A/N: This is the third part for Glimpses, so if you haven't read Glimpses of Sorcerer's Curse I would read those first then this, otherwise you'll probably be very lost! I DON'T OWN ANYTHING EXCEPT ELLA! :) Enjoy! :)

The Worst Birthday

A girl rested during the hot summer day in a hedge. She remained very silent for fear the person she was watch might notice her. It wasn't too often that she visited Number four, Privet Drive, but when she did she would watch a boy who was very much like her. She wasn't stalking him or trying to be creepy, she just liked being near to something that was from her world. Harry Potter, or the Boy-Who-Lived, lived a life that was a near perfect fit with her life last summer. His stuff was locked away and all communication with their world was cut off. The thing that made their experiences most similar was that he was lonely and she was lonely. It made her sad to know she could never talk to him or give him company here. Both were cursed to live in alone when they were away from their true home.

Ella Worthington had grown taller over the summer and her brown hair had grown longer. She seemed much older than she had when she left Hogwarts in the spring, yet it had only been a few months. Her sapphire blue eyes were much sharper and the last bits of shyness she had in the past few years were finally dissolving. She was becoming more confident and certainly smarter even though she was away from school. The world may not have known why this girl was learn during her summer holiday, but she knew, and she was very close to what she had been waiting for.

In about a month Ella would be returning to school and returning to a place where she could use her magic. Ella had mentally prepared herself for a long time and she had finally reached a point where she could begin the magic portion of her training. Yes, Ella was nearly ready to turn into an Animagus, something that frightened and excited the young witch. She loved the thought of being able to turn into an animal at will, but she knew the magic wouldn't be easy. Adults had trouble with it, and she was only a third year. Not to mention what she was doing was illegal, but what's life without a little risk?

Right now she wasn't thinking about that though, she was looking at a sad, recently twelve year old who currently came outside to sit on a bench. It was moments like these where she wished she could tell him that he wasn't alone and that his friends didn't forget about him. She knew they hadn't forgotten about him for two reasons. One was that Fred and George had expressed how worried Ron was about Harry not replying to his letters more than once. The second was because she had dreamt about who was taking them.

It was true, Ella still had her dreams. It was rather useless to believe that she would ever outgrow the trait now. The only thing different now was that she could take them more in stride than she used to. There was a time during the school year last year that she didn't even want to leave her bed anymore because the dreams were too bad. That wasn't to say that she didn't wake up frightened, shaking, or yelling out in fear now; it just meant that she didn't let it stop her from smiling in the day time. Ella was gaining more control over her dreams, she was getting used to the feel of them. It was like have a sixth sense that she finally had gotten under control for the most part.

"Happy birthday to me…happy birthday to me…" Harry sang softly to himself and Ella frowned at the poor guy.

"Yes, Harry, happy birthday to you," she whispered wishing that she could take him with her when she left for the Burrow in a few hours. She watched the boy sit deep in thought staring into the hedge until he bolted to his feet.

For a moment Ella's heart stopped, thinking she had gotten caught she was about to explain herself when she noticed his eyes weren't on her spot in the bush. They were to the right of her. Turning to see what caused such a reaction out of Harry, Ella looked to the right of her.

A House-Elf stood beside her and looked at her at the same time with giant green eyes. It gasped and jumped backwards, but Ella was fast. She quickly grabbed on to the creature because she had seen him before. It was the Elf who kept taking all of Harry's letters. The creature began to fuss and Ella was worried he'd make Harry come and investigate.

She gently put her hand over its mouth and whispered, "Shh, it's alright. I'm not going to hurt you; I just want to talk."

The House-Elf stopped struggling so much and Ella let it go, "See, I mean you no harm. Now, what's your name?"

"Dobby, Miss. My name is Dobby the House-Elf," said Dobby nervously.

Ella smiled, "Pleasure to meet you, Dobby. I'm Ella. I was wondering if you could tell me why you've been taking Mr. Potter's letters."

"Harry Potter must not go to Hogwarts! Bad things are to come," Dobby whispered to her urgently. Ella looked at Dobby questioningly.

"What bad things are going to happen? He can't just, not show up at the school. He loves it there, and I don't blame him. Haven't you seen what he lives with?" She reasoned with the creature.

Dobby shook his head fiercely, "Harry Potter mustn't go; Miss. Ella shouldn't either if she knows what's good for her. Dobby will make sure Harry Potter won't go." Before Ella could say another word, the House-Elf disappeared with a crack. Ella let out a huff of air and turned around to see that Harry had gone inside.

"Of course, I finally get ahold of the House-Elf and he only gives me more questions," Ella thought ruefully. She made her way back home deciding it'd be better to make sure that she had all her things together instead of watching for Harry to come back.

As she walked home she saw Allison and her cronies walking towards her, but as soon as Allison caught sight of Ella they started heading a different direction. She had been frightened of Ella ever since she punched her last summer, such a fond memory. It was quite a walk to get back to her house, but Ella didn't mind. She really liked having time to think about things like her friends, her school, becoming an Animagus, or her dreams.

Excited didn't begin to explain how she felt about seeing Fred and George again. Going to the Burrow was even a dream come true. It had been far too long since she was last there. She missed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who were more like parents to her than her own parents were. The big thing though, was that she'd get to see Fred. At the end of the school year she had finally come to terms with having feelings towards him, but as the summer passed, she found herself falling for him more and more. Every time she got a letter with his signature her heart would flutter and she found herself wishing away the hours just so she could spend time with him again. Ella was worried that she'd give something away while being with him, but only time would tell for that.

"Oh, I see you finally decided to come home. When are they going to take you away?" Ella's father sneered to her when she walked in.

"They'll be here any minute. Don't worry you can continue on like I don't exist soon enough," Ella snapped back at him. She had reached a point where she no longer considered her family to be just that. As far as she was concerned, she was as much of an orphan as Harry.

Ella ran up to her room and dragged her trunk down the stairs. She watched as her father went up the stairs and into his bedroom with her mother. They wouldn't be out until Ella was gone, she was sure. Next she brought Rowena and her cage downstairs. Rowena hooted happily at being with Ella. The owl was very happy to get to be with her all summer, which it didn't get to do last summer. Ella had a huge fight with her parents after getting off the train to get Rowena to stay with her. In the end she was victorious.

A knock sounded on the door and Ella rushed forward to open it, "Hello Mr. Weasley!" She said after opening it. He stood outside with a fatherly smile on his, waiting for Ella. She looked behind him and saw a Ford Anglia, but no red headed boys.

"Hello, Ella, so good to see you again. Fred and George couldn't come because they got into a spot of trouble back home and Molly was having them clean up the mess," Mr. Weasley said with a laugh and Ella laughed with him. Mr. Weasley grabbed her trunk for her and Ella grabbed Rowena and her cage.

"I'm going now! Won't be back for another year…a lot can change in a year! I could possibly die of a rare, unheard of disease in that time! …Nothing," Ella mumbled after trying to get some sort of response out of her parents. Mr. Weasley said nothing, but she could see the disappointment he had in her parents. She didn't think she'd get a response anyways, but she felt the need to at least try.

They carried Ella's things out to the car and just before they left Ella looked at Rowena and asked, "How would you like to fly instead? You could meet us at the Burrow instead of sitting in a car." Rowena hooted affectionately as Ella unlocked her cage and let the barn owl out. With only a nuzzle goodbye, the owl took to the air. Shortly, Ella followed her pet forgetting about the horrible people who never gave her the time of day and think only of being with her real family once more.

A/N: I hope you liked it so far! Let me know what you're thinking, where do you expect this to go? Please Review! :)