Second Chapter's up! Don't be afraid to leave reviews, guys, we don't bite!
Disclaimer: everything Harry Potter-related belongs to J.K. Rowling (well, except for Emily. She's all ours!)
Chapter 1
Holding the grocery bag closer to my chest, I pushed open the small gate that led to the house. The summer breeze was warm on my bare arms, and I had to squint, unable to shield my eyes from the sun. In the distance, I could hear the Humphrey sisters chatting excitedly about climbing up the oak tree for what seemed to be the hundredth time… Something about a bet, or a dare, I couldn't decide. These two were always up to God-knows-what, despite being adorable six- and eight-year old girls. In truth, little devils who were perfectly able to set the orphanage on fire if given the chance.
I smiled at the thought, holding back a snigger and remembering what I myself used to do when I was their age. Even if Abigail and her younger sibling were a real pain at times, I knew a lot of their tricks, and occasionally approved of their mischief.
"Yahooo!"
A laughing kid zoomed past me at an astonishing speed, his arms spread out like wings. Before I could even utter a word, another, slightly younger boy followed in the same fashion: little Jamie, I reckoned fondly. He was one of the youngest here, being nearly five and a half, and if the Humphrey sisters were devils, well, he for sure was a real angel. He was the kind of kid who rarely cried, even when you had to put him to bed or remind him to eat despised vegetables; the only thing he recoiled at was my tousling his ash-blond hair, and that was saying something.
Smiling, I made my way to the brightly-lit kitchen, humming absent-mindedly, only to find I was not alone. Mary was already there, standing by the sink. Although a few strands of grey in her auburn bun were standing out as of late, she worked with the same seemingly infinite energy she usually displayed around kids and for which I admired her.
For the time being, though, she was just enjoying the hot July afternoon; I couldn't bring myself to joke about this, knowing full well how much she needed rest sometimes. She would really go to amazing lengths to ensure we were all growing up in a safe and warm environment. A familiar sparkle lit up her hazel eyes as she caught sight of me, and I felt my heart swell in my chest. I wanted her to be proud of me, always had: today was no exception.
"Seventeen… I can't believe you'll be turning seventeen so soon, Em." She sighed, slowly shaking her head.
"Mom, it's exactly like turning sixteen. I guess I won't feel any different, you know." With that said, I began sorting the groceries and putting them away.
"How many times will I have to tell you to call me Mary?"
I knew it pained her when I called her Mom, but I couldn't help it sometimes: it just felt so natural. Heck, I had just slipped... She had been the one to raise me, and even if she wasn't my biological mother, well, she still was my surrogate mom at the very least. The stranger who had somehow decided to abandon me at Mary Macdonald's Home for Orphaned Children when I was barely one certainly wasn't.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist!" I answered a bit sharply. "I mean, if anything, I do it mainly to annoy you: it seems to work each time." I added with a small smile, so as to make her understand it didn't bother me. Well, not really...
Said smile quickly turned into a frown as I realised I had forgotten to buy some more milk, and cursed inwardly. At the same time, I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder softly. As if reading my thoughts, Mary's comforting voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Sweetie, I bought a pack of milk yesterday. You don't need to worry about that, okay? I already made sure to have everything I need for your birthday cake."
I nodded, relieved at that, and decided there was enough time to read a bit before dinner. Although she wanted me to take it easy when I could, being the oldest in the house and incidentally on holidays, I felt somewhat guilty not to help more with the daily chores. I tried to brush the thought aside while climbing up the stairs to my room, instead focusing on the book I was currently reading. Stopping to grab it from under the bed where it was lying, I changed my mind and also took a jacket: it would be the good old rooftop tonight; one of my favourite places in the house.
Sitting on the tiles, I had a vantage point of view on the surrounding countryside. At sunset, the sky usually burnt as if on fire, and at any other given time, the sight still was beautiful. To tell the truth, it was the place where, strangely, I felt the safest. Height frightened the youngest, and the older ones, more adventurous, were denied access; this was enough to prevent them from disturbing me at such a time. Even if I took care of them daily and loved them all, I still needed a few minutes away from the cramped living room sometimes.
I gazed at the clouds for a little while, forgetting to even open the novel I had brought with me. Closing my eyes, I began breathing in and out more and more evenly, until...
"EEEMIE! You on the roof?"
Jamie's astonished –and slightly whiny- voice. Well, I guessed I had had enough; too bad I could not stay, but I had other duties to tend to. Stretching a bit, I reached the window pane carefully, shouting back a laid back "Coming!".