SLF: I know, you guys haven't seen me in forever. And since this is my first HP fic, most of you haven't seen me at all! Well, I shall warn you; I never really intended to post this. This was a fic that is totally for me to have fun and for my friends to read so there is an OC love thingy. I wouldn't be offended if most of you left right now; I understand. I hate poorly done OCs myself, but like I said, this is for fun. It doesn't fit in with the plot of the 5th or 6th book at all but whatever. I'd love to know what you think and smack me if I make anyone out of character! Read on!

Chapter 1:

New Friends; New Foes

Lyra pushed her blonde colored hair out of her eyes as she stepped through the wall unto Platform 9 and three quarters with her bags. She was not happy.

"Tell me why again I'm switching schools right before my 6th year." She asked her parents as they helped her load her bags.

"Because honey," her father started, "Those new American wizardry schools are much too…progressive."

"Yes," her mother added, "Here you will get the traditional schooling that you will need for a career."

Lyra rolled her eyes; if it was up to her, she would be boarding the train to her American school with all of her friends. Not up here in Britain where they had weird slang and funny accents. She also didn't like the use of the word 'traditional'. What did that mean? Were they going to hang her by her toes if she screwed up? And what was with the name 'Hogwarts' anyway? Her old school had been named Avarlein, which, in her opinion, was an awesome name for a school.

"Whatever."

With a heave, Lyra lifted her trunk with her onto the train. Looking around one last time, she leaned down to kiss her parents goodbye.

"Be careful sweetheart, okay?" Her mother asked kissing her on the cheek.

"Of course," Lyra replied, "I always do."

"This year you will need to be more then ever," Her father added ominously.

Confused, Lyra was about to ask what he meant by that but the train horn sounded and she had to go.

"Love you!" She yelled as she went inside.

Stepping into the hall of the train she sighed. She didn't know anyone and finding a seat would be awkward she just knew it. Seeing no one in the hall, she decided it would be best if she just closed her eyes and randomly stopped. She would see if there was a place to sit in the compartment she stopped in front of. It seemed as good a plan as any at the time. Closing her eyes, she started walking at a very rapid pace. Suddenly she fell to the ground as she crashed into someone. Opening her eyes she saw a brunette boy with bright green eyes across from her. Great job genius! She chided herself; You're just going to make loads of friends. Hurriedly getting up she mumbled an apology and held out a hand to help him up.

"I'm really sorry," she blushed as he got up, "I wasn't looking were I was going." Literally, she thought.

"It's okay," the boy said looking at her strangely, "Sorry if I'm being rude but, are you, American?"

Lyra laughed; she hadn't been expecting that reaction,

"Yeah, just got transferred."

He thought for a moment before holding out his hand,

"I'm Harry," he said.

"I'm Lyra. Nice to meet you Harry," she smiled shaking his hand.

"Um," Harry started, "What do you mean you were 'transferred here'? If you don't mind my asking."

"No not at all," Lyra sighed, "I'm kinda expecting a lot of questions. My family moved here and thus I had to go to school here as well. I asked why I couldn't just use a portkey or floo powder everyday but my parents always avoided my questions so here I am."

"Oh," Harry rubbed the back of his head and for a while, there was an awkward silence before he continued, "Do you want to sit with my friends and me? I mean, if you don't have somewhere else already."

"Actually, you're the first person I've met so I'd love to sit with you and your friends."

The pair walked down the corridor and Harry showed her to his compartment. Opening it, she saw two others in there; a boy with fiery orange hair and a girl with slightly bushy brown hair.

"Guys," Harry started as they walked in, "This is Lyra. She's from America."

"Hi," Lyra smiled self-consciously.

"Hello. I'm Hermione and the boy who's staring at you is Ron," the girl grinned toothily.

"I was not staring!" Ron retorted indignantly as the two girls giggled.

Lyra sat down with Hermione and the conversation flowed.

"So you're from a wizarding school in America?" Hermione asked, "That's odd because I remember reading somewhere that in America children are taught magic by their parents."

"It was that way for a long time, but thankfully I never had to experience it. They finally figured out that real teachers are needed for students to get anywhere and Avarlein was created," Lyra replied, "I doubt that you get much information on America because we don't get a lot of information about you back home."

"Avarlein. Was that the name of your old school?" Ron asked, "That's a bit odd, isn't it?"

"Well, to me this school has an odd name," She laughed, "It was named after the founder Yvonne Avarlein in the 1800s."

"So you're school is very young compared to most," Hermione prompted.

"Yep, but it was a blast. I met a lot of people and the teaching system I understand is very unique."

"What do you mean 'unique'?" Harry asked.

"Instead of a lot of book work, our teachers showed us everything they taught and demonstrated mostly everything. Our assignments were set up as in real life experiences with consequences. Like, someone put a charm on your dishes and they were attacking everything. You would have to stop it or they would destroy everything."

"Isn't that dangerous?" Hermione asked wide-eyed.

"No. Not really. Occasionally someone would get hurt but it was never that serious. Teachers always supervised. They would step in if necessary, but it was pretty safe to say that you didn't get a good grade if they had to step in."

"That's fascinating!" Hermione exclaimed, "I can't believe I didn't know that!"

"I'd be surprised if you did really," Lyra admitted.

"Do you know what house you're in?" Harry asked her.

"Um," Lyra said racking her brain, "My old headmaster said that I was going to be in something like...Slythiner or something."

"Slytherin!" All three cried.

"Yeah!" Lyra looked at their faces, "Is that bad?"

"Just a little," Ron replied sarcastically.

"Well what house are you all in?" Lyra replied a little huffy. After all, it wasn't exactly her fault that she was in Slytherin.

"Gryffindor," Hermione replied, "We are the rivals of the Slytherins."

"Oh," Lyra replied uncomfortably.

"Well, the problem is," Harry started after a length of silence, "Slytherins aren't generally liked by anyone outside their house; at all."

"Well that's great!" Lyra threw her hands around exasperatedly, "I'm in the sucky house."

She received blank looks.

"Sucky, like really bad?" Lyra expanded.

"Did your headmaster tell you why he put in Slytherin?" Hermione asked.

"He just said because I was ambitious and good at potions. I'm not sure about the ambitious part though...He probably only said that because I could actually do my homework," Lyra replied shrugging, "That's all, though."

"Not everyone in Slytherin is bad," Ron said consolingly, "This one girl let me borrow her quill once."

"Do people normally hang out with people outside of their house?" Lyra asked hopefully.

"Not really," Harry replied apologetically.

Downtrodden, Lyra sighed.

"But we can probably make an exception," Harry blurted out hurriedly.

"Yes!" Hermione agreed, "But fair warning, you'll become an outcast if you hang around with us."

"Why?" Lyra asked.

"Because the leader of the Slytherins is the biggest git in the world," Ron snorted.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, "And he hates us. His name is Draco Malfoy."

"What's that Potter? Talking about me again are we?"

Lyra looked towards the now open doorway to see a boy with slicked back blonde hair with two large boys standing behind him.

"Not any more then you do about us," Hermione snorted.

"I wasn't talking to you Granger," Draco snapped.

"You weren't talking to me either but I feel like intruding," Lyra sneered.

"And who are you?" Draco demanded eyeing her.

"Lyra Donavan. You must be the infamous Draco Malfoy. I must say you're far less intimidating then I imagined you."

"Really?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Shove off Malfoy," Harry interrupted.

Draco snapped his eyes back onto Harry,

"I'll do whatever I want Potter," he looked back to Lyra, "As for you, you watch your mouth or it might get you in trouble one of these days."

Lyra smirked,

"If trouble is annoying you then I'm up for the punishment."

Glaring, Malfoy and his goons exited the compartment and left the four friends.

All three grinned at her,

"Somehow I think you'll fit right in with the Gryffindors," Harry smiled.

"Though you didn't have to piss Malfoy off quite that much," Ron said, "You'll be known all around the school before we even get there."

"He deserved it," Lyra snorted leaning back, "Who does he think he is? King of the whole friggin' school?"

"Pretty much," Hermione laughed.

SLF: Well, I hope you guys enjoyed it! Chapter Two: Stick to Your Own Kind is going to be posted July 30th.