a quick little note! The character's name Elle is pronounced El not Elly. Thank you!

Chapter One: Letters from No One

Merrily in the hearth the fire happily danced as the four orphans gathered around it, laughing. It was just before dinner, and now was some of the only down time they had between chores. It was a good life they had, better than most orphans of magical birth. Lying on his stomach in the center of the large rug that covered the wooden floor attempting to read but failing utterly as he laughed along with his siblings was Edward. Tall and pencil like, he was thirteen with kind hazel eyes and a mess of honey colored hair.

William was sitting in an armchair, clutching his side as he twisted with laughter. His identical twin Henry lounged on the sofa, laughing just as heartily. Both had the same short brown hair and different colored eyes. Both of their left eyes were amber while the right was a greenish brown mix. They were the eldest at fifteen, but acted very much as the youngest did.

Ellerianna was eleven, and was sitting on an arm of the sofa, laughing along with her brothers. Her elbow length black hair twisted back in a braid, her green eyes dancing brightly with the fire. For four orphaned wizarding children you would never know they weren't related. They were all very good friends, and they all looked out for each other (which included the twins being over protective of little Elle).

Into the room bustled Mrs. Hawkins. She was a large woman with a merry temperament. Her mousy hair was always curled and pinned on top of her head. An apron was always spanning her portly middle. Her black eyes examined the living room, taking in where every one was. She chucked herself before slicking her wand at little bell in the corner of the room. As it tolled with a light tinkling sound the orphans stopped talking and all looked back at Mrs. Hawkins.

"Dinner times little ones," she said happily, turning back into the kitchen. It was a race to stand, but soon all four of the orphans were seated in their places around the table. At the head sat Mrs. Hawkins, at the far end, and empty place marked where her husband used to sit, before he disappeared. To Mrs. Hawkins' right sat William and Edward, to her left, Henry and Elle. They waited quietly, some of the laughter still bubbling in their eyes.

"Any mail come, mum?" Edward asked eagerly as she waved her wand at the empty plates on the table. The plates filled with Mrs. Hawkins' excellent cooking, they all hurriedly filled their plates, waiting for her answer.

"Now that you mention it Edward, these came just a few moments ago," she said, flicking her wand at a stack of white parchment envelopes. They all levitated into the outstretched hands of Mrs. Hawkins. She flicked through each and called out the names written on them. "Mr. W Hawkins," she called as she passed William his envelope, "Mr. H Hawkins," that was Henry's, " Mr. E Hawkins," Edward, "and look at this. Miss E Hawkins."

Elle eagerly took her envelope, her first ever envelope from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! For the past 4 years she'd watched Will and Henry get their letters, and then only 3 years ago Edward had started getting them and now she finally had one! She'd finally be going to school with her siblings! She wanted to jump up and down and holler for joy, but she didn't. Instead she tore into the envelope, gorging on the letter inside.

"Wow," Will stated, "Looks like Professor Mars got the deputy headmaster job."

"An' look," Edward said, "Professor Penndragon got Order of Merlin 2nd Class! That wasn't there last year."

"Knew he'd get tha' some time!" Henry said, checking his equipment list, " 'sa surprise they assigned so many books to us for potions. Professor Ulric usually isn't this bad. An' Professor Halvord usually doesn't make us get more than two books, incredible! We get to dedicate an entire book to Nocturnal creatures! Mus' have somethin to do with ol' Grayback, eh? Think he's been causin' trouble?"

"Perhaps," William said, "the only thing I can't wait for is Quidditch."

"Of course you can't wait! Your captain of the Ravenclaw team this year! Got any ideas on who you want as your new seeker?" Edward asked, taking a bite of his macaroni.

"Nope, there was a third year last year who was decent, but we'll see who turns up at try outs," William shrugged, "the big thing for me is winning the cup. I've been training up hard for this season."

"An' I'm sure as our resident chaser you'll be driving your team crazy with plays and such," Henry said, toying with his fork. Henry was a beater for the Gryffindor team, and Edward was Hufflepuff's back up Keeper. A quidditch filled family, and Elle felt left out, she'd never even been on a broom before! How was she going to keep up the tradition if she didn't get on her house team (whatever house that was).

"Enough chatter!" Mrs. Hawkins snapped, "Finish your dinner and get to bed! We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. Elle, I'll be up soon to brush out your hair," she said as Elle stood to go put her plate in the sink. Elle nodded and said goodnight to her brothers, who merrily returned her gesture.

"What a day," she sighed as she walked up the old wooden stairs to her bedroom. She walked quietly into her room, which the year before had held another girl; only she'd been adopted. Elle could still remember her, a lean red head, and the snobby sort. Elle had really never liked her, she'd been really mean. It took a second for Elle to realize that something about her room was different; sitting on her bed was a little package. Why was it there? Elle never got mail other than what Mrs. Hawkins got.

She carefully strode over to it and noticed the card attached. Carefully she pulled it away from the parcel and read:

For Ella

There was no signature, just the neatly handwritten note; she tucked it into her pocket before tugging at the strings to reveal a little box. Carefully she lifted the lid, and inside were many things. She turned it upside down and dumped the contents onto her bed. A number of things spilled out, some things had little notes attached to them. Eagerly she went through the contents: a glass sculpture of a Knight on horseback, a photo of a baby, written on the back was: Ella – 2 Days Old. This brought tear to her eyes. Her parents, or some one who had known them, must have sent this box. Also inside was a little mesh bag filled with an assortment of little rock of different shades of blue and green. There was also a little golden key with a note wrapped around it in the same neat little handwriting as the first note: What's in vault 687 belongs to you as well.

The last thing was the most puzzling. Did vault 687 belong to her parents? Is that way whatever was in it belonged to her as well. When Mrs. Hawkins came up to brush Elle's hair, she showed everything to her. The woman was shocked and pleased, they must have known how much these little things would mean to her.

"I knew it was only a matter of time," she sighed, looking into Elle's curious green eyes.

"What was only a matter of time?" She asked innocently.

"I knew it was only a matter of time before they regained contact with you. See, when you were left in my care, it was to keep you from danger." She held up her hand to stop the oncoming wave of questions she saw rising in Elle, "little one I can tell you no more. I was sworn to secrecy, and if I tell, terrible things could happen. Until they reclaim you, you are still my little one. Got it?"

"Yes ma'am." She said as she climbed into bed.

"Good night," Mrs. Hawkins said, kissing her on the forehead, "I'll be up in the morning."

Elle lay there, in the darkness just thinking. Thinking about who her parents were and why they'd abandoned her. What danger was she being protected from? Why had it taken them nine years to find her again? Why were they sending her little notes with no names attached? Whatever their reasons for keeping their names from her, she'd find out when the time was right.

Cradling the thought that her parents were still out there and still wanted her, sent Elle peacefully to sleep.