I do not own Harry Potter! J.K. Rowling does. I however, have brought out my pen and paper (or keyboard) and decided to create mischief in their world. Emerald Amellus is the only character I have any claim to. Oh and the plot...

Author's Note:

Hello all! Thank you for stopping by and reading my story. I really appreciate it! Let me make you all aware, that I do not have a beta. I am proof reading and correcting all of this on my own. So, if you find mistakes, I'm sorry! Anywhooo! I hope you are enjoying my story! Please leave a review.. Every author loves feed back! Thank you

DanceShoesNink

September 1

After several more staircases and at least six more turns, Emerald and Head Mistress McGonagall finally made it to a large portrait. A woman of considerable size took up most of the expensive canvas. She smiled kindly at them, causing her great jowls to crease unattractively. "Yes?" She questioned their presence. "Pater Meus" the Head of Gryffindor responded. Emerald had to cover a snort, by turning it into a cough. My father, my hero? She thought savagely. Quite the opposite, actually. It was more like her father, the devil. Yes, Satan... or Hades, that sounded much better. Creaking on its hinges, the portrait swung open, after the phrase was spoken.

Professor McGonagall led the way down a stone hall dimly lit by torch light. The hall gave way to a large circular room, covered in floor to ceiling crimson and gold. The color choice representing this house's pride. Well worn overstuffed chairs and couches decorated the room the same color as the blood red velvet wallpaper. A large red-brick fireplace was the main focal point of the room. A fire lit inside gave the room a warm and homey feeling. Emerald instantly liked the feeling this room gave her. Several students, maybe third or fourth years, sat in a corner at a work table talking quietly amongst themselves. The Head Mistress walked briskly over to them, approaching a small blonde seated among the others. "Marsha, please be a dear and find our Head Girl." She instructed. "Yes, Head Mistress." Marsha smiled at the older woman, before bounding up the stairs two at a time, to do as instructed. Emerald waited quietly in the background. Doing her best to ignore the open mouth stares of some of the children seated close to where Marsha sat. She wondered if they knew how unattractive they looked at this moment. Probably not, considering they were still doing it. Emerald was used to being stared at. She frequently attended her father's runway shows, and being on stage the majority of her life, had made her numb to the stares of others. Besides, she was still heavily medicated, even if she could function somewhat normally while under nauge.

Moments later, Marsha came back down the stairs followed by a young woman, about Emerald's age. Emerald wouldn't say she was beautiful, at least conventionally. She wasn't ugly either, though. She had intelligent brown eyes, and high cheekbones, a smattering of freckles across her pert nose. Elegant eyebrows and cupids bow lips, Emerald thought she was pretty in a very bookish way. She stood at least a head taller than Emerald, and she carried herself with an air of confidence. This must be Hermione Granger, the crisp new uniform and shiny Head Girl pin attached to the lapel of her starched oxford shirt gave it away.

Hermione approached the Head Mistress with a smile and the two talked quietly for a moment before they both came over to where Emerald stood. "Emerald, this is Hermione Granger, our Head Girl. She will be your guide while you get acquainted with Hogwarts. I must be leaving now; I have a class to teach in twenty minutes. I bid you both a good day." The Head Mistress walked quickly back the way they came. Both girls watched her go for a moment before either spoke. "Well, looks like we have Ancient Runes as our next class, we best head down there now." Hermione told Emerald, before she turned around without checking to see if Emerald was following, and headed for the portrait hall. For a brief moment the petite brunette thought about just sitting down on one of the empty overstuffed chairs. She didn't like being bossed around and it was obvious that Hermione was used to being in charge of things. If she hadn't been under nauge, she might have done just that. Instead she found herself following closely behind Hermione, as the Head Girl spoke "I'll take you up to the dormitories later and show you where you'll be staying for the next year. I'm sure your belongings are already there. "Oh! By the way... Do you like Quidditch?" "What?" Emerald asked, she hadn't been paying much attention and missed the question. Hermione chuckled "Do you like Quidditch?" She asked again. "Um... yes and no." Emerald replied. At Hermione's questioning gaze and raised eyebrow, she better explained her response." I like watching Quidditch. I hate or loath playing it. I would say it's more liked loath, I'm rather awful at it. I don't normally like things I'm not good at." Hermione laughed a tinkling laugh. "That makes two of us! I'm asking because my friends have asked me to attend their practice this evening, and I was wondering if you'd like to come with me. If... of course you don't already have other plans." Emerald snorted "I'll have to check my calendar, I was thinking about spending my evening discussing pies and truffles with the fat lady in that portrait upstairs. Maybe we could exchange some recipes or baking secrets." "Oh, alright." Hermione said seriously. "Hermione, I just got here... I don't know anyone but you. Yes, of course I want to come. Thank you for asking me. I was only joking." "Oh! I see." Hermione laughed quite embarrassed by her gullibility. "Well, some people do that." Emerald looked at Hermione disbelievingly. "They do... take Neville Longbottom for instance; he's always asking the fat lady advice on girls." Emerald didn't know who Neville Longbottom was, but she felt sorry for him. Emerald decided she liked Hermione, even if she did seem a little bossy. The girls arrived at a classroom on the second floor of the large castle. They found a table in the front of the room and took their seats. Soon class began and it flew by rather quickly and uneventfully. Only becoming slightly unbearable for Emerald when the affects of the nauge started to wear off. She stealthily reached into her satchel and took two of the small pills out of their hiding place and then placed them into her mouth. Immediately quelling her distress. She was able to complete the series of complicated runes equations the teacher had assigned, even faster than Hermione.

Soon class ended and the girls ate a quick dinner in the Great Hall. Emerald was impressed by the beautiful ceiling that reflected the night sky. She caught a quick glance of the blonde young man and his dark partner in crime from earlier. Draco made eye contact with her briefly before giving his attention to a rather ugly pig faced girl next to him.

After their quick dinner the girls made the long trek from Hogwarts to the Quidditch pitch. It was just before sunset and the air was crisp and cool outside. Autumn was on its way. Its beautiful colors of red, bronze and gold were already painted on all of the trees' leaves. This was Emerald's favorite time of year. When it was cool and not too cold. Just a light cape or sweater was needed to fight the chill. A breeze picked up Emerald's and Hermione's hair, making the long strands dance around their shoulders as they walked. Hermione did the talking, mostly about what to expect from each teacher they had. The ins and outs of Hogwarts. Who was who and where everything was located. Emerald was content to listen or to give an answer to a direct question.

Upon arrival at the pitch, the girls climbed the Gryffindor stand midway, before sitting. "There they are!" Hermione pointed at the sky, to a point near the furthest set of goal posts. Emerald stared at the tiny figures on broomsticks, taking notice of their bright red and gold uniforms. She could barely make them out, due to their distance. But, one seemed to be a bit of a dare devil or just an idiot. The tiny figure flew towards the ground at full speed with its arms outstretched wide. At the very last second he pulled himself to a safer position. Just inches above the ground. "Merlin, Harry!" Emerald looked over at Hermione who was clutching her heart in panic. "Who's Harry?" Emerald asked Hermione curiously. "My best friend who has a death wish. I swear! He's going to kill himself one of these days. He's already suffered so many injuries due to this blasted sport." Emerald looked back up at the tiny figure, now identified as "Harry" and decided that Hermione was right. The young man either wanted to die or was an adrenaline junkie. He was flying his broom straight up in the air parallel to the ground, turning abruptly causing his broom to do a 360 degree flip in the air. Hermione was covering her eyes, not allowing herself to look at her best friend's attempt at suicide. Emerald watched curiously, admiring and envying Harry's flying skills. She was jealous of him, but not because he could fly. Because he had something that made him feel that free.

Hermione soon pulled out her books from her satchel and began to do her homework, while Emerald sat with legs criss-crossed in Indian style in front of her and continued to watch the flyers above her. Her eyes being drawn back to Harry continuously and without her consent. A comfortable silence fell between the two and was only broken half an hour later when Hermione closed her book and began to pack up her belongings. "Emerald, what does your father do?" Hermione asked curiously. Emerald knew the questions would come. But wasn't expecting them to come this soon. She sighed quietly to herself before responding honestly and sarcastically. "You mean besides tormenting and torturing me?" She laughed bitterly. "He's a fashion designer for the magical and muggle world. Makes millions or billions, I don't really know." A burning feeling began to simmer in her chest and she wanted it to just shut up. The demon in the pit of her tainted soul flapped its wings, and Emerald felt herself begin to get upset. Hermione knew none of this because Emerald's exterior was as calm as ever. Her face the perfect picture of mild interest. Her doll like features relaxed and smooth. Emerald began to twirl a long chocolate lock around her finger over and over again.

"Your mother?" Hermione asked. The question echoed in Emerald's head several times, and she began to take slow calming breaths. The burning soon turned into pain almost unbearable and Emerald's carefully constructed mask began to crack. Her smooth features gave way to a frown. Emerald quickly turned her back on Hermione and grabbed her satchel, scrambling to find the mother of pearl box with barely controlled trembling hands. She snatched one of the pills out making a mental note that she would have to start rationing them, until she could get more and shoved it in her mouth. Only turning back around when the affects of the pill took over. "Are you alright, Emerald?" Hermione asked with concern. Emerald sighed in relief as euphoria filled her veins again and the demon's flapping wings were silenced. "Yes, I'm fine Hermione. My mother... my mother is dead." She answered. And there it was the unspoken words. Words that hadn't ever passed her lips to another human soul. Her mother, gone, dead. Even through her drug induced calm, she could feel the pain under the numbness. She knew it was there and she hated it. Hermione gasped and her eyes grew as large as two saucers. "I'm so sorry, Emerald. I had no idea; I was just trying to make conversation. You know, get to know you and what not. I didn't mean to pry." Emerald shrugged Hermione's apology off. "It's fine, really." She said. "I'm fine." Emerald was anything but fine. But, to the outside world she would be glorious. She had to be wonderful. She needed to be perfect. Emerald's attention was drawn away from Hermione, and she wasn't aware of the intelligent girl's looks of concern and sorrow.

Emerald watched the Gryffindor players practice several more plays before their practice was called. All but one landed, shouldering their brooms and headed towards what Emerald assumed was the dressing rooms. The single player circled several more times around the pitch, flying at ridiculous speeds before he could be seen making his way towards the stands Emerald and Hermione sat in. The sun was setting, and the rays were lighting up the sky behind him in a golden glow. It surrounded him on all sides and if Emerald squinted just right, she could just make out broken wings and a halo. Or maybe it was the nauge. The young man landed gracefully in front of them on the bleacher below. "Harry! What is wrong with you?!" Hermione asked rather annoyed with him. "You could have killed yourself, flying like that." She was standing now with arms crossed over her chest, nostrils flared and lips tight. Emerald thought she looked a lot like their stern Head Mistress. But thought better of saying it out loud. Harry smiled sheepishly at Hermione "I know what I'm doing Hermione. I'm completely safe; I'm not going to crash or die. I still have a Dark Lord to vanquish."

Emerald's curiosity was peaked. Dark Lord? Was this Harry Potter, the savior or soon to be savior of the wizarding world. Well fuck her! She looked over the young man closely, while Hermione continued to give him a bashing. Jet black windswept hair, vivid green eyes, round rimmed glasses on a straight nose. Well formed lips, and a cleft chin. Where was it? Oh there it was, the lightning bolt scar left from a terrible curse the Dark Lord cast on him as a baby. Yes, this was fucking Harry Potter. There was the evidence right there on his forehead. Hermione's voice had raised several octaves and she was expressing to Harry her deep concern for his sanity. Emerald couldn't help it; she began to laugh at the two of them. There Harry stood, taking her verbal beating in stride with a boyish smile on his face. While Hermione had worked herself up so much that she was shaking with anger. They were more like older sister and younger brother than best friends.

At her laughter, both Hermione and Harry snapped their attention to the forgotten third party. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to laugh, it's just the two of you couldn't be any more like night and day." Emerald continued to smile, enjoying the feeling of happiness that she felt. Harry stared at her curiously, studying her face. "Harry, this is Emerald Amellus. Emerald, this is Harry Potter." Hermione introduced the two rather begrudgingly, a little annoyed that her rant was interrupted. Harry stuck out his free hand for Emerald to shake. Emerald shook Harry's hand and smiled a genuine smile at him. Even in France, the name Harry Potter was well known. The wizarding war didn't just affect Great Britain. Harry continued to stare openly at Emerald, catching her eye with his penetrating green gaze. They held that stare for what felt like a century. It felt like he had reached the very depths of her soul. That she was bare to him and that he could see it all. Every dark little detail that she hid from everyone else was displayed for him in her eyes. It wasn't an uncomfortable feeling or a feeling of invasion, it spread warmth through her abdomen and she wasn't sure if it was from the nauge or from him. What was a result of the nauge and what were her feelings were sometimes hard for her to determine.

Suddenly, Harry was roughly pushed forward, only catching himself by luck. He dropped his broom and it fell to the ground below. A feminine squeal was heard by all, as a fire engine red headed female launched her body on Harry's back. She laughed uproariously at her own antics. "Ginni, you scared the living shite out of me!" Harry playfully admonished the girl that was still wrapped around his back. He smiled adoringly at her over his shoulder. "Awe, I'm sorry Harry! I was only fooling around. I wouldn't let you fall." The red-head smiled at Harry lovingly, kissing him lightly on his cheek. Emerald's heart did a weird flip-flop; this must be Harry's girlfriend. Harry placed Ginni carefully on the bleacher beside him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Ginni, this is Emerald Amellus, she's new to Gryffindor and Hogwarts." The fiery red head looked Emerald over, studying her. Emerald raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow at the red head. "Pleasure." Ginni said unenthusiastically, and as if it was anything but a pleasure. Emerald could have laughed at the childish antics of the girl in front of her. Instead she replied, "I believe that the pleasure is all mine." Raised by a very manipulative father has its perks. For instance, she knew it was easier to get flies with honey. She plastered on her best friendly smile, ignoring the other girl's look of distaste. Hermione watched the exchange between the two carefully. She had known the red head for what felt like a lifetime. She was either jealous or threatened by Emerald. While Emerald appeared to be quite fragile, based on her size only, she was also pretty in a dark sort of way. Having a cold exterior and very sarcastic, dry sense of humor, Emerald appeared unshakable. She came off as what guys would call a "bad girl."Ginni was more of the "girl next door" type of beauty. More wholesome and full of light, sheltered, and stable. Both were equally beautiful, just very different young women.

Before too long, the group of Gryffindors made their way back to the castle and up to their house's common room. Hermione and Emerald bid Harry and Ginni good night before climbing the stairs to the 7th year girl's dormitory. Hermione led Emerald into a large room with many four poster beds. Each cherry wood bed with crimson bed covers and matching drapes had a matching end table and armoire next to it on either side. Personal items had been added to all of the beds, besides one.

Emerald's trunk lay near the end of the unoccupied bed. She walked over to her belongings and used her wand to open the lid. The picture of her smiling, beautiful mother laid unharmed on the top of her other belongings. She gently took it out and placed it on the end table. "Hey, Emerald?" Hermione asked almost cautiously. Emerald looked up from the picture and waited for the Head girl to continue. Hermione sighed before saying "Nothing...just, welcome to Hogwarts." Emerald smiled at Hermione softly. Appreciating the other young woman's ability to fight her curiosity. "Thanks Hermione, I think I'm going to like it here." And she meant it. Truly meant it. " Oh! Sorry about Ginni, she can be a bit much sometimes." Hermione shook her head to emphasis her displeasure with the other girl. Emerald snorted "She's a little protective." Hermione laughed at Emerald's comment and nodded her head in agreement. "Well, I'm getting ready for bed." Hermione stated matter of factly. "Night Emerald, see you tomorrow." Hermione gathered her belongings and headed for a back room that Emerald assumed was the rest area. Emerald quickly changed out of her uniform and got into her own new bed. Feeling pretty tired after the day's events. She covered herself completely with the crimson bed sheets, and made herself as comfortable as she could. She thought about her day and the many things she experienced and when the need to get up and take a nauge hit her, she did her best to ignore it. She would have to find a supplier soon; her medicine box was almost bare. Emerald flipped over on to her belly and relaxed into her bed, ignoring the thoughts that ran through her mind. Soon, she was reaching the veil between sleep and wakefulness, before finally falling through, much quicker than she was used to. Sleep took hold of her and for the first time in months, it was dreamless and restful.

please review! :)