Time passed slowly in the Hogwarts Express as Draco and his friends made very little conversation and very boring conversation. Lory was grateful she had brought some of her favourite Muggle books with her and sat in her corner silently reading the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

There was a knock on their carriage door which made Lory look up. All the others ignored the knock continuing to focus on whatever they were doing. Lory looked down at her book again assuming that the person would leave. However, the person continued to knock much to her annoyance and her grip on her book tightened.

"Aren't you gonna get that?" Draco asked her.

"I don't have any friends in Hogwarts, so why would someone knock for me?" Lory asked.

"I'm not opening the door for a Gryffindor." Draco replied.

Lory rolled her eyes and waved her wand at the door after muttering Alohamora. She then gestured to the person to come in.

"Well, well, well if it isn't Longbottom." Draco drawled. 

The Gryffindor boy entered timidly glancing at Crabbe and Goyle anxiously.

"H-have you seen a toad...my toad Trevor? He's lost again...he got startled by my sister's cat and..." The boy stuttered.

"Ooh little miss Black probably took him for her secret master plan." Draco teased. The boy paled and clutched onto the carriage door even tighter. Pansy began sniggering but stopped as soon as she saw Lory looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Miss B-Black?" He stuttered. "Who?"

"Oh, don't you know? Lorelei Black the daughter of Sirius Black himself has honoured us with her presence. She will be spending the rest of the year with us in Hogwarts. People say that she's inherited more than just her father's eyes." Draco said smirking devillishly. 

Before Draco could continue Lory stood up and interjected. "Lory would be just fine. Ignore my cousin...he's a slimy git who couldn't tell the difference between his bleached head and a rat's ass."

Draco's grin fell and he glared at Lory. The Gryffindor boy chuckled nervously, as he looked up a little at Lory. "Oh look he's becoming a tomato now." Lory added.

"I...I...I...should go." The boy said uneasily.

"What's your name?" Lory asked quickly.

"Neville...I'm Neville Longbottom."

"Let me help you find your toad. I'd rather do that, then babysit this pack of rats." She said.

"Oh...that's fine...it's I..."

"Neville...unlike my father I am perfectly sane and I'd like to remain that way so please let me help you find your toad so that I can leave these imbecilles to their own accords before they drive me crazy." Lory told him. "I am not going to hurt you or Trevor in anyway. I'm just a fifteen year old girl who has the misfortune of being related to Sirius Black. 

Neville nodded. Lory turned and placed her book in her backpack, before picking it up and leaving the carriage.

Lory did her best to help Neville just following his lead as she'd never really been on a toad hunt before. Everyone who Neville asked seemed to roll their eyes as they saw him which suggested that perhaps this was a common occurrence for the boy.

"Found him!" a voice called.

A girl with wavy brown hair who looked around Lory's age stood holding a dark green toad in her hands. She bore a striking resembelence to the boy beside Lory with deep brown eyes and a similar round face.The pair went over to the girl and she handed Trevor the Toad over to Neville. Next to her stood a smaller blonde haired girl who was looking around rather dreamily. She had pale skin and silvery hued eyes and seemed rather oblivious to her surroundings.

"Thanks Aurora." Neville said.

"Who's your new friend?" She asked.

"Oh, this is Lorelei Black " Neville introduced.

A few heads in the surrounding carriages turned, but Lory ignored them. Aurora's eyes widened momentarily. "Black? As in Sirius Black?"

Lory nodded. "Yes...and its Lory. That's what everyone calls me."

Aurora nodded. "I'm Aurora...Aurora Longbottom." She said. "Neville's sister. This is Luna."

"So we should go now...you probably have to too." She said. She then frowned as she noticed Lory's robes. "Don't you have house coloured robes?"

"I'm transferring from Illvermony this year." Lory explained.

Aurora nodded. "Oh..."

"Ilvermony's in America right?" Luna asked. Lory nodded. "My father's been trying to expand the Quibbler to the states but he says he's finding it difficult to find an appropriate place to start as its such a vast country."

"What's the Quibbler?" Lory asked.

"It's the magazine that Luna's father writes." Aurora explained.

"I could show you the most recent copy. It's in our carriage. Why don't you join us?" Luna suggested. 

"Can I?" Lory asked, looking at the Longbottom siblings. Neville nodded, but Aurora seemed a little uncertain. "It's fine, if you don't want me to. I'll just go back to my cousin and his friends..."

"No! No, come with us. It's fine." Aurora said quickly. She looked a little guilty. 

"Are you sure?" Lory asked. 

Aurora nodded. "Yes. It'd be a good opportunity to tell you more about Hogwarts."

As they walked over Lory saw something rolling on the floor and squinted to see what the label said. She frowned as she picked up the bottle and found that it was labelled 'rat tonic'. 

"Oh, sorry. That's my brother's but it was put in my bag instead." A red haired girl said.

"I'll give it to him, Ginny" Aurora said. "Our carriage is opposite his."

Ginny nodded. "Thanks."

The four reached their carriage a few moments later and Aurora said. "Could you pass that to the redhead in the opposite carriage, please? Thanks."

Lory nodded and turned to the door. She was about to knock but stopped when she heard their conversation though.

"But if we're with him," a voice said enthusiastically. "Black wouldn't dare..."

"Oh, Ron don't talk rubbish." A girl snapped. "Black's already murdered a whole bunch of people in a crowded street. Do you really think he's going to worry about attacking Harry just because we're there?"

She wasn't wrong. As a child she'd seen the newspaper and her mother's horrified expression after she'd read it. She was very confused then as she still couldn't read...she was only 3.

"Don't let that thing out!" The first voice shouted.

"Get out of here!"

"Ron don't!"

Lory then knocked on the door and cleared her throat to make her presence known. "Hi...your sister passed this to Aurora who gave it to me to give it to you." 

"Thanks." He said as he took the tonic from her. 

Lory felt something soft brush against her leg and looked down to find a large ginger cat with bright yellow eyes and a bottlebrush tail. It's face had a slightly squashed appearance and due to its size and wild fur looked a little like a small lion. The cat was glaring at Ron, who seemed to have an equal distaste for it. 

"Cute cat." Lory said.

"Thank you!" The girl said. "These two don't think so."

"Girls are so weird sometimes." She heard Ron mutter. The bushy haired girl next to him glared and kicked him causing him to wince. Lory suppressed a chuckle through a cough.

"I'm Lory." She said holding out a hand. 

The girl shook it and introduced herself. "I'm Hermione...this is Ron and that's Harry. What year are you in?"

"I'm going into fifth year...it's my first year at Hogwarts actually...I'm moving from Illvermony." She explained.

"Oh...that explains the accent." Hermione nodded.

"Illvermony?"

For the first time the third boy in the carriage, Harry had spoken. Lory looked at him and saw that it was the same boy she'd seen on the platform. He had messy jet black hair and behind his glasses you could see a pair of green eyes.

Just like his mother.

Lory's eyes widened momentarily as realisation hit her: the boy before her is Harry Potter, the boy who lived and the boy who's family her father, his Godfather betrayed. 

"It's a magical school in America. They have four houses like Hogwarts: Wampus, Pukwedgie, Horned Serpent and..." Hermione began to explain.

"Thunderbird." Lory finished. "I was Thunderbird."

"Then you're likely to become a Gryffindor or Slytherin here...I'm told that Pukwedgie is closest to Hufflepuff, Horned Serpent is Ravenclaw, Wampus is seen as Gryffidnor sometimes, but Thunderbird could be too." Hermione said.

"I don't think you can compare them...Hogwarts houses and Illvermony houses represent different things. Pukwedgie is Heart. Horned Serpent is Mind. Wampus is Body and Thunderbird is Soul....I could have been Horned Serpent too so I might be a Ravenclaw..." Lory explained.

"Have we ever met before?" Harry asked. 

"Um...no I don't think so." She lied. 

As she was about to leave she saw the man opposite them and blurted. "Moony?" She blurted 

"What?" Hermione asked frowning.

"Nothing. It's just...I need to see how much money I have, for the trolley." Lory lied, chuckling nervously. "I'll see you three around I suppose, bye."

Lupin had also been around in her childhood...he'd been named her Godfather. Over the years Lupin tried to help her mother and looked after her for a little while when her mother was in a coma...she didn't know why she couldn't go back to him instead of ending up with Malfoy.

So many questions...so few answers...in fact no answers...it bugged Lory.

Lory entered the opposite carriage and shut the door rather quickly. Aurora and Neville exchanged puzzled glances."You okay?" the former askedasked.

Lory said nothing for a few moments but nodded. "Yeah...I'm okay... just making sure Trevor doesn't escape again. Anyway, tell me about Hogwarts."

"Well..." Aurora began and for the next few hours they discussed about the life and lies of Hogwarts and her life in Illvermony. Slowly, Aurora became more comfortable around Lory and the two began to share jokes. It was refreshing to actually have a conversation with someone who wasn't an uptight judgemental twat or someone who feared her father.

Luna occasionally pitched in the conversation and seemed completely unfazed by the fact that she is Sirius Black's daughter. She also added her father's thoughts on him and showed her the article he'd written in the Quibbler. This made Lory chuckle a little as the article was rather absurd but she just nodded and thanked Luna, to avoid hurting her feelings.

The exchange in this carriage temporarily made Lory forget about her problems and for the first time in a month she was near genuine happiness.

------***------

The lady with trolley had come over at one o'clock and Lory bought almost everything that didn't have pumpkin in it. "My only opportunity to get high on sugar." she explained to Aurora and Neville who regarded her with a concerned look.

"You know there is a whole sweetshop in Hogsmede right? Isn't there a village like Hogsmede in America?" Aurora asked.

"No. I think Hogsmede's the only non muggle village in the world." Lory replied, trying to recall what she'd read.

"Then when the first Hogsmede weekend that comes up, you need to go over to Honeydukes. Right guys?" she asked.

Neville and Luna nodded.

Lory passed a cauldron cake to each of them and Aurora rose her eyebrows at her. "Did you really think I was going to eat all of this by myself in one sitting. I'd puke if I did. I usually share it with my friends. I had two friends and other people to share it with in Ilvermony. Then I kept what was left over for snacking on late nights...the chocolate frogs are ideal for that."

Aurora nodded. "That's why you only bought four of these."

"Yeah...it's my dessert...after my delicious lunch of a cheese and tomato sandwich." Lory replied.

"Who made that for you?" she asked. "Because that was probably the worst sandwich I have ever laid eyes on."

"My aunt. The mother of the frog spawn people call Draco Malfoy." Lory replied before taking a bite into her cauldron cake.

"I think she could learn a thing or two from me." Aurora said. "Like how you don't squish the tomato to pulp before making the sandwich."

"That's kind of my fault, I pissed her off." Lory said.

"Good." Aurora said. 

Lory rose her eyebrows at her and Aurora shrugged causing the former to chuckle.

Two hours passed swiftly as the pair continued exchanging anectodes in the carriage, contributing to the blossoming of new friendship. Neville and Luna occasionally joined but mostly just listened to the others. By midafternoon most of Lory's purchases had been consumed and so Lory opened their carriage door so she could find a bin .However, much to her displeasure, she found Draco and his two goons.

"Any problems?" she asked mildly.

"Oh, if it isn't little miss..." he began, but Lory kicked him isharply n the shins.

"Call me little one more time and I swear to God, I'll throw you off this train." Lory snapped.

"Stay out of this Lory, this is none of your business." he said.

"I'm not just gonna sit back and watch you pick on people for absolutely no reason." Lory replied.

"If you two don't be careful, you'll wake him up!" Hermione said gesturing to Lupin.

"I don't really care? He'd have woken up by now if we were disturbing him." Malfoy said. "So keep your Mudblood..."

SLAP

The rubbish Lory had been holding fell out of her right hand. Draco's face went very pink from the slap and he looked back at Lory, wide eyed as one of his hands went to his cheek. "If I hear you say that word one more time..."

"...we will put a bat bogey hex on you." Aurora said. Malfoy looked around, and took a step back swallowing nervously.

"You'll pay for this...my father..." he began.

"Oh, yes, go and cry to your equally slimey assed father." Lory snapped and then shoved Draco out her way to find a bin. 

As she returned to her carriage her sour mood was evident from the vile insults she burst out with. They often contained rather colourful vocabularly which made Neville visibly uncomfortable and timid. In the end she chose to buy another cauldron cake and chew on that instead of snapping at Aurora, Neville and Luna who'd done nothing wrong at all.

The rain had thickened as the train sped further north and Lory's spirits were only dampened further. She didn't mind the occasional drizzle, but this...this is horrible. Aurora had fallen asleep and so Lory chose to continue reading the books she'd been reading. Lory wondered how Aurora could with wind roaring and the intense rattling of the train thanks to the rain. Luna was completing completing a crossword in the Quibbler with a pair of strange colourful spectacles on her forehead. Neville was also beginning to drift off as he stared out of the window. The only other noise that could be heard in the carriage was Trevor's croaks. 

As Lory turned to the next page in her book she felt the train began to slow to a stop. She frowned and leaned over to see if she could see Hogwarts.

"Are we there yet?" Aurora mumbled.

"No." Neville replied.

"Then why is the train stopping?" she asked rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Lory shrugged.

Without a warning all the lamps went out and Lory looked around. A flash of lightning lit the carriage but then they were submerged in darkeness once more. She heard someone fumbling with the carriage door and got up to help. Neville muttered a thanks and exited the carriage. Luna then almost collided into Lory as she tried to follow Neville. Lory squinted and could just about see her entering the carriage neighbouring theirs. There was a lot of noise in the opposite carriage and Lory frowned and tried to make her way over but was held back by Aurora.

"What's wrong?" Lory asked. 

"I...I don't like being alone in the dark. Can you stay please?" Aurora asked.

"Why don't you come with me?" Lory suggested as she saw a faint glow in the carriage opposite. 

They were about to make their way over but Lory stopped as she felt an intense coldness seep into her bones. It sank deeper reaching for something more...something warmer...something alive. She heard a steady beeping noise as she heard someone call her name.

"Lory..." a familiar voice called weakly.

"Mom?"

"Lory...I can't...I..."

The beeping becoming louder and more erratic...she heard wheels against tiles...rattling metal...

"Lory...Lory!"

Lory blinked and squinted as she saw bright lights above her. She saw a blurry face and a few moments later she realised Aurora was hovering over her. She then realised that she was on the floor. "What happened?" she asked looking around. She regretted eating all those sweets and cauldron cakes now as she felt very nauseous.

"Well a dementor swooped over you and for some reason you stumbled...you went rigid and jerked it was really strange...and you said Mom." she replied. "Then the new Professor muttered a spell and the dementor was gone."

"This should help." a voice behind her said.

Lory turned to find Lupin standing behind her with a slab of chocolate.

"I don't think so...I feel like puking." Lory disagreed.

"Trust me, a bite of this and you'll be fine...we'll be in Hogwarts in 10 minutes." he said.

Lory took the chocolate uncertainly and bit into it...surprisingly it helped. She stood up and sat down on her seat once more.

"You okay?" Aurora asked. Lory nodded, but Aurora still looked concerned.

Ten minutes later the train stopped at the Hogsmede Station. There was a great scramble to get outside and Aurora, Lory and Neville had to push their way through to get out. They had lost Luna amidst the chaos with the dementors. "First years go by the lake...we go by the carriages..." Aurora said quickly leading Lory over to one.

"I thought they are horseless..." Lory began.

"Most people can't see thestrals...wait...you can?" Aurora asked.

Lory nodded. "Am I not supposed to?" 

"Well it means that you saw someone die...and that it affected you greatly." she explained.

"I see." Lory said her hand moving to her locket instinctively.

"Let's get in." Aurora suggested. Neville got in quickly, followed by Aurora then Lory.

Draco was running over from behind them and Lory shut the door quickly, much to his dismay. The carriage began to move and Aurora grinned. "We didn't see anyone now, did we? Otherwise what I did would be very mean."

"I didn't see anyone...the noise was probably just the wind." Aurora replied solemnly.

By the time they'd arrived Lory had almost forgotten about the Dementor until she heard Malfory drawl. "You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actu­ally fainted?"

Aurora looked at Neville sharply who gave her an apologetic look. "He overheard me talking to Ginny...I didn't mean to..."

However, Malfoy's taunting soon came to an end as Lupin interrupted.Malfoy gave Lupin an insolent look and mockingly stated "Oh, no - er - Professor,"

"Bastard." Lory muttered. "Who does he think he is to talk to him like that?"

Aurora held her back though dragging her away to the castle. Only then did Lory actually take in the castle's beauty. She could see four towers rising up majestically and in each she could see a faint glow. As they entered Lory was thankful for the warmth in the Entrance Hall. The doors to the Great Hall were wide open, but before Lory and Aurora could enter a voice called. "Black, Smithson and Ranga! I want to see the three of you."

Lory and Aurora turned "That's Professor McGonagall."

"You're not in trouble. I just want a word in my office." Professor McGonagall assured.

A brown haired boy in green and black robes, followed by a raven haired girl in blue and black robes emerged from the crowd. Behind them were a girl and boy in yellow and black robes who looked quite concerned. 

"Please go on to the feast Miss Brooke and Mr Diggory. Your friends will join shortly." Professor McGonagall said. "Move along now!"

"Black...did she say Black?" Lory heard people whisper.

"She'll definitely end up in Slytherin...that's where they all went." she heard someone else say. Lory snorted. It seemed everyone forgot that her father the mass murderer was actually a Gryffindor. 

Once they were in her office Professor McGonagall conjured up two more chairs. "Miss Ranga...I just called you to give you your new timetable."

The dark haired girl nodded as she took the parchment. She hesitated, glancing at the brunette boy and a small smile appeared on Professor McGonagall's face. "Harris will be with you very soon...don't worry."

She nodded and left.

"Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you three were taken ill on the train." Professor McGonagall said turning to us. Harry went very red.

"It was nothing Professor...I'm fine now." the boy in Green said calmly.

Behind McGonagall another woman came bustling in. "I'm fine," Harry said, "I don't need anything -"

"Oh, it's you, is it?" the woman said, ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at Harry. "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?"

"It was a dementor, Poppy," Professor McGonagall said.

The pair exchanged dark looks. The nurse looked rather surprised and then she began muttering angrily under breath. "Setting dementors around a school," . She pushed back Harry's hair and felt his forehead. "He won't be the last one who collapses. Yes, he's all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate -"

"I'm not delicate!" Harry said crossly.

"Of course you're not," the nurse said absentmindedly, taking his pulse.

"What does he need?" Professor McGonagall said crisply. "Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing?"

"I'm fine." Harry exclaimed jumping up.

"Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least." the nurse said. She moved over to Harris to do the same thing. He sat patiently and said nothing.

As she moved onto Lory she looked at her rather critically. "Hmm, she looks awfully tired..."

"She has moved from Illvermony, Poppy. I'm sure its just the time difference." Professor McGonagall said. Lory nodded.

"They all should have some chocolate." the nurse said finally.

"I've already had some." Harry said. "Professor Lupin gave me some. He gave it to all of us...well Harris wasn't there."

"I'll have some at dinner...I promise." Harris assured her.

"You've had some too then?" the nurse asked Lory. She nodded.

"Well Mr Smithson you may leave. You two kindly wait outside while I talk to Miss Granger about her course schedule."

Lory and Harry followed out the nurse who was muttering to herself as she left.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of Harry...the Dementors...they affect people in different ways." Lory told him. "Draco is just a spineless git."

"I'm sure he didn't faint." Harry muttered.

Before Lory could say anything Professor McGonagall re-emerged with Hermione. Hermione left with Harry and Lory followed McGonnegal in. "I'd like to have a word with you before you get sorted. Do you know why Ms Barett sent you here at this point in time?"

"No, all Lanie said was that I'd understand everything soon and that she can't take care of me anymore." Lory replied.

"Miss Black...Lorelei..." Professor McGonnegal began

"Lory." Lory cut in. Professor McGonnegal rose an eyebrow at her. "It's what everyone calls me professor. No one has called me Lorelei for the past five years.". 

"Anyway...Lory...this is probably one of the worst years to be at Hogwarts for you...your father..." she began.

"...has escaped from Azkaban and the people in this school are going to hate me for being his daughter. I know. My cousin Draco Malfoy has already given me all the details." Lory finished.

"If you have any problems please approach me or any other teacher in Hogwarts and feel free to ask for help." she said. "It is a pity that no one remembers your mother."

"I remember her, that's enough for me." Lory replied.

McGonnegal nodded. "And before I forget, one more thing." 

"What is it Professor?" Lory asked.

"Please don't make interrupting me a habit. It's an awfully rude thing to do." she said. 

"Of course. I apologise professor. Shall we go then?" 

Professor McGonnegal gestured her to lead the way and Lory exited the office and made their way to the entrance of the Great Hall. Lory could hear applause in the Great Hall. After it died down McGonnegal opened the door and they entered. Lory could feel the eyes of all the students of Hogwarts on her and looked straight on to avoid their gazes. 

"And finally, I am pleased to welcome Lorelei Black from our fellow school of magic Illvermony..." Dumbledore was saying.

Whispers spread like wildfire and she could see some students glaring at her. She glanced to the Slytherin table and saw Draco and his friends snickering. She clenched her jaw before turning to face the teachers table.

"Silence, please...I suggest we all treat Miss Black with the same respect we did with the first years." Dumbledore said.

"Please sit on the stool." Professor McGonagall said as she picked up a tattered hat. Aurora had told Lory about the sorting hat, but she didn't expect it to be this dilapidated. Lory sat down  and Professor McGonnegal placed it on her head.

"Hmm, some courage...a strong sense of justice too...a fine mind and a great deal of ambition...where to place you..." She heard a voice say. "Ah...your wise mind supercedes your courage...you also have a great deal of questions...and the mind of someone who calculated decisions...but always want to help others...hmm..."

Professor McGonagall checked her voice and tapped her foot impatiently.

"I guess it's gonna have to be...SLYTHERIN."

Professor McGonagall took of the hat and surprising number of people applauded. A collective sense of relief seemed to pass over the tables of the other houses. She noticed Luna smiling at her from the Ravenclaw table, but almost everyone else appeared uncomfortable or was stony faced.

Much to Lory's distaste she noticed that all of Draco's friends were amongst the people who applauded for her along with the boy named Harris, who was sitting opposite to Draco. 

"Well, I think that's everything of importance." Dumbledore said. "Let the feast begin!"

The golden plates and goblets filled up with food and drink. Lory had been very hungry when she'd gotten of the train, but now her appetite seemed to have disappear. She'd hoped for a little less hostility, but then again her father murdered 13 people. It was only herfirst night and her spirits were already dampened. She better 'understand everything' soon.

"It's good to see that you're truly a Black." Draco said as he piled his plate with some chicken. "Unlike your father."

"That man was a disgrace to his family, he dishonoured them in so many ways..." Pansy said.

"And one of the ways my father supposedly dishonoured his family was by marrying my mother. Hence, I exist because of my father's dishonour...are you calling my existence a disgrace Pansy?" Lory asked coolly.

Pansy looked at her gobsmacked by her question, before she could say anything, a red head interrupted shaking her head. "Of course not! No, you're related to one of the most noble pureblood family's Lory...the Malfoys, have a renowned reputation for being..."

"Rich, discriminatory, stuck up twats who get what they want just because they have influence in high places and so that means they can't be held accountable for anything." A voice interjected. "Hi, I'm Harris Smithson, I'm also a transfer like you...I moved from France half way through last year."

"I'm Lory. Nice to meet you."

Harris smiled, before turning over to the Ravenclaw table.

"Look whether you like it or not, this is the best place for you...you're amongst friends here..." Draco said.

Lory scoffed.

"Scoff all you want Lorelei, but you're a pariah here at Hogwarts. Most Slytherins will only tolerate you because you're my cousin...you're status as a Malfoy is protecting you here in this house. The rest of Hogwarts will hate you. Especially the Gryffindors considering that's Potter's house...who knows, one of his friends or housemates might decide to take their rage on your father out on you. We can protect you from that."

Lory knew that he was more than a little right and part of her feared the idea of becoming a martyr for her father's sins. She saw her mother go through it; many of her family and friends didn't spare her any sympathy whatsoever and slammed the door in her face. 

However, when she saw that smug little grin on Malfoy's face she knew if she even conceded a little now the smug little bastard will forever have power over her finding new ways to cause problems for her. 

"I'm thick skinned, I'll manage." Lory replied haughtily. "I don't need a portentious bleached blonde rat to protect me."

Draco's nostrils flared. "Fine! Suit yourself." Draco said. "We both know who's gonna come back to us with hat in hand and tail between her legs."

Lory rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Oh, and before I forget...my name's Lory."

It was Draco's turn to roll his eyes, he said nothing to her and struck up conversation with his friends. The dinner seemed long and rather arduous to Lory as she sat staring at her empty plate for most of the time with little appetite after the evening's events.

By the end of the night she became certain of two things:

Firstly, this was going to be a long year in Hogwarts.

Secondly, if she doesn't understand everything...she's going to find a way to find Lanie and get the truth out of her, even if it means she'll have to kick her ass.