| Dugbog
Join Date: May 2010 Location: Iowa , United States
Posts: 141
Second Year | 
Thanks for the comments, It feels so good to be finished. But dont worry there will be more, and the ideas I have her fifth year will be crazy to say the least.
Disclaimer: Everything Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling
Chapter 23
The only thing Ella felt was the rain that started to fall. Her body was numb, as was her mind. Everything that had transpired was blank to her as she sat on the bleachers alone. Wiping away a tear, or a raindrop she didn’t know she felt the presence of someone staring at her.
“Ella, please come inside, get warm.”
Ella didn’t flinch. She kept staring strait at the maze.
“It’s not your fault.”
As the rain began to fall in more amounts, Ella took her wand and thought deep and hard and transfigured a stick into an umbrella.
“Hey, you’ve been practicing your spells.” Snape spoke proudly.
When Ella finally did speak it wasn’t to acknowledge her spells.
“I should of new something was up when he knew about the tournament.”
“You thought. I mean, everyone thought he was a professor.” Snape said sitting down.
“He got me in the back. When I ran to find you, he caught up with me and stunned me.”
Ella began to tear up. “It hurt, I haven’t felt anything like that before.”
“Its not like dueling.” “When you actually want to cause physical pain to someone, the spell enhances.” Snape said calmly.
Ella nodded.
“Next thing I know I am waking up in a broom closet.”
“How did you get out?”
“ He didn’t take my wand.” Ella said in a half smile.
“When I finally got to you, Harry appeared with Cedric.” Ella’s eyes filled up.
“He was the one who put out the fire in the Gryffindor common room, wasn’t he?”
Snape nodded.
“I feel like a failure.”
“Don’t.”
“If you wouldn’t have grabbed me and told me about what Mad Eye, we wouldn’t of got to Potter in time.”
“Who is he, I mean the fake Moody.”
“ Barty Crouch Jr.” “ Vile, serpent of a man.”
“ He is being shipped back to Azkaban”
“He’s back isn’t he?” Ella said remembering Harry’s screams that Voldermort had killed Cedric.
“Yes.”
The clouds grew fearsome and the rain enhanced, but Ella and Snape sat there in silence.
Walking into Hogwarts to the sounds of crying was not a good experience. Ella, herself was in pain, and still in shock of the events that had transpired, so hearing the cries from the other students drained her completely. She didn’t want to seek out Harry. He would be too busy and tired himself to visit.
Quickly she ran up to the common room and maneuvered herself through the other Gryffindor students who were in shock.
When she reached her bed, a flood of tears poured out. Ohio seemed so far away.
When she awoke, it had been late in the morning.
Trying to get out of the bed was an issue in itself.
Her back still aching terribly prohibited her from pushing herself up. Finally after many failed attempts she got up and tried to make sense of everything.
It seemed as if she wasn’t the only one who was trying to normalize the situation. Hermione was up ready and sitting in a chair thinking.
“Hey.” Ella said, wanting to hit herself for the lack of better term.
“Oh Hi.” “I haven’t seen you since yesterday before the task.
Ella told her the entire story.
“I am so sorry” Ella said
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” The friends hugged.
“Do you want to see Harry?”
“Yes” “ We need to get Ron.” Ella said trying to see if he was in the room.
“He is with his family.” Hermione said.
Grabbing her cloak, Ella headed for the door with Hermione.
“Harry, how are you feeling.” Ella said trying to coax Harry.
“Very. Sleepy.” He said closing his eyes after each word.
“I brought down your blanket.” Hermione said wrapping him up in it as she spoke.
“What did I tell you about going into the boys dormitory.” Harry tried to laugh.
Ella smiled.
“Harry, I just wanted to let you know, we are proud of you and we want you to rest up.” Ella turning away
“There is so much to tell” Harry said trying to get the words out.
“Shh.Rest.” Hermione said
'“You guys are the best.” He slept soundly as they walked away.
================
“Ella, are you ok?” Hermione stopped behind Ella, clearly seeing her tense up as she walked.
Ella pulled her shirt back to reveal a hideous bruise on her lower back.
Startled Hermione couldn’t speak.
“It looks horrible.”
“I know, don’t worry, I have some herbs. Harry was put through way worse, that’s all I can say.”
They walked into the great hall.
“For some reason, I cant even taste this food.” Neville said pushing back is breakfast.
“Me either.” Ella said
“I cant believe he is gone.” Ella said seeing a very upset Cho Chang.
“Its hard to believe.” Hermione glanced over to the Hufflepuff table where everyone was crying.
“At least Karkaroff is gone, that coward.” Ella said
“Especially for your sake.” Hermione said Ella nodded and went back to picking at her food.
======================
Days went by before Harry made his appearance since the task. Still wary he
did his best to get along.
“Dumbledore told everyone not to ask you about what happened.” Hermione said
Harry just nodded.
Ella couldn’t imagine what Harry was going through.
“You don’t have to blame yourself” Ella spoke very softly
“Ella we are not talking about it.” Ron said.
“I feel blame too.” Ella told her side of the story. She even showed him her bruise.“ Listen, tell us what happened when your ready.” “But I wanted to let you know, you’re not the only one struggling with feelings of guilt.”
Ella let out a sigh
“Why is it that when you tell me a story, I have the feeling that you omit certain details?”
Harry knew she directed the question to him. “I am sorry, I just. You are going through a lot and I don’t want to make you stress even more.”
“Harry, that’s a sorry excuse.” “I want us to be friends, and being a friend is sometimes hearing what you might not like to hear. I am big girl, I can take it.”
“Now, are you going to be at the Weasley’s when I come?” Ella smiled.
“I hope so, Dumbledore wants me back at my Aunt and Uncles for a while.”
“ I want to go see Hagrid.” Harry said.
“Ok” Ron and Hermione said together.
“I am going to write some letters, I guess I should tell my parents everything is ok.” Ella said grabbing some parchment.
“ Neville, do you have an extra quill?” “ I cant seem to find mine.”
“ Yeah sure.”
“ Thanks.”
Mom and Dad,
Everything is ok. Be home soon.
-Ella
Jenny,
Hey miss and love you. Everything is ok.
-Ella
“ That’s all your writing?” Neville said glancing over.
“ Yeah, they will see me soon.” Ella knew she should have to write more , but she couldn’t.
Gathering her things, she quickly made the trek to the owlery to send them out.
“Chauncey, Chauncey,” She called out. After a few more times, her beloved owl flew to her shoulder.
She stood there for awhile admiring him, until she was disturbed my some
other fellow students.
“Hey Ella.” Amanda Burns was a quiet Ravenclaw student with long blonde hair.
“ Hey Amanda.”
“ I am sending my parents a letter.”
“ Me too.”
“Maybe next year we can hang out more.”
“Definitely” Ella said brushing a leaf off her owl.
Walking over to the window she lifted her hand out, so Chauncey could fly out.
Watching him fly into the evening sky was memorizing to her. After a few minutes, the brisk air was too cool for her and she went back to the castle. Walking the halls Ella finally ended up in the room of her destination.
“ Professor, I know your busy with everyone that is going on, but I just wanted to tell you I am sorry.”
“My dear, do not worry.” Professor McGonagall said moving around the room almost catlike.
“Thanks for the year.” Ella said smiling. As much as she hated to say it McGonagall was a great Professor.
============================
Ella brushed her hair and straitened her robes. She had survived her first year at Hogwarts. Barely.
Placing her hat on her head, and gathering her belongings she made way to the Leaving Feast. At Salem, not only were the students and professors there, but also the parents. The festivities included games and awards. Ella knew this night would not be like the ones she had experience before.
It already felt like a funeral procession, most of the students were lined up in a single file line and slowly walked in marching fashion into the great hall.
As they entered Ella saw the black drapes covering the walls and got chills. A dark contrast to what she experienced her first day so many months ago.
After Dumbledore made his speech about Cedric, he made a toast to Harry for his bravery. Ella raised her goblet high at this toast, for Harry had shown her what the true meaning of what being Gryffindor entailed.
“ I am going to miss this place, its like its my home now.”
Ron smiled.
“ Its mine too.” Harry said.
Looking back at the solemn appearance of the teachers, she noticed Snape was back.
“He looks stressed.” Ella said noting his appearance
“Everyone is.” Hermione said.
“I can’t believe this is our last night, I mean this year went by so fast.” Ella
pushed around her food not wanting the night to end.
“It always does.” Ron said with a mouth full of potatoes.
“I am figuring about the middle of August I will be at the burrow. It gives me at least two weeks to hang before the new school year.” Ella couldn’t wait for the time she could spend with her friends.
“Harry, Ella, Hermione, Wow we will definitely have a full house!” Ginny said very excited.
The group finished there food and mingled with the other houses. The feast was about to end and Ella had the feeling the eyes of a certain Slytherin on her.
“ Ella can we talk.” Draco said.
“ No”
“ Please.” His voice went loud and the whole Slytherin table looked there way.
“ Make it quick” Ella’s face was glowing a bright crimson color.
She followed him to the corridor right off the entrance to the hall.
“I am sorry for this year.” Malfoy began to shake.
“ I feel like we could have been something , and frankly I ruined it.”
Ella took in what he was saying and paused before she began to speak.
“ I need to be strong, and unfortunately I went under your spell.” Pausing again she struggled for the words “ I hate myself for getting messed up with you.” “There will never be something between us.” Ella took a deep breath and walked away. She didn’t know why her stomach fluttered when he talked or why she couldn’t breathe around him, but she did know he would never be good enough for her.
“ You ok?” Ron said seeing the obviously pale Ella. Ella noticed he was the only one left.
“ It feels as if I cant breath.” Ella said taking deep breaths.
“
What did he want?”
“ To apologize .” The words dripped like poison out of her mouth. Her disdain for admitting that at one point she would have accepted made her feel disgusted.
“Lets go” Ron ushered her out the door past the sniggering Slytherins.
“ You’re a good person Ron Weasley.”
“ I try.” They both laughed as they walked the halls of the school.
“ The good ones are always spoken for” Ella whispered.
“ What?”
“ Nothing.”
===========================
Reaching the common room Ella could see Hermione and Harry playing some chess. The atmosphere had lightened and while some students were packing others were playing games. They stayed up until they couldn’t keep there eyes open any longer.
Once Ella awoke she found her belongings already packed. She looked out the window to see the other students huddled in groups passing notes and giving hugs. Getting ready she finally took a step back and looked at her bed. I am going to miss this. She thought to herself.
“Ready?” Harry said peaking into the already cracked door.
“Yep.”
Everyone made there way for the train.
“ Miss. Greene.” He sounded very formal.
“I will send you an owl. I hope your summer vacation goes well. Keep studying.” He was trying to keep up the appearance of a concerned professor rather than the father letting his daughter go.
“See you soon.” Ella smiled and turned to walk away. She couldn’t allow there secret to be revealed.
Making her way to one of the compartments the group settled in.
“ I am going to tell you what happened.” Harry said taking a deep breath.
He went into detail; so much it was as if Ella could feel the pain radiate off him. She couldn’t believe what he had went through.
“Your so brave.” She said aloud.
“You are too.” Ella smiled.
“I also have something to tell everyone.” Hermione pulled a jar out of her bag.
“Meet Rita Skeeter.”
Hermione went on to say how she found out Rita was an Animagus.
Ella couldn’t stop laughing at the thought of Rita flying around Hogwarts as a bug. The thought of it was unconceivable to her.
====================
“You picked the wrong side Potter!” The door flung open to Draco Malfoy with
Crabbe and Goyle grinning like goons.
“Voldermort is back, and Cedric is only the first to die!!!”
Ella saw the twitch in Harry’s eye and took her wand out. Apparently
everyone had the same idea, because before she knew it the smoke cleared
and all the three Slyterhins were unconscious.
“ Well they should be out for a while” George said stepping over the bodies.
“Yeah, um 6 people all different jinxes; they shouldn’t be bothering anyone the rest of the trip.” Fred smiled.
Joining the group they brought much needed fun and excitement. Though Voldermort had returned they needed a reminder that they still were just kids.
============================================
Ella hugged each of her friend’s goodbye.
“I will seriously send an owl out everyday. Watch for Chauncey” Ella smiled at
Ron rolling his eyes.
==========================
Ella said her goodbyes and walked towards her parents who were waiting near the entrance of the station. Walking closer she noticed her father had a scowl on his face.
“Got your grades today.” “Ella Rae Greene you are grounded.”
“ Than goodness I am only staying for a couple of weeks.” Ella said under her breath.
“ You will not be able to watch TV, hang out with friends, go on the computer, play games..”
He kept it going the whole way home. Listing each thing she wouldn’t be able to do this summer.
Ella closed her eyes and pictured herself swimming with her friends, laughing with her father and meeting her grandparents for the first time. She smiled and the noise and congestion of London seemed to die away.
The End.
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