voice rings out from the second floor.

I look up to see a girl with very light, long blonde hair leaning over the banister inquisitorially.

"Oh, Amber!" Trudy recognizes cheerily. "Could you come help your new roommate with her things, please?"

She's one of my roommates? Maybe she's friendly. She seems like it. I smile up at her encouragingly.

"Why can't you help her?" she questions of Trudy.

"Well, I've got to start making dinner! There are ten of you in this house, Amber. I can't waste any time preparing the food," Trudy explains.

Amber sighs. "You know I'd love to help and all, but daddy rewarded me with a hundred pound manicure just before I left home and I can't risk messing it up. It goes perfectly with my outfit tomorrow. The shoes are exactly the same color."

I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion as Amber flounces away. I can't help but chuckle in amusement as I glance over at Trudy. I raise my eyebrows in question. Trudy just rolls her eyes and shrugs.

"Sorry about that," she says. "Amber can be a bit—um…"

"It's okay," I tell her, waving it off.

The heck was that? I wonder. I have to live with her? Is she like that all the time?

Worry starts to settle into my mind. Will I be able to make friends with my housemates?

Just then, a boy with dark hair wanders out of one of the rooms, his nose buried in a large book.

"Fabian," Trudy says.

Fabian gasps, jumping and dropping the book right on my toes. Pain erupts in my left foot and I squeak.

"Ouch!" I cry.

"I am so sorry!" Fabian apologizes. "Really, I am. I'm so sorry!"

I pick up the book and tell him that it's just fine. But then the title of the book catches my attention. Oh. It's about the Roman Empire. I've read this one; I definitely have read this one.

"Wow, nice read," I say. "The theories he makes about Cleopatra's death are genius."

I hand Fabian back the book, his eyebrows raised up past his hairline. "You've read this one?"

"Don't look so surprised," I tease him. "I love reading."

"What do you read?" he asks.

"Anything I can get my hands on," I laugh. Fabian just grins.

"Look at that, Charlotte! You've already made a friend!" Trudy smiles. "Fabian, could you help Charlotte carry her things up the stairs? She's rooming with Mara and Amber."

"No problem," he replies.

We watch Trudy scurry off into one of the far doorways and then turn back to each other.

"Fabian Rutter," he says, holding out his hand.

"Char Havers," I reply, shaking it.

"Pleasure to meet you," Fabian says.

"The pleasure is all mine, good sir," I joke, faking a British accent and bowing.

Then I remember something—I'm in England and people here really do have accents. Oops.

I stutter out an explanation as Fabian laughs at me. "I-I mean, um…what I m-meant was—"

"It's alright, Charlotte," he laughs. "That was actually funny."

"Well, thanks," I grin. "And call me Char. I like Charlotte, but everybody calls me Char."

"Okay then, Char, where in America are you from?" he inquires as we start to lug my suitcases upstairs.

"The large state of Texas," I reply. "Specifically Dallas."

"That's cool," Fabian says. "I've never been to the US, but I'd like to."

"Where do you want to go?"

"Boston, because of the historical significance, but also Seattle, as I've heard the weather is very similar to here in England."

"Oh, I was born in Seattle," I say pleasantly. "Lived there for a while, too."

"Is it nice there?" Fabian asks as we reach the top of the stairs.

I freeze, horrible memories resurfacing. The pain, the poverty…

I have a hard time recollecting myself. "Um…in most parts."

Fabian doesn't seem to notice my hesitation, so he beckons me forward through another set of doors. "This way."

We turn a corner and I find myself in a different hallway. We stop at the second door to the right.

Fabian raps on the door twice. A girl with black hair and lightly tanned skin opens it.

"Hi, Fabian," she says, puzzled. "What's with the suitcase? Has the new girl arrived?"

"You bet," smiles Fabian.

"Hi there," I say, giving a small, shy wave.

The girl smiles back and opens the door a bit wider. "Come on in."

Fabian and I roll my suitcases inside the room. I cross to the empty spare bed and set down my guitar case.

"You play?" grins Fabian, examining the case.

"Yeah, for about five years now. You can look at it if you want," I say.

"Thanks!"

I turn to the dark haired girl.

"You're…Mara, right?" I ask.

"Yeah, and you're Charlotte?"

I nod. "That's me. You can call me Char."

"That's a really pretty nickname," Mara compliments.

"Thank—" I begin.

"Did someone say pretty?"

I jump slightly and whirl around to see Amber sitting on her bed reading glossy magazine and putting on lip gloss.

"Were you talking about me?" she wonders, oblivious to the current situation.

Mara smirks a little and gives me an amused glance. "No, I was talking about Charlotte's nickname. It's Char."

"Ooh!" Amber squeals. "I'll call you Char-Char!"

I chuckle lightly. "Um, no, it's okay; you can just call me Char."

"Whatever you say, Char-Char," she coos, going back to her magazine.

"Just ignore that," Mara giggles. "She's a bit—well…"

I can't help but giggle, too. "It's fine. I understand."

This is going to be a strange living situation…

I hear chords being played and turn back to Fabian. He's sitting on my bed, playing my guitar with one of my white guitar picks.

"Whoa, Fabian, I didn't know you could play like that," Mara says, amazed.

"Thanks," he blushes. "Oh, Char, would you like a tour of Anubis House?"

"Yeah, that'd be great."

Fabian sets down my guitar and I say goodbye to Amber and Mara.

As we go through the doors leading to the girl's rooms, I can't help but notice a man stepping through another door that looks like it leads to an office.

"That's Victor," says Fabian.

But before he can explain any more, Victor turns. His eyes narrow at me and he trudges over, looking ruffled.

"Charlotte Havers?" he questions intimidatingly.

"Uh…yes, sir," I reply.

"I'm Victor Roddenmar, and I'm your head of household here at Anubis House," he says.

"Nice to meet you, sir," I says politely.

"Finally, a student with some manners! American, but with manners!" he yells, relieved.

Man, this guy is giving me the heebie-jeebies. He's my head of household? This is certainly going to be an interesting semester.

"Well, in the South, we learn proper manners at an early age," I respond quickly.

Okay, I've lived in the South for seven years, so not an early age, but that doesn't mean I'm not actually from the South.

"I'm glad you've learned some practical skills for the real world, Miss Havers. Now, we have a few rules in this house that I'm sure Mr. Rutter will gladly fill you in on. If you'll excuse me, I've a staff meeting," he says. "Pleasure to make you acquaintance, Miss Havers."

"Same to you, sir," I answer as he steps down the stairs.

We wait until he's out the door to speak.

"Sorry," says Fabian sheepishly. "Forgot to warn you about him."

"He seems a bit…creepy," I say.

"More than a bit," he says. "Victor is the strangest thing in this house."

"Are you sure about that?" I joke. "Because I'm rooming with Amber."

Fabian laughs. "You haven't met the other residents yet. Come on, it's time for the tour."

I follow him down the stairs and into the second door to the left in the hallway. I find myself in a lovely dining room with a long table.

"Ten chairs?" I say in disbelief.

"We're one of the smaller houses," explains Fabian. "Isis house has at least twenty to twenty five."

"I'm okay with small," I reply. "Everything in Texas was too big."

I'm really liking Fabian. I think we'll be good friends. At least he laughs at my jokes.

He looks over into the den and waves me on. "There's Patricia and Joy. Let's go introduce you."

We weave our way in between sofas to another sofa by the TV. There sits two girls, one with red hair and purple streaks, the other with dark hair pulled up in a neat bun.

"Hi, Patricia," greets Fabian. "Hi, Joy."

"Hey, Fabes," says the dark haired girl warmly.

"And who is this?" demands the red-haired girl.

Um, excuse me?

"I'm Char," I say, attempting to be friendly.

"What kind of name is that?" the same girl mocks.

"Patricia!" scolds Joy and Fabian.

"It's short for Charlotte," I defend, crossing my arms.

"That's a beautiful—" Joy begins.

Patricia snorts, cutting her friend off. I just scowl. Fabian and Joy look confused.

"What's wrong with my name?" I say.

Patricia guffaws and snorts again. "You're named Charlotte? Like the spider from that book?"

"I was named after my great-grandma," I say. "Not some spider."

"It's just as bad," Patricia chuckles meanly.

"Then what were you named after?"

"I was named after a noble queen of England," smirks Patricia.

"News flash: there are no queens, or even princesses, in English history named Patricia," I retort confidently.

"Wait," says Joy slyly. "Weren't you named after that stuffed pink pig your mum had when she was a kid?"

Fabian and I choke back our laughter as Patricia's face turns as red as a beet.

"Shut UP, Joy!"

Fabian and I rush out of the room, barely containing the humor of the whole situation.

We stop at the bit of wall in between the second and third doors. We burst into laughter, not able to catch our breath for at least a good two minutes.

I lean against wall for support, my abs burning from laughter.

"A s-stuffed pig?" I manage to stammer.

"I can't believe she was named after a stuffed pig!" Fabian laughs, barely able to breathe.

"FIRE!" I hear a male voice yell.

Then time seems to slow down as a large, colored, blobby object barrels toward my face. On instinct, I duck. The blob explodes into the wall and water gushes everywhere.

It soaks the back of my blonde, ombred a natural red, hair. Fabian's shirt is soaked as well.

"Alfie!" Fabian complains. "I thought Victor said no water balloons in the house!"

We walk down the hallway a bit to discover two boys with a slingshot stretched across the hall and a bucket of water balloons.

"Well, yes, Victor did say that, but when do we ever listen to Victor, Fabian?" says the taller, dark blonde one. He puts a friendly arm around Fabian. "Besides, we were just giving the new girl here a nice welcoming gift."

"Some gift," I chuckle. "I'm Char."

"Cool name," says the darker skinned one. "I'm Alfie."

"Jerome," says the taller one. "And how the heck did you avoid a direct hit?"

"I've got two little brothers," I say, smirking. "They've taught me a few things over the years."

"What, like dying your hair stupid colors?" says Jerome, unhooking his arm from Fabian's shoulders.

"What, like this?" I say innocently, picking up a lock of my ombred hair. "Hm, I guess so."

Then an evil idea pops into my head, one my brothers would be proud of. I kneel down and inspect the slingshot.

"There's a tear in the slingshot," I announce.

"What?" Jerome panics. "Where? Show me."

He kneels down next to me, his eyes flickering from one end of the slingshot to the other.

"No, no, right here," I say, pointing to a random spot on the line.

"I don't see anything," he growls, looking at me distrustfully.

"Look closely," I tell him. "It's hard to spot."

Without him noticing, I pull back slightly on the other line. Alfie puts a hand on his mouth, muffling his high-pitched giggles. I glance back at Fabian, his mouth pressed in a thin line, as if holding back a huge smile.

Then I release the line. The bungee snaps and hits Jerome right in the forehead. He falls comically onto his backside, holding his head, his face showing absolute shock.

Alfie literally falls over laughing and Fabian just grins. I giggle as Jerome sits back up.

I stand and wipe my hands on my jeans. "Mission accomplished."

"Nice one, Char!" says Alfie, giving me a high-five. "I like this girl."

Jerome stands and crosses his arms, a glare on his face. "Thanks a lot."

I bow for the second time that day. "You're very welcome."

"But I have to admit, that was a good joke," Jerome says grudgingly. "Nicely played."

"I told you I had brothers," I say. "I've learned from the best."

"Do you want some help setting up your side of the room, Char?" asks Fabian politely, tapping me on the shoulder.

"Yeah, that'd be awesome, thanks," I say. I turn back to Alfie and Jerome. There's a red spot smack dab in the middle of his forehead. I chuckle. "Nice meeting you both."

"Pleasure to do pranks with you someday," Alfie says, saluting.

Jerome just grumps into his own room, arms still crossed.

I think I'm going to like it here.

I hope you enjoyed this introduction chapter! Remember to review if you'd like me to continue!