The Rogue Bludger

Shortly after Ella sent a letter to Mrs. Weasley, a reply returned with Rowena, and Errol brought Ginny some homemade fudge. Ginny's face lit up in delight at the sight of her mother's food and Ella knew immediately that she made the right decision. Rowena hooted proudly at her mission's success then promptly held out her leg so Ella could read the letter.

Ella,

Thank you so much for telling me that Ginny was under the weather. I hope the fudge I sent with Errol will help cheer her up right away. It was wonderful to hear from you and I'm so glad the twins are staying in line. If only they'd stay that way, but alas, we both know they wouldn't let any of us have a dull moment last too long. Furthermore, we wouldn't have them any other way. Hopefully the Gryffindor team does well this year. I'm wishing Harry and the twins the best of luck in their games. As for you, good luck with your studies. Don't worry about Ron and Harry –it's in no way your fault. Arthur and I will be travelling to Egypt to visit with Bill so I believe everyone will be staying at school for the holidays. Be sure to keep in touch, it truly is wonderful to get your letters.

Love,

Molly

As she read the note, Ella blushed deeply. The subtle change in the way Mrs. Weasley behaved towards her didn't really register in her mind, but the evidence was there nonetheless. Ella still saw Mrs. Weasley as the mother who cared for her more than her own and was the actual mother of her two closest friends. Mrs. Weasley, however, began to view Ella in a way that went beyond the little girl who ran into her in Diagon Alley three years ago. She might have been young, but Ella was no doubt maturing into a wonderful young women, who Mrs. Weasley suspected may become more than just friends with one of her boys soon enough. Instead of talking to her like a young girl who was friends with her children, she began speaking to her as if she were a part of their family that would never go away.

The school days passed by in a whirl. Ella found herself counting the days until Christmas with a mixture of excitement and sorrow. She loved the holiday season, especially at Hogwarts, but half the school year would be gone by the time Christmas hit. She'd be back with her parents in no time at all, and that was certainly nothing to celebrate. Before Christmas could arrive, the first Quidditch match of the season would need to take place.

It was destined to be a brutal match. Ella didn't need any Seer blood to know that was a true fact. The match was Gryffindor against Slytherin, and if the twins' reports held any truth, which Ella knew they did, those brooms would be wicked for the Gryffindors to go up against.

Ella woke up as early as Katie that day, but found herself pretending to sleep instead of alerting her friend that she was conscious. It looked like Katie needed this moment to herself. Ella could hear her muttering things under her breath like, "Bravery," "Talent," and "Confidence." It was a private pep talk that Ella felt she had no right to budge in on. So Ella remained still in her bed until she eventually dozed off once more. By the time she actually woke up, Ella had time to get ready, eat a quick breakfast, and make her way to the pitch.

Lee waved her over to sit in the announcer's booth again this year. McGonagall watched him wearily. She knew that it'd only be a matter of time before Lee began his Gryffindor-favored announcing. Ella was sure that the professor secretly agreed with what Lee said, but McGonagall would never let them in on that fact.

It was a muggy day with a hint of thunder in the air, but the only electricity Ella could feel was radiating from the crowd of spectators. Gryffindor's team walked onto the field and was cheered by three of the four houses, only the Slytherins booed and hissed. No one could be surprised by that though. It took only a few seconds for the teams to be in the air and playing.

Ella watched the game and cheered with the rest of the crowd as Lee rattled off the events as they played out. A flash of the past echoed in Ella's mind as she glanced towards Harry who was ducking out of a Bludger's path. The twins came to his aid, but the Bludger was deadest on getting Harry. After its third attempt to knock Harry of his broom, George signaled to Oliver Wood to call a time out while keeping the Bludger away from Harry.

By this time it had started to rain, Lee looked at her in confusion, "What's with the Bludger?"

She shrugged, "I haven't the faintest, but it looks about ready to kill Harry. I've never seen one act like this; they're not supposed to fixate on a specific player."

"Do you think Slytherin has anything to do with it?"

Ella shook her head, "I'm not sure, I would've thought they'd just be confident with their brooms alone. Jinxing a Bludger seems a tad extreme, even for their standards." Lee agreed and the two of them watched the Gryffindor team from above. They were too far away to hear any of what the team was discussing, but Harry seemed frantic, Wood seemed contemplative, the girls looked exasperated, and the twins were furious. Overall, it was a very upset team.

Soon enough, a decision was made and the play resumed. Harry now shot along the sky in eccentric patterns to avoid being bludgeoned by the Bludger. Fred and George were now focusing on the other Bludger, Ella was nearly positive that this was by Wood's order. The two of them kept glancing worriedly at Harry, but stayed away. Ella kept watch of Harry as well silently willing the Bludger to miss every time. The crowd laughed at Harry as flew, twisted, and spun around in the air. Ella couldn't help but think that these students really needed a reality check. They got excited when threats were issued and laughed at a boy's survival technique. Ella rolled her eyes.

Malfoy floated near Harry and must have said something particularly nasty to him because he froze watching the Slytherin. Ella gasped twice in less than a second; she saw the glint of gold just as the rogue Bludger smashed into Harry's arm. Harry looked like he was in immense pain and shot towards Malfoy. The boy grabbed onto the snitch leaving only his legs to grip the broom. Ella closed her eyes tightly as he fell to the ground –not all that different from his first match.

"WE WON!" Lee roared into the microphone in an attempt to let everyone know so the Bludger could be put away from Harry. No one wanted more harm to come to him. Ella didn't even allow Lee to finish before she was rushing out of the booth and trying to get on the field.

Most of the team went straight to Harry's aid as well as the rest of the Gryffindors. Out of the corner of her eye, Ella noticed the twins wrestling with the Bludger to attempt to get it put away. She wanted to go over and help them, but she was worried about Harry at the moment. Ella had managed to move her way into the front of the crowd to be next to the first year who had a camera. Ron and Hermione were also in the front watching worriedly as Lockhart made his way towards Harry.

"On, no, not you." He mumbled as Lockhart peered over him. Ella snickered. Even barely conscious and in pain, Harry was bright enough to know Lockhart was utterly useless with spells.

"Doesn't know what he's saying," Lockhart loudly announced to the crowd. Ella had her doubts about that, but she was too worried to point that out. "Not to worry, Harry. I'm about to fix your arm."

"No!" Harry exclaimed through the pain, "I'll keep it like this, thanks…" Harry tried to sit up, but fell back down quickly. Ella was about to suggest that someone just take him to the hospital wing when Harry spoke again.

"I don't want a photo of this, Colin." Ella looked down at the first year, Colin, and saw he was repeatedly snapping Harry's picture. She smiled and gently pushed the boy's camera down from his face. The boy looked up at her.

Ella whispered to him, "I think you've got enough photos for now, and Harry's in quite some pain. It might be nice if you'd listen to him, Colin." He looked up at Ella with wide eyes then smiled and turned to watch Lockhart.

Lockhart soothingly told Harry to lie back then said, "It's a simple charm I've use countless times –" Ella snorted at that and Colin looked at her curiously. She just shrugged in reply, now wasn't the time to explain to the first year that Lockhart was full of it.

"Why can't I just go to the hospital wing?" Harry miserably asked through clenched teeth.

Wood, who was look extremely happy despite Harry's state, agreed with his Seeker, "He really should, Professor." Then he turned to Harry, "Great capture, Harry, really spectacular, your best yet, I'd say. You really out did yourself there." Ella shot the sixth year a look of disbelief. He caught her eye and clearly got the message. Medical attention, now –Quidditch compliments, later.

Professor Lockhart began rolling up his sleeves, against all of the school's better judgment, "Stand back." The crowd took a step away from Harry, some merely heeding the teacher's advice while others, like Ella, were doing so for their own safety since they couldn't save Harry.

"No –don't –" said Harry weakly, but it was too late. Lockhart twirled his wand and directed the magic towards Harry's broken bones. The person on the receiving end of the spell looked away from his arm and for good reason too. Ella's stomach clenched painfully as the arm seemed to lose every bone it had. The thing that was left resembled a thick rubber glove and wobbled grotesquely. Ella inadvertently gasped and found she had to look away or she'd pass out or be sick. Colin started taking pictures at a rapid rate, but Ella was too afraid to even open her mouth.

She turned around and walked out of the crowd to avoid being sick. Fred and George were still trying to prevent the Bludger from attacking Harry, but were too exhausted to fight the magical object any longer. Ella took out her wand.

"Immobulus!" Ella yelled pointing at the Bludger, which proceeded to dramatically slow down. Fred and George shoved it back into its box then panted next to it.

"Thanks," George said in between his gasps. Fred nodded.

Ella smiled weakly, "Sorry I wasn't able to help sooner. I was trying to see how Harry was."

Finally catching his breath, Fred asked, "How is our utterly fantastic Seeker?" Their eyes followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they lead him to Madam Pomfrey.

She closed her eyes feeling nauseous at the memory, "That prat of a Professor tried to mend the bones out here instead of sending him to the hospital wing. He hasn't got a bone left in that arm."

The twins' eyes grew wide and they chorused, "Wicked." They looked like they would've said more, but Ella's face had taken on a greenish tint and neither of them wanted to make Ella be sick.

"Are you going to be alright?" Fred asked her gently.

Nodding Ella responded, "Of course, I just think I'm going to stay away from the hospital wing until Harry has all his appropriate bones in all the appropriate places." The twins grinned at Ella's delicate way of putting Harry's condition as they made their way back to the school.

After insisting she'd be fine, the twins made their way up to the hospital wing to see how Harry was doing. The whole team was going up there and bringing Harry some sweets as a congratulatory prize. Ella was fine staying away from the rubber arm for now and wanted to enjoy the excitement over their win with the rest of the Gryffindors.

Colin ran up to her, "I got so many pictures of the match today! I hope they turn out! Did you know that pictures can move here? I had no idea that was even possible. I can't wait to show my parents everything I saw here!"

Ella smiled, "So, I'm going to assume you're Muggle-born then?"

He nodded, "I couldn't believe it when I got my letter, but Professor McGonagall was there too. She told my parents everything and proved that this wasn't the joke I thought it was. I assumed that someone was just trying to be mean to me. I didn't really fit in all that well at my old school, so it wouldn't have been the first time I was told I belonged somewhere else."

"I dealt with the same thing at my old school. I'm Muggle-born as well, and once I got my letter I found that I had entered a new world that accepted me. I hope the same is true for you," Ella told Colin with a slight smile. Sh wondered if all Muggle-borns had trouble in their old schools because of their magic.

Colin grinned, "Oh yeah, here I've got loads of friends! And then there's Harry, I'm not sure he likes me all that much, but I can't help it. He's so neat and always nice to me no matter how annoying I can be sometimes. My parents say I'm hyperactive right now, but I'll probably outgrow it soon enough. It's hard not to get excited here though, everything's so amazing."

Ella smiled in return, "I'm sure Harry finds you very nice, but try to remember he is a normal person like us. He's had a rough history, but he's not very different from you or I. Besides, he'll probably get a good laugh out of those photos of yours one day."

"You think so?"

"I'm sure of it! Years from now he'll probably look at them and laugh at the memory of his arm and the nice first year that took the pictures for him," Ella said.

The boy grinned widely, "I should develop them tonight! I think I'm running out of space anyways and I want to go visit Harry in the hospital tonight. So I'll see you later!"

"Wait that not a good –idea." Ella tried yelling after him, only to see he'd disappeared. Ella sighed, if he got a detention for being out late that was all on him. She couldn't take the blame.

Eventually, Ella made her way up to the Common room to find her friends and get cleaned up herself. None of the people celebrating in the Great Hall bothered to go up and shower or anything. They all just started celebrating in their wet, muddy clothes. She found her friends with ease. All of them had definitely cleaned up after the match, but they had been much worse off than anyone else. The players were practically mud monsters when they left the field.

When Ella crawled into bed that night she felt relaxed. Her mind was calm, and her House was happy. It was only fitting that her dreams would prove to be the opposite.

Ella stood in a crowded arena watching a spectacle in front of her. A gigantic dragon was blowing fire at someone who was attempting to grab a golden egg. The crowd cheered and gasped at the person who was dumb enough to be facing the beast. Ella couldn't imagine how this was even slightly safe. She tried to get a closer look at the person who was in the arena with the dragon, but she found the dream was melting around her.

As she glanced around and realized where she was now, Ella shifted her weight into a more defensive stance. Her Animagus dream was just staring, but Ella wasted no time in readying her mind. She was prepared to fight the Dementor and win this time. She watched the gold form around her create different animals. She chanted with complete focus on trying to reveal her Animagus form, but soon enough, the air began turning cold and the Dementor took the place of the golden version of herself.

"Expecto Patronum!" Ella screamed at the creature pulling her wand out of her pocket. A silvery wisp formed, but the Dementor pushed it aside and glided closer. Ella willed the thing to leave her be, she thought about when she met Fred and George and knew immediately that would be great friends. She shouted the spell again, and it gained enough strength to dispel the creature, not resurrect her dream.

Instead, she found that she had been sent to a new dream, which was odd because the Dementor normally forced her into waking up. Ella scanned the perimeter and discovered she was in a large, empty room somewhere in the castle. The room was filled with several human statues. She walked through the area unsure of why the statues were there. They looked exceptionally human and life like. Then Ella passed by a cat, but not any cat –Mrs. Norris. She froze and looked around at the people she didn't recognize. They all wore Hogwarts uniforms.

Ella's eyes widened at the realization and began looking through the room. She wanted to see if this was showing her the future. She didn't recognize any of the people except Mrs. Norris. Had the Chamber been opened before? Ella shuddered to think about these other people. She wondered if they were alright or if they were still statues to this day.

A bright light flashed, momentarily blinding Ella. When her sight returned, a new human statue appeared among the rest. The first year with camera stood with a surprised expression on his stony face. His hands were in a position that resembled his precious camera. Ella covered her mouth to try and keep her fear and sadness from gushing out in that moment. Colin, of all people, did not deserve to be among these statues. The sight of him there made tears prick her eyes. She felt incredibly guilty that she didn't tell him visiting Harry was a bad idea. If she had gotten that message to him, maybe he would be safe in their dormitory right now. Ella had no doubt in her mind that he had been attacked while going to the hospital wing to visit Harry.

Fear gripped her heart harder than the sadness did. She couldn't lie, she felt horrible for Colin, but the fear she felt was unreal. Colin's appearance in the hall of statues ensured that the Chamber of Secrets was indeed open and someone was truly targeting Muggle-borns. She had seen threats made towards Harry, Ron, Hermione, and several others, but this dream showed her something new. It was a threat made not only for others, but she was included herself. Ella closed her eyes repeating "No" until she was shaking.

Or being shaken.

Katie's face was the first thing Ella saw when she reopened her eyes. She could feel that her face was wet and felt slightly embarrassed for crying even if it was a rational thing for her to do. Katie moved back and sat on the end of Ella's bed. The two stayed silent for a bit as Ella composed herself and Katie gave her space to recover.

"What happened?" Katie asked her hoping that whatever had brought her friend to tears, Ella could reveal to her. Ella closed her eyes against the memory and took a deep breath.

"The Heir of Slytherin has attacked its first Muggle-born."

A/N: Due to the fact I got two reviews nearly immediately after the last chapter was put up, I decided to treat you all to a second chapter today! (I'm actually pretty proud of how fast this one went!) I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I thought the Ella and Colin moment would be a nice touch. Well, always, please review and let me know your thoughts! :) Thanks for reading!