"Come on, Hermione! Get up!" Emily shouted when Hermione only mumbled in response; she had had enough. "Fine!" She grabbed Hermione's blankets on the bed and threw them to the ground.
"What the hell!" Hermione yelled. " I ask for five more minutes. Only five, and you steal my blankets." Hermione stated as she got her quilt off the floor and tried to go back to bed.
"Oh, no you don't," Emily sighed. " Hermione, we have to get ready. The train leaves in an hour and a half."
"WHAT! Why didn't you say so!" Hermione shouted as she jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom to take a shower.
"I did," Emily mumbled to herself. Emily let out a soft chuckle and then got her suitcase. "What to wear?" She fumbled through her clothes. She finally settled on a jean miniskirt, much like the one Hermione had worn the previous day, and a nice T-shirt that read " Shop-aholic". She applied all natural color eye shadow and a little candy color lip-gloss. "Perfect."
Just as she finished, Hermione came out of the bathroom all set for the day. She wore slightly tight cargo pants with a camouflage shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail that swung with a simple air to it. They grabbed their shoes and slipped them on. Lastly, they grabbed their trunks and went downstairs to meet Hermione's mother and father.
The ride to the station was quiet. Hermione was looking out the window as the familiar places flashed by. 'This is going to end in disaster. With Emily going to Hogwarts, I'll become the invisible girl nobody notices. Great…' Hermione thought to herself solemnly. Emily had always been better then her. That was why she always worked harder than necessary at school: to be better at something. Before they both found out they were witches, Hermione had always been left out of everything when her cousin was around. Her friends ignored her to be with Emily. She would sit in her room and cry some nights, because she would be excited to tell her family something, but Emily always had bigger news.
Hermione was running home so fast she thought she might burst. She couldn't wait. Her family would be so proud. She burst through the door. Her parents, her aunt and uncle looked at her funny.
"Are you alright? Is something wrong?" Uncle Tom asked with a worried expression.
"I'm fine, but I have big news!" Hermione said. She had been voted class president for her fourth grade year. She was so happy. Even her cousin, Emily, who was staying in England for a year, couldn't ruin her happiness.
"Well, what is it, honey?" her mother asked in her gentle tone.
" I got voted class pre-," Hermione started, only to be interrupted.
"I GOT PICKED FOR THE LEAD ROLE IN THE PLAY!" Emily shouted as soon as she got through the door. All the parents rushed over to her and said their congratulations. Hermione just stood there, dumbfounded. 'Maybe she can find a way to ruin it for me,' she thought sadly. She turned and started toward the stairs.
"Honey, didn't you have good news as well?" her father called.
"Never mind, it's nothing important," Hermione said. She watched for a moment as everyone talked happily over Emily. When she saw her father scoop up Emily and parade her around the room she decided then that she hated her father. When she was around him she wouldn't show it, but inside she would always hate him. He loved Emily more than her and that wasn't fair. When she couldn't take it anymore, she ran upstairs to her room. She threw her the special badge she was given at the wall and screamed. She sank to her knees and cried. ' She ruins everything. She's always been better then me and always will be,' she thought as she cried. She picked herself up from the floor and got into her bed. She could faintly hear all the chatter from downstairs. She let only one more tear fall, before falling into a fitful sleep.
Hermione sighed. She had never told her family that she was voted class president. They found out, however, when her teacher called. She called to say how proud she was of Hermione. Her parents had asked what she was talking about. Her teacher told them everything. When they had hung up, her parents asked her why she didn't tell them. She simply said that it slipped her mind.
"We're here," her father announced. He popped the trunk of the car and grabbed both of the girls' trunks. They got carts and headed to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Emily was asking a lot of questions about this 'Made-up platform' as she put it. When they got to the wall between Platforms Nine and Ten, Hermione went forward and leaned casually against the magical barrier. She felt the familiar sensation of the wall letting her through and on the Platform she had wanted to see all summer. Her parents and Emily weren't far behind.
" Wow. This is awesome," Emily said in awe as Hermione and herself went toward the train to find a compartment.
"Hermione!" Hermione heard three voices shout. She turned just in time before two fiery redheads and a raven-haired boy. The trio attacked her with hugs. She gave each one a hug in return and then stepped back.
"Hey, how are you, guys?" she asked.
"You have no idea how horrible it is to spend the summer with these two," Hermione's good-friend, Ginny, said pointing to her other best friends, Harry and Ron.
"You look great, Hermione," Harry said. All at once, they noticed the girl, who looked very much like Hermione, standing next to her.
"Who are you?" Ron asked.
"I'm Emily, Hermione's cousin from America. I've heard a lot about you all," Emily replied, shaking all of their hands. Harry and Ron shook her hand a little longer than needed.
"It's nice to meet you, Emily. How about we all go get a compartment?" said Ginny. They all agreed. Hermione walked a little slower as she realized her worst nightmare had come true. Her friends were chatting happily with her angel of a cousin. 'So it begins,' Hermione thought bitterly.
They found a compartment in the middle of the train. Everyone looked toward Emily, wanting to know who she was. A lot of the guys buttered her up when she got close enough to hear them. Most of the girls, on the other hand, looked jealous and hostile toward her. As they settled down, Hermione watched as her friends asked Emily questions about her summer. She had a window sit and just sat quietly as the train started its long journey.
"Hey, what's up?" Ginny asked. Ron and Harry were still talking to Emily and gaping at her.
Hermione couldn't hold it any longer. She told Ginny everything. Ginny sat there and listened until Hermione was finished before speaking her mind. "Maybe you could tell her what you just told me," she suggested.
"Are you nuts? Of course I can't tell her that," Hermione snapped back. But then, just as this was said, Malfoy and his cronies came in.
"Well, well, well. It's Scarhead, Weasel, Weaselette, Mudblood, and…who are you?" he asked.
" I am Emily. Hermione's cousin." Emily had a dreamy look on her face.
"Another one? Oh, dear Merlin. What has the world come to?" Malfoy said distastefully
"Get out of here, Malfoy," Harry said as he stood and took out his wand and pointed it at Malfoy.
Emily leaned over to Ginny and Hermione and whispered, "He is hotter in person. You think I'll be able to get with him? Sorry, Hermione, but I want him so badly."
At this, Hermione felt a tinge of jealousy. Emily always got what she wanted. That meant she would most likely get Malfoy. 'I liked him first!' she thought. She had never gotten over her crush on him in first year, and it drove her nuts. She hated any girl who did as much as touch him. She was a good actress, though, because nobody ever suspected a thing. She had told Ginny, but Ginny didn't mind her liking Malfoy of all people like everyone else would.
"We better change into our robes. We should be arriving soon," Harry said.
Everyone changed into his or her robes as Hogsmeade Station came into view. They got off the train and headed right to the carriages. They all got one and rode up to the castle. As soon as the reached the Entrance Hall, they heard Professor McGonagall.
"Emily, over here. We must wait for the first years. We must sort you."
The group said goodbye and entered the Great Hall. The students were pilling in, getting seats at their respective House tables. The group went straight to the Gryffindor table and sat down. When all the students were seated, the first years were brought in, as well as Emily. So, the Sorting began. The first years looked deathly afraid. Emily looked cool, calm, and collected.
"When I call you name, come forward so I can put the Hat on your head," McGonagall said. " Tolbert, Alex!"
A small boy walked forward. He looked very frightened. Hermione knew there was nothing to be scared about, but they had to learn on their own.
Finally, the Hat shouted, "Ravenclaw!" After him was Shannon Cook. She went to Gryffindor, who cheered loudly to welcome her. When the first years were done, it was Emily's turn. Everyone got very quiet.
"Granger, Emily!" Emily walked forward purposely. She sat on the stool and held a thumbs-up to Hermione. Everything was quiet for at least two minutes.
"Gryffindor!" tThe Hat shouted, causing all the students to jump about a foot in the air. As Emily sat down next to Harry, Hermione put her head in her hands thinking to herself, 'Why me?'
"Isn't this great, Hermione? We are going to have so much fun!" Emily shouted. She was clearly very happy. 'Shouldn't I be happy for her, too? If so, then why do I feel like I'd rather die then have her here?' Hermione thought to herself sadly.
After the feast, Hermione and Emily were asked to stay behind. That was when Professor Dumbledore dropped a bombshell. He wanted Hermione to be Emily's, shall we say, study buddy.
"You want me to what? How can you ask me to help Emily around the school? I don't mean that in a disrespectful way, Professor, but I have my own studies to worry about," Hermione complained. She couldn't be responsible for Emily. Besides, Emily was a big girl and could take care of herself.
"Miss Granger, you are family. You are the only one here who knows Emily personally," said Dumbledore. Hermione had no choice but agree. Emily squealed like the little girl she was when Hermione nodded. She marched moodily back to the common room with Emily hopping beside her. When they reached the common room, Harry, Ron, and Dean were playing Wizard's Chess. When they saw Emily, they immediately asked if she and Hermione wanted to play.
"I don't think so, guys. I'm really tired, maybe tomorrow," Hermione replied, saying half the truth. In reality, she was tired, but she also wanted to get away from Emily. She was going to be around her a little more than needed for the next couple of weeks. She went upstairs to the Girls' Dormitory to find it peacefully quiet. She settled on her bed and thought of anything to get rid of thoughts from the past, which only brought more to the surface.
The group of fifteen year-olds laughed. They were watching younger children play in the park. They often came here to get away from the world. They heard quick steps behind them and turned to see a girl that looked a lot like Hermione running toward them. Hermione instantly noticed her and knew what was to come. It always happened when she came to town.
"Hey, Hermione. What's up?" Emily Granger, Hermione's cousin, asked in her annoyingly sweet voice.
"Nothing, just watching the kids run around. Remembering when we were kids. This park was our domain back then," she replied matter-of-factly. As usual, all her friends were looking at Emily with adoration in their eyes. They always did.
"You want to hang around with us, Emily?" Derek, one of Hermione's friends, asked.
"Sure."
They walked around. All of the talk was about America and what Emily thought about it. Hermione felt compelled not join them. They would ignore her anyway, so why waste her time talking?
Hermione remembered that day clearly. It always happened that way. She wished there was one person who couldn't be put under her spell. She sighed and picked up her favorite Muggle book, Pride and Prejudice, and started reading.