-Chapter three-

Out on the Open...for friends

Ellie noticed her best friends not to far away, she approach with great enthusiasm. Standing in the sea of students were her two best friends, Dixon Dunap and Lee Morello, two absolute idiots. Even though they were both boys, it didn't matter because they would always be there for her, kind of bodyguards. Dixon was tall, with chestnut colored hair that reached his cheekbones and had the weirdest colored eyes, a sort of orange brown with green lines in. Lee looked more foreign like his name, her guesses were India, with very dark hair and bright blue eyes, kind of like the ocean. But the both of them had the same prankster side, always teasing Ellie about basically everything. She had met them in her first year, on the train. She didn't have a friend and these two just kind of showed up and that's when it all happened. They were all placed in Griffindor and for 5 years now have been very good friends.

"Hey you guys, how have you being?" she asked happily while the two turned around with an expression of shock. Teran wasn't the only one who had noticed her transformation, both Dixon and Lee were taking quite aback. They too remembered her little girl figure and now had suddenly transform into this beautiful young women in only a short period of time. Ellie noticed the two staring at her, feeling a little uncomfortable."Hello, what's the matter with you guys?" she asked waving her hand in front of their faces. They snapped out of it quickly blushing slightly.

"Uh, oh hi Ellie, were great!" said Lee recovering faster than Dixon who now wore a dreamy expression. Ellie ignore Dixon that actually started to scare her a bit. Lee elbowed Dixon's side completely waking him from the trance.

"Oh, hi Ellie, ya its being fine, how about you?" said Dixon a bit awkwardly. At first she looked at them suspiciously but shook her head afterwards.

"I'm great and all, but seriously never do those expressions again, it looked like you guys were hypnotized or something, funny but scary," she said between laughs. Both of them looked at her, frowning with a grin on their faces, like they were about to do something mischievous. Her smile wore off not wanting to know what they were thinking.

"Well, lets just say you've shocked us, we were a little taking aback," Lee said still wearing the same trickster expression.

"A little, HA! And why were you shocked by me?"she asked curiously starting to walk towards the carriage. She watched the testrials for a second before returning her attention to her two buffoons.

"Did you see yourself lately? Or haven't you realized how you've change" said Dixon looking at her once again. "Well?" Ellie gave both of them a puzzled expression while getting into the carriage.

"Yes I've changed both physically and mentally and from your point of view I hope its not bad" she said seriously. The boys bursted with laughter. "Well its not my fault I look like this, I know I'm not pretty or anything but honestly I'm not that disgusting" she added, her arms crossed glaring at her two supposable friends. At that saying, both guys stopped laughing.

"You're not serious are you? You girls amaze me sometimes, you're all the same," said Dixon smiling.

"Ya, all of them,"added Lee. Ellie obviously understood that only the boys understood each other leaving her confused.

"What are you guys talking about, we're all the same, explain?" she said with a huff. The guys looked at each other for second, then turned to face her with a smile on their face.

"You girls always complain about you guys not looking pretty when you do...well not all of you do, but just like you, you said 'well its not my fault I look like this, I know I'm not pretty...' lee said mimicking her. "...when its not true, we were just a little taking aback how you've change...in a good way," he finished.

"Well that's good to know, and also thank you for not being total idiots about this," she said rolling her eyes with smile. It felt nice to be back with her friends, back to her home away from home and back to the most reassuring place on earth. The carriage came to a halt and the trio departed from the carriage heading for the castle's door. Each time she entered the castle, it felt like it was the first time, a feeling of total amazement. Its aroma never changed and so did the castle, she walked trough the great hall and found her usual place at the Griffindor table. Like usual the two boys sat on each of Ellie and began chatting with other Griffindor colleague. Ellie noticed that Kristen and June sat across from her.

"Hey June, how was summer?" she asked her cousin's paranormal friend. June Felody was very mysterious, if we clearly remembered Luna Lovegood in Harry's school year, she wasn't that normal...well as abnormal as can be in the wizarding world. You could say June was kind of like her but was more in her own little world, always speaking in a way that sounded like a fairy tale story.

"Pleasant if I do say so myself. Trips here and there, and you wouldn't believe who I've met...Dragon Slash in person!" she said in her normal extravagant way.

"Are you kidding me? You've met Dragon Slash in person, that's amazing!" Ellie said excited. Dragon Slash was a wizards musical band that every teenage wizards knew about, a very popular band. The lead singer was named Slash so that's why the band was named Dragon Slash and every witches just fell in love with him. Slash was considered one the best looking wizards and at only 17 year of age.

"Yes, I know! Oh my god, he's just dreamy, he's so nice and everything. He was actually quite fond when I told him that I was going at Hogwarts and he told me that he always wanted to go to Hogwarts," June told both girls everything that had happened at the concert and her trips to France.

"The only place I've been this summer was Rome's ancient ruins with my parents, and frankly when it comes to trips with my mom, she gets way over her head with all the literature and studies," Kristen said rolling her eyes with a soft sigh.

"I heard that, and you shouldn't complain about the trips Kris" said a woman behind Kristen's back. Kristen turned around, her eyes going wide. Her mother was standing right in front of her, arms crossed, smiling at her daughter.

"I did honest" said Kristen with an innocent smile.

"Well you just keep that in mind missy" she answered. Hermione, Kristen's mom had became the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. She had wanted to teach Charms but got landed with DADA class instead. Even thought it wasn't her first choice she learned to love it as much as charms and was entering her 10th year of teaching that subject.

"Oh hello Elizabeth, how have you being?" she asked seeing her sister in-law's daughter. Ellie didn't really like when people used her full name but for her aunt it was a different story.

"Good thank you and hearing about your trips this summer I presume you had a good summer too," she said smartly. Her aunt nodded and made her way to the teachers table. Ellie turned and scanned the room around her, its largeness was indeed exquisite. Her eyes stopped at the teachers table; there, there was the usual professors and some new. The new Herbology teacher, Prof. Longbottom, Prof. Brown the new Divination teacher, of course Prof. Granger of the DADA and the Assistant Nurse Mme Patil. Her eyes fell on Professor Dumbledor, who didn't notice her and she continued her watch. She ended on one of the boys from the Slytherin house, Teran. He on the other hand did notice her and their eyes locked again. She just stared right at him and he did the same.

"I wonder if he has any intention of running into me soon"she thought as eyes never move. June realized this and turned around this see were she was looking. She turned herself back toward Ellie.

"I know, I hate them too, how could they be like that I mean I would of thought the down fall of the Dark Lord would have change their attitude but I guess not" she said to Ellie who took her eyes off Teran to meet June's.

"Oh....uh yes I agree" she lied. Well partly lied, in one way she lied about Teran been cruel but on the other she didn't exactly know how the other Slytherin's were and figured they were as bad as June said. The first years arrived shortly after and the old hat sang his usual songs.

I know I'm an old hat

but I'm very useful for you

here on this stool I sat

sorting people is what I do

don't be afraid of me

all I do is tell you were to go

in your souls I will see

which house you best show

to those who are brave

Griffindor is your place

if you are kind and behave

then Hufflepuff is you without a trace

if its power you seek

then Slytherin is for you

and the cleverest of whom I speak

then in Ravenclaw your off to

To all students here today

live in peace and harmony

it may not be easy to say

but the truth is that we're all a big family

The sorting hat finished his song followed by loud cheerful claps. This was probably the shortest song he had ever sang and it was probably one of the best considering it was short.

"Well that didn't take long" said Lee looking at his two other friends. They nodded in agreement and turned their faces back to the stool. The sorting ceremony was over and so was the wonderful feast and soon it was time to depart from the great hall. The trio climb the marble stair case and met on there way yet an other trio. Teran Malfoy, Pan Claston and Solia Phalls, three unbearable Slytherins, especially to the Griffindors.

"Watch where your going Potter, I don't need your disgusting self on me," said Solia. Solia was a selfish, arrogant girl who only cared for herself, and who desperately wanted Teran. Ellie couldn't say that she was ugly because she wasn't. By her side was Pan who was about the same except for the fact that he's well a guy and that he only followed Teran around because of his reputation and also that he didn't really have any other friends.

"Well I suggest that if for starters you're going to insult me at lease try to make sense and not talk like a stupid idiotic overgrown bat, that you are," said Ellie coldly. She saw the flustered expression on Solia's face and realized that Teran was trying to hold back from laughing and so did Dixon and Lee.

She tried to talk but nothing came out and Ellie was very satisfied by this. Solia turn on her heels and stormed away. The two others that remained were about to leave, Teran looked at Ellie before leaving himself. "He didn't bump into me, I wonder when its going to be?" she asked herself mentally. The trio continued their journey until they came face to face with the Fat Lady's portrait.

"Password" the lady asked. The two boys looked at Ellie waiting for her to tell it obviously none of them knew it. Ellie rolled her eyes and let out an annoyed sigh.

"Scarlet Pebble" she said lamely. The two boys entered the common room, following Ellie with bright smiles. She sat on the sofa with a huff and turned her attention to her two friends. "You know you guys, you do this every year, don't you ever know the password?" she asked sternly. They shook their heads.

"Only the first one" said Dixon who still held his smile. Ellie dropped her reply that was in her throat because she knew it was hopeless when it came to Dumb and Dumber. She laugh mentally.

"We know about that thing on th train with Malfoy,"he added. Ellie almost fell out of the sofa. She needed to speak, she didn't know what they knew and needed to say something if it had turned out the wrong way. But she couldn't muster a word. "Seemed to be pretty cozy with him," he ended. Lee just nodded and Ellie started coughing uncontrollably.

"From who have you heard...tell me!" she still had difficulty breathing but loosen up a bit. Dixon really didn't like the idea of Ellie getting 'cozy' with Malfoy. He knew he liked Ellie as a friend but was starting to get second thoughts on that, it seemed that his feelings towards her were increasing. Only he knew about this but it was visible, a little.

"I heard Kristen talking to herself" Lee said. The tension had been so intense between Ellie and Dixon that they had completely forgotten about Lee. His voice had made both jump so you can imagine how tense they were.

"ARG! Why can't she just keep something to herself "MENTALLY" without spreading it onto someone else and make wrongful thoughts...WHY!" she said now pacing between the two boys. She stopped in the middle and pointed at the two. "Before you get any bad ideas from this situation let me tell you that I didn't look cooozy with Malfoy. What really happened was that I was strangling him OK!," she returned to the sofa now lounging on it. The two boys that were speechless a moment ago now bursted with laughter.

"I know, I know Kristen reacted the same way but if you please, its not funny at all, seriously" she said not looking at either of them her arms behind her head looking at the ceiling. They stopped laughing or at lease they tried.

"There must be a reason why you strangled him or you just did it for fun...oh I wish I would've been there" said Dixon. For Ellie's part, she wouldn't have want them to be there. She remembered everything, the crying, physical damage...the long stares. Let's just say that if either or both would've been there they wouldn't have laugh.

"I'm going to tell you something but only this so don't push it. He talked about my father" she said her eyes a bit glassy. She got up, her head hanging down. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to bed" her voice sounded hurt and sorrowfully. She walked to her dormitory falling straight away on her bed. She cried herself to sleep, didn't even care that she still had her robe on.

Dixon and Lee were still in the common room looking at each other, they had noticed the state of her voice.

"She's not alright Lee and that's probably Malfoy's fault," he said to his friend.

"I know, I've never seen her in a state like this before, something must have turn a switch in her and make her realized that she couldn't keep every single emotion inside," Lee looked at his friend across from him after his statement. Dixon was nodding with a look of worry on his face. 'She's supposed to be the strong one here, the one that doesn't shed a tear, she's...hurt' Dixon thought. Both got up, none of them speaking and off in their dormitory. Morning came with streaks of sun rays on Ellie's face waking her up. It was still a bit early but she was awake and she knew she couldn't get back to sleep now. She looked around the room, all the other girls were sound asleep, she took advantage to use the bathroom and take a quick shower. After cleaning herself up, she walk slowly down the stairs and into the common room.

It was empty, she wondered how early she really was. There wasn't much to do especially when it was her first official day of school and she still didn't have her schedule so it was pointless starting homework when there wasn't any. She walked out of the Griffindor tower heading to the great hall. When she got there, there wasn't anybody, she sat at the table and a plate filled of food appeared in front of her. She ate quietly looking around just out of boredom, when Professor Dumbledor came towards her.

"Good morning Miss Potter, a early bird I see" he said with his usual twinkly eyes.

"Yes I'm quite early this morning, may I ask the time?" she asked him casually. He and Ellie had became very close, to her Dumbledor was like a grand-father since he was that close to Harry.

"There is still an hour and a half before classes starts but I am sure that your friends will be joining you momentarily," he answered happily. Her eyes showed many emotions and Dumbledor knew there was something wrong. "Is there something troubling you Elizabeth?" he asked cautiously.

"You could say. Its just I've never talked about my father and never really thought that much about him, just to ease to pain I guess...but now its all I think about" she admitted quietly. Dumbledor didn't speak. She lifted her head to meet his, her eyes had started to show tears. "Will he ever wake up? Is there a way, some kind of miracle?" she asked a few tears flowing down gently.

"I see. There are many ways and some are more satisfying then others. I would say that if you never give hope he will awake and yes there ways. Elizabeth, if you ever need help you know where to find me," he said not changing his facial expression. Ellie knew that Dumbledor was a very wise wizard and he always talk in such mystery, like you always had to figure out his sentences.

"Professor I do have hope but could you tell one of the ways" she asked feeling much better. She waited for him to respond and he just smile.

"I think that you already know Miss Potter and you know what I'm speaking of " he simply said. She indeed knew what he meant and he was probably right. She nodded smiling at him and he nodded to announce his bequeath. Ellie watched he walk away as a few students started to show up. A small group of Hufflepuff and two Ravenclaw boys. No Griffindor for the moment and Slytherin had three girls giggling about something. She started to get up from her seat to go look for her friends when they came in. ' Talk about perfect timing, ha!' she said to herself . Dixon and Lee sat across from her where her cousin and June where yesterday. This seemed odd, they never really sat across from usually, there must be something wrong.

"Hi Ellie how are you feeling this morning" Lee asked first. Since the night before, the two boys wanted to find out if she was indeed well. She looked well, now.

"Hello, I'm ok why do you ask?" she said smiling at the two who obviously wanted something from her.

"Aren't we aloud to ask you how you are, besides we were just concerned about you because of yesterday night" Dixon said looking at his plate.

"Well I'm fine, you don't need to worry about old me" she said playfully. There was something on her mind, not her father but what Dumbledor had said earlier. He believes in the pendant and she knew that he was speaking the truth when he said that this thing could help her father wake up. The only thing she needed to know was where it was and how she could get it. She needed to talk someone about this but who? She first thought of Dumbledor but she needed someone who already knew about it involving her father, everything. The last remaining person who knew was Teran, but a Slytherin would never help a Gryffindor and didn't know about his level of trust yet. There was Dixon and Lee but they didn't know a thing so it wasn't necessary involving them. There was only one answer and that was that she needed to talk to Teran soon but instead of him running into her she would be the one doing that.

Students roamed the great hall and finally they had gotten their schedules. Ellie looked at hers and was very disappointed to find out that she had potions first. She looked at her friends to find out what they had gotten and noticed they had the same.

"Potions first class, how wonderful" said Lee sarcastically. The other two just nodded. The only thing they hated about potion class was that it was with Slytherins and obviously because of Snape. They walk together to the dungeons and made there selves comfortable in there usual seats in the middle row.

(a/n..oooohhhh, Dixon is a bit "nosy" now is he?...well its rater obvious.)