Chapter One: New School, New Friends, Different House!?
'Well here I go,' thought Ellie as she boarded the Hogwarts Express. She glanced into each compartment walking farther and farther back. She reached the last compartment and slid open the door. She felt nervous when three students looked up at her. There was an average boy holding a weird cactus-like plant with boils all over it, an eccentrically dressed girl reading a weird looking magazine, called The Quibbler, upside down, and an normal boy with glasses and a weird lightening bolt scar on his forehead.
"Sorry," Ellie said immediately. "I thought this one was empty."
She turned to leave when the girl with "The Quibbler" spoke in a whispery voice.
"No, it's alright."
"Is it okay if I stay here?" Ellie asked turning toward them her hand still fisted on the compartment door handle. "Everywhere else is full."
"Sure," said the bespectacled boy. "What's your name?" He asked curiously. Ellie pulled the door closed moving to sit next to the girl reading The Quibbler.
"Elicia Craft," she answered. "I prefer Ellie, though. What about you guys?"
"My name in Luna Lovegood," the girl replied in her whispery voice. She lowered The Quibbler fixing Ellie with large, pale-blue eyes.
"I'm Neville Longbottom," said the boy with the cactus extending his free hand for Ellie to shake.
"My name is Harry Potter," said the boy with the lightening bolt scar. He sounded gloomy all of a sudden.
"Nice to meet you guys," Ellie said. She felt awkward when Harry fixed her with an odd look.
On Harry's part, he was shocked and slightly confused. Ellie hadn't opened her mouth in shock and stared at his scar. She hadn't asked dumbfounded, "You're Harry Potter?" She had just treated him as a normal boy, an odd boy, but a normal one. His thought process was broken by the beginnings of a conversation.
"Weren't your eyes a deep shade of blue a minute ago?" Luna asked.
"Yeah!" Harry said slightly shocked. "Now they're yellow."
Ellie averted her eyes. 'Great,' she thought pessimistically, 'They've noticed. They probably think I'm a freak.'
"Look!" Luna exclaimed here voice rising, "Now they're orange!" "You know, this reminds me of some Google-eyed Glarckles I saw over the summer.
"What are those Luna?" Ellie asked steadily trying to change the subject.
"They're the most interesting creatures you could ever lay eyes on, they have these huge bulging eyes that glow many different colors in the night…" Luna said as Ellie cut her off.
"Okay maybe on second thought I don't need to know," Ellie said.
"Then how come your eyes change color? Are you a Google-eyed Glarckle in disguise? Are you even human? Are you here to kill Harry? Are you…" Luna said hyperactively as she was again cut off, but by Harry this time.
"No Luna she's not any of those things that you described," Harry said.
"Then how do you explain the sudden change in eye color?" Luna asked looking somewhat disappointed.
"Yeah, Ellie mind explaining that," Harry said with an exasperated tone.
"Well…" Ellie started to explain while they all gave her funny looks.
Twenty minutes passed when Ellie concluded, "And that's why my eyes change colors."
"They change based on your mood," Luna said. "So before, when you eyes were yellow, that meant you were happy?"
"Exactly!" Ellie said relaxing back into her seat. "Wait… How did you know I was happy, I could have been sad."
"You seem contented when your eyes were a deep blue. Then your eyes began shifting from yellow to orange when I mentioned it."
"So," Neville asked, "What are you feeling now that your eyes are orange?"
"I was apprehensive when you lot found out about my eyes,": she answered truthfully, "I was more afraid that you would treat me like a freak. You don't think I'm a freak do you?"
"No!" Luna exclaimed. "We…"
"No, it's fine. We know a few interesting people," Harry said.
"We would never treat you like that,": Luna said.
"I think it's kind of cool that you can change your eye color," Neville said.
"Me, too," Luna said. "I wish I could do that."
Harry nodded in agreement. He watched Ellie for a few seconds. Feeling strange she broke the awkward silence.
"It's not like I can change them because I feel like it," Ellie said her eyes returning to the deep shade of blue, "but otherwise I'm glad! Back where I lived, before this, my neighbors treated me like a… freak," Ellie whispered. Seeing their happy faces, Ellie's eyes changed to a lively shade of yellow.
"Have you figured out what all the colors mean yet?" Harry asked.
"I haven't figured out what mood I'm in when my eyes turn pink, purple, brown, gray, or white. Once they were a mix of two colors, green and blue. But I'm not sure what I feel when they change," she finished looking around at her new friends.
"That's so intriguing," Luna said. Ellie was confused and slightly amazed at Luna's interest in her eyes.
She swiftly changed the subject, "Hey, Neville," she said. "what is that cactus for?"
"Yeah, what is that thing Neville," Harry also asked as if he just noticed it.
"It's a Mimbulus Mimbletonia," Neville replied. "My Gran gave it to me for my birthday."
"What does it do?"
"Lots of things," Neville replied. "But I really admire it's amazing defense mechanism," he said proudly. He handed the box with Trevor in it to Harry and pulled a white quill from his school bag. He held the Mimbulus Mimbletonia up to his eyes and prodded one of the boils with the quill tip. Green liquid squirted form every boil of the plant, thick, stinking, dark green jets of it. It hit the ceiling, the windows, Luna's Quibbler magazine, and drenched everyone form head to toe.
"How are we going to get rid of this?" Ellie asked disgusted.
"Simple," Harry said. "Scourgify!"
That spell made all of the green goop vanish instantly.
"Sorry…," Neville said, "I-I've never tired that before. I-I've only read about it."
"What was that stuff?" Ellie said aloud.
"Stink sap," Neville responded receiving several stares.
"It's not poisonous," he added as Ellie's eyes switched to orange and started gagging.
However, after understanding, here yes her eyes returned to it's regular blue and the tension was relieved. Everyone began to laugh lightly. Their attentions were diverted when the compartment door opened again. Two people cam in the first was holding a wicker basket containing a cat, and the second was holding a cage with a small owl, which was hooting shrilly. The second to enter was a red head. He stowed the cage releasing the owl, which zoomed excitedly around the compartment. He sat next to Harry chomping off the head of a chocolate frog. He closed his eyes heaving a sigh, as if his morning had been exhausting.
"There are two Prefects from each house," said the girl letting her cat out of his basket.
She had ridiculously bushy, frizzy, brown hair. She sat on the other side of the redhead.
"And guess who's a Slytherin Prefect?" asked the redhead.
"Malfoy?" Harry asked hoping is worst fear wouldn't be confirmed.
"Who's Malfoy?" Ellie asked.
The redhead turned to face her giving her a weird look. Harry noticed his friends reaction and jumped in.
"Sorry, guys…," he said, "this is Elic…," he paused receiving an ominous red-eyed stare from Ellie, "Ellie Craft. Ellie this is Ron," he said pointing to the read head, "and Hermione," he finished pointing to the bushy-haired girl.
"You could have said that earlier, mate," Ron said visibly reacting.
"Nice to meet you," Hermione said.
"So, this is your owl?" Ellie inquired. "And the cat is yours, Hermione?"
"Keneazle. Crookshanks is actually a Keneazle," Hermione corrected.
"Yeah," Ron said rolling his eyes. "Pigwidgeon is mine. But we call him Pig," he finished modestly.
The moment was ruined when the compartment door banged open for the third time. Standing in the opening was a blond-haired blue-eyed wizard flanked by two buffoons.
"What?" Harry asked aggressively.
"Manners, Potter," sneered the boy, "Or I'll give you detention."
"Yeah, who cares," Harry began.
"See me unlike you was made Prefect, which means me unlike you has the power to give punishments."
"Because I unlike you," Harry finished, "am not a git. So hit the road."
The silence was broken by the sound of Luna turning a page of The Quibbler. Ellie gazed out the window, hoping the blond wouldn't notice here. He didn't and continued to bait Harry.
"So, Potter," he spat, "How does it feel to be second to Weasley and the Mudblood?"
"At least he doesn't waste energy on spouting idiotic insults," Hermione retorted acidly.
"I seem to have touched a nerve," he drawled, "Watch yourself, Potter. I'll be dogging your footsteps in case you 'step out of line," he said smirking again.
"Get out!" Ron said through clenched teeth. The blond turned to leave, fixing Ellie with his cold, gray eyes. She focused on keeping her eyes at a normal blue until Ron slammed the door shut."Good one," Ron said slapping Harry's shoulder sitting back down.
"To answer your question from before, Ellie," Hermione said, "That was Malfoy."
"Who were the other two?" Ellie asked.
"His goons, Crabbe and Goyle," Ron answered.
"It sounds like they give you a lot of trouble," Ellie said worridly.
"Yeah, they do!" Hermione said exasperated. The rain spattered the windows the tinkling filling the silence.
"We'd better change into our robes," Hermione commented. "I can see Hogwarts from here."
Everyone nodded. By the time Ellie had changed into her robes the train had began to slow down to a stop. Hermione and Ron pinned on their Prefect's badges, scrambling to get their trunks and pets under control.
'Hm…it's almost time,' Ellie thought as she followed Harry, Luna, Neville, Ron, and Hermione off the train. 'I hope things go alright.'
The smell of pine trees and the frigid night air hit their faces as they exited the train. The group of four made their way to the closest horseless carriage, meeting back up with Hermione and Ron, who had been ushering students either over to the boats or to one of the many carriages. The silent carriage trundled through Hogsmede and finally pulled itself past the wrought iron gates. It came to a halt before the open oak doors of the castle. Ellie got out and followed her new friends into what had to be the largest Entrance Hall she'd ever seen. Alarmed by Luna's gasp Ellie turned around. A tall witch with gray hair and spectacles, wearing emerald green robes, stopped in front of them.
She spoke with a softened but yet stern tone, "Ms. Craft, there you are, You are to come with me to be sorted."
Ellie shared a fleeting look expression with her new friends before following the female professor. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were left dumbfounded by the news they had just learned. The three remained silent following Neville and Luna into the Great Hall knowing that they would discuss the matter there. Luna said goodbye and floated over to the Ravenclaw table.
"What! She's a first year?" Ron asked Harry as the four of them pushed toward their house table.
"Judging by her appearance she could be a transfer student," Hermione answered sitting down next to Neville. Harry and Ron across from them with their backs toward the wall.
"What do you think, Harry? Harry, HARRY!" Hermione said irritated.
"Oh, huh?" Harry said stupidly.
"Were you even listening?" Hermione asked.
"No…," Harry said. "Sorry…, My mind was somewhere else."
"The Ellie situation!" Hermione said exasperated. "Do you think she's a first year?"
"I don't know," Harry said. "We're going to have to wait and see."
After everyone was seated, the witch in emerald green robes came in. She set down a stool placing an old wizard's hat, Godric's to be exact, upon it. The hat was patched and darned a wide tear in the frayed brim. All the students waited in silence for the Hat to finish its song before they broke into applause. The Professor brought a long roll of parchment out looking down the row of nervous first-years.
She called, "Abercrombie, Euan."
He came forward and put on the Hat.
A few seconds latter the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
The students around him clapped and shouted and Harry joined in for the heck of it.
The last first-year, "Zeller, Rose," scampered off to Hufflepuff after a few agonizing seconds of waiting on the stool.
"Wait," Harry said, "Where is Ellie?"
He looked to Hermione and Ron for an answer but they both shrugged their shoulders.
"Lastly," the Professor said bringing attention back to herself, "Please respect and welcome a new fifth-year transfer student, Elicia Craft."
The hall burst into applause and Ellie walked to the stool sitting down. She pulled the hat over her head and jumped when she heard a voice in her ear. 'Hmmm… a very tricky one,' said the sorting Hat. 'Very ambitious yet you do not falter in the face of danger. A very sharp mind as well.' The Hat rambled on and on putting Ellie on edge.
Hermione leaned over the table, "I knew there was no way she was a first-year."
"Yeah, but you'd reckon she would have said something in the first place," Ron said a bit sore.
"It never came up," Harry said. "But, yeah, that's true."
They all stopped when they heard the hat about to make its decision.
"SLYTHERIN!" the Hat bellowed.
Ellie's was dumbfounded as she found herself walking over to the Slytherin table to take a seat. The female Professor took the Hat away and the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore stood, said a speech at the end he uttered some funny words. After his annual speech the 'oohs' and 'ahs' of the first-years rang through the hall when all the food appeared.
"Wow, wasn't expecting that," said Ron taking a bite of the barbecue-sauce drenched ribs.
"Me neither," Hermione agreed.
"I can't believe that girl lied to us," Ron said looking as he was about to erupt with fury.
"Ron, you don't know for sure that she lied," Hermione said.
"But just look at her," Ron said pointing to Ellie who had just happened to be stuffing her face with all loads of stuff.
"Yeah Ron, she never mentioned the fact that she's the same as you, a glutton," Hermione said sarcastically.
With frustration Ron said, "That's not what I mean"
"Then what do you mean," Hermione said teasingly.
"I mean that if she truly was a nice person who just got sorted into Slytherin you would've think that they'd come by and try to talk things out, but no look at she's happy as if nothing's wrong," Ron said
"You have a point, but…" Hermione said.
"But what?" Ron asked.
"See you can't disprove my theory," Ron said.
"Whatever Ron," Hermione said infuriated. "And Ronald chew with your mouth closed!"
"Harwry, are you alfight?" Ron asked.
"Ronald swallow before speaking!"
"Oh…, yeah," Harry said, "I'm fine, Why do you ask?" He questioned taking a swig of pumpkin juice.
"You seem sort of out of it," Hermione answered. "Ronald! Use your fork!" She said exasperated.
"I'd be out of it," Ron quickly swallowed his food when Hermione gave him a glare, ",too, if I met a new person, who happens to be a girl, I thought was nice; and then she was sorted into Slytherin."
"No, that's not it, though," said Harry with a disappointed look on his face.
"Then what is it?" Hermione asked eating a bite of crème-brule.
"Nothing," Harry said taking a bite of cold round steak.
"Well, if you're sure," Hermione whispered looking a bit worried.
"I just thought she would be different," Harry thought as entrees of food began to disappear, and in its place a wondrous buffet of colorful desserts.