Young Liars

“Did you pack your bags yet?” Marcia walked into the kitchen as Eleanor washed the bilberries she had just collected from the gardens.

“Not yet,” Eleanor poured the water out of the bowl, covering it with her palm so as not to let the berries escape. “But I did start.” she nodded and looked at her mom. “It’s basically repacking almost everything I brought here.”

“Don’t stay up late packing like last time,” she sighed and kneeled down to pet the orange cat that spent her afternoon laying on the kitchen floor.

Eleanor scoffed. “No promises.”

She could have started packing the moment she got back from London yesterday, but picking up Moby-Dick right before bed changed her plans a little bit. It was more interesting than when she was twelve, trying to get through it and the summer reading list her dad had made.

“How are you feeling?” her mom looked up at her and asked. Her voice was softer this time. “Did you tell your friends where to mail future letters?”

“I did.” Eleanor had given a fair amount of envelopes to Thees this morning. “And it’s alright,” she sat down at the kitchen table. “I don’t think I’m registering what’s happening yet.”

Her mom pressed her lips together and stood up, following Eleanor to the table. She was silent for a moment, thinking of what to say. “Even if Hogwarts doesn’t do parent weekends, we’ll be waiting for your letters,” she smiled. “Or the pulse from the bracelet.”

Eleanor chuckled, realizing the bracelet was not on her wrist. “I’m so bad at it.”

“We know.” her mom laughed and shook her head. It wasn’t disbelief.

This will be the first time Eleanor is truly away. Ilvermorny had parent weekends on the very last Saturday of the month and her’s made it almost every time.

“Where will they sort me?” she leaned against the doorframe after putting her backpack on the ground.

It was an early morning. Somewhere in the distance, you could still see the mist clearing up. The grass was wet and it was one of the colder mornings they had in a few weeks. Fall was truly upon them.

“Hm.” her dad looked up. “Gryffindor?” he asked himself more than giving an answer.

“Not a father’s daughter.” Eleanor laughed.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Ravenclaw.” he leaned against the railing of the porch and crossed his arms. “All four wouldn’t surprise me.”

Eleanor had realized how little she truly had asked her dad about Hogwarts.

“Will I have one roommate?”

“Usually you’re in a dorm with the kids of your year.” he took off his glasses to clean. “Four of five in a room.”

Eleanor shared her room with only Holly at Ilvermorny.

“Is the food good?” she turned around when she heard her mom come down the stairs.

“Delicious!” her dad laughed and put his glasses back on. He grinned when Marcia walked out the front door.

“Everyone’s ready?”

And again, Eleanor looked back at the house for a moment. She didn’t feel as much this time but she truly started to feel somewhat at home here. She loved the gardens and the cat, the pool, even if it had to be scooped out every morning. This house brought back good memories from the summers spent here.

“I’ll carry this.” her dad brought her back with a slight tap on her shoulder. “They’re here.”

Eleanor nodded and with her backpack in hand walked over to the black car that had stopped outside the gates.

In about two hours they stopped outside the train station that they arrived at from Chicago. She had started to feel it in her stomach the moment she sat in the back of the car. Uneasy, but not sad. She couldn’t quite explain what she felt.

“Come on, Nell. The train leaves soon.” her mom put her hand on Eleanor’s shoulder.

Her dad murmured something to himself while hastily looking for the right platform. Eleanor gripped her suitcase better as her palms had started to get sweaty.

“Here.” Edward stopped infront a brick wall and placed the other suitcase on the floor. “Just run through.”

Before she could, two other students walked into it without blinking. Eleanor smirked and went right after them.

In a moment, she was standing feet away from the train she was supposed to board. She couldn’t stop smiling while she looked around. Parents were saying goodbye to their little ones, and older students rushed to the train, chatting with their friends.

Before her eyes could wander more, her dad emerged from behind her. It looked like holding her suitcase was nothing to him. As easy as holding his own wand. “Ah!” he was wide-eyed and smiling from ear to ear.

Her mom arrived moments later, looking around with the same expression that Eleanor had.

“The train looks the same.” Eleanor’s dad chuckled as he walked closer to the train.

Eleanor couldn’t muster a word. She felt like she was eleven again, arriving at Ilvermony for the first time.

“Nell,” Eleanor’s mom leaned against her husband. “Be smart.”

Eleanor felt a lump in her throat for a moment.

“We know you will!” her dad pushed his glasses higher up on his bony nose. “If you’re sorted into Gryffindor, you owe me a chocolate frog.”

Eleanor laughed through her watery eyes. “We didn’t even bet!”

“Show everyone what you know, smart girl.” her mom smiled and immediately drew her into a hug to hide her red face and watery eyes. “Write to us soon. Do you have the bracelet?”

Eleanor felt her heart drop for a second before reminding herself that she did not forget it this time. The bracelet was secure on her wrist so she nodded.

Her dad sighed and hugged them both. “Careful, Nell.”

“You both do the same.”

They stayed like this for another moment.

“Of course, kiddo.” her dad smiled and picked up the suitcase she carried. “Hop on.”

“Say thanks to Paul–” Eleanor frowned. “And the other one.” both Aurors accompanied them today.

“Charles.” her mom laughed while wiping her eyes.

“To Paul and Charles, yes. And name the cat! Please!” she laughed and slowly backed towards the train while looking at her mom. She saw her mom's lips tremble before her attention was drawn away from as she was approached by another witch. They seemed to know each other so Eleanor turned back to her dad, who was walking slightly in front of her.

“Professor Slughorn?” her dad stopped in his tracks.

“Somerset!” an older wizard with a very noticeably shinning bald head almost jumped. “Merlin’s beard!”

Edward quickly walked over to the old wizard and reached out for his hand to shake after placing both of Eleanor’s suitcases down. Eleanor stood a few feet behind the suitcases. Turning around she found her mom was still talking to the woman.

She looked around. Most of the students were already inside the train, but the parents stayed, some still talking through the windows, others just waiting. The unease for Eleanor slowly turned into excitement. This is it.

“Great things I’ve heard, now– One of the best– One of the best you were, m’boy.” the wizard shook her dad’s hand with both of his. “You bring your little one now, I suppose?”

“Not so little,” her dad laughed as he got his arm out of the grips. “Nell,” he looked back at her. “Come say hello.”

Eleanor gave the old man a thin smile walking over. “Hello.”

“Oh!” he let out a sound as if he had just remembered something important. “Right– right– Ilvermorny is it?” he looked almost frantically at Eleanor and exclaimed as she nodded politely. “Fascinating! Come join me at Compartment C when you’re settled in, dear. I had the pleasure of teaching your father.” her dad chuckled. She could tell the words meant a lot to him.

“Well, I tried to help her as much as I could. As much as she let me.” her dad smirked at her before looking down at his wrist to check the time. The old wizard laughed, holding onto his belly. “Hop in, Nell.”

Eleanor said goodbye to the Professor, which she gathered was teaching Potions, and hopped into the train, Her dad handed her the two suitcases and turned around to look for Marcia.

“Be smart, Nellie!” she waved at her mom and with the two suitcases in her hands, barely managed to open the door to one of the coaches.

There were a few students in the first compartment she saw. It was a bigger one so it fit some older students. Eleanor squinted at one of the badges the kids had. “Prefect” it read. She frowned for a moment before realizing what that could mean.

“Excuse me,” Eleanor heard a familiar voice, trying to pass through her to reach the compartment she was staring at. “Oh–” the girl paused for a moment. “Eleanor. Hi!”

“Hi, Hermione,” she remembered her well. “Ronald.” a ginger boy followed Hermione. The lower ceiling could show just how much taller the boy was than Hermione.

“It’s just Ron.” he smiled.

“You can find Harry somewhere in the front,” Hermione smiled and pushed her curly hair back. “We have to patrol for some time.”

“We talked about whether or not you’ll be on the train,” Ron let a little girl pass through. She looked lost.

“There are other first years in the back.” Hermione smiled at the girl and then looked back at Eleanor as if to say “See you soon”.

Eleanor was hoping to find an empty compartment but sitting with the trio didn’t sound that bad.

As Hermione and Ron entered the compartment, Eleanor continued down the narrow corridor, finally reaching the door to the second coach. As she walked, she took a quick glance through the window to find both of her parents talking to the Professor. They seemed to be laughing at something but her mom kept glancing at the windows, just missing Eleanor as she went through the door that a younger boy had opened for her before she could drop her suitcases.

This one was quite different - it had no compartments. She looked at each table, looking for Harry. That wasn’t easy with the two suitcases in each one of her hands, having to lift one up, to let someone pass or moving both to one side to move around others.

“Sorry,” a girl with a Prefect badge walked past Eleanor but managed to bump into one of the suitcases.

“Need help with that?” Eleanor was checking if the suitcase was still securely locked when she noticed someone standing in front of her.

“It’s alright,” she looked up. “Blaise.”

The boy had a black suit on and was putting his suitcase on the rack above them.

“Looking for a seat?”

“I’m looking for someone already, but thanks.” Eleanor pressed her lips together as Blaise frowned slightly. “I haven’t forgotten about our game, don’t worry.”

“Good.” he sat down.

Eleanor chuckled and moved toward the door. All the students that were still outside started flooding in. It must have been mere minutes until the train takes off.

As Eleanor reached for the handle, the sliding door opened. Draco stood in front of her, surprised to see her at all.

“Malfoy.” she narrowed her eyes.

“Eleanor.” he walked into the coach, almost brushing her, but held the door from sliding back with his hand, allowing Eleanor to walk through.

Without looking back at him she continued. This coach had compartments, so looking for Harry was slightly easier even if the suitcases had almost doubled in weight.

But this one wasn’t the one as well. The train couldn’t be this long, she thought as she walked through the next sliding door.

“Hi, Harry!” through various chatter she heard a boy’s voice the moment the sliding door closed behind her.

Politely passing through everyone, she tried to find whoever just said that. Or Harry himself.

“Neville!” there he was, standing at the end of the corridor looking back at another boy.

“Hello, Harry” she saw a girl with very long blonde hair beside them too.

“Luna, hi, how are you?” she passed through more students, trying not to hit anyone or walk into the smaller kids who were just as lost as she was.

“Very well, thank you.”

"Quibbler still going strong, then?" Harry asked before noticing Eleanor approaching the three.

“Oh yes, circulation's well up.” the girl turned slightly to reveal the newspaper she was clutching to her chest. But Eleanor could not make out what it said on the front page.

“The Quibbler?” she asked and nodded at Harry. She would have given him a small wave, but her hands were preoccupied. “My parents love The Quibbler.” the other boy turned around as well. He was holding a big toad.

“Everyone, this is Eleanor,” Harry announced. “This is Luna,” he looked at the dreamy girl, who was now studying Eleanor. “And this is Neville.”

“Hi!” Neville quickly wiped his palm against his pants before reaching it out for a shake.

“Hi.” Luna smiled.

“Let's find seats.” Harry gestured after looking around. Most of the compartments were full already.

As the four of them set off along the train, Eleanor noticed the hordes of kids, little and older, all silently staring. Most of the eyes followed the three in front of her, but she was not so lucky herself, catching the eye of the curious. When they finally found an empty compartment, Eleanor sighed in relief. It seemed like Harry felt the same way, hurrying inside, almost gratefully.

“That was a lot.” Eleanor moved the hair out of her face before lifting one of the suitcases, trying to securely place it above them. Her hands were tired.

“I’ll help.” Harry took the suitcase from her, before securing his, and shoved it above. He did the same for the other one. Eleanor thanked him and rubbed her wrists.

“They're even staring at us!” Neville looked at Luna and then Harry. “Because we're with you!”

“They're staring at you because you were at the Ministry too,” Harry was taking care of his suitcase now. “Our little adventure there was all over the Daily Prophet, you must've seen it.”

The mention of the Ministry caught Eleanor’s ears so she turned to the boys talking.

“Yes, I thought Gran would be angry about all the publicity,” Neville leaned in. “But she was really pleased. Says I'm starting to live up to my dad at long last. She bought me a new wand, look!”

Eleanor was listening in on what they were talking about so instinctively she looked down at the pretty wand Neville had just pulled out.

“Cherry and unicorn hair," the boy said proudly. "We think it was one of the last Ollivander ever sold, he vanished next day..." Eleanor remembered Ollivander's store in the Diagon Alley. How bleek it looked. "-oi, come back here, Trevor!”

As the toad jumped off of Neville and he dived under the seats to catch it, Eleanor realized she shouldn’t have done that, listening in, so she turned to Luna sitting in front of her. The girl was staring out the window. Lost somewhere deep in her thoughts, she took hold of The Quibbler again and turned to the very middle. Now Eleanor could see what the front page said: “With a pair of free Spectrespecs inside!”

“Are we still doing D.A. meetings this year, Harry?” Luna asked without lifting her eyes up from the psychedelic spectacles she was now detaching.

"No point now we've got rid of Umbridge, is there?" Harry crossed his arms as Neville bumped his head against the seat as he emerged from under it.

Eleanor had no clue what the D.A. or Umbridge were. For a moment there she even considered going back to play with Zabini, feeling like she was intruding, misplaced.

The boy looked very disappointed. "I liked the D.A.! I learned loads with you!"

“I enjoyed the meetings too,” Luna said serenely finally managing to detach the spectacles. “It was like having friends.”

Eleanor pressed her lips together and frowned slightly, looking at Harry, who moved around his seat uncomfortably. But before he could respond, all four turned to the compartment door, outside which there was some disturbance - a group of slightly younger girls were whispering and giggling together on the other side of the glass.

“You ask him!” one pushed her friend to the door.

“No, you!” the one that got pushed immediately backed up to the wall.

“I'll do it!” a girl with long black hair and a brave look on her face pushed through the remaining girls and slid the door open.

“Hi, Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane,” she announced loudly and with much confidence. “Why don't you join us in our compartment? You don't have to sit with them," she added in a whisper as she looked at the boy, who was still searching for his toad, and then Luna, who was now wearing her free spectacles. They made her look even more lost in her thought.

The girl stopped for a moment to stare at Eleanor but did not say anything.

“They're friends of mine.” Harry’s voice was cold.

“Oh,” the girl seemed genuinely surprised. “Oh. Okay.” and with that, she slid out of the compartment, just more quietly this time. She shook her head to her friends and they all disappeared in a few seconds.

“People expect you to have cooler friends than us.” Luna spoke softly, but with what seemed to be complete honesty.

“You are cool,” Harry said shortly. “None of them was at the Ministry. They didn't fight with me.” he paused and looked at Eleanor. They seemed to remember she was there as well. “And Eleanor is from Ilvermorny.” he added. After what she had just heard from them, there was nothing Harry could say, that wouldn't sound stupid or boring.

“That's a very nice thing to say,” Luna smiled and turned to Eleanor. “You seem just like us.” she then pushed her spectacles farther up her nose and opened the first page of The Quibbler.

“I thought you was just younger and from a different house.” she heard Neville, still searching for his toad.

Eleanor smiled at Luna but she was left confused as to what the girl meant. “No, I’m going as a sixth-year student. Still don’t know what house.” Luna looked up at her through the spectacles. “But I’m sure we’ll see each other around– during classes.”

“Luna’s a fifth year.” Harry quickly added.

“Oh! I thought you all were the same age.”

“Luna’s a Ravenclaw too!” Neville spoke from under the seat.

“My dad was too.” Eleanor looked at Luna and smiled. The girl seemed quite interested. “But after what I’ve heard from you three, everything I say sounds like nothing.” she chuckled and crossed her arms. “Fighting someone at the Ministry–” Eleanor pressed her lips together. “Haven’t heard of it.” she tried not to show her curiosity too much, didn’t want to pry.

“We didn't face him, though,” Neville emerged from under the seat with the toad in his hands. His hair was full of dust. “Harry did. You should hear my gran talk about him. 'That Harry Potter's got more backbone than the whole Ministry of Magic put together!' She'd give anything to have you as a grand-son…”

Who did they face?

Harry laughed uncomfortably and asked something about OWL. results. It took a few minutes for Eleanor to understand what the OWLs were. She explained how their exams work and after a minute or so of Neville talking about his grades, she noticed Harry wasn’t truly listening.

“You all right, Harry? You look funny,” Neville finally noticed.

“Sorry ... I …”

“Wrackspurt got you?” Luna asked him sympathetically, staring at Harry through her enormous colored spectacles. Eleanor looked more carefully at the cover of The Quibbler. Red lettered list mentioned Wrackspurt among other silly names.

“I... what?”

“A Wrackspurt... They're invisible. They float in through your ears and make your brain go fuzzy," she said. "I thought I felt one zooming around in here."

She flapped her hands at thin air, as though waving off flies. Harry and Neville hastily began to talk about Quidditch, asking Eleanor about the game, which she had very limited knowledge of. Back home everyone watched Quodpot, except for the somewhat rare times her dad would watch the Quidditch World Cup. Not much of a world Europe was.

After quite some time, when the weather changed from a grey mist to clear sunlight, the compartment door opened and Ron entered along with Hermione.

Eleanor moved to the very side, making more space. Harry did the same, opening the middle up for whoever chose to sit there.

“Wish the lunch trolley would hurry up, I'm starving,” Ron said longingly as he slumped into the seat between Harry and Eleanor. He was rubbing his stomach. “Hi, Neville. Hi, Luna. Hi, Eleanor. Guess what?” he added, turning to Harry. “Malfoy’s not doing refect duty. He's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed.”

Eleanor thought about Malfoy being a prefect as Harry sat up straight, interested. “What did he do when he saw you?”

“The usual,” Ron said indifferently and showed the middle finger. "Not like him, though, is it? Well... that is,” he did the hand gesture again. “But why isn't he out there bullying first years?”

Bullying? Nothing surprised her anymore when it came to Malfoy. She cringed again, closing her eyes. So stupid, she thought, spending time, talking.

“Dunno,” Harry stilled.

“Maybe he preferred the Inquisitorial Squad,” Hermione added. “Maybe being a prefect seems a bit tame after that.”

Eleanor stayed silent, carefully listening to everything regarding to Malfoy.

“I don't think so,” Harry continued. “I think he's …”

But before he could tell everyone his theory, the compartment door slid open again and a breathless little girl stepped inside. “I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom, Eleanor Somerset,” Eleanor frowned. “And Harry P-Potter,” she mumbled, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned deed red.

The girl was holding out three scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Confused, the three took their assigned scroll after which the girl quickly disappeared.

“What is it?” Ron looked at both Eleanor’s and Harry’s hands as they unrolled the parchment.

“An invitation,” Harry unrolled his quicker than Eleanor or Neville.

Eleanor, I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in
compartment C.
Sincerely, Horace

She read and quickly realized she had forgot the invitation.

“But what does he want me for?” Neville asked nervously, scared almost.

“No idea–” Harry said.

“He told me to come when I’m settled in, he didn’t say why. I honestly forgot.” Eleanor cut him off accidentally as she stood up.

“We’ll be right behind.” Harry told her quickly as she opened the sliding door. After the exited the compartment, she saw Harry lean in and say something to Neville.

The corridors were packed with students waiting for something. She realized it must be the lunch trolley as a lot of the kids had the same expression on their faces as Ron’s. Hungry and irritated.

When Eleanor reached the compartment it seemed like Harry and Neville appeared out of nowhere from behind her. The corridors were packed, but she did not notice or hear them walk behind her the entire way here. “You two are quick.” she said as she reached for the door of a compartment where Slughorn sat with the invited few.

She opened the door and let Harry enter first, followed by Neville. It seemed like Harry was the star of the show. Which become clear to Eleanor, was all the time.

“Harry, m'boy!” Slughorn jumped up at the sight of him filling the remaining space of the compartment with his belly. His bald head was shining even brighter under the direct light. “Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr. Longbottom!”

Neville nodded, looking scared, and sat down.

“And Miss Somerset! Brilliant your father, brilliant!” Eleanor walked in and closed the door behind her. She immediately met Blaise’s eyes, who glared at her, then Harry and Neville, as if to question her choices.

Eleanor would have frowned back but Slughorn gestured to the three to sit down where there were empty seats, nearest to the door. Harry sat in front of Neville and she realized just how tight everything was. “It’s okay, I’ll stand.” Eleanor assured and looked at each student. Harry did the same.

She only recognized Blaise, but the red-headed girl squashed in the very corner beside Professor was of striking resemblance to Ron. The girl seemed to recognize Harry and Neville.

“Now, do you know everyone?” Slughorn asked the three. “Blaise Zabini is in your year, of course-”

Eleanor gave Blaise a small wave but after nodding at her, he did not make any sign of recognition or greeting to Harry or Neville. They did the same.

Eleanor squinted at the boys, hoping Blaise was not too similar to Malfoy.

“This is Cormac McLaggen, perhaps you've come across each other ... ? No?”

Cormac was the tallest of everyone here. He raised a hand and the three of them nodded back at him.

“... and this is Marcus Belby, I don't know whether ...?”

The boy must have been more nervous than Neville, giving each one of them a strained smile.

“... and this charming young lady tells me she knows you!” Slughorn looked at Harry.

The red-headed girl grimaced at Harry and Neville from behind Slughorn's back.

“Well now, this is most pleasant,” Slughorn announced. “A chance to get to know you all a little better. Here, take a napkin. I've packed my own lunch; the trolley, as I remember it, is heavy on licorice wands, and a poor old man's digestive system isn't quite up to such things... Pheasant, Belby?”

Belby started and accepted what looked like half of a cold pheasant.

“I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his Uncle Damocles,” Slughorn told the recently arrived three, now passing around a basket of rolls. “Outstanding wizard, outstanding, and his Order of Merlin most well-deserved. Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?”

The only Damocles Eleanor knew was the Greek one. The Sword of Damocles... She read about it recently.

But Belby could answer. His haste in swallowing upon being asked about his uncle, allowed a fairly big chunk to get stuck in his throat. The boy turned purple and started to choke soon enough.

“Anapneo,” Slughorn calmly pointed his wand at Belby, whose airway seemed to clear at once.

“Not... not much of him, no,” the nervous boy gasped, his eyes watering.

“Well, of course, I daresay he's busy,” said Slughorn, looking questioningly at Belby. “I doubt he invented the Wolfsbane Potion without considerable hard work!”

“I suppose…” Belby carefully examined the pheasant, afraid to take another bite. “Er... he and my dad don't get on very well, you see, so I don't really know much about…”

Slughorn gave him a cold smile and turned to the taller boy instead.

“Now, you, Cormac,” Slughorn began. “I happen to know you see a lot of your Uncle Tiberius, because he has a rather splendid picture of the two of you hunting nogtails in, I think, Norfolk?”

“Oh, yeah, that was fun, that was,” McLaggen sounded proud and assured. “We went with Bertie Higgs and Rufus Scrimgeour. This was before he became Minister, obviously…”

“Ah, you know Bertie and Rufus too?” Slughorn beamed, now offering around a small tray of pies, missing Belby was missed out. Eleanor took one for herself. “Brilliant! I send my regards!” he chuckled with Cormac before turning to Blaise.

“Now Blaise, I hope your mother is doing well– another tragedy… my my.”

Eleanor switched the leg she was putting all her weight on and looked at Blaise. The boy did not seem affected by what Professor Slughorn was saying.

“All great men– I cannot imagine m’boy- seven times…” Slughorn put the empty tray down and made a weird sound that he himself did not notice. Eleanor tried to hide a smile creeping, noting the topic that was being discussed.

For the next ten minutes Slughorn was interrogating Neville about his parents. Eleanor listened carefully the whole time. Death Eaters, Bellatrix… she switched around uncomfortably. She hadn’t forgotten her meeting face-to-face with Malfoy’s aunt and the things she heard were horrific. Neville went through so much at his age. Eleanor was frowning the whole time, crossing her arms and putting her fingers to her lips, almost in shock.

Everyone was silent while they talked. With every minute Neville got quieter and quieter, moving uncomfortably, finally feeling just how tightly stuck between the wall and Slughorn he was.

In the end, it seemed like Slughorn was still not sure what to think about Neville.

“Now, Eleanor, dear,” everyone turned to her. “Your father making a big name for himself at MACUSA, I suppose?” he chuckled to himself. “Brilliant student of mine, everyone!” he looked around the compartment, beaming.

“I guess they both are– mom and dad.” she didn’t know what to say. “I don’t really ask much about their work.” Slughorn’s eyes widened. “But dad still makes potions.” she quickly added and watched Professor’s expression soften.

“Very well! I hope to see you in my Potions class, dear.” Eleanor gave him a thin smile. She felt weird being there just because of her dad. Invited because she was from a different school would have sounded better, but Eleanor just sighed and quickly glanced at the other girl, who Slughorn seemed to forget about, before turning to Harry like the rest.

“And now,” Slughorn looked like a TV announcer, waiting to introduce the star of the show. “Harry Potter! Where to begin? I feel I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer!” He analyzed Harry and then said, “'The Chosen One,' they're calling you now!”

Harry said nothing, while almost everyone stared at him. The girl was looking through the window, she seemed bored.

“Of course–” Slughorn clamped his palms together, watching Harry closely. “There have been rumors for years… I remember when… well… after that terrible night… Lily… James… and you survived… and the word was that you must have powers beyond the ordinary…”

Eleanor was listening carefully. She knew very little about Harry, practically nothing if she was honest, but Blaise giving a tiny little cough that was clearly supposed to indicate amused skepticism drew her away from Harry.

An angry voice burst out from behind Slughorn and Eleanor flinched. “Yeah, Zabini, because you're so talented… at posing…”

“Oh dear!” chuckled Slughorn comfortably, looking around at the girl that was glaring at Blaise. “You want to be careful, Blaise! I saw this young lady perform the most marvelous Bat-Bogey Hex as I was passing her carriage! I wouldn't cross her!”

Blaise looked full of contempt but the girl made Eleanor smirk.

“Anyway,” Slughorn turned back to Harry. “Such rumors this summer. Of course, one doesn't know what to believe, the Prophet has been known to print inaccuracies, make mistakes… but there seems little doubt, given the number of witnesses, that there was quite a disturbance at the Ministry and that you were there in the thick of it all!”

Harry nodded but said nothing.

Slughorn smiled at him. “So modest, so modest, no wonder Dumbledore is so fond… you were there, then? But the rest of the stories… so sensational, of course, one doesn't know quite what to believe… this fabled prophecy, for instance…”

“We never heard a prophecy,” Neville interrupted but then turned red after.

“That's right,” the girl crossed her arms. “Neville and I were both there too, and all this 'Chosen One' rubbish is just the Prophet making things up as usual.”

That’s how they know each other.

“You were both there too, were you?” Slughorn asked with great interest, looking from the girl to Neville and from him, back to the girl, but both of them sat silent. “Yes… well… it is true that the Prophet often exaggerates, of course…” Professor sounded a little disappointed. “I remember dear Gwenog telling me- Gwenog Jones, I mean, of course, Captain of the Holyhead Harpies…”

Slughorn started reminiscing so Eleanor looked around again, bored. Blaise kept his head down, scratching something off of his shiny shoes, looking like nothing interested him here.

The time went on and so did the list of famous wizards and witches Slughorn had taught. The “Slug Club”, he even named it. Eleanor’s legs had started to hurt a little and all she wanted was to get back to the original compartment where there were more interesting things to listen to.

Only after the train emerged from another misty stretch and the compartment turned bright red from the setting sun, did Slughorn realize just how long he was talking. “Good gracious, it's getting dark already! I didn't notice that they'd lit the lamps! You'd better go and change into your robes, all of you. McLaggen, you must drop by and borrow that book on nogtails. Harry, Blaise… any time you're passing. Same goes for you ladies,” he twinkled. “Well, off you go, off you go!”

Eleanor was the first to leave the compartment being met with the fresher air of the dark corridor. She turned around to hold the door for everyone.

Blaise stood up quickly and pushed past Harry into the darkening corridor, turning around just to shoot him a filthy look that Harry returned. It surprised Eleanor how genuinely they disliked each other but without much time to think, she walked along Harry, Neville, and the girl, following Blaise’s quick steps along the train.

“I'm glad that's over,” Neville muttered. “Strange man, isn't he?”

Eleanor chuckled.

“Yeah, he is a bit,” Harry answered but Eleanor could clearly see Blaise had his full attention. “How come you ended up in there, Ginny?”

Ginny.

“He saw me hex Zacharias Smith,” Ginny sighed in annoyance. “You remember that idiot from Hufflepuff who was in the D.A.? He kept on and on asking about what happened at the Ministry and in the end he annoyed me so much I hexed him… when Slughorn came in I thought I was going to get detention, but he just thought it was a really good hex and invited me to lunch! Mad, eh?”

“Better reason for inviting someone than because their mother's famous,” Harry scoffed, still watching Blaise's head, “or because their uncle…” he broke off and everyone stopped with him.

“I'll see you all later,” Harry abruptly said under his breath, pulling out something that looked almost fluid-like, silky which he flung over himself.

“But what're you ... ?” asked Neville.

At that exact moment it looked like Harry disappeared. “Where did he go?” Eleanor frowned in pure surprise. She hasn’t seen anything like that before.

“Later!” Harry whispered from somewhere in front of them.

Eleanor stood still, mouth slightly open.

Neville looked at Ginny, not knowing what to say.

“We’ll explain later,” Ginny walked closer to Eleanor. “You must be Eleanor. Heard ‘em talk about you before boarding the train.” the girl put her hands to her sides. “And I saw my mom talking to yours soon after. Come on."

Eleanor was still as confused as before but she followed the two back to the compartment.

They found Hermione explaining something to Ron, while Luna was still reading The Quibbler by the window. Spectacles still on.

“Hi, Ginny,” Hermione smiled as the three walked in but her face turned serious after noticing one missing. “Where’s Harry?”

“Went after Zabini.” Ginny leaned against the door.

Hermione shook her head in disbelief and glanced at Ron whose arms were crossed and eyebrows raised. “He went after Malfoy.” Ron glared at Ginny, proud that he knew more.

Now it was truly easy to guess they were siblings.

“Eleanor was surprised seeing the Cloak.” Neville mentioned and everyone except Luna turned to her.

Hermione tried her best to explain, but Eleanor still could not believe a thing like that existed. So many ways to use it came to her mind.

After a good hour or so the train started approaching the station, at least that’s what Hermione said, but Harry was nowhere to be seen. Ginny had walked back to her original compartment quite sometime ago and now the rest were putting on their robes. Eleanor followed them, asking Hermione and Luna to show their house colors and crests. She inspected the Prefect badge Hermione had as well, asking her about the duties.

When the train finally stopped Hermione sighed and shook her head, probably thinking about Harry’s whereabouts.

Ron and Neville helped take all the suitcases down, Ron being the one to take Harry’s that was now left behind.

“Let’s just hope he’s already inside.” Hermione said more to herself than anyone else as they got off the train along with many other students. Eleanor, having no idea where to go, tried to stick as close to Hermione as she possibly could.

A very tall bearded man was calling all the first-year students, older kids were locating their friends, rushing somewhere to the front. It was chaotic for Eleanor to say the least.

“Hold on a second.” Neville stopped and placed his suitcase down, switching the hand he held his toad in.

“Miss Somerset.” she heard a cold voice coming from behind her.

The rest of the kids seemed to immediately recognize it, turning around to see. “It’s Snape.” Ron rolled his eyes as he whispered to Neville, who hadn’t turned around yet.

“Yes?”

“Headmaster’s request, I am to escort you for Sorting.” the man hissed as he towered over her and the rest. She couldn’t make out his features well but the greasy hair was shining.

“Okay,” she nodded and turned around.

“We’ll save you a seat in case you're sorted into Gryffindor!” Hermione smiled.

“For Harry as well.” Neville added but looked away when the man, that Ron called Snape, turned to him.

“If we could hurry up–”

“Yes, I’m sorry.” Eleanor apologized and followed the man to a carriage waiting for the two.