Tears made tracks on my face, but I swiped them away angrily. Why was it my mother? My sweet, kind mother who wouldn't say boo to a goose? Rose was sobbing still, but it had a hypnotic rhythm to it and I soon fell fast asleep.
Everywhere was white and misty. Gradually everything came into focus, and I found myself standing in – Kings Cross Station?
Suddenly I saw my mother boarding a train. I ran towards her, screaming her name. She spotted me and waved sadly. "Make a difference, El. It's too late for me, but you can succeed. Oh Ella, I'm sorry we didn't get more time together, but I promise it's for the best." The train began to move, and she called out, "Lily will help you! Darling, I love you!"
She was gone.
I woke with a start, and jumped up. The clock said 7am, and we had to get to the station and onto the Hogwarts Express by 11. I shook Rose awake, and she stared at my face.
"Why aren't you upset anymore?" she asked, confused. I gave her a half-hearted smile.
"Life goes on. This will motivate me; mother was underappreciated, and she won't get a mention in the paper. No-one will know that I have lost a loved one. Everyone should get a mention, and I will work harder to make Hufflepuff famous!"
"How will you do that?" Rose asked.
I smiled mischievously. "Quidditch."
I had been practicing in secret, and I was now pretty good, I thought. Rose had seen me play, and said that I was the best Chaser she'd seen, apart from her Aunt Ginny. She told me this as she helped me put my trunk up on the rack, and I thanked her, curling up next to Lily with my copy of Advanced Defensive Spells. I had bought it with my birthday money, and I was currently reading about Patronus'.
A corporeal Patronus is the hardest to produce, as it requires an extreme amount of concentration on the conjurer's behalf.
"James, Freddy, get out of here you prats!" yelled Lily, and everyone in the compartment murmured in agreement. I stayed focused on my book, not glancing up at all.
However, a beginner may produce a mist-like Patronus that has no form and is weaker than a corporeal one. It may prove useful against beings such as dementors, repelling them easily and effectively.
"We'll leave," said James, and everyone exhaled in relief. "If you can make us!" Lily muttered curses.
In order to produce a Patronus, you must concentrate on a happy memory, and then say the incantation, Expecto Patronum. This will, if your memory is happy enough, produce a Patronus, whether it is corporeal or not.
I looked up for a moment, and everyone seemed shocked. Concentrating on the moment I was sorted into Hufflepuff, I swished my wand, whispering, Expecto Patronum. A mist swirled around the room once before dissipating.
The entire compartment stared at me, as I sat down and returned to my book as if nothing had happened. Lily beamed at me, and Rose whispered her congratulations. "You got a Patronus that was almost corporeal first try!"
My eyes were violet when I looked up at James. He just winked at me and left the compartment, Freddy at his heels.
James' POV
She produced a Patronus! Granted, not a corporeal one, but a Patronus before she'd even started third year was not to be sneezed at!
Freddy piped up from behind me. "James, man, you've got it bad!" I glared at him.
Ella's POV
"You like James, don't you!" Rose squealed.
"NO!" I told them all, and Al and Scor just nodded, while Alicia, Margie, Rose and Lily raised their eyebrows. "Okay, fine, maybe." They grinned at me, and I hurriedly continued. "But he's still an arrogant prat!"
Lily nodded, still smiling. "So, who do you think will win the Quidditch Cup? I bet Hufflepuff."
Rose agreed. "Yeah, but only if El decides to try out!"
I shook my head. "That won't be enough! We need a decent Seeker to be in with a chance!"
Lily put up her hand. "I'm a decent Seeker! And I want to be in Hufflepuff!"
I smiled at her. "Well, we can but hope!" I winked.
"Lily Luna Potter!" Longbottom called. The hall fell silent. I could tell everyone was excited to see the last Potter sorted.
Lily walked up to the hat proudly, and put it on her head. A minute passed. Then two. Then – "HUFFLEPUFF"
I stood up and cheered happily. Lils tripped down the steps and sat down next to me, Alicia, Margie and a first year called Megan Macmillan. I hugged her close. "Lils I'm so glad you're in this house!"
Lily grinned. "It's a dream come true!"
3 YEARS LATER! (Ella's 6th year)
"…and with that, off you go!" professor McGonagall told us, and we hurried off.
"First years! This way please!" I called out. Yes, I was a prefect, and proud. I'd swapped jobs with Lexis Reed from 5th year because she had to take her fellow 5th year prefect John Davies to the hospital wing (don't ask). "Follow Miss Potter and I! Stay close and do not run off! I will only explain this once!"
I led the first years into the entrance hall with Lils at my tail. At my request Lily had been made prefect a year early, because she was an excellent student and much more mature than many sixth years were. Also, Professor Sprout loved her.
As we made to go down to the kitchens, I noticed James coming up the steps. Lily sighed heavily, and I simply raised an eyebrow.
"Been in the kitchens, Potter?" I asked him. He flushed just slightly and smirked.
"Why yes indeed, House. I have been visiting the House-elves, making sure they weren't lonely."
"Oh for heaven's sake, Jamie, just go to your common room quickly!" snapped Lily, losing patience. I shot her a reproachful look. "Oh, sorry, Ella."
James left, and Lily glanced at her map to see if he had gone. I called out the names I saw on the Marauder's map and everyone was present. I called out in a clear voice; "The entrance to the common room is concealed in a stack of large barrels in a nook on the right hand side of this corridor. Tap the barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row in the rhythm of 'Hel-ga Hu-ffle-puff. But be warned, if you tap the wrong barrel, or the wrong rhythm, you will be doused in vinegar." I smirked at the disgusted faces of the 'ickle firsties' as Peeves liked to call them. "Yes, not nice. So be patient when coming in. that is, after all, one of the most common traits in a Hufflepuff!" I gave Lily a pointed look.
We crawled through into the common room, and I directed my charges to their respective dormitories before heading up to the sixth year dorms with Lily. Because there were only two 4th year girls in Hufflepuff, Megan and Lils joined us in our dorms.
Everyone except Lily's fellow 4th year Megan Macmillan was asleep. Macmillan was unpacking a few things, and she barely glanced up as we came in.
I collapsed on my comfortable bed, running my fingers over the soft wool of the patchwork quilts. Ahh, bliss.
I stared out the window, watching the long grasses wave hypnotically until slumber overcame me.
