The Best of Friends

Chapter Two

"Ella! Wake up Ella we're going to be late for breakfast!" Carrie had been up for an hour already, waiting to see when Ella would get up.

"Fifteen minutes, Carrie, please?" Ella was not a morning person.

"If you don't get up now I'll dump water on your head!"

Ella's eyes popped open, and she immediately jumped out of bed and started running about the room. Ten minutes later they were walking down to breakfast, completely dressed and completely awake.

James, Eddie, Cael, and Derrick were already sitting at the breakfast table, across from Sara and Hannah. As Carrie and Ella sat down they were given their schedules.

"Potions, followed by Defense against the Dark Arts, and then Transfiguration after lunch. Wonderful. All the classes you actually have to work hard at, all in one day." Cael was dreading Mondays.

"Don't worry, Cael," James said. "Defense isn't that hard."

"Doesn't matter," Hannah said. "Mondays will always be horrible."

"Why?" asked Carrie.

"Potions."

:D

Carrie, Hannah, Ella, and Sara reached the potions classroom before anyone else. Ella had led them through a bunch of passages that she'd remembered from the Marauders Map. They sat at the table in the back corner, and were soon followed by the Gryffindor boys, who sat at the table in front of them.

After a few minutes of mindless chatter, the Slytherins walked in. All five of them.

"Can you believe it?" Carrie whispered. "Even Ravenclaw had more students than them, and there aren't always a lot of kids that are seriously studious, especially at our age."

As Sal Malfoy walked in, Hannah gave him a huge grin. "You were right, Sal. I did end up in Gryffindor."

"How did a Snape end up in Gryffindor, I wonder?"

"The same way a Malfoy ended up in Slytherin, Salazar." Hannah gave him a cold look, and Malfoy sat down as far away from her as possible.

Ella shivered. Remind me never to get on her bad side.

Just then Professor Snape walked in. Ella noticed that he had the same endless black eyes as Hannah.

"I am Professor Snape, and I will do my best to teach you the complex art of potion making. However, if you are anything like the usual group of dimwits that I am sent, you'll hardly be able to create a simple forgetfulness potion. This is not a class that you can play around in. Someone might just get hurt." He sneered at James and Eddie, as if expecting them to explode any time.

Snape started taking roll. At the name 'Longbottem' he smirked at Cael, and said, "Your father was hopeless at potions, Longbottem. One can only hope that you will do better." He sneered at Carrie's name, but was expressionless when he came to Malfoy. And then, he came to Ella and James.

"Ah, yes, we cannot forget the notorious Potter twins. I will not be showing any favoritism, rest assured." Snape gave James and Ella a look of uttermost loathing. They each gave him a sweet smile in return. Ella raised her hand.

"Thank you so much Professor. James and I believe that we shouldn't be treated any different than the other students, just because of who our father is." All Snape could do was stare, as Ella smiled yet again.

"Good," he growled, as soon as he recovered his voice. He finished calling out names, passing his daughter's without comment.

The class wore on, with Professor Snape lecturing about the properties of different ingredients that they would be using in a Helium Brew next week. It makes your voice extremely high pitched, but only for about two hours. Snape even forgot to ask anyone a question that they wouldn't have known without reading the entire potions textbook, while in possession of a photographic memory.

:D

When Potions ended, James and Ella left the classroom before anyone else was even finished packing up their stuff.

"I wonder what's up with them?" Sara said, as the Gryffindors escaped the dungeons.

"We have Defense next," Carrie answered.

James and Ella arrived at the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom just before class started. The sat down in between Hannah and Cael in the back of the room.

"Well, since we're all here and barely on time," Harry Potter gave his children a pointed look. "We should probably start class."

"First of all, my name is Harry Potter. I have never taught before, so instead of calling me 'Professor', just call me 'Harry', 'Hey You!', or 'Dad', whatever the case may be. And none of that 'Boy-Who-Lived' business either, because I'm just your average wizard, and in case you haven't yet noticed I'm not exactly a kid any more.

"Secondly, I really don't care about what the rest of the world thinks, but in this classroom Voldemort-" Sara and Eddie noticeably flinched at this, while Derrick was merely confused. Harry gave the first two an impatient look. "As I was saying, Voldemort will be called by his taken name. If I hear anyone calling him 'You-Know-Who' in this classroom, it will be five points, no matter what house they are in."

Derrick raised his hand nervously.

"Yes? Please tell me your names, when you speak, unless I already know you, that is."

"I-I'm Derrick Hershey. I was wondering... who exactly is Voldemort? No one's told me, so..."

"That's alright, Derrick," Harry said. "I didn't know who he was until my first year at school either. I'd been living with Muggle relatives."

"Years ago there was a student at Hogwarts named Tom Riddle. He was in Slytherin, but not many knew that he was in fact, the heir of Salazar Slytherin." The entire class was silent, listening intently.

"Tom Riddle opened the Chamber of Secrets in his sixth year, and killed one of his classmates; her ghost resides in the girls' bathroom on the second floor. He framed one of my friends, who was expelled for it. After he left school he murdered his father and grandparents, they were Muggles, and he despised them. His mother had died in childbirth.

"Tom Riddle went on to recruit followers to further his power, and do dastardly dark deeds. He called these followers Death Eaters. Throughout all this he was always looking for a way to become immortal, to cheat death. Many who stood in his path to absolute power died, or were forcibly bent to his will through the imperious curse. Muggles were murdered for fun. The days were dark indeed.

"One day, Professor Dumbledore was interviewing someone for a teaching post. This person uttered a prophecy concerning Tom Riddle... and myself." Harry looked around at the class to see their reactions to this. Ella and James were glaring at him. They hadn't heard about the prophecy yet. There would be hell to pay when they next found him alone. Carrie looked fearful for him, and it reminded him sharply of Remus Lupin. Sara and Cael just looked scared, and Eddie looked similar. Derrick looked slightly terrified, as this was all news to him. Hannah Snape alone remained impassive. Guards her emotions better than Snape, Harry thought. He's always smirking evilly...

"Tom Riddle came after me. He murdered my parents, and then..." He took a deep breath, trying to block out any and all memories of dementors.

"He tried to kill me. But it backfired, and I've got the scar to prove it." Some of the students smiled at this. Maybe Ella and James wouldn't remember about the prophecy. Yeah, right.

"Almost everyone thought that he was dead. But he wasn't. In my fourth year, he..." Memories of Cedric Diggory popped up, and Harry pushed them back. Maybe this wasn't something he should be telling first years...

"At the end of my fifth year, the Minister of Magic officially announced the return of Lord Voldemort, the twisted excuse for what was once Tom Riddle."

Class ended, and most of the students left to go to lunch. But Ella and James stayed behind.

"If it bothers you," Ella began,

"You don't have to tell us about the prophecy. But remember," James said,

"That we'll always be here for you," Ella finished.

"You guys are going to be late for lunch," Harry said, smiling gratefully.

"No we won't," James said, eyes sparkling.

:D

Ella and James ate tuna sandwiches quietly while the rest of the first years and some Ravenclaw third years were talking excitedly about they're first Defense against the Dark Arts class.

"I wonder why he suddenly opens up?" James whispered. "He never talks about that kind of stuff. Ever. It's almost like he's scared that something's going to happen and no one will know his side of the story."

"Maybe he figured people would ask him questions all the time during class, and he wanted it done with before his lessons were interrupted." Ella replied. "Anyway, you should be more worried about what he's going to do when he finds the Weasleys Wizard Wheezes Butt-Biter you planted on his chair."

"Did someone say Weasleys Wizard Wheezes Butt-Biter?" Carrie asked, grinning from ear to ear.

"Tell me I did not just hear that," mumbled a prefect sitting nearby.

At that moment they heard a sharp yelping from the direction of the staff table.

"That's our cue!" James said, as he and Ella fled the Great Hall.

"James Potter! I know you did this!" Snape's voice came thundering towards them.

"Oh no!" Ella whispered. "You put in on his chair?"

Laughter rang out as the students saw a bright red butt-print painted on the back of Snape's robes.

James grinned, and yelled back at Snape as they ran through the Entrance Hall, "Prove it!"

:D

The Transfiguration classroom was buzzing with conversation when Professor McGonagall arrived.

"Did you see his face?" "Hilarious!" "That's one for the record books, there."

"Quiet." Professor McGonagall would not put up with any nonsense.

"In case anyone did not know, my name is Minerva McGonagall, Professor McGonagall to you." She gave them all a very stern look, as if they were all Marauders in the making, just waiting to go out in the world and produce mischief. She continued on. "I am also the Head of Gryffindor House, and will not hesitate to take points from my own house if you misbehave.

"On the other hand, Transfiguration is a wonderful subject, and I hope you all do well. In this class you will be changing tortoises to teapots, and pillows to puppies, but for now we will work on changing matches to needles. Any questions?"

"Are you really an animagus?" Eddie asked.

"Yes, but-"

"What's an animagus?" Derrick asked.

"An animagus is a person who can turn into an animal." Professor McGonagall replied. "Your 'inner animal', as some people may say."

"How do you find out what your inner animal is?" Carrie asked, the first person to raise her hand.

"You meditate for five minutes, after casting the animus charm. That's enough questions for now, I think. Get to work on your matches."

About five minutes before class ended, Carrie and the Potters raised their hands.

"Yes?" Professor McGonagall queried.

"We've done it," Carrie answered.

"But how..." Professor McGonagall muttered. "Let me see." She strode over and picked up three shiny, silvery needles. She checked them thoroughly, and, seemingly satisfied, gave them back.

"Not even Hermione Weasley was able to accomplish that in one class. How did you?" she asked curiously.

"We've sat in on some of your first year classes before," James said. Professor McGonagall's eyebrows shot upwards.

"Invisibly," Ella added.

Professor McGonagall now looked to Carrie. "And you?" she asked.

"I've always been good at Transfiguring things," she said, her eyes turning a sort of yellowish color in the irises, as they sometimes did when she was nervous or angry. 'And we practiced a little on the train, to see if we could manage anything."

"Eddie was sitting with us too," Ella added.

When the professor turned to look at Eddie's match/needle, it was silvery and pointy, but it was quite plain that it was still slightly wooden.

"The practice probably reacts differently with different people. Eddie would probably need to either read more of the theory, or practice a bit longer. Class dismissed."

:D

After classes were over, Ella wrote a letter to her uncles, Fred and George Weasley, about the Butt-Biter.

Dear Uncles Gred and Forge,

Thank you for the back to school packages you sent to James, Carrie, Eddie, and myself. They are and will continue to be amazing, hilarious, and useful. James especially likes the Butt-Biters. He used a red one on Snape today, during lunch, and the whole school shook with laughter. I don't think anyone's about to forget that any time soon.

Professor McGonagall was talking about animagi today during class, and got bombarded with questions about how to 'find your inner animal' and the like. You two would probably be elephants, or something equally extraordinary!

Good luck with business and everything!

Love,

Ella

p.s.: It seems to run in the Potter and Weasley families that there should be at least one troublemaker per generation!

:D

When Ella was walking back from the owlery she almost ran headlong into Carrie, who was headed for the library.

"Where were you?" Carrie asked.

"I sent a letter to Fred and George," Ella replied. "You?"

"I'm headed to the library. Want to join me? I'm researching animagi."

"Really? I was wondering why you asked Professor McGonagall how to find your 'inner animal'. Are you trying to become an illegal animagus in you're first year at Hogwarts?"

"No!" Carrie laughed. "I just want to figure out what my 'inner animal' is, and maybe later on I can become a 'legal' animagus. Care to join my devious exploits?"

"Sure!" Ella answered, and they collapsed into giggles.

:D

When they finished leafing through books at the library and brought an armful each back to the common room, Ella voiced the thought that Carrie had been thinking since they ran into each other.

"We're going to have to share this with the rest of the first years, you know. James and Eddie would kill us if they found out and we didn't include them."

"Besides," Carrie added, "You know it would only be half as fun with only half of the 'notorious' Potter Twins." She ducked as Ella tried to sock her in the arm while holding five textbook size (and weight) library books.

They flew to Gryffindor Tower as fast as they could with their loads, giggling madly all the way.

:D

At dinner all that the Gryffindor first years could talk about was animagi. Carrie had tried the animus charm, but she couldn't get it to work because everyone kept asking her did she get it, what was her 'inner animal', and why was it taking so long. Everyone thought that Hannah would probably be the first to figure hers out, because she had the patience to be civil to Sal Malfoy. Plus her bottomless black eyes kinda freaked people out a little bit.

When everyone had finished their ham and baked potatoes, Professor Dumbledore stood up at the Head Table.

"I have announcement to make. It has been decided this afternoon that we will have a costume party on Halloween this year. I would like to thank 'Hey You!' for giving permission."

Pumpkin pie appeared on the tables and the students started chattering away again.

"I wonder what he meant when he said 'thank "Hey You!" for giving permission'?" Sara asked.

"'Hey You!' is my Dad, remember?" James said.

"But the thanking part?" Derrick added.

Ella closed her eyes. He doesn't know...

"On Halloween, nineteen eighty-one," Hannah told him, looking him in the eye. "Lily and James Potter were murdered by Voldemort. Ella and James' grandparents."

Derrick paled, and quickly apologized.

"It's all right, Derrick," Ella said.

"We never knew them anyway," James added.

:D

Forty-five minutes later, in the Gryffindor common room, Ella suddenly burst out with an idea.

"Caaaaarrieeee!" she yelled, running up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.

"The light bulb turns on!" she announced as she stepped in the room.

"What?" Carrie asked, confused. Hannah rolled her eyes without looking up from her book.

"I have an idea!" Ella explained, practically bouncing up and down with excitement.

"Tell me why don't ya!" Carrie demanded.

"If we figure out our 'inner animals' by Halloween, we can go dressed as our soon to be animagus forms!" Ella exclaimed.

"I like that idea," Hannah said, and then her face took on an evil grin. "Light bulb number two!" she said. "Let's make a bet with everyone that no matter how horrible their 'inner animal' is, they have to have it as their costume!"

"This will be fun!" Carrie said.

"Come on, Hannah, it was your idea," Ella said, "Let's go tell James!"

:D

"You're joking, right?" Derrick asked, looking a little frightened.

"No!" Ella said, laughing inwardly at the anxiety on his face.

"What's wrong," Sara asked, "are you scared that you're a rat, or something?"

Silence ensued.

"That's not funny," Carrie said softly, while Hannah's eyes darkened and James looked shaken.

"What's wrong?" Cael asked. "She just asked if- Oh!" his eyes went wide, as Sara and Derrick looked around confused.

"Peter Pettigrew," Hannah said in a low, slightly dangerous voice, "Was a Gryffindor whose animagus was a rat. He was also a Marauder, and one of James Potter's best friends." Her eyes flashed darkly. "He betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, living up to his reputation as a filthy, backstabbing rat."

Sara looked puzzled. "But Sirius Black-"

"Was a good person who died fighting Voldemort," Ella said, her expression menacing. "And if you ever hear otherwise, it's not true. He was my dad's godfather. He was also a Marauder, and his animagus was a great black dog."

Carrie softened the tone a bit. "Don't feel too bad," she said. "You really didn't know."