Chapter Four:

Curious Encounter

The next morning Abella awoke early, and quickly dressed, before hurrying down to The Great Hall. When she walked in Fred and George were already sitting down, so she just plopped right in between the two, noticing a plate sitting there for her. After a moment Abella glanced up to see Fred and George both smiling widely at her. She sighed before pushing the plate away.

"I am not a test dummy guys." Abella laughed as their smiles fell.

"It's just canary tarts Bella." Fred pouted as he moved her plate, hoping someone else would come along and eat it.

After a few minutes Ron and Harry sat down, looking at Abella's untouched plate nervously.

"Eat it, I dare you." Abella smiled at Ron, before winking at Harry, Ron sighed and began filling his own plate, as Abella took Fred's.

"Oh hey guys, so do you know who that new transfer student is?" Hermione said, sitting down at the table.

Ron looked at her curiously, over his plate full of eggs. "Oh the new guy? Ron spoke around a mouthful of food.

"Ugh, you are a troll Ronald Bilius Weasley, but seriously Hermione, yeah it was announced yesterday." Abella scooted closer to George slightly, to be out of Ron's projection.

"Yeah, he's in the twins' year and he's from America." Hermione shot Ron a disgusted look as well. "Oh! He's an American student like Abella. "Harry smiled at Abella, as Fred snorted into his food.

"Yes Frederick?" Abella slightly growled.

"I was just thinking, I highly doubt anyone is a student like Abella." Fred smiled, causing George to laugh, suddenly their forks flew into the air, and plummeted down, barely missing their fingers, causing Abella to giggle.

"You must be talking about Paul, he's cool." George shrugged as he continued eating.

Hermione looked at George curiously. "How do you know him?"

"He's funny, funny people are attracted to each other I guess, although I'm not sure why George and I are attracted to you." Fred stuck his tongue out at Abella before smiling.

"Oh there he is, hey Paul!" Fred stood up screaming at a boy three tables over. Abella cringed as her head rang from the loudness.

After a few moments approaching footsteps could be heard. Abella sighed as an arm was placed on the top of her head.

"Paul this is, Harry, Ron, and Hermione." Fred pointed to everyone, before pulling a strand of Abella's hair. "This is Paul Dursley." Paul smiled slightly, before looking at Fred "So did you call me over here to show off my good looks or did you need something Weasley." Fred laughed at the other boy, as Paul continued to push on Abella's head.

"Yeah, sit down." Fred pushed a plate towards Paul as he sat down.

"So you do have a good side Fred, it's just me who sees the ass end huh?" Abella smiled, before Fred thumped her upside the head. After a moment Fred opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. Ron began laughing hysterically as Abella patted Fred's head.

"Something wrong Freddie dearest?" Abella's voice became sickeningly sweet as Fred stared her in the eye.

"Abella! You should not use a silencing spell on people that are your friends. How do you even know that spell?" Hermione sighed as she began to pull out her wand.

"Chill Mioney, it's a joke." Abella sighed as Fred suddenly gasped loudly, having been released from the silencing charm.

Harry's eye brows knit together as he looked for Abella's wand. "It's called being a Free Witch. It's very rare, and is the result of old magic. I'm one of the first in years, and the first in my family. I don't need a wand, or words to use my magic, it just happens. Although it does end up with a lot of mishaps. I've incredibly clumsy with it. At St Marcus the American ministry encourages the use of magic without wands. Paul can do a little bit as well."

"Well we need to get to class." Hermione said before standing up. The group quickly dispersed, going to their separate classes.

Most of the day passed without incident, except for Malfoy complaining as usual, and throwing glares at Abella whenever she started talking to Paul about America. On their way back from Care for Magical Creatures, they noticed a sign in the entrance hall

TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

THE DELEGATIONS FROM BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG WILL BE ARRIVING AT 6 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY THE 30TH OF OCTOBER LESSONS WILL END HALF AN HOUR EARLY.

STUDENTS WILL RETURN THEIR BAGS AND BOOKS TO THEIR DORMITORIES AND ASSEMBLE IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE TO GREET OUR GUESTS BEFORE THE WELCOMING FEAST.

Abella smiled at the news, before hurrying to the rest of her classes. When all of her lessons were finished that day, she made her way to the dungeon, to Professor Snape's class. Abella knocked on the door, waiting for her professor to speak.

"Miss Weasley, come in."Snape's voice called as she walked inside.

"Hello professor."She chimed sweetly.

Snape turned to look at the young girl, with a rare smile.

"What shall I be doing as your potions assistant?" She sat her things near his desk as she walked over to him.

"I'm actually meeting with another student, so if you don't mind just straightening the room, the third years made a mess today I'm afraid." He sighed as she nodded. Abella quickly set to work cleaning things.

After a moment she heard footsteps, and turned around to see Paul sitting across from Snape. Abella smiled at him, reminding herself to say hi whenever she got the chance.

She continued dusting, and making a list of the items that were low, periodically checking to see if Paul was still there. Paul was nice, secretive, but nice. They had gotten in trouble in transfiguration, for laughing, something she normally never got in trouble for, considering in America none of her friends were in class with her. She was curious as to why Snape needed to see Paul. They were both amazing at potions, he was probably better than she was, but she would never admit it.

Abella glanced to Snape and Paul, Snape was looking in his desk for something and Paul was making faces at her. She tried not to laugh as she wondered why he was in mouthed the question to him, expecting him to mouth the answer back.

"He wants me to be an assistant like you." Abella laughed as Paul mouthed the words at her. She simply shrugged, indicating she didn't think it was a bad idea.

After a moment Snape dismissed Paul, happy to have another helping student.

"Well professor, I have organized and cleaned as well as possible for today. Here's a list of items I noticed were low." She smiled as she handed him the list.

Snape stared at her a moment before offering a small smile. "You look so much like your mother Miss. Weasley." He watched as Abella laughed.

"You knew my mum?" Snape simply nodded as he set the list on his desk.

"She attended Hogwarts the same year I did. She was very talented in Divination. She's proud of you, I'm sure. We were close in our school days." Without a word Abella turned and left the room, thinking over the strange exchange she had just been a part of.

Thank you to those of you who reviewed, it honestly means a lot to me.

Be ready for a huge reveal in the next for chapters or so. Abella gets a hold of huge piece of information that could possibly turn her little world upside down.