Disclaimer: TheHarry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Seventeen: Back to Class

Ellie was able to return to her common room that evening. When she walked through the portrait hole Jamie rushed at her and engulfed her in a big bear hug.

"I'm so glad you're okay"!" he said, squeezing her. After he released her Ellie found herself being hugged by the other Gryffindor first year girls, one after the other. It left her feeling quite breathless. The first year boys crowded around her, asking her if she felt okay. Chris hung back however, feeling guilty. Ellie noticed him, and pushed past the crowd that encircled her and approached Chris.

Chris looked at her nervously, shuffling his feet and rubbing one elbow with his other arm. He swallowed, and tried to speak.

"I er... I…" he began, his face red. Ellie took pity on him. She didn't blame him for the accident, and quickly put his mind at ease.

"It's okay," she told him. "I heard it was a wicked spell. Too bad it didn't hit Devin," she said grinning.

Chris grinned back, relieved that Ellie wasn't angry with him.

"I had no idea it would be so strong. My brother told me it just threw people back a few feet. I thought it would be funny to use on Farley any time he came near a Gryffindor."

"That's a good plan," she said, her eyes twinkling, and the others laughed.

"McGonagall didn't think it was though. She'd go mad if we tried to use the spell now," Chris said, a twinge of regret in his voice.

"You should have seen Snape," Helen suddenly said. Ellie turned to face her, curious.

"Why?" Ellie asked.

"He stormed through everyone to get to you, shoving them away. He looked really worried. He must have thought you were really hurt," she said.

"We all did really," Amy added.

"I've never seen Snape look worried before. I guess it proves he is Human after all," Helen said.

"So he's not a vampire then?" Ellie asked, smiling.

"Well, probably not," Helen admitted.

"I wonder will Snape be nicer to you now that you've had a near death experience?" mused Thomas.

Ellie thought about it for a moment.

"Nah," she said finally. "He'll probably be annoyed it was only a near death experience!"

Ellie spent most of the weekend in the Gryffindor tower, catching up on the work she had missed. Jamie stayed with her, trying to help her, although she was the one who ended up helping him with most of the homework they had been set in their classes that week.

When Ellie went back to class on Monday, she ran into Devin. He glared at her, but said nothing. Ellie noticed that in general the Slytherins were keeping to themselves and not trying to annoy the Gryffindors the way they usually did. Ellie didn't have Potions that day, and she avoided looking in Snape's direction at mealtimes in case she caught his eye. She cringed every time she thought about Snape carrying her. She could imagine him sneering at her the next time he saw her, and she wanted to put off that moment for as long as possible. Helen's comment that he had appeared worried about her had startled her for a moment, but then Dumbledore's comment about him helping any injured student came back to her, putting her at ease.

She was unable to avoid Snape forever unfortunately. The next day her first class was Potions with Snape. She and Jamie got there early and took their usual seat near the front. The rest of the class filtered in around them. She noticed Devin giving her and Jamie a nasty look but she ignored him.

The door was flung open and Snape stormed in and up to the front of the class. He began bellowing out the instructions for the potion they would be mixing that day. He did not look at Ellie at all while he spoke, much to her relief.

A while later and as usual, Ellie had brewed her potion without any trouble. She was quite proud of her effort in fact, and watched her potion bubbling with a smile on her face. Snape, who had been walking about the class to inspect their efforts, came to a stop in front of her. She expected him to offer her some praise for her work, but instead he gave her cold stare and said, "Passable, I suppose," with a look of distain on his face. As he moved off Ellie scoffed indignantly to herself and couldn't help sticking out her tongue at his back. She felt better for a second, but then Snape said casually, "Five points from Gryffindor Miss Winterbourne," and continued walking.

How did he know! Did he have eyes in the back of his head or something?

She was glad when class was over. Before she left Snape gave her another cold glare. She complained to Jamie as she left the class.

"Honestly, there's something creepy about that guy. How can he know about things happening behind his back?" she wondered, feeling angry with herself for losing Gryffindor points.

"Don't waste your time worrying about him. He's a prat anyway. It was obvious your potion was the best in the class," Jamie said, consoling her.

"Yeah, you're right. He is a stupid prat," Ellie said.

"Ten points from Gryffindor Miss Winterbourne," a familiar voice said coolly, and Snape glided past them. Ellie glared after him, feeling the urge to suddenly hit something.

"Ten points from Gryffindor Miss Winterbourne," Ellie mimicked in a silly voice when she and Jamie were in the common room later. Jamie laughed.

"I suppose I did deserve it," Ellie admitted, "But the way he says it. He takes such pleasure in it. Ugh!" she continued.

"Plus he's really unfair in class. Did you hear him telling Devin how good his potion was? Bah!" Jamie muttered.

"Maybe it makes him feel important," Ellie said.

Jamie seemed struck by this idea.

"Maybe he's jealous?"

"Jealous of what?" Ellie asked, confused.

"Of you! Of your fantastic potion-making skills!" Jamie said, grinning.

Ellie scoffed at this.

"No, I think he's just an idiot Jamie," Ellie said, smiling.

Jamie laughed.

"Yeah, that's true."

"Besides, Snape was probably top of his class in Potions when he went here. He seems like the type," Elle admitted.

"I wonder what he was like when he went here?" Jamie wondered aloud.

"Why don't you ask him?" Ellie said, grinning. They both looked at each other and laughed.

"Yeah, that would go down really well!" Jamie replied.

"It is strange though, thinking of Snape at school, knowing he was in my mum's year. I don't know whether I'm disappointed or relieved that he didn't know her that well," Ellie said. Jamie looked at her, his eyebrows raised.

"Disappointed he can't tell me anything about her, but relieved my mum had better taste than to hang out with someone like him," she clarified. Jamie nodded.

"You know, it's a pity you don't know any of your mum's old school friends," Jamie said casually. Ellie looked at him for a moment, a suddenly idea forming in her head. She jumped up and smacked Jamie on the back.

"Jamie, you're a genius!" she cried.

"Um, thanks…?" said Jamie, confused.

"Don't you see?" Ellie asked, her eyes shining.

"Not really, no," Jamie admitted.

"I can ask Professor McGonagall, or maybe Dumbledore, if they can put me in touch with some of my mum's old friends! Then maybe… oh maybe Jamie, they'll be able to tell me who my dad is!" Ellie said, her hands shaking with excitement.

"That's a brilliant plan!" Jamie said, jumping up from his seat.

"I'm gonna go and see McGonagall right now!" Ellie declared, rushing towards the portrait hole.

"Hey, wait for me!" Jamie called, running after her.

Ellie raced threw the corridors in her haste to talk to Professor McGonagall. Jamie panted as he tried to keep up with her. When Ellie tore around a corner however, she came to an abrupt stop as she bumped into a tall figure dressed in black. Gulping, she looked up and saw Snape's cold eyes glaring down at her.

"Oh, er, sorry Professor; didn't see you there" she said and tried to lighten the situation with an awkward laugh. Snape continued to glower at her, causing her laugh to trail off. Before Snape could speak, Jamie came hurtling around the corner and crashed into Ellie. Ellie, who was not as solid as Snape, was propelled forwards into Snape. Instinctively, Snape held out his arms and caught her, and then ripped his hands away from her immediately, as if she repulsed him.

He gave them both piercing glares, which caused them both to recoil with discomfort.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, each," he said slowly.

"And if I catch either of you running through the school like this again, it will be twenty points," he added with a sneer.

"Yes sir," they replied meekly together. He gave them both one last glare and then left.

They both looked after him for a moment.

"Well, all things considered, it could have been worse," Jamie offered, shrugging his shoulders. Ellie laughed in spite of herself.

"True," she chuckled.

They continued on their way to Professor McGonagall's office, this time walking rather than running. When they got there Ellie rapped smartly on the door, and a voice from the other side called out, "Come in!" Taking a deep breath, Ellie opened the door and stepped inside. Jamie followed her and pushed the door closed behind him.

"Mr. Logan, Miss Winterbourne. What can I do for you?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking up at them from her desk.

"I was wondering, Professor, if you would be able to help me get in touch with some of my mum's old school friends?" Ellie asked.

Professor McGonagall seemed surprised by this request.

"I see," she said slowly. She paused a moment, and then added, "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you Professor!" Ellie said, delighted. She grinned at Jamie, who grinned back.

"Now is that all?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Yes, that's it," Ellie replied.

"Alright. You had better get back to your common room. I'll let you know what I can find," Professor McGonagall said to Ellie.

When Ellie walked out of Professor McGonagall's office, she felt like squealing, she was so excited.

"This could be it Jamie!" she said, rubbing her hands together.

"Hold on, don't get your hopes up just yet. Wait and see what McGonagall says," Jamie warned her.

Professor McGonagall thought about it, and after a while remembered that Claudia's best friend had been another Gryffindor girl by the name of Amelia Ryan. She remembered that Amelia had moved to Australia after leaving Hogwarts. After some searching, Professor McGonagall found an address for Amelia's family. She wrote them an owl asking for Amelia's address and sent it off.

A few days later, she got a reply from Amelia's mother, with the last known address for Amelia. Professor McGonagall wrote another owl, this time explaining to Amelia that Ellie would like to get in touch with her. Professor McGonagall had decided it would be best for her to make contact with Amelia herself first, in case Amelia did not want to talk to Ellie.

Ellie had been waiting impatiently for days to hear something from Professor McGonagall. After every Transfiguration class, she would ask Professor McGonagall if she had any news, and each time she was disappointed when Professor McGonagall shook her head.

"I'm beginning to think I'll never hear anything," Ellie told Jamie glumly. "Each time I think I'm close it doesn't work out, like with the diary and with Snape. I'm beginning to wonder if my mother actually existed," she continued, sighing.

"You just have to give Professor McGonagall time Ellie. She'll find out something for you," Jamie told her.

"I hope so," Ellie muttered to herself. "I hope so."