Childish Beginnings- Separated
The three of them sat, by the edge of the river. It was the last day of summer holidays. One was a beautiful little girl, with milk-white skin, and short golden hair. Her eyes, were a clear green, she was very tiny for her age of eleven years. The boy to her left, was handsome, with night-black hair and sapphire-like eyes, tall for his age. The other boy, the one to her right, was burly but handsome as well. His hair was a deep, rich brown with, chocolate-brown eyes. They were next-door neighbors since before they were born.
"Tomorrow, can you believe it!?", she said, happily. Her name was Emilia Raine. The boy to her left was called Marcus Flint and the boy on her right, was Oliver Wood.
"Yeah! We finally get to go to Hogwarts!", Oliver said, laughing.
"We'll all join the Quidditch team and be together all the time. Right Emilia?", Marcus said, smiling at the both of them.
"Marcus you know I don't like being called that! It's Emily. But, what if we get sorted into different houses?", Emily asked, reminding him.
"No way, Em! They'd be stupid to separate us!", Marcus declared, standing.
"Friends forever, right?", Oliver said, looking up at Marcus.
"Yeah, friends forever!", Marcus said, taking Emily's hand, and pulling her to her feet.
"Promise?", Oliver asked, standing as well.
"Promise", Marcus replied. With that being said, the three headed towards their homes.
The next morning, Oliver walked to the platform, with his parents Gale and Olivia Wood. Marcus and his parents Marius and Ursula Flint, were already on Platform 9 ¾. Emily and her parents, Edward and Emina Raine, were just getting through the parking lot. "Come on Mum! Dad! We're going to be late!", Emily called, as she ran toward the entrance to Kings Cross Station. Emily ran ahead, spotting Oliver's family. "Oliver!", she called, running to him.
"Emily!!", Oliver yelled, happily. She ran into his arms, and he hugged her tightly.
"Sorry we were late. Edward had a hard time waking up", Emina said to Olivia and Gale.
"It's fine, let's go we're running late", Gale said, taking his wife's hand, as they all walked through the barrier. They were finally there, Emily and Oliver then spotted Marcus.
"Marcus!!", they both yelled, running toward, their dark haired friend.
"I thought you'd never get here", Marcus said, hugging Emily, and smiling at Oliver. They all said their goodbyes to the parents and walked onto the Hogwarts Express. Finally, they had found a compartment together.
"What took you guys?", Marcus asked, as Emily stared at him.
"Sorry, dad woke up late", Emily answered, looking back to Oliver.
"We were late because dad had trouble driving the muggle automobile", Oliver replied.
"My dad would never drive or use anything muggle-made", Marcus said, flipping his hair from his eyes.
"I like those silly muggle contraptions", Emily said, staring at Marcus again. Oliver looked over at Emily, pretty Emily. He was so lucky to have her as a friend, and Marcus too. A few hours later, the three met Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper and crossed the Black Lake. They all assembled at the doors to the Great Hall, and were led in, by a stern looking woman, with square spectacles. Then, the sorting began.
"Amphiptere, Suzanne", Prof. McGonagall called. A small girl with straight auburn hair, went to the stool.
She sat for a moment before the hat yelled out, "Slytherin!". She went and sat at the least populated table. A few more were called before it was finally Marcus's turn.
"Flint, Marcus", she said. Flint stood, and smiled to himself. Walking straight and somewhat march-like, he approached the stool. Emily exhaled slowly as, Oliver took her hand.
Just a second after the hat touched his head, the hat yelled out, "SLYTHERIN!!".
Oliver's face fell and Emily's heart stopped, as they watched their friend walk to the Slytherin table. Oliver and Emily had been warned about Slytherin House, and felt sad for their friend. A few more sortings later and it was Emily's turn.
"Raine, Emilia".
Emily walked, nervously. She was the tiniest of all her year and was very scared. She sat on the stool and Prof. McGonagall placed the tattered hat on her head.
A few more moments and the hat yelled out "RAVENCLAW!!". Immediately, the smile on Marcus's face fell. His Emily, was in Ravenclaw. Away from him. A few more kids, were called before it was finally Oliver's turn.
"Wood, Oliver".
He walked forward, more nervous than Emily had been. He sat and the hat was placed upon his head. He sat there for a moment, hearing the hat's whispers.
"Ah, a passion for Quidditch, like Gale Wood and compassion for all things living, like Olivia Brian. Your parents? I presume?", the hat whispered.
"Yes…", Oliver breathed, surprised that the hat made that distinction.
"I know just where to put you. GRYFFINDOR!", the hat called out.
Oliver was immensely relieved but, he still felt a knot in his stomach. Exactly as he had feared, Emily, Marcus, and himself, had all been separated. "Shite…", Oliver muttered, as he walked to the table, clad in scarlet and gold. After the banquet, Emily ran to Oliver, who was standing with Marcus.
"I knew it…", she sniffed, as tears gleamed in her crystal-green eyes.
"Don't worry Em. We'll still be bestfriends", Marcus said, hugging her tightly.
"Forever", Oliver said, patting her back, softly.
Emily looked up, and smiled as, Marcus wiped her tears away. "See you in the morning", Marcus said, joining his fellow Slytherins.
"Don't be sad Em, I'll see you in the morning", Oliver said, kissing her cheek.
They all walked their separate ways.
Second Year
"I still don't understand what's so bad about my mates Oli. Why do you dislike them so much?", Marcus said, crossing his arms.
"They are all a bunch of bigoted prats! They never say anything good about any house, other than their own. Marcus, why do you like them?", Oliver asked, crossing his arms as well. They both turned away from eachother. It was an uncomfortable ten minutes, before they could see Emily's tiny frame and bobbing golden waves.
As she approached her two friends, she realized that they were turned away from eachother and not speaking. She frowned as she reached the spot between them. "Marcus? Oliver? What's wrong?", Emily asked, concerned.
"Oliver was just insulting my mates", Marcus said, still turned away.
"Maybe if your mates didn't curse anyone who wasn't in Slytherin, I wouldn't insult them!", Oliver yelled, turning.
"Hey! They don't do anything to you or Emily, because I tell them not to!", Marcus said, turning as well.
It was perhaps a good thing that Emily was several inches shorter than the two. They would have been yelling in her face, if not for her short height. "Stop! You guys are being so stupid!", Emily cried out, trying to push them away from eachother but, to no avail. They looked down at her before, resuming their argument.
"What about everyone else?! You wanker!", Oliver yelled at him.
"Sod off! If that's the way you want it, then don't even talk to me!", Marcus yelled, stomping off.
Emily stared at Marcus's retreating back, and then up at Oliver. His face, was crumpled in pain and sadness. How did this happen? The other day, they were all so happy. "Oliver, what brought this on?", Emily asked, taking his hand.
"I just can't stand his Slytherin mates. They're not good people Em", Oliver said, looking down at his friend. Pretty Emily.
"I know Oliver, but they are Marcus's friends. We don't have to like them but, you shouldn't insult them either. Marcus is our friend, we have to put up with his friends, just like he has to put up with ours", Emily said, as they walked past the lake. They walked in silence, not a very comfortable one like usual. "He will get over it, Oliver. Just, give him some time. You'll see", Emily said, fingering a lock of her golden hair. It was now almost past her chin.
"You know it'll be more than a while. Marcus is very stubborn. He's not going to forgive me easily. He can forgive you, because he fancies you", Oliver said, bitterly.
"Oh hush. He does not fancy me Oliver", Emily said, though she blushed brightly.
"The way he looks at you…", Oliver muttered, as he walked.
"Oliver, we're only friends you know. I love you guys the same way", she said, blushing again.
"Yeah, well, I'll see you later Em. I have to…ask Charlie about the newest play, for the Quidditch game this coming Saturday", Oliver said, hastily. He let her hand drop, and ran off.
Emily stood, gazing after him. Oliver…her Oliver. She should feel lucky. She was bestfriends, with the two best looking guys at Hogwarts. But, she had a small problem: She likes both of them, too much.
--Marcus Flint--
He walked past several faces. His face, a contorted mix of rage and sadness. How could Oliver say those things? Why didn't Emily stand up for him? Why did she stay with Oliver when, it was his fault? Emily was his friend too but, she always sided with Oliver. He pushed a few first years out of the way, as he walked on. He had grown quite a few inches over the summer.
"Hello Marcus! Where're you off too?", asked, a familiar girly voice. Marcus turned around to see the form of Lindsey Peters. A second year, with bleached-blonde hair. She had shown interest in Marcus immediately. He certainly was not interested in her and was not hesitant to say it.
"I'm off to think Lindsey. Please, leave me alone", Marcus said, side stepping to avoid her.
"What? Going to find your little Ravenclaw friend? Or is it, that little Gryffindor blood traitor, you're always around? Slytherins should stick together Marcus. They aren't good enough for you", Lindsey chided. God she was annoying.
"THEY'RE BETTER COMPANY THAN YOU'LL EVER WISH TO BE, YOU DAFT COW!!" Marcus yelled, exploding on her. He stomped away, her cries, echoing shrilly in the otherwise empty corridors.
He just felt angry all of the time, Oliver had no right to insult his friends. At least they weren't afraid to pursue and gain what they wanted. Even though, and Marcus quite agreed with Emily on this; they were sometimes a bit rough. He did not like the way his mate Derrick sometimes gawked at Emily, like she was a piece of meat or something.
"Hey Flint, why so miffed?", asked Suzanne. She was one of the nicer girls in Slytherin and smart too. She wasn't annoying like Lindsey, not in the least. He looked at her from head to toe, she was thin, with dark hair, and pale blue eyes. All in all, she was pretty but, not as pretty as Emily.
"Just had a run in with Peters. She is such a tart…", he said, lying. Well, he wasn't lying about that. She did anger him even more. But, Oliver was the problem.
"I see. Well, she has liked you since first year. She won't give up until you are her's", Suzanne said, perusing her copy of The Daily Prophet.
"I will never be with that…that…floozy!", Marcus said, turning very red in the face. He walked to his dorm and pulled the emerald curtains shut. He dropped onto his bed and looked to his left. There, behind the emerald hangings, he could make out the forms of himself, Emily, and Oliver, all in Flying lessons. He turned away and sighed angrily. He did not want to have to think about Oliver at the moment.
--Oliver Wood--
Oliver stopped running as soon as he was sure, Emily would not follow. He really wished that he and Marcus wouldn't argue so much. They were supposed to be bestfriends, they weren't supposed to fight everyday. "Stupid sorting hat…", Oliver muttered, as he walked to Gryffindor Tower. If the Sorting hat had not separated them, he and Marcus would not be fighting everyday. He had just gotten to the portrait and stopped for a minute.
"Oliver…", said Emily's voice.
"Em! Merlin! You scared me, what's wrong?", Oliver asked, walking to her.
"I just can't stand you two when you fight! I'm sick of it! I'm sick of Marcus ignoring me when he thinks I'm choosing you over him! I'm sick of telling him that I don't choose sides! I'm both of your friend! I'm not choosing sides! If you two don't resolve this…I may have to find different friends", Emily said to him.
"Emily, don't be that way! It'll all blow over, we'll stop fighting. You'll see, Marcus is our bestfriend, this won't happen again", Oliver said, grabbing her and pulling her into his arms.
"Oliver…I trust you…please stop crushing me", Emily's muffled voice said as, she was smushed against his chest.
"Sorry Em…", Oliver said, letting her go. At this point, Oliver wanted to kiss her. He wasn't supposed to feel that way, at least not until third year but, he did. He really loved Emily, a lot.
"It's okay, well, I'm going to go find Marcus to talk to him. See you Oliver", she said.
"Wait!", he said, grabbing her hand.
"What is it?", she asked looking up at him.
"I forgot to give you this", Oliver said, bending over slightly and kissing her cheek.
"Oh…erm…I…uh...thanks Oli", she said, walking away, blushing brightly.
Oliver smiled to himself before finally entering Gryffindor Common Room...