A/N: I'm thinking of actually putting this story on hold for a while. I hate having a WIP (work-in-progress), because I know that annoys a lot of people. Also, some of you are still under the impression that this is Mary-Sueish. The story started out with a character I wanted to be somewhat like myself, but it didn't turn out that way in the end and now I could really care less (as I'm sure you do too).

I might have more time to work on this story but unless my readers REVIEW (hint... hint.... GOD, HINT ALREADY!), I don't think there's really any point in posting. Honestly, why should I bother typing up chapters for my readers that I don't even know exist? ACKNOWLEDGE ME, PEOPLE!

And... NOT A MARY-SUE!!! If that's the problem with people reviewing.... NOT A MARY SUE!

Sorry about my ranting. But honestly... some reviewing would be GREAT.

::whispers:: not a mary-sue.... not a mary-sue...

Now I'm pissing myself off with that Mary Sue crap. Just read.

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A Whole New World: Chapter 15- Meeting Jade

The door to the girls' dormitory slammed shut. As Charlotte made her way downstairs, glasses in hand, she wondered, "What are these classes going to be like? This is too surreal..."

She opened the door that led students into the common room and let herself out. She was the only person who hadn't gone to breakfast yet, she supposed. As she made her way to the Great Hall, she spotted a dark-haired girl in the hallway. The odd thing about this girl was that she wasn't walking towards the Hall for the morning meal- she was just sitting on the floor with a journal in hand; quill in fast motion.

Charlotte cautiously made her way towards this strange girl. Who knew? Maybe they would get along... ?

Before Charlotte was even inches away from the girl, something caused her to freeze. When she was able to look up, she saw that the girl had her wand in hand, pointing it threateningly at Charlotte.

"Don't come any closer, Gryffindor," she growled. The girl looked up and snickered. "Not like you can, anyway."

Charlotte whimpered. Her legs were starting to hurt. Was this some sort of freezing spell?

"You got that right, chicken. Little bit of a leg-locker curse, to be honest. Hope you're not hungry. Breakfast will be ending soon," the girl snarled.

"What the heck?" Charlotte thought frantically. "I didn't even say anything to her! And... can she read minds or something? This place is so screwed up!"

"So I'm screwed up?" the girl implied. "Real nice. I suppose being telepathic is nothing compared to a fear of water, 'eh, little chicken?" The girl stood up slowly, brushing herself off. As she did so, Charlotte noticed the badge sewn onto her robes. A Slytherin crest.

"Well," Charlotte thought, "As long as you can read minds, when the hell do you plan on releasing me from that curse? I'd love to move."

"And I'm sure you would. But maybe I should just leave you there. I'm sure you really have nothing better to do."

Charlotte tried forcing out a scream, but it came out muffled. Her mouth, along with her legs, had been stiff for the entire time she was "talking" to this girl. "I didn't even do anything to you! Why'd you curse me?"

The girl laughed and walked down the corridor, leaving Charlotte behind.

"Maybe it was a bad idea to come over to her.... wait a sec, did I just say 'maybe?' And the thing about water... how did she know?" Charlotte thought. She would have slapped herself in the face for thinking such things, but in her current state, movement would be a blessing; something she didn't have. Everything pointed to the obvious.

She stood there in that state of being for quite a while. Charlotte wasn't sure how long exactly, but she did know she was beginning to lose the feeling in her legs. A bell rang that let the students know that breakfast had ended, and they started to make their way out of the Great Hall to get back to their dormitories to get ready for classes.

As more and more students made their way to the exit, a few stopped to stare at Charlotte. Some snickered. Others had horrified looks on their faces. A couple of them laughed aloud and more just did nothing.

"What's she doing there?" someone whispered.

"I don't know. Is she sleeping?"

"No, idiot! Her eyes are open. She's even standing!"

"Yeah, yeah... shut up."

A few moments later, Professor Dumbledore pushed his way to the front of the crowd to see what had happened.

"What in Merlin's name is--" he started, eyes meeting Charlotte in her frozen position. He sighed deeply. "Not again... Everyone, back to your dormitories. Prepare for your classes."

Students groaned as they obeyed Dumbledore's commands. Charlotte wondered, "Again? This happens often?!"

Dumbledore approached Charlotte slowly and muttered something under his breath, pointing his wand at her. In a matter of seconds, Charlotte fell to the ground; she had just been released from the leg-locker. She lifted herself up from the ground and breathed deeply.

"Thank you, Professor," she said. "But what did you mean, 'not again?' This happened before? A lot?"

"We've been having some trouble with some of our third-years, that's all. It's a chain of unfortunate pranks. A little ring of trouble-makers, if you will," he responded. "Who cursed you? Can you describe them at all?"

"I... yeah. She had dark hair, pale skin... She was sitting right there," she described, pointing towards the window and the floor, "And she... I think she could read minds."

Dumbledore sighed again. "Jade Fischer. Lucky you, my dear. You need to keep an eye out for her. I'm afraid I'm going to have to give her another detention. She seems to have quite a few grudges."

"But I did nothing to her!" protested Charlotte. "Nothing at all! I just walked over to her and she--"

"That doesn't matter," Dumbledore interrupted. "She and her 'gang' just seem to do that at random. We could just call you an innocent passerby; it would make no difference."

Dumbledore sent Charlotte back to the dormitory to get her supplies, and to meet him back at his office. They still had things to discuss. Charlotte thought it was a little odd. If this happened a lot, why make a big deal out of it anymore? When she had made her way back to the common room, she said the password rather wearily. Once inside, she was greeted by Luc, Katherine, Kitt, and a few other first years she didn't know.

Kitt seemed exasperated, and this was the state that Charlotte was beginning to get used to seeing her in. "What was that all about?" she exclaimed, obviously just as confused as Charlotte.

"Ugh... Nothing, really. I'm just supposed to be getting my things ready for the first class. Then I have to go to Dumbledore's office. Which really is annoying, since I have no idea where that is," groaned Charlotte. Irritation was kicking in.

"Nothing? You're kidding me. You stood frozen in the hallway for 20 minutes!" Katherine stated loudly.

"Yeah. But you don't have to get into the subject if you don't feel like it," said Luc. Kitt and Katherine both faced him menacingly. He smiled weakly and sat in an armchair in the corner of the common room.

"Well, see you later, then. We... err.. have Potions first. Be prepared," Katherine warned.

"Yeah. Snape's a real catch," added Kitt.

Charlotte sighed deeply and said good-bye, leaving them to go get her things. This was going to be a long day, and it didn't seem like it would get any shorter just to suit her delight.

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A/N: Sorry that it took so long for me to update. I've been really busy lately (and I know you all care so very much), and I just haven't found the time to write a new chapter. My friend Tricia wants to help me write the chappies, so she's going to partner up with me every so often to come up with new plots.

Jade isn't really based on anyone; she's just going to be the fun bully every once in a while. Sarcasm rocks.

Thanks for reading, and REVIEW!

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