Seeing as she still had almost an hour before she was supposed to be off to her next class, she was going to walk into the Great Hall for her schedule when an Eagle owl started to come towards her. The owl landed on her shoulder and dropped two pieces of parchment in her hand. The owl looked rather dignified, and it was only after Ely gave the bird a treat that he let her pet him. The owl flew away the minute Ely dropped her fingers, and Ely decided to look at the letter first before opening what she knew would be her class schedule.

Elanora,

I trust Salazar delivered your class schedule to you and was polite. Due to our earlier interruption, I do hope that we have another chance to chat. Let me know your answer in person.

Lucius

Ely rolled her eyes before sticking the letter in her robe pocket. Opening her schedule, she looked over it briefly while she made her way to Hagrid's hut.

Monday

Potions (first period)

Charms (second period)

Herbology (after lunch)

Tuesday

Defense Against the Dark Arts (first period)

Transfiguration (second period)

Astronomy (Midnight)

Wednesday

Potions (first period)

Transfiguration (second period)

Charms (after lunch)

Thursday

Herbology (first period)

Flying (second period)

Charms (after lunch)

Friday

Potions (first period)

Transfiguration (second period)

Herbology (after lunch)

Looking thoughtfully, she realized just how many classes she was going to have with Gryffindor, and the thought made her roll her eyes. "Stupid Potter…" She knocked on Hagrid's door and Fang's bark was immediately heard. Hagrid opened the door with a smile but then looked questionably at Ely.

"Err… Can I help you?" Hagrid asked and the Ely realized that she had no reason yet as to why she would be talking to Hagrid. The first time around, he found her crying by the lake and gave her comfort. Hagrid never knew, but that day he saved her life.

"Um yes…" Ely kept thinking about what exactly to say, but each thing that popped up seemed more ridiculous than the last. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to tell you something, but I just can't seem to remember what it was exactly."

At this Hagrid roared with laughter, and it was at this point that Fang leaped out of the hut and tackled Ely to the ground. Fang was howling in excitement as he gave one big, long lick to the side of Ely's face. Hagrid looked on confused once he calmed down when Ely pulled a bone out of her robe, and started to play with Fang.

"You're a strange one for Slytherin, you know that?" Hagrid asked amused but all Ely did was smile. "Alright, since you already walked over here, come inside." Fang followed Ely inside and continued to allow her to pet him as he rested his head in her lap. "Seems Fangs has already takin' a likin' to ya, but he has never done that to anyone except Dumbledore."

"Maybe he can sense good people from bad." At Ely's sly smile, Hagrid chuckled.

"Can't argue with ya there. Old Fang 'ere runs away from danger faster than you can say Quidditch." Ely giggled, and Hagrid was at ease enough to ask, "So why did Dumbledore ask you to come? Slytherin's don't like me, ya see, so it's a bit odd for you to show up."

"Professor Dumbledore had to ask me about something else. Besides, I think I prefer your company better than whackers in my house."

Hagrid once again looked at her confused. "Ya not from 'ere…"

"Originally yes, but when my parents died I went to go live with my aunt Minnie down under. She came to Hogwarts actually, and so did my mum, so it just felt right to come here." Ely pulled the bone out and threw it a little ways away, where Fang immediately went at it and continued to chew on it, "I'm always playing with the dingos in the outback, so I always try to keep treats on me. Bella is my only real pet, but I've always loved animals."

"You'll love Care of Magical Creatures class then when you're a third year." Hagrid smiled before he looked out the window. "The thestrals are getting hungry, better go out an' feed 'em."

"It was nice to meet you Hagrid." Ely said standing up and walking out the door in front of Hagrid.

"You too…" He paused when he realized he didn't know her name, but Ely just smiled.

"Elanora Taylor, but most people call me Ely."

Hagrid smiled, "See ya soon Ely."

Ely walked away from Hagrid's hut, and halfway to the lake when Lily ran to her with Severus not too far behind.

"Ely, we were looking for you everywhere! We have class in ten minutes." Lily said breathlessly before grabbing Ely's wrist and began to run with her to the dungeons for Potions.

They arrived just as everyone was getting seated. Lily and Severus shared at table, and thankfully Bella saved a seat for Ely which was on the side of the pair, in the front of the classroom.

"Hello children, I'm Professor Slughorn, your Potions teacher for the year." Slughorn came out from behind the chalk board, "Please, set up your cauldren while I tell you about the class." Immediately everyone pulled out their materials, "Now, potion making is no easy task. It is more than just adding ingredients and poof it's over. In this class you will need precision, patience, and if you follow what I tell you, you will be able to brew love, glory, wealth, or death…" The class was at the edge of their seats on this one, to which Slughorn smiled, "Now then, today I shall see where you are in your Potions book and pinpoint who learned from last year."

Slughorn flicked his wand to the board and started to explain the ingredients that he placed on the board. "Now, who can tell me about puffer-fish eyes?"

Lily's hand shot up in the air as well as Ely's. Slughorn, who was impressed with his new student, called on Ely first. "Puffer-fish eyes is an ingredient that can be used in curing potions as well as not so friendly potions. Some muggles even use it as part of their remedies."

"Very good Miss Taylor, five points to Slytherin." Ely smiled smugly to herself and Severus looked like he was impressed as well. "Now, who can tell me what kind of Potion we are making today, based on the ingredients on the board?"

"A Swelling Potion." Lily, Severus, and Ely answered at the exact same time. Ely and Lily smiled at each other, while Severus had narrowed his eyes at Ely.

"Very good! Five points to Gryffindor and ten points to Slytherin."

"Know-It-All." James coughed, to which the rest of Gryffindor snickered, and Ely glared back at him.

"Mr. Potter, since you believe it is correct to mock students who have obviously done their research, than I should expect that you make the best potion in this class, which would earn your house thirty points." Slughorn commented, which made Ely smirk at the blank look on James' face.

The class commenced to make the potions, and Ely slyly helped Bella when she was about to put in the needles in first.

"Mix the puffer-fish eyes first until the potion turns pink, and then add the needles until it turns blue." Ely whispered to Bella while showing her what she meant, to which Bella smiled gratefully.

"When you are done with your Potion, label them with your name and place them on top of my desk and then you are free to go." Slughorn said and Lily was the first one up. She smiled as she handed him the potion, and he gave her a nod of approval when Severus walked up and handed in his. The two of them walked out together, and from the corner of her eye Ely saw James glaring at Severus as he held the door open for Lily and walked out.

Ely waited for Bella to finish with her potion before the two of them went up. Slughorn took his time viewing both of theirs, to which he smiled with approval as he placed Ely's along with Severus' and Lily's. The three potions together looked identical, to which Slughorn commented, "Looks like it will be a three way tie." He locked eyes with Ely, "I expect you will do excellent in my class Miss Taylor. Your aunt was one of my best, and your mother was not too bad herself, although it was a shame that she preferred Transfiguration."

Ely smiled at the compliment before walking with Bella outside. They were walking in step when Bella asked, "Where did you disappear to this morning? I woke up and your bed was empty, and no one saw you in the Great Hall."

"I went out for a walk. I'm always used to it in the morning when I was home, so I ate quickly and left before class." Ely sort of lied, but she didn't know what Bella's reaction was going to be if she told her she went to see Hagrid.

They talked pleasantly the rest of the way to Charms. Ely wasn't surprised that Lucius just so "happened" to pass by when they were making their way into the class. Lucius smirked at Ely, but she pretended not to notice. Bella however, was a totally different story.

"Lucius is so dreamy…" Bella sighed as she sat down, "He just oozes masculinity, and those eyes would make any girl get tingles down her spine."

Ely rasp berried, "Please, he's nothing but a knocker…" An idea popped into her head, "But, I could introduce you to him, if you'd like."

Bella turned red, "Oh no! I couldn't possibly…"

"Trust me; you'd be doing me a favor. Just stick around long enough and he'll pop up eventually." Ely chuckled a bit as Bella turned redder than a tomato as she pulled out her Charms book.

Professor Flitwick was entertaining enough, pairing each of them with a feather and trying to teach the spell 'Wingardum Leviosa', otherwise known to levitate objects. Bella got it on her second try around, rewarding Slytherin with ten points, and Ely got in on her seventh try, trying to not make it extremely obvious. Charms was never a strong subject for her, but she loved Potions. Severus, however, was looking rather bored as he swayed his feather around from side to side.

The class was eventually dismissed, and the students went to have lunch in the Great Hall. Things were, as it seemed pretty normal and going pleasant. Halfway to the hall, Lucius turned the corner and Ely groaned out loud. She immediately cast a disillusionment spell around herself and got out of the way just in time for Lucius to walk up to Bella.

Ely walked a distance away but still watched them. She was too far away to hear the conversation, but from what it looked like it was going rather well. Either that, or Lucius was very good at faking it. Lucius took bowed to Bella, to which Bella turned redder than a tomato, and they went their separate ways. Ely sighed in relief, but was immediately on guard when she heard a whispered "Finite Incantatem".

Turning around and wand raised, Ely came face to face with Severus, her wand pointed at his chest. She lowered it as soon as she realized whom it was she was facing. She gave him a look of like 'What the hell did you do that for?' to which he shrugged.

"Potter already tried to prank me today, and Black was using a disillusionment charm when he was going to attack me." Ely nodded at his explanation before she turned around to leave to the lake when Severus asked, "Where are you going?"

"To the lake." She turned around to look at him, "You can come if you want, but you have to keep up."

"Sure let me just get Lily..." Ely was already walking towards the lake as he said this.

Ely at first thought that Severus was going to go and follow her, but when she turned around, he was already heading to the Great Hall. Sighing, she continued her walk, feeling rather content as she looked on to the water. She slowed her pace as she walked along the edge, drinking in the fresh air and choosing to ignore the rumble in her stomach. Sitting down, she let the wind brush her hair out of her face as she closed her eyes. Her heart clenched in her chest as she thought of the devotion Severus had for Lily.

"It was enough to kill him." Ely mumbled bitterly when she heard the sound of wings flapping in the distance. Looking up, she realized that Belle was coming towards her. Belle landed at her feet, and Ely quickly went to untie the burden that was on her leg and gathered the letter out of her beak. Deciding to open the letter first, she opened the parchment after she handed Belle a treat.

Ely,

Here's lunch, since I think we both already know that you're not going to come to the Great Hall. Watch out for Sirius and James, they might find you before Lily does.

Severus

Opening the package, she smiled at the food she was going to grow to love at Hogwarts. Of course, Belle probably picked it out for her and he just placed it in the napkin with a seal on it. Ely smiled as she pulled out a pork chop and started to eat. Giving a piece to Belle, she flew away as soon as Lily appeared.

"Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you!" Lily exclaimed as she took a seat next to Ely. "Nobody saw you after your Charms class Ely, and that was nearly an hour ago. I would have been flipping out of my mind if Sev hadn't told me where you were."

"Sev?" Ely asked, completely thrown off guard. Lily called him Sev?

"Oh yeah, I call him that all the time. It just kind of stuck." She shrugged and Ely nodded. Lily smiled mischievously, "So, I've noticed Malfoy has taken a liking to you."

Ely rolled her eyes, "Please, Malfoy is like Dingo with a bone. The nicer the bone, the more he likes it. He's delusional." Ely sighed, "Besides, I care about someone else."

"Oh, tell me!" Lily exclaimed her smile and her eyes shiningly, but was interrupted by James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter.

"Look who it is…" James chuckled while Ely and Lily glared, "Why the hostility?" As the girls stood up, James made a grab for the note that fell out of Ely's pocket, and had just opened it when Ely whipped out her wand and hissed "Accio!" and it returned back in her hand. "What, you didn't want me to see the note from your boyfriend Snivellus?"

No one thought this was funny. Sirius was glaring at James, Remus and Peter looked rather worried, Lily looked shocked, and Ely ears were as red as her hair as she trained her wand at James' chest. "Say one more word and you're going to absolutely regret it." Ely hissed, which caused James to smirk.

"You really think I'm…" He never got to finish as Ely shouted, "Alarte Ascendare!"

James flew into the air, only to get caught on a tree branch on the way down. Ely didn't stop to look however as she trained her wand in between Remus, Sirius, and Peter. Sirius held his arms up in defense, "Easy now Taylor, we'll all go, just please get James down safely."

Ely mumbled angrily to herself as she pointed her wand at James and gently dropped him on the ground. James immediately stood up and glared at Ely, but didn't say a word as he turned and stormed off, the rest of the guys following behind.

Ely, realizing she still had one problem to fix, turned around to Lily and said, "Look, James was lying. Severus isn't my boyfriend." She handed Lily the note, "You can check it yourself."

Lily read over the note quickly, and her shoulders visibly relaxed as she handed it back to her. Lily looked at Ely seriously, "You know, Severus isn't that trustworthy with people."

Ely smiled in comfort, "I know, and I know he trust you more than anyone else." Ely hugged her, "We're equals, regardless of being in different houses."

"I needed that." Lily hugged her back, and together they walked away from the lake and towards the castle, neither of the two realizing that a bond that would surpass life and time was created at that moment.