Author's Note: Okay, well, this story is based around the fifth book, Order of the Phoenix. I added an original character to spice up the plot some; I've got an idea where she's going to come in a major part later on. Anyway, tell me if you guys like it, I hope you do! Here it is and remember: Be Kind, Review (good and bad (criticism, not 'I hate this story') are greatly appreciated)!

Harry Potter and the New Girl

Sticking Out in the Crowd

By: Chelsea

Summary: Claire just wanted to go to a wizarding school, simple, no. How did she know that she was going to befriend "The Chosen One" and go on the adventure of her life? Based around the fifth book.

Rating: K+… 13+… minor language use and possible sexual content in the future

Disclaimer: I don not own Harry Potter, its characters, charms, spells, settings, or anything else that comes from the wonderful mind of J.K. Rowling

Chapter One: Sticking Out in the Crowd…

Claire pushed her way through the crowd of students boarding the train. She had never seen such a massive amount of kids, especially since she was home schooled. Claire's mom, a squib, and father, a muggle, didn't want her to go to Hogwarts. But after the woman who was teaching her magic, her best friend and grandmother, died, she had no alternative.

Claire walked down the aisle, passing full compartments as she went. By glancing in the compartments, Claire noticed that everyone seemed to have their place. She saw younger, happy children in one; older, meaner kids in another; and so on. Claire was starting Hogwarts at the age of 14, as a fifth year, how would she fit in?

Claire glanced into another compartment. There was only one boy in it, so she decided to take a chance. Claire slid the door open. "Do you mind if I sit with you?" Claire prayed that he wouldn't say 'no'. She would feel dumb and humiliated if she was turned down by one person.

"Of course not," he said. Claire sat down across from him. She looked at him and noticed that he had a strange scar on his forehead. "I'm Harry," he said.

"I'm Claire," she said, glancing around the compartment.

Harry seemed to be studying her. "I don't think I've seen you before, Claire," he said.

"It's my first year at Hogwarts. I've been home-schooled. They are putting me in as fifth-year," she said. She knew that that probably sounded crazy, starting one of the most elite wizarding schools in the world her fifth-year.

Harry was silent for a moment, but then he asked, "Who taught you?"

"My grandma," Claire said, "she was the only magical one in my family." Claire's grandmother had been muggle-born, married a muggle, given birth to a squib, and then her daughter married a muggle.

Harry nodded his head. Claire noticed that he didn't seem to be very talkative. She wondered if he had any friends. Or maybe they were just busy. "So, how long have you been coming to Hogwarts?" Claire asked.

"This is my fifth-year," Harry said. Claire heaved, if she would have known making friends at Hogwarts was going to be this hard, she may not have begged her parents to let her come.

Claire looked out the window. She had never had a problem talking to people or making friends before. Apparently Harry was making a big effort to not talk. "What house are you in?"

"Gryffindor," Harry said. Then, Harry eyebrows wrinkled up, "Are they going to sort you along with the first-years?" he asked with a small smile.

"That's what they told me, why?" Claire asked, not understanding why he was smiling.

Harry chuckled. "Well, it's just that, the first-years are so small, and you're pretty tall. You will definitely stick out in that crowd," he said.

Claire figured he was right. For a fourteen year-old, she was pretty tall: 5 feet and 8 and half inches. "Yeah, I guess so," Claire said, now smiling.

"So, what made you want to come to Hogwarts so suddenly?" Harry asked.

"My grandma died," Claire said. "It's not like my mom or dad could teach me, she's a squib, and he's a muggle," Claire added. "They don't like magic," she added in a whisper.

Harry nodded. "I know what you mean," he said. "My aunt and uncle try everything in their power to get me not to come back each year. This year they almost got their wish," he said, and then added, "but you probably know all about that."

Claire thought for a moment. "If it has something to do with the wizarding world, I'm clueless. If it has something to do that happened in England, I'm still clueless," she said.

Harry smiled. "Right, you live in the muggle world and it sounds like you are from America," he said.

"Ding, ding, ding," Claire said, "we have a winner!" She joked.

Harry shrugged, "So you don't know about anything?"

Claire grimaced. "Well, that could be taken as an insult – but I know what you meant. So, the answer is 'no'," Claire said.

Harry seemed like he was in thought. "Well, you'll find out soon enough," he said. Just then two more teenagers walked into the compartment, a brown-haired girl who was short and carried herself with confidence followed by a red-haired boy who was tall and lanky.

"Hey Harry," the girl said sitting next to him. She looked at Claire curiously.

"Hey, mate," the boy said, he also looked at Claire and then sat next to her.

So he does have friends, Claire thought.

"This is Claire," Harry said, "she's new this year." Claire smiled at the two. "This is Hermione," Harry said, referring to the girl.

"Hello," Hermione said. Claire nodded at her.

"And this is Ron," Harry added. Ron smiled at her and Claire smiled back.

"Guess who's the Prefect for Slytherin," Ron said, breaking the silence that Claire had previously tried so hard to fill.

"Malfoy…" Harry mumbled.

"Not a friend of yours?" Claire asked, jokingly.

Ron smiled. "No, they are the greatest of mates," he said while chuckling.

"No," Harry corrected him, "he's the farthest thing from that." Claire nodded and Hermione smiled. The rest of the train ride was deadly silences followed by small conversations, then more silence.

Finally, the train came to a stop. "Wow, it's huge," Claire said, glancing out the window at the castle.

"Just wait until you get inside," Hermione said. They got off the train and walked over to a trail where carriages, which seemed to be pulling themselves, were departing towards the castle. The four stood there waiting for one, when Harry turned and looked straight into the air.

"What is that?" Harry asked. Claire watched as he held his hand out and touched the air.

"Um, there's nothing there," Ron said. Claire looked at Hermione as if asking, 'What is he talking about?', but Hermione gave Claire the same look. They got onto the carriage, while Harry continued to stare at the spot.

They arrived at the castle and they entered the Great Hall. Claire looked around for a short group of children that looked lost – knowing that they would be first-years. Finally she saw them, they were short. Harry noticed that she was looking at them. "I told you that you would stick out," he said.

"Ha, ha," Claire said, walking towards them. She joined the group of short children and stood there, feeling awkward and out of place, waiting for anything to happen.

A tall man with a long, white beard stepped up to a podium. "Welcome students, old and new, to a new year at Hogwarts. I'm Headmaster Dumbledore. We'll start out with staff announcements, and then we will begin the sorting," he said. Claire stood there and took a deep breath. "First, we are happy to have Professor Grubblyplanks back. He will be taking over Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Hagrid is on leave," he continued. Grubblyplanks, Claire thought, what a name. "And we are pleased to introduce the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge," he added. A small, frog-like lady coughed and stood up. Claire noticed that she was wearing all pink. The lady walked forward and proceeded to give a speech about the Ministry, and teaching methods, and so on. To Claire, it looked as though Professor Dumbledore wasn't accustomed to having new teachers give speeches.

Finally, he announced that they would begin sorting. A skinny, stern looking lady who was introduced as Professor McGonagall stepped forward, holding an old, ragged, hat. "Hello, first on the list is Claire Taylor," she said. Claire walked forward. She figured they called her first since she was the oldest, because Taylor clearly wasn't the first name in alphabetical order.

Claire sat down on the stool next to McGonagall as she placed the old hat on her head. "Hmm," the hat spoke and startled Claire, "Gryffindor!" The hat decided quickly. Claire stood up and walked over towards the cheering table. She saw the three that she sat with on the train waving at her, so she walked to where they were sitting.

"Hey, congratulations," Hermione said. Claire was happy that she got put into a house where she knew people. Maybe getting along here wouldn't be as hard as she thought it would be.

Author's Note: So Claire thinks… hehehe. Just wait until she finds out about You-Know-Who. I'll update as soon as I can, I hope you guys liked it. Please review!

---Chelsea