A/N: Sorry again for the long wait but last month was National Novel Writing Month and I just had to do it! (And I did do it!) By the way, is anyone else extremely sad that Merlin is in its last season? Broke my heart! Anyways, so very sorry for the wait, enjoy the chapter! :)
Nicolas Flamel
Once the term had begun again Ella found herself busy at almost all times with homework or the other study she had taken up. Ella had figured out that the best way to stop her dreams from being so terrible was to appease them for the time being. Whenever she studied the How To Become an Animagus book her dreams calmed down and just showed her a visual of what the steps looked like. It was an odd spectacle to watch since it was herself being the model. These visuals also left her a bit on edge, it was like her dreams were telling her to break the law and become an illegal Animagus. She decided she'd worry about that later. For now she studied the book thoroughly especially since the first step was to mentally prepare yourself to be dedicated to the task.
Ella missed the holidays and being with the twins nearly every hour of the day. Ever since school had started again they'd been too bogged down with Quidditch and homework that neither of them had any time for much else. Wood was working them to death in the rain that had been falling ever since the snow let up. It was like everyone had something to focus on.
After reading Mrs. Weasley's note for the hundredth time Ella decided to write her back. Rowena often visited her with the other owls during breakfast time. There were never any letters, but Ella loved it when her owl came to have a bit if her breakfast. It let her know that there was someone there for her.
Dear Mrs. Weasley,
So far the year has been going great. Fred and George are doing an excellent job as Beaters and I've been trying to keep them in line as best as I can. Thank you so much for the sweater, it always means so much to get something from you. Truly, it means the world to me. I hope you don't mind me writing you.
Deepest regards,
Ella
She reread her note in the Owlery before attaching it to Rowena who was more than eager to have an assignment. The owl stood proudly with her foot out ready to do her job. Ella couldn't help but laugh at her behavior.
"Well, now Rowena, I know you got to do some work for the Ministry this summer, but this isn't that important of a task. I'm merely sending a friendly letter, not ending a war." Ella told her pet. Her intelligent amber eyes appeared to say that it was important to her. She stroked her owl's head affectionately then with that she took off out the window to deliver the letter.
At the Quidditch practice that night Ella braved the cold drizzle as much as the rest of the team, only she spent it in the stands instead of on brooms. She knew she should have been doing homework, but the team needed to moral support. It seemed to her as if the team's mindset was not on the game, but anywhere else. Oliver couldn't keep them all focused enough to get work done. Fred and George were dive bombing each other and it appeared Wood had had enough of their antics for one day.
"Will you stop messing around! That's exactly the sort of thing that'll lose us the match! Snape's refereeing this time, and he'll be looking for any excuse to knock points off Gryffindor!" Wood yelled at all the team. George really did fall off his broom then. Ella stood up in the stands to get a better look if he was alright. Angelina flew a bit closer to the ground doing the same.
Being apparently fine, George spluttered through mouthfuls of mud, "Snape's refereeing? When's he ever refereed a Quidditch match? He's not going to be fair if we might overtake Slytherin." The rest of the team landed next to George and began to complain about Snape.
Oliver seemed to have enough of it.
"It's not my fault. We've just got to make sure we play a clean game, so Snape hasn't got an excuse to pick on us." Oliver reasoned with the grumbling Gryffindors. Ella knew they had a right to be this way, if there were any teachers in the school with a bias, it was Snape. Not to mention the fact Harry seemed to be a particular target for the professor's anger. Ella didn't understand how the teacher who first took her into the Wizarding World could be so cruel.
She stayed up quite late that night researching Animagi in the Common Room. Fred and George had been in too sour of a mood to want to stay up later than they already had. No one paid any attention to the second year sitting in the corner and Ella was thankful for it. Had one of her friends been awake she would've had to lie about why she was taking such an interest to Animagi. Some people might argue that she had no justifiable reason to lie, but she believed she had to. There was a feeling in the pit of her stomach that was telling her what to do. In her research she had found that there was such a thing as an illegal Animagus, someone who becomes one on their own without registering or getting help. She hated the thought of breaking the law, but her dreams were so persistent and urgent that she felt it wouldn't be all that bad. Who knew, it might come in handy to be able to change into an animal. That is, if she were to be on the run in a forest type setting and needed to change into some form of animal, it didn't seem likely, but better safe than sorry. Since it was illegal she wasn't going to rope her friends into knowing her secret.
With drooping eyes she retired to her bed for some much needed sleep. The next few days blurred past with a mix of terrifying and insightful dreams. Her days went by with school, spending time with friends, homework, observing Quidditch practices, studying her Animagus book, and dreaming. There wasn't much time left for so much as breathing, but Ella didn't wish it away. She would gladly take that over summer time.
A few days later Rowena showed up with the rest of the owls for breakfast. Mrs. Weasley's reply had finally made it back to Hogwarts and Ella was delighted to see her owl again. She gave her friend a pat on the head and unfolded the letter.
Dear Ella,
So wonderful to hear from you again, it's been far too long. I'm glad you liked the sweater dear; it really was no trouble at all. I understand that the boys can be a bit of a handful at times, but thank you for at least trying to keep them from doing anything too terrible. Feel free to write anytime, Ella; it's always nice to hear from you. I hope that your parents will let us come and get you this year so you can stay at the Burrow for a portion of the summer. Hope your studies are going well.
With love,
Molly Weasley
Ella felt a smile grow across her face as she read Mrs. Weasley's letter. She never really got mail, but Mrs. Weasley's were always so nice that Ella felt lucky to have it. She looked at Mrs. Weasley as more of a mother than her real mother. Even though the summer was a long way off, Ella hoped desperately that she'd be allowed to go to their house over the summer. Her parents should let her since that'd mean they wouldn't have to deal with her.
Finally the moment that had the Gryffindors on edge all week came, the Quidditch match with Snape as the referee. Ella was nervous for the team and even though most of them hid their anxiety well, Lee and Ella both could tell that they were all nervous. Soon enough everyone was making their way to the field. It was slightly aggravating to Ella since she couldn't see the outcome of the match. On a nightly basis she saw things that were just terrible yet she couldn't see who won a Quidditch game. It was very annoying.
"Gryffindor better get the snitch as quick as possible," Ella said to Lee as they sat down in the commentator's area.
"I know; Snape's going to be brutal to us," Lee exclaimed extremely nervous for how the match will be conducted.
Ella watched Dumbledore take a seat in the stands and felt grateful that he'd be there to prevent anything happening to Harry. It relaxed her a bit, but she was still tense with the game being so near. She could see Professor Quirrell in the stands and she tried not to stare too intently at the man. There wasn't a bit of doubt in her mind that his stuttering and frightened ways were all a façade. She was certain that he had some evil intent in his mind, but she couldn't tell what he was going to do. Ella wanted to tell Dumbledore more than anything, but how could she possibly accuse a teacher of being evil with nothing to back it up?
Both teams walked on the field below and Ella looked at Snape; he seemed to be in a foul mood. She had absolutely no idea what could have caused it. Soon enough they were in the air and Lee was shouting a fierce commentary. All Ella could do was pray that nothing went wrong at this match, although no one really could do anything with Dumbledore so close.
Snape was throwing penalties left and right. The latest one was to George for hitting a Bludger at him. She laughed though at how he at least tried to. Before Ella knew it Harry was in a dive.
"Oh no, what's he doing?" She yelled at Lee pointing to Harry. For a moment she feared he'd lost control of his broom again. Then she saw a flash of gold in the direction he was headed in.
Lee was commentating, "Looks like Potter's caught sight of something- he's speeding towards whatever it is anyways. Watch out for Snape Harry! Oh, so close- wait that's it! He's got the Snitch!" The stands erupted in loud cheers and Ella and Lee hugged each other in victory.
"We won! We won! We won!" Ella cheered happily as the rest of the team began to land off their broomsticks and congratulate each other. Ella was eager to congratulate each of her friends along with the rest of the house.
She ran onto the field with Lee and made it to the team just as George and Angelina were pulling out of a hug. Lee gave Fred and George a pat on the back while Ella hugged Katie, Angelina, and Alicia.
"You were all great; it was an amazing match!" She praised them.
Angelina laughed, "It really wasn't us though. It was all Harry!"
The twins walked up to her next while Lee congratulated the girls in a hug behind them.
"Great job both of you," she said to them smiling; they returned her smile.
George leaned in and hugged her, "Thanks, Ella." Fred hugged her next and she felt her stomach give a small flip, which was odd. It was only Fred.
"C'mon, there's going to be a party to celebrate our win tonight and parties are nothing without great food to eat," Fred said to both Ella and George.
"Where will we get the food?" She asked them walking alongside the boys.
"The kitchens, of course," George said merrily.
Fred continued for his brother, "We'll just have to change quickly and then the three of us will go." Ella waited outside the locker room for the boys to get changed. She watched warily as Quirrell walked into the Forbidden Forest trying not to look suspicious and it was actually working. He didn't even notice her as he stealthily disappeared into the forest. It only confirmed her thoughts about his attitude being false.
After the boys came out of the locker room, Ella followed them through the castle to go to the kitchens for the first time. Of all the places they had taken her, the kitchen had never been one and she was quite excited to see a part of the castle that was new to her. She followed her friends directly below the Great Hall and to a giant portrait of a bowl of fruit.
"What now?" She asked them and they just gave her equally devious grins.
"Tickle the pear, of course-"
"Really, isn't that the first thing that comes to mind when you see a giant painting of fruit?" They asked her finishing each other's sentences.
Ella laughed and sarcastically told them, "Well, it is now." Fred went up to the pear and tickled it. Ella watched in fascination as the fruit squirmed and transformed itself into a doorknob. George and Fred opened the door and walked through leave Ella to trail behind them.
When Ella entered the large area and found herself speechless and the grandeur of the kitchens. It was a high-ceiling room much like the Great Hall, nearly exactly like the Great Hall. There were even tables that were set up in the same positions as the ones above them. That must have been how the food magically on platters above them. Along the walls of the room, there were many stove tops that were cooking food and at the end of the hall was a giant stone fireplace.
For the first time a movement took Ella's eyes off of the layout of the room and she focused on the little creatures walking around the room. They were scrawny little things with giant heads and eyes. Their ears looked a lot like a bat's and they had to have been only about two or three feet tall at most. Ella was shocked at them all; she had never seen a creature quite like them.
She looked up at the twins, "What are they?"
George looked around at the things before replying, "House-elves. They're the ones who make all the food at Hogwarts."
Fred laughed and teased, "You didn't think it just magically appeared did you?"
"Why, yes, that's exactly what I thought," she said rolling her eyes at his jest. They shouldn't have been surprised that she didn't know; she was Muggle-born after all.
"Oh, well that's alright, to be honest we thought the same at first. Let's get some cakes and we'll head back to the Common Room to celebrate," George told her while Fred asked the House-elves to make them some sweets. Ella was sure they'd say no, but the creatures seemed thrilled to provide the food.
The three went back to the Common Room with arms filled with sweets. They were the heroes of the House. Everyone was insanely happy about the win and there was a lot of laughing going on all around the room. Ella never really left the area her friends were in. She didn't feel like an intruder; she was part of a group and a happy one at that. For once Ella didn't care about anything in the future; her mind was only on the here and now, which was the best place in the world to her.
A/N: Yes another one for the end too...I'm writing the chapters two at a time now so more chapters will be ready! This book's coming to an end soon and, like the real series, the books will get more and more exciting! :) Review please?
