Author's Note: This is turning out to be a pretty nice story, I think so anyway. Well same as the last chapter.. do not own Harry Potter.. so on and so forth. Trying to update asap.. that means as soon as I come up with ideas for the next chapter! Thanks for reading! I love you!

Now, the show must go on!... (a wonderful song by Queen)

Meeting New People

After what seemed like hours, they finally arrived at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. "Ah, thanks guys. I really have to go and see Professor Dumbledore. See ya around!" They said their goodbyes and watched the girl run up to the castle. She reached the Headmaster's office with only a few glances from several students. She tried the old password for the stairs and failed to make it move. She kicked the statue in frustration, a pain shot up her foot and leg "Cheezy crackers!" She was surprised to see the statue move aside and allowed her to ascend.

She entered without knocking and found Dumbldore busy writing on a piece of parchment. "Professor Dumbledore, sir. I have to speak with you, now." He didn't even look up,

"Courtney, you were given a chance to change things for the better. Don't mess it up, you only get one chance. You have the excuse that you are an exchange student from America. You are still in your same house, in fifth year. I will have Remus Lupin assist you with your things." He pointed to a corner of the room. Her mouth fell open: how had all of her things gotten here? "Remus will help you to the Gryffindor Tower and give you the password."

She spun around and looked at the old man, "How do you know what is going on?"

He looked at her curiously, "How do I know what is going on, Miss Kipley?" He smiled with the same twinkle in his eye and winked at her. Just then the door opened and in came Remus.

"You sent a ghost for me professor?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Please take Miss Kipley to the Gryffindor Tower and tell her the password. If you would like to show her around that would be wonderful."

She followed Remus, who was also in his fifth year at Hogwarts, to the tower. He carried her suitcase, that was shrunk to fit in his pocket, and told her the password.

"Girls dorm is up there, you will sleep with the rest of the fifth year girls. The boys dorm is that way, not that you need to know, just if your curious. Let's see, do you want me to show you around?"

She shook her head, "No thank you Remus. I pretty much know where everything is. I've read a lot of books about Hogwarts," she added when he gave her a curious look.

He nodded, "I am going to be out on the grounds with James, Sirius, and Peter. You're welcome to join us whenever you want. It was a group decision." He smiled at her. Is he blushing?Courtney thought.She nodded and looked away, her cheeks a little warm.

She unpacked her things and ventured down the many stairs to the Entrance Hall. There were several students walking towards the door, they wore black and green robes. They must be Slytherins. She saw that one in the group had shoulder length black hair, Severus! She followed the group of Slytherins outside until she decided to join her friends by the lake.

She was halfway there when the small group of Slytherins approached her. She was certain that the one with black hair was Severus, another had almost white hair and wore a sneer. Malfoy: she recognized him almost immediately. There was another wizard, he looked several years younger than his two companions. He also had lengthy black hair, and a smirk on his face. She stopped as they blocked her path. "Who are you? I've never seen you here before." Malfoy addressed her.

"I guess you wouldn't, I'm an exchange student."

The three men looked at each other, "Well, what's your name?"

"The name is Courtney. May I ask yours?" Even though she knew the two already she was curious to know who was with them.

"Lucius Malfoy, fifth year. This is Severus Snape, same year." The younger of the three stepped closer, he looked awfully familiar. He looks like... Her thoughts were cut off when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her away.

"Don't get near these guys." Someone whispered in her ear as she was forced behind Sirius. She saw that Sirius had his wand out and so did James. Severus and his friends also had their wands out.

"Bugger off, Potter! This is none of your business!" Severus shouted as he pointed his wand at James' face. She was shocked that there was about to be a duel, because of her.

"Whoa! What are you doing?!" She stepped in the middle of the two groups, turning and pleading with her eyes at her friends. "I was just introducing myself, nothing was going on."

Sirius glared at the men behind her without lowering his wand. "Well now that you have met this git and his scum friends, we're going." Her wrist was grabbed by a furious Sirius. He dragged her towards the lake, the rest of the group followed, leaving the three Slytherins behind.

When Sirius finally let go of her wrist, it was very red. She rubbed it and looked at the now calm and relaxed man. "What was that all about?" Remus had taken a seat next to the base of the tree. James was standing at Sirius' feet, who was sitting in the grass next to Remus. She noticed that Peter was talking to himself as he looked from face to face.

"Don't go near those gits. You don't want to hang out with them." She saw that the three Slytherins had walked over to a larger group of students and were mingling.

"Why not? They seemed alright."

Sirius gave her a looked that made her feel two inches tall. "No, they are all the same, Slytherin scum."

She rolled her eyes, "Well who was that one with black hair?"

"Snape," James answered venomously.

She shook her head, "I know who that is, the other one."

Sirius frowned, "That's my good-for-nothing brother, Regulus." He cursed his brother under is breath.

"Well, I'm going to go and explore the grounds. I guess I will see you guys later." Before she could get two yards away the young men were at her sides. "What are you guys doing?"

Sirius shrugged, "You might get lost, or have some trouble. We wanted to come along."

"Besides," James added glaring at the group of Slytherins, "You don't want one of those gits catching you alone." Courtney smiled. This wasn't going to be as bad as she had expected.