Harry and Ron sat down at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione, who had her copy of Voyages with Vampires propped open against a milk jug. There was a slight stiffness in the way she said "Morning," which told Harry that she was still disapproving of the way they had arrived.
Draco had entered the Dining Hall with a brown haired girl. Draco had sat at the Sytherin's table while the girl went up to the teachers. She hugged Snape and he handed her something, she went down and sat next to Draco.
"who's that?" Harry asked
"Ella, she's Snape's daughter" Hermione answered
"oh so that's her" Ron said looking at the girl who was in Slytherin robes
"She's cute, for a Slytherin" Harry commented
"oh" Ron said smirking
"get that look off your face Ron, I didn't mean it like that. I meant cute because she's small" Harry explained truthfully
Harry had only just started his porridge when, sure enough, there was a rushing sound overhead and a hundred or so owls streamed in, circling the hall and dropping letters and packages into the chattering crowd. A big, lumpy package bounced off Neville's head and, a second later, something large and gray fell into Hermione's jug, spraying them all with milk and feathers.
"Errol!" said Ron, pulling the bedraggled owl out by the feet. Errol slumped, Unconscious, onto the table, his legs in the air and a damp red envelope in his beak.
"Oh, no -" Ron gasped.
"It's all right, he's still alive," said Hermione, prodding Errol gently with the tip of her finger.
"It's not that - it's that ."
Ron was pointing at the red envelope. It looked quite ordinary to Harry, but Ron and Neville were both looking at it as though they expected it to explode.
"What's the matter?" said Harry.
"She's - she's sent me a Howler," said Ron faintly.
"You'd better open it Weasly, before something bad happens" Ella said and Draco laughed a bit
"What's a Howler?" Harry asked
But Ron's whole attention was fixed on the letter, which had begun to smoke at the corners. Ron stretched out a shaking hand, eased the envelope from Errol's beak, and slit it open. Neville stuffed his fingers in his ears. A split second later; a roar of sound filled the huge hall, shaking dust from the ceiling.
"-STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE-"
Mrs. Weasleys yells, a hundred times louder than usual, made the plates and spoons rattle on the table, and echoed deafeningly off the stone walls. People throughout the hall were swiveling around to see who had received the Howler, and Ron sank so low in his chair that only his crimson forehead could be seen.
"-LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED-"
Harry had been wondering when his name was going to crop up. He tried very hard to look as though he couldn't hear the voice that was making his eardrums throb.
"-ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED - YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."
A ringing silence fell. The red envelope, which had dropped from Ron's hand, burst into flames and curled into ashes. Harry and Ron sat stunned, as though a tidal wave had just passed over them. A few people laughed, mostly Slytherins.
Hermione closed Voyages with Vampires and looked down at the top of Ron's head.
"Well, I don't know what you expected, Ron, but you-"
"Don't tell me I deserved it," snapped Ron.
Harry pushed his porridge away. His insides were burning with guilt. Mr. Weasley was facing an inquiry at work. After all Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had done for him over the summer...
"of course you deserved it Weasley, what kind of child steals their parents car. If you missed the train you should've just told your parents and had them drive you, honestly how stupid are you" Ella said
Ron looked down, he and Harry couldn't say anything back. She was mean, but she was also right. They could've just told Mrs. Weasley they missed it, but instead they just took the car, they were so stupid. Professor McGonagall was moving along the Gryffindor table, handing out course schedules. Harry took his and saw that they had double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs first.
~Time Skip~
"Brilliant Ella, I've never seen Weasley speechless before" Draco praised
"please I'm sure you have. Besides I was right, so they couldn't say anything back" Ella said simply
"First period was boring" Draco said
"What class was it?" Ella asked
"you were in it stupid" Draco said
"i fell asleep" Ella laughed
"you idiot" Draco said hitting her head lightly
"sorry sorry" Ella laughed
~Time Skip~
Harry was relieved to hear the lunch bell. His brain felt like a wrung sponge. Everyone filed out of the classroom except him and Ron, who was whacking his wand furiously on the desk.
"Stupid - useless - thing-"
"Write home for another one," Harry suggested as the wand let off a volley of bangs like a firecracker.
"Oh, yeah, and get another Howler back," said Ron, stuffing the now hissing wand into his bag. " It's your own fault your wand got snapped -'"
They went down to lunch, where Ron's mood was not improved by Hermione's showing them the handful of perfect coat buttons she had produced in Transfiguration.
"What've we got this afternoon?" said Harry, hastily changing the subject.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Hermione at once.
"Why , "demanded Ron, seizing her schedule, "have you outlined all Lockhart's lessons in little hearts?"
Hermione snatched the schedule back, blushing furiously.
They finished lunch and went outside into the overcast courtyard. Hermione sat down on a stone step and buried her nose in Voyages with Vampires again. Harry and Ron stood talking about Quidditch for several minutes before Harry became aware that he was being closely watched. Looking up, he saw the very small, mousy-haired boy.
~Time Skip~
"I'm going outside Draco, i'll see you next period" Ella said standing up
"You didn't even eat" Draco said
"bye bye" Ella said rushing out the door
"That idiot, she's so energetic and carefree" Draco sighed
~Time Skip~
Hermione looked over as soon as she saw a figure sit next to her. She gasped a bit and closed her book. Hermione looked at the boys then said amazed "your Ella Potter"
"the one and only" Ella said stupidly
"your a bit weird" Hermione said
"so i've been told" Ella said swinging her legs back and forth
"your a Slytherin, why are you talking to me?" Hermione asked curiously
"Well I may seem mean, but that's only for my reputation, I don't mind having friends from other houses" Ella admitted
"well how about me, can we be friends?" Hermione asked
"only if you don't mind me mocking you in public" Ella said a bit sad
"deal" Hermione said
"really?" Ella asked
"I understand, with a parent like Snape your expected to act a certain way, I get it. You want to make your dad proud" Hermione said, even though Hermione knew Snape wasn't Ella's real dad
"yay" Ella cheered stupidly
"your funny" Hermione laughed
Colin Creevy wanted signed photos of Harry. Hermione spotted Draco and tapped Ella. She smiled to Hermione then quickly went over to Draco. Draco overheard Colin and he mouthed 'watch this' to Ella.
"Signed photos? You're giving out signed photos , Potter?
Loud and scathing, Draco Malfoy's voice echoed around the courtyard. He had stopped right behind Colin, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him and Ella by his side. Ella looked at Draco confused, what was he talking about.
"Everyone line up!" Malfoy roared to the crowd. "Harry Potter's giving out signed photos!" Ella gasped at the name.
"No, I'm not," said Harry angrily, his fists clenching. "Shut up, Malfoy."
"You're just jealous," piped up Colin, whose entire body was about as thick as Crabbe's neck.
"Jealous?" said Malfoy, who didn't need to shout anymore: half the courtyard was listening in. "Of what? I don't want a foul scar right across my head, thanks. I don't think getting your head cut open makes you that special, myself."
Crabbe and Goyle were sniggering stupidly.
"Eat slugs, Malfoy," said Ron angrily. Crabbe stopped laughing and started rubbing his knuckles in a menacing way.
"Be careful, Weasley," sneered Malfoy. "You don't want to start any trouble or your Mommy'll have to come and take you away from school." He put on a shrill, piercing voice. " If you put another toe out of line-"
A knot of Slytherin fifth-years nearby laughed loudly at this.
"Weasley would like a signed photo, Potter," smirked Malfoy. "It'd be worth more than his family's whole house-"
Ron whipped out his Spellotaped wand, but Hermione shut Voyages with Vampires with a snap and whispered, "Look out!"
"What's all this, what's all this?" Gilderoy Lockhart was striding toward them, his turquoise robes swirling behind him. "Who's giving out signed photos?"
Harry started to speak but he was cut short as Lockhart flung an arm around his shoulders and thundered jovially, "Shouldn't have asked! We meet again, Harry!"
Pinned to Lockhart's side and burning with humiliation, Harry saw Malfoy slide smirking back into the crowd pulling that girl Ella with him.
"Come on then, Mr. Creevey," said Lockhart, beaming at Colin. "A double portrait, can't do better than that, and we'll both sign it for you."
Colin fumbled for his camera and took the picture as the bell rang behind them, signaling the start of afternoon classes.
"Off you go, move along there," Lockhart called to the crowd, and he set off back to the castle with Harry, who was wishing he knew a good Vanishing Spell, still clasped to his side.
~Time Skip~
"Draco" Ella said, Draco ignored her
"Draco" Ella called again, Draco knew it was a bad idea to say his last name
"Draco Lucious Malfoy" Ella said pulling her hand away
"yes Ella" Draco sighed turning to face her, he couldn't hide it forever
"that was..." Ella trailed off
"your brother" Draco finished for her sadly
"why didn't you tell me that you knew my brother?" Ella asked choking back tears
"I was afraid!" Draco shouted
"Afraid of what!" Ella shouted back
"of loosing my friend" Draco said quietly
"what made you think that you'd loose me?" Ella asked softly
"I thought that once you knew your brother, you would spend more time with him and his stupid friends!" Draco shouted
"Draco" Ella said sadly
"Can't I be selfish! I don't want you to give anyone else attention but me!" Draco shouted
"I want you all to myself" Draco finished softly
"oh Draco, I'm going to want to know my brother, but that doesn't mean that i'm going to stop being your friend. Nobody else jokes around with me like you do, nobody teases me or tells me when I'm stupid like you do. Draco your my best friend and nothing on this earth will change that" Ella said hugging him, Draco hugged her back and whipped a tear from his eye
"this is so uncool of me" Draco said
"It's ok, nobody's watching" Ella said softly
~Time Skip~
Ella and Draco walked into class a bit late but Lockhart didn't seem to notice. When the whole class was seated, Lockhart cleared his throat loudly and silence fell. He reached forward, picked up Neville Longbottom's copy of Travels with Trolls , and held it up to show his own, winking portrait on the front.
"Me," he said, pointing at it and winking as well. "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award but I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!"
He waited for them to laugh; a few people smiled weakly.
"I see you've all bought a complete set of my books - well done. I thought we'd start today with a little quiz. Nothing to worry about - just to check how well you've read them, how much you've taken in-"
When he had handed out the test papers he returned to the front of the class and said, "You have thirty minutes - start - now!"
"What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?" Ella whispered
"What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?" Draco whispered
Draco and Ella looked at each other and whispered together "rubbish"
Half an hour later, Lockhart collected the papers and rifled through them in front of the class. He was rambling about how people barely remembered anything about him. Of course nobody did, it was stupid. This guy is so full of himself.
"... but Miss Hermione Granger knew my secret ambition is to rid the world of evil and market my own range of hair-care potions - good girl! In fact" - he flipped her paper over - "full marks! Where is Miss Hermione Granger?"
Hermione raised a trembling hand.
"Excellent!" beamed Lockhart. "Quite excellent! Take ten points for Gryffindor! And so - to business-"
He bent down behind his desk and lifted a large, covered cage onto it.
"Now - be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm."
In spite of himself, Harry leaned around his pile of books for a better look at the cage. Lockhart placed a hand on the cover. Dean and Seamus had stopped laughing now. Neville was cowering in his front row seat.
"I must ask you not to scream," said Lockhart in a low voice. "It might provoke them."
As the whole class held its breath, Lockhart whipped off the cover.
"Yes," he said dramatically. "Freshly caught Cornish pixies."
"oh no, Pixies, their wings can poke your eye out" Ella said sarcastically, both Gryfindor's and Slytherin's laughed
"they are very dangerous Ms... um" Lockhart looked at his sheet then gave up.
"Right, then," Lockhart said loudly. "Let's see what you all make of them!" And he opened the cage.
It was pandemonium. The pixies shot in every direction like rockets. Two of them seized Neville by the ears and lifted him into the air. Several shot straight through the window, showering the back row with broken glass. The rest proceeded to wreck the classroom more effectively than a rampaging rhino.
They grabbed ink bottles and sprayed the class with them, shredded books and papers, tore pictures from the walls, up-ended the waste basket, grabbed bags and books and threw them out of the smashed window; within minutes, half the class was sheltering under desks. Ella was laughing at their chaos.
"Come on now - round them up, round them up, they're only pixies," Lockhart shouted.
He rolled up his sleeves, brandished his wand, and bellowed, " Peskipiksi Pesternomi! "
It had absolutely no effect; one of the pixies seized his wand and threw it out of the window, too. Lockhart gulped and dived under his own desk.
"Professor your pathetic" Ella said
The bell rang and there was a mad rush toward the exit. In the relative calm that followed, Lockhart straightened up, caught sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who were almost at the door, and said, "Well, I'll ask you three to just nip the rest of them back into their cage." He swept past them
"Your a whimp Professor" Ella comented from out the door
"like you could do any better" Lockhart said
"I can" Ella said walking into the classroom
"Can you believe him?" roared Ron as one of the remaining pixies bit him painfully on the ear.
"He just wants to give us some hands-on experience," said Hermione, immobilizing two pixies at once with a clever Freezing Charm and stuffing them back into their cage.
"Hands on ? "said Harry, who was trying to grab a pixie dancing out of reach with its tongue out. "Hermione, he didn't have a clue what he was doing-"
"Rubbish," said Hermione. "You've read his books - look at all those amazing things he's done"
"He says he's done," Ron muttered.
"It's not that hard" Ella rolled her eyes
"Like you could do better Slytherin" Harry said rudely
"Actually, I can" Ella said
"go ahead, show us" Ron said smugly
Ella smirked, she raised her wand and shouted "Immobulus!"
All pixies froze in place, Ron and Harry stared in shock. Ella smirked and blew at the tip of her wand "bye Hermione, bye boys" She said as she walked out the door.
"ok... so maybe she can do better"