Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, his world or any of the other amazing characters from this series. J.K. Rowling does... must be nice!
Author's note: Hello Readers…If you've been following me and decided to re-read this story you might see some differences in the first couple of chapters. I am going through and editing them because I have realized that they needed it. To new readers…welcome…please give me some feedback.
September 1st
Chapter One
Silence, that's what met the petite brunette's ears as she ventured downstairs the very next morning. She wasn't the least bit surprised that her father wasn't there to see her off. This wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last time, that she would take a meal alone. Dressed in her new Hogwarts uniform and simple black pump heels, Emerald served herself a cup of fresh coffee.
Jeffery, her father's man servant, had already gathered Emerald's personal trunk and shrunk the large piece of luggage to fit into his pocket. The elderly man would be seeing the petite brunette off to Hogwarts. Of course, her father wouldn't be here for this. Feeling agitated with other people's decisions for her life, Emerald removed the mother of pearl box from her satchel and took one of the little white pills, swallowing it with a sip of her coffee. The normal rush of euphoria filled her insides as it quieted the turmoil she refused to feel. The petite witch slid the pill box back in her satchel, finished her coffee and waited for Jeffery to come retrieve her. It was almost time to go.
"Morning Missy." Jeffery smiled softly at the young woman he had grown to love like a grand-daughter. Emerald returned the smile "Ready to go, Jeffery?" She asked the man who had watched over her since her mother's death. Although the elderly man could see it in the young women's jade eyes that this was quite painful for her, he admired the brave face she wore like a mask, as she walked through her childhood home for the very last time. Jeffery followed Emerald out of the house and into the yard, he watched as she took in her surroundings and let out a nearly inaudible sigh. The petite young woman stared up at the window that led to her childhood room for a moment longer and then steeled herself. It was time for them to go.
Without a word, Jefferey held out his arm to the young woman that reminded him so much of her father. Together, the pair disappeared with a pop. Landing, somewhat gracefully, the petite brunette took a moment to gain her senses. Feeling slightly nauseated from the combination of nauge and the feeling of being sucked through a straw, the petite witch took in several large gulps of air. Soon, the nausea subsided and Emerald allowed Jeffery to lead her through Hogsmeade Station. Emerald barely took in her surroundings, only noting that it was a small town with many different shops. On second glance, the jade eyed girl noticed what appeared to be a pub, making a mental note of it's location… just in case. The young women knew that she would either need to find a new supplier in town or she would have to find a way to get to Diagon Alley without notice.
Several carriages with black skeletal horses and an overly large man yelling for "Firs yers!" stood near The Black Lake. Emerald had been to Hogwarts one time before during the Tri-wizarding Tournament in her 4th year. The younger students had stayed for the welcoming feast and then left for Beauxbatons while the older students remained to watch or participate in the events.
She remembered her classmates briefly talking about a half-giant named Hagrid who was trying to 'woo' their own Headmistress. Emerald wondered momentarily if the man screaming for the young ones was the man in question.
The walk to the giant castle on the hill was long and although Emerald was slight in size, she kept up with Jeffery. Not an ounce of the physical struggle showed on her face, her pixie like features schooled into a blank mask of indifference. As a dancer and as an aristocrat's daughter, she was taught to never openly show emotion or pain. Never allow people to see your weakness or suffering. She was told to make them think what you do is easy. Make them believe that they can do it, too.
After what seemed like an eternity, the pair finally made it to the castle. Poor Jeffery, who was in his late sixties, was having a difficult time breathing. Emerald slowed her pace and then came to a complete stop next to the man that she considered family. The now elderly man used to play outside with her when she was a little girl and he was still full of youth. Jeffery would swing her on the tire swing he had hung for her in one of the many trees they had on her father's estate. The chocolate brunette waited patiently for Jeffery to recover from their strenuous walk.
The gates of Hogwarts swung open for the duo, the sound of metal aged by decay and time screeching as Emerald and Jeffery passed. Emerald stared up at the enormous castle and wanted nothing more than to be at her small private school, far away from here.
Knowing that there was no other choice, the petite brunette gathered her courage and just like all good actresses do, she took her first step towards the castle. The large wooden front doors opened when they reached them and Emerald allowed Jeffery to lead the way to the Head Mistress's study.
His job complete, Jeffery sent Emerald's well used luggage to it's proper place. The elderly man turned to the pixie like girl, with tears in his hazel eyes. "Be good miss. Make your mum proud." He said with a watery smile. With a rush of gratitude for Jeffery's presence in her life, Emerald hugged the man that had been there for her when no one else was. "Bye Jeffery." She whispered. With one last smile and wave, Jeffery was back out the doors headed in the direction of Hogwart's gates. Emerald wondered if she would ever see him again.
Two large gargoyles guarded the spiral staircase leading to the Head Office and just like the letter Emerald received told her, she spoke the words "Dumbledore lives."
The gargoyles instantly jumped apart allowing Emerald to climb up the circular stairwell. The petite young woman knocked on the office door softly. A muffled "ENTER" could be heard from inside the closed room. Emerald stiffened her spine, pushed her shoulders back, and opened the door.
The jade eyed girl entered a beautiful large circular room. Book shelves lined the walls from top to bottom. A large claw-footed desk took center stage in the round room, neat piles of parchment, quills and ink bottles decorated it's wooden surface. Portraits of what she assumed to be Head Masters and Mistresses of the past lined the wall behind the beautiful claw foot desk. An old Wizard's hat sat on the top shelf of one of the many bookcases. The floor was a midnight blue, decorated in the constellations and she just knew that they moved according to the sky outside. "Hello, Mrs. Amellus." Emerald's attention was immediately snagged by the older woman sitting behind the beautiful desk.
Wearing a severely tight bun and smart glasses, her lips tightened into a thin line, this must be the famous Head Mistress McGonagall. The Head Mistress stood from her seated position and walked slowly around her desk extending her hand out to shake Emerald's. "Hello Head Mistress McGonagall." Emerald greeted the older woman kindly. "Sit…sit! Would you like a biscuit or some tea?" McGonagall asked the rather small girl in front of her. "No, thank you, I'm fine, ma'am." Emerald refused the offer with a forced smile.
Feeling just a tad too sober, the petite young women new it was well past time for her to take another one of her pills. All of Emerald's emotions were coming back to her and she wasn't in the mood to deal with them right now. "Head Mistress, I don't mean to be a bother, but would you mind pointing me to the lady's room?" Emerald asked nearly desperate for an escape. The Head Mistress gave her the directions to the nearest loo and Emerald followed them quickly swallowing two of the nauge' as she went. She waited just till the effects of the pills took over and then Emerald quickly made her way back to the Head's Office.
McGonagall had pulled the ratty old hat down from the top shelf of the bookcase and placed it on her desk. "Emerald, this is the sorting hat and it will determine which house you will be in. The house chosen for you by this hat will be your home for the next year. The houses are: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Based on your ancestor's history you should be put in Slytherin." Emerald inwardly rolled her eyes, her father and his father and his father before him were all in Slytherin. Well, she wasn't her father or anything like him.
The newly instated Head Mistress smiled kindly at the new student and then placed the Sorting Hat on Emerald's brunette head. Instantly, it began to speak in the young women's mind. "What do we have here?" "Great mind, talented...very talented. Intelligence and ambition... perfect for Slytherin."
Emerald yelled "NO!" loudly in her brain. It wasn't so much that she cared where she was put, she just didn't want to be put there.
"NO?! Why ever not?... I see, rebellious, aren't you? Reminds me of someone... I've only ever placed one other in a different house from his ancestors. Alright, alright...Let it be" "GRYFFINDOR!''
Shock registered on the Head Mistress's face and then a smug smile replaced the shock- take that Snape. Even as Head Mistress, she was still the Head of Gryffindor house; not being able to find anyone to replace her as the Transfiguration Professor. Dark times were upon them, no one wanted to leave the safety of their home to teach at Hogwarts.
"Well, Mrs. Amellus... I stand corrected! Gryffindor- my house- will now be your home. After you complete your placement exam, I will take you to meet our Head Girl, Hermione Granger -also a Gryffindor-and she will be your guide until you are comfortable here at Hogwarts." Head Mistress McGonagall silently summoned a stack of parchment to her waiting hand. She flicked her wand one more time, turning Emerald's winged back chair into a school desk. The smug looking older woman handed the stack of parchments to Emerald. "No, pressure dear! Just do your very best. I will be back in four hours to grade your exam." The full of pride older woman smiled delightedly at Emerald as she walked to the back of the round office, no doubt to her private chambers.
Four hours later... Emerald inwardly rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time in five minutes. If her Head of House didn't hurry up and read the results of her exam she was going to rip her own hair out. Or poke her eyes out, or maybe jump off the highest tower for the hell of it. Truth was her skin was itchy, and her head was beginning to throb a rather loud drum beat, like you hear in a muggle marching band.
The test wasn't that hard and if she was honest with herself, she knew she made O's in every subject covered. She was just tired of sitting and she was dying to take a nauge! No, she needed to take a nauge before she lost the little sanity she had left. Her stomach began to churn unpleasantly, and she knew the cramping would start soon. Outwardly, Emerald looked cool, calm and collected. The only sign of her annoyance was the brunette lock being twirled and tugged around her finger. Her face was impassive, her posture didn't give way to her internal struggle.
Finally, the shock and surprise fell from McGonagall's face replaced by another smug smile. "I must say, I didn't know what to expect from you. I mean, I read your records from Beauxbatons... But I never expected this! You'll be in ALL of the advanced NEWT classes with our Head Girl." McGonagall handed Emerald a copy of her class schedule, smiling proudly at her. Emerald bowed her head in thanks at her Head of House's praise, whilst inwardly, her eyes hit the ceiling for the hundredth and first time and she muttered the explicit phrase of "NO SHIT!"
Her mood was getting fouler by the second and she was afraid she wasn't going to be able to keep up her mask of indifference much longer. She just wished for fucking freedom! For a blessed moment alone...just one, or two seconds! Just long enough to swallow a pill. That's all she needed! Emerald's mind had wandered so far that she barely registered that her professor had stood and was walking to her office door.
Finally! Emerald thought. She stood, not too quickly, just quick enough and smoothed out her knee length skirt. She fixed her posture, straightening her back and shoulders and followed her professor out the door. Image was everything, her father had told her once and although Emerald hated the man, she took that to heart.
"Head Mistress?" Emerald asked calmly. The woman in question came to a stop and gave Emerald her attention. "I need to use the lady's room... it's been awhile since I went last." Emerald stated
''Of course, dear. I'll wait here, and then we'll take you to Gryffindor Tower." Professor McGonagall smiled at her new student; she was quite surprised at the young lady's talent. Emerald walked quickly to the lady's room and again she pulled her antique mother of pearl box out of her satchel. She took one, then two-no make it three nauge' out and placed them under her tongue. Waited the span it took for the pills to take effect, sighing in relief when she felt the euphoria spread through her veins like warm honey. The petite young woman checked her make-up in the mirror, exiting the lady's room she quickly walked back to her Head of House.