Disclaimer: I own nothing (sob!) except for Vinnie and the plot. If I DID
own HP, Sean would be in the third movie!
A/N: I wrote this entire story before the 5th book came out so anything that happens in the 5th book is irrelevant to this story.
Chapter 1: The New Boy
"What do you think he'll be like?" Ron eagerly asked Harry.
"Who?"
"The American student! Who else has everybody been talking about all summer?"
Quite frankly, Harry didn't see what all the fuss was about. An American student, big deal. Dudley had had an American classmate at school the year before and whined all summer about how obnoxious he was. Apparently he had egged Dudley's dorm room. Twice. Harry was glad Dudley finally got what he deserved, but he still didn't understand why Ron and Hermione were so excited.
"I wonder if he plays Quidditch," Ron continued.
"How do you know it's a he?" Harry asked.
"Fred and George told me his name's Vinnie. Have you ever known a girl named Vinnie?"
Harry shook his head and the duo waited in silence until Hermione arrived a few seconds later, looking even more excited than usual to begin school.
"Have you heard anything new about him?" she asked breathlessly. "Do you know what he looks like?
"I thought you didn't like guys just for their looks," Harry reminded her.
"Well, um, ahem. Sometimes a person's intelligence can be reflected by the way they look," she said in a lame attempt to cover up.
"Oh, ok," Ron said in fake agreement. "coughLOCKHARTcough"
"Catching a cold, Weasel?" said a voice behind them. The group turned around.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ron asked.
"Just thought I'd say hello to my three favorite people. Potty, Weasel, and Furry Mudblood. Keeping your hair under control, Granger?" Malfoy asked sarcastically.
"Why don't you go hang out with the rest of the pondscum, Malfoy?" Ron said.
"Was I talking to you, Carrot Top? I see your clothes aren't the only secondhand things you have. Your brain appears to be the same way."
Ron lunged at Malfoy but was stopped by Harry and Hermione.
"Just leave us alone or I'll let him go," Harry threatened.
Malfoy's mouth went dry and he took a small step backwards. Ron looked significantly taller and stronger this year and he didn't want to push his luck. He instead smirked and said coolly, "Fine, I'll leave, but I heard the American chap went to school a day early and got sorted into Slytherin. Heard he's a bloody good Quidditch player, too. Tough luck for you, Potter." And with a flick of Ron's shirt collar, he walked off.
"Stupid git," Ron said angrily as Harry and Hermione dragged him towards the Hogwarts Express. Thankfully, the trip went without further incident and before they knew it, the train was slowing down as it approached Hogwarts. Everyone got off and headed towards the school where they filed into the Great Hall and awaited the sorting of the first years. And of course, the American.
"I heard he's eight feet tall!" Dean exclaimed.
"I heard he's so strong he can crunch a bowling ball!" Neville yelled. "With his pinkie!"
"I heard he's cuter than Prince William," Ginny said shyly.
Harry rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe he was friends with these people. "How do we know for sure he's a he?"
The entire end of the Gryffindor table was silent.
"Well of course he's a he! The transfer went through the Ministry. Dad saw the papers and accidentally let it slip to Fred and George," Ron explained. "Even they wouldn't lie about something this cool."
Harry sighed as everyone continued to gossip. Across the room at the Slytherin table, he saw Malfoy talking animatedly to Crabbe and Goyle. He was no doubt telling them what an amazing Quidditch player the American was.
Just then, the doors to the Great Hall opened and Hagrid led the first years in. Strangely, there was one girl who towered over the rest. The sorting began, but most students were more interested in the strange girl than the first years. Finally, she was the last to be sorted.
"Lavinia Sinclair," Professor McGonogall called.
The girl walked to the stool, sat down, and Professor McGonogall put the sorting hat on her head. It hesitated.
"Hmm.You have some interesting qualities and an interesting background. You'll go far in either house.SLYTH - no. GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted into cheers as the Slytherins groaned and rolled their eyes. Lavinia blushed and walked over to the table where she plopped down between Harry and Ron, who had quickly made room for her.
"Hey," she said in an American accent. "I'm Vinnie."
A/N: I wrote this entire story before the 5th book came out so anything that happens in the 5th book is irrelevant to this story.
Chapter 1: The New Boy
"What do you think he'll be like?" Ron eagerly asked Harry.
"Who?"
"The American student! Who else has everybody been talking about all summer?"
Quite frankly, Harry didn't see what all the fuss was about. An American student, big deal. Dudley had had an American classmate at school the year before and whined all summer about how obnoxious he was. Apparently he had egged Dudley's dorm room. Twice. Harry was glad Dudley finally got what he deserved, but he still didn't understand why Ron and Hermione were so excited.
"I wonder if he plays Quidditch," Ron continued.
"How do you know it's a he?" Harry asked.
"Fred and George told me his name's Vinnie. Have you ever known a girl named Vinnie?"
Harry shook his head and the duo waited in silence until Hermione arrived a few seconds later, looking even more excited than usual to begin school.
"Have you heard anything new about him?" she asked breathlessly. "Do you know what he looks like?
"I thought you didn't like guys just for their looks," Harry reminded her.
"Well, um, ahem. Sometimes a person's intelligence can be reflected by the way they look," she said in a lame attempt to cover up.
"Oh, ok," Ron said in fake agreement. "coughLOCKHARTcough"
"Catching a cold, Weasel?" said a voice behind them. The group turned around.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ron asked.
"Just thought I'd say hello to my three favorite people. Potty, Weasel, and Furry Mudblood. Keeping your hair under control, Granger?" Malfoy asked sarcastically.
"Why don't you go hang out with the rest of the pondscum, Malfoy?" Ron said.
"Was I talking to you, Carrot Top? I see your clothes aren't the only secondhand things you have. Your brain appears to be the same way."
Ron lunged at Malfoy but was stopped by Harry and Hermione.
"Just leave us alone or I'll let him go," Harry threatened.
Malfoy's mouth went dry and he took a small step backwards. Ron looked significantly taller and stronger this year and he didn't want to push his luck. He instead smirked and said coolly, "Fine, I'll leave, but I heard the American chap went to school a day early and got sorted into Slytherin. Heard he's a bloody good Quidditch player, too. Tough luck for you, Potter." And with a flick of Ron's shirt collar, he walked off.
"Stupid git," Ron said angrily as Harry and Hermione dragged him towards the Hogwarts Express. Thankfully, the trip went without further incident and before they knew it, the train was slowing down as it approached Hogwarts. Everyone got off and headed towards the school where they filed into the Great Hall and awaited the sorting of the first years. And of course, the American.
"I heard he's eight feet tall!" Dean exclaimed.
"I heard he's so strong he can crunch a bowling ball!" Neville yelled. "With his pinkie!"
"I heard he's cuter than Prince William," Ginny said shyly.
Harry rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe he was friends with these people. "How do we know for sure he's a he?"
The entire end of the Gryffindor table was silent.
"Well of course he's a he! The transfer went through the Ministry. Dad saw the papers and accidentally let it slip to Fred and George," Ron explained. "Even they wouldn't lie about something this cool."
Harry sighed as everyone continued to gossip. Across the room at the Slytherin table, he saw Malfoy talking animatedly to Crabbe and Goyle. He was no doubt telling them what an amazing Quidditch player the American was.
Just then, the doors to the Great Hall opened and Hagrid led the first years in. Strangely, there was one girl who towered over the rest. The sorting began, but most students were more interested in the strange girl than the first years. Finally, she was the last to be sorted.
"Lavinia Sinclair," Professor McGonogall called.
The girl walked to the stool, sat down, and Professor McGonogall put the sorting hat on her head. It hesitated.
"Hmm.You have some interesting qualities and an interesting background. You'll go far in either house.SLYTH - no. GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted into cheers as the Slytherins groaned and rolled their eyes. Lavinia blushed and walked over to the table where she plopped down between Harry and Ron, who had quickly made room for her.
"Hey," she said in an American accent. "I'm Vinnie."