Chapter Two: Nine and Three Quarters

The bracelet cast a glittering light on the walls of Kings Cross Station. Emerald could not help but to make the sunlight hit the gems just right to make it do so. Every time she did this the burning curiosity of who had left her such a gift grew stronger; especially since she knew nobody in London. Emerald had been schooled by her brother since the day she turned 11 years of age, at their home in Bedfordshire, England. She had not usually been in any state to leave the house, so London had always been out of the question. She searched the bustling crowd as if she would see her admirer. She knew this was useless, though, because all she could see was the top of heads. Pale blonde, jet black, flaming red, and some, like her, dark brunette.

"Hey Em!" said Edward running over to her from a middle aged wizard with fiery hair. "I just figured out how to get to your platform. Your train leaves in just 10 minutes! Let's get a move on!"

Edward grabbed Emeralds trunk, and Emerald, her tote. She and her brother raced across the busy station, past platforms 7 and 8 and in-between 9 and 10.

"Okay right through here Em, hurry now!"

"Edward, are you seeing something I'm not? All I can see is a dirty brick column" Emerald was beyond confused.

"I know!"

"Bu-"

"Em listen just run straight into it! It's just an open gate." Edward said under his breath.

"Ed! You've gone mad! I'm convinced this is some strange plot that results in me getting a concussion, more than I am that's a gate!"

"Emerald Elegant-AY" said Edward in his rarely used exaggeration of her name, "RUN INTO THE COLUMN!" At this many heads turned toward the argument. Edward could do nothing but smile sheepishly and rock back on his heels. When the staring subsided, Edward turned towards her with a 'Don't make me do this' look on his face. He sighed and narrowed his green eyes, then suddenly seized Emeralds wrist.

"Ed! NO! Stop! You're going to kill us!" Despite Emeralds pleading the column came nearer. She held her breath bracing herself for impact, then SMACK! Emerald found herself falling to the ground. Her head hit hard against the pavement, and almost instantly her vision went blurry. Emerald took a deep breath and let it swim through her body, constricting any pain and disposing of it. She felt instantly better, and slowly sat up to realize that it was not the brick column, or a column of any sort for that matter, that she had hit. It was a tall lanky boy with the same fiery hair as the man Edward had been talking to earlier. He was propped on his elbows rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! My brother, he's absolutely insane! I think he's gone mad! He-"

"No, no…it's not your fault. Shouldn't have been standing there really." The boy hopped to his feet and offered his hand. Emerald took it and he lifted her onto her feet. "Ron Weasly." Said the boy shaking Emeralds hand.

"Emerald Elagante" she replied. "Sorry about all of this…It's my first year getting on the train to Hogwarts."

"Did you transfer from another school? I've never seen you around before. Wow! And I guess I would have noticed you with those eyes! No wonder your called Emerald."

"Uh, not exact-"

"Em! Are you okay?! You took a nasty fall I heard!" Edward ran up to her covered in dust from the platform pavement.

"Ed! You were with me the whole time! Where were you? And what happened to you?"

"He's been out cold for the last few minutes. Took a good fall" said a taller, lankier, boy that must've been Ron's brother.

"Yeah nearly hit Malfoy's mum over there." Said an identical copy of the first brother.

"Fred and George Weasly at your Service" the two said in unison.

"Or is it George and Fred?" said one of the two.

"Er…" Emerald was not sure what to say.

"You don't have to answer that" A redheaded girl that was very pretty had just walked through the column. "Ginny Weasly, these three are unfortunately my brothers"

"Emerald Elagante, Nice to meet you Ginny"

Now the same wizard who gave Edward directions and what must've been his wife came through the brick wall looking rather ruffled.

"Oh thank goodness your train hasn't left yet! I almost forgot to give you your sandwiches, and we can't miss our little Ginny and Ronald going off to school for the year!" said the wife pulling two extremely embarrassed children into a hug.

"Now, now Molly, they'll be fine." Said the husband.

Emerald giggled, she had been standing off to the side awkwardly with Edward for last few minutes.

"Well who is this?" said the wife to Emerald.

"Emerald Elagante, this is my first year at Hogwarts." She explained.

"Well you can call me Mrs. Weasly. I'm Ronald's mother." Said Mrs. Weasly with a warm smile. "You two look about the same age. What year are you in?"

"I'm in sixth year." Said Emerald returning the warm smile.

"Oh! How wonderful! You and Ron are in the same year! Maybe you and Hermione will get on well. By the way Ron, where is she and Harry?" Mrs. Weasly searched the crowd.

"Right here! Were here! Ugh! The crowds are absolutely terrible." A panting girl, with bushy brown hair, had run up behind them with a Dark haired boy next to her.

"You nearly missed the train children! Hurry along! Ron can introduce your new friend on board!"

While everyone was saying their goodbyes Emerald turned to her brother. His sad green eyes pierced her heart. She knew it would be hard for him to let her go after all those years of struggle.

"Ed, I have to go now." Said Emerald gently.

"Yeah, I know…" Edward pulled her into a hug that was gentle but firm. She buried her face in his chest and took one last whiff of his cologne. She would keep the memory of it in her mind when she missed her brother.

Edward let go and Emerald pecked him on the cheek. She walked off and waved goodbye. She could have sworn when she took one last look she saw a tear glistening in his eye. All she could do now was keep going, she followed Ron up the stairs of the train, and into the corridor, and Emerald took one last look out the window and waved. Her brother waved goodbye, and walked away looking like he wasn't sure what to do. Emerald knew from this day until Christmas, she was on her own.