A/N: Ok, this is the last chapter I'm putting up until Bella Catherina posts for her story. Chapter four not appearing until her next chapter does. Got a beef, take it up with her... mwahahaha, sorry Cat, motivation in the form of abuse, gotta love it!

That was my first encounter with James Potter. But it certainly wasn't going to be my last. Sam and I found our own compartment and we sat and seethed over those boys for the rest of the trip.

'Firs' years! Firs' years, o'er here, please!' I staggered out into the clear Scottish air and took a deep breath. It was dark and cool, but nice... pleasant on the face after such a long train ride. Mind you, my face needed quite some pleasantness, with the dark purple bruise that was now spreading across my cheekbone.

I stared up at the man who was calling us. He was huge! I have never seen someone so tall! Perhaps he was a-?

'He can't be a giant,' Sam whispered over my shoulder. 'He's too short.'

Too short?! What, was she blind? He was massive! But, instantly, I had a gut feeling that, while he looked scary, this hairy, massive, booming voice of a man was one of those gentle giants. I liked him right away.

He introduced himself. Rubeus Hagrid, call him Hagrid, that's what everyone calls him. Keeper of keys and grounds... this was too much. I shook my head and blinked hard, trying to take it all in, and felt someone lean down close to my ear.

'Muddled, Evans?'

'Actually, Potter,' I hissed back. 'I was trying to concentrate through the massive headache you've given me, now bugger off, you're irritating me.'

I walked off, not caring when Sam giggled and whispered 'He looks like you just punched him in the face.'

'Glad to repay the favour...' I muttered.

Hagrid led us down to a small fleet of boats and we all of us, scrambled into one. Somehow the boats pulled us through the water. I looked around. There was no reasonable explanation as to why these boats were moving by themselves. Perhaps wires under the water. I sighed. Magic, remember? Hello, is this thing working? I mentally tapped my brain and smirked to myself as I pictured my brain with a little 'Out Of Order Due To Physical Strain' sign hanging off it.

The castle... how can I explain in? All jokes, all thoughts were wiped from my mind when I saw it. It was very gothic, a pure ancient castle. It was massive. I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomache... how am I going to find my way around that? I knew very well I was going to get lost, I could feel it.

The sorting ceremony was... oh, I give up, am I going to call everything weird? Well, I was my impression at the time, so yes, I am. The sorting ceremony was weird. What else can you call being sat on a stool, have an old hat plonked on your head and told which house you 'belong' in? Weird.

'GRYFFINDOR!'

I smiled and, handing the hat back to Professor McGonagall, a stern looking witch, about forty or so years old, walked calmly over to the Gryffindor table. And waited with bated breath.

'Merrywand, Samantha!'

Under the table I crossed my fingers, biting my bottom lip. Across from me Sirius Black grinned, watching me. I ignored him.

'GRYFFINDOR!'

I sighed with relief as Sam came skipping over and deposited herself beside me on the bench. She grinned at me and I couldn't help but smile back... until Potter joined us at the table.

'Attention students!'

I looked up and grabbed a fistful of my hair, twisting it into a rope and pulling it over my shoulder. Potter was watching me. I sent him a 'wanna take a picture?!' look and turned my eyes up to the headmaster. He was elderly, his beard and hair long and silvery with streaks of auburn in it. His blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon glasses as he surveyed us all, but his glance lingered on me and he smiled slightly. I had the distinct impression he knew exactly what I was thinking. 'This is so weird...'

'First years, please note that the forest is strictly out of bounds...' His voice trailed away as my thoughts wandered. My eyes traveled over the others and locked with James Potter's brown eyes across the table. He winked. I just blinked blankly at him. It was going to be a very long night...