The Druwyvern Chronicles: Welcome to Hearthstone

Chapter One: The Strange Lady in The Purple Dress

The car was late. Oliver wasn't really surprised– this sort of thing had happened before. You'd think the state would keep better track of their kids, but no. Probably his new foster family had decided against taking in another kid, even if it did bring them several hundred more dollars a month.

But that was how it was with Oliver Augustine. He'd once overheard his social worker, a portly lady with a thin, curly ponytail, tell somebody that he was cursed. Nobody wanted the little Augustine boy for long. It was always some strange reason or other when they brought him back. Oliver figured that was the case this time, too.

Oliver sighed and set his dirty old suitcase down next to him. Probably it was going to be a long wait, so why waste time staring off into the distance? He took out a old issue of a fishing magazine he'd pilfered from the desk at the agency last week and began flipping through the pages.

Suddenly, someone cleared their voice near him. He shot up, placing the magazine on his lap.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," the owner of the voice said. It was a lady, but she didn't look like any lady that Oliver had ever seen before. She was dressed in a long purple dress and had a large, funny hat on her head. She reminded Oliver of Mrs. Olsen on the reruns of Little House on the Prairie that the agency seemed to always have on.

"You didn't," Oliver couldn't look away. This lady was probably the prettiest he'd ever seen– and rich, too. So what did she want talking to some sad orphan?

"My name is Marguerite Lundi. Sister Marguerite, actually."

A nun? That was even stranger. As far as Oliver knew, nuns wore habits and walked around saying prayers all day. They certainly didn't wear fancy dresses or introduce themselves without their titles.

"My name is Oliver. Oliver Augustine."

The nun-lady smiled. "I know. I was sent to fetch you."

Oliver quirked an eyebrow. "Don't tell me: they're putting me in a Catholic orphanage."

Sister Marguerite laughed, and Oliver thought it sounded like a little bell. "Goodness, no! First of all, I'm not Catholic. Secondly, I'm a teacher. You've been accepted to Hearthstone Academy for the Gifted."

This woman was clearly off her rocker. A nun that wasn't Catholic, a school for the gifted? What was she even talking about? Oliver knew she had to be pulling his leg. The only thing he'd ever been "gifted" in was constantly moving houses, if that could even really be called a gift He was a C student at best, mainly because he didn't try. And he was too skinny to even bother trying out for most sports teams.

"You know, I think I'm just gonna—" Oliver turned to leave, but the nun-lady caught hold of his arm and spun him to face her.

"I know I probably sound like a loon to you, but I promise I'm not. You're special, Oliver Augustine. Besides, what else were you going to do with your summer? Just sit around staring at the ceiling fan?"

She had a point. Oliver knew all about stranger danger, but this lady seemed harmless. Crazy, yes, but not in a serial killer type of way. Besides, it's not like anyone would miss him if he disappeared.

"Okay," Oliver finally said. "Where is your school?"