Okay here's the next update! As usual sorry for taking so long. I just get so lazy and forget this story exists because I wrote it so long ago. But anyway here it is. The song at the end is a song by Alexz Johnson so I can't take credit. I used to be in love with the Canadian show Instant Star so I got some of the songs for this story from there… kinda weird, but whatever. Enjoy!

Chapter 7: All Hollow's Eve, Part 2

True to the twins' word, within the hour the Gryffindor common room had turned into party central. Most of the higher year students were dancing, and the younger students were in clumps talking. Ellie floated around, almost too happy to speak, until she was pulled aside by Dean.

"Hey, Ellie," he greeted, his expression cute and nervous. "Happy birthday."

She smiled, laughing inwardly at how he looked. Dean had always been one of the more attractive Gryffindors, but after spending so much time with Oliver, Ellie had high standards for how attractive guys were. Luckily she didn't actually care whether they were or not.

"Thanks, Dean," she said. "And thanks for agreeing to come to that Deathday Party, I know it's not exactly great sounding, but it could be fun."

"Oh, don't worry about it," he said easily. "It sounds fun, and anyway, I wouldn't miss the chance to hang out with you on your birthday." He reached under his robes and pulled out a small, tightly wrapped present. "I thought I'd get you something nice," he said a little awkwardly. "I… I hope you like it." And without further warning he left.

She stared at the present for a few seconds, contemplating it, without really opening it. She knew now more than ever that Dean liked her; she had never really denied it, but she had never dealt with it either. The question was, did she like him? She had assumed she did, but after the night with Fred and all her confusing emotions, she had a feeling it was just her mind's desire to be with someone available and simple. It really was one of the best aspects of Dean to her.

She stared at it a few more seconds, silently praying that Fred would come talk to her so she'd be distracted. But he didn't, so she sighed and opened it.

It wasn't original or clever. She somehow felt disappointed, as nice as it was. Like Oliver's Christmas present to her the year before, it wasn't magical at all; it was a necklace. It was beautiful—studded with some kind of fancy gemstone, not too long or short, probably went with anything—but she felt a pang of disappointment at seeing it. If anything were to happen with Dean, she would have to replace Fred's locket with this, and she wasn't sure she could.

Not sure how she felt, she went up to her dorm to put it away. She'd decide whether to wear it later. She started to head back downstairs, but stopped. She knew she had some things to think over before she could bring herself to face everyone.

It wasn't that she didn't like Dean, or that she didn't want a relationship. But Fred was in the back of her mind, as he had been lately. Sure, she could like two guys, but she knew she liked Fred more… and yet he was her best friend, which meant nothing could ever happen. She felt like she was too young for this kind of drama, only to remind herself how much older the people she spent most of her time with were.

She considered hiding out up here, but her locket glowed, distracting her from her thoughts. She opened the locket and saw Fred's face, happy and with friends around him in the background. The message read Come back, El! She smiled a little sadly, nodded, and closed it. She headed downstairs and caught Fred's eyes and smiled at him; he sent her a very sincere one back. She started to head over to him but was interrupted by Seamus, who pulled her aside.

"Hey," he greeted. "Happy birthday, Ellie!"

She smiled. "Thanks," she said easily. "Coming to our concert tonight?"

"Wouldn't miss it," he replied. "And you know who else wouldn't? Dean." He looked at her carefully, obviously waiting for her response.

She wasn't entirely surprised. "Yeah," she said, going along with it, "well, Dean and I are close."

Seamus nodded. "I've noticed. I think everyone has. But I think he'd like to be closer—if you get my drift." He sounded both nervous and amused.

"I'm not daft, Seamus," she said a little harshly. "Please don't treat me like I am."

He nodded. "Well, Dean really likes you, but I figured I'd check with you in case he gets hurt."

She considered her answer for a moment before speaking. "I have no plans of hurting him. And I admire your part in this, but not his. Just let me talk to him."

Seamus nodded. "Okay. You're right." He grinned. "Let me know how it goes, eh?"

"Definitely," she replied, and waved as he walked away. Then she looked around for Dean. She saw him on the other side of the room, talking to Parvati, dark face a little crimson.

She made her way over to him and smiled at Parvati. "Hey, Parv, can I steal Dean for a few?"

Parvati nodded, giving a little giggle, and shuffled off to find Lavender. Dean looked at Ellie, looking terribly nervous.

"Thanks so much for the necklace," she said. "I put it in my room for now. It's beautiful."

He smiled and said nothing, glancing awkwardly at the floor.

She sighed. "Dean, it's just me. I don't bite."

He nodded. "I know. But I saw you talking to Seamus—I know why you're here—and—it's freaking me out a little."

He was stuttering. She hated how awkward this was. After her experience with Oliver, she didn't find it uncomfortable at all—in a way she felt as amused as Seamus had seemed. Things with Dean just didn't seem real in a way. She wanted them to have more depth. She had to remind herself that she was only thirteen, and that he wasn't yet that.

"Don't let it freak you out," she said almost commandingly. He still looked nervous; she wasn't helping.

"Can we sit down?" he asked, jerking his hand in the direction of an empty table.

"Sure," she said brightly. She followed him to the table and sat down, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and looking up at him. She noticed his eyes were just a shade darker than Fred's. She also noticed that while Fred always looked her in the eye, Dean was too nervous.

"Er," he said, "I guess Seamus gave me away?"

"Not really," she said, even though in a way he had. "I just said I'd rather talk to you."

He smiled slightly. "Sorry, I shouldn't have had him talk for me."

She shook her head. "Don't worry about it. You're here now." She wished they could get this over with, one way or the other.

He sighed and crossed his arms. "Okay. Um. Would you like to go out with me? Not go out with me, that is—not really anywhere for us to go—I mean, be my girlfriend, you know, date—"

There it was. Quick and painless. Or rather, very painful, but without the long prolonging she had been dreading. So here was her chance to say yes. She knew she would; she wanted a boyfriend, and who could possibly be safer than Dean, her trusty first-year pal? He was almost boringly stable.

She had a feeling Fred was watching her, but she couldn't bring herself to turn her head. She had to do this now. It was what she—or at least a part of her—wanted.

"Yeah," she said, giving Dean a bright, only half real, smile. "I'd like to."

His face lit with a confused expression that molded into happiness. "Really?" he asked, standing up. "That's great!"

She laughed. She felt like he was younger than her, somehow. Compared to the older friends she had he felt like a kid, still just an inch or two taller than her, and a voice that hadn't deepened yet. He was a great guy, but he didn't seem special.

But what could she do? He was her boyfriend now.

And so it began.

Seamus and Ron approached them seconds after they were finished, obviously having eavesdropped, and in minutes everyone in the common room had heard. Ellie hugged Dean and excused herself, exiting through the Fat Lady, not sure where she was headed. The Deathday Party was in about an hour, and she would have all the time in the world to hang out with her new boyfriend then.

She found her legs walking toward Hagrid's hut. She did miss him, but she didn't feel like talking to him; she felt like pondering herself for a while. She took a seat at a picnic table in a courtyard near his hut, lying down on top of it and pulling out a pen and paper. She didn't know exactly what to write, but she knew she'd spill out something.

She chewed her pen for a while. She already had plans for a song, one she had named My Sweet Time that was supposed to be about frivolity and freedom, but she had a feeling she could alter it. Using her legs as a desk, she began to write. Her favorite lines she scribbled down were /but I feel the wheels rolling down below me and I'll take my sweet time getting back again, then /and I'll be home again. She was so warped into what she was doing that she didn't realize she was singing aloud—at least, not until she felt a pair of hands cover her eyes. She shrieked for a second before asking, surprising herself, "Fred?"

Fred lowered his hands, looking just as surprised. "Am I that obvious?"

She laughed. "Guess so. How'd you know I was here?"

"Marauder's Map," he replied, "if that's not too stalker-ish of me. I tried glowing you or whatever we call it"—he pointed to her locket—"but you didn't answer."

"Sorry, I was kind of into the lyric-writing. I changed tonight's a little, for my original."

He nodded. "What I heard sounded good. It'll go with the guitar really well."

She grinned. "Well, you weren't supposed to hear any of it, but that is a relief. It's kind of a big deal for me, you know, new song and all. First song."

"About anyone I know?" he asked. After a second, he added carefully, "Dean?"

She frowned, thinking. It wasn't about Dean at first, but as she bent the lyrics into what they now were, she made it Dean and Fred-centric. Feeling the wheels rolling down below her was the feeling of letting herself do what life threw at her, but getting back again was what she knew was bound to happen eventually; 'home again,' she knew deep down, went back to Fred.

But she could never tell him it was about him.

Or Dean.

"Not really," she said. "Just about… freedom. Fun. Being a kid, I guess."

He smiled. "It sounds like a hit," he offered, and sat down next to her. "Really, El. I don't know if you're worried or not, but you don't need to be. Remember how great you were last time?"

She didn't say anything. She felt like crying for some reason.

"You'll be great, Ellie."

She couldn't bring herself to smile. A part of her was yearning for him to keep talking to her, and another part was begging him to stop.

"El, you don't have to—"

"Fred," she interrupted.

He glanced up at her, obviously surprised by her tone of voice.

She didn't know what to say. There were several ways she could go. She could ask him how he felt about Dean, see if he was as confused as she was… but that wasn't fair. She couldn't dare approach that topic; dating Dean, or whatever it was they were doing, meant no drama with other guys. Ellie wasn't that kind of girl. She just didn't know what kind of girl she was.

"Sorry," she mumbled. "I just wonder why you're so nice sometimes."

He shrugged. "That's what best friends are for, right? Friends listen to what you say, best friends listen to what you don't say."

She raised her eyebrows at that statement. "Wow, Fred, deep much?" But his eyes weren't even joking. "Okay, well, what am I not saying?"

"That you're nervous," he said, "and confused. Probably about your song. El, we can practice now, if you like—get a handle on how it'll sound? I don't mind hearing it beforehand if you don't."

She nodded. She didn't mind telling him; the secret was mostly for everyone else. If he knew what it meant she'd hide it from him, but he wouldn't.

"So I still have to tell you what your present is," he said, sitting up straighter. "It's more an idea this year than a tangible thing. I mean, I assumed all your friends would get you the same old boring things, and I'm out of installments to give on the locket. So I have my own. George is in on this one, too."

She shrugged. "Okay, what is it?"

He grinned and pulled something out of his jacket. It was a handwritten list, filling up a whole page in small letters. It had headings like Spells, Potions, Chants, and even Candles, with bulleted lists below each heading. But she didn't really understand.

"We're going to become Animagi," he said, smiling widely at her. "For real. I know you said not to before, but trust me, it'll be great. It'll be under Ministry radar, so technically illegal, but totally worth it."

She stared at him in disbelief. "Fred! That's crazy!"

He smiled. "The more time spent with you, the better, my dear."

She squealed and hugged him, then pulled back and said, "The song—we were going to play my song. So, what, summon your guitar? It's pretty far."

"I'll hum," he said cheerfully. "I know the tune."

She laughed and nodded, and he began to hum. Just as the lyrics were about to come in, they were interrupted by Harry, Ron, Hermione, George, and Dean. She had invited Ginny too, to complete the band. Ginny had politely declined, saying she wanted to attend the feast, but the twins teased that she was too scared of the ghosts. Ellie thought it was a legitimate fear.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt," Hermione said cheerfully. "We should get going—everyone else has left for the feast already, and we're not really an inconspicuous group, so we should walk like we're going to the Great Hall." She seemed to have planned it out very thoroughly.

Ellie glanced at Dean, who smiled at her, but he seemed to be eyeing Fred a little oddly. She hoped jealousy wouldn't be an issue with them—there was no way she was putting Fred behind Dean.

It was easy for them to walk toward the Great Hall but still slip the right way, using the Marauder's Map for directions, to the Deathday Party. When they arrived, everyone pinched their noses; the food smelled disgusting.

"Someone tell Ginny to save us some food," George muttered as they entered. But he stopped and quieted when all the ghosts in the room turned to face them.

"Sorry, not late, are we?" Ellie asked a little shakily.

Nick floated over to them, beaming. "No, no, right on time! Everyone, please meet my friends from Gryffindor… Ellie Br—er, Ellie, Ron, Hermione, and those twins, and that boy… and here we are, Harry Potter!"

The ghosts murmured interestedly, as everyone had expected. Harry didn't look surprised at all.

"Well, dig in," Nick said fondly. "Have fun, and feel free to talk to any of my friends!" He sent Ellie a hinting wink, which made her feel very uncomfortable. She forced a smile.

Fred and George immediately went off to talk with the most grotesque-looking ghosts, and after a moment's hesitation Ron followed. Harry and Hermione both came to Ellie as if waiting for instructions, and Dean hovered by her side unsurely.

"What's the game plan, you're wondering?" Ellie asked, and laughed. "I guess we find the headless ones and tell them how great Nick is. You mostly, Harry, but we'll all be there, too."

Harry nodded and looked around. Dean was the first to spot them, on the other side of the room, heads in hands, heads speaking and bodies gesturing very strangely.

They made their ways over as confidently as possible, and Harry cleared his throat when he was in front of who he assumed the leader of the Headless Hunt was. "Greetings, sir," he said, trying not to laugh when Ellie kicked him in the shin.

"Ah, Harry Potter," said the head at the ghost's waist. The ghost raised the head a little to examine him. "I must admit, Sir Nicholas did mention he had invited you, but I had much doubt you would come."

"You must be good friends, to abandon your feast for him," said another.

Harry nodded. "The best. Sir Nicholas is the greatest ghost I have ever known. Greatest person, even—he's really something."

The chief ghost looked amused. "Did he tell you to talk to me? Because he isn't headless—he really can't join."

"He didn't tell me to, sir, but I really think you should reconsider," Harry said carefully. "Nick, er, Sir Nicholas—he was such a great wizard in his day. He's helped us out, and he's got great connections with students—"

"Enough," the chief said sharply. Harry didn't need to be asked twice.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "I'll just, er, see you around, then." He shuffled away. Ellie lingered, hoping to get more in, but he grabbed her arm, so she grabbed Dean's; Hermione didn't need to be pulled.

Everyone wanted to leave, but Ellie had promised Nick she'd stay. The twins weren't willing to leave if she wasn't, nor was Dean, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn't want to interrupt. So Ellie, for lack of anything better to do, stood at the front of the room and cleared her throat.

"I'd like to propose a toast to Sir Nicholas, the greatest ghost I know," she said. "Happy Deathday, Nick!" Everyone cheered, and she waited for them to finish before adding, "Oh, and if any of you remember, karaoke is like, the coolest thing ever. So I think we should try it out. My friend Fred will start us off."

Fred, laughing slightly, nodded and ran up to her side. She hugged him briefly before heading back over to Dean, who sat down with her as Fred began to sing Ruby by the Kaiser Chiefs, a song with little meaning but very fun to party to. Ellie had introduced him with it in her first year.

After Fred a few ghosts volunteered, by which time Nick had thanked Ellie extensively. She took the opportunity to receive her reward.

"So?" she asked eagerly. "You were going to tell me about those four students."

He nodded. "Yes, I was, wasn't I? Well, I don't know why you want to know. Can't even remember all of their names, mind you."

She shrugged. "I'll take what I can get."

"Well, there was one… one you'd thank me for telling you. James was an Animagus—a deer, perhaps, I can't remember—and by James I mean James Potter."

Ellie's eyes widened.

He nodded. "Yes, Mr. Potter's father and three of his friends. Don't know what's become of any of them." He had a curious expression on his face, but she could tell he wasn't going to reveal anything more.

"Thanks, Nick," she said, disappointed that she hadn't found anything out about her father but interested in this news about Harry's father. She didn't think she'd tell him—it would rile him up and make him too curious—but it was interesting to know.

She knew after that that it would be safe to leave, and once she suggested leaving, they were gone in minutes.

And finally time for the concert was there.

"It's been such a long day," Ellie said as she stood in their 'dressing room,' or a cleared out broom closet just outside the Great Hall. Ginny had met up with them, and the girls were dressing on one side of a curtain while the boys did on the other.

"Well, good thing your birthday lasted so long," George shouted back. "Don't complain."

She laughed. "You're right," she admitted as she pulled on a striped silver scoop-neck tunic that she had bought ages ago. She was still flat and too thin, but she filled it out better now. She added a pair of skinny jeans, her black-and-white Converse, and some beads, then helped Ginny into her outfit, a cute, attractive black dress that made her look like she could be in a band even though she was eleven.

"El, didn't you used to have a silver hair streak?" Ginny asked as they started on each other's hair, pulling the curtain away. Fred and George were both in semi-punk black and white ties and blazers, which was hilarious but also surprisingly attractive.

"Yeah," said Fred, "you did. It matched your eyes."

"No homo," George teased, rolling his eyes.

Ellie laughed, even though she didn't think it was all that funny. "Yeah," she said, glancing in the mirror, "guess it faded—it's been a long time."

"Well, let's do something," said Ginny. "We've got our wands, we've all taken some Transfiguration."

Ellie raised her eyebrows.

"Call it!" Fred yelped, and yanked out his wand. He pulled out a strand of Ellie's black hair that was almost exactly where it had been before, and pressed his wand to it. He stopped and thought for a second.

"Crayatis lunus!" he tried. Sure enough, the strand turned an almost glowing shade of silver that matched her shirt and her eyes.

"Nice," she said, nodding. "Thanks. Learn that from McGonagall?"

He shrugged and shook his head. "Made it up. Cray like Crayola, lunus like the moon. Plus I've got a good wand, so, you know." He shrugged.

The three of them stared at him in disbelief.

"You—that's—Fred!" Ginny said. "I thought you were a bad student!"

He shrugged. "Proved you wrong, sis."

No one said anything until they were called onto stage. They all breathed deeply. Ginny grabbed her bass, Fred and Ellie their guitars, and George his drumsticks.

Fred was singing all three of their covers, starting with Drift, a song Ellie had heard on television once that she fell in love with. Fred sang with more expression than she expected, lyrics like I remember when we fell, it took my whole life, my breath, away. So take a ride now, you take a fall. He gave them the raw emotion she had hoped for, and they had a quality she hadn't expected for such little practice. The crowd loved Drift, and rocked out along with them.

Broadway, a much quieter, smoother song, had less meaning but more of a feeling. The Goo Goo Dolls' rich lyrics, Broadway is dark tonight, then See the young man sitting in the old man's bar, waiting for his turn to die. They didn't make sense, yet they filled the heart with loneliness; students lit their wands with Lumos and waved them like lighters.

Finally came What a Scene again. Most of the people, with the exception of the first-years, recognized it from last year. This, also by the Goo Goo Dolls, had always been Fred's favorite. From lines like All taste sweet, but not for long to Live a big lie and they all believe, they sang of individuality and being alone.

Finally it was time for her song. Everyone was cheering, and Fred was giving her an encouraging look. Dean, from the floor, was smiling up at her, and she knew she could do it.

She laid her guitar on the ground—she didn't play when she sang—and cleared her throat, taking the microphone. "I wrote this song. It's called My Sweet Time."

Fred's intro was smooth and perfect, hitting the complicated sharp notes with accurate edge.

And then it was time.

"All the time there's a song spinning in my head
And at night I can't sleep at all." She glanced down at the ground before looking up again.

"I'm thinking about my life, but not a tear is shed

I'd vent to friends, but it's too late to call
But daytime comes, and I do have my friends

And it feels the best when my band kicks in…" Fred vamped up for the chorus, and she sang with power.

"I don't know where the next road goes but I feel the wheels rolling down below me
I'll take my sweet time getting back again
What matters most will carry me through the night to where I want to be
I'll take my sweet time, but I'll be home again." She breathed deeply as the next solo came, not daring to look.

"I make some wrongs, make some rights, but it feels so good
How it works is a mystery
Do I believe in my heart I'm doing what I should?
I'm not sure, but it's such a breeze
And then we get around to the 'let's begin'
I love how it feels when the band kicks in

I don't know where the next road goes but I feel the wheels rolling down below me
I'll take my sweet time getting back again
What matters most will carry me through the night to where I want to be
I'll take my sweet time, but I'll be home again." Another solo, and the song was coming to a close.

"Maybe when this is over I'll understand
What I've got right here in my hands

I don't know where the next road goes but I feel the wheels rolling down below me
I'll take my sweet time, but I'm getting it back again
What matters most will carry me through this night to where I want to be
I'll take my sweet time, but I'll be home again in my own sweet time."

She finally dared to look up, and saw that everyone was cheering like they had never before. One of the professors was crying; others had actually gotten up to groove along with it.

She had touched them.

(end)

Well there you have it! Kinda depressing that she's with Dean now but [SPOILER ALERT) it won't last long, we all know that's not where the storyline is headed! Anyway I'll try to update again really soon. I owe it to my faithful readers! Sorry for being so slow and thanks for reading and (hopefully) reviewing!