A/N: Chapter one of the first book of the Worst Witch. I hope all of you will enjoy this new story. Vampire diaries had been my favourite series during high school and I'd always wanted to play in that particular sandbox. This is the first story I will attempt to write through the first person (I will not change pov's into this either) and I have a good solid idea how to go about it. I want to warn everyone; although I will follow the vampire diaries storyline, no one is safe. Thereby, I will deviate from canon more than once, but then again, this is fanfiction. AU by definition.

Also, romance is not the main objective of this story (at least not in the first book), even if it will occur. I'm attempting a story where the emphasis lies on Samantha's growth as a person and a witch. Please let me know what you'll think.

Enjoy!

Chapter One, Founder's Day

The piano ballad I adored so much playing softly through the speakers of the car was drowned out by the damp hustling outside of the car and I closed my eyes, curling my fingers tightly around my knees. Ever since my parents died, I had trouble getting into a car. Often, getting into a car with someone made me nauseous, but getting into a car with my best friend was even worse. Mayor Lockwood's son liked to push my buttons and although I'd given him enough reason to do so over the years, but I still glared at him when he roughly accelerated. Besides, Tyler was a bad driver even on his best days and my stomach lurched when he sharply turned off the highway and my glare turned more ferocious.

"Tyler Lockwood! One more turn like that and I'll punch you!" I threatened half-heartedly and Tyler grinned wolfishly at me. He had grown at least a head since I'd last seen him and I felt a slight headache start behind my temples.

"Oh, come on, Gilbert! It's about fucking time you got over your car phobia."

"There's no such thing as car phobia. I just don't like getting into a car with you!" I returned huffily. I'd missed him. Even though the exchange project had been a nice change of scenery, there hadn't been a day going by where I hadn't missed him.

Tyler snorted: "You don't like getting into a car with anyone."

"Bite me,"

"I think I pass. One can only guess where you've been up to during the past six months."

"Oh, aren't you adorable?" I returned, breathing out sharply when he made another sharp turn.

"So, how was school?"

I shrugged. I didn't hate it, so it was not horrible. I didn't love it, so it wasn't optimal either. But the art classes had been phenomenal. "Fine," I settled on and twined my fingers together. We were now travelling along the asphalt road through the forest just outside of Mystic Falls. Soon we would cross Wickery Bridge and I tensed involuntarily. He must have noticed because he did slow the car down to what he always called the 'snail-race' and shot me a worried glance.

"Are you okay with being here again?"

"This town?" I stared at the first houses, the greenery, the neatly moulded grass fields and the precisely clipped hedges. "It's— Well, I'm fine you know, yet, not really."

"No one blames you for leaving, you know that right?"

I sighed, rolled my shoulders and sank back into the car seat. My nerves eased slightly and I worried my lower lip. "I know that no one blamed me for that." I agreed and Tyler steered the car into Maple Street. "How have things been here? I know you said you were okay, but it must have been hard. Losing Vicki and with your dad."

"Dad is— like usual. I'm mostly glad you're back."

I stared at him, eyebrows raised almost above my hairline. He was still dressed in his Founders Day uniform, looking somewhat ridiculous as a Civil War sergeant and I smiled.

"I missed you too."

"You're not planning on—"

"No," I smiled. "I needed some time on my own. I'm not planning on emigrating to England for good. I promise."

I had felt often bad about leaving him alone when he didn't have so many people around either, but after my parents died and I almost drowned, the exchange project with England had never sounded better. Aunt Jenna seemed to think it was a good idea as well, even if leaving my siblings had been hard. Elena would be fine eventually, she always was, but Jeremy had just reached puberty. He needed someone to count on, a parent to set him straight, instead, he got two sisters (and I, Samantha wasn't that much older than he was) and an aunt who by all accounts was a child herself. But I, I had been fifteen—

I didn't want to be the adult—

I wanted to travel and see the world, but most of all, I wanted no reminder of the horrible memories of my parents drowning beneath Wickery Bridge. I wanted to be as far away from my childhood home as possible and turned my gaze to the window. Almost memorised, I stared at my reflection. My brown hair was chin-length and curled neatly at the edges. I had always been described as resembling my elder sister Elena and although I could see the physical resemblance, I could also see the differences. While my sister was tall, I was rather petite and what dad always called fine-boned, but still sleek and slender. Further my cheeks were peach coloured and while my sister had a lovely olive skin I was a little bit paler.

Right now, I could blame that on the cold sunless months I'd spent in England.

Tyler stopped the car in front of my childhood home and I was pleased to realise I didn't feel horrified by seeing it, but rather, I felt the warm sense of belonging settle into my bones. I hadn't felt that when I'd left.

"Sam?"

"I'm sorry," I whispered, tucking my hair behind my ears and slowly got out of the car. A chilly wind ruffled through my hair and clothes and I pulled the shawl a little tighter about my shoulders. "I just— I didn't expect I would miss it."

"You mean you didn't miss me?" He exaggerated, gripping at his heart and stumbling back into the hood of his car. I rolled my eyes and helped myself to the trunk of his car. My suitcases were neatly stacked and I started to unload them without a word as Tyler smirked.

"What— You're seriously not going to comment on that?"

"Your childish behaviour doesn't dignify a response from me." I retorted tartly and slung my green canvas laptop bag over my shoulder. "Besides, I'm pretty sure I drunk called you once to tell you how much I loved you and hoped you would visit me to take me sight-seeing to the Big Ben."

"You remember that?" He sniggered.

"Unfortunately."

Tyler picked up both of my trolleys as if they weighed less than his baseball bat and made his way to the front door. I followed him slowly, drinking in the white veranda and the neatly trimmed bushes. Twigs snapped beneath my feet in the stillness of the late afternoon and I suddenly got the strange sensation as if someone was watching me. Carefully, not seeing anything strange, I bit my lip.

"Samantha?" Tyler asked, he was leaning against the wall next to the front door and looked at me oddly. "What are you doing? If you're planning on staring down your street, probably reliving childhood memories of punching Matt in his face for telling you, you looked like a boy— which pretty much cemented his point if I may add, all day, I'll leave your stuff here and you can carry it up to your room yourself."

I glared at him: "You're a dick. And for the record; if I was visiting memory lane I would be visiting the memory where I punched you in your face for calling me a sissy."

Tyler laughed at that and eyed me up in a way that used to ruffle my feathers, and rolled his shoulders. "I miss the time where we were the same height. I could get away with scuffling with you then."

I smiled, ignoring the rather dreadful sense someone was still looking at me and twisted the key in the lock: "If you do now, you'll get into trouble, don't you?"

He grinned again and I stepped into the hallway. The trolleys I'd brought, one that had been mine when I left Mystic Falls and one I had to borrow from dark-skinned Daisy who shared Monday's fourth period with me, made a high squeaking noise on the wood-panelled floor. Tyler followed me up the stairs and onto the landing of the first floor and I inhaled deeply. The homey scent was a great reprieve of the slight watery, mouldy scent my dormitory had smelled like and I kicked open my old bedroom door. Everything was exactly as I'd left it (even the heap of clothes I'd dropped in front of my closet had not been touched) and I dropped face-first onto my bed.

Tyler flopped on the bed next to me. And we lay in comfortable silence. "So— not that I mind but why did you not call your aunt or your sister?"

"My aunt had a date with— What's-his-name, and Elena was being her mysterious self but said she wouldn't be home."

"So what— I was your third choice?"

"Fourth actually, I asked Jeremy to come too. He suggested I take the bus."

"Next time you'll find that tiny ass of yours in a bus, that I can promise you." He dryly remarked and I sniggered.

My childhood bedroom was filled with old momentous. I used to collect shells (most of them gotten from Tyler when he went abroad with his family), postcards (very briefly), antique toys (which took up most of the space of my shelves on the wall) and antique coins. The walls were covered with a sheeny, silvery design of a bird wallpaper. The carpet was darker, yet still had that plush feel even below my sneaker-clad feet. Tyler turned over and lay on his side, drawing his index finger over the dark green duvet, tracing the form of a daisy.

"How were things really?" I asked. "I mean, I know Elena fell in love, but—"

"Stefan," Tyler explained. "Stefan Salvatore. He and his brother live up at the Salvatore Boarding House. I'm pretty sure Caroline called them epic."

"Epic?" I echoed, laughing amusedly. "She called them epic?"

"Yeah, Elena seems, and I quote, deeply, passionately and strongly in love with Stefan." He made a face. "They're rather disgusting."

"Hm," I muttered. "That's something to look forward to then."

"No handsome English boys?" Tyler asked, looking rather amused. I grinned before making a face.

"Not really."

"You're such a prude. Why the bob?"

I rolled onto my side as well and ran my fingers through my boyish short-cut hair. "I wanted a change."

"Mission accomplished."

"You're a dick."

"Don't you know it." He grinned before sitting up and jerking to a standing position. "I have to go."

"Oh?" I asked, rather sad to see him go. I had hoped we could have watched a movie, take a crack at it and talk a bit. "Why?"

He made a face: "Founders Day. If I don't even show my face, my dad will kill me. Honestly, I only slipped away without anyone noticing because some kids were partying on painkillers or drugs— probably drugs. I don't think I would have been able to pick you up otherwise."

"Right. Your dad is a douche." I was silent for a moment before pursing my lips. "Of course, I could come along?"

"I did promise to take Matt and Caroline home after the fireworks."

"Matt and Caroline?"

"Believe me, you missed a lot."

"Okay, well, I could call Elena if you need the car space on the way back," I said.

Besides, I could always walk back if that plan failed. After all, this was Mystic Falls. Nothing bad ever happened in Mystic Falls when I'd been here and I pushed my trolley away in my closet before following him out of my room again. The stairs creaked under our combined weight and I sighed softly. Tyler had been my best friend since as long as I could remember and pretty much my only real friend. He was stubborn, short-tempered and easily irritated but we'd always got on like a house on fire. We were almost always together, sat together during lunch, often skipped school and ended up doing our homework in the Lockwood living room or the vast gardens.

He'd been the only one who'd helped me when I'd been a troubled child and the only one who understood me in way that I still couldn't fathom. In exchange, I used to be his voice of reason when he almost murdered Courtney in fourth grade and gave him a key to our backdoor when things at home became too much. I could not even guess how often he'd sneaked into our home and we'd shared my bed. I was pretty sure in the end my parents knew it too, but they also knew we had never been sexually involved, so they never mentioned it. We were almost out of the door when I heard a shuffling sound coming from the kitchen.

"What was that?" Tyler asked slowly and I shared a curious look with him. I had thought no one was home.

The kitchen had pale, crisp wallpapers and the counter was usually clean and gleaming. It might have been like that now, but my attention was completely taken by the sight of Jenna kissing a man, I'd never seen before. I bet I must have looked comically. Coffee-coloured eyes wide, cheeks flushed a dark pink and lips parted with surprise.

"Uh— aunt Jenna?"

"Samantha!" Jenna gasped, stepping back from the man and rushed towards her youngest niece. "Oh, you should have told me you were coming home."

I laughed, hugging her back: "I vaguely remember having told you that over the phone."

"I—" she sounded as if she was thinking. "It must have slipped my mind."

I grinned again as she stepped back: "And that never happens, of course."

"Don't sass me. I have the power to ground you now."

Rolling my eyes, I looked up at the man curiously. "So who's your male friend?"

He was rather handsome, with pale skin and bright eyes. He looked to be in his early thirties. He was tall, slightly athletically build and had short, brown hair and blue eyes. His cheek dimpled ever so slightly as he smiled at me, even though it looked somewhat practised and he stepped forward, holding out his hand. I thought for a second I recognised the ring, but I couldn't be sure.

"That's—" Aunt Jenna started, her cheeks reddening and she chuckled sheepishly.

"I'm Alaric Saltzman, you must be Samantha?"

I nodded and shook his hand. "A pleasure," before smirking at Jenna. "Well, do tell; are you planning on making an appearance on Founders Day?"

"Okay," Jenna stated, shoeing me and Tyler out of the kitchen. "Time for you two to leave. Bye guys."

The kitchen door slammed closed behind us and we broke out in bubbles of laughter. Tyler held himself on the railings of the staircase and laughed so hard, tears started in his eyes and I ran my fingers through my hair until it started to frizz. From the kitchen, we heard Jenna complain to her male friend, Alaric Saltzman, and I laughed even harder.

"Did you see her face?" Tyler ground out between gulps of laughter and I grinned.

"She's always so easy to push."

"Come on. Let's get going before she makes true on her threat and grounds you." He grinned and I zipped up my jacket, felt my pockets for my house-keys and followed him out of the house again. Tyler jammed the keys in the ignition and I sighed lightly, slightly nervous again when he steered the car onto the road. The car radio buzzed to life and a Britney Spears song started. With twilight falling, the streets of the town were busy with people joining rush hour and the closer we came to the centre of the village the busier it became.

"Has Founders Day always been this busy?" I asked absentmindedly, watching the neatly dressed people in passing.

"Are you kidding? This is like Disney land for them." Tyler replied and cursed foully when a dark jeep turned to park into his spot. "Fuckers."

I rolled my eyes and smiled when he could park the car easily, although in a tight spot, in front of the grill moments later. My smile was wiped off my face quickly when I noticed Tyler's dad, face tight with irritation, stalk up to them.

"Uh Ty,—"

"Where were you?" Mayor Lockwood interrupted, dressed in his best tux, his face a snarl and he gripped his son's shoulder hard.

Tyler's face paled and I felt the anger only reserved for Richard Lockwood claw at my insides. Tyler stumbled through an apology and Richard's cold brown eyes focused on me.

"Samantha Gilbert—" He'd never liked me much. Well, the feeling was completely mutual. I glared at him as he gave me one of his standard 'you're trash looks' and scowled. "I had no idea you were back in town."

"Arrived just this morning. Tyler was such a gentleman to pick me up from home."

"Did he now?"

"Yes," I agreed with a sweet, syrupy smile. "You must know how much I hate being in a car. With my parents passing and all—"

His frown eased out only just slightly and I cocked my head to the side. "Right," he agreed and tugged his son towards the festivities. I gave said son an answering grimace and slowly prowled after them. Major Lockwood shook me off quite effectively near the Mystic Falls High school and I nervously tugged at a lock of hair, before strolling across the field and wandered around the centre's square aimlessly.

Sometimes, I mourned the loss of my long curly hair, especially since I used to curl long locks around my fingers when I was nervous or irritated. Curling my hair around my fingers was harder when it was this short. I tucked my waif-like hair behind my ears, turned my fingers to the silver rings on my earlobes and quickened my pace. The monotone buzz of several-hundred voices hummed around me and suddenly, somehow, something in the air changed.

A prickle of dread ran up my spine and I felt the air stir behind me as someone moved quickly past me. With a groan a broad-shouldered man, I hadn't seen in town before, collapsed. I watched horrified as he tried scrambling to his knees, gripping his head between his hands, and was yanked to his feet by two police officers. My mouth fell open when they injected him with something, making him go limp, before they tugged him off, yanking him towards a tinted-windowed car.

"What the hell are you doing?" I yelled and Liz Forbes a stepped out of the gathering hub-hub, moving towards me, her eyes widening.

"Samantha—"

"Don't Samantha me!" I interrupted almost shrilly. "Why are you— the cops— dragging that man off? Injecting him with— whatever that was, I—"

"There are dangerous criminals around. You really should go to the Grill. Perhaps you could find your sister—"

I knew when I was lied to. With two siblings and Tyler for a best friend you just knew and I felt my cheeks heat up. I had never known Liz Forbes, who was Caroline's mother, to lie to me and I stepped back when another person was dragged by. I felt bile crawl up my throat and I reached into my pockets. Surely, I could call armed police or the FBI — this was something I could call the FBI for, wasn't it — but Liz stepped forward, yanking my phone out of my hand and grabbed my arm.

"Come on!" She ordered and although I resisted, I was still a good seven inches shorter than she was and not a trained police officer either.

"You can't do this! This— He didn't—" I said hysterically, for the first time the mother of my sister's friend truly scared me. And I had done some shit that should have made me fear Sheriff Forbes before. "I didn't do anything! Are you going to jam a syringe into my neck as well? This— this is police brutality, you seriously—"

"Samantha Gilbert, you will cease your hampering or you'll spend a night in a jail cell for obstructing police work."

I gaped at her and she managed to shove me inside the grill and pointed me to a booth. The dark bar had never been this empty before, yet the music was much too loud. I didn't think I'd ever felt sicker than at that moment and an unpleasant tingling sensation prickled at my fingertips. I must have started to hyperventilate and clasped my hands tightly around my nose and mouth. Rookie agent (Jason Burke who had been a senior when I'd started high school) nervously came up to us. "Where do you want me to—"

"Gilbert House." She muttered and I probably wouldn't have made it out if I hadn't been sitting so close and felt my eyes widen even more when a young girl was dragged by. My eyebrows scrunched up. They'd muzzled her and I wondered if Mystic Falls had finally truly lost its mind.

"Burke!" Sheriff Forbes suddenly barked and the man eyed his superior worriedly. "Make sure she doesn't leave."

She left in a flurry of huffs and irritated mutterings and I stared up at Jason's face. Age had been kind on him and the spotty seventeen-year-old I'd known was replaced by a broad-shouldered young man. He still had the warm baby-blues and it took everything I had to not cave in and start crying.

"What do you lot want from me?"

His tight expression eased slightly and he reached out as if to touch my shoulder but I flinched so violently he thought better of it. "We're not going to hurt you. Listen, I don't think I'm even supposed to tell you this, but the council agreed to a zero-tolerance policy. I understand it must seem strange, but we're rounding up people, some terrorists who are trying to hurt you all."

"You're not!" Jeremy's voice hissed and I was out of the booth and at his side a second later.

"Oh my God, Jer!"

Jeremy openly stared. "You cut your hair."

Despite everything, I still sniggered: "Geez, good eye."

He made some sort of strangled noise and suddenly lunged at me. I gasped not entirely surprised my brother would hug me but still had not completely been expecting him doing so in front of Jason Burke. What had happened to the fourteen-year-old who thought to hug older siblings was embarrassing? My eyes prickled and I hugged him back, feeling truly horrible for the first time since I'd got home.

"I've missed you, Jer!"

He muttered something I couldn't make out and I hugged him tighter. He was now taller than I was and perhaps even had to shave? I couldn't be sure. He did smell like a man's cologne and slowly he stepped back.

"Are you okay?" He asked, sounding nasal.

"Yes," I ground out feeling actual tears running down my cheeks before I felt myself blanch. Shots were being fired outside and Jason Burke crossed the room towards the door. "What the hell is going on here?"

"They took Anna!" Jeremy whispered and I realised his stricken look might not solely be caused by my sudden appearance.

"Who's—"

"My girlfriend. I can't lose her too, Sam!"

My chest ached and carefully, I spied Burke open the door to aim at someone. "Do you know the cellar?"

"What?"

"He's not letting us go, but through the cellar— there is a window there," I whispered and I pushed him towards the bar. The grill had never been empty at this hour before and it was slightly odd. Jeremy, who was pale and sweaty, nodded. "Okay, we can get out of here through there."

"Where do you think—" Jason Burke demanded and I peered at him fearfully.

"We're hiding at the cellar. You can play hero-cop without us getting caught in the crossfire."

He blinked stupidly and now I was actually glad Liz Forbes had let a rookie deal with us. Sheriff Forbes would never let me pull the wool over her eyes. Not after I and Tyler had nicked her service car on my fourteenth birthday and drove it around town enjoying the loud shrill sirens. Liz had reasons to distrust my word, but Jason did not and he nodded in understanding.

"You always could lie so well."

"Comes with the job." I returned jokingly as I followed him down the rickety stairs and dodged a stack of beer crates. The lightbulbs above our heads were buzzing softly and we nervously turned into the small rectangular room where they kept the extra glasses and empty crates. The small window, with the white peeling paint and the cracked glass, was standing slightly ajar. It was a tight fit, but we managed to climb out of the window without too much trouble and soon found ourselves on the parking lot.

To be continued...