AN: I was originally thinking of posting this story when I had all the chapters done. But I love it, and wanted to share it early. This isn't completed yet, but is planned out. There are more chapters done. If it gets a good response, I'll give you more chapters.
And when it gets to actual chapters – these, I refer to as backstories – there will be quotes at the beginning. I'm really excited.

Disclaimer: Me: Fred, George, do I own Harry Potter?
Fred: No Cati, you wish.
George: Who are you?
So there you go. Now read on!

"Sirius! Sirius! You'll never guess what I got!" I yelled. I'm looking for my best friend of three years, Sirius Black, and as usual can't find him. I'm starting to think he has a secret hideout or something. "Siri! I have to show you something! Where are you?" I called again.

A rustling in the bushes behind me made me turn around and my face break into a huge grin. "Let me guess, another football trophy? An award for MVP of the season? You're predictable, Roxi. It has to be something to do with football; you wouldn't care about anything else," Sirius answered. I rolled my eyes and showed him a letter.

"Remember when you told me you were magic, and you'd been watching me and told me I was magic too? And I didn't believe you, so you made my football fly for ages after I'd kicked it? Well, you were right! I'm magic too! I got my Hogwarts letter in the mail and Professor McGonagall came to my house and explained everything!" I said it all in one giant breath and felt like I was going to pass out from the excitement of the last hour. 'I'm going to Hogwarts, Siri isn't leaving me, and I'm magic! I can't believe it!' was all that was going through my mind.

"Roxi, I told you. I'm Sirius Black; I'm always right about these things. You were silly for not believing me. I just wish I could've been there to see your face!" Sirius teased. He was always teasing me, from the moment we met. He was a person you couldn't help but get along with, though. His easily likeable personality, his inviting smile. His eyes were his best feature, in my opinion: gray, bright, and alluring.

His depiction of me wasn't how I would describe myself: "Roxanna Payton Traynor, you have a hot head and a temper to match. Fiery and sporty, you kind of scare me sometimes. And you know how hard I am to scare. But your eyes don't reflect the colour of your soul, which I imagine to be red. Impossible, with that colour of blue. Icy blue." He kept telling me that I should get some red colour into my hair! My hair was dark brown, so dark that it looked black when it was wet. It was naturally straight. It was my second favourite feature, after my eyes.

"We're both going to that magic school and all you do is make fun of me? Really, Siri?" I asked, kind of surprised. He's always talked about going to Hogwarts to get away from his mad family. I thought he'd be happier about us both getting away from Grimmauld Place. But his next expression was incredulous.

"Roxanna, don't even joke about that. Hogwarts is not just 'that magic school'. It's an amazing place full of unknown magic just waiting to be discovered by troublemakers such as ourselves. Insulting Hogwarts is like insulting Dumbledore, the Headmaster!" I stopped him. I knew he wasn't happy when he called me Roxanna, because he knew I didn't like it. I didn't mean to bring that out. In fact, I'd rather that little rant would've stayed inside.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I was just saying that in passing and you started having a mini-breakdown of sorts! Can't you just be excited we're going to be at school together for seven years? Learning magic, of all things! I'm still having trouble getting my head around all this!" And I was. It was life-changing, knowing that I was a witch. I had just thought Siri was crazy when he said I was one, but this was confirming. No one in my family had magical blood! I was the first, something I loved being. My parents always said I was different and unique, but I didn't know it was so literal!

"You're being a drama queen, Rox. I was not having a breakdown. If I was, I'd be in St. Mungo's. I am excited! But I'm not at all surprised. I told you all this three years ago! It's not my fault you didn't believe me," He said, punching my arm playfully. I pretended to be offended, giving him a hurt look, and then laughed when he looked apologetic.

I tugged on his arm, motioning for him to follow me. "So, since I wasn't paying attention three years ago and thought you were a crazy person, you need to tell me about this wizarding world! Who runs it, who made Hogwarts, everything! I swear I'll listen this time. So tell me!" I made him tell me all about it as we walked towards my house, actually listening like I said I would.

He began to tell me what he knew of the creators of Hogwarts, and I was really interested. But mostly I was excited to see this massive castle with my own eyes, for the first time.

"Bye, mum! Bye, dad! Bye Vanessa, I'll write you every week! Love you!" I waved goodbye to my family until we'd rounded the corner and I couldn't see them anymore. I suppressed a tear at leaving my family. I wasn't a crier. I was tough! I could handle it. It was only until Christmas. 'But you're still going to miss them,' my conscience told me. I had to go find Sirius. I knew I'd feel less lonely once I was with him. Trouble is, he already went to find a compartment. So I'd have to look through dozens of compartments to find one person! This could take the whole train ride, and I didn't think I was exaggerating. But I'd never been to Hogwarts so I couldn't tell.

"Sirius? Are you in he-oh, sorry. I'm looking for someone. Sirius!" I called. I'd been on this train for ten minutes and I'd already embarrassed myself. This was not starting off well. I kept walking, just looking into compartments now. I was looking in one and walking at the same time when I felt someone run into me and we both fell. "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention," I apologized. Embarrassment: 2, me: 0.

I got a death glare from the other girl. I'm not kidding about the death part either. It was like, if looks could kill, I'd be six feet under. "Yeah, I could tell. Next time, watch your step. I don't need you to make me fall wherever I go. Let's go, Brie," They both shot me looks that could only be described as disdainful. I already had enemies here. Perfect. I had to find Sirius!

I kept searching, and while I was doing so I passed a red-headed girl already in her Hogwarts uniform that I nearly ran into. Seriously, what was it with me running into people today? "I'm so sorry I almost knocked you over! This seems to keep happening to me today," I apologized yet again. This girl smiled at me. "Don't worry, its okay. I'm nervous today too. It's my first time here and I'm a Muggleborn. I'm Lily Evans. And this is Severus Snape, my best friend." I looked to her right and saw a greasy, black-haired, hook-nosed boy I hadn't seen when I'd nearly knocked Lily down. "I feel the same way. It's also my first year, and I'm a Muggleborn as well. I'm Roxanna Traynor, but most people call me Roxi. With an 'i', not a 'y'. I like it better that way, and I don't like to be called Roxanna." I took a breath, realizing I'd been babbling. I really had to stop doing that!

"Hi, Roxi. It's really nice to meet you. I hope we're in the same House at Hogwarts. Severus here wants me to be in Slytherin. I don't know which House exactly I want to be in. Ravenclaw sounds good, as does Gryffindor," Lily said. She talked to me like I was normal; unlike those girls I'd had the pleasure of meeting earlier. Did you catch the sarcasm? "I don't know which House I'd like to be in. I haven't really thought about it. I mean, I found out on my birthday in May, but I just haven't really given it a second thought." I really hadn't. I suppose I should have, to know more about where I'd be spending the next seven years. Maybe Sirius could tell me more! Oh, where was he? "I'm actually looking for a friend at the moment, Sirius Black. Have you seen him?" I didn't know how long they'd been walking around, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask them. "I don't know. He might have been one of those boys back in the compartment. What does he look like?" Lily asked me. Her eyes were full of contempt at the memory. Sirius had the tendency to get off on the wrong foot with people. "Er, he has curly black hair, gray eyes, whole family of Slytherins…" I thought he might have mentioned that. He wasn't proud of it, but he had told me that he was going to say that if he felt the need to. "Oh. Yes, he was in that compartment we were just in. He was quite obnoxious, if you don't mind me saying," she sniffed. I held back a grin. That was Sirius, alright. "Oh, no, I don't mind. He can definitely be obnoxious. Thank you for helping me find him. Nice to meet you!" I called over my shoulder as I ran off to find my best friend.

"Sirius, I thought I would never find you!" I exclaimed as I burst into the compartment. I didn't expect to find others in there with him. But I could handle this. And it was a good opportunity to embarrass him, something I would never pass up. "Oh, hello. I'm Roxi. I was looking for Sirius, and I seem to have found him"- I paused here to wave at him, to which he responded half-heartedly.- "Along with you fine people. So sorry to intrude. By the way, who are you?" I finished. Hey, I didn't say I was polite! "Hi. I'm James. James Potter." he added, puffing up his chest. I had to make a conscious effort not to giggle. "I'm Remus Lupin. Nice to meet you," said a seemingly shy boy with a book in his hands. He looked like someone I could get along with. So did James Puffychest Potter. The other boy looked kind of seedy, though. "I'm Peter Pettigrew," he squeaked. He reminded me of a rat. I didn't like him. First impressions, you know?

"Hello, James, Remus, and Peter. Pleasure to meet you. Would any of you mind if I spent the rest of the train ride here?" I asked. This was the moment of truth, so to speak. The time when they could either accept me or tell me to go away. Sirius would never let them do that, but I was still nervous. "No, we don't mind at all!" James said happily. I could tell I would definitely get along with this kid. "In fact," he added, "you could tell us all about how you and Sirius here met!" he suggested. Well, I wasn't going to say no to more potential embarrassment. "Okay!" I exclaimed. Sirius looked terrified. He wasn't easy to scare, and I was the only person who could manage to get this reaction from him. I relished the power I held. He knew what I could say, and how far it could get from the truth. "It all started when…" and I kept going off on that tangent. I figured these were new friends for him and I didn't want them to laugh at him. I made up a story that kept everyone laughing and then told them the real story, which Sirius helped with. We talked and laughed till we got to the station. We were met by a gigantic man called Hagrid, who guided us all into boats. There were only four to a boat and Sirius got into one with the other boys. I wasn't offended. I found Lily and Snape, and got into their boat. Then, we saw it. The great Hogwarts Castle, built almost a thousand years ago. It was magnificent, not at all like I pictured it. It was a nice surprise.
I looked over at Sirius at the exact moment he looked over at me, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing.
'We're going to have a life to remember at this school.'

"Black, Sirius!"

I heard my best friend's name being called and looked up to the stool, where he plopped down a second later. I knew he'd hoped he wasn't going to be sorted into Slytherin. I was hoping he got his wish.

A moment later, he did.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat cried. There was applause, of course, but the majority was looks of shock from everyone, especially the Slytherin table. The stereotype he had warned me about was true, then. Everyone did expect Blacks to end up in Slytherin. I was proud of my friend for breaking that mould.

"Evans, Lily!

My new friend! I wondered where she'd be put. She did say Ravenclaw had sounded acceptable. I knew Snape wanted her to be in Slytherin. From what I saw, they didn't seem like a pleasant bunch.

"GRYFFINDOR!" was shouted so fast I could hardly believe it. Snape didn't sound too happy – he actually groaned. Lily seemed content enough; though shot Snape a sad smile. I watched her as the next name was called. She walked down to the table and saw Sirius. I guess she recognized him from the train, and gave him a disdainful look like the two mean girls had given me earlier.

"Krissian, Brianna!"

Speaking of mean girls…

This wasn't the one that had run into me. This was the other one. This one – Brianna, was her name – had sandy brown hair. She looked sweet, if you hadn't seen the look I had received earlier.

"SLYTHERIN!" The Sorting Hat shouted. She flounced off to their table, watching for her friend. The meaner one, whose name I didn't know.

"Lamarre, Santana!"

Now I did.

This was the girl who I had apparently knocked down. The rude one. The one who had given me a glare that could freeze fire. Oh, joy. I was desperately hoping that whatever House I got, it wasn't hers.

The Hat took time to deliberate (personally I was surprised it didn't automatically pick Slytherin) but it finally picked a House for her. "RAVENCLAW!" was called out. I saw Santana glance at Brianna, then walk over to her table.

Others were called up as time went on. James, Remus, and Peter all went to Gryffindor. I wasn't surprised at its choice for James, but I thought that Remus might be in Ravenclaw and Peter might be in Hufflepuff. But evidently, the Hat saw more than they let on. Severus Snape was put into Slytherin almost right after the Hat landed on his head.

It soon came to be my turn.

"Traynor, Roxanna!"

"Roxi!" I muttered under my breath. Did I mention I didn't like it when people called me by my given name? I thought it sounded too girly. I spared a glance at Sirius, who looked amused. He knew I didn't like my name. I sat down on the stool.

"Hmm, yes. Oh my. This could very well be one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. Your loyalty and forgiveness are trademarks of a Hufflepuff; that could be a nice placement for you. But I sense smarts, and a thirst for knowledge. Ravenclaw wouldn't be bad either. There is a massive amount of cunning in there too; you can easily create lies and stories to tell. That's Slytherin…but there is so much bravery here. Tough, fiery, brave hearted girl…yes, Gryffindor would suit you very well." As soon as I heard 'Ravenclaw' and 'Slytherin' I thought 'oh please no, not those!' "Not those? But you'd excel in either one. No? Well, Hufflepuff may not work either…I choose GRYFFINDOR!" It yelled the last part, yelled it for the whole room to hear. I immediately looked at Sirius, whose face had broken into a huge wide smile. I felt warm from it. I took the hat off, gave it to McGonagall, and sat down beside Sirius, with Lily across from me. "Congratulations, Roxi! I'm so glad at least one of my new friends is with me!" Lily said, smiling. I smiled back and agreed. "Well, Rox, I'm not surprised you're in Gryffindor. I knew you couldn't stay away from me," Sirius teased. I rolled my eyes at him, and Lily gave him a look and scooted away, after smiling at me again. The other three boys scooted over, James looking interestedly at Lily, and we quickly turned our meal into a small party.

The first time we've thrown a party, and certainly not the last. We were going to enjoy being at Hogwarts, I could tell.

I was going to have the time of my life.

A/N: I'm really excited about this story, as I said above. Since I've been practically obsessed with reading Sirius/OC fics, I thought I'd make one of my own. And so far, I'm really pleased with how it's turning out.
I'd like to get about 3 reviews before I post the next chapter. Please? Oh thanks, I knew you guys would!
~ Cati