Exchange-- Ch. 1

Last Updated: December 11
Exchange

* The Exchange

Chapter One: Trains, Plains, and Orange Juice Spills

Brought to you by the warped minds of Nicole Wright and Loran O’Connor Beta testers: EP (yes, our buddy Eppers ^.^), Megan (appears in story as Meehan Guggleburn), Sharie K. (you’re our Angel! *snickers*)

* * * * * * *

Vinna Drabroole strolled through the busy airport, her mother still complaining about the plane ride. “Really Vinna, you’d think you could have gone back to Mitthögskolan, instead of Hogwarts.” She finally announced, when the frazzled porter behind them almost dropped their luggage.

Vinna just smiled at her mother, flipping her blonde hair behind her. “Really, mother, where’s your sense of adventure? Two years at Hogwarts-- school of Harry Potter!”

Her mother stopped dead in her tracks and stared at her suspiciously. “You’re not going to this school just because some BOY is there, are you?”

“No-“

“Because you KNOW what I’d do if your grades began to fail-“

“Yes mother, but-“

“Don’t you get me started on your grads! Now, remember, make lots of friends, and keep your mind AWAY from boys. You’re here to LEARN, not oogle at boys.” Her mother sternly lectured, as they resumed their walk through the airport, the poor porter trying to keep up.

“Yes mother.” Exasperated, Vinna just threw up her hands and resumed following her mother.

“Now, I’ll see you during the break. Send letters, keep up your studies, and do remember to have a little fun, ok dear?” Her mother kissed her forehead, then motioned for the porter to put the packages into the limo with the name with the sign “Vinna” outside of it. They hugged, and then They got into their separate limos, her mother’s headed to a spa, Vinna’s to the train station.

* * * *

Kali Brantley, on the other hand, was just trying to find the stupid platform. She looked down at her paper again, then up at the post, then down again. She pushed up her nose in disgust, and decided that there was obviously something wrong here. She had thought it was merely like a joke or something, but it wasn’t.

She groaned, praying she wasn’t going to miss the train to Hogwarts. Tapping her foot, she decided to scout out to see if anyone else was having her problem-- when she saw a very well dressed boy her age with slicked back silver hair walk calmly through the post.

She blinked, rubbing at her eyes. He walked through the post? How? Then it hit her, and she laughed beside herself. Of course! It was magical! “Duh.” She rubbed at her forehead to relieve the tension headache, and walked forward to the post. Her stomach curled at the thought of looking a fool--but if this guy walked through the wall, she certainly could. She set her jaw, reshouldered her bag, grabbed her huge rolling suitcases handles, and walked steadily through the post, into a completely different space.

She gasped, amazed by the train. The boy with the silver hair turned to stair at her, wrinkling his brow. “Do I know you?” He asked, his voice slightly haughty.

“Probably not. I’m an exchange student-“

“Oh.” The boy turned, obviously finding her not important enough, and went into the train.

“What a lout.” She muttered, narrowing her eyes as she headed for the train. With much trouble, she managed to lug the suitcase up the stairs, and then found a compartment that was empty. She plopped herself onto the chair, not caring that she was slouching, and felt her weary eyes drooping. It had been a LONG day for her.

First, she had flown all the way from California, and had arrived at the airport with no car and no way of knowing how to navigate the streets of London. Forgetting that people drove on the other side of the road, she had almost caused an accident crossing the street, but had found a cabbie and made it to the station in reasonable time. But she was tired, and wanted to sleep-

She didn’t even open her eyes when she heard the door to the compartment open. “Oh, sorry!” She heard a girl say, and managed to open one eye to see who it was.

She had wavy, almost bushy brown hair and crackling eyes, and had already changed into her robes. She was starting to turn and walk away, but Kali suddenly was overcome with a wave of loneliness. “No, no, you can stay.” She sat up and smiled at the girl, rubbing at her forehead absentmindedly.

The other girl laughed. “If you say so. Who are you, by the way? I’ve never seen you, so I’m assuming you are one of the exchange students?”

Kali nodded. “Yeah. My names Kali Brantely.”

“You’re an American then?” Her eyes flashed with interest.

She smiled at her, easing a wave of bashfulness back. “Yeah. I haul from California, actually, on the West Coast of the US.” She ran a hand through her mid length hair and winced, because it was all tangled again.

“Oh! You’re the one that went to CSMS!” The girl looked happily at her. “I have a penpal that goes there!”

“Cool.” Kali said, grinning back. “And your name is?”

“Silly me! I am Hermione-“ Before she could continue, a tall handsome guy walked into the compartment, smirking at the two girls.

Kali felt instantly repelled by his manner. He was almost lewdly looking at them, like they were easy conquests and he was their master. She wrinkled her nose--was that the odor of sheep she detected, or was it just her?

“I am Eswel Jose Domingos Tominges, fourth son of-“ He began airily, striking a pose for them to “better see” his muscular torso.

“Yeah, sure.” Kali said, standing up suddenly. She had seen enough pompous boys for the day, and this one was even worse then the last! “Are you looking for someone?”

Eswel looked taken aback, gapping at both of them. Hermione was giggling behind her hand, and Kali was just glaring at him. “I… I-“ “You what? Decided that you wanted to flirt with us? Sorry, Eswel, I’m not interested. You, Hermione?” She turned to the girl, who shook her head, giggling even louder.

“I am here because you need protecting!” Eswel said mightily, looking a bit hurt.

“Do we look like we need protecting?” She asked dangerously, stepping towards him.

“Yes! All women need a man to protect them! And you look just like you want me to protect you- oof!” He was caught off guard when Kali punched him in the gut, sending him through the door across the hall. Kali snickered, until she realized with horror that Eswel had landed on the boy from earlier, who had been taking a sip of some juice-- which was now spilled ALL over his clothes.

He had been wearing impeccable khaki tinged pants with an emerald wool blazer that fell to his slim hips, unbuttoned so that his pure white undershirt was visible, tucked into the top of his pants most carefully. Well, it had been pure white… now, drops of angry orange were cascading down his shirt, pooling right before his pants, until they ultimately ran down that fine material as well, rolling downward to the train floor until they landed on his pristine black loafers. His body was stiff and unbelieving, his cheeks holding a pale look of embarrassment for a moment-- but only one.

Horror built itself on her gut, as the boy raised his cold silver eyes from Eswel sprawled at his feet to Kolee, then at Hermione before returning to Kolee’s face. Something flickered in his eyes, then a look of distaste swept across his handsome face, giving him the appearance of a snake. “You shouldn’t get your feet off to the wrong step.” He sneered as he shook off his orange streamed arms, flecks of juice hitting Eswels terrified face. He then glaring at Hermione, who scowled fiercely back. “Mudbloods-“

Kali was swept with anger. “You’d better watch your tongue in front of people you don’t know.” She jerked her chin up proudly, her eyes blazing with fury, trying to keep her hands from forming fists. “Because I am a “mudblood” myself.” She hissed the last part out, glaring at him with pure malice, feeling the cinnamon hairs on the back of her neck begin to rise.

She saw him flinch, and something passed through his eyes, almost regret. Then, that infuriating arrogance replaced it. “Well,” He said coldly, snubbing his nose up at them. “I’ll just have to avoid you as well.”

Hermione stood up. “Really, Malfoy, you can only make us hope.” She hissed at him, and then all of them stumbled as the train began to jerk forward. Kali looked out the window to see a girl racing for the train, a man loaded with packages behind her.

This Malfoy, the silver haired guy, apparently, had taken that time to boot Eswel from his compartment and close the door. Kali was about to do the same, when Hermione walked towards her. “Don’t worry about Malfoy there. He’s just a rich snob that doesn’t know anything.”

“That’s a strange name there, Malfoy.”

“Oh, that’s his sur name. Everyone calls him that- His first name is Draco.” Hermione must have looked at Kolee’s sweatshirt then, which had a screen print of an orange dragon around a sword.

Kali knew to blush.

“It was nice meeting you Kolee, anyway, but I have to get back to my friends.” Her British accent was soft, unlike the arrogant Draco Malfoy’s.

She shivered. His name suited him, even though it was such an odd and stupid name. She wondered what the people had called him at the playground… then realized that he more then likely hadn’t been at a playground. Being rich, and in England, he had more then likely been tutored. She felt a wave of pity for the boy, and then shook her head and firmly smiled at Hermione. “Sorry for punching that guy in front of you. He just rubbed me the wrong way. Don’t want to add to the impression that us Americans are thoughtless goons.”

Hermione just laughed. “Really, he had it coming.”

She laughed as well. “I guess I’ll see you at Hogwarts sometime?”

“Sure!” Hermione kind of waved, then headed out, leaving Kali standing in the middle of the compartment, alone.

She sighed and turned, sitting back down on the chair. She looked out the window, and noticed idly that they were moving again, so the girl must have gotten on-

“Hi!” She turned to the sound, and saw the girl at the door, flashing a bright smile. “I’m Vinna! Can I ride with you!” She breathed, and at Kolee’s node she began to dump some stuff into the room. She spoke with a Scandinavian accent, soft and yet tilting her words nonethesame into a joyous outburst. She was clothed in a bright blue shirt and darker blue skirt, with blue knee high socks stuffed into dark blue flat shoes. Her bright face was smiling easily, as she came over to Kali to shake hands. “Thanks! I was afraid I had missed the Train! My driver got lost twice and then I couldn’t figure out how to get through that pillar! Then, on a hunch, I just walked through!”

“Hunch?” Kali asked, astonished, as the girl sat across from her, giggling to herself at some privet joke. Her pale blonde hair was swept back from her face in two buns, with hair sticking out of them in some sort of a fashion she had never seen before, held in place almost as if by magic. Vinna’s eyes were as bright blue as her shirt, which she was fingering the long sleeves with the tips of her fingers, her smile never slacking from its brilliant hue.

“Well… not really. You see, well… l had heard about the pillar, but it took be a while to find it. I get lost so easily. Tusan också!” She suddenly cried out, smacking herself in the forehead, lapsing into what Kali thought was Swedish.

“What?!”

“Oh, sorry, I lapsed into my native tongue. I forgot! I simply forgot!” She sighed, still looking mysteriously happy. If Kali hadn’t have known better, she would have thought that this Vinna was on uppers, but her happiness seemed to be real- not induced by drugs of any sort.

“You’re not in America anymore.” She whispered softly, squeazing her eyes shut when Vinna leaned forward, almost eagerly.

“What did you say?”

“Well, um, just wondering what you forgot…”

Impossibly, Vinna seemed to smile even larger, her perfectly spaced ivory teeth beaming back at Kolee. Any other time, and Kali was sure that she would have been sick--but Vinna seemed to ooze out good charm. She laughed, her giggle like that of a misty stream in forest, mysterious and yet bubbling with joy. “Oh well. She’ll just have to forgive me! Not like she’s ever forgotten to tip someone before.”

“Tip?” Kali shook her head and smiled, although it was plastered on. Her heart had missed a thump, mostly because she hadn’t tipped ANY one. Was that how they did things here in Jolly Old England? She thought with horror, closing her eyes again for a moment until she had calmed herself down.

“Yeah. By the way, if you could ever forgive my nosiness, what is your name? I don’t mean to be a bother-”

“I’m Kolee, by the way.” She offered, a smile quirking on her face as she observed the equally quirky girl across from her.

“Kolee? That’s an odd name.”

“And Vinna isn’t?” She giggled when Vinna stuck her tongue out at her. “Actually, Kali is short for Kalin. I hate the name.” She said with passion, even though she was smiling.

It was hard not to with Vinna around!

“Oh! I know we’re going to be fast friends!” Vinna suddenly exclaimed, grinning widely again, her eyes twinkling. “I hope we get into the same houses!”

Kali shivered, the air in the compartment suddenly cold and fearful. “At CSMS, I didn’t have to live in a dorm...”

“So this is your first time away from home? Don’t worry! I’ll keep you from getting … um…”

Kali noticed Vinna searching for the word, her blue eyes pulsing intensely. “Home sick?” She offered hopefully, as the train proceeded along green fields, an occasional sheep herd seen. She almost laughed, seeing the sheep, and remembering Eswen and how terrible he smelled--but thoughts of Eswen turned to the sight of Draco, the Silver Haired, covered in bright orange juice. With a sinking heart, Kali wondered if she had made an enemy… And knew deep in her heat that she had.