First of all, I'd like to clarify I am Spanish, and therefore my English might not be the best. Second, this is my first story here at and also my first HP fic ever. And third, this is an OC fic. I know some of you don't like that, but I don't like modifying a story without introducing new characters. Being an OC fic, it is quite obvious that I've had to change and twist some of the facts in the HP books. I tried, however, to make my OC a not so typical Mary Jane. Thanks for reading.

CHAPTER 1

Lola couldn't really recall when she started gaining weight. Perhaps she had always been pudgy, or perhaps it had been due to her Spanish mother's excellent cooking skills, she couldn't tell. But if there is one thing you don't see in Paris that is fat people. All of her life, she felt out of place in her city. Her friends were all thin and fit, her father was slender and athletic and even her grandmother was a smaller size than she was. Lola had been told several times she was the exact copy of her mother, and, even if she felt somewhat proud of that statement, she loathed the weight part. Her mother had always been slightly chubby, even though she was extraordinarily beautiful –so much that not even French guys cared about her size. Unfortunately, Lola knew she was not half as good looking as her mother was, probably due to the fact that she never took much interest in making herself look good, unlike her mother, who was actually very conceited. Her already low self-esteem decayed even more at age 11, when she started her magical studies at Beauxbatons. By that age, most of her companions knew already basic beauty spells and were skilled at using make up.

Having, basically, no friends and quite poor social abilities, Lola dedicated most of her time to books and homework. By age 14 she was considered the most brilliant student Beauxbatons had had in a very long time. Not that it helped making her a tad more popular, though. In fact, every time a teacher praised her she could feel her classmates' dislike towards her growing a little higher. That was the main reason why she didn't feel bad at all when her father told her that her whole family was moving to England. While her mother was a pretty powerful witch, her father was a muggle business man who had been recruited by one of the most important enterprises in the UK so now they all had to go live in London. It would actually be her first time to travel out of France and she felt excited about something for the first time in a very long time. Her parents, surprised, smiled at each other while hearing her hum one of her favourite songs while packing her things. Maybe it would be good for their daughter to change schools and everything. God knew they loved her more than anything in this world, but she was not exactly the kind of person you wanna cuddle up to. Not that they didn't try, but Lola was never very affectionate. That was more of a problem for her mother than for her father, since the woman was used to hugging everyone who got in her way.

The first day of school, Lola felt sick. All of her new energies had been wasted after the first week in London. Used to Paris' light, London seemed dull and grey to her, and only during night-time she liked the city. She had spent hours every night with her head out of the window, enjoying the lights of the city winking around her. But it was broad daylight when she had to smash herself against the train stations' barrier to walk into platform 9 ¾. Her parents next to her, she stiffened at the sight of so many people. The train was enormous, and the amount of students there was easily surpassing by far the total amount of students in Beauxbatons. She only had a few minutes to try to believe her parents' soothing words and to calm herself. By the time she climbed up the train and found a place to sit –the only empty compartment she could find- her mother was already in tears. Lola couldn't help but roll her eyes at her; people were staring. Her mom's Spanish emotional range was something Londoners weren't very used to. She yelled some comforting words out of the window and turned her head back in time to say goodbye to her teary-eyed parents before the train started going too fast to see anything in particular. Once she got dizzy from staring out the window, she sat down and rested her head to close her eyes. She had calmed herself down pretty much when the door slammed open. She shot her eyes open and winced. In front of her was a pretty girl with brown, fuzzy hair.

-Sorry I startled you –she said, with a clearly distinguishable British accent.

-It's okay –Lola muttered, uneasy.

-Would you mind if we sat here with you? The rest of the train is packed.

Lola looked up at the strange girl and nodded without a word. She received a confident smile from her and before she could know it she was shaking her hand.

-Hermione Granger.

-Lola Laroche.

-Is that a French name? –Lola looked aside to see a tall redhead walk in the compartment.

-Yes –she eyed him, cautiously.

-You don't look very French –he said.

Lola took it personally whenever someone made that comment. Instead of understanding what most people meant (she had raven black hair and big hazel almond-shaped eyes), she always thought they were talking about her figure.

-Unfortunately, you do look very British –she snapped back.

The redhead stared at her for a second while the unknown girl suppressed a giggle. Behind the redhead, another guy started laughing. Lola hadn't noticed him before. He had messy black hair and wore glasses. He spread his hand for her to take.

-Hi there. Harry Potter.

-Lola Lar- Wait. THE Harry Potter? –she raised an eyebrow.

-Yup, the one and only –he smiled.

Lola lazily smiled back at him, trying not to look straight at his forehead. She had heard rumors about him going to Hogwarts, but never really thought she would meet him right there, in the train. Hermione was sitting in front of her, so Harry sat by her side.

-Pardon my friend's manners, he is actually not as British as he seems –Harry smirked.

-I still don't get it –the redhead commented.

Lola touched her hair with a significant gesture and the boy finally understood what she meant.

-Yeah, it runs in the family. Look, I didn't mean to offend you, I just didn't imagine French girls to have black hair.

-Actually, my mother is Spanish, so there you go.

-That makes sense –the redhead smiled-. I'm Ron, by the way. Weasley.

She shook his hand with a timid smile and he sat in front of Harry, by Hermione. The girl immediately started asking questions about Lola. Where did she live? Why had she moved to England? She smiled when Lola said she would be starting sixth year with them.

-I hope you get sorted into Gryffindor, then.

-What's Gryffindor? –Lola asked, right before hearing some laughter.

-It's a great place for mudbloods, I guess.

The four of them spun their heads to look at the door. Three guys were blocking it. The one in the middle was notoriously smaller than the other two, but somehow drew all attention to himself. Lola was shocked by his overall fairness: his hair was almost white, his grey eyes looked like metal and his skin tone was definitely paler than hers, which was already considered too pale. Next to him, Ron looked tanned.

-Get fucked, Malfoy –Ron displayed again his great manners.

-You don't worry about that, Weasley, I'm sure I will.

Lola felt the stranger's eyes scan her and her cheeks turned red. His glance was so cold it gave her shivers.

-Well, Potter, it looks like you've found a mudblood to match you –he grinned-. You are a mudblood, aren't you, dear?

Lola did not respond, unable to pronounce a word. Instead, she just observed his facial features gracefully turn into a look of scorn:

-Of course you are, purebloods have some respect for their bodies.

-Shut up, Malfoy –Harry didn't even bother yelling.

Lola felt her whole face turn red with rage, but she didn't dare say anything. After all, he was right. It was bad enough having normal people saying these things about her but when someone this gorgeous took time to evaluate her, it was the worst. Apparently, he had no physical flaw that she could console herself with.

-You know Potter, I always thought you could do a little better than this. At least Granger still fits through the door.

Malfoy was still laughing when Hermione's fist hit him right in the mouth. Lola gasped in horror, but fortunately, after directing at Hermione a look of pure hatred, Malfoy spat blood aside and left, followed by his two minions. Hermione sat back down without saying anything, and rubbed her bruised knuckles. She tried to make Lola look at her but the girl was looking out the window, with the side of her face covered by her thick black hair. No one saw her tears run down her cheeks, and even when Harry asked her quietly if she was okay, she nodded without saying a word. She remained silent until they arrived to Hogwarts, where they were all led into the Great Hall. Not knowing where to go, Lola sat down by Hermione, avoiding everyone's questioning looks. Unfortunately, professor Dumbledore called her name out loud after his speech. She stood up, almost shivering, afraid to look around. She could hear some muffled giggles from some students.

-Miss Laroche, if I could have a word with you, please...

She followed him outside and he introduced himself, explaining the typical hat ceremony to sort out students into the different houses.

-However, I think you're old enough to decide by yourself where you think you'll fit in better.

-I'm not really sure... –she bit her lip.

-Gryffindor is brave, Slytherin's ambitious, Hufflepuff is pure and Ravenclaw is wise.

-I don't really fit into any of those descriptions, but... Sir?

-Yes, Miss Laroche?

-Could I be in Gryffindor? It's just... Well, the only people I know in here are Gryffindors.

-Let me guess, Miss Granger? –Lola nodded- And Weasley and Potter.

-Yes, sir.

-Okay, then. I think you might have more of a Ravenclaw in you, but it's your choice, after all. I'll arrange for your things to be taken to one of the Gryffindor rooms.

-Thank you, sir.

-You're welcome. Oh, and, Lola?

-Yes, sir?

-I hope you enjoy it here.

Lola smiled back at the old man and they both returned to the Great Hall. She sat back down next to Hermione and whispered Dumbledore's decision to her.

-That's great! –the girl smiled frankly at her- I'll show you the way to the dorms after dinner, okay?

Lola thanked her with a growing smile and looked down at her plate for the first time. She tried to identify some of the food she had in front of her but she couldn't.

-'A you 'gay? –Ron asked while munching on something indefinable.

-What?! –her eyes grew wide.

Harry laughed while drinking and ended up spitting pumpkin juice all over his plate. Hermione, on the contrary, did not find it amusing.

-How many times have I told you, Ronald Weasley, to not talk with your mouth full? –she glared at him.

-I'm sorry –he answered after gulping down the food-. I said "Are you okay?", I wasn't asking if you're gay.

-Not that there would be anything wrong if you were –Hermione said, non-chalantly.

-No, I'm fine –Lola said, still puzzled-. It's just I don't know what all this food is.

-Uhm... That's kidney pie, right there. And that's-

-What, pie? –Lola stuck up her nose.

-Kidney –Harry repeated, raising his eyebrows.

Lola stared disgusted at the pie, leaning back and pushing her plate away from her.

-Aw, come on, don't tell me you're used to better food –Ron laughed.

-My father's French and my mother's Spanish, what do you think?

-Oi, she's got a point there –Harry nodded, while Ron served himself more kidney pie.

-Whatever, dude. More for me.

-I get the feeling I'm finally going to lose some weight –Lola sighed.

Both boys and Hermione laughed at her comment and, for the first time in a very long time, she didn't interpret it as mockery.