~Chapter one ~ "Oi!"

Thu-thump thu-thump thu-thump. Lola could hear her heart beat ringing in her head and blood roaring in her ears. There was another roaring in the room and that was coming from a long table of students as they welcomed the newest member of Gryffindor house. He didn't walk or hurry to the table like all of the others who had been sorted before him, oh no, he strutted to the table and sat with another equally arrogant and strangely confident first year.

The line of students gradually shortened as they were each called out one by one to be sorted into the various houses, some took longer to be sorted but nonetheless the hat that was placed on their heads would eventually allocate them their house. Soon it was just one student, she wandered why the bespectacled teacher with the long scroll had not yet called her name. She panicked! Was she in the right place? Was the owl sent to the right address? Did she actually possess any magical ability? What if all of the seemingly magical things that had happened where just flukes? Lola felt like she was going to be sick. The dithering old teacher picked up the sorting hat and moved to sit down leaving the poor girl on her own at the front of the hall. Lola could feel her face going red and she felt the eyes of her fellow pupils watching her. She could hear sniggers coming from the Slytherin table, saw looks of pity from the Hufflepuff, curiosity from Ravenclaw but when she saw the Gryffindor table she was filled with a strange kind of confidence that calmed her fluttering heart. Slowly Lola took a deep breath and calmly walked up to the teacher that had forgotten her and said in a quiet voice

"Excuse me miss but I haven't been sorted yet"

The teacher squinted at Lola and then jumped as she realised her mistake

"Oh my dear girl I am most sorry, I don't know how I did it! Oh I am sorry. If you could please show me your name here"

The old lady brandished the scroll in Lola's face. Lola took it and searched for her name

"Here I am"

Lola pointed to a name

"Ah so that would make you Lola Jones"

Declared the teacher triumphantly. Lola nodded as the teacher came back around from her seat and guided her to a stool and placed the battered old hat on Lola's head. It wasn't long before the hat had mumbled something about it being close and finally proclaimed its verdict. The Gryffindor table erupted for the final time as Lola sat next to one of the arrogant boys. After the various notices had been read out the feast began. Lola had just started eating some pasta when one of the boys turned to her and held out his hand.

"Sirius, Sirius Black and this is James Potter"

Lola shook Sirius' hand and gave James a nod

"Lola, Lola jones"

Sirius gave a half smile

"Lola, what sort of a name is that?"

James gave a slight smile as he turned his attention to a chicken leg. Lola raised an eyebrow

"I could ask you the same thing"

She said. Her eyes twinkled and potter choked on a mouthful of chicken. After he was thumped on the back several times by Sirius, James croaked

"She's got you there mate"

Sirius scowled at them both then rolled his eyes

"Any way, this is Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew"

Lupin gave her a tired smile and Pettigrew squeaked and jumped at the sound of his own name causing a boy next to him to spill pumpkin juice on his lap.

Lola enjoyed her first feast at Hogwarts. There was good food and eventually good company as she began to get to know the boys better. She laughed with James and Sirius, had interesting discussions with Remus and comforted Peter when he was shouted at by the boy who had spilt his juice. After what seemed like many hours later the feast was over and the first years where lead up to their common rooms by the prefects where they were promptly sent to bed.

It was three in the morning when Lola awoke in a tangle of bed sheets. She sighed and crept down into the common room where she sat on the worn hearth rug and she gazed into the faintly glowing hot coals. She closed her eyes and swayed slightly as she remembered a song that she had sung whenever she was all Lola felt strong arms around her as she drifted off into a sweet dreamless sleep.

Lola was woken suddenly about three and a half hours later by someone shouting.

"Oi!"