Chapter 4

The next day at school, Jon and Emily were once again sitting eating lunch together. This time Emily had been a little less cold towards Jon and offered him some of her tuna sandwich.

Jon grimaced. "No thanks. I hate tuna it's like eating vomit or something. Yuck!"

Emily laughed. "How would you know? It's not like you've ever tasted vomit before."

Jon rolled his eyes. "Well, actually…"

He was interrupted by the tall, stern looking woman standing behind him. She must have been a new employee to the school because Emily sure didn't recognize her.

"What a pleasant conversation, Mr… Granger is it? The principal wants you to come to his office. Your mother is there to pick you up. You're new school has accepted you and she wants you to start packing." The woman, probably the new vice principal or something by the sounds of her, made a face. "Why she couldn't allow you to remain in school for the rest of the day is beyond me. Three hours can't make THAT much of a difference."

At that moment the bell rang.

Jon and Emily stood up at the same time.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Emily. Maybe I'll see you again someday?" He said, more of a question then a farewell. He shot her a smile. "Thanks for being friends with me while I was at this school."

Emily looked down. "Same. Thanks for being my friend." She gave a short, hysterical laugh. "Back to the lonely lunch table I guess," she ended, not looking Jon in the eye.

"Well… goodbye, Emily," shrugged Jon apologetically. "I'll write you from my new school."

Then he was briskly led away by the tall woman.

"Yeah…bye," said Emily, even though nobody was left in the empty cafeteria to hear her. She hurried off to her next class alone.

'Shoot! I never asked him about Lupin!' She cursed herself for her forgetfulness but couldn't go back to ask Jon as she was already late for class.

"Hey, Emzy. Ready for the big night?" asked Leila.

Emily grinned. "Ready as ever. Let's start!"

Leila took out a few muggle candles and placed them carelessly on the 2-person cake. "Incendio," she muttered, pointing her wan at the candles. The instantly caught afire.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Emily,"

Emily giggled at her mother's ridiculous singing. Leila immediately began attacking Emily with tickles.

"Happy birthday to you!"

By then Emily and Leila were rolling on the floor in fits of giggles. Emily had almost forgotten that Jon had left just earlier that day, but it was still nagging her in the back of her mind.

Leila sighed. "My little girl all grown up. It seems like just yesterday you were licking the melted chocolate off the chocolate bar wrappers instead of just eating the chocolate before it melted. The good old days."

Emily giggled. "Mom, it was just yesterday!"

Leila mocked astonishment. "Why you're right. I guess I'll just have to deal with you as a slob for another year."

Emily and Leila hugged as they laughed.

Suddenly an owl flew in the window. Leila murmured as she got up to retrieve the letter, "I thought I told everyone to stop sending these."

Emily was instantly alert. Why would her mother be avoiding owls?

Leila scanned the card. She sighed. "Emily, I have some business to do. Do you mind staying home alone for a day or two? I'll have Mr. Kopler check on you if you need something."

"No problem, Mom. Why?" Emil asked, pulling herself off the ground. Mr. Kopler was the cranky old next door neighbor, but he wouldn't care what Emily did as long as he got his sleep.

"Oh, just business. I have to see one of my old friends about something. I'll be back soon enough." Leila had gone over to the broom cupboard and was taking out her beat up comet 270.

"A wizard? Who?" Asked Emily, curious.

Leila shook her head.

"Please, Mom!" she pleaded.

"No!" Leila suddenly shouted.

Emily was silent. Her mother had never yelled at her for asking questions before. She'd gotten a little angry if Emily had been too annoying, but never like that.

"Emily, it's better if you don't know everything I'm doing. I'll be back as soon as I can. I'll give Mr. Kopler a call on my way. Behave." She picked up her bags (that had magically appeared, of course, with the flick of Leila's wand) and kissed Emily on the forehead.

Emily nodded and went up to her bedroom. She heard the front door shut. They'd need to oil that door soon. It was starting to squeak again.

She pulled her wand out from underneath her pillow. "Now what am I supposed to do? No friends? My mom left me? I STILL haven't figured out who my father is…" She sighed. "What the heck? There's no point of me laying her until Mom gets back. I might as well get up and do something. Maybe I can figure out where Jon lives and give him a visit. He can't have left yet."

Then a thought crossed Emily's mind and everything clicked into place. "Or could he?" she asked herself quietly. She grinned mischievously.