Getting through to the platform had been simple enough, Dumbledore had said he's sort everything out and Hermione trusted Dumbledore more than she trusted herself. It was when they stood on the platform that Emalia began to become difficult. She stopped walking, her hand slipping out of Hermione's, she stopped dead and just stared into the air as if she were seeing things Hermione herself could not see.
"Lia, please." Hermione said to her sister, shaking her ever so gently. "Emalia, please, we have to get on the train. You're safe, you're with me. Emalia?" As quick as she had fallen into the state, Emalia snapped out of it. She blinked once, twice, three times before she seemed to recognise Hermione. Hermione smiled, relieved and hurried her sister onto the scarlet train. She hoped to her avoid her friends, for now, until she had spoken to Dumbledore and found out what his plans were.
Finding an empty compartment was difficult on the train but proved not to be impossible. She dragged Emalia inside and sat her down. Emalia curled up on the seat, dragging her legs up to her chest; Hermione closed the blind on the door and sat down beside her sister, stroking her hair comfortingly. This change may just destroy Emalia or it may just save her, Hermione would know until it was done. It wasn't long before she heard familiar voices calling her name down the train. It wasn't that she was ashamed of either her sister or her friends, it was that she didn't know whether Harry and Ron would understand the situation and she felt the longer she could put off having to explain it to them, the better.
Hermione listened as the two boys passed; she let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding and smiled down at the now sleeping form of her sister. Emalia often seemed like a child during a bad period, she had never really been around people her own age except for Hermione and so she often reverted back to a child like state in moments of panic or fear. In the rare moments that Emalia felt safe and more herself, she was very much like Hermione, intelligent and witty; she was caring and quite fun to be around. Hermione missed the days when Emalia had always been like that.
Emalia was shook awake by her sister. Looking out the train window she saw she had slept the entire day away and it was now dark outside. The train was no longer moving she realized. "We're here now sleepy head." Hermione chuckled ruffling Emalia's pale hair. The sisters waited for the train to clear of people before leaving the train themselves. Upon exiting the train the girls were approached by a tall thin lady who Hermione greeted warmly.
"Miss Granger," Said Professor McGonagall, "Dumbledore wishes to see you in his office immediately; you should bring this one with you." She said looking at Emalia, taking in her dark circled eyes and muggle clothes. She offered the young girl a warm smile. Emalia smiled back much to Hermione's surprise. The two girls got into the last cart going to the school, followed by the professor. The journey was silent.
Emalia counted in her head, the seconds it took the cart to stop moving. She often counted to keep herself calm and the concentration usually stopped her from having an episode. Emalia looked down at her worn jeans and beat up trainers, then looked at Hermione's neat school uniform and cloak and finally to the emerald cloak worn by the woman who accompanied them. She felt very out of place but the woman caught her eye as she watched her and smiled again. Emalia like this woman, this professor, she didn't know why but she did. Three hundred and sixty seven seconds and the cart stopped. Professor McGonagall exited the cart first and then Hermione followed closely by Emalia.
The younger sister looked up at the large castle and lost her short sense of concentration. She grabbed a hold of Hermione's hand tightly and pushed herself into the older girl's shoulder. Hermione stoked her sister's hair and looked at the professor apologetically. The professor shook her head in way that told Hermione not to worry, that it would get better. Hermione wasn't so sure.
Not a long wait for chapter two, just thought I should write while I was still in the mood :) Anyways hope you liked it. Review please ~WeWereJustChidren
