A/N: Hey, this is something I've had in my head for a while, and I just wanted to get it out there. If you don't like, then don't read. It's as simple as that. Constructive criticism is welcomed. I will try to make this as un-mary-sueish as possible.

THE GIRL WITH THE RED RIBBON

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she intertwined a fire-engine red ribbon into her ponytail. Today was a new day. She would be starting over a new leaf. The angst-ridden torn up girl she had previously been, would be no more. Her personality makeover would begin as soon as she stepped out the front door.

"Elly, let's move it, you're going to be late!" Sabrina Brightman hollered up the spiral staircase.

Elly shut her eyes for a moment, and time froze. Today, Ellisabeth Charlotte Brightman would forget her life at Beauxbaton's Academy of Magic, and move on to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And according to her mother, she would go without a fuss. She opened her hazel eyes, "Yes, mother dearest."

"Do I hear sarcasm, young lady?!"

"No, mother." Elly trotted down the stairs as slowly as she could, for who knew when she would next be back at the place she had called home for the past sixteen years of her life.

All too soon did Elly and her mother arrive at King's Cross Station, and all too soon did Elly's mother leave her alone to fend for herself. It was like being in the wilderness, never knowing if there was a ferocious lion behind you waiting to pounce and serve you for its dinner that night. But of course there was no hungry lion waiting behind Elly. She was just being her usual paranoid self. A quality about herself that she in fact hated. Elly wasn't what muggles called 'Gisele Bündchen' beautiful, but she wasn't a plain Jane type either. She couldn't fit into a size two, no matter how much she sucked in, but she wasn't in need of a diet. Despite the fact that her working out caused her friends to double over in laughter of the mere thought of it. She was indescribable, except for the trademark red ribbon that she always wore in her dark brown hair. Elly was Elly. And today, she was a new person, ready to start a new chapter of her life.

Elly rolled her eyes as the fifth person, or so she thought, bumped into her while trying to find a compartment.

"Oh gosh, I'm terribly sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going!"

No dip, Sherlock. Ugh, I have GOT to stop being so cynical. "Oh it's alright. I'm probably causing the world's biggest cockblock in the history of cockblocks." Elly said, accepting her apology with a twang of American slang.

"You're new, aren't you?" She smiled.

"Am I that obvious?"

She laughed lightly, "I'm Cho Chang," we shook hands. "Would you care to join me in my compartment if you're not already sitting with someone else?"

"I'd like that." She smiled genuinely, which was different for her.

They made their way to her compartment of the train, making small talk on the way. Elly learned that she was in her seventh year at Hogwarts, and was in a house called Ravenclaw. By the time they had gotten to the compartment, they were laughing like they'd been friends forever. Cho wasn't a fake bitch, and Elly was down with that.

Cho opened the door of the compartment to reveal it almost full of people. "Everybody this is Elly, and she's fantastic!" The girls burst out laughing.

After the girls settled down, Cho's handsome boyfriend Cedric spoke up, "So where are you from?" He grinned lightly.

"Ze lovely Beauxbaton's." Elly said with a horrible fake French accent. Cho and she started cracking up again.

"You don't sound French." Cho's friend Marietta said snootily.

"That's because I'm a good ol' Yankee." Elly mimicked her snobbish tone.

Marietta glared and went back to filing her nails, muttering something about stupid Americans.

"An American at Hogwarts?" Cedric said, almost in awe.

"So it seems." Marietta sneered.

"Yes, Marietta. There will be an American at Hogwarts. Don't act like your life is over. I'm sure it's happened before. So do us all a favor, and take an extra large dosage of shut the fuck up." Elly said in an almost calm manner, despite the fact that her insides were boiling.

Marietta blinked a few times, "I-I'm going to g-go change into my-my r-robes." She exited the compartment.

"Thank god, that girl was about to get some serious bitch slapping." Elly said, exasperated.

"Ding dong the wicked witch is dead!" Cedric exclaimed.

"Cedric!" Cho slapped him playfully. But she was trying very hard not to smile.

Suddenly the train lurched to a stop, and everybody filed out in an orderly manner. Or so they tried to. Elly was laughing at something Cedric had said, when her eyes met someone else's. They were the iciest shade of blue one could imagine, and they gave Elly shivers. Something she never got. But as soon as the eyes were there, they were gone.

"Elly, are you okay?" Cho asked, slightly concerned, as they stepped into a carriage.

"Oh, yeah, I'm just dandy." She smiled at her.

Cho smiled again. "You're going to be sorted soon! I'm so excited!"