Chapter two

The great hall is soon full to the rafters, with students waiting for the new school year to start. Gwen's stomach turns at the sight of all the food, dessert after dessert and piles of every imaginable food. She will have to eat something, a spud here and wafer thin slice of ham there, won't be enough to keep Lilly from slipping into lecture mode.

Gwen looks at Sirius who's flirting with some bint called Sara, slender Sara with her perfectly straight hair able to eat a piece of crackling with ease. Gwen retaliates by striking up conservation with Remus, she doesn't honestly think Sirius will notice, never mind care but she has to do something.

"You're not eating alot," Remus remarks.

Gwen shrugs, "I had a large lunch." It's a lie but it buys her time, not that Remus can pass judgement as he either eats like a pig or a mouse. But then, he is an odd boy full of confusing contradictions and his terribly sick mother.

Remus talks, she doesn't listen only looks at the Slytherin table where Snape is drooling over Lilly. Does no one fancy Gwen? She tries to push the negative pinched little voice to the back of her mind, stuffing some food down her throat to sweeten the deal.

Even Lupin's attention dwindles as the sorting begins.