I do not own J.K. Rowlings writing or any of her characters.

Chapter 4:

Is this the Truth?

The next morning when I go down to breakfast I sit alone at the end of Hufflepuff table. I don't want the others to say anything about my family, or apologize for leaving me.
My hands are not bleeding anymore, but they hurt when I move them. Part-way through breakfast the owls come in. Ignoring them as usual I am about to get up when a tawny owl lands in front of me, an envelope in its beak. Looking at it I watch it move closer to me.

Reaching over I take the envelope, noticing how weird the envelope feels, and watch the owl fly away. Slitting it open I dump the contents out onto my hand, and stare at them in shock.

To the side of me a girl screams, having noticed the bloody letter and the fingers in the palm of my hand. One the size of my own ,One muscular and thick boned, and one thin and delicate.

It takes a moment before I realize the girl is screaming. Looking up I see some teachers running between the tables, pushing the students aside.

Looking down at my hand again everything goes black.

When I awake everything is blurry at first. Blinking a couple of times I hear voices and slowly the infirmary comes into view.

All the Weasley kids are gathered around me, as are Harry and Hermione.

"She's awake!" Ginny calls, apparently breaking up another argument between Hermione and Ron. I begin to sit up and George and Hermione help me. Nodding my thanks I look around at everyone, all looking a bit wary about something.

"What happened?" I ask "Why do you guys all look afraid to mention something?"

"Do you remember what was in the envelope?" Fred asks

"The envelope?" I ask, and I remember, seeing myself open the envelope again, the paper and the fingers falling out into my hands. "No.." I clench the sheets, staring at my hands, the scrapes gone. A few tears come to my eye and I angrily wipe them away.

"We're sorry Ellis" George says softly. A small hand comes into view and takes my hand. Looking up I see Ginny give me a small smile, squeezing my hand. I squeeze back and take a deep breath.

"What happened to the paper?" I ask, remembering that I had never read it.

"Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall took care of it." Harry says

"Did they get rid of it?"

"Not that we know of." Ron answers

"Where are they?" I ask, swinging my legs off the bed. Ginny helps me to my feet.

"Get back in that bed!" Madame Pomfrey yells, appearing suddenly from the other side of the room.

"I'm okay Madame Pomprey, I need to go see Professor Dumbldore." I say, grabbing my clothes.

"You will do that after you are fully rested." Madame Pomfrey

"I am rested, totally and completely" I say, then I see the others all watching Professor Dumbledore walk across the room towards us.

"Professor she's …"

"Don't worry about it Poppy." Professor Dumbledore says. "I will convince her stay here for the night."

"All right Professor" Madame Pomfrey turns and walks away.

"Now" Professor Dumbledore looks over at me. "If you will be so kind as to take a seat." He motions to the bed. "You too" He says to the others, motioning them back to their chairs "I suppose she will tell you anyway."

We all sit down, watching Dumbledore.

"What you received was indeed real, to excuse my crude explanation. The letter was….also real." The Professor says

"Was the letter from Voldemort?" I ask Dumbledore nods "What did it say?" I ask

"Just one word: Traitor" Dumbledore replies.

"Did anyone else read it?" I ask quickly.

"Only Professor McGonagall and myself read it, we explained what it was to Professor Sprout and the others."

"Umbridge too!" I ask frantically

"No" Dumbledore replies and I sigh deeply.

"Good." I go to get up and realize Dumbledore looks like he is about to speak again.

"Why wasn't anyone with you when you were talking to the Death Eater?"

"I told Ginny to go ahead because I thought the others were still in Hogsmeade, and I was going to wait for them."

"What exactly did the Death Eater say?" I repeat the entire conversation from when he called out to me to my last comment.

"Why did he call you Miss?" Fred asks at the same time as George says "That's why you were running"

"He called me Miss because…. To put it simply they learned from trying to put spells on me that I could turn their own spells back on them just as quick." I say, which is half of the truth. The others exchange glances at this, looking surprised.

"I don't see why you assumed he knew that you betrayed him." Ron says, completely oblivious.

"When he was talking about my family, he acted like the very idea of them being alive was a joke." I say softly. "And he said that Voldemort thought I would betray him. He is usually right." I say the last piece quietly, and only Dumbledore hears.

"Not always." Dumbledore responds. I glance over at him then back down at my lap.

"Could I have saved them if I hadn't betrayed Voldemort." I ask Dumbledore softly, so the others don't hear.

"Even a full grown wizard could not have done that, without receiving the Dark mark on their forearm." I nod and look up at the others. "Is that all then?" I ask Dumbledore

"Just one more thing." Dumbledore looks at the others as he says "We'll have to watch out for her more carefully then we have been. I have a feeling, and Professor McGonagall agree with me, that Voldemort may still want Ellis under his command. Which means he won't try to kill her, as such, but try to abduct her."

There is silence then everyone of them begin talking at once.

"But…"

"Why?"

"What?"

"Abduct her!"

"Quiet!" Madame Promfrey yells from farther down the hall.

"None of you see." Hermione says softly, and everyone looks at her. She was the only one who hadn't burst out with some comment after Professor Dumbledores announcement. "Ellis can block spells you guys. Even V-Voldemort can't do that. And she can fight the Imperius Curse."

"But shouldn't he want to kill her because of this."

"Not if he can find a different way to control her." Dumbledore says, looking over at Ginny for a moment. The Weasley's all nod, understanding what Dumbledore was indicating.

"And now if you would be so kind as to let Miss Greenwood relax, I am sure Madame Pomfrey would be happier if she went back to sleep" Everyone nods and I lie down again as they leave. As soon as they are gone Madame Pomfrey comes over with a sleeping potion and I reluctantly take it.

I do not own J.K. Rowlings writing or any of her characters.

Chapter 5:

We begin to Fight Back Against Umbridge/ Changes in our Holidays

I get back to school the next morning, ignoring the rumors running amongst the students.

When I am faced with any of these rumors I conclude that their true, and this confuses everyone so much that they give up trying to figure out what happened.

Thursday I sit down to supper with Ginny.

"Oh good!" Ginny says when she spots me, and motions me over. Quickening my step a bit I sit down beside Ginny.

"What is it?" I ask, grabbing some food.

"We have the first Defense meeting at eight tonight. There is a door on the seventh floor, opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy."

"Being clubbed by the trolls" I interrupt

"Yes, that room. We're going to meet in there."

"Cool" I say, my eyes lighting up at the thought of finally doing something against Umbridge.

That night at eight I make my way to the room opposite the tapestry to find it full of students. It is a well lighted room with the shelves covered in books, and large cushions. There is also a wall with Dark Detectors on. Walking over I carefully check each of the Dark Detectors.

Harry shortly is voted leader, and we decide to call ourselves Dumbledores Army, or the D.A. for short.

As they begin to practice Expelliarmus I sit down on one of the cushions and precede to read 'A Compendium of Common Curses and Their Counter-Actions.'

When Harry calls the end of the meeting at 10 past nine I walk down to Hufflepuff house with Ernie Macmillan, ignoring his constant chatter. I have a feeling he is getting a crush on me and I am happy to have George accompany me to my house after the next couple of meetings to discourage him.

At the end of the fourth meeting Hermione gives us all a fake Galleon. When Hermione changes the numbers, that represent the date, on one all the other change.

As everyone scrambles forward to grab one I catch Ginny's eye, my face turning pale.

"These remind me of the Death Eaters scars." I say quietly, so only she hears me. She gives me a quick hug and assures me that the coins are nothing like the their scars. I nod in agreement and we both pocket one.

The D.A meetings continue at random, and the classes become a bit harder, but not by much.

November arrives, bringing along cold weather and the first Quidditch match. Sitting between Ginny and Ron at breakfast I give Ron a comforting pat on the arm, and a thumbs up to Harry as they pass by to the field.

When I see Fred and George I wish them both good luck as well.

Once we're ready Hermione and I head to the pitch, leaving Ginny with Michael.

Watching the match I feel ready to attack the Slytherin's at any moment. I keep my fingers crossed every time the ball gets near Ron, And then uncross them as he misses.

When the game ends with Harry's spectacular save Hermione and I begin to fight to the field, only to find Harry and George marching off the pitch toward the castle, leaving Malfoy with a bloody nose.

Me and Hermione exchange glances before rushing after the rest of the team to find out what happened.

The next day at breakfast Hermione informs me that Harry and the twins got a lifetime ban from Quidditch. Looking over at Harry and the twins I realize that they do look down, but Harry doesn't look as bad as the others.

"Why doesn't Harry look as down as the others, I thought he would be the most devastated of the three."

"Oh, Hagrid came back last night" Hermione says

"You guys are friends with him." I inquire, remembering that Hagrid is the Care of Magical Creatures Professor.

"Yes, he is a good friend." I nod in reply.

December arrives too quickly, with everyone making plans to leave for the holiday. Hermione is going skiing with her parents, and the Weasleys are going back home for the holiday.

Since Harry is the only one staying behind, he takes it upon himself to reassure the others that he will keep me company, and watch out for me. Then they inform him that he is invited to the Burrow for the holiday.

Feeling left out I refuse to go watch Ginny's Quidditch try outs, or to go to the last D.A. meeting.

Then a couple of days before the end of the term, right before Christmas, Harry and the Weasleys disappear. Hermione informs me that they all went to St Mungos to see Mr Weasley. She doesn't say anything more than that, but I know that there is more, and that it has to do with the Order.

The day before Christmas break I receive a letter from Professor McGonagall during breakfast.

Professor Dumbledore has gotten a request that you spend the holiday break with Hermione Granger and the Weasleys. Hermione Granger will be leaving on the Knight Bus tomorrow after the end of the term. You are to meet her in the entrance hall with your luggage and travel with her.

Professor McGonagall

After reading this I show it to Hermione.

"I thought you were going skiing." I say, indicating the letter.

"Oh, I changed my plans after Mr. Weasley went to the hospital. I didn't want to travel alone and I didn't want to leave you here alone during the vacation, so I asked if you could come."

"To go see the Weasleys?"

"Yes."

This occupies my thoughts for the entire day , until supper when I receive another letter. This one from Professor Dumbledore himself.

Do not read this letter until Hermione tells you to.

It says on the outside. Nodding to myself I slip the letter into my bag.

The next morning I precede to magically float my luggage down to the entrance hall, where I find Hermione waiting with her luggage. Gir is perched on my shoulder, angry at the move.

"Do you still have the letter from Dumbledore?" Hermione asks as we move out the door and towards the gate.

"Yes, do you want me to read it now." I say preoccupied, my gaze caught by the gate as I watch for Death Eaters.

"No, I'll tell you when to read it."

"All right" I reply, taking out my wand as we reach the gates. I look around, watching for Death Eaters as Hermione sticks out her hand, calling the Knight Bus. After paying we clamber on and take two of the more secured beds.

Stepping out of the bus many sleepless hours later, probably around 6 P.M. , with some small bruises, I find myself in a small square. Looking at Hermione for some direction I see her walking toward an empty space between house number 13 and house number 11.

"Hermione." I call out softly, not wanting to attract attention. "Where are you going?"

She looks back and stops, turning to me.

"I'm sorry, you can read the letter now." She says

"What?"

"You'll understand after you read it."

"Okay" Dropping my trunk I quickly search through it and pull the letter out of my school bag.

It reads:

The Headquarters o f The Order of The Phoenix may be found at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.

"Hermione what…" I begin to say, but she cuts me off.

"Think about what you just read" She says as she takes the paper from my hands and burns it. Thinking about it I look behind Hermione at the 'empty' spot.

In it's place had appeared, to put it the simplest way, 12 Grimmauld Place. It has a battered door, dirty walls and grimy windows.

Gaping I follow Hermione up the worn steps to the door, where she proceeds to ring the doorbell.

From inside I hear screaming and the door opens to reveal a woman with the same red hair as Ginny and Ron.

"Hello Hermione, Hello Ellis." She screams over another voice, motioning us inside.

"Hello…" I say softly , surprised that she knows who I am. I watch as a man, who looks a lot like Professor Lupin, secures a set of curtains over a screaming picture.
Going inside she motions for us to leave our luggage by the stairs. Then we go through a door from the hall and down a flight of narrow stone steps, through another door, and finally into the basement kitchen. All the while she is talking to Hermione, and Hermione keeps calling her Mrs. Weasley.

Walking into the gloomy room the first thing I notice is a man with long black hair seated at the table.

Stopping in my tracks I watch as Hermione greets the man as Sirius, and asks where Harry is.

When she is gone the man, Sirius, looks at me.

"New buddy?" He asks the woman, Mrs. Weasley.

"Yes and no. She's a new charge for the Order. You-Know-Who got her family and he is after her still." Mrs. Weasley says before turning to me. "Ellis this is…"

"Sirius Black, I know" I say, still watching him as I take Gir from my shoulder and begin to pet him, calming his hissing at an orange cat that looked like the pet Hermione described to me, called Crookshanks. "I knew you didn't kill Peter Pettigrew, but I didn't know that you were friends with the Weasleys and Hermione." I say to Sirius, curiosity getting the better of my tongue and letting me speak freely.

"What about Harry?" Siruis asks, in a voice that suggests that he is suspicious of me now.

"Peter was so kind as to tell me that you were Harry's godfather." I say sarcastically with a grimace remembering all the hours I had to spend listening to Peter tell his pitiful life story while he was 'baby-sitting' me. "and I figured you would know Harry because of that."

"Would you care to tell how you know Peter Pettigrew?" Mrs. Weasley asks. I wince at her question, and act like I hadn't heard it.

"Do you live here then?" I ask Sirius, looking around.

"Yes, I grew up here" Sirius says, and I avoid looking at him or Mrs. Weasley, knowing from his voice that they are both wondering why I was avoiding the subject.

"Where am I going to sleep?" I ask

"Upstairs, with Ginny and Hermione. Would you like me to show you?" Mrs. Weasley asks

"No, I'll find it. Am I allowed to use magic, or do I have to bring it up the muggle way" I ask

"Someone will bring it up later, don't worry" Mrs. Weasley says and I thank her before quickly leaving the room.