Chapter One – New home in a new time zone

"Oh my God. It's like Hogwarts only real." Alfred's wide blue eyes goggled up at the carefully carved towers of the limestone fortress that lay before him. He let his eyes bathe in the beautiful structure of Goverek Castle. Built in the 14th century and still standing to this day, it was one impressive lump of carved rock.

"Well Alfie, this is as far as we can go with you, honey," Alfred's mother smiled her loving, sweeter than sugar smile and weakly wiped a teeny tear from the corner of her eye, grasping a hold of her husband's hand for support, "You'll be fine. Absolutely fine, right?"

Alfred wasn't too sure if she was trying to convince him or herself, so just settled with a dog-like grin and enveloped his parents in a bone-crushing hug, "I'll miss you guys!"

Cautiously, his father eyed him suspiciously, "Don't do anything we wouldn't want you to do. I know what you kids can be like these days…" with a prompting glare from his wife, Alfred's father forced a smile on his stiff, usually frowning face, "It's just as your mother says, though - you'll be fine."

Taking a deep breath and nervously smiling at his parents, Alfred took a step away from the two, grasping hold of his wheelie-suitcase and recited the words he'd practiced all week, "Mom, Dad - everything will be fine. I'll graduate from this school with awesome grades, a handful of friends, and I'll be a new guy! You'll hardly recognize me. I'll call you later to tell you how everything's going, so don't worry."

With a final glance back and a confident wink, the America spun on his heels, dragging the rolling suitcase behind him, and stepping inside the wrought iron gates of Goverek's Boys Only Boarding School. As they clearly stated in the motto, it was 'Guaranteed education, guaranteed life, guaranteed fun.' Alfred was going to test that theory.

Goverek, for those of you who don't know – most don't, much like Alfred a few weeks prior - is a small area in the harbour town of Padstow, which lay in the county of Cornwall, which is in the South West of England.

England. That was three thousand, two hundred and fifty miles away from home.

Alfred sighed as he walked, replaying the scene that had played out only a few weeks ago, where he'd had to say a huge goodbye to all his friends that he'd known since the age of three and even earlier. He missed Washington, and although his parents had convinced him that he could hop on a plane whenever he felt like it, it just wasn't the same as living there.

Back in Washington, Alfred had been the centre of it all. Everyone loved him for his playful attitude, hero complex and looks that were developing very slowly from cute to handsome. Most of all he was known for his 'awesome as hell' personality that was like a narcissistic, naïve yet loveable Labrador, which everyone fell for. America was his home, and yes, England was a nice country, for a holiday but not to live. It was too… rich… Everyone judged you on your money, drove on the wrong side of the road and it rained too much.

But, as if living in a foreign country wasn't enough torture, Alfred had been enrolled in an all boy's boarding school, where the most useful lessons they taught would be how to successfully come out of the closet.

Well, maybe that was a little harsh. Alfred didn't like being judged, so he shouldn't judge others. Yes, Goverek had a bit of a reputation for being the gay school of the area, but an awful lot of single-gender schools have a notorious reputation for homosexual students. And that didn't mean there wouldn't be straight kids in it… They'd just be few and far between.

No, Alfred thought, he'd have to be positive about this! Though part of him cast his memory back to the thing's he'd heard about the school the other day while exploring the town.

Alfred had taken it upon himself to do some SAS training, and while out getting groceries for his mother, he'd overheard many a comment about his new school and home. From his very sneaky eavesdropping skills, he'd managed to come up with a realistic sounding synopsis for the school. It seemed that it was a school for the more well off population, but he'd already known that, as his mother had been quite sure to tell him that first. Most were gay, and their parents just didn't seem to have enough time for their sons at the school. It's grades were pretty close to perfect (his father wouldn't stop drilling that point into his head) but he'd heard a particularly nasty rumour about the Principle's preferred method of punishment - 'Just picture a torture chamber, and you're on the right track' Alfred recalled his eavesdropping victim's words with a shiver.

Weirdly enough, another common denominator of the school seemed to be that most of the students were foreign, like him ("Like internationally foreign! You should see the French guy!" Swooned the girl Alfred had heard) and, for some obscure reason most students played an instrument, and those who didn't seemed to be shunned and viewed as delinquents. How weird do English schools get? Well, Alfred would be okay when armed with his acoustic guitar and vocal chords of steel!

But, now he was faced with it in the flesh - or rather stone - Alfred seemed to want to forget about all the terrible rumours he'd heard. As the boy had earlier stated, it did look like a less-fancy version of Hogwarts, and he was going to live here, which was the weird part. He weaved through arches in the courtyard, trying to remember the picture of the map he'd seen on the internet and the route he needed to take to get to the Principle's office, rather than looking like a complete douche and getting out his hard copy of the map like some sort of lost tourist. His sky blue eyes goggled up at the gargoyles perched on the outer building that seemed to be glaring down at Alfred through their stony eyes, as if knowing he didn't really belong here. They were freaking creepy, and just so British.

Why did it always have to rain here? Alfred thought bitterly to himself as he noticed the dark clouds rolling in, and made quick to a little side door into the school. He'd have to try and find the office of his new Principle the inside, maze-like way, 'cause he sure as hell was not getting wet.

Bring it on, England, Alfred thought, swallowing his nerves and, with a determined grin, began wondering the paths of his new home.

It was coming up to the end of the Easter holidays, and students all over the country were sharing the same, united groan of dreaded defeat as they mentally counted down the days they had left of fake-freedom before being shoved back into the hell-holes that had been christened schools. And, like usual, before they knew it, dawn broke and the final day of the holidays began for the citizens of Britain.

Feliciano rose and, instead of his usual cheery morning ritual of jumping out of his own bed, and wriggling in beside his roommate, Ludwig, he just sat there for a minute, counting the days off in his head. When he realized the date he let out a very out-of-character groan, and collapsed back onto his pillow, pulling the covers over his head as if he was trying to block out the entire world and just live in his cave of warm bed sheets.

In just 24 hours he'd be forced to begin the frustrating routine of school again.

Like most of the students at Goverek Boarding School, Feliciano had chosen to stay in the building over the holidays rather than fly all the way back to Italy and avoid his drunken, sexually frustrated parents, but this didn't make the holidays boring.

On the contrary, that was pretty much the only positive thing about a school like this - the friends. Everyone seemed to be more than just friends; it was like everyone was family, and, although there were fights like in every family, everyone stuck together when it mattered most… Usually.

The holidays here were like a two-week-long lunch hour only better. Hell, you had a whole castle to explore, and even though Feliciano had been in this school with his other friends for just over a year and a half now, there were still many corridors yet to feel the wrath of the Axis Treasure-Quest Hunting Trio! Not only was the interior was a bonus - there were also at least 4 acres of spare, grassy land dotted in forests surrounding the castle. No one was really sure where the territory of the school started or ended, as it was surrounded by forests all around, and there were no clear markings, but that didn't stop boys getting constantly lost and confused in the many forests, both inside and outside of the school territory. Rumour had it there was even a little maze tucked off in a little corner of the land, though it was well hidden, as it was yet to be found.

One of the best things about the holidays though was the fact that there was usually a maximum of three teachers you had to avoid rather than your average twenty or thirty that prowled the grounds in term-time. Most of the teachers had retired for a little holiday back at their homes in the town, probably complaining to whoever would listen what little insufferable shits they had to teach. The ones that weren't complaining about the kids and their job were likely off drinking (at all hours of the day) and complaining, again to anyone who would listen, about how terrible their life was and how they hadn't got laid in three years. Teachers have their problems too, you know. Feliciano knew this all too well, as his uncle was a teacher.

But the best of all was that all of this was at your mercy, along with your friends. In the holidays there were no rules, and you and your best friends could do anything. Throw in an abundance of deserted classrooms and their top-quality facilities, free access to the canteen, and that was your average holiday.

Sadly, Feliciano thought, as the English saying goes, 'all good things must come to an end'… And that end was now. Why, oh why, oh why, oh why?

Feliciano was brought back to reality by a sharp rap on the door to his dormitory. A little confused on who it might be at this time of the morning, he waited for a moment to see if there was even a small chance of Ludwig getting up to get it, but it seemed his German roommate was either already up, or mourning at the loss of his holidays like Feliciano, though it was probably the first. Sheepishly, Feliciano pulled on a silky-robe-thing that Francis had given him for Christmas, and penguin-walked over to the door, now regretting leaving the warm bed.

He let the door creak open, looking at the disturber of his rest, only to realise just who was at his door.

"Wahh!" he let out a call of surprise, "S-Sir! What're you doing here at this time of the morning?" the Italian was blushing as he faced his Head Teacher in nothing more than a silky robe (that was hanging very, very loosely) with nothing underneath.

"Mr. Vargas." the head teacher nodded awkwardly, "I hate to be the one that breaks the bad news to you, but it has already passed lunch time. I trust this will not be happening tomorrow, as I do not applaud late students, as you well know."

Avoiding the Head's eyes guiltily, the Italian could remember the time he'd been stupid enough to turn up late to class and how the Head had been determined to humiliate him by forcing him to recite a very graphic scene between two lovers in their English class.

"Anyway, I would like to introduce you to our new student here, Mr. Alfred F. Jones." the Head Teacher turned to a boy that was hiding in his shadow, and said to the teenager who was presumable Alfred Jones, "Alfred Jones, I would like you to meet Feliciano Vargas, he rooms with Ludwig Belischmidt, the German boy we passed in the corridors."

"Veh… so that's where he was… what corridor was he in, Sir?" Feliciano smiled instantly at the comforting thought of his best friend.

"I hate to inform you, Mr. Vargas, but I'm not your personal tour guide. I'm sure you'll be able to find Ludwig, but after you've done this little job for me," the Head said patronisingly. Feliciano frowned at his tone – the Head always seemed to treat him like he was stupid, and that may be true, but Feliciano could understand people. He wasn't so stupid he couldn't make out words, for God's sake!

The head continued primly, "Mr. Vargas, I'm entrusting you with a very important job, okay?" the insultingly condescending tone stayed in the teacher's voice; "I need you to take Mr. Jones around the school and introduce him to his classmates and show him where his classes are, understand?" he finished with a too-sweet smile.

Feliciano gazed back, nodding, more than a little offended and confused at the Head's tone, "Okay, sir! Feliciano is on the job!" like usual, though, Feliciano just ignored the confusion and carried on with his life with the addition of a huge grin.

"Good. Now, go and put some clothes on, boy." the Head turned to Alfred, prodding him in the back, coaxing him into the room, "Good luck, Mr. Jones. Don't worry, Mr. Vargas is harmless… Too harmless. Enjoy yourselves." he raised an eyebrow before turning on the heels of his shiny shoes and shutting the door.

"So, hi!" Feliciano greeted the new boy. Feliciano couldn't help but wonder why the boy looked so nervous. Ludwig had told him many a time that he was 'softer and less dangerous than a pink baby rabbit carrying a basket of chocolate'. Surely Alfred wasn't scared of him!

"H-Hey." Alfred smiled, more than a little confused.

"Right, you wait here, 'kay? I'm going to get changed, 'cause I can't really wonder around the school like this, can I? I tried it once, and Ludwig got really mad." Feliciano winced at the memory, muttering things about how scary it was on the journey to the bathroom.

Alfred looked around the room like a trapped lamb, not sure what to do. This school was freaking weird. Luckily he'd managed to stumble across the Principle's office on his travels before, and in the brief meeting the Principle had had with him, it had been explained that there was to be no misbehaving in the school, he'd get very good grades, 'sexual contact' was not permitted in public (Alfred could imagine the problems that would cause) and that he was to be rooming with a boy called Arthur Kirkland. Though, there was a weird little look that came across the Principle's face upon the mention of this Arthur kid, and Alfred wanted to find out more.

For some reason, the Principle had been very insistent on the fact that Alfred wasn't entering 7th Grade, and that he was entering a grade called 'Year Eight'. Alfred could only assume that this was the weird schooling method that the British had. His parents had tried explaining it to him, but it just went over his head, like a lot of things. The Principle was also very sure that he wasn't a Principle, and was to be called 'Head teacher', 'Head', or the preferred by most students 'Sir'

Now though, Alfred was stranded. He'd been thrown into a foreign school with hardly a penny to his name, and no friends, and his only acquaintance being the very odd, but strangely likable Italian who's room he was standing in.

Before Alfred could mentally complain about how crappy his life was any more, Feliciano hopped out of the bathroom door, wearing a rather stylish outfit that only someone like him - a flamboyant Italian - could pull off. Alfred smiled fondly at the rose pink shirt that the Italian wore, only using half the buttons than were provided though, as the top of the shirt hung open in a very European way, showing off his softly tanned chest. The shirt worked well with the cute, white bootleg jeans he wore and contrasting black Converse. The outfit was completely camp, but it did suit the guy very well.

"So, Alfred!" Feliciano grinned, "What brings you here?"

Alfred matched Feliciano's grin. The Italian was a nice enough guy, and the air headed-ness just made him even more likable, "You were going to take me on a tour?"

"Veh! That was it! Just let me call Ludwig, 'cause he's good at this stuff – he's a lot more useful than me, and he'd probably shout at me for doing it wrong if I didn't call him to help!" Feliciano sent a genuine smile at the American and he dialled in the numbers, waiting for his roommate to pick up.

"So… This Ludwig, what's he like?" Alfred asked, curious.

"Veh~ he's big and scary when he's angry, which is quite a lot. He shouts lots and lots~ but he's really nice! He's so kind to me, and he's the best, best of best friends ever! Not only that, but he's super handsome. But that's not why I like him! I'm not shallow like that! I like what's on the inside most!" Feliciano finished his description with wide, eccentric hand gestures, almost dropping the phone in the process, and then suddenly realised that, in the middle of his animated description, Ludwig had picked up the phone, "Veh! Ludwig, ciao!"

There was silence for a moment or two until Feliciano answered back into the receiver, "We need your help! Meet us in the music room as soon as you can, 'kay?" and, presumably when Ludwig agreed and said goodbye, Feliciano grinned and hung up with a final 'ciao', closing his phone.

"Well, to the music room!" Feliciano grabbed Alfred's arm and pulled him through the door, "Come on, Alfred~! I wanna beat Ludwig there for once!" he grinned; running full pelt down the length of the corridor, screeching to a halt at the corner, and after changing direction began galloping down the next hallway, almost knocking over multiple vases in their wake.

"Wait up, Feliciano! I'm totally gonna beat you!" Alfred grinned wildly, racing off after the Italian, only realising that there was no possible way he could win, as he'd have to follow Feliciano to the music room, seeing as he had no idea where he was.

"I'd like to see you try! Coach Braginski says that 'I'm terrible at PE, until I'm faced with something scary, and then I'm the top of the class'! And I can tell you, it's scary thinking that you'd overtake me!" Feliciano called over his shoulder. Alfred had to admit he was a terribly fast runner.

Slowing his run down – he was getting exhausted already – Alfred smiled as he jogged around the corridors. If most guys in this school were like Feliciano, then he'd be fine. Though, something told Alfred that there were going to be a lot of people who weren't like Feliciano. Whoever those people were, whether they were different to Feliciano for the better or for the worse, Alfred was going to make friends with them. Yes, Alfred vowed to himself. By the end of the term, Alfred would try and be friends with the entire school.

A/N

So hey guys! Thank you very much for reading, it is much appreciated ^^ I know first chapters are never the best, and I think they're also the hardest to write. I promise you, it will get better!
Right now, this is SilentVocaloid from the future you're reading X'D I'm going through all my chapters and proof-reading them, changing little bits, and hopefully will add things in. But nothing too plot-changing, so no worries there!
I would like to thank you all for continued support throughout me writing this fic, as I have almost finished it now. I never would've thought I'd get 300+ reviews, and it's really boosted my confidence and made me a happy bunny :'D so to everyone who has read, reviewed, favourited, followed – hell, even clicked on this fic, I can't thank you enough!
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Thank you so much, you guys!