Chapter Three

The Sorting

Sirius' POV

I grinned as Josefine crossed her arms and put on a mock-insulted face. Lily started telling her that when we got to the castle, Josefine would probably have to go in with the first years. When we reached the school, Josefine was a bag of nerves. I leapt out of the carriage and held out a hand to her. She took it gratefully and hopped down, narrowly missing a puddle. I walked with her into the entrance hall, trying to calm her down.

"What if I'm stuck under the hat for ages?" Josefine cried.

"You won't be. Lily said you were a Gryffindor for sure, yes?" Josefine nodded. "Then you'll be sorted quickly."

"You promise?" I nodded.

McGonagall came hurrying over to us and asked Josefine to go with her to be sorted. Josefine nodded and started to go after her. I grabbed her hand.

"Good luck," I said. She smiled.

I watched her disappear into the crowd of people, feeling as if she was walking away from me. James appeared at my side.

"Spill," He demanded. I raised an eyebrow. "What's the deal with you and Josefine?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

James gave me a disbelieving look. "You haven't asked her out yet, you blush when she meets your eyes and you defended her when Lily asked about Ryan. That's not normal. I'm your best friend for a reason, you know."

My shoulders sagged in defeat. "I'll tell you later."

James planted his hands on his hips and glared at me. I snorted. "Prongs, you look remarkably feminine like that."

His hands dropped. "Shut up, you git."

I laughed as we headed into the Great Hall. We spotted Peter and Remus already sitting down and we made our way over to them.

"So, Josefine seems nice," Peter said as James and I sat down.

I could feel myself blushing and mentally cursed myself. So much for being a womanizer. I had a woman womanizing me!

"Yeah," James agreed. "She's fit, as well."

I choked on my drink. "You what?"

James looked at me. "I said she's fit."

"No, you like Lily," I cried.

"Padfoot," Remus said, surprised. "Calm down. He only said she was fit, he didn't announce his undying love for her…"

"Right," I muttered. "Sorry."

James was watching me suspiciously. Damn him and his ability to read me like a bloody book. The large doors banged open and McGonagall came in with the first years trailing behind her. Josefine came in after them and she looked slightly more confident. I zoned out as the midgets were sorted. Then finally:

"We have a transfer student from Amercia. She will be joining you in sixth year. Gomez, Josefine come up, please."

Josefine walked up to the stool with her long hair flowing behind her. Not surprisingly, most of the guys were checking her out. I scowled. Our eyes met for a moment before the Sorting Hat covered them and I felt my skin break out in goose bumps. The hat was silent for a minute and then shouted out: "GRYFFINDOR!" McGonagall lifted off the hat and Josefine hopped off happily. I watched her, smiling. She looked over and grinned. I blushed.

AGAIN.

Josefine POV

I plonked myself down on the bench next to Lily and laughed.

"I can't believe I was worried about that!" I exclaimed. Lily shook her head at me.

"Josefine, this Alice Mowbrary and Lisa Atkins, fellow Gryffindors and dorm mates," Lily said.

Alice had shoulder length dirty blonde hair and light blue eyes. She was smiling at me. Lisa was smiling as well. Her short brown hair was pulled back into a pony tail.

"Hello," They greeted me cheerfully.

"Hey," I said.

Someone slid into the seat next to me. Sirius. "Hey Josefine."

"Hiya!" I said.

"Told you you'd be in Gryffindor," He said, smiling. "You shouldn't have worried."

I grinned. "Well, now I know that I should listen to you in future."

"Ah, that you should, love," He winked and I tried fight the blush that was heating my face. He looked at something over my shoulder. "Well, best be off. I'm being summoned." With one last grin, he took off to where the Marauders were sitting. Lily was studying me, carefully. She had that look on her face that meant she was analyzing something. I raised an eyebrow at her and she mouthed: 'Later.'

"So," Lisa started. "You're from the US of A?"

I grinned. "I am, indeedio. Well, my dad is from Mexico and my mom's English, but I was born in California."

"California? That's so cool!" Alice squealed.

I laughed. "I know. I consider myself Californian."

"You two should see the boys that live near her," Lily said, enthusiastically.

"Fit?" Lisa asked, hopefully.

"Heavenly," Lily said, firmly.

I laughed. "They may be 'heavenly', but most of them are jerks."

"Well, our british boys aren't much better." Alice frowned up the table at the Marauders. Lily and Lisa both glared at them. The guys felt our eyes on them and waved at us cheerfully. Sirius caught my eye and smiled. I returned the favour and gave him a small wave.

After our meal, Lily showed me the way to Gryffindor Tower. Lisa and Alice had run off with their boyfriends, so it was just the two of us.

"What happened with Ryan, Josefine?" Lily asked, gently.

I stiffened. "Nothing. We just broke up."

"There's something you're not telling me. You were so happy with him. I thought you were in love?" Lily persisted.

I bit my tongue to stop myself from snapping at her. I took a deep breath. "He ended it, all right? Leave it be, Lily."

"But-"

"Evans!" A voice shouted from behind us. Lily eyes darkened to a deep, forest green. "Hogsmeade. You and me. How about it?" It was James.

"Do you hear something, Jo?" Lily questioned, looking around her quizzically.

"Not at all, Lil. Mind you, I do see a rat right in front of us." I winked at James

"A rat? No, I see a pig," Lily stated.

"Stop pretending you don't want me," James said, grinning widely at Lily.

Lily glared at him and said to me: "See?" She stormed off.

I shifted, uncomfortably. When Lily left like that, it meant she wanted to be on her own. "She was meant to show me to Gryffindor Tower…" Sirius grinned and threw his arm over my shoulders. I tensed slightly, but no one noticed.

"We'll show you the way. Forward march!" Sirius boomed.

It wasn't long before we arrived outside a portrait of a rather large lady who was opera singing. I covered my ears with my hands to block out the screeching.

"Shut up! Goosebumps," Peter yelled.

The lady looked insulted and the portrait swung open. Remus ushered us inside and for the second time that evening I was amazed. The common room was a dark red, with wooden tables at one end and plush ruby sofas at the other. A fire crackled in the corner and there was a warm atmosphere that made me feel at home instantly.

"Wow," I announced. "This is awesome!"

The guys grinned. "We know."

Alice appeared at the portrait hole and when she caught sight of me she ran over. "Josefine. Do you want to come up to the dorm?"

"Yeah, sure." Alice started off in the direction of a spiralling staircase at the far end of the common room. I said goodnight to the Marauders and followed her quickly. There was a relatively long corridor at the top of the stairs and there were seven doors. Alice opened the one that had sixth years written on it and disappeared inside. The dorm was circular and it had five huge beds and each one had a window that overlooked the Black Lake.

"You like?" Alice asked, kicking off her shoes and throwing herself on a bed which was obviously hers.

I nodded. Alice grinned and said she needed the loo. I was left alone in the dorm. I sat myself down on the bed opposite the door and thought about my sorting.

"A new girl, eh? Well…hmm…very troubled young woman…not an easy family life…great loyalty and bravery…Very clearly a GRYFFINDOR!"

It was freaky how unbelievably accurate the Hat had been about my life. I shuddered.

Sirius POV

I watched Josefine's retreating back longing to follow her. Peter, Remus, James and I headed up to our own dorm. Once there, James and Remus shoved me down onto my bed and crossed their arms.

"Talk, Black."

I rolled my eyes and fell backwards, staring up at the canopy above my bed. "Nothing to say."

"Padfoot!" Peter shouted.

"All right!" I snapped. "I think…" I didn't carry on.

"Yes…" Remus prompted.

I wringed my hands together, nervously. "You know that whole love at first sight thing that I don't believe in?" The other three nodded. "Yeah, well, I do believe in it."

Silence.

"Are you saying you're in love with Josefine?" Peter asked.

"I think I might be," I mumbled.

James burst out laughing and I glared at him. "Sorry, mate. I think that's brilliant." I grunted.

Remus looked thoughtful. "I agree with James, but go easy on her. I don't think she would appreciate your usual flings and flirts."

I raised an eyebrow and didn't answer. What did he mean by that? All girls appreciated it. Why would Josefine be different? I fell asleep my head buzzing with questions.

A/N: Sorry it took a while to update! I had a bit of a writers block. Hopefully, it won't happen again! Reviews would be wonderful:D