September 1, 1971
"Now remember, you will only write home once every two weeks. If there is an emergency, you will ask your head of house to write your father of myself for you. Any grade under Exceeds Expectations will be met with punishment upon your return home. While at Hogwarts you are expected to make the Stroud family proud," Lorella Stroud turned to her eldest daughter and narrowed her eyes. "Estella, you will under no circumstances embarrass this family. There will be no tricks or sneaking around after hours. You will behave. Am I understood?"
"Yes, mother," Ellie found it very difficult to refrain from rolling her eyes.
"Good," Her mother nodded, satisfied at her answer, "I await your letters confirming your placement into Syltherin. Until Christmas." With these parting words and a nod of her head, Lorella left the twins standing between platforms 9 and 10.
"Well, that was encouraging," Ellie looked to her sister, "Now what?"
"I'm not sure," Ari's replied, tucking her shoulder length blonde hair behind her ear.
The younger twin's expression was troubled, and Ellie had no problem determining the cause of her sister's distress. Placing a hand on her shoulder, she attempted to reassure her. "You're going to be great, Ari. You already know as much as a third year, and you'll have no trouble making friends,"
Ariella laughed at her sister's attempt to encourage her. "If you say so, Ellie. I-,"
"Oh, um, hello!" a voice called out. The twins turned to see a red-headed girl about their own age standing before them. The girl was striking, in a unique sort of way. Her red hair was unlike anything Ellie had ever seen, and her green eyes stood out in such a way that Ellie found herself slightly envious of. Her own eyes were an odd mixture of blue and green, while the newcomer's were the purest green she'd ever seen.
"Hi!" Ellie emphatically greeted the witch, "I'm Estella Stroud and this is my sister Ariella. You can call us Ellie and Ari." She took note of the girl's trunks and caged barn owl, "Are you headed to Hogwarts?"
The red-head's eyes lit up at the mention of the school, "Yes! Only, I'm not too sure how to get to the train. I'm Lily by the way, Lily Evans."
"It's good to meet you Lily," Ari spoke up, "Unfortunately, our mother has just left, and we aren't too sure how to get to the train either."
"That's alright, I'm supposed to be meeting a friend here anyway. He might know." Her eyes lit up as she caught sight of something just over the girls' shoulders. "Oh look, he's just arrived!"
Ellie turned to face the other new arrival, her eyes falling on the strangest looking boy she'd ever seen. He was just as striking as Lily, but in the opposite and most unfortunate sense of the word. His lank black hair hung past his ears. His eyes were nearly black and stood out in eerie contrast to his too-pale face. The boy was frightening, and the look he was giving the twins did nothing to soften Ellie's first impression of him.
"Ellie, Ari. This is Severus Snape. He's a very dear friend of mine. Sev, these are the Stroud twins. We're trying to figure out how to get to the train. Perhaps you can help?" Lily inquired hopefully.
"I find it pretty pathetic that two pureblood witches cannot figure out how to even enter the wizarding world," Snape sneered. Ellie found herself promptly returning the look.
"Well, this is our first year, you see. We haven't done it before." Ari's soft spoken voice came from behind her sister.
"In any case," Snape drolled, "I know how to get to on. Follow me Lily." The boy gathered his belongings and walked right through the brick wall between platforms 9 and 10.
"Well, that answers that," Ellie said with a sigh, "Lily, go before me and keep up with Snape. Ari, you follow me."
Lily took a deep breath before stepping through the wall after Snape. Seeing it done a second time, Ellie felt more comfortable going through herself. Staring at the wall, she gathered her nerve and made several determined steps towards it, closing her eyes as she stepped through.
The deafening sound of the train's whistle greeted Ellie on the other side. She opened her eyes to see Lily and a very aggravated Snape waiting for her. Turning, she smiled at Ari who had just arrived through the wall herself.
"That wasn't bad at all!" Ari exclaimed, grinning. Ellie smile back at her sister. The two then began making their way over to Lily and Snape.
"Lily," Ellie heard Snape say, "We really should be finding our seats now. Alone.," he emphasized, glaring at the approaching twins.
"I'd like us to sit with them, Sev," Lily replied. Ellie snuck a smug look at Snape who was beginning to look royally ticked off.
"Fine." Ellie, one. Snape, zero.
The four children found an empty compartment after several minutes of searching. They settled into their seats, Lily and Snape on one side, Ari and Ellie facing them. There were several seconds of awkward silence before Lily spoke up.
"So, Sev said you're purebloods. What does that mean?" Apparently, he had recognized their last name. Hopefully this wouldn't be common among the student at Hogwarts. Ellie disliked being just based off her family's name alone.
"It means," Snape interjected, "that their family is one of the oldest and wealthiest in the Wizarding community. Papa Stroud has his hands all over the Ministry for Magic from what I've read. Most purebloods don't take too kindly to muggle-borns like yourself Lily. They believe them to be inferior." Snape finished, cutting a spiteful look to Ellie.
She was really getting tired of him.
"Oh," Lily muttered dejectedly, "does that mean that you don't want to be my—" Lily was cut off as the compartment door was thrown open.
A dark haired boy appeared in the doorway. He looked to be a first-year like them. Round glasses sat on his nose and his dark brown hair stuck out in all directions. He glanced around at them before his eyes settled on Lily. A smirk appeared on his lips as he quickly ran a hand through his hair.
"Hello," he said, stepping into their compartment and holding out a hand to Lily, "I'm James Potter."
"Lily Evans," she responded, shaking his hand. "This is Severus Snape and Estella and Ariella Stroud. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise," James said, returning to the doorframe. Leaning back out into the aisle he shouted, "Oi! Sirius! Over here!"
Oh, Merlin please no. Not him.
Ellie's silent plea fell on deaf ears as Sirius Black appeared next to Potter. Ari lets out a gasp and moved closer to Ellie.
The twins had heard of the Potters and the Blacks. Both were old pureblood families like the Stroud's. The Potters, however, were known in Ellie's family and throughout the supremacist pureblood community as blood-traitors, same as the Weasley's. The Black family was cut from a different cloth entirely. Orion and Walburga Black were two of the most frightening people Ellie and Ari had even had the displeasure of meeting. In fact, the entire family was known for its cold heartedness, wealth, and cruelty.
Pureblood society was known for its elaborate Christmas Balls. A family was chosen months in advance to host, and preparation was made soon thereafter. When Ellie and Ari were eight years old they were officially old enough to attend their first Ball. That year, it was to be held at the Blacks' ancestral home, 12 Grimmauld Place. It was there that Ellie first met Sirius.
Ellie and Ari were forced into the frilliest dresses they'd ever worn. And to make it worse, the dresses were matching with the exception that Ellie's was emerald and Ari's was a deep red. Despite their festive appearance, the twins were not in the jolly mood when they'd arrived with their parents at the party.
After being paraded around and introduced to all the other families in attendance, the Stroud girls were now standing demurely in front of Orion and Walburga Black as well as their two boys.
Mistress Black was a haunting woman; her cheeks were sharp and her lips constantly pursed as if she found her surroundings distasteful. She was also unusually tall, towering over her husband who himself appeared bored with the formalities of introductions. Both were dressed in black, despite it being a Christmas Ball.
Just behind the severe couple stood two boys, who were pushed forward as Walburga introduced them.
"This is Sirius, my eldest. And Regulus, my youngest." She said. "Boys, say hello to Estella and Ariella Stroud."
Ellie was far from being old enough to find boys attractive, but years later she would recall thinking that the Black boys were startlingly pretty in an aristocratic sort of way. They looked nearly like twins except for the fact that Regulus was noticeably younger. Their black hair was styled similarly, and their grey eyes were near exact matches, Sirius's being just a shade darker.
Regulus and Ari each muttered a quiet 'hello' while Sirius and Ellie glared at the floor. After a sharp nudge from her mother, Ellie gritted out her own greeting causing Sirius to smirk before his own mother smacked the back of his head.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," he gritted out.
Once that formality was over with, the twins were left alone to mingle. They meandered around the house, sneaking sweets where they could from the platters that were floating around each room. After about an hour of wandering, Ellie noticed they had a shadow. Sirius had been following them room to room, keeping to the shadows as if to avoid detection.
She stalked over to the corner he was standing in and planted her fists on her hips. "Can we help you?" She demanded.
Sirius rolled his eyes, "Don't flatter yourself, Stroud. I've been after the tray of pound cake. Mother doesn't want me to have any, so I'm trying to be discreet."
"Oh." Well that was embarrassing. "Well, you can't really blame her for refusing you. Those dress robes hardly fit as it is." Ellie tended to cover her embarrassment with insults.
Ari let out a gasp as Sirius glared at her. "At least I'm not dressed like one of Santa's elves threw up on me," he shot back.
"Why you—," Ellie stared towards the boy, murder on her mind, and managed to walk righting into a plate of champagne flutes that had wandered in front of her. The plate fell instantly, the sound of shattering glass echoing throughout the room. Dozens of eyes turned to Ellie.
She stood frozen as Walgura Black stormed into the room. When her eyes landed on the broken champagne flutes on the floor, furious grey eyes bored into Ellie. "Those were my mother's," she said angrily.
"I'm so so-sorry," Ellie stammered.
"Leave. Now."
Ellie's parents came to collect her and her sister, both fuming. They were drug out of the house and returned home where they were promptly locked in their room while their Father collected his switch.
Needless to say, the Stroud twins were never invited back to 12 Grimmauld Place.
So, when none other than Sirius Black appeared smirking next to James Potter, Ellie found herself slightly agitated.
"What are you doing here Black?" she narrowed her eyes and glared at him.
Grinning, he shook his wavy hair from his eyes, "How'd you manage to get into Hogwarts, Stroud? Mommy and daddy have to bribe the Headmaster?"
"That's not very nice," said Lily. She frowned and turned to James, "This compartment is full. Sorry, you'll have to find somewhere else to sit."
"Oh come on," James exclaimed, "You want to sit with the Stroud twins and this oily git over us?"
Ellie was fairly sure Lily was about to explode. Her face turned red as she shot back at James.
"I'd prefer to sit with them over the two of you any day. Now LEAVE!"
James shrugged, "Suite yourself. Come on Sirius. Let's go find more pleasant company." The boys left, closing the door behind them.
"I hope I'm not sorted into the same house as them" Lily said, exasperatedly.
"You and me both, Lils", Ellie responded, "You and me both."