CHAPTER 12: GET USED TO IT
Ella woke up to the empty, cold, silent room she usually shared with three other Slytherin snobs. But she didn't understand why the room was empty. It was barely 4:30am. She had planned to get early to go running around the castle a couple times before breakfast.
Usually those girls were barely getting up when she got back, and then they could take forever choosing shades of eye-shadow. If Ella couldn't decide, she just wore them all. Then again, they used brushes and stuff while she just used a flick of her wrist.
Ella used her hands to push herself up into a sitting position. Something felt weird beneath her hands. Looking down, she saw why the girls had left so early.
Between her fingers were long black locks of hair. A tear fell down her face as she slowly reached up to touch where her waist-length hair had been. They had cut her long ebony locks so that they barely reached shoulder length.
Still in shock, she slowly began to pull off her blankets to go assess the damage in a mirror. As she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, something shimmering gold caught her eye.
The evil, sanity-stealing roommates had dyed some of the remains of her and spelled out 'Gryffindor Lover' in capital letters.
Ella's emotions went from sad to rage to vengeful in thirty seconds. They would all pay. A stupid house rivalry was no reason to butcher the hair she had taken so long to grow!
She would show them that they couldn't mess with her and get away with it.
Ella went on her run as usual, trying to think of a plan. Getting back a little early, she noticed the girls were back in bed.
Ella laughed and began to get ready for the day ahead. She took a shower and got together her outfit for the day's Hogsmeade trip. Ella decided to do something to bring attention to her and her hair.
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All done, Ella walked to the Great Hall for breakfast. She wore rainbow-striped stockings and a yellow tutu, a black corset with color-changing, glittery fishnets on her arms. And her make-up was… well, bright. She wore aqua-colored lipstick to match her temporary streaks in her hair and rainbow eye-shadow to match her stockings. Ella also wore black leather, platform, knee-high, lace-up boots with chains hanging on the sides and spikes on the toes. And last but not least, she had new aqua blue/green streaks. The new length of it allowed for Ella to style it in a half-teased, half-spiked manor. The unique approach at hair artistry had been inspired by the lead singer of a Muggle 80's rock band.
Once she was in the Great Hall, Ella squeezed in next to a very shocked pair of red-haired boys. In fact, practically all of the school had gone silent as she merely grabbed a goblet of pumpkin juice and took a bite of toast.
"Okay, okay, I'll go sit over there." the eccentric third year shook her head as she got to her feet and moved to the Slytherin table as everyone watched in stunned silence.
Ella snickered to herself at the awkward glances and silent stares. She was rather proud of herself. She had worn some weird stuff, but nothing THAT bizarre.
Even funnier than the complete silence was the fact that Analese, even though Ella had sat in between her and the twins, had barely noticed the outfit. She continued munching on her fourth chocolate muffin like nothing was going on. The twins slowly turned their heads from watching Ella to staring at Analese.
Without even looking up, she said, "You'll get used to it." and with that, the noise of another Hogwarts breakfast continued.
Marcus Flint, obviously thoroughly upset, stood quickly and marched over to Ella.
"Sinesstra, why are you wearing that? It doesn't flatter your hot body."
She stood, pissed that Flint would even think it was alright to say that to her. If he had just commented on her clothes, it would have been fine.
"I'm sorry," she said in an innocent voice, pouting. Analese watched from Gryffindor table, knowing that something bad was going to happen to Flint, not that she minded or anything. She hit the arguing twins and Oliver to watch the exchange across the hall.
"I thought you would like it," she used her finger to beckon him closer. Flint smiled as he moved right in front of her. "And I just wanted to apologize."
The twins and Oliver watched, and seeing the sincerity in Ella's face, sat dumbstruck. Analese was the only one to spot the mischievous glitter in her eyes as she leaned in to whisper in Flint's ear.
"I hope that," Ella stopped in mid-sentence and kicked him swiftly in the shin with her spiked boots, "that hurt like hell." she winked in Analese's direction as relief spread across a number of Gryffindor faces.
"You're lucky you have some talent for Quidditch, or you would have been off the team for that stunt." Flint spat as he gripped his shin and hopped around on his uninjured foot.
"Except, I'm one of the only decent players on the team," she shot back at him. "And I'm including the brooms." she turned away.
"Never should have let a girl on the team." the troll growled.
Ella rounded sharply, fury plainly painted on her features, "I CAN aim higher." she gave him a serious look, preparing to kick, "I'd be doing the world a favor by not letting you reproduce."
Analese smiled from where she sat and Ella moved to kick Flint again.
"Damn bitch." he muttered under his breath as he began to walk away.
"What did you just call me? Look who's talking, you no-brain, narrow-minded, butterfingered, no-talent, under-developed, troll-faced, perverted, suck-ass Chaser, bugger-breathed hack who needs to take a weed whacker to his uni-brow and is in desperate need of some dental work. I can continue, if you like."
When he said nothing, Ella sat back down to enjoy her breakfast, alone, while the other three houses broke out in wondrous applause.
The Gryffindors stood across the Hall, leading the standing ovation for Ella and her attack on the jackass Marcus Flint.
"I nearly believed she was going to kiss him," Lee commented as they contemplated Ella's genuine expression as she played up her innocence.
Analese laughed at this, knowing full well of Ella's acting ability. "Your mouths were almost to the floor," she chuckled.
Soon, once capable of being heard as the cheering had calmed to a dull roar, the guys began questioning her about how she knew Ella was faking, for they had all been fooled.
"She's my little sister," was her only response.
