Chapter Three:
The station passed quickly in a blur of mixed colors as the train lurched forward. Emerald was seated in a cushy red seat beside Harry and his snowy owl, Hedwig, with Hermione across from her, and Ron, diagonal. Ginny had gone off to sit with some other fifth years. She hoped that they would accept her as a new addition to their obviously close friendship. If they didn't then she knew she would have a hard time. This was the first time in years she had been around people her own age.
"So Emerald is it?" Hermione slightly leaned forward.
"Yeah, Hermione right?"
"Yes, Granger, what school did you transfer from, Beauxbatons?" said Hermione stroking a large orange cat.
"Actually, no. I've been homeschooled by my brother my entire life. He went to Hogwarts though."
"Did your parents teach you at all?" Ron asked.
Emerald saw Hermione flash him a look of warning. Emerald knew Hermione had already guessed why she had only mentioned her brother.
"Well my father did when I was little, but he and my mum passed away when I was about ten. My brother took care of me after that." Out of the corner of Emeralds eye, she could see that Harry made sort of connection with her, because his parents, too were dead.
"So why did he home school you up until now?" Said Ron.
Hermione then flashed him another look. Emerald ignored this however, and decided she would shed some light on the subject even though she wasn't quite ready to reveal everything.
"I was sick for a long time. I didn't get out of the house much." Ron looked as if he was sorry that he asked and Hermione gave him a smug 'I told you so' sort of look. "Oh! Please I don't mind saying this. It is the truth." Emerald said this, but knew that from now on he would probably refrain from asking such personal questions for awhile, which was fine too.
"So, do you fly?" Harry spoke now. "Y'know on a broomstick?"
"Oh well, I've never really tried, but my brother was a keeper when he went to school, and has tried to teach me the lingo of it all, but that's about it."
"So what do you like to do?" asked Hermione.
"Well I like to play piano, and I am rather fond of doing potions with my brother. I don't mind drawing either."
"Potions! Ha! Not anymore you like it." said Ron in a 'yeah right' kind of tone.
"Why? Isn't there a potions class at Hogwarts?" Emerald hoped there was.
"More like a potions torture chamber. Professor Snape is nastier than a Blast Ended Skrewt!"
"Sorry, a what?!"
"It's a fire crab mixed with a, well oh never mind, he's not the sort of professor that you want to get on your bad side is all."
"Yeah, it's true," said Harry "hated me the first time he met-"
Suddenly the compartment door burst open and two guys and a girl stood in the doorway. One guy had dark skin and narrow eyes and seemed much taller than everyone. The other guy had light blonde hair, and grey eyes set in pale skin. The girl who was rather smug looking had chin length black hair and cold blue eyes.
"So Potter," said the pale one leaning against the doorway, " got a new girlfriend I see."
"Shut up Malfoy" said Harry.
"Is that all you can come back with? Shut up? Pathetic."
Emerald quickly learned that the two groups of people hated each other, and she was prepared to defend her own. She spoke up for Harry.
"Actually I believe it is you that is the pathetic one, you're the one barging in here looking for trouble." said Emerald calmly and to the point.
"Don't you talk to my Draco like that!" said the girl standing behind him.
"It's alright Pansy, I've got this."
"Sure you do," said the dark boy, "you just got told off by a girl."
"Shut up Blaise, I've got this!" the boy said through clenched teeth.
"What gives you the right to call me out you filthy mud blood?!"
Now Emerald was quite stirred, but urged herself to keep her voice calm. "Actually, I'm a pureblood thanks."
"Liar, what family then?" the boy said narrowing his eyes.
Now Emerald knew she would say something to keep his mouth shut, if he was a pureblood, then he would know her family.
"Elagante, but you can call me Emerald" she said trying not to make enemies.
"Ela-el…well er…" the boy had a bewildered look on his face. Much more of a reaction than Emerald, had expected.
Looking lost for words the boy left with his small group. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked at her surprised.
"That was BRILLIANT!" said Ron. "He's never shut up like that before."
"He's quite rude, really," said Emerald, "He has no right to talk to anyone like that."
"He called you a mud blood! How did you not want to rip off his face?" said Hermione.
"Oh, well," Emerald blushed, "I did. I just tried to keep my temper. I don't want to make too many enemies on the first train ride."
They all had a good laugh and recounted the events that had just taken place. Then they heard sort of an old shaky voice calling, "ANYTHING FROM THE TROLLEY?" numerous times walking down the corridor. When she passed their compartment, an elderly lady poked her wrinkly old head in and said "Anything from the trolley dears?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood up and handed the old lady money and bought what looked like candy. Emerald hadn't had wizard candy before.
"What is good to buy Hermione?" asked Emerald standing up beside her.
"Hmmm, well you oughta' try the chocolate frogs, and the every flavored beans…wait…you have had candy before haven't you?"
Emerald blushed again, "No actually…only muggle candy… that my brother brought me once…"
"Well then, I would get a licorice wand too." said Hermione, smiling.
Emerald bought all of these things, then sat down and opened a chocolate frog. It hopped out of its foil wrapper and bounced all around the compartment. They spent nearly the rest of the train ride trying to catch it, and had a good time doing it. When they came a bit closer to the castle, Emeralds heart pounded as she saw the warmly lit windows. She had finally broken free, on her own. She had, finally reached Hogwarts.
