AN: Once upon a time, a girl set out to write a love story in the HP universe... But she found Mary Sue monsters everywhere!

I'm trying to make this as un-Mary Sue as I can, because I want it to be different, not a clichéd one-of-a-million fanfics. IF YOU SEE ANY SIGNS OF MARY SUEISM, PLEASE TELL ME! Seriously!

Okay, enough of that. This might be told in vignettes rather than a whole story; I don't know yet. Please review. Thanks, guys!

Obviously, all this stuff belongs to J.K. Rowlings. :( Poor me.

A girl stepped on the Hogwarts Express, looking curiously about her. Of average height and build, she had ash-blonde hair falling loose over her shoulders. She wasn't exactly pretty, but she had an appealing face, particularly when she smiled. And when she was excited or agitated, her eyes turned a blazing blue, almost cerulean. At the moment, however, while she was just registering curiosity and a little nervousness, her eyes were their usual blue-grey.

She made her way down the corridor, peeking into compartments as she went. She found one with only one girl in it, and slipped in the door.

"May I sit here?" she asked.

The girl nodded, her dark brown curls bouncing around her face. She stuck out her hand. "Eunice Wheeler."

Taking a seat, the blonde shook her hand. "I'm Gwen Crowley."

Eunice glanced out the window, then waved to her parents on the platform. "First year?" she asked Gwen.

"Yes; you?"

Eunice nodded. "I'm really excited! My brother told me all sorts of stories about Hogwarts. He's a third year, in Ravenclaw."

"I'm an only child," Gwen said. She pulled her brand-new wand out of her bag and fiddled with it.

"What did you think of Mr. Ollivander?"

"Actually, he gave me the willies," Gwen admitted. She imitated the wand-merchant's voice. "Nine and a half inches, white ash, core of unicorn hair. Strong, good for dueling." She laughed. "My mum's eyes grew really wide, and she said, 'How about she learns some simple spells first!'"

Eunice grinned. "Hey," she suddenly said, pointing at the door. "Cute boy alert!"

Gwen laughed and looked where she pointed. The last four passengers had boarded the train. And the first certainly was cute! Black hair falling artlessly around a face of clear-cut features and blue eyes. The bag he carried bore a crest that looked familiar to Gwen, and the words, Toujours Pur.

"Oh," Gwen said. "He's a Black."

"What?"

"He's from the Black family," Gwen explained. "Not the nicest people, generally."

The Black boy was followed by a short, chubby blond, then another black-haired boy with spectacles. "Not bad looking," Eunice said appraisingly, and Gwen chuckled. The last passenger was a thin boy with dirty-blond hair and sharp grey eyes. He happened to glance at Gwen. She almost dropped her eyes, but on a whim she smiled instead—inadvertently showing her plain face to its best advantage. The boy automatically smiled back, and then he was gone.

Eunice settled back in her seat. "I think it's time to go," she commented lazily. Gwen still stared out the door. The train's engine started up. They both waved once at their parents through the window, and they were on their way.

Settling back as well, Gwen replied, "Hope it's a good year!"

000

"Black, Sirius."

Waiting to be Sorted, Eunice and Gwen nudged each other simultaneously. The good-looking first year from the train stepped forward jauntily, but Gwen thought she saw a nervous twitch in his smile. She wondered why. Her uncle had gone to school with a Black; he said every member of the family had gone to Slytherin. Sirius must've known he'd go there; why would he be nervous?

The Sorting Hat was settled on his head. Gwen expected a short pause, but the hat cogitated for half a minute before suddenly shouting, "Gryffindor!"

There was murmuring across the hall as Sirius grinned broadly and went to sit at the Gryffindor table. Gwen noticed a beautiful, black-haired second-year glaring at Sirius with loathing. Gwen wondered if she were perhaps a Black herself.

She didn't have much time to wonder. "Crowley, Gwendolen," Professor McGonagall was saying.

Gwen gulped and stepped forward, hoping her gait didn't look too stilted. I'd better not get Slytherin, she thought. I wish I could get Ravenclaw—but that's not going to happen! She was a decent student, but not exactly brilliant. Another fear gripped her heart. Oh, please, not Hufflepuff!

The hat was settled on her head, and it caught her last thought. "Not Hufflepuff?" it exclaimed in her mind. "Nothing wrong with Hufflepuff, you know." Gwen thought she heard it chuckle. "Well, no, then. You're not a Slytherin, and the Ravenclaws don't seem your type. How about—" it shouted aloud—"Gryffindor!"

When the hat was lifted, she practically flew to a seat at the left-hand table. She was surprised, but awfully pleased. Gryffindor wasn't a bad house to be Sorted into at all!

She watched as her fellow students were sent to Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Gryffindor—Evans, Lily; lovely redheaded girl who sat near Gwen. A couple of Ravenclaws, a few Hufflepuffs, then—

"Lupin, Remus."

It was the grey-eyed boy from the train. He acted composed, but there was even more nervousness in his eyes than in Sirius'. No, that's more than nervousness, Gwen realized. It's fear. What did he have to be afraid of?

But the hat barely touched his head before it shouted, "Gryffindor!"

Color flooded back into Remus's pale face—he looked immensely relieved. He took a seat next to Sirius, who clapped him on the back. Remus flashed hima smile, and Gwne caught a glimpse of understanding pass between them before she turned back to the Sorting.

One to Hufflepuff, one to Slytherin. Eunice caught Gwen's eye and winked.

"Potter, James." The boy with spectacles was confidently to the stool and was sorted into Gryffindor. He sat with Sirius and they smiled at each other.

"Pettigrew, Peter."

The blond boy crept forward and was (after a very long pause on the part of the hat) sorted into Gryffindor. He sat down on James's other side.

Several more sorted. A cheerful-looking redhead went to Hufflepuff, a sullen, greasy-haired boy with a hook nose to Slytherin. The very last to be Sorted was Eunice—the price for having a name that started with 'W'.

A bit of a pause from the hat, then she was sorted into Gryffindor. Eunice slipped in next to Gwen. "It was deciding between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw—I asked it for Gryffindor," she confessed. "Thank God that's over!"

Remus caught her last comment and laughed. "Agreed!"

000

Gwen and Eunice roomed with Lily Evans, the beautiful redhead, and Grace McLaughlin, a bright-eyed, cherubic girl with golden-blonde hair and chubby cheeks.

Eunice yawned and stretched her arms over her head. "Boy, am I tired! Ooh!" She smacked herself on the forehead. "I forgot to feed Ector!" She took the cover off of the cage sitting by her bed, revealing and angry-looking barn owl. "Sorry, Ec old boy."

Lily knelt down next to her. "I saw owls in the shops in Diagon Alley," she commented. "I didn't think people often kept them as pets! But then, a toad..."

Eunice and Gwen looked at her strangely. "I'm Muggle-born," she explained.

"Oh," Eunice said. "Well, owls carry the wizarding post—you probably saw one when you got your Hogwarts letter." She put something mysterious and disgusting into Ector's cage. The owl snapped it up.

"Do cats and toads do any jobs?" Grace asked in her gentle brogue.

"Not any that I know of," Gwen responded. "But sometimes other animals are employed, as well." She crossed to the cage by her own bed. "For instance, in America, the wizarding post is carried by ravens." She pulled the cover off, revealing a magnificent sable raven.

The girls, oohing, gathered around the cage. "What's his name?" Grace asked.

"Munin," Gwen answered. "My uncle Andrew works in America. He gave Munin to me when we went to visit him this summer."

They went back to unpacking their things, but Eunice nudged Gwen in the ribs. "Remind me to use a school owl if I send Sirius a love letter. I can't borrow Munin. A bit too obvious."

Gwen grinned and rolled her eyes as Munin gave an indignant croak. "Go to bed, Eunice."

Eunice laughed.

TBC

AN: I know that was a bit disjointed sometimes. Sorry. So, did you catch all the allusions in the sorting? So much fun. :D There's a box of invisible cookies, and you can open it by clicking on the "Submit Review" button... Heh heh...