Chapter 13: The School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry
"Fudge didn't seem too happy." Ron commented once the stone gargoyle re-concealed the moving staircase.
"Well, Dumbledore is breaking several laws." Hermione said.
"You're not actually taking Fudge's side are you?" Harry incredulously asked Hermione.
"Well ... umm ..." She hesitated.
"Hermione, he was going to obliviate our memories!" Ron stressed.
"I know, but ... she still doesn't belong here." Hermione said apprehensively.
The corridor became silent except for the echoing sounds of their footsteps. Ellie remained quiet. She was overjoyed to be staying at Hogwarts for the weekend, but she wasn't too thrilled about sharing a room with someone who didn't even want her around.
"Why do you suppose Fudge needed help from Dumbledore this time?" Hermione asked, trying to restart the conversation, but Harry and Ron continued to give her the silent treatment. Finally, after climbing five flights of stairs, they stopped in front of a large portrait of a fat lady in a frilly pink dress.
"Password?" The fat lady asked.
"Fidus Achates." Harry answered, and the portrait swung forward.
There was a large round hole in the wall behind the portrait, which lead to a comfortable looking round room with a few wooden tables and several squashy armchairs. There was a small dull fire in the stone fireplace that looked like it would go out at any moment. Ellie had expected to see more students in the common room, but it was empty. Harry and Ron plopped themselves on to the very warn out couch that sat in front of the fireplace, and stared into the dying embers.
"Come on Ellie, I'll show you to the dormitory." Hermione said bitterly, staring at the back of the heads of Ron and Harry.
Ellie followed Hermione up a long spiraled staircase that lead to a moderate sized circular room. There were three four-poster beds with deep scarlet satin curtains hanging from them, and one trundle bed with a black robe resting on it.
"That would be your bed." Hermione said pointing to at the trundle bed.
Suddenly something brushed up against Ellie's leg. She looked down and saw an orange cat with a bottle brush tail, looking up at her with interest.
"That's my cat Crookshanks." Hermione told Ellie.
"He's very beautiful." Ellie commented.
Hermione sat down on the bed that was closest to the trundle bed, and Crookshanks immediately leaped into her lap. Ellie made her way over to her own bed, placed her bag of candies next to it, and picked up the black robe with curiosity. The robe was very plain except for a crest on the left breast that had a raven, a lion, a badger, and a snake on it.
"Is this for me?" Ellie asked.
"I guess." Hermione said indifferently, only taking a quick glance at the robe in Ellie's hand. "It's similar to our uniform robes, but we have a Gryffindor crest on ours. Dumbledore probably just wants you to blend in."
Hermione began to scratch Crookshanks behind the ear.
"Have I done something to offend you?" Ellie blurted out.
"No." Hermione simply replied.
"Have I said anything?"
Hermione just shook her head.
"Then why are you so disappointed that I'll be staying at Hogwarts for a couple of days?" Ellie asked impatiently. If she was going to be sharing a room with Hermione, Ellie at least wanted to know the reason why she disliked her so much.
Hermione finally looked at Ellie and let out a sigh.
"It's not you." She said earnestly.
Ellie remained silent, waiting for Hermione to elaborate more on her answer.
"Hogwarts isn't safe for someone like you."
"Someone like me?" Ellie asked, not sure where Hermione was going with this.
"There are people in this school who think that muggles are worthless and inferior, and I'm worried that they might do horrible things to you."
"What? You mean like bullying?" Ellie asked.
"You don't understand." Hermione said more seriously. She let out another deep sigh.
"Hogwarts is divided up into four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each house values different characteristics in students. Slytherin house is full of students who come from long lines of wizards and witches, and call themselves 'purebloods'. There is one Slytherin by the name of Draco Malfoy who has picked on me non-stop because both my parents are muggles. And even though I can do magic, and get higher marks than all the Slytherins put together, they still see me as a filthy muggle." Hermione paused and stroked Crookshanks a few times. "I don't mind the bullying, because I know I can defend myself. You, on the other hand, have no magic abilities and would be totally defenseless. That's why I didn't want you to stick around." She finished.
Ellie took a moment to think about what Hermione had just said.
"Then you just have to not tell anyone that I'm a muggle." Ellie replied.
Hermione shook her head.
"That won't work. Rumors spread fast in Hogwarts. Once people start noticing a new face in the school, which they will, it won't take long for the truth to come out."
"It sounds a lot like Pileforth." Ellie commented.
There was another silent pause.
"Well, if anyone asks just tell them that I'm an adolescent vampire looking for a mate, and that Luna girl will even back you up." Ellie smirked.
This suggestion caused Hermione to burst out into laughter, and for the first time Ellie was happy to be sharing a room with her.
Ellie spent the next half hour answering Hermione's questions about the school she never went to; Pileforth Academy.
"You two look friendlier." Harry commented, seeing the two girls smiling as they came down the stairs.
"We were going to check to see if you had murdered each other, but we're not trustworthy enough to go up the stairs." Ron said with a bitter tone.
"I'm sorry how I acted earlier." Hermione apologized to Harry and Ron. "I was too worried about Ellie's safety when Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins discover she's a muggle."
"I didn't even think of that!" Ron exclaimed slapping his forehead.
"Neither did I." Harry groaned. "Ellie, I think it would be in your best interest if you stay with at least on of us at all times, just incase."
"Sure. I don't want to be the cause of any trouble."
"Oh, don't worry about that. Trouble seems to follow us everywhere, like this one time-"
"By the way," Harry interrupted Ron, giving him another stern glare, "apparently there is going to be a feast tonight instead of a regular dinner. McGonagall posted a note on the notice board while you two were upstairs."
"Yeah, it mentioned something about it being for an unexpected guest." Ron added.
"Why doesn't he just put a big neon sign outside telling everyone that there is a muggle staying here?" Hermione furiously said after reading the memo.
"Hermione, I don't think Dumbledore means any harm, besides everyone is going to find out eventually." Ron said.
"Yeah, but the later they find out, the less time the Slytherins will have to attack Ellie." Hermione said heatedly.
"We'll worry about that problem when it comes." Harry said. "Right now we only have two hours before the feast, which doesn't give us much time to show Ellie the castle."
"Why don't we start with the upper floors and work our way down?" Hermione suggested.
Everyone agreed, and soon they were heading out the portrait door.