Chapter One

Lauren Wood sat in front of her dresser waving her wand over her head, magically styling her hair into elegant waves, while looking into her hand mirror with a look of despair plastered on her face. Her parents had separated when she was young and her older brother, Oliver decided to live with their father while she opted to live with her mother in France. At Beauxbatons she had many friends but her mother, Olivia Wood was a famous designer constantly traveling around the world. When her mother came home two months ago from Greece suggesting that they move to Holland, Lauren was livid and refused. The anger that Lauren had withheld from her mother for many years was finally released and the constant fighting for two months worsened their relationship. Lauren had occasionally talked to her father on birthdays and other holidays but never forgave him for having an affair with another woman. Lauren was one year younger than Oliver and they hadn't spoken for many years as she never made the time to visit England as balls and various social events took priority for her. She was a socialite in Paris and material things were everything to her.

"I'm not moving to Holland and that's final!" Lauren screamed.

"You have nowhere to go! You don't have a choice! I'm sorry Lauren!" Olivia Wood bellowed.

"You're not sorry! I can't leave my friends, my boyfriend, my school—this isn't fair!"

"Life isn't fair, Lauren! I have to do this! It's my job!"

"You don't even need to work! You get enough money from Father as it is!"

"Why don't you go live with your father then, Lauren?" Olivia threatened.

"Well there's nothing stopping me! At least he'll be home everyday!" Lauren yelled, slamming the door for dramatic effect.

Lauren was sitting in her room looking at her mirror, sighing. Her father wasn't a bad person, always inviting her to stay at his home and sending her many lovely gifts but when her family broke apart, he was the one she blamed. Her father never remarried and lived in a very grand manor house in London. She hardly remembered living there from when she was a young girl and though she had never told anyone, she longed to visit once again.

Lauren quickly scribbled on a piece of paper and took her owl, Roger out of his cage. "Send this to my father", she commanded. A moment later her father's face appeared in her fireplace.

"Lauren! What seems to be the problem here? I'm very busy at work. Could this wait until later?"

"Of course this is important! Father, please! I don't want to move to Holland with Mother! Please! Could I live with you for a while? I need to spend some time away from Mother!"

Lauren's father paused for second, hardly believing what he had just heard. "Of course, Lauren, you can come as soon as you want and stay for as long as you want".

"Thanks…well, I better get packing. I'll see you soon, Father".

Mr. Charles Wood's face vanished from the fireplace and moments later Lauren heard her mother screaming at the top of her lungs. "I'm not abandoning my daughter! You can't take my daughter from me! How dare you—she asked to stay with you? Well, I suppose…I'll make arrangements for her travels".

Lauren sighed and began to pack her bags. Suddenly she heard a tapping on her window and looked out to see her boyfriend Randolph Manning on his Firebolt. With his blue eyes, blonde hair and athletic built, Randolph was the guy every girl wanted to date. Randolph lived in France during the holidays but studied at Durmstrang. Being a member of the upper-class French society, Lauren had met him at a ball in Lyons a year ago. She opened the window to let him in. "Lauren, you will never guess—are you crying? What's wrong?" Randolph asked with a concerned expression on his face.

Lauren explained to Randolph how she was moving away to London for a while.

"But you can't do that, Lauren! You know you're going to stay for God's sake and what? You'll move to Hogwarts with your brother! We'll hardly ever see each other!"

"Randy! No one said anything about me going to Hogwarts but I'm not moving to Holland! I need my family right now!"

"You mean your sleazy father who cheated on—ouch!" Randoph yelled as Lauren struck him across the face.

"Don't you dare say anything about him!" Lauren yelled.

"What's gotten into you, Lauren? How dare you do that?" Randolph yelled.

"Look, I think we need some time off, Randy, just for a while. Please", Lauren said. She had secretly wanted to tell him this for a while.

Randolph sighed, embarrassed but nodded. "Have fun in England with the rest of your family". Randolph held Lauren's hand but Lauren took her hand away, still hurting from his insult. Randolph shook his head and climbed out the window. Lauren watched as he flew farther and farther away and sighed. Her relationship with Randolph had grown dull and she had wanted to break up with him for months. Randolph was a sweet gentleman but could never open up or relax.

Lauren had finished packing her bags and proceeded to the dining room where her mother was sitting. She sat down and her mother carefully discussed how she would travel to London. A carriage drawn by thestrals would transport her to her father's home. A maid served dinner and Lauren and her mother ate in silence.