(CoS) CHAPTER FOUR: The Mysterious Disappearance of Harry and Ron

"Poor Harry Potter," Draco sneered. "Can't even go into a bookstore without making the front page."

"Jealousy doesn't look good with your very blond hair, Draco," Ellie fired back at him. "Maybe you should ask Lockhart for a better palette?"

Draco glared at her. "Didn't know you could speak for yourself, Bretherworth. Thought you had the twins do all your talking for you."

God, she hated the name Bretherworth. She wasn't sure she could stand another year of it, now that she knew all she knew. She couldn't use the name Black, of course, but shouldn't she at least use her mother's name?

"It's Prince," she said, deciding in that instant to change her identity forevermore. "Not Bretherworth."

"Right," said Draco, smirking. "Finally cut ties with jailbat Daddy, then?"

"That's not even what 'jailbait' means," snapped Ginny, surprising all of them. "Just leave them alone."

Unfortunately, this only seemed to ignite the teasing. "Well, well," said Draco to Harry. "Potter's got himself a girlfriend, does he?"

"Now, now, Draco," said a new voice—that of a tall, slender, blond-haired wizard who could only be Draco's father. He had a frightening look about him—handsome in a chilling, almost cruel sort of way. "Haven't I taught you to be polite to those less fortunate?"

"Honestly, sir," said Ellie boldly to Draco's father, "he's not that good at being rude, anyway."

The man's eye twitched at that, but he turned instead to Arthur, who had come over at the sight of the commotion, and said, "How are things at the Ministry, Arthur? Late hours, I hear. I do hope they're paying you overtime…" He reached into the carton of books Arthur had just handed Ginny, pulled a few out, and said, "Then again, judging from the state of these books, I'd say not."

"We make do just fine, Lucius," said Arthur, tight-lipped. He looked like he had half a mind to punch Lucius right in the face.

"Glad to hear it," said Lucius snidely. His eyes flickered over to Hermione and her parents, and his nose visibly wrinkled. "Then again, 'just fine' may be a subjective term… associating with Muggles…" He clucked his tongue in disapproval before beckoning for his son to follow him out of the store.

Ellie glanced at Ginny, who looked like she was on the verge of tears, then at Hermione, who looked like she was about to explode with anger.

"Forget them," she said. "They're miserable and we're not. Now, let's have some fun."

They spent the rest of their time in Diagon Alley buying new robes, animal supplies, wand caretaking kits, and all the other remaining things on their Hogwarts lists, which took another hour or so. By the end of it, their arms were aching from the weight of their bags and carts.

Finally, they were back at the Burrow, and familiar feelings started to overtake Ellie: excitement at the prospect of returning to Hogwarts and sadness at leaving the Burrow.

"It's not like you're leaving it forever," said Fred on their last night at the Burrow as she shared her feelings with him and the rest of the band. They were supposed to be practicing their music, but they were doing more talking than practicing. "You'll be back next summer, right?"

"Yeah… theoretically," she said, frowning. "I guess a part of me always hopes my mum will stop being so stubborn and accept that I'm her daughter, whether I'm a Hogwarts student or not."

In truth, she wasn't entirely sure she'd want to spend a summer with her mother at this point even if it was offered. Ellie had too much fun at the Burrow to imagine going back to that cold, magic-free household she'd grown up in.

Still… Serena was her mother.

"So," said George. "Tomorrow. Back to Hogwarts."

"And back to what we're best at," added Fred.

"Easy for you to say," Ellie teased. "You just have to look cute and make trouble."

He beamed. "You think I'm best at looking cute? Thanks, El—I had no idea." He ducked when she grabbed one of George's drumsticks and threw it at his head.

"At least you lot don't have to be the new kids on the block," grumbled Ginny. "I can't believe I have to get Sorted in front of all those people."

"It was pretty funny watching El go through it last year," said Fred cheerfully. "She totally freaked out."

"Well, it did reveal more to me about my father than anyone else ever had," Ellie pointed out. But she dropped it there; she knew not to say more than that in front of Ginny.

"Come on," said George, striding over to pick up the thrown drumstick. "One more song before call it a night."

"Come along, you lot!" Molly called to them the next morning at King's Cross. "Platform 9 ¾ this way!"

"I think we're late," Ellie muttered to Fred. They nearly had to run to catch up with the impossibly fast Molly. "By quite a bit, it would seem."

He laughed. "What gave it away?"

They had finally reached the platform. Percy headed through first, followed by George. Ellie glanced at Fred, who easily took her hand and headed through the platform with her. She tried to ignore the all-too-familiar wave of confusion that coursed through her at that, along with the disappointment that came when he dropped her hand on the other side.

"We're definitely riding in the same compartment this time," Fred informed Ellie after they said their goodbyes to Molly and Arthur. "I don't care what Lee and Ange say."

Ellie had almost forgotten that the twins had abandoned her this time last year to go and sit with Lee Jordan and their Quidditch friends. It felt like a lifetime ago.

"Works for me," said Ellie, "but that probably means you'll have to be in the same compartment as your…" She trailed off when she glanced behind them for Harry and Ron, frowning. "…brother. Where is your brother, anyway?"

The twins followed her gaze toward Molly and Arthur, who were standing by the platform, looking as perplexed as Ellie felt. Harry and Ron had been right behind them, right? Everyone else had made it through.

"Ellie, Fred, George!" shouted a voice from the train. Ellie whirled back around to see Hermione poking her head out through the window. "Come on—the train's about to leave!"

Ellie was quite worried about Harry and Ron, but she knew they didn't have a choice but to load up. So, with a reluctant sigh, she followed the twins onto the train and into the compartment Hermione was in. The train took off only a few seconds after they boarded.

It wasn't just Hermione, she learned when she stepped inside the compartment. Ginny and Neville were there, too.

"Wotcher, Neville," Ellie said as she shoved her trunk and Woodstock's cage into the storage bin. "How was your summer?"

"Er… fine." Neville looked confused. "Hang on. Where's Harry and Ron?"

"Up to something, no doubt," said Fred, glancing at Ellie. "Mum and Dad are probably all over it, right?"

Ellie glanced at Hermione, frowning. "Do you know if any of the teachers would be on the train? Maybe we should tell one of them?"

"Well, I passed Professor Lockhart on my way in," said Hermione, looking a bit starry-eyed. "Let's try him!"

Ellie shot the twins a look of disgust as she followed Hermione out of their compartment and into Lockhart's.

"So sorry to interrupt, Professor," said an overeager Hermione. "I'm a huge fan, by the way. Hermione Granger. I especially loved—"

"We came for your help," Ellie interrupted flatly. "Two friends of ours who go to Hogwarts were right behind us at King's Cross, but they never made it through the platform, and now they've missed the train."

Lockhart looked rather baffled by their predicament. "Well, I'm sure they'll find their way here, won't they? Nothing any of us can do from here."

Ellie and Hermione exchanged a look at that. He certainly wasn't being helpful.

"I could try a summoning spell," he offered when he saw their disappointed expressions. "Only, it's really best to do that when you're not on a moving train… for obvious reasons."

Ellie grimaced at that. "It's okay. Thanks for your help." And she yanked Hermione out of the compartment.

"We could try the conductor," suggested Hermione when they stepped back into the aisleway. "Maybe he could turn around?"

"Don't think it works that way," said Ellie grimly. "I'm sorry to say it, but the boys are going to have to find their own way to Hogwarts."

She just hoped they were okay.

Some things never change - like Harry and Ron stupidly stealing a Ford Anglia to fly to Hogwarts! Don't worry - I'll make fun of them for it in the next chapter. Don't forget to leave a review. Two fresh ones today - made my day! Keep it up, faithful readers, and thanks!