Emile couldn't believe what was happening. After two years of begging, nagging, and endless fighting, she was finally leaving home. She was finally going to a proper school, the finest wizarding school in the world as a matter of fact, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
She looked to her left at her father, Peter Gorski. A tall, buff man who spent his time gambling away his money and drinking the house dry. Though I suppose if your wife left you with a newborn child and ran off with another man, you would be a mess too. Emile let out a sigh. Her dark haired guardian could turn his life around if he wanted too, he had attended the finest Muggle University in Britain and had graduated top of his class. Now he lived in his ex-wife's brothers basement, not that Emile minded too much. The Diggory family had been kind to her the past four years they had occupied their living space, her cousin Cedric had been the one to convince her father that homeschooling both muggle and magic subjects didn't seem to be working out.
She smiled nervously at her cousin who was sitting in the backseat. He returned the smile, but he didn't look as nervous as she did. Not that he needed to be, it was his third year there and being the charming looker he was he had a solid group of pals he could rely on.
"Well, here we are children, Kings Cross." Peter announced as he pulled up by the station entrance. He smiled sadly at his daughter as she leaned across the car and pecked him on the cheek.
"Do Widzenia Tato," she whispered and exited the car. He smiled as she closed the door, Emile knew he was proud of her for learning to speak fluent Polish even after they had had to leave his homeland. She looked around to see that Cedric had already taken their trunks out and was waiting for her by the entrance to the station.
"Ready to go in, youngling?" he teased as she loaded her trunk onto a trolley.
"Youngling?!" Emile scoffed. "We're the same age you git." Cedric laughed and punched her lightly in the shoulder. She glanced at the clock on their way down to the platform and was concerned to see they were half an hour early. She gave Cedric a quizzical look.
"Ah now look here my inexperienced pupil, when you arrive early you are more likely to get a good compartment," he smiled and broke into a run, disappearing into a column on their right.
Emile grinned, she had heard all about the entrance to platform 9 ¾. She ran towards the column, bracing herself for the inevitable crash, only to find herself on another platform entirely.
She looked up at the beautiful steam engine in front of her, a white haze surrounded it and fogging up her glasses. She walked over to Cedric, who was waiting for her by one of the cars.
"Listen some of my friends are already on and they've got a compartment reserved for us, so i'll see you later alright?" Cedric didn't wait for a response, he simply smiled and ran off further down the train.
Emile stood in silence as she watched her cousin board the train with a pretty dark-haired girl. It had been foolish to hope he would invite her over with them, but she had allowed small part of herself to hope.
With a shrug Emile pulled her trunk onto the train and hauled it into an empty compartment. She slid the door shut and took out her favorite pillow and blanket from her carry on bag, a small mokeskin pouch her grandfather had given her before passing away. An undetectable extension charm had been placed on it so she used the pouch quite often when going on trips. With a sigh she lay down across the bench and closed her eyes, prepared to finally have a dreamless sleep.
When Emile awoke the sky outside was dark. She sat up groggily, arching her back into a stretch before she realized someone was coming into the compartment.
"Pardon me, i'm looking for a toad," a bushy haired girl said as she glanced around the nearly empty compartment.
"A toad?" Emile asked groggily, still unsure of what was going on.
"Yes, a boy named Neville's lost one," the young girl explained while kneeling down to check under the seats.
"Neville?" Emile sat up, alert at once. "Neville Longbottom?"
"Yes I think so," came a muffled response from beneath the bench. "Do you know him?" she asked, standing back up.
"I've heard of him…" Emile stared absentmindedly out the window.
"Well, i'd better keep searching," said the girl after a moment. "And i'd suggest you change into your robes, I expect we'll be arriving soon." she walked out of the compartment, looking back before closing the door. "Pleasure to meet you , um?"
It took Emile a moment to realize that she was talking to her.
"Oh! Emile, Emile Gorska."
"Nice to meet you Emile. And I'm Hermione Granger." With that, Hermione closed the compartment door and continued on to down the train.
Emile wrapped the blanket around her tightly and let out a shudder. She didn't want to see Neville again. She couldn't face him after what had happened to her, well their mother. With a sigh she got up and drew the curtains to the compartment to change into her robes.
As she took off her usual clothes she heard laughter out in the hall. It was coming closer and closer.
"Come on, Fred, I think this one's empty!" she heard a laugh outside and saw the knob on her compartment door turn.
Emile let out a scream and grabbed her blanket from the chair, quickly wrapping it around her nude body. "Don't come in you bastards!" she shouted, cursing in her head. How could she have forgotten to lock the door? She was so stupid, stupid stu-
"Bloody hell!" came a cry from the hall and the compartment door was quickly shut.
"Well now you've done it George, just couldn't keep your hands to yourself now could you?" a muffled snicker came from outside.
"Just drop it, Fred," came a mumbled response from the one called George.
Emile took a deep breath and leaned against the compartment wall. "I'm really sorry about that," She said through the door. "I forgot to lock the door."
"No, no, we should have knocked first," came the response.
"We? Don't drag me into this."
"Shut it, Fred."
Emile smiled inside the compartment as she struggled to hold the blanket up with one hand and lock the door with the other.
"You boys can go now, I'm not inviting you back in." she called in what she hoped came off as a teasing voice. Apparently it worked because they laughed and soon the hall was quiet again.
Goosebumps were forming on her skin as she dressed in her school robes. They hadn't even arrived at school yet and she was already messing things up. She hoped that she didn't end up in the same house as those two, that would be horrid. They were probably sitting with a group of friends telling them all about the naked new girl.
Emile stood up with a sigh as the train pulled up to the Hogsmeade station. Looking out the window she could see the many shops in the town; she had gotten her permission slip signed and simply couldn't wait to visit.
As she exited the train she heard someone calling her name. Cedric was waving her over to one of the carriages, he was with the same black haired girl as earlier and a curly haired blonde.
"Emile! Over here!" the black haired girl called excitedly. Cedric was smiling at her in a goofy way and Emile couldn't help but smile too.
As she climbed into the horse drawn carriage she looked over at Cedric expectantly.
"Oh, yes." He grinned nervously at her. "Emile, this is Cho Chang," he said, indicating to the black haired girl who proceeded to aggressively shake hands with Emile, "And Marietta Edgecomb." The curly haired blonde smiled and nodded at Emile, who shyly smiled back.
"We were looking all over the train for you earlier!" Cho said excitedly. "After Cedric told us how he'd left you, I was furious because he talks about his cousin all the time and I really wanted to meet you, but no he left you behind to go talk up Quidditch with the boys and that was not ok so Marietta and I went looking for you but you were sleeping in your compartment and we didn't want to disturb you…" Cho rambled on while Emile nodded and pretended to listen to her; she personally didn't care for girl talk but Cho certainly did and she definitely kept them all entertained with her impressions of Cedric on their way up to the castle.
As they exited the carriage and made up to the castle Emile realized that she would need to take part in the sorting along with incoming first years, and she had no idea what she was supposed to do or where she was supposed to go. She turned to ask Cedric what he thought she was supposed to do she heard a cough behind her.
"Miss Gorska if you'd be so kind as to follow me I am to take you to the headmaster's office where you will have a private sorting ceremony before we go the great hall." A tall dark haired man in black robes came out of the shadows and beckoned her to follow him.
"Yes, sir." Emile hurried after the tall figure, turning to wave goodbye to Cedric.
They speed walked through the winding halls of the castle and stopped before a tall statue of a gargoyle.
The strange man looked the statue it the eyes. "Sherbert Lemon." The gargoyle leapt aside, revealing a staircase that lead up. Emile's eyes widened and she swore she saw the dark man give a small smile at her surprise. They took the stairs two at a time and entered a large portrait and book filled room. An older man with a long beard looked up as they entered, Emile gasping for breath. She just did more exercise in the past five minutes than all of the previous week combined.
"Ah, Severus," the older man smiled down at them. "I see you have found our new student."
The dark haired man, Severus, nodded, picked up a book off the floor, and began to read. Emile looked at the bearded man, this had to be Dumbledore.
"Well Emile, let's get started shall we?" Dumbledore said cheerfully. He pulled a dusty old hat off his shelf and walked over to where she was standing by the door.
"This is the sorting hat," he explained. "It will decide which of the four hogwarts houses best suits you."
Emile took the hat from Dumbledore and placed it on her head.
Emile Victoria Gorska
Holy fuck
There's no need for that kind of language, maybe we ought to put you in Slytherin for your foul mouth.
No, please, I really don't think that's necessary.
You certainly have an acceptable mind but I don't think you ought to be put in Ravenclaw, they don't take a foul mouth lightly there. Based on your heritage I don't think you would find Slytherin all that delightful, so where to put you?
My mother was in Gryffindor, but I'm scared of running into-
Your half brother, I see Miss Gorska but I think that's what you need most to help you come to terms with the events of the past, and the future. Though Hufflepuff does seem to be the perfect fit, you need a challenge of some kind. Maybe things would turn out for the better this way...
Emile sat still, terrified of what was to come. She saw Dumbledore glance at the clock and whisper something to Severus, who nodded and left the room, taking the book he had been reading with him.
Good luck, Emile Victoria Gorska
"Better be," the hat spoke aloud, slightly startling Dumbledore (who quickly regained his composure). "Gryffindor!" the hat shouted, Dumbledore broke into applause as Emile snatched the hat off of her head. This was not ok. This was not at all what she wanted. She had chosen Hufflepuff. She wanted to be with Cedric, someone she actually knew and could really talk to.
"Wonderful, wonderful!" Dumbledore walked over and took the sorting hat from her. "Now Miss Gorska if you will follow me we will head down to the great hall for the start of term feast."
Emile followed Dumbledore down the winding staircase and through the halls of the castle. She was planning out the letter she would be sending to her father tomorrow morning, hopefully if he was sober he would respond quickly. She had already worked out a system with Uncle Amos, they would hold onto any letters she sent her father if he was in an intoxicated state and present them to him when he was acting more manageable.
Dumbledore lead a lost in thought Emile over to the Gryffindor table to sit with the other third years.
"Have a pleasant year Miss Emile," he smiled and walked over to the staff table to take his seat. Emile watched him go, too distracted to pay much attention. She absentmindedly started chewing on a strand of her hair as she looked around at her other Gryffindors. There was a taller girl with mousy brown hair, a cheerful dark skinned girl who appeared to be miming something to do with Quidditch to the girl next to her, who was listening intently. Across from them sat a Dark skinned boy who had a box that Emile had heard contained a spider of some sort. An older boy with curly red hair was interrogating him about the contents of said box, while two red headed twins laughed off to the side. Emile nearly choked on her hair. Of course she ended up in the same house as the two who had seen her in nothing but her undergarments and a blanket. She made a mental note to avoid those two at all costs.
Just then the doors to the great hall opened and a group of terrified first years came in. Emile watched in silence as they walked up to the front of the room and proceeded with the sorting. Most of the first kids became Hufflepuffs, oddly enough, though a few did become Ravenclaws. Emile clapped along with the other Gryffindors as Lavender Brown became their first new member. Well, first young new member.
Not long after the bushy haired girl, Hermione, joined Lavender at the Gryffindor table. After her went Neville, he was so big now. Though Emile knew the result was inevitable she had still clung onto a bit of hope that he would be sorted into Hufflepuff, but as he joined the new Gryffindor ladies at the table she knew it was a useless wish.
Not many people were left at this point in the sorting, a Draco Malfoy was sent to Slytherin. Emile had laughed aloud as the hat screeched "Slytherin!" before it had even touched the boy's head. Though she tried not to bring attention to herself, she was sure the two redhead twins had whispered while looking at her. She nervously tucked her hair behind her ear, feeling very self conscious and pretended to pay attention to the sorting.
The famous Harry Potter was sorted into Gryffindor, as was another redhead boy. Emile had a feeling that all these Gryffindor redheads were related, but she didn't say anything in case she was wrong.
As Dumbledore stood up to give a short speech Emile looked over at the Hufflepuff table. She could see Cedric sitting with his group of friends, she'd seen pictures of them before but it was surprising to see how much taller they were in person.
Cedric glanced over at her and smiled. Emile waved back, suddenly feeling very lonely over at the Gryffindor table. That was just what happened when you come into school after everyone's already established friend groups.
"Hey you, could you pass the lamb chops?" the dark skinned boy called to Emile down the table. She smiled and tried to avoid his gaze as she handed the platter over.
"Thanks doll." he winked at her before turning back to the redhead twins.
Emile piled her plate with food and began eating, feeling hungrier than ever since she hadn't eaten since that morning, before they even left for hogwarts. It was so weird to think that that same day she had been at home, walking the Diggory's dog and checking to make sure she had packed everything she needed for the school year.
"Excuse me but is this seat taken?" a voice said behind her. Emile turned to find herself face to face with the Gryffindor ghost, whose name she had forgotten. Emile hadn't bothered to learn anything about the other houses since she had been so certain she would end up in Hufflepuff.
"Not at all," she smiled at the ghost. "I'm Emile, Emile Gorska."
"Sir Nicholas of Gryffindor tower," they ghost smiled down at her. "I don't believe i've seen you here before."
"No I just arrived today. I'm a third year, I was homeschooled for two years," Emilie explained.
"Aha I see," the ghost smiled for a moment before a loud noise across the hall distracted him. "If you'll excuse me a moment Miss Emile, I must go fetch the Bloody Baron, I am afraid Peeves the Poltergeist is already having a bit too much fun with our newest arrivals." And with that the ghost floated away through the wall of the great hall.
"Emile huh?" came a voice to the right of Emile. She jumped and saw the Quidditch girl sitting next to her. "I'm Angelina Johnson."
"Nice to meet you Angelina. You're a third year too, right?"
"Thats right," Angelina smiled at Emile. "You'll be rooming with me, Alicia, and Katie."
"Sounds wonderful." Emile smiled back at Angelina. "Who else is a third year? In Gryffindor house I mean?"
"Oh well it's the three of us, Katie's a second year, and then Fred, George, and Lee over there." Angelina pointed to each of the boys as she named them, though none of them were paying much attention. Lee was showing off the spider in the box to the twins under the table. "I wouldn't befriend them though if I were you, the twins have a habit of messing with people."
Emile smiled. "Don't worry, i'm sure it'll all turn out fine."
Just then the food from the table vanished and was replaced with the dessert selection. Emilie had inherited her father's sweet tooth and instantly got to work piling up the various delicacies in front of her, wrapping several in her napkin and sticking it into her mokeskin pouch for later.
Once the feast was finished and speeches made, Emile followed Angelina and Alicia up to the Gryffindor tower. Emile was so tired she didn't even notice where they were going. It seemed to take forever to get the the painting of the fat lady that concealed the dorms.
"Password?" the portrait asked.
"Oh Percy told it to me it was um, oh! Caput Draconis!" Alicia announced triumphantly. The portrait swung open, and the three girls stepped into the Gryffindor common room. It was a round room with many squashy armchairs and a merry fire going in the fireplace.
Emile yawned and followed a group of girls up to the girls dormitories. Once she entered she drew the curtains of her four poster bed shut and changed into her pajamas before falling into a deep sleep.