This is my first story and it was written while I was waiting for book 5 to come out. The action takes place during Harry's 6th year at school, but since OOTP hadn't come out yet I couldn't refer to anything that happens in book 5 (obviously). I just used some ideas I had based off of what I thought could be coming up in the next books for certain characters (Trelawny for example). I finished the story before OOTP was released, but couldn't work up the nerve to try and put it online until now. Hopefully, it doesn't suck.

1. The Arrival
Michelle Larson struggled to get her bags and broomstick up the huge flight of stairs before her. Looking around, she set her things down on the floor. Lifting her right hand slowly, she pointed it towards her bags and they floated effortlessly up to the top of the stairs. She smiled to herself. She ran up the stairs and reached her things just as a young man came down the hall to her left.
"Excuse me..." he spoke to her quietly. "Have you seen a frog?"
"No, was it coming this way?" Michelle took a quick look around the floor in front of her.
"He was in my pocket a second ago and now Trevor is gone."
"Why was he in your pocket?"
"He wasn't feeling well so I brought him to dinner. I didn't want to leave him alone." The boy looked around some more and suddenly his face lit up. "Trevor!" he exclaimed as he went past Michelle to a near by doorway. Michelle turned and saw a rather pudgy frog sitting in front of a door. The boy came back to her, frog in hand. "I'm Neville...Neville Longbottom."
Michelle smiled, "Hi, I'm Michelle Larson. Nice to meet you."
Neville finally noticed the bags. "Did you just get here?"
Michelle nodded, "It took forever. My plane was delayed so I missed the train and then..."
Neville cut her off, "You're the new student?! The American?"
"Yep, that's me."
"We better get inside. You're going to miss the sorting ceremony if we don't hurry." He reached down and picked up one of her bags. "Well, come on then..."
Somewhat confused, Michelle picked up the rest of her things and followed him. As they walked, Michelle stared at the pictures on the wall. At her old school, the pictures only went back to the late 1600's. She could've sworn one of the knights winked at her. Neville paused before a huge set of doors. He opened them and lead her inside. Michelle's breath caught at the sight before her. There were so many kids. Neville showed her where to put her bags for the time being. Michelle set her things in the corner and then stood still trying to decide what to do next. Before she could move, a woman at the front of the room waved to her.
Neville noticed, "That's Professor McGonagall, she's in charge of the sorting ceremony. You need to be placed into your house."
Michelle thanked Neville for his help. She made herself stand up straight as she went to the front of the hall. All eyes were on her as she walked past the tables. She glanced at the faces nearest to her and caught the eye of one particular young man. At first, all she saw were his brilliant eyes peering behind a pair of round wire rimmed glasses. His dark hair seemed to go up where it felt like, which gave him a rumpled look. In spite of herself, she smiled at him. He smiled back and nervously brushed the hair out of his eyes. Suddenly, she knew exactly who he was...and she knew she couldn't smile at him ever again.