Disclaimer: Well, as you know, I do not own Harry Potter.

And That's How I Got to This Point

Train wreck that I am
And I am what I am what I am
A train wreck, that I am
And I am what I am what I am
A train wreck

3Oh!3 – Colorado Sunrise

And I'm a Klutz

September 1st 1977; Thursday

"Lo! Blimey! Are you okay?"

I opened my eyes to see the face of my best mate (practically twin), Hailey, looking at me with concerned eyes. She was tiny, like me, and we were often mistaken for twins. We both had wavy, dark brown hair that hung down past our shoulders and we both wore the same size clothes and shoes. The only difference was that she had pretty hazel eyes while mine were a shade of dark brown that was in no way pretty. Oh, and she was paler than me. We were known around Hogwarts as being the shortest girls in our year for we were only 1.55 metres and trust me, we got hell for it. I don't think a day passed by without someone making a joke about our heights. And if we weren't getting crap from being so short we got crap from having such bad luck and being so clumsy. Which is how I ended up on the floor outside our compartment on the Hogwarts Express.

I groaned and then busted out laughing. This would happen to me.

I had been innocently walking to Compartment D where Hailey and I always sat. It hadn't even been ten minutes since I stepped foot on the train when it lurched to a start. I slipped from the suddenness of the movement and tried to catch my balance but there was nothing there to stop me from falling and to the floor I went. It's ok though, the floor and I were well acquainted buddies.

"Of course I'm okay", I said through my laughter, "It's not like I haven't lost my balance and fallen before. I should just consider living down here."

She shook her head but started laughing as well and reached out a tiny hand to help me up. Once I was back on my feet I started brushing the dirt off my clothes and fixing my hair.

That's when I heard it. Someone was clapping. Balls. Someone besides Hailey had seen me fall. Just my luck. A red hot blush raced up my neck as I slowly turned my head to see who was clapping. And there stood James Potter and Sirius Black.

Ugh, why me?

Black stopped clapping and instead opted for smirking, "Mancini, I know you're short but really, is it necessary to get even closer to the ground?"

See what I mean about the short jokes?

I rolled my eyes. Black and I were – how do I put this- acquaintances? Maybe. We were civil but barely so, I thought he was too cocky for his own good and he thought it was the funniest thing in the world to use me as the butt of his jokes. I never understood why he always picked on me and not any of my other friends. He claimed it was because I took his jokes seriously and that I was fun to rile up but I'm pretty sure that was a load of bull. I think he just secretly hated me.

I grabbed the handle of my trunk and pulled it upright again .Then I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Hardy har har Black. It just so happens that I thought the floor was lonely." Oh wow. That was your comeback? Ugh. I guess I hit my head harder than I thought. Alright, time to fix this.

"So Potter, how was your summer?" I turned and smiled to the black haired guy standing next to Sirius Black. Yeah, that was good. A nice change of the subject should do the trick. I then devoted my attention to Potter to ignore the chuckling of Black.

I have to admit, James Potter is a pretty decent looking guy. And I couldn't help but get a little self-conscious when I talked to him. He was tall, well-built, smart, funny, and had my favourite characteristic: dark hair. And before you say, 'Oh, well doesn't Sirius Black have dark hair?', the answer is yes, yes he does. But I refuse to think of Black as attractive. I am not and will not be part of that group. He's too much of a prat and needs someone to put him in his place.

"It was great! Sirius and I got to spend the whole summer travelling with my parents. We were able to prank people across three different countries." Potter gave me a mischievous smile before turning to Black with a sly look that seemed to say 'remember that?'. They both dissolved into a fit of laughter. Potter doubled over holding his stomach while Black placed his hand against the compartment wall to support his laughing body.

I saw Hailey smiling out the corner of my eye and I couldn't stop the upturning of the corners of my mouth. Ok, so they could be funny. At least when their humor was turned on someone other than me.

"Well, it was nice seeing you guys. Don't get in too much trouble", I called over my shoulder as I turned away from the laughing boys and started to walk back to my previous destination: Compartment D.

"I can't believe I fell in front of them!" I sighed in frustration as I flopped onto the bench in the compartment. How embarrassing.

"Lo, I hate to break it to you but it's nothing new", Hailey smirked at me and then returned to the book that was sitting on her lap.

Well, trust it to Hailey to put it so bluntly. That was something I loved about her. She knew how to deal with me.

"Ugh, you're right. It would be weird for me to not fall. I should be renamed Klutz-A-Lot, it'd be more appropriate." A laugh escaped my lips as I leaned over and picked up my own book. I opened it to the bookmarked page. Then I realized I hadn't asked her about the rest of her summer. I looked back up at her and tucked some hair that was falling in my face behind my ear. It was getting way too long.

"So, how was your last week of summer Hail?" I asked with a cheeky grin. She had met a muggle boy during the last few weeks of summer and she was completely smitten with him.

She glared at me and I was rewarded with a quill thrown at my face. It missed and dully hit me on my arm. I laughed.

"So…" I prompted her again. I wanted some answers. I hadn't gotten any girl time with her in a whole week. Which for our friendship was actually quite miraculous. Ever since we met in first year we had been inseparable; where one went the other was sure to be around too. In fact, I'm pretty sure my mum had unofficially adopted her into the Mancini family.

"It was great. I got to meet his mum just Tuesday. She is really nice Lo, you would like her." I could see her eyes take on a faraway look. Man, she really was gone. She had fallen for the guy. At least he was cute. But he had no idea about her being a witch. Was it practical to be with such a guy?

"Just be careful, okay? I don't want my twin getting hurt", I said with a sigh. I was happy for her, really. I was just not a romantic person. At all.

"I am careful. And hush, Miss-I-Don't-Believe-In-Love. You're just jealous. He even showed up at my door with roses!" She stuck her tongue out at me.

I pretended to puke.

"I believe in love!" Kind of.

She gave me a disbelieving look. Uh oh. Curse her for knowing me so well.

"Don't look at me like that! I really do. I just don't think anyone can fall seriously in love this young. It's just not reasonable." That was my logical, intelligent side speaking up. It's not my fault that I wasn't a romantic. I was taught to be practical and focus on education.

"Lo, you've dated like three guys. Total! And you break up with them the second they start to get serious", She was giving me a pointed look.

Ok, she kind of had a point. Kind of. But she's making me out to be some cold-hearted, commitment phobic person. Which is not true. I just didn't see any future with those guys so it was pointless to stay with them. As for dating such few guys, well, I didn't like just dating any guy. I had to really like them before I went out with them.

"I'm just fine with my current love life, mum. I'm focusing on school right now anyway. I don't need some guy always hanging around me when I have N.E.W.T's just around the corner." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her. Gotta love her though, right?

Just then the compartment door slide open and Remus Lupin's smiling face popped in. His shaggy, caramel brown hair was falling into his face and partially covering his light brown eyes.

"Hiya girls. How were your summers?" He walked in and sat down next to Hailey and across from me.

Remus was sweet and smart. Merlin was he smart. He even gave me a run for my money on several occasions and I was number one in my class. I actually liked him. Despite him being a Marauder and such good friends with Black. Plus, he was kind of dashing. In a quiet, humble way.

"Great" Hailey and I replied at the same time. We really were too alike sometimes.

Remus's smile grew and he looked amused.

"Mine was go-"but he never got to finish his sentence because at that moment the compartment door was slammed open with a loud bang.

I screamed. Loud. And my hand flew up to my heart.

Hey, it's not unreasonable. It was scary.

Sirius and James ran inside a second later laughing so hard they could barely breathe. They slammed the door shut behind them and pulled the curtain down over the window.

"Black! Potter! Bloody hell, you scared us." I yelled at them as my hands closed into fists. I wanted to stand up and hit them both. Ugh, the nerve of them running in here like that.

They just stood in the middle of the compartment panting and bent over with their hands on their knees. They looked quite the sight. Their faces were red from exertion and they were breathing heavily while still laughing every now and then.

Finally, James took a seat next to Remus and sighed as he relaxed into the cushioned seat.

"Calm down, Mancini", Black panted, still in the middle of the compartment, "Don't get your knickers in a bunch." He walked over to my side of the compartment and flopped down next to me. His arms fell limp at his sides and his right arm brushed against mine. A warmth radiated from the spot where it had touched me and I felt a blush coming on again. I am so not used to being around guys. I was way too shy for this.

I silently cursed myself for blushing so easily. Great. Now he's gonna think I like him. That would be bad. It would just add to his dumb ego.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I realized my arm had gotten wet. Ew. He was sweaty. Gross.

"Black, get your sweaty arse away from me", I snapped while wiping my arm on my robes. Ugh. I can't believe he had to sit this close to me. There was a whole cushion to sit on. But I knew he had done it on purpose just to piss me off.

I totally take back what I said about him being funny sometimes. I was wrong.

"Why are you always in a bad mood Mancini?" He looked at me with his light gray eyes as he leaned against the back of the seat and stretched his legs out.

Yep, I was definitely wrong about him being funny. What nerve! I am not always in a bad mood. I'm actually funny and carefree. He just so happened to put me in bad moods.

He snapped his fingers in front of my face and laughed as I jumped a little.

"See, you're way too uptight." He pulled his lips into a smirk as he looked at me.

I hated that smirk. Every time he gave me one I just wanted to punch it off his face. But I never would. I couldn't imagine seriously hurting someone. Even if that someone was the arrogant, Sirius Black. But his smirks did have one benefit: It reminded me why I could never find him attractive. He was way too conceded.

"I am not. I just don't like getting scared or being picked on! Which is all you seem to do." I glared at him. He is so not funny.

He turned to face me and leaned forward, his ear length black hair falling around his tan face. And his pink lips grew into a bigger smirk while his gray eyes filled with amusement.

"I'll tell you what your problem is Mancini, you need to get laid." Then he leaned back into the seat with a satisfied grin on his face.

Holy bleeding Merlin's balls.

My mouth dropped open. He did NOT just say that to me. Oh my. My face felt as if I had put it into an oven I was blushing so hard. No one has ever, ever said that to me. Why…the…the…nerve! I glared at him.

"That doesn't even deserve a comment!" I huffed, crossing my arms tightly across my chest and scooting as far away from his as I possibly could.

I could hear Hailey, James, and Remus trying to stifle their laughter. I shot them a quick glare and then rested my head against the compartment wall.

I didn't know what to say. I knew everyone thought I was a prude but did I really deserve that comment? I was just fine without sex, thank you very much. But oh gosh, I was so embarrassed.

So I did the only thing I could think of to help my embarrassment and anger; I ignored them. The whole way to Hogwarts. Ha, that'll show you Black. You won't get a rise out of me. Nope. Not today.

Authors note:

Well, there is chapter two. Whoo. I'm excited. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. What you think about Lorraine's character? Is she too cynical? Thanks to all my readers. It made my day. And a special thanks to FastTyper for the review. It was greatly appreciated.

-Whatamess

P.S: 1.55 metres is about 5'1"