She's Not a Mary Sue!

'Twas breakfast at Hogwarts and all through the castle many creatures were stirring, including a mouse. But our story focuses on a certain trio at the Gryffindor table. Here they come now.

"Harry, Ron, did you hear? There's a another new exchange student, and she's a Gryffindor! Our year, too!" Hermione was practically perky over the news, for despite the recent influx of exchange students, she still welcomed every "new kid" with open arms.

Ron was all questions. "Really? Is she Australian? American? How hot is she?"

Harry also wanted to know, "What's her name? Is she blonde? Blonde girls are hot."

Hermione looked mad but said, "Well, here she is, ask her yourself."

As she said this, the exchange student sat down next to her at the table. Her hair was not blonde, but brown, and bushy like Hermione's. Her eyes were a pale, soft blue, though.

"Hi," she said softly, "My name is Marilyn Sue. I moved her from America. Mom works at the American Ministry, International Relations Division."

Like a Veela, she had captured Ron and Harry's attentions. They were stunned. She was American, which made her somewhat exotic to them. And her voice: they silently compared it to the singing of angels.

"That is so cool! I bet you can do all sorts of wandless magic. What's your Animagi form? Where'd you use to live? Is your mum famous in America? Can you Apparate?" Ron and Harry babbled on and on with questions.

Hermione rolled her eyes; she'd already met Marilyn the night before.

Marilyn said, "Hate to disappoint you, you seem nice and all, but I'm not an Animagus and I can't do wandless magic. Mom isn't famous, I can't Apparate, and I used to live in Olympia, in Washington. It's really nice there, but this is great too. Except there's no moss on some of the trees. They look nude. So why did you think I could do all this awesome stuff?"

"Umm..." they both started, "Uh..."

"Oh, it's just all the new kids lately are practically perfect. They can do all sorts of weird stuff, like wandless magic, and are usually wonderful at Divination too. Some of them are great at Muggle classes too, like writing and maths."

"That's odd. I'm glad I'm just a plain old Marilyn Sue," said Marilyn.

"We don't think you're plain," Harry and Ron said together.

"You two are sweet. But what are your names?"

"I'm Ron. Ron Weasley. Most sane of the Weasleys," said Ron.

"Most sane? What's that mean? Are the other Weasleys insane?" asked Marilyn.

"No. But Dad collects plugs, Charlie has dragon burns over 95% of his body, Bill is off breaking curses, Percy wants to be the youngest Minister of Magic, Fred and George are pranksters, and Ginny had a problem with junior Dark Wizards. So I'm sanest."

"Ooh. And who might you be?" she asked Harry, who she of course did not was Harry, but we do.

"I'm Harry... Harry Potter," he admitted.

"Why hello Harry... Harry Potter," she giggled.

"You don't care that I'm THE Harry Potter?" he was happily amazed.

Marilyn asked, "Do I have to? You're just a nice guy who happens to be Voldemort's mortal enemy."

"Don't say his name!" yelped Ron.

"Why not? I like to get rid of sanity. It's fun!" Marilyn grinned. Hermione grinned back. The boys like scared.

"Don't worry, I'll be nice to you. But tell me who you hate and we can have some fun."