"Dear Harry," I mumbled as I wrote my letter on the parchment paper in front of me.

I smiled watching Hedwig, try to play with Bluebelle, who was too hyper for the poor old owl. Hedwig jumped, avoiding Bluebell's playful pounce. Ruffling her feathers, Hedwig situated herself on the frame of my bed, where Bluebelle couldn't reach.

Looking back at the small piece of paper on my desk, so I could begin to write to one of my best friends, Harry Potter. It felt like just yesterday we were joking around at school with Hermione and Ron. Summer break had stretched on longer than usual and I was a bit excited to return back to Hogwarts to see my friends.

Placing the quill on the paper with a shaky hand I wrote . . .

𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝟏𝟑𝓽𝓱 𝓑𝓲𝓻𝓽𝓱𝓭𝓪𝔂!

      𝓡𝓸𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓶𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓡𝓸𝓷'𝓼 𝓹𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓸 𝓤𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓮 𝓥𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓸𝓷. 𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓼𝓸 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓻𝔂! 𝓘 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝔂 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮. 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼𝓷'𝓽 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝔂 𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓼.

      𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓡𝓸𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓶𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓲𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓷'𝓽, 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓮. 𝓜𝓻. 𝓦𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓸𝓷 𝓪 𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓹𝓻𝓲𝔃𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓪𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓱𝓮𝓽, 𝓼𝓸 𝓡𝓸𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓹𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓔𝓰𝔂𝓹𝓽 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓵𝓭, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓶𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓕𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓸𝓷 𝓱𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓭𝓪𝔂. 𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓳𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓼, 𝓸𝓯 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮. 

    𝓜𝔂 𝓶𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓭, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻. 𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 "𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓪𝓰𝓮", 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓼𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓽 𝓪𝓼 𝓒𝓔𝓞. 𝓘𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓽.

     𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓘 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓲𝓵𝓮𝓭, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓪𝓯𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓱𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓵𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓫𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓭.

     𝓐𝓷𝔂𝔀𝓪𝔂, 𝓘 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓮𝓷𝓳𝓸𝔂 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓰𝓲𝓯𝓽. 𝓘 𝓼𝓪𝔀 𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓷𝓪𝓭𝓪. 𝓘𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓲 𝓢𝓱𝓾𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓻. 𝓘𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓵 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝔂 𝓷𝓸𝓲𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓫𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓼. 𝓘 𝓯𝓲𝓰𝓾𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓪𝔂 𝓿𝓪𝓵𝓾𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓿𝓪𝓬𝔂 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓪𝓾𝓷𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓮.

      𝓡𝓸𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓶𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓽𝓱 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓫𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓛𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓸𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓴 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓿𝓪𝓬𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷. 𝓦𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓪𝓾𝓷𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓮 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓾𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮? 𝓘 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓷. 𝓘𝓯 𝓷𝓸𝓽, 𝓘'𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓗𝓸𝓰𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓼 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓢𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽!

𝓜𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮,

        𝓔𝓁𝓁𝒶 𝒜𝓂𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓈𝒾𝑜

As I finished signing my name, I heard a light knock on my door, followed by a precisely four heavy footsteps. I don't turn my head, allowing myself to wrap the parchment up in a light purple ribbon, and tie it to Hedwig as well as the wrapped gift parcel.

"Goodbye, Hedwig. See you soon," I smile at the white owl, as she chirps before flying away. Hedwig was kind enough to fly to everyone Harry knew and collect his birthday gifts to surprise him on his birthday.

Bluebelle mewls as Hedwig leaves, jumping up on my window seat to try and follow her before I grab the innocent kitty to stop her from plummetting to her death. She still hasn't grasped the concept that she isn't immortal...or a bird.

Finally turning around, I am graced with the sight of my new bodyguard, Fanrolf. He was a staunch old man with no sense of humor and a long nose, much like my godfather, Dumbledore. They were also alike in the fact that they were not men of many words.

I believe that my longest conversation with Fanrolf was ten minutes, with exception to an hour lunch break between.

Running my hands over Bluebelle's soft white fur, I acknowledge his presence, "What is it, Fanrolf?"

Fanrolf nods his head before saying in a slow drawl much like Professor Snape, "Your mother would like you to join her on her trip to London. She says that you should pack your bags for school. You won't be returning before you must go back to Hogwarts."

"Thank you," I nod my head, putting Bluebelle on her kitty tower, before walking into my closet to pack, "Will you bring my trunk in for me?"

"Yes, Miss Ella," Fanrolf says before exiting my room. 

I sigh, unable to handle his hard stare any longer.

I begin to pull out my clothes for my trip, making sure to add more regular clothes than normal since I would be allowed to go to Hogsmeade this year.

Grabbing the thin black Gryffindor sweater to go over the white button-up, a pair of tight black pants, and a pair of chunky black combat boots I found in my mom's old chest from school, I throw them all in my chest (I'll duplicate them later).

I had taken a fancy to the obnoxious boots after my mother had shown a discontent for the style. Ever since then, I had made sure to wear them every day along with black skinny jeans, which she believes, "is an unladylike form of attire."

From what I had seen in the past two years, third years usually didn't conform to the uniform anyway.

↤|🌊|↦

The next two weeks in London had to be the best time I've spent on summer vacation so far. Mom surprisingly allowed me to talk to the board about considering cruelty free testing.

I was able to deal with a dispute between a group of Veelas and the Ministry of Magic until they both came to a compromise, and I also was allowed to watch mom remove a mountain troll who had grown fond of Big Ben.

I was also able to get a lot of necessary shopping out of the way. I bought all of my school books as well as a few new quills and ink, since my old ones were becoming unusable.

I was currently, walking down Diagon Alley to meet up with Hermione who said that she would meet up with me here before we all left for school in the next few days.

I was about to turn around when I saw a certain boy with a lightning scar walking down the street. I felt a grin slowly form on my lips.

"Harry? You made it!"

I quickly rush towards him, pulling him into a small hug before pulling away to smile at him.

"Ella," Harry gasped, "You look . . . different."

I frown looking down at my clothes in confusion, "What do you mean?" I was just wearing a jean skirt with a loose white blouse along with the boots.

Harry seemed perplexed on how to respond as he stared at my boots before looking up to me with a knowing smile, "Your mum doesn't like them does she?"

I wink as him with a small grin.

"Ella! Harry!," I whip my long hair around to see Hermione and Ron wildly waving us over from the ice cream shop across the street. I smile running over to pull Ron in a hug.

Hermione quickly pulls Ron away and gives me a small hug before breaking apart to grab my hair, "You cut your hair?"

I nod, remembering my mother telling me that I needed to look more organized, and that hair dragging on the floor was not acceptable, "Yeah. Do you like it?" I had cut it to my waist so it was still fairly long.

Hermione nods, in amazement, "It looks great." She smiled at me before turning away to look at Harry.

"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" Hermione said in a very serious voice.

My eyes widen as I look at Hermione and Ron, in confusion. 

"No hug?" Harry jokes but none of us say anything. He sighs, "I didn't mean to," Harry defended, causing Ron and me to howl in laughter. "I just — lost control."

I didn't know exactly what happened but I figured Harry must have had a run-in with the Dursley's.

"It's not funny," said Hermione piercingly, looking at Ron and me with reproachful looks. "Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled."

"So am I," admitted Harry. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested." Harry turned to Ron. "Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?"

"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" shrugged Ron, still chuckling. "Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me. Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione's there as well! And so is Ella."

Hermione nodded, proudly. "Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning with all my Hogwarts things."

I lightly smile, "And my mom is giving me my last night off."

"Excellent!" said Harry happily. "So, have you got all your new books and stuff?"

"Look at this," said Ron, pulling a long thin grey box from his bag. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we've got all our books —"

He pointed at a large bag under his chair. "What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two."

"What's all that, Hermione?" I asked pointing at the three huge bags filled with books.

"Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I?" Hermione said, turning around to reveal all her different textbooks. "Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, The Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies —"

"What are you doing Muggle Studies for?" Ron scoffed. "You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles!"

"But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view," said Hermione sincerely, she looks at me pointedly, "I'd suggest you take a few more classes as well."

I shake my head, with a light laugh, "No way," I look at the boys with a smirk, "If I had it my way, I'd be able to get out of divination and move into another free period."

Hermione glared at me before solemnly saying, "I wish you would apply yourself, Ella. You could easily be one of the best students at Hogwarts."

I smile at Hermione, pulling her in a side hug, "I'll leave that to you."

"I can't believe you are yelling Ella to take another course, " Ron said fingering one of her books.

"I mean, are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?" asked Harry, while Ron and I snickered. Hermione ignored us, however, sipping her tea in silence.

"I've still got ten Galleons," she said, checking her wallet. "It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present."

"How about a nice book?" said Ron innocently, although we could all hear the mocking undertone.

"No, I don't think so," said Hermione maturely. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol —"

"I haven't," said Ron. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers." Ron said pulling out his pet rat out of his pocket. "And I want to get him checked over," he added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. I push my food away, no longer hungry. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him."

Scabbers was looking weaker than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers. He even looked a little green.

"There's a magical creature shop just over there," Harry said pointing somewhere to the left. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl," Harry turned to me, "And where's Bluebelle?"

"She is in our room," I answer, "She is way to jittery to stay outdoors."

"Are you all done?" the kind worker asks us. He was a rather old man, with a large nose and thick eyebrows.

"Yes," I smile pulling out my wallet and paying for everyone, much to their protests, "Thank you."

I shrug, "Don't worry about it. I am just glad we are all together for the start of a new year."

We all got up to leave and walk to the small pet store that seemed to be bursting with animals. The inside was filled with cages covering every free space on the wall and ceiling. To make it all the more hectic, they all seemed to be squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing.

I didn't know how the witch behind the counter could manage working here every day, but she did, calmly helping a man on how to care for his double-ended newts.

A wrinkled my nose at a pair of enormous purple toads wetly gulping on dead blowflies. The was beautiful gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window. Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise. There were also cats, in every color imaginable, a cage of noisy ravens, a basket of funny custard-colored furballs that were humming loudly (I made a note to stay away from the mysterious things), and on the counter, an enormous cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.

Once the man at the counter left, satisfied with his purchase, Ton approached the counter, lifting Scabbers so the witch could see, "It's my rat. He been a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt," he told the witch who was bored chewing gum, her black hair pulled up in a crazy ponytail half up half down style with white highlights making it really stand out.

"Bang him on the counter," said the witch, curling her black lips into a smile, revealing a bit of her pink bubblegum.

Ron carefully placed Scabbers on the counter, warily watching the young emo witch, who looked like she wouldn't mind killing Scabbers for some demonic shrine.

The other rats scuttled closer to the wire cage to view Scabbers in interest. I could hear them all talking, and knew they were mocking him when a few began to laugh.

I lean down to the nosy creatures with a kind smile, "Nobody wants to buy a nosy rat," I smirk at the disgusting creatures as they blow raspberries at me. I hate rats.

Scabbers did look back, though. Especially since he used to be Percy's old pet, making him look even more worn out. Compared to the sleek rats in the cage, Scabbers was not the best.

"Hm," said the witch, poking at Scabbers, before picking him up and bringing him really close to her face. "How old is this rat?"

"Dunno," Ron said, his cheeks turning a light pink color. "Quite old. He used to belong to my brother."

"What powers does he have?" said the witch, twitching her nose up, making her silver nose ring to glimmer in the light.

"Er —" Ron trailed off. Scabbers never displayed any abnormal abilities, other than his large appetite.

The witch's eyes flickered to Scabber's feet, eyeing a missing toe on his right paw, "He's been through the mill, this one," she said.

"He was like that when Percy gave him to me," clarified Ron defensively.

"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so," the witch shrugged before grinning. "Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these —"

She designated Ron to the rude black rats, who hastily started skipping again. Ron rolled his eyes before muttering, "Show-offs."

The witch's eyes narrowed before she curled her lips in a hard smile, "Well if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic." She reached under the counter and pulled out a red bottle.

"Okay," Ron frowned. "How much — OUCH!"

Ron buckled as a huge orange ball of fur came falling from the air, aiming to land on Ron's bright red hair. Before jumping off to attack Scabbers.

"NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" The young witch cried, suddenly her dark eyes widening in worry, while Scabbers leaped out of her hands landed splay-legged on the floor, and then sped for the door.

I pushed myself off the counter that I was leaning on and ran after the rat, knowing Ron cared about the pet. I pushed the door open and rushed to follow Scabbers, who seemed to be running as far away as possible.

It took us, well mostly Ron, nearly ten minutes to grab Scabbers, who had taken refuge under a wastepaper bin outside Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry and I mostly looked at the window of the shop at the new Thunderbolt.

Ron stuffed the trembling rat back into his pocket and straightened up, massaging his crown. "What was that?"

"It was either a very big cat or quite a small tiger," Harry smiled, before looking around. "Where's Hermione?"

I stuff my hands in my sweater pockets looking around, "Probably getting her owl —"

We all began to walk back to the Magical Menagerie, the pet store we walked into before.

As we approached the door, Hermione walked out, but she wasn't carrying an owl cage. She was holding the ginger ball of fur that attacked Ron a few minutes ago. After close analysis, I began to realize that it was a cat.

"You bought that monster?" Ron said flabbergasted. He looked almost hurt by Hermione's purchase.

"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" said Hermione, glowing.

"Absolutely," I try to hide my wince with a small smile as I nodded my head. I turn to look at the boys who are staring at the cat in disgust and discreetly pinch their backs causing Harry to follow my statement with fake praise of his own, causing Hermione's grin to widen. Ron simply swatted me away, clearly not happy.

The cat was ugly. Ron did have a point. The ginger feline had thick fur that appeared to be matted and was terribly obese as it wore a grumpy expression with a squashed looking face like he ran into a wall and never recovered.

"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" Ron finally spoke up.

"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" Hermione asked the cat in a baby voice.

"And what about Scabbers?" said Ron, pointing at the shaking lump in his chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"

Harry and I began to walk into the main area of the Leaky Cauldron, with Ron and Hermione arguing behind us.

"I'm warning you, Hermione. Keep that beast away from Scabbers, or I'll turn it into a tea cozy." Ron threatened, pulling his rat closer to him. Why is Ron so defensive of Scabbers this year? I remember there was a time when we used to experiment on the thing.

"It's a cat, Ronald. What do you expect? It's in his nature." Hermione defended with an irked look, Ron was already fighting a losing battle.

"A cat?!" Ron exclaimed. "Is that what they told you? Ella owns a cat, you own a pig with hair!"

I silently laugh. They would go at it for hours if Harry and I weren't around.

"That's rich coming from the owner of that smelly old shoe brush," Hermione hissed, causing Ron to kiss the nasty rat and shoot the brunette a glare.

"Crookshanks, just ignore the mean little boy," Hermione purred to her pet cat.

I wince at the name, unable to listen any longer, "Really, 'Mione? You couldn't have named it something prettier. Ron's right, ya know, she isn't exactly the most beautiful cat," I smirk.

"Finally, someone who can see," Ron mutters in my ear.

Crookshanks meows, causing us to look at her. She was on the floor watching a sleepy Bluebelle approach, although the minute she saw another animal in the room, Bluebelle began to bounce with joy. She had found herself a playmate.

Ron clears his throat before looking at me with worry, "I'd keep Bluebelle away if I were you."

"I think it is cute," Hermione smiles at me before glowering at Ron, walking away to the fireplace. "That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic," said Hermione, slapping the small red bottle into Ron's hand. "And stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers in yours, what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."

"I wonder why," Ron sarcastically mutters to Harry and me, causing us to snicker behind Hermione's back.

Mr. Weasley's booming voice caused our eyes to move up and see Mr. Weasley, "Harry!" he said, smiling. "How are you?"

"Fine, thanks," Harry replied with an awkward smile you could only have when talking to your friend's family.

Mr. Weasley put down the newspaper he was holding in his hands. Harry's eyes quickly flew to the headlines, "They still haven't caught him, then?"

"No," Mr. Weasley said with a small frown. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."

Find who?

"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" asked Ron. "It'd be good to get some more money —"

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," Mr. Weasley said as he looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, you mark my words."

At that moment Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Percy and Ginny.

"Collie!" The twins both shouted running towards me and lifting me up in the air, ignoring Mrs. Weasley's feverish attempts to make them stop.

"Looks like you could use a pick me up, after the day you have been having," Fred said before George followed with, "Too bad mom wouldn't let us buy those flying sandals for you."

Why would I need a pick me up?

I giggle as they throw me in the air for the third time, "Thanks" They put me down just as Percy walks up to me with a smile, "Good to see you, Ella."

"Hey, Percy," I smile, trying not to laugh as the twins pretend to die of boredom behind Percy.

Mrs. Weasley swatted them all away before placing a kiss on my forehead, "Nice to see you, dear."

Mrs. Weasley then turned to Harry, with a bright smile, "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride.

"And last," Fred muttered under his breath.

"I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning as she looked between the twins and Ron. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."

"What do we want to be prefects for?" George scoffed, looking pale at the idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life."

Ginny and I giggled.

"You want to set a better example for your sister and Ella!" snapped Mrs. Weasley.

"Ella and Ginny have got other brothers to set an example, Mother," said Percy loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner. . . ."

He disappeared causing George to let out a deep breath before turning to Harry and me, "We tried to shut him in a pyramid,, but Mum spotted us."

Dinner that night was loads of fun. Tom, the innkeeper that night, pushed three tables together so all seven of the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, and I could eat our way through five delicious courses.

"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" Fred asked, his mouth half full of chocolate pudding.

"Don't speak with food in your mouth," Mrs. Weasley pointed her fork at her son.

"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," Mr. Weasley answered, causing everyone to look up at him.

"Why?" Percy said. It was the first time I had heard him not have an answer to something.

"It's because of you, Perce," George said in the same proud tone that Mrs. Weasley had a second ago. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them —"

"— for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.

Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pud-

ding.

"Why is the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked

again, in a formal voice.

"Well, as we haven't got one anymore," said Mr. Weasley, "— and as I work there, they're doing me a favor —"

I put my fork down before looking up at Mr. Weasley in curiosity, "Is it about that man you and Harry were talking about? The criminal?"

Everyone appeared to stop what they were doing to stare at me. I heard Ginny whisper to Hermione, "Is she asking about Sirius Black?"

Mr. Weasley dabbed his mouth with his napkin before curtly answering, "Let's not discuss this here, hmm." I didn't mention it again.

His voice was casual, but I knew there was more to the story based off of his posture and the red tint to his cheeks, that he only had when under pressure.

"Good thing, too," said Mrs. Weasley rapidly. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground. . . . You are all packed, aren't you?"

"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," reported Percy, in a long drawl. "He's dumped them on my bed."

"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning," Mrs. Weasley called down the table, giving him a pointed look. I could hear Ron, kick Percy under the table.

After dinner, we were all too full and sleepy to talk any longer. One by one we each made our way upstairs to our rooms to check our things for the next day and get some rest. Hermione and I decided to share a room, since it didn't make sense to pay for our own, so after informing Tom of our accommodations, Hermione walked upstairs behind the twins with me following close behind her.

Hermione was the first to walk into our room, causing me to rush behind the twins and slip into their room before Fred closed the door.

"What are you doing Collie," Fred furrowed his eyebrows, before saying in the fakest innocent voice I have ever heard, "I have to go to bed at eight o'clock or mother will punish me."

George nodded, crossing his arms like a toddler, "I have half a mind to tell daddy about you."

I roll my eyes, looking around to make sure no one is around, "Who is Sirius Black? And why did Mr. Weasley avoid the topic when I mentioned him?"

Both the twins look at each other, with a slight sense of unease before Fred clams up and George crosses his arms with a light smile, glad to finally have more knowledge than me, "Wish we could tell you, Collie, but we can't," he winces in fake dismay, before they both move to leave.

"That's too bad," I frown pulling out a shiny golden badge just before Percy's screeching voice is heard through the walls.

"Where is my Head Boy badge?"

Both the twins stop in their tracks. I can already see their fingers twitching to grab the precious possession in my hands.

I had half a mind to step back as I notice the wild look in their eyes.

 "So," I feel my lips curl into a Cheshire grin, "What did you want to tell me about Black?"