Some people are so poor,
all they have is money
Saturday, September 4th, 1971
Hogwarts, Gryffindor Tower, Gryffindor First Year Girls' Dormitory
Dear Mother and Father,
The first days of school have passed by very speedily. I already learned a lot of things I am proud of sharing with you once I come home for Christmas. I miss you both terribly.
I am not proud of another thing. Unfortunately, the first day of school I received detention. There was a boy talking ill of you both and I threatened him with my wand. It happened in the Great Hall and Professor McGonagall gave me a week detention because of it.
I am not sorry for defending you, I am just sorry that I did it so brutally and openly.
I might have acted a little too brusquely.
I apologize and it will not happen again.
Loving you always and forever,
Your daughter
Eleonore Darensbourg
Monday, September 6th, 1971
Freefolk House, Laverstoke Lane 58, Hampshire, Great Britain
Dear Eleonore,
We are both disappointed in you. A Darensbourg doesn't act so straightforwardly, we hold our head up high and don't lower ourselves to such low-stung levels.
We see where you are coming from but we wish you would have at least acted a little more Slytherin about it. I guess the Sorting Hat was right after all, you truly are a little lioness.
We do hope you enjoyed your first week none the less. Minnie misses you and baked some of your favourite chocolate chip cookies. I hope Archimedes won't eat them through the trip. Enjoy!
If you are still in detention, tell Minerva (that is still Professor McGonagall to you) hi.
Be safe, we love you and are still very much proud of our beautiful daughter.
Love always,
Mother and Father
Wednesday, September 8th, 1971
Hogwarts, Gryffindor Tower, Gryffindor Common Room
Ellie sighed, staring at her History Of Magic parchment. Today had been their first Wednesday, which unfortunately meant the very first lesson of Professor Bins. He didn't really introduced the class to the subject, just asked to take out their books and started rambling about The Gargoyle Strike of 1911 already. Resulting in one hour of every single person in class, except Lily and Remus, to doze off. Even Ellie didn't have the patience for the man to listen which actually surprised everybody.
She had just gotten back from her last detention and she was knackered. She wanted to get to finish the History Of Magic assignment as soon as possible because she really didn't feel like doing it this weekend.
Dipping her feather into some ink, she continued writing about the wildcat. It was absolutely ridiculous how much she needed to know about this event that once happened in 1911. It was more than fifty years ago, why couldn't the man speak of more interesting things?
She sighed once again, ignoring the cramps in her right hand when she heard some noise coming from the stairway leading to the dormitory rooms. Her eyebrows lifted when she saw Remus coming down. "Can't sleep?" Ellie questioned. She was the only one left in the common room, which was lightened by the fireplace.
The boy looked a little surprised when he saw Eleonore sitting in a single sofa with her knees up high, supporting he could only assume, homework. "Just a little restless, that's all." Remus nervously spoke, making his way towards the sofa next to her. "History Of Magic?"
Ellie nodded her head. She wanted to tell him that she couldn't do the assignment in Professor McGonagall's detention because she still had to finish the Charms paper for tomorrow in there. "Unfortunately yes. Are you feeling well?" The black haired girl stared at the boy next to her. He looked even worse than last week, the bags underneath his eyes were growing every day and he looked pale, almost to the point of being sick. "I'm concerned."
"I just- I haven't been sleeping well these days." Remus nervously spoke, noticing the edge of worry on his classmates face.
Remembering the way Professor McGonagall told her about Remus needing a friend, Ellie offered him one of the cookies her parents had sent her. "Do you want a chocolate cookie? They're homemade. They always make me feel better." Ellie smiled, she watched how he seemed to lighten up by the offer and handed him one.
Remus took a bite and immediately groaned, "These are really good."
"I know, right?" Ellie smiled, taking one for herself.
"Thanks by the way. I've never asked how things were going in detention." He almost felt sort of bad. A week had passed and he did spent a lot of time with James, Sirius and Peter. It's not that he ignored Ellie, he always said good morning and they exchanged a couple of sentences throughout the week but he never really asked her how she was. Ellie hung out most of the time with Lily and there was always a space in between the two groups. Remembering how she was actually the first student talking to him, he felt sort of bad. His train ride to Hogwarts was spent alone, nobody seemed to have the patience to speak to him. It was on the boat ride that Ellie immediately turned her attention towards him.
He should have spent more time with her instead of Sirius. It wasn't fair that there were already sides: the boys versus the girls. Sirius had never apologized to Ellie about the way he spoke of her parents. Remus thought that at least he should have, since Ellie was the one paying the price, but Sirius banally ignored what had happened.
"Detentions were fine. I'm just glad they're over and I can focus on other things." Ellie smiled, scribbling her initials on the parchment and letting it dry.
"Are you still mad at Sirius?" Remus almost didn't dare to ask but he could see Ellie slightly rolling her eyes at him.
"I'm not mad any more no. I just decided he's not worth my time, Remus." The girl shrugged at him, rolling the parchment in front of her. "I don't need a friend like him. I've got plenty of good friends, like Lily, Alice, Christina, Peter and you. He's just another annoying classmate, that's all."
"I'm your friend?" Remus smiled, looking at her. He had heard a couple of stories around Hogwarts. How wealthy her parents were, how she carried the last of the Darensbourg name, how pure she was (that he heard from a Slytherin in Poisons along with the fact on how disappointed they were that she was a Gryffindor). He couldn't really see how she could consider him as a friend… Then again, Ellie didn't know of his… Condition.
Remus swallowed away the edge of fear, she would never know. She would never accept him if she did, no he had to make sure certain things were kept a secret. "Of course you are Remus, you're my friend. You have been nothing but kind to me." She smiled and in the light of the fireplace, he could see her eyes shining. He couldn't help but think how beautiful her eyes were. The kind of green you'd only see on a meadow on a hot summer day. His had always been darker green, like a forest at sunset.
A small blush entered his cheeks and Remus was instantly glad on how dark the room was. "You should really get some sleep, Remus. You don't look well. I'm concerned about you." Ellie spoke, lifting herself off the couch and straightening her skirt. "Here, take the rest of these. You can use them more than I can." She smiled when she offered him the rest of her cookies.
"Ellie, it's fine. Your parents baked these for you, not for me." He looked at her offering hand, those cookies did look really good. It took him everything to actually decline them.
"Look, if I can always ask more when I write my parents, it's no trouble." She placed the remaining four cookies on the little coffee table next to him. "You know if you don't take those, the elves will clean them up anyways and throw them in the garbage. It would be a waste, really." She grinned at him, shrugging her shoulders, knowing all too well what she was doing. "Goodnight Remus. I do hope you sleep well."
"Go-goodnight, Ellie. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Ellie nodded and turned around on her feet, leaving Remus and the cookies alone. His eyes shifted towards the chocolate. It took him ten seconds to wrap his hands around them and shove another one in his mouth. She really did have some Slytherin in her blood.
Monday, November 29th, 1971
Hogwarts, Training Grounds
September and November had passed quite rapidly and Ellie was glad that she didn't receive any more detentions. The first weeks at Hogwarts, Ellie did have some homesick feelings but now getting along quite well with the girls, she did really feel as if Hogwarts was her second home. Her parents had sent her a couple of letters over the months, updating on the events at home. They apparently got together again with the Potters.
Ellie could only imagine the main subjects over dinner; James and her. She hadn't really spoken of James towards her parents and she honestly wasn't sure if James had of her. It's not that they were best friends, Lily didn't seem to like the boy whatsoever and tried to ignore him as best as possible. Ellie didn't seem to have any trouble with that since wherever James was, Sirius was as well.
Evenings were spent doing homework and playing Wizard Chess in front of the fireplace and on Thursdays, the girls would go to bed early and talk through the night. Most subjects were their favourite music, their parents and siblings and even the professors at Hogwarts.
On November 29th, the girls made their way towards the training grounds. "I don't really see why this is a necessary subject for our first year, honestly." Lily spoke, walking next to Lily and Christina.
"It's because you suck at flying, Lils." Christina spoke, giggling a little.
By now, Ellie knew what Lily's nervous face looked like. She had seen it the very first flying lesson. Ellie knew her ginger friend wasn't a big fan of heights. It was actually the first class she wasn't good at. "I don't suck at flying." Lily answered a little offended.
"Tina is right, Lily. You suck at flying." Ellie giggled, agreeing with Christina.
"I'm just… Not very fond of heights, plus the brooms are really poor quality." Lily huffed. They approached the group along with the Slytherins and waited for Madam Hooch. The young fly instructor marched over the field with her wand raised high, levitating all the brooms at once towards the children.
Ellie stood awkwardly with crossed arms next to Lily and Christina and watched the teacher. "Today we will form two groups. I want the best flyers on one side, the less better flyers on the other. This is not to brag, this is just to better your education." Madam Hooch spoke. "This is an introduction to Quidditch."
Since they already had quite a few lessons, Eleonore had a good view on who the better flyers were and wasn't surprised when Madam Hooch called each name. "The first group, who don't need a lot of guidance is James Potter." Ellie watched as the boy with the glasses smirked and stepped aside. She rolled her eyes when Sirius Black's name was called. "Sirius Black, Eleonore Darensbourg." For once she wanted to be a crap flyer. "Christina Lienhart, Alixana Rosier, Evazif Avery, Severus Snape and Walden McNair. Those eight can step aside. You are the first group."
Ellie immediately stepped closer to Christina, wrapping her arm around hers. "The rest of you are group number two. This lesson you shall work within your group." Ellie couldn't help but feel the stares of the Slytherins. "We will practice an easier form of quidditch today. Each group gets half of a field. You shall stay on your field. Group one will play with a bludger this time." Ellie's eyes widened at the thought. "Group two will still only play with a quaffle. Every pick a broom and divide your own group in two. "
Ellie felt Christina wrap her hand around her wrist and dragged her closer towards James and Sirius. "There is no way I'm playing with the Slytherins." She mumbled in Ellie's ear when she groaned in reply.
"They're not that bad, if you would just give them a chance." Ellie replied, smiling at Severus, Lily's friend.
Lily had introduced Severus to Ellie two weeks ago and she had nothing against the boy. He seemed a little shy but he hadn't done anything wrong to Ellie. She would have preferred Severus Snape over Sirius Black any day.
"Not happening." Christina spoke, finally standing still next to James. She turned her blonde head towards him. "Hi."
Ellie just stood there with her arms crossed, ignoring both their conversations. She listened as Madam Hooch continued her speech. "Group 1: pick one beater in each team." She watched how James immediately turned towards Sirius. "Then pick a keeper, the other two remaining will be chasers. The keeper will only have one ring to protect. The one on the left is for the Gryffindor team, the other one for the Slytherin team." James immediately took control, his competitive side already showing. "No harm, Tina, but Ellie is a better flyer. I think you should be the keeper. "
"That's fine. I know Ellie's better than me." Christina shrugged, holding on to her broomstick and eyeing the Slytherins.
Ellie didn't really pay attention but watched how the Slytherins were already huddling up and talking strategies. It was absolutely ridiculous, this was supposed to be a friendly match. Hell, it wasn't even a match, this was a practice. "Darensbourg, are you with me?" She heard James speak, interrupting her thoughts.
"What? Yes?"
"Okay, so Sirius will mainly cover you. I'm quite fast, I don't think I need much protection from the bludger, I've had plenty of practice at home." James spoke with confidence.
"Wait, what?" Ellie spoke a little confused.
"Ellie are you even listening?" Christina questioned. "There's a bludger in this game, you need to pay attention, you could be really harmed if you don't."
"Guys, this is just practice. This isn't even a real match. I think you are really blowing this out of proportion." The black haired girl spoke, not really believing that Madam Hooch could even come up with this idea.
"Darensbourg, just at least listen." Sirius spoke for the first time. "See those two." He pointed at Rosier and Avery. "I know their families. They're not nice. If they see an opportunity to cause harm, they will take it. Believe me, you need to pay attention."
"Alixana was nice on the train, right?" Ellie shrugged, looking at Christina for back up. The blonde just raised her eyebrows at Ellie. "Well, you know in her own way."
"She was nice because she thought you were going to end up in Slytherin. She was nice to me on the train also, then she tried to hex me when I got lost in the hallways." Sirius spoke.
"Why should I even listen to you?" Ellie squinted her eyes at the boy.
"Because Darensbourg, for once I am actually on your team. The next forty minutes, I am on your side, believe it or not and you better get over it." Sirius spoke in challenge, crossing his arms and stepping closer towards Ellie.
"Guys, this is really not the time to fight." James spoke, stepping in between the two classmates.
"EVERYBODY ON YOUR BROOMS." Ellie heard Madam Hooch yell. She immediately threw her leg over the stick, ignoring Sirius his glare. "UP IN THE AIR NOW." She pushed herself off the ground and flew towards the rings. The wind blowing her long hair back. She watched how Christina's blonde head passed her and finally floated in front of the left ring.
Ellie made eyecontact with James who flew eighty feet away from her. She watched how the Slytherins took their positions, Severus was the keeper. Judging by the bat in his hand, Avery was the beater. Ellie couldn't help but nervously grip her broom. "BALLS IN THREE, TWO, ONE." She heard Madam Hooch whistle and watched how the bludger immediately flew towards James. He hurriedly flew away from it, catching the quaffle.
Ellie moved along with James on the other side and watched how he threw the ball at her. She immediately caught it and dove underneath Alixana, who was on her side. Trying to press her upper body against the broomstick, she made more speed. The goal came closer and she finally threw the quaffle straight at it. She could hear some cheering as Severus missed the defense, scoring them points.
"Lucky shot, Darensbourg." Alixana yelled at Ellie. "You won't be that fortunate next time."
"Shut up, Rosier." James yelled back in defense. "It's not Ellie's fault you suck at Quidditch."
Eleonore ignored the two and flew back towards her position. She watched how Severus threw out the ball into McNair's hands. She immediately flew towards his side, trying to grab it. McNair reacted by flying sideway, pushing into her body roughly. She bit her teeth, gripping her broom even harder and pushed back.
She didn't notice the bludger coming closer until Sirius was by her side, knocking it away harshly just two feet away from her. Group two wasn't even playing their game anymore, they were just watching group one. Lily was floating in the air, concern taking over her features. She screamed when McNair nearly pushed Ellie off her broom.
Ellie watched how McNair tried to score but Christina held back the quaffle. "Good job, Tina!" She yelled, smirking at McNair who was by now looking at Ellie with glaring eyes.
The game wasn't played fairly, not even by the Gryffindors, who actually won. Ellie was surprised that Madam Hooch didn't stop it when James forcefully pulled the quaffle out of Alixana's hands, resulting in Rosier beating the bludger towards James intentionally. Luckily Sirius was around to stop the damn ball and even Ellie thanked her lucky stars.
Trying to still her concerned, beating heart, Ellie realized she might have cared more about James Potter than she thought.
Tuesday December 14th, 1971
Hogwarts, First Floor, Transfiguration Classroom
When Lily and Ellie entered the Transfiguration classroom, they were already quite late. They staircases didn't really work along when they came from History of Magic, causing the girls to be the last to enter the classroom. Ellie's eyes immediately scanned the room, noticing there were two open seats left. One next to Remus and the other one next to Alice. She turned towards Lily, "I'm going to Remus, if you don't mind. It's been a while since I've sat with him."
Lily nodded her head, she knew Ellie and Remus had been getting along quite well lately. "Alright."
"I'll wait after class." Ellie eagerly made her way towards the seat, ignoring the many eyes following her.
When she finally sat next to Remus, she noticed the two seats behind them occupied by James and Sirius. "Hi." She whispered, smiling towards Remus and Peter.
She immediately noticed Remus smiling back at her, "Staircases didn't work along?"
"No." She whispered, holding back a smile and grabbing her books. "Thank god, the professor's not here yet." Ellie felt that she should have said it later, because as soon as the words came out of her mouth a familiar cat strolled towards the front of the room. She jumped on top of the teacher's desk and stared at the classroom.
Everybody immediately shushed and turned their attention towards the animal. Even though Professor McGonagall was in her animagus form, the tabby cat seemed to have the whole class in the palm of her hand. Or paw, in better words. The cat jumped off the desk and Ellie hopped a little bit, still not used to the form shaping. Remus chuckled by his neighbours' reaction and turned his attention back to the front.
"Good afternoon. Take your 'A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration' book and turn to page 204, we are continuing where we left. We discussed the transformation formula yesterday, which is that the intended transformation is directly influenced by bodyweight." Professor McGonagall pointed towards the black board with her wand and the words immediately scribbled down. "Viciousness, wand power, concentration, and a fifth unknown variable. Today we will try this formula once again with mice."
Ellie watched how she levitated a transparent box and placed it on to her desk. "I want everyone to come and grab a mouse but before you do that, I want you to make the formula so we will know how much power it takes from your wand to transfigure it."
Remus and Ellie immediately took out some blank parchments and continued to listen to the professor. "An average mouse weighs 0.03 to 0.05 pounds. They are about 169 millimeters or a little over 6.5 inches in length. You all know your wand power, since we calculated this individually yesterday. With this information you should be able to form to formula. You have fifteen minutes."
Ellie immediately scribbled down the data. She turned towards Remus, "We have to multiply the scale of viciousness with the weight first right? How much do you score?"
"I'm thinking 0.521." Remus whispered, pushing his head closer to Ellie.
"Okay." She whispered back, scribbling down the scale. "So 0.521 multiplying with 0.05 is 0.02605. 169 square is…"
"28561." Remus answered, scribbling the result on his parchment.
"I didn't say this was a group project, Miss Darensbourg and Mister Lupin. You work alone." Professor McGonagall spoke, eyeing the two children.
Ellie bit her lip and turned her attention back towards her paper. The only thing she had to do is multiply 28561 with 0.02605. The result was 744.014. That was it. She placed her pencil down and stared at the blackboard. Ellie noticed that Remus was finished as well and they locked eyes. "Seven four four?" She questioned, mouthing the letters. He subtly nodded his head at her, holding back a grin. "Okay."
She noticed that once again Professor McGonagall did see their interaction but didn't comment on it. Ellie watched out of the corner of her eye how Peter was still struggling. She decided to explain it to him tonight. "Pencils down. Anyone wants to tell me what they have?" She looked over her glasses into the classroom. "Yes, Miss Henderson?"
"I have 743, professor." Alice spoke from a couple of seats behind Ellie.
"It's not bad, but not perfect. Your snuffbox would still have a small tale if you transfigure it with that number. The answer should be 744." Professor McGonagall answered, pointing her wand towards the board. The number came on it. "What did you have mister Pettigrew?"
Ellie heard Peter stammer next to Remus, she felt really bad for him. Why did the professor felt the need to put him on the spot? He was aalready nervous mess as it was. "212.02." He replied in a small voice.
"You would have killed your mouse with that number, Mister Pettigrew. I advise you to practice the formula tonight until you actually have a hang on it before doing transfigurations on animals." Ellie noticed Peter swallowing deeply and nodding his head.
Ellie leaned her head closer to Peter, hanging over Remus his desk and whispered, "I'll help you tonight, Petey." She wrapped her small hand around his as he nodded thankfully at her, a small blush upon his cheeks. "You'll get a hang of it in no time."
Ellie turned her attention back towards the Professor. "Everybody come and grab your mouse. First row first." Ellie immediately stood up and walked towards the front of the classroom, Remus behind her tale. "Are you scared of mice?" She grinned behind her, teasing Remus.
"No." He grinned back at her. "I want the black one." He spoke pointing towards one particular mouse.
"I'll just have the friendliest one." Ellie turned towards the Professor who levitated a random mouse in her hand. The animal seemed used to the attention and didn't try to run. Carefully holding on to it, she marched back towards her desk. Remembering how she managed to grab some sandwiches along from lunch, she took them out of her bag and fed the mouse some pieces. The animal seemed content on the desk.
"If everybody would stop treating the animals as beloved pets, that would be a great start." Professor McGonagall spoke, eyeing Ellie in particular. She immediately blushed in return and placed the remaining sandwiches back in her bag. "The spell to change your mouse into a snuffbox is Snuffligo, the counterspell is Snufflifors. Remember those two." The Professor pointed her wand back towards the blackboard where both spells now were written in big, bold letters. "Everybody knows the formula is 744, I think everybody can go ahead and do it. Be gentle for your mouse."
Ellie sighed and stared at the white mouse in front of her. It was now innocently playing with Remus his black one. "Want to go first?" She questioned turning towards Remus. "I feel bad for breaking them up."
"Ladies first." He managed to smile, grabbing Ellie's mouse and separating the couple.
"Okay." She let out a big breath and held up her wand, pointing at the white animal. "Snuffligo!" She spoke in one clear word. The mouse immediately turned into a snufflebox.
"Good job, Miss Darensbourg! Good job!" Professor McGonagall spoke with a smile on her face. "Mister Lupin, go ahead."
Ellie watched how Remus nervously grabbed his wand and pointed towards his own black mouse. "Snuffligo!" The mouse immediately turned into a black snufflebox.
"It seems as if you have a fondness of the colour black, mister Lupin." Professor McGonagall spoke with a smile. "The snufflebox should be golden though, you're not far off. Try again." Ellie watched how Remus focused once again and this time around, the box did turn up perfect. "Perfect! Five points for Gryffindor!"
Both of the children grinned at one each other when the Professor moved along in the classroom the examine the rest of the mice. "That went well." Ellie grinned, turning towards Remus.
"Yeah, I get nervous when she's watching though." Remus replied.
"Atleast not as bad as Peter." Ellie spoke, feeling a little bad for her friend. His snufflebox had whiskers and a tail. "I'm going to help him tonight." She spoke with confident.
"You're a good friend." Remus smiled at her.
"He deserves it." Ellie shrugged, "Are you going home for Christmas?"
He nodded his head, "Yes, I will miss this place though. Are you?"
"Of course. I honestly can't wait until I see my parents. I've actually missed them quite a lot." Ellie sighed, pushing her snufflebox aside and leaning her elbow onto the desk. "I can't believe we're half past our first year. Time went by so fast."
"It did." Remus nodded.
"Do you want me to bring along some of those chocolate chip cookies Minnie makes when I get back?" Ellie almost laughed when she saw the sparkle in his eye.
"You don't have to, really."
"It's not a problem, Remus. I know Minnie will love the fact that you adore them. She'll probably bake a whole stash just for you. She loves pampering people, especially my friends." Ellie replied.
"Well then, I can't really say no."
"You better not." Ellie smiled, returning her attention towards the snufflebox. She raised her wand and spoke in clear words, "Snufflifors!" The snufflebox immediately turned back into a mouse. She scratched its head and watched how it comfortably fell asleep. "I like this guy."
Remus shook his head at her and chuckled, "I can tell."
Tuesday December 14th, 1971
Hogwarts, Gryffindor Tower, Gryffindor Common Room
"Look Peter, you first need to scale the viciousness of the object or animal. Today it was the mouse, they're less vicious than rats. Do you remember what the scale was?" Ellie questioned, staring at her chubby friend. They were sitting next to each other on one of the sofa's in front on the fireplace.
Peter honestly didn't remember the scale whatsoever. His thoughts seemed to be preoccupied by his friend sitting next to him. She was so nice and patient with him. He shook his head as Ellie sighed, scribbling 0.521 on to the paper. "The scale Remus and I used was 0.521. It's a scale from zero to ten and you always use three digits."
"Ellie, it's useless trying to explain it to Peter. I've tried to do it over and over again, he's just not that… Bright." James spoke, receiving an agreeing laughter from Sirius.
"Shut up, Potter. Peter isn't useless. It just takes some people more time than others. He'll get a hang of it." She turned towards him with a smile. "Don't listen to them. So if Professor McGonagall would have used a rat would the scale be lower or higher?" Ellie questioned, looking at Peter with hopeful eyes.
"… Higher?" He answered, not confident at all.
"Yes! Exactly! Because rats are more viscous." Ellie grinned, "Good!"
Peter seemed proud of himself as he stared a little too long sideways at Ellie when she scribbled another thing down. "So we have the scale which is 0.521. That's always the first thing you do. Then we multiply that number with the weight of our objects, which in this case was 0.05 pounds. You always count pounds, that's very important. So we have 0.02605. We need to remember this number." Ellie spoke, turning towards Peter once again. "Are you with me?"
She watched how he nodded his head eagerly at her, staring at the paper laying on her skirt covered legs. "Now we go to part two of the formula. We need to take the square from the length and that's ALWAYS in millimeters. The mouse was 169 millimeters from head to tail. So 169 square is 28561." She watched how Peter nodded his head once again. "So now we have two numbers, 0.02605 and 28561. All we need to do is multiply these two and we have the result; 744.01405 is 744."
"Okay, I think I actually understood it this time." Peter spoke, grinning at Ellie. "Thank you so much."
"For Merlin's sake, I think Peter finally understood it." Sirius spoke, shockingly grabbing his heart over his robes.
Ellie rolled her eyes at the boy. "Shut up Sirius, Peter can do a lot of things if he wants to. He just has to put his heart into it, isn't it right Petey?"
The chubby boy innocently blushed at his friend, nodding his head. "I-I just need more time than others, that's all."
"Of course and there's nothing wrong with that." Ellie smiled. "If you need any more help, you can always come to me."
"Hey Darensbourg, there's actually something I can't really seem to comprehend in Charms, would you actually mind giving me some extra classes as well?" Sirius spoke, a grin on his face.
"Ask Potter." Ellie snapped, giving the parchment back to Peter. "Sleeptight, Petey."
"Goodnight, Ellie." The boy inoffensively replied, a small blush on top of his cheeks.
"GOODNIGHT DARENSBOURG." Ellie heard Sirius shout at her. She didn't reply but just rolled her eyes at him. If Remus were to still be in the common room, she would have acknowledged him but he was nowhere to be seen. The boy seemed to have a knack of disappearing.
"GOODNIGHT ELLIE." She knew the last voice was James Potter. "COULD YOU TELL LILY GOODNIGHT AS WELL?"
Author's note: We're moving on, aren't we? Peter and Ellie's friendship is good (unfortunately). Ellie's getting closer to Remus and James & Sirius, well -sigh-, they're James and Sirius. I hope you can do tell that J & S mean no harm to Ellie from the Quidditch part. I hope you will start seeing the protectiveness forming already. I think that's a really important part of the start of their friendship. Tell me what you think. Remember they're still eleven but well, I had a crush on a classmate when I was eleven so I can't see why it can't happen to them. It's all very innocent though. It will not form into more until AT LEAST third year.