Chapter One: Meet Emerald

The rain bore down unforgivably upon the rooftop of 1334th Horizon Drive. From the street it look as if you'd expect any home to appear at this time of night, being it was nearly one 'O clock. The lights were out, windows and doorways locked to keep out unwanted intruders. Not a soul was left still stirring within the McCoy household, all except for Emerald, the McCoy's teenage daughter. As usual Emerald was on a late night binge for books as she did every Friday or Saturday, but these sessions had become much more frequent now thanks to the summer holiday.

Emerald lay safely hidden underneath the cover of her blankets, flashlight in one hand, book in the other, completely entranced by the plot and savoring every word as it came into view. Infact she had been so absorbed in her book that she hadn't realized that her mother, who was now standing in the doorway, had come in to check on her before going to sleep.

"Emerald. Emerald hunny, it's time for lights out."

"Huh? Who? What?" Emerald stammered as her mother pulled the blankets from atop her head.

"I said lights out,"

Emerald rolled over and flicked on her bedside lamp. Her hair was full of static and her eyes were red and blood shot from lack of sleep. " But Mom, it's just getting' good" she said holding up a copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. "Please, can't I just stay up a little longer?"

Her mother took the book from and placed it on the nightstand. "No, now come on get some sleep you have a long day tomorrow."

"I'm just meeting josh at the library, then we're going to see a movie - "

"Yes but the movie starts at twelve, so you have to get up at nine, because knowing you, you'll spend an hour looking for new books to check out."

Emerald rolled her eyes, "Alright"

Guessing this would be the best reaction she was going to get from her, she tucked Emerald in and took the flashlight making sure there wasn't another one under her pillow. When she was positive that there was nothing left to keep her daughter awake, she bade her good night and unplugged the lamp. Even thought she was anxious to keep reading Emerald decided her mom was right; after starring into the darkness for a while, her eyelids began to grow heavy with exhaustion and minutes later she had drifted into a dream.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!

Morning came all to fast for Emerald the fallowing day, she was now beginning to regret staying up so late to read, but never the less she'd do it all again the first chance she got. Slipping out of bed she gathered her cloths and crept down the stairs. Immediately Emerald knew that her mother was awake, fore the aromas of freshly made waffles and toast drifted through the halls.

"Good morning sweet heart" her mother chirped as she entered the kitchen. "How'd you sleep?"

Emerald looked at her and groaned.

"Apparently not very well"

Emerald pulled up a seat at the table and watched her mom busily cleaning up her cooking area, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the waffle maker. Sometimes Emerald could barely believe that she and her mother where related, they looked nothing alike. Her mother always looked so radiant, even in the early morning. Her hair was jet black and straight as a pin, and her skin was elegantly pale, she looked so young people often mistook her for a woman in her late twenties, early thirties. You can only imagine the looks she got when she told people that she was actually forty-five. Emerald on the other hand was built like her late father, long curly brunet hair, green eyes, and wide set shoulders. Although she had inherited her mother's height and figure. Sort of.

"What would you like to eat?" Mrs. McCoy asked cheerfully "There's waffles, toast, coffee, and tea"

"Um… maybe some toast and – ah what kind of tea is it?"

"Green"

"I'll take the coffee then"

Mrs. McCoy placed two plates on the table, one in front of Emerald and one beside it stacked with slightly burnt toast. Moments later she inched her way across the kitchen with two steaming mugs of tea and coffee.

"Thanks Ma" Emerald said taking a bite of her toast.

"You're welcome chicky"

There was an awkward silence as the two sat and ate their breakfast; all that could be heard was the clicks of the second hand on the clock. But it was soon interrupted when they began slurping their drinks.

"Ouch hot!" Mrs. McCoy said reaching for the carton of milk. "How's yours?"

"Fine" Emerald replied finishing off her second slice of toast.

"Mrs. McCoy glanced up at the clock, "Oh, look at the time," It was twenty to ten. "You're going to be late"

"Mom relax; I have a short cut to the library and my books are in my backpack so I'll be ready in five minutes."

"Alright – but hurry up."

Emerald sauntered down the hall to the bathroom and changed into her usual black T-shirt and denim jeans. She tied back a few locks of hair, leaving the rest hang loose, inspected her make-up and jewelry and headed out the door. "See yah mom!" she called as she gathered her book bag.

"Waite hunny; here's a little extra money" Mrs. McCoy handed her daughter twenty dollars. "Just in case; have fun" she said kissing Emerald on the cheek and waving her out the door.

The sun tried to peak through the gray, over cast sky, but it was fighting a loosing battle. Emerald cut across the backyard and into a small wood path. Pathways like this stretched for miles all over town, ending in courtyards, at rivers, even in a few buildings and Emerald knew every on of them like the back of her hand. She knew which ones lead where, which where the fastest to and from certain places, she even had various escape routes to her house. The beauty of it all thought was that only three people in the entire town were aware that these short cuts even existed, her mother, her best friend, Josh and herself. This particular path, infact opened up behind the convenience store a block away from the library and it was by far Emeralds favorite. On warm summer days the sent of mint leaves and pine emanated from the ground and gave her a sense of calming when ever things got too out of control at home or school.

As she walked, the small dirt road came to a complete halt, merging with the grass and blocked by a thick layer of branches and brush. Emerald smiled, her decoy had worked. Josh had helped her build dozens of these decoys to camouflages the paths after they had cleared them, and so far they had been a total success. She peered around making sure the coast was clear, and then untied the rope holding up the panel. Emerald took great care to putting everything back exactly the way it had been before, she couldn't risk people noticing something strange about the landscape and accidentally stumbling upon one of her trails.

"Hey Gemstone," a pair of warm gentle hands covered her eyes. "Guess who?"

"Hmm, let's see … Johnny Depp?"

"Ha, ha, very funny" the voice said sarcastically.

Emerald turned to meet the shimmering green eyes and ginger hair of her partner in crime, Josh Mackenzie, "Hey, you all set?"

Josh let his arms fall to his sides, "Look at me, I've been ready for an hour, it's you who's always late." He pointed to his watch, which read quarter to eleven.

"Oh, sorry… well do you think we'll still have some time for me to check out a new book?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Besides the good shows don't start till twelve thirty anyway."

Emerald grinned with delight. "See times like this make me feel like I don't deserve a friend like you, Josh Mackenzie"

"I know." He said modestly

"Hey!" Emerald gave him a little push and laughed; "You're not suppose to agree with me"

The two joked and teased each other all the way to the great stone steps of the Willow View Public Library. Over the years Josh and Emerald had grown extremely close, they were inseparable, and although he'd never admit it, Josh had even grown to love Emerald, he told he everything and he practically lived at her house.

Emerald opened the large oaken door and entered the empty silence of the historic building that she had visited countless times before.

"Emerald; is that you dear?" An elderly grey haired woman appeared from behind on of the dozens of bookshelves.

"Hey Mrs. Jones"

"Did you finish this batch already?" the librarian asked sounding extremely impressed.

"Yeah but I'm just dropping off today"

Mrs. Jones looked at her and smirked.

"Okay and checking out – but just one." Emerald admitted.

"Where's Josh?" She asked failing to notice the handsome red head come in and start walking around.

"I'm right here Mrs. J." Josh said stepping into view

"Oh there you are; well I better let you be on your way. If you find anything you like I'll be at my desk."

Emerald began scanning the shelves, waiting for the perfect title to catch her mind's eye but so far nothing. Ever since she was little Emerald had been addicted to books, specifically the fantasy genre, she practically grew up on stories of dragons, fairies, withes and wizards, and all sorts of mythical creatures. Before he died, her father was a writer so it was only natural that she inherited his wild imagination and lust for the strange and unusual.

"Did you find anything?" Josh asked

"A… not," Emerald paused as she pulled a huge book, bound in brown leather, from the shelf. " – Yet"

"What?"

"I said not yet" Emerald turned her attention back to the book and examined it closely. Written on the cover in sizable gold lettering were the words: The Beginners Guide to Magic. "No way" she murmured to herself as she ram her fingers along the textured spin.

"Is this the one?" Josh came up behind her. "Because we got twenty minutes to make it across town."

Emerald look down at the book; she wanted to put it back, but for some odd reason she was compelled to keep it. "Yeah… why not?" She said sounding half hearted about the decision.

"Great no let go check it and get going before all the tickets to the good shows are sold out."

this is my first fic so i would love to hear some feed back about what you think, and don't worry our beloved potions master makes his big debut in the next chapter :)