The nineteen year old looked around and almost smiled. Unfortunately her profession did not involve smiling. Hogwarts was still familiar even after two years away from it. She had loved the old building, with all its places to hide and train. It was nice to be back. Then she remembered the reason she was here and scowled. She couldn't have refused. But she wished she had. She noticed some kids looking at her and her scowl deepened.

Harry and Ron looked with interest as the woman's expression grew stormier.

"Wonder what she's doing here?" Ron asked.

"Dunno but she looks familiar." Harry replied.

Suddenly the woman looked right at them. She stared at Harry for a second and Harry was sure her eyes changed colour. One second they were brown, then the next red, then brown again.

'Did you see that?' he asked.

'What?' Ron looked at him.

'Her eyes turned red.'

'Nope. How would that happen?'

Harry shrugged. Maybe he had imagined it.

Professor Dumbledore got to his feet as soon as Sorting had finished. "Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to do two things, the first of which is to ask what you are doing back here Miss. Riddle." he looked at me.

"I am here on confidential business, sorry for any inconvenience." I added as an afterthought.

"Thank you Ella. I accept your business here and hope it is something generally approved." Professor Dumbledore answered.

I'm not supposed to do it but I smiled. "What is 'generally approved'?"

"You know what I mean." Yes I do actually. He means no killing anyone.

"Don't worry. It's bodyguard business, not assassination. "

Dumbledore sighed. "Who offered more?"

"The guy who wants what you want." Lie actually. But I'm not telling them that, let them think it's still just the money. Anyway it has to have been him that requested someone.

"All right." he sighed again "Just don't get anyone into trouble."

"If you need me, I'm a Gryffindor." I walked over to my old table.

Dumbledore continued "And now I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

Harry watched as Ella finished her conversation with Dumbledore and walked over to the Gryffindor table.

"Why's she coming over here?" Ron asked.

"Perhaps it's something to do with her confidential business." Harry suggested.

"Who's she?" Ella asked from behind them. Harry and Ron turned to find her smiling coldly.

"We err, don't know your name."

"Dumbledore said it." she replied "but as you weren't listening it's Ella, Ella Riddle."

Later, after everyone, including Ella had finished eating, Dumbledore spoke. Harry hadn't realised Ella was eating until he saw some chicken fly behind him and turned around to see Ella eating it. She saw him looking and her eyes flashed red again. Then she smiled evilly and motioned for him to turn back round. When he carried on looking at her she picked up her wand and pointed it at him. "Turn around." her expression said, so Harry did.

"Ahem-just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give to you.

First-years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well, as would some non-students."

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins and Ella.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.

"Gryffindors, and the rest of the school, I trust that you will all be hospitable to our guest, Ella Riddle, and treat her as one of your own.

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.

And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"

Percy, for some reason, was annoyed with me. I could tell by the number of glares he sent my way. Obviously he felt I was flouting his authority or something.

"What's your problem?" I asked him.

He flushed slightly and defended himself, "You're not a Gryffindor. You shouldn't be here."

I examined my nails, "Did you or did you not hear Dumbledore say to treat me as one of your own?"

"Yees."

"And does sending me multiple glares classify as treating me as one of your own?"

"Noo."

"And does me being a Gryffindor or not come into it?"

"Noo."

"So what's your problem?"

"Nothing." I finished examining my nails and looked at him more closely. Prefect. Figures.

"What year are you in?"

"Fifth." Newbie prefect. Again, figures. Explains his attitude or he might just be a stickler for rules. Either way I'm going to have to deal with him for the next two years, three if he becomes Head Boy.

Ah well, can't exhaust my source of entertainment for the next two or three years in one night.

People stared when I moved to go up the boy's stairs. "Hey." Percy called "You can't go up there, that's boy's." He wasn't this annoying in fist year I'm sure, or third. I ignored him and darted upstairs to the room that said "first years" to check on my charge and his roommates.

Close inspection now, conversation from the Feast and my knowledge of recent wizard history helped me identify them.

Dean Thomas. Muggle born. A West Ham fan but my money's on Newcastle for the Premier League, and of course I'm supporting England in the World Cup, both of them.

Seamus Finnigan. Half blood on his mother's side.

Neville Longbottom. Pure blood. Son of Frank and Alice Longbottom, the two Aurors that were tortured to death by the Lestranges and Crouch Jr.

Ron Weasley. Pure blood. Percy's younger brother and quite a big family besides; five older brothers, one younger sister, a mum, a dad and goodness knows how many in his extended family. All of which was quite a lot when you compared it to my pretty much family-less state of one cousin and two godparents, both of which are in prison. Most of the time I try and forget about them, forget about the definite and suspected Death Eaters that they are.

Harry Potter. Half blood. The Boy Who Lived if I believed that. Looks a bit like my (dead) uncle, both of them. Has about as much family as me, that he knows about; cousin, aunt, uncle, I don't feel it necessary to alert him to the imprisoned godfather and the bounty hunting cousin. He can live without that knowledge.

I soo don't want to be here.

"Any idea how long she's going to be here?" Ron muttered to Harry

"Ella? None. A while I'd say." he replied, remembering the blankets and chairs that had been moved about to make a bed this morning.

"I hope she isn't. She freaks me out."

"Who freaks you out?" Dean asked, entering the conversation.

"Ella Riddle."

"She does look slightly weird." he agreed.

"She's watching us." Harry realised.

"Now?"

"No, but generally. Sometimes when I look up she's looking right at me."

"Don't worry about it Harry." Dean told him, "It's probably just coincidence."

Harry believed him. Until Transfiguration.

Most of the teachers so far have sent me some questioning looks, but nobody's caused me any trouble. Yet.

"Reverted back to a first year have we Miss Riddle?" Should have known I wouldn't get away with it in McGonagall's class.

"Just observing Professor. Business reasons."

"Is this still the business where you work for whoever pays you the most money?" I had to consciously stop myself from yelling at her. She didn't have to advertise it like that.

"It's a legal business Professor. I realise you don't approve but it pays and it's my choice. Anyway," I shrugged "It's a better use of my talents than a Ministry job."

McGonagall raised her eyebrows "And by "talents" do you mean your habit of breaking rules and your absolute lack of morals?"

That's going too far. "I do have morals. If I didn't I would have gone for the job with the most money. And you'd better be grateful I didn't 'cause if I did, your precious Boy Who Lived wouldn't be living much longer."

"I thought you didn't believe in "all that nonsense.""

"I don't. I don't care about killing the Boy Who Lived, but I do care about killing m-children."

"Hmm, well, don't pass on any bad habits to students."

"Understood Professor."