Disclaimer- The idea of Hogwarts and all related still belongs to JK Rowling.
Mashed Potatoes and Vegetables
It wasn't the fact that she had joined them three years later that someone first made conversation on, but that she was avoiding the meat.
A sixth year had looked at her quizzically, a strand of her black hair falling from her tightly secured bun and into her face as her equally dark eyes flashed with curiosity, watching Jessica shove another forkful of vegetables into her mouth.
"The meat is good, you know.." She said in a heavy British accent. Jessica hadn't heard anything but a British accent since she had gotten off the plane, but it still sounded amusing to her.
"I'm a vegetarian," She smiled.
The girl nodded, not looking too satisfied, but likely feeling that the issue wouldn't be best to get into with a stranger. "My name's Louise Balkier, by the way."
Jessica tried not to turn up her nose at the name, but she didn't succeed too well, and a boy beside her began to laugh.
Louise cast a most ungrateful look his way and whispered to Jessica, "Lulu's my preferred name and him.." She said, sticking her thumb towards the boy beside her, "He's Thomas."
Thomas stuck out his hand and Jessica smiled. His eyes were covered by the same profuse brown curls that seemed to consume his entire head and his skin was dotted with brown freckles. Jessica shook his hand, laughing as he blew a curl out of his face.
"A fellow fourth year of yours," he said happily. "And Lulu there is an all mighty, superior, sixth year." He put on quite a show, drawing out the words and causing Lulu to reach across the table and playfully smack him.
Laughing she looked around the table at the unknown faces, finding herself once again lost in those beautiful blue eyes of the boy she had met on the train. He wasn't looking back at her this time though. In fact, he seemed to be avoiding her.
Lulu followed her gaze. "Alex caught your eye?"
Jessica blushed. "Is that his name?"
Her new friend laughed. "I should know. He is in all my classes."
Thomas wrinkled up his nose, "And he's romantically attached to a certain young Slytherin."
Lulu stuck out her tongue in mock disgust, turning back to Jessica. "Not so sadly, he's taken. Professor Trelawney, she's the Divination teacher, has always favored him. As I rule, I stay away those who spend extra time with that old bat."
Thomas lowered his voice, leaning closer to Jessica, "She's just upset that he never fancied her."
His voice hadn't been low enough because seconds later a great glob of mashed potatoes landed on top of his head of curls.
Jessica sat back in her seat contentedly, happy with her two new friends and the promise of a terrific year. Still, despite everything, her mind wandered back to what the sorting hat had said, 'I know of what is to come,' and a certain blue eyed boy.