A/N: Hello everyone welcome to a brand new story. This is an idea I have had for an while and have finally decided to write. It is different from anything else I have read but I hope you still enjoy. I hope you enjoy the stargate time traveler, thank you for helping me with ideas for this one.

Esmerelda's Dark Secret

Chapter One

Ethel's Birthday

The door was slammed shut as the blonde girl angrily shut it behind herself. Esmerelda Hallow, the eldest Hallow sister, had just had an argument with her parents and she was beyond annoyed. Her cat, Moonlight, saw her enter and stood to attention on her bed, wanting to help her mistress. Esmerelda saw her cat and walked over to her bed and stroked her familiar on the head, feeling calmer as she heard the animal purr contently before she sat on her bed stressed out.

"Why do they never listen? They are fooling themselves if they think this will never get out" Esmerelda told her pet as she stroked her more. In fact, the girl was so annoyed, sparks of magic shot out of the end of her fingertips.

Esmerelda was glad in that moment her sisters were not home. Ethel was out at the library studying and Sybil was spending the day at Clarice's house along with Beatrice. Ethel had asked her sister if she wanted to come to the magical library with her, she had been nicer since she had got her powers returned, but Esmie had declined, today of all days she was struggling to contain her emotions.

Esmerelda had been tricked into giving her magic to Agatha Cackle because she thought it was her headmistress Ada Cackle and not her evil twin sister. She had been powerless for a year but had just gotten her magic back a few weeks ago, thanks to Ethel tricking her into using the founding stone. She was angry at Ethel for doing that because it had nearly spelled disaster for the school, but in the end everything had worked out and Esmerelda was able to return to school.

"Another year has gone by and Ethel has yet to still know the truth" Esmerelda said with a sigh. Today was Ethel's birthday which of course her parents had forgotten, Ethel had not being shocked by that, she couldn't remember the last time they remembered her birthday. Despite the fact Ethel was going to be a third year, she was only thirteen today because of her August birthday, she was in fact the youngest in her year group. Tonight when Sybil returned Esmerelda had planned a little celebration that was to be a surprise and she could not wait to see Ethel's face, though as happy she was for the day Ethel turned thirteen it was always the hardest day of the year for the girl, knowing another year had gone by and Ethel was still being lied too.

Esmerelda pulled gently on the silver chain around her neck to bring the oval shaped locket to the front of her neck and opened the locket gently. She kissed her fingers and touched the picture inside. This locket meant so much to her. She never took it off. She hid it at school under her uniform and it never left her sight. Her sisters didn't even know about it as she didn't want them to ask questions.

The thing was Esmerelda Hallow had a huge secret. It was a secret she had hidden for many years. She wanted more than anything to tell everyone the truth but she couldn't or she would lose the one thing she loves most in the world forever, so she had to keep the deception going.

She stood up in that moment and walked to her bedside table, pulling open her drawers and looking around until she found the big purple book she was looking for. She opened it and started to look at the pictures inside gently, stroking them gently with their fingers and the blonde sat there for hours just looking at the pictures, her heart slowly shattering with each one she saw.

Sybil returned a few hours later and Ethel just after her loaded with books. Esmerelda told her sister to go to her room and put the books down and then come to the kitchen. Ethel shrugged but went upstairs to put her books in her bedroom before returning downstairs and gasping as she looked around.

There was a few paper chains and banners hang up, one which said Happy Birthday, and there was a yummy looking chocolate cake on the table. Esmerelda and Sybil were stood there smiling at her.

"Happy Birthday Ethie" Esmerelda said and Ethel felt her eyes filling with tears at the gesture but blinked back tears and instead ran to her sisters and hugged them both.

"I thought you forgot" Ethel admitted cuddling into her big sister's embrace and then her little sister's.

"If only you knew this date more than ever is going to be burned in my memory forever" Esmerelda said in her mind hoping Ethel had not heard that or things could get awkward for her.

Esmerelda and Ethel had an ability of telepathy. They could read each other's minds. It was strongest when one of them was feeling something intense but it was always there. Sybil had not inherited this ability though and Ethel had often asked why she hadn't. Esmerelda had explained it was extremely rare for it to happen unless the siblings are twins. Ethel had accepted that thinking they had just a unique gift.

"Of course we didn't you silly girl" Esmerelda told her rubbing her back. Ethel pulled away and smiled.

"The cake looks great" she commented licking her lips by how delicious it looked.

"Esmie and I made it, triple chocolate your favourite" Sybil told her sister who beamed at her. Esmerelda reached behind her and picked up a gift bag.

"We also got you something" Esmerelda told her. As their parents would not help them with gifts they did not have a lot of money between them but Esmerelda always made sure to buy Ethel something and this year her gift was extra special. Ethel took the bag happily and took the tissue paper of the top before taking out a little purple box.

Ethel was just about to open it when there was a small noise and Mr and Mrs Hallow appeared out of nowhere having transferred right into the kitchen.

"What on earth?" Mr Hallow asked looking at all three of his daughters in turn.

"It is Ethel's birthday, we are just having a little celebration" Sybil replied nervously moving closer to Esmerelda as she was scared of her parents.

For some strange reason Mrs Hallow was staring at the purple box in Ethel's hand like it had just insulted her. She snatched it out of her middle daughter's hands before speaking.

"Go upstairs to your rooms now!" Mrs Hallow told them angrily.

"But mum" Ethel said upset. She didn't think it was fair to ruin their party just because they had forgotten her birthday.

"I am not going to tell you again, go now! She shouted seeming even more stressed than she normal was. The girls started to head out the door knowing not to mess with her, before she carried on.

"Esmerelda stay, your father and I need a word" Mrs Hallow said and Esmerelda hanged back watching her sisters go. She sighed wishing she could go with them as her parents started.

"What on earth are you playing at?" her mother asked her holding up the purple box she had given to Ethel and turning red from anger.

"I am not lying about this anymore!" Esmerelda replied, fed up of having to lie to Ethie everyday.

"Don't you dare tell her, she can never know" Mr Hallow replied glaring at his daughter.

"Why not?" Esmerelda asked annoyed and frustrated.

"It will bring shame onto the name of Hallow" Mrs Hallow told her daughter, looking at her like she was crazy for asking and it should be obvious.

"So did forging a scroll to get Cackle fired and getting kicked of the Magic Council but you still chose to do it" Esmerelda replied glaring at them.

"Be quiet!" Mr Hallow told her not appreciating her attitude.

"Why not? I don't want to keep quiet anymore, I am done hiding this, I am going to tell both Ethel and Sybil the truth!" Esmerelda replied determined she was going to do it and not caring what they thought about it.

Her mother suddenly grabbed her arm then and Esmie squirmed as she felt her arm hurt as a burn formed on it, her mother glared daggers at her before speaking.

"I don't think so, we can make Ethel's life hell" Mrs Hallow told her daughter and Esmie was amazed at that.

"You already do!" Esmerelda pointed out. They treated Ethel terribly. They treated Ethel like dirt.

"Don't push us Esmerelda we can get rid of Ethel and you will never see her again" Mr Hallow threatened knowing her not being able to see her sisters again would be the thing in the world that would kill her the most. Esmerelda's face turned worried.

"You wouldn't" she said not wanting to believe they would really do anything that bad to Ethel.

"Do you want to take that chance?" her father asked her with a glare and Esmerelda shook her head.

"No please, don't hurt Ethel" she said starting to panic about Ethie.

"If you keep your mouth shut we will not touch her, if you tell her….well I don't think you will like what will happen" Mrs Hallow told her daughter squeezing her arm more as if to warn her.

Esmerelda wanted to tell Ethel. She wanted to go behind her parents back and tell her, no matter the consequences but she knew what her parents would do if she told Ethel and it would be both of them fighting for their lives. She couldn't tell Ethel. At least not now.

"I won't tell her, just please leave her alone" Esmerelda begged wanting reassuring her sister was going to be okay.

"We won't hurt Ethel, we will keep our side of the deal" Mrs Hallow told her and Esmie nodded before she started to speak.

"Can I go now?" she asked her parents.

"Yes you may go" her father said before taking the purple box of his wife's hand and holding it tightly.

"And we will be keeping this, you obviously can't be trusted with it, now on you go" the man said and Esmerelda rushed out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Esmerelda walked into her bedroom and closed the door gently and slid down the door so she was sitting on the floor before she started to sob badly into her hands, for once not caring who heard her. Esmerelda was not one to ever cry, even in private. She had learned only to cry on the inside and not the outside but every year on Ethel's birthday without fail she cried on the outside and this year was no exception as she got into bed crying herself to sleep.