Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and I never will. (…not like I want to own it, J.K. Rowling came up with the idea and it is hers to keep)

Chapter 4

"So what exactly were you doing in the library?" I asked Albus the next day at breakfast. We were sitting at the Gryffindor table. "What are you talking about?" He was currently getting ready for classes. "I'm talking about your homework," I sighed impatiently. "I was doing my homework if that's what you're asking."

I stood up and shouted, "You call that homework? You saying 'I love cows' is your homework?!" I heard some students snickering in the background. He stared at me with his spoon frozen in mid-air.

"Ella," he said seriously, "Calm down and take a seat." I glared at him and told him, "I will not sit until you tell me why you weren't doing your homework." He sighed irritated. "I was doing my homework. I asked James to put an anti-cheating spell on it. There are many types of them he said, and I wasn't sure which one he put on my homework," he explained. I sat down and he looked at me expectantly.

"Well, tell James to teach me how to use the spell, I might need it," I said smiling as I stood up. He grinned. "See you at lunch, Albus."

"Wait! Ella! Could you give this note to Maricel?" he gave me a slip of paper. "Okay," I accepted as my smile faltered a little. "Thanks, oh, and you'll be seeing me sooner than lunch," he said mysteriously. "Okay…" I murmured as I walked away.

I looked at the note from Albus. The note I'm supposed to deliver to Maricel, I reminded myself. I looked for Maricel but I couldn't find her. Then I saw her. She was sitting near the edge of the lake looking depressed. I started walking to her when I heard someone calling my name. I turned around to see Albus and Maricel coming toward me. Maricel…

I looked behind me confused. Wasn't Maricel sitting there at the edge a moment ago? But here she was, coming toward me with a happy smile on her face.

"Hey guys," I greeted weakly. Albus looked at me with concern. "Are you alright, Ella? Your voice is hoarse," he told me. I immediately straightened my posture and gave the note to Maricel panting. "Here you go Maricel, I ran around the lake at least twice trying to find you!" I scolded playfully. She giggled as she read who it was from. It seemed as though she didn't hear me.

"Why didn't you just give the note to me yourself, Albus?" she asked. "I was lazy," Albus said bluntly. She giggled again. We were walking in the halls. "I'll read this later, I don't want to be accused of passing notes in class!" she said cheerfully. She went inside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

Albus smiled to himself and dashed off to his own class. "Thanks for giving me your full, undivided attention!" I muttered to myself sarcastically.

I walked in and saw that class had already started. Professor Rellings looked up from the paperwork he was looking at and said, "Late again, Miss False?" Some students laughed quietly. I stood and blushed not knowing where to sit. He seemed to know what I was thinking for he told me, "You may sit next to Mister Derris."

I looked around not knowing who 'Mister Derris' is. Professor Rellings sighed, "Mister Derris is over there Miss False, yes there, oh and please hand in your homework." I sat down next to a weird looking kid and thought to myself, he isn't very pretty. Then again, neither was I. I avoided saying handsome because it sounded odd, so I say pretty.

"Ok class, you have two choices for today's class: A written assignment...or a project," he told us. He looked around once and continued to talk. "We'll have a vote. Are there any questions before we begin the voting?" A few hands went up.

"Ah yes, Miss Franks?"

"Thank you, professor. What will the project be if we choose to vote for the project?" As she asked her question, the hands went down. Professor Rellings replied, "The project will be a skit using the defensive spells we learned in class." There was a murmur of excitement throughout the class.

"Now, shall we begin voting?" Professor asked. "Yes, Professor Rellings!" we chimed.

"Good," he said approvingly. "Heads down everyone, we don't want disagreements."

We put our heads down and waited for the Professor to call out the choices. "Choice number one, which is the written assignment," he called. There was a brief pause. "Choice number two, which is the skit or play." This time, Professor Rellings didn't even bother to count. How do I know this? Because I peeked of course!

"It's decided then, we will be doing choice number two for the rest of the class period," Professor told us. There were cheers of happiness and we settled down. Professor instructed us saying, "Now then, this will be done in groups…" At once everyone started to get up and claim partners.

"…that I will choose." There was a groan of disappointment and the students shuffled back to their seats. He conjured up a list and read out the names of the groups.

"Waldwick, Lugo and Boot,"

Maricel left her seat to sit with her partners and the rest of the class waited impatiently.

"Delancy, Derris and Terrell,"

The professor continued to call out names and I was partnered up with Debbie Franks, my room mate, and Terrance Ashby. The naming of groups and instructions took up most of the time so we didn't get started on our skit. Instead, Professor Rellings kindly let us chat amongst ourselves until the bell rang.

Minutes later, the bell rang signaling we can leave. I gathered my stuff and headed toward Transfiguration. I checked my schedule and saw that we were having it with the Gryffindors. I smiled and headed toward Transfiguration earlier than usual.

On the way there, I saw Maricel disappearing through a door. I called out to her but she didn't seem to notice. I followed her through the same door and saw that it led to another corridor. Why would there be a door in a corridor that didn't lead to a room, but instead, another corridor? It didn't make sense.

I wanted to see where it led to but it was almost time for Transfiguration and I didn't want to be late again. I turned back and stepped out into the nearly empty hallway.

I rummaged around in my bag for my map of Hogwarts and took it out. I located where I was and marked the spot where the door was. I suddenly remembered Maricel. She already went through the door so I couldn't follow her anymore. I assured myself that maybe it was a shortcut Maricel used to get to classes.

I walked into Transfiguration five minutes before class started and took a seat next to a fellow Ravenclaw since Albus had someone already sitting next to him.

Just then, Professor Reya strode in and the class fell silent. "Good morning class," Professor said briskly. "Morning!" a few of us answered. "Wands away please, and please copy down the notes on the board. We will be doing recitation today." She told us.

The class braced themselves for a boring lecture.

* * *

I made a new friend in the span of two hours. Her name was Emma. Emma Beverly.

"Excuse me! I'm supposed to—

She slipped on the wet floor.

I ran over to her. "Are you okay?" I asked. She answered, "Yes, I'm fine. It just hurts a little. Oh yes! I was told to deliver this letter to Ella False. Do you know who she is? I've been asking everyone but," I cut her off. "I'm Ella False."

"Really? Well then, here's your letter. Oh and I'm Emma Beverly by the way. I'm in Hufflepuff." She told me. "I'm Ella False and I'm in Ravenclaw," I said smiling. "Pleased to meet you Ella! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get to Herbology," she said quickly. "I'm going to Herbology too! Want to go together?" I offered. She accepted my offer gratefully.

"Are you from America?" she asked suddenly as we were walking. "Yes. Yes I am," I answered cautiously. "Hmm…I've always wanted to go to America!" she said dreamily. "Could you take me there one day?" I grinned. "Sure!"

I like Emma. During Herbology, she told me more about herself. First of all, she was Pureblood and was born in England. Her father wanted her to attend Beauxbatons but she declined and told her father she wanted to go to Hogwarts. Her father agreed rather reluctantly, and she ended up here.

It was lunch and Emma came over to where I was sitting to make plans. Next week on Tuesday, we were going to meet at the library to do our homework.

I rested my head on my arm as I sat near the table in the Ravenclaw common room daydreaming until I finally fell asleep.