The horseless carriages took the students up towards the castle, same as the previous year. Elizabeth tried to spot Malfoy, which was harder than expected since his hair was so blond. Without any luck, Liz sat in a carriage alongside Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville and some random Ravenclaw. The wheels splashed in shallow puddles along the muddy path as the glimmering Hogwarts castle came into view.

Once inside, the students made their way to their respective tables; Ron, Harry and Hermione heading towards the Gryffindor table, Elizabeth at the Slytherin table. The raven-haired girl sat the furthest from people as she possibly could, seeing that they were looking at her oddly. I thought I'd stop getting these looks, she thought as she recalled the previous years' events. But people were looking at her for multiple reasons. Obviously, they were all staring at her because the latest gossip was that Elizabeth Rose Granger wasn't exactly a Granger. How they knew, the girl could only imagine. Surely, Draco didn't go blabbing about it to the world, however probable that may have sounded to her. But her fellow Slytherins were also looking at her because her appearance had changed. Her hair, now obsidian in hue, only made her jade eyes brighter against her pale skin. Her bust seemed larger, but maybe it was just because she had lost some weight due to the fact she didn't eat for almost a month. Ella had also grown a few centimeters, making her taller than all her female classmates, save Millicent Bulstrode who was taller than most boys her age. Her obsidian hair, usually pulled up in a simple bun or lazy ponytail now laid limp against her shoulders, a few strands tucked behind her ear. The girl's looks had changed, yes, but it wasn't the simple fact that her hair had gotten darker that bothered her housemates. It was the fact that Elizabeth now bore a striking resemblance to the Boy-Who-Lived. Surely they didn't think she could be his long lost sister, could they?

Elizabeth looked towards the end of the table and at the staff table. There sat, in the center, as usual, professor Dumbledore, his purple robes sparkling in the candlelight. Minerva McGonagall still sat to his left. The potions master, Severus Snape, sat between the half-giant, Hagrid, and professor Lupin, whom Liz wanted to know more about. After all, he did save her life. Suddenly, a head of blond hair interrupted her gaze. Draco Malfoy had grown quite a bit over the summer; him proudly admitting he was officially taller than Liz. His hair was no longer slicked back, which looked better on him according to the young Slytherin witch. He had gotten rather... cute.

"Hey, you." he greeted
"Oh, I'm a 'you', know?" the girl said playfully
"Until we figure out who gave birth to you... yes."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and looked to the front as Minerva McGonagall tapped on her glass, quieting the whole hall. She went on about the sorting as the first years came into the Great Hall, looks of fear and excitement on their faces. As she gazed at all the new faces and tried to guess who would go where with Draco, she felt as someone was watching her. Ellie looked over to the staff table, only to see Severus Snape just avoiding her gaze. Why was he looking at me, she thought. Sometimes she wondered what was going on in that head of his, since nothing really came out of his mouth.

One by one, the students were called. 'HUFFLEPUFF!' 'RAVENCLAW!' 'SLYTHERIN!' 'GRYFFINDOR!" Student after student, house after house was being called. Each new face was analyzed, especially the one of a particularly special student. He was older than all of the students who stood amonsgt him. A transfer, Liz thought. He was at least in his third year, at the height he stood. The boy's skin was a honeyed brown. Against it, his short black hair gave him a Mediterranean, or Middle-Eastern look, rather than the pale whites of the majority of Britain. He stood tall and proud, a curious look in his hazel eyes.

"Ferran, Amir." McGonagall called

The mystery boy's head perked up and he made his way to the stool, spinning around to sit on it. A few moments later, a smirk on his attractive face, he rose as the hat was removed and had called 'SLYTHERN!' The whole table cheered, a few of them rising from their seats to give him an encouraging pat on the back. Amir sat down in front of Elizabeth, beside Blaise Zabini, who always seemed to be near the girl even though he claimed to hate her. Staring was their first means of communication. Hazel meeting jade in a squinting contest; the effect soft and inviting instead of harsh. Perhaps it was his lips that gave away his intention, not quite smiling but tilting as if they meant to. Both were brought back to reality by both Dumbledore and Malfoy, who seemed irked about their eye contact. Although Liz didn't see it, this only made Amir's smirk grow.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" the Headmaster said "I have a few things to say, before we become befuddled by our excellent feast. I myself am particularly looking forward to the flaming kiwi cups, which, while somewhat treacherous for those of us with facial hair-" McGonagall cleared her throat "Mm. Yes. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good luck to you, Professor."

Amidst scattered applause, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Elizabeth clapped the loudest. A thought suddenly came to her mind. Defense Against the Dark Arts? That's why he knew about the chocolate.

"As some of you may know, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs." Dumbledore continued, causing Malfoy and Elizabeth to give each other odd looks "Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid!"

Liz smiled as Draco complained about his father hearing about this. She loved hearing him say that; it meant she could laugh at him. Hagrid then turned ruby red and rose, nearly toppling the staff table and sending water goblets weaving. Unfortunately, this wasn't the end of the speech. The last part made Elizabeth go pale as she recalled the events that happened earlier, on the train.

"Finally, on a more disquieting note, Hogwarts - at the request of the Ministry of Magic - will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban... The Dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds. While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will on occasion see them as you go about your daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving..."

And that... Harry and Elizabeth knew all to well...

Later, during the feast, as Liz shoved loads of food onto her plate, Snape distributed the timetables as well as the sheet to fill out for the students' electives. In the third year, it was required to have two extra classes for some reason unknown to all students. All Liz knew, is that it would be less time spent studying potions. The girl definitely wanted to take Care of Magical Creatures and see how Hagrid did as a professor, but she wasn't sure about her other elective.

"Draco what're you taking?"
"Care of Magical Creatures, only because you're taking it, and Divination. I don't want anything too hard."
"Gross, I am not taking Divination. I heard professor Trelawney was a nutter." Zabini butted in
"No one asked for your opinion, Zabini." Ella snapped
"I wasn't talking to you, Granger. Oh, wait, you're not a Granger, are you?"
"Shut your mouth."
"Oh, and I heard that you fainted." the boy chuckled, causing Pansy Parkinson to snort "Did the Dementors scare a poor little family-less girl-"
"SHUT UP!" Elizabeth shouted, suddenly standing up and slamming her fists on the table. The whole hall went silent "You have no right to talk to me about my family like that! My family problems are my own, they don't need to be shared with the world, Zabini!"
"Well they already are."
"Yeah. And your mother is a fucking insatiable whore!"

Elizabeth's face had become rigid, jaw clamped tight, teeth grinding. It was time to get out of there before she did something she'd later come to regret. In standing, the bench wobbled backwards, making a few other students unstable. Blaise was staring at Liz like she had just performed an unforgivable curse, while everyone else sat there, eyes and mouth wide open. On the way out of the Great Hall, the Slytherin opened the doors hard, making them slam into the wall, loud. I hope his brain rattles in his stupid skull, she thought. With each stride, Elizabeth knew she was the subject of discussion amongst both students and teachers, not the reason she lost it, but the fact that she lost it. She'd probably get a note requiring her presence in Snape's office, maybe even to Dumbledore's office, and most definitely her 'sister' would confront her about this. And so it went on, them feeling superior and Elizabeth feeling bad that the new kid had to witness such drama on the first day of school...