Chapter 8
~Ella pov~
I made my way to the table that non-verbally screamed Gryffindor.
There were banners suspended from the ceiling over the table that bore a picture of a lion, with bright and bold red and gold colours.
I sat next to Harry, who was with Ronald and Hermione.
Harry looked at me and said, "Hi I'm Harry, what's your name?"
I answered, "Julia, but friends call me Ella...my middle name before I changed it."
"Oh but why? Ella is such a beautiful name..."then he whispered something that made my cheeks burn a slight red.
"...for such a beautiful person."
It didn't take long before I realised...I certainly got put into the most kind of "patriotic" group of people...armed with Gryffindor beanies,flags and ties.
I looked down and noticed my tie was now red.
Magic...that's gonna take some getting used to.
The Gryffindor table shouted a victorious, vivacious, vicious war cry ,"Go Go Gryffindor!" ,as the next few people were sorted into our house...they must have been shouting it before-hand too (when the rest of us were sorted) but as always I must have zoned out.
The ginger boy decided to introduce himself, Ron.
So he goes by Ron ,not Ronald.
Okay. noted.
As I gazed out at my fellow Gryffindors...for once, I felt a sense of belonging.
I think that I'm going to like it here.
My thoughts were interrupted by a ghost who decided to pop his head through the table unannounced ,scaring the day-light out of me.
"Aaaah!" I shrieked jumping back almost falling off the seat (It was one long continuous bench that people sat on, two per either side of each table)
Harry caught me just in time.
I noticed that he let his hands linger on my back longer than he should've.
"Thanks", I muttered, then I heard a not-so-far-away groan.
I looked over at the other side of the table.
Ronald had not been so lucky.
He stood up off the floor and dusted himself and went "bloody hell."
Hermione rolled her eyes at the ginger boy.
The ghost decided to introduce itself, "I am so sorry,I am Sir Nicholas de Mimzy-Porpington-"
Ron interrupted, "Hey, I know you! You're Nearly Headless Nick!"
Then Hermione decided to pipe up "NEARLY headless - how can someone be NEARLY headless."
"Like this," he answered as he grabbed the back of his neck...and sickeningly...almost decapitated himself.
I say almost because the one flap of skin on his the neck was the only thing keeping his head attached to his body.
I felt like I was about to hurl...and Hermione looked the same.
You could see the inside anatomy and everything...before he swiftly put his head back into normal position.
Well Hermione, consider your question answered.
Then Nearly Headless Nick spoke to me .
"Julia...Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you after you have seen the Griffindor common room as that's where you'll be staying next year."
I nodded but Ron shot me a confused look "Next year? Why only next year?"
I shrugged and said "It's a long story..." not really wanting to get into it.
Then Dumbledore got up and made a speech.
~Harry Pov~
It felt so freeing to be away from the Dursley's.
My day just kept getting better and better...magic...not being in Slytherin ...and the pretty girl that sat next to me.
Apparently, her name was Julia...but she goes by Ella.
How strange.
"Oh but why? Ella is such a lovely name?" I questioned and before I could stop myself the next words flew out of my mouth as I accidentally thought them aloud.
..."For such a beautiful person."
She blushed and gave a little smile.
What a kind yet beautiful smile...althoughshe didn't exactly answer any of my prior questions.
I watched her as she looked around the room, clearly lost in her own thoughts.
Then a ghost decided to pop up in the center of the table scaring Julia...who I caught in my arms before she could fall backwards off the bench.
I felt electric sparks shoot up my skin at the contact.
I was glad and also mildly annoyed...I mean she could've gotten hurt.
What gives this ghost the right to pop up out of nowhere?
I heard a groan and took my eyes away from Julia ...to a disheveled-looking Ron who had fallen onto his bottom.
Ron got up and dusted himself off , "bloody hell," he grumbled.
The ghost apologised and introduced himself with some long name I could barely remember.
Then Ron mentioned something about him being "nearly headless" where he ended up taking his head off.
It was kind of sickening and I looked at Julia to see that she clearly agreed.
It was gross.
I was about to comfort Julia in an embrace and maybe get her out of here when the ghost mentioned something about Julia not staying at Hogwarts.
I felt my heart sink in my chest.
Despite having just met her...this girl intrigued me...like she was some mystery I needed to solve.
Her smile...was contagious...and her aroma...was that vanilla?
It was infectious...and I craved more.
Would it be creepy if I asked what kind of perfume she used?
Maybe it isn't perfume...then I'll probably come-off as some kind of creep.
I wanted to know more about this girl.
Where she came from.
Her parents.
Her home-life.
I hope they're not like the Dursley's.
The thought of them made my skin crawl.
Ron beat me to the question "Next year,why only next year?", completely snapping me out of my inner monologue.
She just shrugged her shoulders and said ",it's a long story."
That's not an answer.
I was about to press on with the questions but Dumbledore decided that was the perfect time to make a speech.
My head buzzed with questions.
Why wasn't she staying here with the Gryffindor's this year?
Where would she sleep?
Why wasn't she answering any questions directly...it's almost like she was hiding something...but what?