Author's Notes: First off, a few warnings. I have never completed a fanfic. I've started a few, but never have I finished any. Secondly, this fanfic will include one of my favourite OC characters, so I'm more likely to finish this than any others, actually. Thirdly, reviews are my strength. With reviews, I am inspired to continue writing. Fourthly, (are the #-lies getting annoying?) I have set the rating at PG-13, just in case. Fifthly, and finally, Elias Grimstone is made mention of in Quidditch Through the Ages, page 47.

Chapter One: Five Years Plus One

Five years at Hogwarts. That was how long Slytherin Ellen Grimstone, or, Ella, as she preferred to be called, had attended the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Sitting and watching the nervous first years get Sorted, she was beginning her sixth year. She sat, her bright green eyes watching the proceedings with little interest, her chin in her hand, and her long, strait brown hair tied back in a low ponytail.

Next to her sat Draco Malfoy, a handsome boy of Ella's age, and one of Ella's best acquaintances, as technically, Draco wasn't allowed friends. His sarcastic manner fit hers perfectly, and although he seemed like a stuck-up brat, and the Death Eater son of a Death Eater, Ella knew that he was not into the whole Death Eater movement, he preferred simple taunting to killing and maiming. She was even more against Death Eaters than Draco, however. What did blood matter, anyway? she'd always wondered. As a pureblood witch, she really had little to be concerned about.

On Draco's other side sat Pansy Parkinson, a pug-faced girl in the same grade as Ella, and who, for some strange reason, had always reminded Ella of a cow. She was babbling incessantly about something or other, and Draco was staring off into space, a bored expression upon his face. Ella smirked. The thick-headed Pansy had not even noticed that Draco was failing to pay her any attention. Ella recalled an instance in which she had paid little attention to Draco, the very first time she had met the boy.

"Yes," said Draco to the cluster of 'fans' about him, "I just told that first year who my father was and the sniveling fool practically ran away with his tail between his legs." His 'fans' chuckled stupidly.

Ella was studying, not to far off, and she was finding his story-telling horribly annoying. The boy needed an ego-check. She rolled her eyes to herself. Malfoy noticed. He stood up and his fan group dispersed. Stalking over to Ella, he pulled the book she was reading from away from her, and held out his hand, clearly waiting for Ella to shake it. Ella merely snatched her book back.

"And you are?" asked Malfoy, by now intrigued by her not so worshipping behavior.

"Ellen Grimstone, though I'd prefer Ella, fifth year," she opened her book again.

"Any relation to Elias Grimstone," he inquired, eyebrows slightly raised.

"None," she said, offering no other explanation.

"Ah. I'm sure you get that a lot, then?"

Ella smirked. "Only by Quidditch fanatics or people who read." She tilted her head to the side a bit. "Which are you?"

From there, for some reason, she and Draco had gotten along quite famously, although she had to scold him now and then to keep his ego in check.

Ella was moved from her thoughts by an elbow-nudge coming from the boy to her right. His shoulder-length, light brown hair was tied in an elegant ponytail at the base of his neck. He was quite handsome, and Ella's best friend since first year. His name was Blaise Zambini. His blue eyes twinkled as he nodded his head in Pansy's direction. "The girl's chatting his ears off again, Ell," he said with a slight laugh.

Ella grinned and nodded. "He'll hex her by the end of the week, no doubt."

With another chuckle, Blaise added, "And if he doesn't, I will, so I don't have to hear him complaining about her." Ella smirked. It was true, Draco spent an obscene amount of time when Pansy wasn't around complaining about her chatter. Ella didn't understand why Draco didn't simply tell her to shut up and get the hell away from him. She suspected he might enjoy his fan girl.

Blaise groaned and dramatically pouted. He placed his forehead upon Ella's shoulder as if in defeat. "The Sorting is taking forever. I'm hungry," he whined. Ella rolled her eyes, though if one looked close enough, one could detect fondness in them. She shrugged him off her shoulder.

"Stop whining," she said, a slight grin on her face. "It's not very becoming of you."

"Neither is hunger," he said.

Finally, the Sorting ended, and Blaise almost cheered. Almost. He rubbed his hands together happily as the table filled up with delicious foods. Ella shook her head at him and he laughed. Draco turned around slightly in his seat so that his back was more towards Pansy. He made a face of impatience- obviously Pansy was getting to him. She was actually still talking. Blaise laughed. "You got yourself into it, mate."

Draco scowled slightly. "It's not my fault she never shuts up."

Ella just grinned. Blaise's cheery nature against Draco's quick temper never failed to amuse her. She outright laughed when the tiny argument ended with Draco and Blaise childishly sticking their tongues out at each other. (Which, by the way, was something rarely ever seen from Draco.)

"So, Ella," Blaise said, "What did you get on your O.W.L.s?"

"Os, Es, an A," she replied nonchalantly. "You?"

"Same. Draco?"

"All Os except for one E," he said, smirking. "Better than that Mudblood Granger, I'm sure."

Ella rolled her eyes at the term 'Mudblood.' "She actually got all Os, so I heard."

Blaise smirked. Malfoy bristled angrily.

"That's okay," Pansy said, "My highest score was an E. You did better than me."

"Like that's hard," Draco muttered under his breath. Ella grinned.

Pansy didn't catch it, however, and continued on. "Granger's an insufferable know-it-all, anyway. Professor Snape said that last year."

Draco raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised that Pansy had managed to keep any bit of information retained in that thick head of hers. He was over his surprise in a moment, though, as he had started speaking on the subject of his least favourite people. "Granger may have done better, but I'm sure Potter did worse."

"I'm sure he did," Blaise said. "After all, he passed out during the History of Magic exam."

"Like that exam matters, anyway," Ella muttered.

"And that Weasel did worse than I as well, I have no doubt."

"Neither Potter or Weasley were trying, I don't think," Blaise said.

Ella sighed at that, as Malfoy and Blaise continued their argument. Potter and Weasley and Granger. The Golden Trio. They always got everything. They got away with everything, too. But she did not think they were as perfect as so many made them out to be. And she did not see what was so great about Potter, either. So a curse rebounded. Automatically he's hailed as the Boy Who Lived, and people everywhere celebrate him. It was nonsense, really. He was just lucky. She shook her head.

"I'm still smarter," Draco said stubbornly.

Blaise smirked, "It's so easy to get you worked up," he said. Draco glared.

"Boys," Ella muttered under her breath with an eye roll.

"Aw, c'mon, Ell, you know you love us," Blaise said with a grin.

Draco smirked. "How could she resist?" he asked.

"Easily," Ella insisted.

"Yes," said Blaise, "And I'm a monkey's uncle."

"I wouldn't doubt that," Ella shot back.

"Nor would I," Draco joined in. "He's too thick to be completely human."

"And Crabbe and Goyle are…?" Blaise asked, leaving the question hanging.

"Don't remind me of the idiots with whom I used to associate," Draco said coldly.

"Aren't you glad you found us?" Ella asked, grinning.

"Thrilled," Draco said sarcastically. Ella could tell, however, that Draco indeed was glad that he no longer was flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. They followed some Slytherin nobody around instead. Some fifth year, if Ella recalled correctly. Draco had become friends with Ella, and Blaise through Ella, at the end of the previous year and over the summer holiday.

"So," Ella said, "Anyone up for some Quidditch tomorrow? It's Saturday."

"I'm game," Blaise said.

"So am I," replied Draco, grinning. If there was one thing he enjoyed, it was a game of Quidditch.

"Don't you agree? I mean, obviously trolls aren't great looking but…" And Pansy was still talking, apparently under the impression that someone was listening.

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Across the hall, Harry Potter sat with his friends Hermione Granger and Ronald, or Ron, Weasley. He'd noticed Draco looking cheery, which Harry didn't understand, given that Draco's father was in Azkaban, the wizard prison. "Who's the girl next to Malfoy?" he asked.

"That's Pansy Parkinson, you dolt," Ron replied, food in his mouth, as usual.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Not that one, the one on his other side."

Ron shrugged, and Harry rolled his eyes again. However, he did not need worry, as Hermione, as usual, knew the answer to his question.

"That's Ellen Grimstone. I hear she goes by Ella. She's in our grade. She's in my Arithmancy class. So is Blaise Zambini, the boy on her other side. They aren't bad, for Slytherins."

Ron shook his head. "Hermione," he said seriously, "All Slytherins are bad."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

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Author's Notes: I know, a short chapter. I wanted to get it up quickly. And now I need to know a few things. Do Blaise and Ella seem Mary-Sue-ish? Does the whole story seem plausible? What do you think of the over-all plot? (Though there isn't much so far.) Have you any suggestions thus far? I'd really appreciate feedback in the for of a review. Thanks.