Chapter 3

Goodbyes and Gryffindors

From their position on the upper balcony-like walkway, Draco and Ella could see that the crowd of witches that blocked most of the doorway, was the tail end of a long line of mostly females that led through the shelves to a large table in the middle of the shop. The table was covered with books that all had the same beaming blonde wizard on the front of them. There was a short bearded wizard taking pictures of the real life blonde who stood waving at the thronging crowd, with his arm tightly clasping the shoulders of a frail black haired boy. It was hard to see who it was from their bird's eye view of the scene, but it seemed that the boy had glasses on and was being held against his will by the blonde man.

"That'll be Lockhart then." Draco was saying pointing to the captor in the lavender robes, who had begun to address the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The goggling gals hushed instantly. "I was going to wait until later to announce this, but upon seeing Harry Potter in line for a signed copy of my autobiography, Magical Me," he paused to smile with the book next to his face, "I decided to let the cat out of the bag and inform you all that I've agreed to take up the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year!"

There was a number of squeals and up roaring applause from his adoring audience. Lockhart raised his hands for silence and continued, "And as Harry here is going o be a student of mine and is also such a big fan, he is going to receive the full collection of my works, free of charge!" More clapping and flashes from the camera as Gilderoy Lockhart handed a pile of books to, Ursella now knew was, Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.

"That's him?" asked Ursella, her stomach filling with a hot rage as she glared down at him.

"Yes, unfortunately," Draco seethed. They watched Potter be released from Lockhart's grasp and struggle with his stack of books over to a red-headed middle aged witch, surrounded by a gaggle of freckled teens. "Ah, and the Weasleys. And Granger. Merlin's beard, are those her parents? They sure will let just anyone in here. I can't believe—"

Ursella rolled her eyes and began to wander back toward the front door. She didn't disagree with Draco's ideals, it just got old listening to the same rants over and over and over. "All. Right. Draco. I got it. They're blood traitors, and Mudbloods, and Muggles, and they dress funny or whatever else you find wrong with them. Must you always go on and on about them?"

"I'm just making it clear…" He stopped in his tracks and started rummaging through his cloak. "I nearly forgot. We need to find a place for this." He pulled out what looked like a beat up old leather journal.

"What kind of place? Who wants us to hide it?" Ursella sighed with her hands on her hips. Draco always exaggerates the importance of even the simplest tasks.

"So many questions." Draco elbowed past her and began eyeing the cramped shelves for an inconspicuous gap to shove the journal into. "Father wants it to be in a place where it can be sure to make it to Hogwarts. But not with us."

Ursella stopped listening as she had already found the answer. Potter had made his way to the front of the store and was talking with a taller red haired boy and a mousy girl with big front teeth. And behind Potter, next to her second hand cauldron, full of second hand books was another small red headed girl. She looked wide eyed and helpless and no one else seemed to be paying too much attention to her. Perfect. Ursella snatched the book from Draco and scurried down the stairs to lean against the railing, strategically placing herself several steps above the girl. She took a deep breath, and then noisily cleared her throat.

"Hi, are you going to be a first year, too?" Ursella asked in her friendliest voice. When the girl nodded shyly she continued, "Wicked. I'm Ursella, but everyone calls me Ella." She reached over the railing to shake the girl's hand.

"I'm Ginevra, technically. But everyone calls me Ginny." She'd lost nearly all of the shyness in her demeanor now, warming up to Ursella and her big green, innocent eyes.

"Oh, no way! You too? What is with those old fashioned names anyway?"

"Tell me about it." The pair laughed briefly and luckily Ursella didn't have to think of something else to say as Draco had joined the party, right on schedule.

"So, Potter," Her cousin snarled as he descended the stairs to land himself in front of the trio of Gryffindors. "Can't even go into a bookstore without making the front page?"

"Shove it, Malfoy," Potter retorted.

"Care to make me?" Draco stepped forward to look down his nose at Potter. But Ginny darted between them, glaring daggers at Draco. Ursella used this moment to silently drop the mystery book in the poor girl's cauldron, as Draco continued the taunting. "Hoo-hoo! What's this Potter? Got yourself a girlfriend?"

"That's enough, Malfoy," the mousy girl stepped up this time, but Ursella was more concerned with what appeared to be the rest of the Weasley boys pulling out their wands.

"How dare you speak to me like that, Granger!" Draco spat. Ursella darted down the stairs to stand next to her cousin.

"Alright, that's enough boys." She spoke coolly but kept her eyes locked in threat mode. "We don't want a scene here, do we?" She held her hand out toward the armed enemies, poised to expel whatever she could at them when a drawlingly familiar voice sounded from behind her.

"Now, Ursella. We are playing nice, aren't we?" Uncle Lucius rested his cane on her shoulder, applying enough pressure to let her know that a demonstration of her power was not what they wanted.

"Of course, Uncle," Ursella smiled and stood up straight between him and Draco.

"Good." He turned to Potter and the Weasleys. "Ah, Mr. Potter, I presume. Scar and all?" Draco sniggered and Ursella shot him a smile quickly. "And let me guess, red hair, freckles, second hand clothes. You all must be the Weasleys."

"Can I help you, Malfoy?" A middle age wizard had come over with a very unmagical looking couple in tow.

"Ah hello Arthur." Uncle Lucius smiled unconvincingly. "I was just meeting some of Draco's…classmates, and of course introducing my niece, Ursella Lestrange."

"That would be me." Ursella raised a hand and winked right at Ginny. Granger and the Weasleys had adopted a look of shock and mild horror. Potter on the other hand just looked annoyed and confused. Ursella stuck out her hand for him to shake. "Pleasure to finally meet you, Harry. Draco has told me all about you." Ursella gushed with her mask of friendly eagerness. Potter reluctantly took her hand.

"I bet he has." He glanced at her cousin before giving her a twitching grimace of a smile.

"Speaking of making friends," Uncle Lucius interjected with mock interest. "It looks like you've made a few friends of your own, Arthur." He gestured to the Muggle couple that had to be Granger's parents. Luckily they weren't paying attention to the conversation but that wasn't going to stop Uncle Lucius from getting his digs in. "Associating with Muggles in public? As if you and your family weren't enough of an embarrassment already."

The words had barely left Uncle Lucius's mouth when Arthur Weasley lunged at him, sending them both into a full case of books and knocking it down. Draco had to yank Ursella away from Mr. Weasley's mad attack and then again had to shove her into Ginny when the Weasley that must have been Ron jumped on him. Both pairs of brawlers had become instantly lost in the growing sea of books and shelves. The store owner came over screaming for them to stop. Uncle Lucius tackled Mr. Weasley into yet another shelving unit and it too began to teeter and fall; in the direction of where Ursella and her peers stood. She knew Ginny's cauldron would be crushed under the weight and it would seem odd for her to save it, unless…She quickly snatched the cauldron of books in one hand and the arm of Ginny Weasley in the other a she dragged them both out the door of the shop and into safety.

Out in the Alley, more patrons were standing around, having escaped the tumult inside. Ursella handed Ginny her cauldron then re-entered the shop. Lucky for her, Draco and Ron weren't buried too deeply into the pile. Taking a quick breath, she shoved at the books to make a clear path to her cousin. Draco was less throwing punches than just trying not to get hit. He already had a split lip and had only managed to rip a sleeve a little on his opponent.

Ursella sighed at the barbaric stupidity of boys. She stepped forward and jerked Draco out of Ron's grasp, sending her cousin off balance onto the floor behind her. Ron made to lunge at him again but Ursella swiftly held up her right hand and jettisoned the energy that had been building inside her since seeing Harry Potter, right into Ron's torso.

With a bang, he was flung into more books that collapsed to bury him in dusty tomes.

"Get up," she scolded Draco as she hauled him to his feet and shoved him out the door.

"I could've handled it," Draco protested, straightening his robes and trying to smooth his hair.

"Yeah, sure. Tell that to your swelling lip." She rolled her eyes, having said it loud enough for Ginny, Potter, and Granger to hear. Ursella turned to wink at them as they chuckled, further humiliating her cousin.

A moment later, Ron came staggering out closely followed by a stout, red-headed witch who was pulling Arthur Weasley by his ear out into the street. Uncle Lucius creeped as inconspicuously as possible over to where Draco and Ursella were standing, which was not far enough away from Mrs. Weasely's rant.

"ARTHUR WEASLEY!" Her face was as red as her hair. "Fighting! In the middle of a bookshop?! What were you thinking?! What sort of example does this set for the children?! We'll be lucky if Mr. Blott ever lets us in there EVER AGAIN!"

Ursella felt embarrassed for Ginny and her brothers. Aunt Narcissa would never scream at her husband in public. Mrs. Weasley was just adding to the scene her husband had already made. Even the Muggles looked embarrassed, and they're Muggles in the middle of a bunch of magical folk who know that they are not magical. Potter and the Mudblood Granger however were busy listening to Ron mutter under his breath and all three were glaring in the Malfoy's direction. Such conspiratorial behavior was altogether unsettling to Ursella. "I think we should get out of here."

"I agree," Aunt Narcissa had snuck up behind them, abbarantl havin seen enough of this spectacle to incite "The Glare" down on Uncle Lucius and Draco. "Home. Now."

"Yes, dear," Uncle Lucius replied, trying to avoid eye contact as he led Draco back into Madam Malkin's. Ursella made to follow but Aunt Narcissa stopped her.

"Ursella? What happened?"

"Uncle Lucius and Draco were taunting the Wealseys and the retaliated." Ella was mildly shocked at her own words. Draco would've said that they were attacked for no reason. She didn't believe her relatives were at fault but they definitely weren't innocent either.

Aunt Narcissa didn't speak for a moment, but her nostrils were flaring as she took beep breaths. "And what did you do?"

"Well, I ran out at first because I was going to get squashed by a bookcase. But then I went back in to get Draco out." Aunt Narcissa didn't need to know about Uncle Lucius's assignment if she didn't already.

"Good. Then I won't have to cancel your first year present." Aunt Narcissa grabbed Ella's hand and started to lead her towards Madam Malkin's "It was your mother's idea so be sure to thank her when you next write."

"Oh, I will." Ursella was practically skipping as she entered the robe shop, leaving the Weasleys behind in their shame.

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

As it turned out, Ella's gift was a beautiful white and gold barn owl. He wasn't the brute that the Malfoy's Eagle owl was but he was far prettier, and smart to boot. She had a hard time thinking of the perfect name. Draco and Ella spent the whole day messaging possible names to each other from different parts of the manor. The owl went back and forth so many times that it stopped leaving through the window and flew through the corridors instead. Uncle Lucius hated hat so they had to end the correspondence. Ella ended up naming him Noctuam.

"What does that mean?" Draco had asked.

"It's just 'owl' in Latin. I couldn't think of anything else." Ursella shrugged.

Over the remaining days of summer holiday, Draco continued to keep Ursella "on her toes" by sneaking up behind her and tackling her to the ground to scare her or sending her on adventures around the Malfoys' grounds. While she enjoyed showing off to Draco, and occasionally Uncle Lucius and Aunt Narcissa, Ursella grew tired of throwing Draco onto his rear. Whenever she had time to herself she would write her mother, being sure to always send Noctuam by way of showing her appreciation. The replies were never terribly heart felt but Ella just imagined that her mother chooses not to feel her heart in that place.

Though she had meant to just skim through her new school books, in her excitement she read through them all, cover to cover. She found Lockhart's books to be pure twaddle but read through them all the same. Ursella spent hours in her room taking notes on The Standard Book of Spells Year One and familiarizing herself with the set of ingredients that had eventually arrived. By the time August 31st rolled around, Ella's head was buzzing with so many spells, potions, and magical history that she found it hard to drift off to sleep for the last time that summer. But eventually, miraculously Ursella drifted off into a fitful sleep.

… … … … … … … … … … … … ...

And finally, September first had come at last. Ursella rose bright and early, had breakfast, packed her trunk, and locked Noctuam in his cage. The whole group was full of excited nervous energy as they waited for the car that Uncle Lucius had arranged to bring them to Kings' Cross Station. Even Dobby, the house-elf, was acting twitchier than usual. When the transports arrived and the luggage was loaded, the Malfoys and Ursella slid somewhat awkwardly into the back seat of the Muggle invention.

Ursella expected the car ride to be silent but Aunt Narcissa had another plan. "Now, Draco," she started, removing her gloves one at a time. "Remember what we learned on our last public outing and try not to start any fights. I know your father set somewhat of a precedent—"

"Narcissa, really," Uncle Lucius interrupted. "How many times must I apologize before you let it go? It was only the one time. I won't happen again."

Of course not, dear," Aunt Narcissa replied in that patronizing tone that lets you know that she doesn't believe it for a second. "But still, do try and speak civilly so as not to entice anymore blood traitor attacks. Promise?"

Draco promised and Uncle Lucius grumbled something unintelligible into the window. Aunt Narcissa smiled and winked at Ursella, her signal that Uncle Lucius might never live this down. They arrive at Kings' Cross after an hour of driving through Muggle traffic. "With plenty of time to spare," boasted Uncle Lucius.

Ursella checked the clock in the station at fifteen till the hour amongst the tumult of the ordinary people of London. Nonetheless, the Malfoys joined the throng as they made their way to the barrier between platforms nine and ten. There were other families there of course. The parents were trying to coax their apprehensive youngsters through the brick wall that hid the wizarding platform. Ursella smiled at herself, for she already knew how to get through the magical wall and with the rest of the Malfoys very calmly strolled up to and right through the brick barrier, finally leaving the Muggle world behind.

"Alright then," proclaimed Uncle Lucius, "Let's get your things loaded." Ursella snatched Noctuam in his cage off of her trunk so Uncle Lucius and Draco could lift it onto the train. The platform nine and three quarters was getting busier by the second but it was hard for Ursella to find a familiar face amongst the riff raff and train steam. Her peers that she'd met through Uncle Lucius and his pureblood connections aren't in her year anymore now that she'd been moved up. As she looked around she could only see robes adorned with scarlet, yellow, and sapphire. Suddenly, she felt very small and alone.

"Ella!" Draco had been calling from the open train door. "Pass me your owl already."

After Noctuam, Draco helped Ursella into the train. "Okay, let's find Crabbe and Goyle and then go say our good-byes."

"Are we supposed to carry our own trunks?" Ella asked.

"Wow! Aren't you a bit spoiled?" Draco teased.

"No! I could do it!" protested Ella. "But if I'd known that I'd be the one carrying it, I'd have packed a lot lighter."

"That's why we have…CRABBE! GOYLE!" Draco shouted at two very barrel-chested boys that were ambling by. They turned and grunted in the cousins' general direction and Ella recognized them as the two lackeys that would come over for "play dates" as Aunt Narcissa called them. Ella never really liked them, not good conversationalists. And they always watched her funny when she'd see them; like right now. Draco snapped his fingers to get their attention back. "Boys! Focus please. Grab the trunks will you?"

"No, that's alright!" Ella interrupted. She had wanted to show off her talents to someone other than her family and these two trolls were probably impressed with anyone who can tie their own shoes.

So, Ella took a deep breath and shook out her arms before holding out her right hand, palm up. She was about to start funneling her energy when Draco suddenly slapped her hand enthusiastically. "Great idea, Ursella! Let's put that wizarding education to work." His tone was light but his steely bore a hidden meaning. He dropped his stare and brandished his wand at his trunk, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Ella got the message and pulled out her own wand, repeating her cousin's wand motion to point it at her luggage. The heavy trunk immediately bobbed up to the level Draco had raised his to. She grinned at her cousin who only responded with a sigh and an eye roll before rounding on the gawking goons. "Crabbe, Goyle. Don't just stand there, grab Ursella's owl and show us to the compartment."

Ella floated her trunk down the aisle of the train as she followed Crabbe and Goyle, keeping a close eye on Noctuam to make sure the idiots didn't shake his cage too hard. As they maneuvered their way through the corridor of the train, Ursella managed to catch glimpses of some of her "peers" through the cracks in compartment doors. No one else was doing magic. One compartment did light up and emit a series of bangs as someone set off a large amount of fireworks. A few doors were all the way open and some of their occupants popped their heads out when they saw floating trunks go by. Ursella smirked to herself, just imagining what the other students were thinking. She heard whispers as she passed and caught phrases of "Malfoy", "cousin", and "Bellatrix".

Finally, they reached the compartment Crabbe and Goyle had already claimed and stowed the trunks and Noctuam before heading back out. The two ogres made to follow but Draco cut them off at the door.

"You chaps'll stay here, yeah?" When the two just looked confused, Draco sighed and gestured with his hands. "STAY. HERE. WE. WILL. BE. BACK. SOON. DON'T. TOUCH. THE. OWL." He slammed the door and trudged back the way they had come. "Like talking to a dead tree."

"Maybe they were confused by the word 'chaps'." Ursella remarked, falling in step beside her cousin.

"But at least they'll listen eventually. Unlike you."

"I mean, who uses 'chaps'?"

"Ursella I'm being serious."

"What are you, like fifty?"

"Ursella!" Draco stopped and grabbed her arm to face him. His face was stern and his eyes were glowing. "What the hell was that back there?"

"What?" She demanded, jerking her arm back. "I was just—"

"I thought father made it clear not to show off in front of people. You're a first year and you shouldn't know how to use your wand or be any good at it." Draco hissed through his teeth. He kept glancing around looking for eavesdroppers. "You want to be good, but at a more reasonable level. Like," He smoothed his hair, searching for the words, "don't do magic. At least until other first years' do. Then go nuts."

"That's stupid, Draco." Ursella crossed her arms. "What was all that 'staying on your toes nonsense all about if I'm supposed to be blending in?"

"I just don't want you putting a target on your back." Draco gave her a rather patronizing look which threw her over the edge.

"You can't tell me what to do!" Ursella snapped and she stormed off down the train by herself, beating Draco back to Uncle Lucius and Aunt Narcissa by a few angry strides.

"Hurry now, Draco. Don't dawdle." Uncle Lucius was checking the big station clock that indicated five minutes to the hour. Aunt Narcissa busied herself straightening robes and smoothing hair as other wizarding families bustled past, pushing trolleys and trunks up to the open doors of the scarlet train. Mothers threw last minute reminders and students found friends.

Draco pecked his mother on the cheek and shook Uncle Lucius's hand before shoving his way back onto the train. Ursella hugged Aunt Narcissa good-bye and when she pulled away she was the remnants of a smile on her Aunt's face.

"May I have a moment, Ella?" Uncle Lucius gestured off to a more private corner of the platform.

"Now, Lucius? The train's about to leave." Aunt Narciss was right; the activity on the platform had grown more frantic, like a hive of bees sensing a threat.

"I'll only be a moment." Replied Uncle Lucius. Ursella followed him behind a pillar and again she was reminded of her stunted size as her uncle knelt down to be closer to her eye level. "Now Ursella, I had to pull a lot of strings to convince the other governors to agree to let you attend Hogwarts this year. They will be looking for a reason to kick you out. Do NOT give them one. No mischief or rule breaking. It is absolutely crucial that you have the best scores, especially in practical exams. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Ursella nodded with enthusiasm.

"But most of all, you must uphold the values and traditions of your family. Do not disgrace your name or the Slytherin House. Am I clear?"

"Crystal," said Ursella. She was starting to get a heavy feeling in her stomach. It felt like stress and anticipation of disappointing her family. She would rather die than do that to her mother or the Malfoys.

Satisfied, Uncle Lucius straightened up and patter her head. "But I have faith in you. Narcissa!" He called through the crowd as Aunt Narcissa made her way over. "You better run along Ella. The train will be leaving any moment."

With a quick hug for Uncle Lucius and a last wave to Aunt Narcissa, Ursella darted her way through the buzzing crowd. Halfway back to the train, a series of red heads cut across her path. She stopped in time to avoid being trampled but ended up being right in the path of a trolley pushed by Ginny Weasley, going too fast to stop. The girl ran full tilt into Ella and they both went down, quickly becoming a tangle of limbs, trunk, and trolley. Ella struggled to untangle herself amid Ginny's stream of apologies.

"Oh crap! I'm so sorry. I'm really so very sorry. I…it's…it's you." Ginny was on her knees trying to right her trunk when she recognized Ursella, which was impressive considering that Ursella's hair was totally enveloping her face.

"Yeah," Ursella spat hair out of her mouth and got to her feet. "Fancy running into you here—"

But Ursella saw something very curious just then that made her stop mid-sentence. She'd looked up at Ginny and instead, focused on the brick wall some distance behind her that leads to the Muggle station outside. In front of the wall, standing with both bony hand braced against the brick was a dingy little being she knew very well. Even though she couldn't see his bulgy green eyes, she'd recognize that tea cozy anywhere. What was Dobby doing here? Ella didn't remember anyone ordering him to come along and yet here he was, with his hands on the nine and three quarter barrier like he was keeping it from falling over. Ella was about to go confront the house-elf when the whistle on the Hogwarts Express screamed out its eminent departure.

"Ginny!" Two identical red heads were leaning out of the train door, yelling at the still apologizing first year. Ursella and Ginny found themselves to be the only students left on the platform. Ginny grabbed one end of her enormous trunk and attempted to drag it to the train. After one huge tug, the luggage had only moved an inch. Ursella sighed and grabbed the other end. Together the girls raced to the train and threw Ginny's trunk up to the twins just as the train started moving forward. Ursella grabbed onto the car and hopped up onto the first step. She looked back to see Ginny running to keep up with the acceleration locomotive. With her free hand, Ella swung all the way out to reach for Ginny, who leapt forward to lock their hands together.

In her head, Ursella had imagined that it would be easy to just pull one tiny girl onto a moving train. In real life, however, that involves lifting another person up onto a higher level than she was currently standing. So as the train sped and Ginny couldn't run any faster, Ursella felt her hand slipping from the bar that kept them both attached to the train.

"Run faster!" Ursella screamed as she tried pulling her at least closer to the door.

"I'm…trying!..." panted Ginny. But it wasn't fast enough, and Ursella could see how fast the train was now going and knew that a fall like that would really hurt. She looked back at her left hand and watched as it slipped past where her thumb could reach. Panicked she made eye contact with Ginny as they both realized what was about to happen.

Ursella's hand slipped from the train as she screamed.