Disclaimer: I only own Ella and her bird Athena. Everything else belongs to JK.

A/N: I took this down to re-format and now its re-formatted, so I put it back up.

Ch. 3 The Sorting and Some Strange Friendships

In the Great Hall, students sat at their tables and talked. Fred and George played a prank on the Slytherin table and Ella watched the door, looking for her crush, Oliver Wood- the Gryffindor Quidditch captain.

She was also eagerly anticipating the Sorting. Word about Harry Potter being among the first years spread fast. All of the houses hoped that Harry would be in theirs.

Just then, Marcus Flint, Ella's other best friend walked in, he gave a little wave at Ella and she waved back. There were only two other Wizarding families in Ella's village and she had befriended the children of those families. Marcus Flint and Draco Malfoy had been her two best friends before she came to Hogwarts. They were still friends, but not as close as they used to be.

Marcus' parents, upon hearing that his best friend was a Gryffindor, forbid him to talk to Ella, but he did anyway. Draco's parents didn't know, because he had never told them, so they were still allowed to talk, but Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy did not like it.

This year was also Draco's first year and Ella had hoped that he and Harry would be friends too. She had yet to hear about the incident on the train (confused? Read the 1st book).

Just then, Professor McGonagall led the new 1st years in. Fred and George were both hoping that Ron, their baby brother, would be put into Gryffindor. McGonagall went down the list; when she got to Potter, Harry, the whole room quieted. Everyone waited with bated breath, Ella especially, all hoping that they would get Harry in their house.

Suddenly, the Hat shouted, "Gryffindor!" and Ella's whole table erupted. (Want more detail of the sorting? Read the book).

A/N: I got the idea of Ella being friends with Draco and Marcus stuck in my head and it wouldn't leave, so I gave up trying to get rid of it. Also, sorry about it being a bit short. Now On to the Thank yous!