Chapter 7.

Better Acquainted

Chapter number lucky seven woo hoo! Not much to add here except that I don't own J. K.'s characters. If you want to see who I own, you know what to do. Have fun!

The crisp morning air showed promise for a brand new day that Devony hoped for a better day. She was walking down a hallway that lead outside of Hogwarts with Zoe by her side chattering away. A fog was letting up off the still wet grass from the morning dew. She felt refreshed from a good nights sleep and good wake up call (without Ginny shoving her awake) and an even better breakfast.

This time of day was Devony's favorite. If the person was quiet enough on the soft grass and in the woods, you could see the animals trotting about, going about there business.

Devony thought animals very fascinating creatures, especially magical ones. Her father's profession is a magizoologist, a person who studies the various amounts of magical creatures from A to Z. He travels the world, working on his books. His first book, The Beauty of the Magical Beast, was a wonderful and owned by many. He continued with his other works, A Beginners Guide to Creatures, How to Train Your Thestral, and his school textbook Caring for Furrier Friends.

Ever since Devony was a young girl, she fell an affinity for such creatures. Many times she went with her father on business trips in hopes she would meet a dragon or thestral. She was even giddier when she got her first wand and found out hers was made of Hippogriff talon, one of her more favorite magical animals.

The main reason she was so elated on this morning was because she had Care for Magical Creatures first thing. Along with Zoe being next to her, there was no sign of evil roommates, mean Slytherin girls and annoying admirers.

"Devony!"

Devony blinked out of her happy daze when Zoe snapped her finger in front of her face. "Sorry, what?"

"Someone is trying to get your attention back there," Zoe turned her blonde head over her shoulder as did Devony. Jogging down the dewy grass were the twins. One of the lost his footing and slipped on the wet grass although Devony couldn't tell which one it was but still laughed. After the twin on the left helped him up, they presumed their running towards the two girls.

"Have a nice fall George?" Devony asked smugly.

"Who do always tell us apart?" George asked bewildered.

"Not even out own mother can do that," Fred stated.

"I guess I'm just lucky that way." Devony shrugged. She looked over at Zoe to see her head bowed directly to the ground. "Oh, this is Zoe Evans. She's in Hufflepuff. Zoe these are my friends Fred and George."

"Hi," they said at the same time.

Not wanting to be rude, Zoe lifted her head two inches and squeaked a hello.

"So there's a new Care for Magical Creatures teacher," Devony asked as the four got closer to a hut in the middle of a green meadow.

"Yep. Hagrid, that's the keeper of the grounds, is off someone for a while. Not sure where but that's all the information we've gotten."

Once the four had gotten to the table, most of the students were already there waiting for Professor Grubbly-Plank to start her lesson.

"Good morning everyone! I see you're all bright eyed and ready to learn this morning so let's skip the introduction about seventh year difficulties and onto the learning."

Some of the students gave an appreciative laugh as Gubbly-Plank reached into a moving cardboard box and produced a cute looking dog. She put the dog on the table and when he saw the group of students his tail started to wag. The crowd of students gasped as they saw the dog had a forked tail.

"Can anyone tell me who this little fellow is?" The class looked around at their friends to see if they had an answer. Only one did. And she was Devony. "Yes, Miss Laurent?"

"He is a wizard-bred dog called a Crup. And since they are only wizard-bred they are very faithful to wizards, especially their owners, and ferocious to Muggles."

Professor Grubbly-Plank raised her eyebrows and nodded. "Very good, very precise. A Crup, ladies and gentlemen, are ordered by law to remove their tail when it is six to eight weeks old using the severing charm. Can anyone answer why I have not removed his tail?"

Once again Devony's arm shot into the air. Fred and George mumbled something about Devony being a know-it-all. She lightly elbowed them each. "Because that is only necessary when you are bringing a crup among Muggles. If you are going to bring him in Muggle public you have to get a license from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures saying that he is able to be out in the Muggle world. I have one of my own back with my parents."

Professor Gubbly-Plank looked at Devony appreciatively. "Five points for Gryffindor, very good Miss Laurent. Now everyone pair into groups of four because now we are going to mix together a quick potion for healing a crup."

By the time everyone had paired into fours, Devony, Zoe, Fred and George were already together having not moved an inch.

"Inside your new textbook, Caring for Furrier Friends by Ambrose Laurent on chapter four you will find the ingredients needed for healing an injured crup."

"Wait," a Ravenclaw girl held up her finger as she skimmed through the first page of the fourth chapter. "Do you mean only one healing potion heals any kind of injury to a crup?"

"Yes," the professor said while patting the hyper puppy's head. "The crup drinks the potion and any injury it has will be healed in a matter of minutes. Although if it is a serious injury then the potion will need to be strengthened by a specific tree root and then the healing process will be over a few days. Of the four groups, you will each need to split into two and find the supplies on the front of forest. Hop to it, we don't have much time!"

The students started to split into two with plan of what they would scavenger for each. When Devony flipped to the exact page, even though she knew how to heal her crup, Fritz, and read out the list of supplies.

"Zoe and I will take the first four and you guys take the next four."

"Got it." Fred and George headed to the right of the forest while Devony and her friend went to the left.

Zoe grabbed and pulled Devony father into the woods away from earshot of anyone else. "How long have you known them?"

Surprised by the small girls strength, Devony took her wrist back and rubbed it. "Since I got on the train to Hogwarts. Why?"

Zoe blinked twice and shook her head. Before Devony could ask again, Zoe took the book from Devony's arms, read the first ingredient and searched thoroughly for it.

"Zoe, that was not a rhetorical question."

"Alright, so I knew one of the twins, okay? That's all," Zoe said roughly.

"Which one?" Zoe refused to answer the question going further away from Devony. She climbed over a rock and followed her. "Come on, Zoe. There's something your not telling me."

With a big huff, Zoe pulled a brown root up from the ground and put it in her pocket. "I found the Dandelion root." Devony squinted at Zoe. "Okay! So two years ago, in Potions class Professor Snape paired me off with George Weasley for a week because he wanted to get back at him for setting his robes on fire. In the week, we sort of…got to know each other. Whenever I was feeling bad he would always tell me jokes or make me laugh and listen to my problems."

Zoe got afar off look in her eyes as she was speaking. Her blue eyes got wider and a smile spread across her lips. "I even pulled my first prank with him and got back at Alexandra Polydarmus. I won't go into detail but let's just say we gave her a phobia of snakes."

Devony grinned. "You like him! You like- "

Zoe hopped up on her tiptoes, reached up and covered Devony's mouth. "Would you be quiet? I don't want all of Hogwarts to know!"

Devony pulled her hand off of her mouth and grinned. "You like George Weasley! This is so cute, I have to get you two together somehow and- "

"No!" Zoe shouted and pointed a finger right in the middle of Devony's face. "Absolutely not! He doesn't even remember me, you saw that. Besides, what would a funny Gryffindor want to do with a quiet-as-a-church-mouse Hufflepuff."

"I'm your friend, aren't I?"

Zoe looked up at Devony with pleading eyes "Just please promise me you wont meddle."

Devony sighed. "Fine. Help me find the thorns of a Grogbush and we'll be set to go."

As the two girls finished their hunt for the forest supplies and came back to the clearing, the twins had already gotten a pewter cauldron and began to boil their water.

"What took you two so long?" Both of them asked.

"Girl talk," Devony said putting heir stuff down.

"Do they always do that?" Zoe asked.

"Pretty much."

Devony looked over at Zoe as she started to twirl her hair and read the directions for the brew very carefully. "Actually, we were talking about her fifth year when she pulled that stunt on Alexandra Polydarmus."

From the corner of her eye, Devony saw George sit up a little straighter and stare into the forest. Suddenly, his eyes got brighter as if he recalled a long lost memory.

"That's it! That's where I remember you from, we planned that prank on Alexandra and made her scared of snakes." George began to laugh. Zoe looked up from her book, her eyes shimmering with hope.

"You do remember that?"

George grinned. "How could I not? When I first saw you today I knew you looked familiar. We were put as partners for Potions class for two weeks."

Zoe lost her grip on the book as it fell to the ground idly by. "Yes! And the time we went around the school at break telling each other those horrible jokes!"

As George and Zoe reminisced together, now side by side, Devony crawled over to Fred getting her new slacks grass stained.

"Imagine," Fred said putting some dead leaves into the small cauldron, "Georgie playing footsies with a Hufflepuff."

"They are not playing footsies," Devony said shoulder bumping her friend with a slight laugh.

Fred gave Devony a cute look. "I know my own twin, thank you. George, he tends to wear his heart on his sleeve but he knows how to pick a girl. She's sweet and George likes that, but he tends to not jump into things as quickly as I do."

Devony stared at Fred for a long time as he stared at his brother. "It's amazing."

Fred raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"How much you know about your brother. Especially the little things like what he looks for in a girl. All the little details." Devony shrugged. "I wish I had a little brother or sister."

Fred snorted. "I have six of them. Take your pick."

Devony laughed silently.

By the end of the class, no one had completed their projects fully but Professor Grubbly-Plank said put their contents in a vile for later testing and gave everyone a four paragraph essay on how to painlessly take off e crup's tail and then how to train it to be taken into the Muggle world.

"I'm off to Transfiguration," stated Zoe. "By Devony. See you later George."

George gave a her a wave followed by a smile. Fred stared at George smugly and then turned to Zoe. "I believe we have Divination with Professor Mental next."

"How do you know my schedule?" Devony dug in her pocket form her timetable. Fred waved the same piece of parchment in front of her eyes.

"I swiped it while Plank was giving us the lecture."

Devony rolled her eyes. George said he had to go to Muggle Studies and left red and Devony to go up a winding staircase. Inside the room of Divination was a woman who couldn't look more buried underneath piles of clothing. She had big and wide glasses that made her look bug-eyed and her hair in all sorts of ribbons and strings but sill managed to look frizzy.

"I think this is the class I hate and like the most," Fred whispered to Devony as they took their seats in the far right corner nearest to a window. It was still a nice morning out, now with the sun warming the grass and sending the dew away.

"One, because it's so boring."

"And two being?"

"Because you can get a good rest on the soft tablecloths." Fred moved his hand over the velvet tablecloth. Students where coming in the room chattering away about weekends already. Devony didn't bother to listen to Professor Trelawney's intro to Divination seven because she'd heard it all before. New things to learn, bah, blah, blah, new challenges, blah, blah, and can't wait to see improvement. There were only a few people in this class and a lot more empty tables that were collecting dust.

"I think it would be appropriate for everyone to warm up the juices of their minds if talked more about what we did in our fifth year: dream interpretation. So short but yet so important. With the partner you have, please talk about and examine your dreams together using the book The Dream Oracle." With one final awkward stare, Professor Trelawney went back behind a small desk and disappeared.

Devony turned to face Fred. "Would you like to go first." he asked.

Devony bit her lip. She certainly did not want to tell him about the dream she had been having about her grandfathers voice. She did not want to scare the one guy friend (that she wanted) away. Besides, every time she began to think about her dreams, they always seemed to give her a massive headache.

"I-I didn't really have a dream last night. Not that I can remember. You can go."

Fred shrugged and opened the old books to a page he had his finger on. "If I remember correctly, I was having a dream in a joke shop with George surrounded by money. But then it sort of when white and I felt someone touch my hand."

Devony raised her eyebrow. "What does it say in the book?"

Fred pushed the book aside. "Nothing really, but I have always dreamed of opening up my own joke shop with George. We've been planning ever since Harry gave us the money."

"Money? What money?"

Fred cursed under his breath. "Shit. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone."

"Well you've already come this far. Might as well go all the way."

After thinking about it for a while, Fred willingly told Devony all about after Harry Potter winning the Tri-Wizarding cup and then giving the money to help Fred and George's business.

"Opening a joke shop, huh? I'll have to come visit it sometime." This mad Fred smile. "Tell me about your family. There's really nothing else to do in this class anyway."

Fred looked around at the other six students and nodded his head in agreement. "You already met Ginny, she's my youngest and only sister. My oldest brother is Bill, he works for Gringotts as a Curse Breaker; not much excitement there. My second oldest brother is Charlie. He studies dragons in Romania. More of an outdoor type. Loves all types of animals."

"Sounds like my type of guy," Devony stated.

"Anyway, he doesn't visit a lot since he's always away doing something with dragons. And my last brother is Percy. Not many nice words I can say about him."

Devony raised her eyebrow. "Why's that?"

"He works for the Ministry and my dad thinks that Percy's promotion is so the Minister can keep tabs on all us Weasley's and Dumbledore. He came home to tell dad about his promotion and it was like a firecracker had gone off. Percy said my mum and dad were traitors and was going to let everyone know he wasn't apart of the family. "

"He wouldn't really do that, would he? Just disown himself from his own family?"

Fred sighed and shook his head. His fists were clenched and shaking a bit. "By the way he was talking, it's possible. We haven't had word from yet so I'm guessing he's keeping distance."

Devony noticed Fred get an angry far off look in his eye. To lesson the tension, she went on. "What about your other brother? Ron?"

As Fred snapped out of his gaze, his tension went away and looked back at his friend. "Oh, Ron? Lot of good times with him. He's our youngest brother and most fun to tease. Don't laugh, he knows we aren't serious. One time when I was five I turned his teddy bear into a spider. Must explain his fear of spiders."

Devony began to laugh and soon the class was giving their table strange look. Even the teacher looked above her desk but then slowly sank back into her chair. Fred and Devony exchanged looks and laughed again quietly.

"Ok, my turn. Since you saw you fancy animals so much, what's your favorite magical creature and why?"

Devony didn't even hesitate. "Hippogriff. Because their so beautiful and majestic and kind. I remember when my father let me go up to an actual one. I bowed and so did he and then…it was as if we had a connection. I went up to pet him and we stared into each others eyes like we knew we were friends. I flew on him and we were like one person. It sounds silly I know…"

"Not really," Fred interrupted. "I never have that feeling with anything but your passionate about it; it's nothing to feel silly about. It would be great if my parents felt more passionate about our joke shop but they aren't and it's nothing to sulk about. Life's to short to sulk."

He smiled at Devony and she laughed again. "That's why you prank and make everyone laugh." He nodded. "That's a great way to take on the day, and I can relate. I wish more people felt that way. My turn; where do you live?"

"Ottery St. Catchpole in Devon. We call it The Burrow. What about you?"

"Four-oh-two Tide Water Road. It's down a long drive and in the forest next to a lake so in case of any magic accidents, no muggles can see it."

For the rest of the period the two went back and forth asking questions and telling about themselves. They asked what their favorite colors (Fred was purple and Devony was red), greatest pranks, and funniest stories.

"So what is your greatest memory?" Fred asked after he stopped laughing at Devony's story about when she was five and blew up a toilet. He said he would tell her later why he thought it was so hilarious.

Devony gave a contented sigh and stared at her hands. "My greatest memories probably would have to do with my grandfather. He was like my second dad. I remember one time when I was ten and had just found out that my pet turtle had died. I ran out to the lake to bury him in the morning but couldn't do it. I sat at that lake until it was dark outside. My grandfather finally came, probably because my parents called him, and he sat with me for a while and let me cry on his shoulder. After I was done, he helped me bury him next to the lake. He told me whenever I was near the lake, my turtle would know I was there and knew I loved him."

The two were both quiet now. Devony was still staring at her clasped hands thinking this time she wouldn't cry. When she knew she could look up, Fred was looking at her. Not just staring at her but, actually looking as in taking her in.

"Your not what I expected out of an academy girl."

Devony gave a soft chuckle. "Yes well we can't all be Miss Perfect."

Fred looked down at his watch. "So what are you doing for the holidays? For Christmas?"

Devony grabbed her satchel. "Nothing really. Usually, me my um and dad would have a good Christmas eve dinner and then presents and such but…but not this year."

Fred raised one of his orange eyebrows. "What do you mean not this year? It's Christmas!"

Devony shrugged. "I mean that my father was called away. In December he's being called away to treat a sick dragon and it's going to take a while. Only my father is the one who knows what wrong with it and only he can help it. My mum is going to stay with her sister for the week and unfortunately I have to go as well. Her sister has a daughter who goes to my school, and for the holidays she has her friends come over and their the friends who I have always loathed."

"I'm presume this is Victoria Stucker, the girl you made babble for the whole day?"

"Exactly and I'm going to have to put up with that for a whole week."

Devony put her head down on the table in frustration and then sat back up. "To add onto that, I'm going to have to put up with their stupid games they make everyone do. The girls even makes us play out a Christmas Carol. They assign parts and everything. I'm usually the one stuck playing Ghost of Christmas Future since they think it's best I don't speak at all even though I act a whole lot better then they do."

By the time Devony was done with her rant, Fred was on the edge of his seat in fear and Devony was gripping the sides of her chair. She grunted.

"I'm sorry."

Briiiinnngg.

The students got up to leave.

"It's fine. If I had relative that did that, I'm sure I would go a little mental too."

Devony giggled. "Thanks. When I get back from the vacation I'll make sure to tell you all about my visit."

"Well, maybe not. Why no come to my house for Christmas Eve?"

"Oh no I really couldn't." Devony shook her head as she descended down the winding stair case. Fred grabbed her arm and she looked up at him with a smile on his face.

"It's just for dinner Devony. One little Christmas Eve dinner. I'm pretty sure if you came back from their house for a whole week, you'd be in a mood for a whole month."

Devony went up a step and put her arms around Fred's neck and hugged tightly. "You're a saint Fred Weasley!" Fred hugged her and laughed. When they pulled away Fred walked down the stairs.

"No problem. But you owe me. One day your going to tell me why you won't pull a prank and then I'll make you do one," he called over his shoulder and disappeared.

Devony closed her eyes and grinned out of silliness. The day flew past her eyes after she went from History of Magic (whose teacher was an actual ghost) taking a few notes about a goblin war and unfortunately Vincent, her three room mates and the Slytherin girls were in. Then as she went to lunch with Ginny and talked for a small time with Hermione and her friends before they left in a hurry. At the break after lunch she spent time with the twins and Zoe and got her to talk with him more.

Transfiguration was a breeze when Professor McGonagall just gave them book work for the class and then gave out homework at the end. Afterwards, Devony ran into Winifred and spent most of her free time with her talking about classes and the means girls.

"They sound horrible! They are Slytherin's so it's not that hard to believe but they just levitated that girl right in the hallway?"

By now the girls were roaming the semi-empty hallways linked together by their arms. "Her name's Zoe Evans; Hufflepuff girl. A little on the short side but smart and sweet."

Winifred had a thoughtful look on her face. "Never heard of her, but I never forget a face. You should introduce us."

"You two would get along…"

Devony's sentence was interrupted by laughter. Two Slytherin boys were tossing a first years school bag back and forth like a game of monkey in the middle.

Hopping back and forth between Vincent and his Chinese friend from Charms class, the little boy was huffing for breath as he desperately tried to get his pack back.

"Speaking of annoying Slytherin's," Winnie grumbled through gritted teeth.

"Think we should give them a taste of their own medicine?" Devony asked, hand already in her pocket, grasping her wand.

"We can't," Winifred said pulling Devony to the side they could spot the two girls. "It's against school rules."

Devony's warning from her parents echoed in her mind and so did Professor Snape's. But she was tired of going by the rules. Two days of not being able to do anything fun and having to grin and bear the company of mean teachers and rude students was like two years to Devony. Restrictions to her like chains against her body and she had to break free. She was tired of not voicing her opinion and besides, she wasn't going to hurt the guys. Just scare them a little.

Devony whipped her wand out in front of Winifred. "They won't know what hit them."

Devony peeked her head from the corner and looked straight at the schoolbag. "Levioso." The bag stopped right over the first years head and the three boy all stopped and stared. Quickly, Devony twisted her wrist towards Vincent and started to beat him with the bag.

"What the hell!" Vincent tried to grab the bag but Devony was too fast for him. The two others started to laugh at his expense. Devony laughed silently and then made the bag start to beat up Vincent's friend. He tried to run away but only ended up tripping over himself.

"What is going on here?" Called a voice from behind Devony. She felt her wand wrist being held by an icy cold hand. Devony turned around to see Snape with a mad expression. "Didn't I have a talk with you just yesterday Miss Laurent. I could have your wand confiscated or you expelled even."

Devony could feel all eyes one her; Winifred, Vincent, his friend and the first year. She got in trouble like this all the time back at the Academy but since she been through a withdrawal from summer and two days, she was drawing a blank.

"I…uh…"

"We were just playing a game," Vincent called out running over to professor Snape with his friends on his heels. The first year, petrified but the professor, stumbled over to his fallen bag, gathered it and ran down another hall. "Just something to make the cute, little first year laugh. Really, Professor Snape, we're all fine. She's our friend." Vincent put an arm around Devony shoulder like they were friends. He smelled deeply of some cologne that made Devony want to gag.

But whatever he said made Snape unclenched his hand and stared at Vincent and then at Devony. His eyes looked cold but yet mysterious to her, like he was holding a secret he could tell no one. She felt sudden sorrow for him.

"Very well, Mr. Kingsley." It looked like the Professor wanted to say more but then left down he hall suddenly. When Devony saw Snape round the corner she threw his arm from her body. Vincent actually looked shocked and backed up with a light smirk.

"Touchy. I'll have to remember that next time."

"Hey Winnie," the Chinese boy said to Winifred looking her up and down with his eyes. Just from the look in Winifred's eyes, Devony could tell discomforts, anger and embarrassment. But mostly anger.

"Wesley," mumbled Winnie with a small hiss.

Wesley didn't appear to mind this and only smiled more in amusement.

"Why did you do that?" Devony demanded.

Vincent raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

Devony put her hands on her hips. "Bull shit. Why did you let me off the hook with Snape?" And right as she said those ten little words, that look appeared. The same look Vincent had when they first met; ambition and craft. His posture, smile, eyes even teeth said it all and Wesley made it even more creepy standing next to him.

"Because I figure that you would indebted to me."

It was Winnie's turn to speak up. "Now way in hell are we in debt to you." She glared at Wesley. "Wait to the head master hears about this. Torturing a first year."

Wesley snorted. "You think we'll be in that much trouble for teasing a first year?"

Vincent nodded. "Even if you did, they would ask the first year and he wouldn't talk. He knows we know we're watching him."

"You little -," Winifred began but Vincent stopped her.

"Wesley right Winnie. We wouldn't get in that much trouble anyhow. But if a certain witch and her accomplish were using magic unsupervised would be in much, much more trouble." Winifred tried not to show emotion about getting in trouble but she started to fidget and her face started to redden. "However, all of this can be resolved in one little favor we'd like to ask you."

Devony would have been happy to receive the punishment of the Head Master if it meant not to do a favor for Vincent. She would do most anything actually. She could make a list. But she also could make a list of reason Winnie would do anything but get in trouble. Devony couldn't put her through that.

"What do you want?"

Vincent and Wesley grinned. Just like a pair of bandits taking of with their stolen money. "Hogsmede trip, meet both of us outside of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. And wear something nice, please."

With on final smile, Vincent turned on his heels and began to stroll down the hallway.

"Later Winnie," Wesley said with one last smirk and look and followed his friend.

Devony took Winifred by her arm and dragged her back the way to the Great Hall. "Mind telling me who he was?"

Winnie, who was getting over her red face, sighed and put a hand through her brunette hair. "Wesley Shang. Basically the same person as Vincent expect, at times, more merciful. He's had an eye on me for a year or two but I would rather cut out my tongue than date a Slytherin."

"I know exactly what you mean." Devony nodded her head in agreement. "What is Hogsmede and that tea shop Vincent was talking about?"

Winifred sighed again except more angrily. "You know we could go back and still tell them no."

"Winnie…"

"Alright! Alright! Hogsmede is a villiage that students get to visit on the weekends if you get a slip signed by your parents. It's full of neat little shops with candy, joke shops and lots of other places. Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop is located in Hogsmede. It's…it's mainly where people go on dates."

Devony stopped dead in her tracks which made Winifred jolt to a stop. "You mean we just agreed to go on a bloody date?"

Winifred nodded her head gravely. Devony had to hand it to Vincent. He knew how to play, and he played well. But Devony knew all the little tricks and wasn't going to back down. She straightened her back and began to hatch a plan in the back of her mind. Vincent wasn't about to have his way and she certainly didn't was Winifred of all people to be dragged into it. The next trip to Hogsmede would be a memorable one for all four of them and a lesson Vincent soon shouldn't forget.

That's all folks! Starting tomorrow I start school again…yippee. But I won't forget about my duties to Fanfiction because I love you and this story all to much. Besides, I get to hatch Devony's first plot MWAHAHAHA. Ahem, anyhow, I hoped you liked this one because I know I did! I liked that Fred and Devony got to know each other better and that Zoe and Georgie are starting to talk again after such a long time. That's all from me. Leave a review to see how I did!

- Ellie