Author's Notes: Woo, I got a review in one area I posted the story, and that's good enough. I didn't expect any, as chapter one...well, it's really badly written, and I'll have to get around to rewriting it. Anyway, here goes chapter two, which I'm going to spend more time on, I think, so that it's more enjoyable to everyone who reads it.

Chapter Two: Writing, Quidditch, and Mystery

September the Second, 1996

Looking at the clock, it's nearing eight. Blaise is a heavy, late sleeper. He won't be up for a while yet. No matter, it allows me time to write. And write I shall.

Last night's welcoming feast was, well, one of the few that I haven't spent depressed, wallowing in self-loathing thoughts. Ever since Mum died, well, everything has been off-colour, so to speak. I suppose you could say Blaise is my rock. We've known each other since we were two. He knows almost everything about me. He knows I don't sleep well. He knows my hair isn't naturally straight. In fact, he knows something that no one else here at Hogwarts does. He knows that my Mum was a Muggle.

I guess now I owe more of an explanation. My Mum died when I was in my second year here at Hogwarts. Dad was devastated. He doesn't like me coming home during the holidays anymore, because I look too much like her. He didn't want me to figure that out, but I did. He doesn't know I have, though. Blaise knows. She died in a Death Eater attack while she was visiting some Muggle friends of hers. She didn't suffer. They used the Killing Curse. But her death accounts for most of my hating Death Eaters.

Only Dad's closest friends knew she was a Muggle. He didn't tell anyone else. Everyone else was told she'd had an accident when she was younger and hadn't been able to use magic since. He was surprised when I ended up in Slytherin. He shouldn't have been surprised. After all, he'd been in Slytherin. I suppose he thought my mother's influence would prevent it.

His surprise at my being in Slytherin was nothing compared to my surprise at Blaise ending up there. I thought he was meant to be in Ravenclaw, or maybe even Hufflepuff. I'm lucky that he isn't. I honestly don't know what I'd do without him. We're that close. And he knows exactly how to cheer me up. Although he's yet to tell me how he ended up in Slytherin. Maybe he doesn't know, but I suspect he does.

And then there's Draco. I met the Malfoy boy at the end of last school year. It's amazing how fast Blaise, Draco, and I have become so close. Draco seems to just fit right in with Blaise and I. The two boys contrast each other so well, and somehow still manage to get along. We all spent the summer at Zambini Manor. Draco to escape his irate mother, (his father is currently in Azkaban, and she's furious about it), and I because I simply wasn't wanted at home. Blaise's parents are really great, allowing me to stay there over the summer holiday. I've spent my summer holidays there since second year.

Don't get me wrong, my father still loves me. He sends me letters. He says he wants to see me. I used to believe that. But one too many poor excuses for his absence over the holidays made me realize I was wrong, and he was lying. Maybe I'm even in denial about him loving me. Maybe he just says that. But I think he's just really grieving. He really loved Mum. And it tears him up that she's gone.

So Blaise is really good for me. And good for Draco. He just has this way of cheering people up. That's why Draco dumped his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. He didn't need to act tough, because he was no longer bitter. He has friends now. I think that's why he was tough before, anyway. His bitterness at not being liked by anyone, and then Potter having great friends, well, it made him jealous to say the least. All he had were followers. His 'fan club.' They've dispersed now that he's deflated his ego, his temper, gotten rid of Crabbe and Goyle. Well, Pansy still hangs about, and none of us are sure why. Draco wasn't ever particularly nice to her. She talks, all the time, and hangs on Draco like a wet cloth. I think Draco may put up with it because it reminds him of what and who he used to be. It's amazing that he changed so much over the summer.

"Ell!" someone from downstairs yelled. She looked at the clock- it was eight-thirty in the morning. She put down her self-inking quill and locked and set aside her diary before heading downstairs to meet the voice, who she was certain had come from Blaise.

"You're certainly up early, Blaise," Ella said, wondering why. Blaise never woke before ten.

"Malfoy woke me," he mumbled. "Stupid prat wouldn't let me bloody well sleep."

Ella put a sympathetic look on her face, but it was evident by the twinkling in her eyes that she was amused.

"Yes, well, I may have woken you up, but I'll have you know it was no easy task." Draco turned to Ella. "I had to pour water over his head just to get him to open his eyes," he said.

"You didn't have to. You could've nudged me or something," Blaise said crossly with a pout.

"That would've been a lot less entertaining. You should've seen the look on his face, Ella."

Ella laughed. "I'm sure it was a sight to see indeed. Now are we going to stand around here and bicker the day away or play some Quidditch first?"

"Food first," Blaise said. "I may be up early but you will not take away my breakfast." Ella smiled. Blaise had one of the biggest appetites she'd ever seen.

The morning (before Quidditch, anyway) would've gone without incident had it not been for a certain event that took place before they had reached the Great Hall. Ella noticed a certain redhead snogging a certain Muggle-born witch senseless in one of the hallways leading to the Great Hall. She had hoped that Draco would fail to notice them, but her hoping had been in vain.

"Well, well, well," Draco said as Ron and Hermione flew apart, blushing. "If it isn't Weasel and the Mudblood. Tell me, Weasley, is she the only-" Draco had stopped in the middle of his sentence because of a warning look from Ella. This look he was getting clearly stated, "Keep going, ego-boy, because I'd love to hit you in the face right now."

Draco had cleared his throat. "Well, carry on then," he had said, with what looked like a massive amount of effort on his part. Blaise smirked and Ella rolled her eyes. She gave the Gryffindors, still in too much shock at having been caught to say anything, a small apologetic smile before turning and following Blaise and Draco to the Great Hall, where they had an uneventful breakfast.

As Draco, Blaise, and Ella pulled out their brooms, a Nimbus 2001, a Nimbus 2000, and a Firebolt consecutively, the three friends realized something. Quidditch was out of the question. They couldn't even form even teams. Instead, they threw a Quaffle around for a couple hours, flying and chatting all at the same time.

"So, Draco," Blaise said conversationally, tossing the Quaffle to him. "Fancy anyone this year?"

"Not anyone in particular," he replied, tossing the Quaffle to Ella. "What about you Ella?"

"I've got you two," she joked, "What do I need to fancy someone for?" She tossed the Quaffle to Blaise and did a little flip on her broom. "Besides, I need to devote my energy to Quidditch and schoolwork." She rolled her eyes. "How about you, Blaise. Have you a little crush on any lucky lady?"

Blaise chuckled. "Maybe," he said mysteriously. "Maybe not." He grinned. "Who knows?"

Ella scowled. "That's not fair, Draco and I answered truthfully. You have to."

"I wasn't aware we were playing Truth or Dare," Blaise countered.

"I thought that was a Muggle game," Ella replied.

"You're right. It is a Muggle game, but the Wizarding world has adopted it and made it it's own. We've developed ways of telling whether one is truthful or not, and the dares are binding. So the risks are higher. And you know that because we've played before." Blaise gave Ella a lopsided grin.

Ella rolled her eyes fondly, but grinned all the same. A serious expression came over her face. "But really, do you fancy anyone here at Hogwarts?"

Blaise grinned mischievously and shrugged.

"Arg! You're so aggravating," Ella said.

"But you love me anyway," Blaise stated.

"I swear," Draco pointed out as they continued to toss the Quaffle around, "that your friendship is a lot like flirting."

"We're just really close," Blaise said. Ella nodded in agreement.

Draco looked at them disbelievingly. "Whatever," he said, deciding not to push the matter- for now, at least.

Half an hour later, the trio traipsed back to the Slytherin common room, sweaty, but cheerful. Ella was determined to get an answer out of Blaise as to who, if anyone, he fancied. She just didn't know how to go about it.

The three cleaned up and then spent the rest of the day either wandering around the halls or sitting in the common room and talking. If in the common room they played exploding snap, or in Draco and Blaise's case, chess. They ate dinner and soon after Draco announced that he had a Prefects' meeting to attend. Blaise and Ella walked back to the common room without Draco in companionable silence.

As they reached the wall of the dungeon to which the password must be said, Blaise broke the silence and said, "You know Ella, in answer to your question from earlier, about whether or not a fancied any girls at Hogwarts...yes, I do."

Ella grinned. "Hah. Who is it?"

Blaise smirked and shrugged, then said the password and entered the common room. Ella followed.

She stuck her tongue out at Blaise. "Fine then, don't tell me. Leave me wondering who my very best friend fancies. Because he won't tell me. I tell him everything, but can I expect the same back? Nooo," she said, dragging out the 'no.'

Blaise chuckled. "I'll tell you eventually," he said. "Just not yet."

Ella playfully hit Blaise in the back of the head. He was about to retaliate, probably by tickling her, (she was extremely ticklish), but at that moment an owl entered the common room through the wall entrance and landed on a chair in front of Ella. She recognized the owl as her father's owl, Sophocles.

Ella untied the letter from Sophocles' leg and the owl took off. Wordlessly, she walked over to and sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace, then proceeded to open the letter. She began to read:

Dear Ell,

I hope you got to Hogwarts alright. I'm sure you did.

Anyway, I've written to let you know I've met someone. Her name is Cassandra Clintone. She's a pureblood witch. We met in the graveyard where your mother was buried. She's lost her husband. We had tea, and we've been seeing each other ever since. I know I haven't written to you since last year, but I thought you should know this.

Sincerely,

Your father

Ella sat, stunned. Had she read that right? Her father had met someone? And was seeing her? As in dating? That couldn't be right. Her father was still grieving the loss of her mother. That's why Ella thought he didn't like being around her...

"Ella," Blaise asked tentatively. She dazedly handed him the letter and he began to read it.

If her father wasn't avoiding her because he was grieving over the loss of her mother, who Ella looked just like, then why was he avoiding her? Did he not love her? Did he ever love her mother? It hadn't even been four years since the attack. How could he just pick up and move on like that?

Ella felt a tear course down her cheek and wiped furiously at it.

"Ella... Ella, I'm sorry," Blaise said, sitting down next to her.

"I thought he was upset... He met her in the graveyard, Blaise. They're seeing each other. Does he even care she's dead? If-if he wasn't depressed about losing my mother, if he moved on then why didn't he even bother writing to me? Does he even care?" Ella felt more tears pricking her eyes. "How could he?" she asked furiously. "He betrayed Mum. I thought he loved her. I thought he loved me. He hasn't written to me for over a year, Blaise. It's not fair!"

Ella's tears spilled over and Blaise pulled her over and hugged her. "Shh, Ell," he said soothingly, stroking her hair in what he hoped was a comforting manner. She was quickly calmed down, and with a sniffle she gently pushed Blaise away and stood up. She wiped her eyes. "I need to go for a walk. I have to be alone. Have to think. G'night, Blaise. Thanks."

Ella walked out of the common room and made her way down the hall, planning to take a walk around the lake. She heard something that made her stop in her tracks.

"Yes, I assure you, no one suspects me. They think I'm in a Prefect meeting," said a voice. It sounded a lot like Draco...

"Good. Now I've got to be going," said an male voice which seemed to squeak. It was definitely a man's voice, however.

A moment later Draco turned a corner and was walking toward Ella. He hadn't noticed her. Ella made a small cough and Draco looked up. "Oh, hullo, Ell." He noticed she looked upset. "Are you alright?"

"Who were you talking to?" Ella asked.

"Theodore," Draco said.

"It didn't sound like Theodore," Ella pointed out.

"He's got a cold," Draco replied, shrugging.

Ella clearly didn't believe him, but she let it go. 'Who was he talking to?' she wondered. She soon remembered the letter from her father, however, and the mystery of who Draco was speaking with was forgotten as she walked through the Slytherin hallway to her dormitory, not even noticing Blaise or Draco, each who tried to talk to her before she entered the girls' hallway and her room, falling asleep as soon as she lay down.

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Author's Notes: I must say, I like this chapter a lot better than the first. Reviews would be nice. Thanks.