I heard yells from upstairs and looked down. My parents had been up there since we had come back from Fluffy's chamber, and it was making me feel more shameful by the moment. I let a few tears out as I thought of how dissapointed my parents were in me. I heard a peck on the window and smiled. I went over and saw my beloved bird, Sirena, perched on the window sill. I opened it and she immediantly landed on my shoulder, nudging me affectionately. I sadly smiled at her and sat back down.
"I've been so foolish, Sirena... And now my parents are disspointed and angry with me..."
She nipped my hair and kept cooing at me. I smiled and stroked her feathers, that were soft as silk. I heard the shouts get louder, loud enough for me to hear them clearly.
"What could have possessed her to do such a lifethreatening and foolish decision?!"
"Minerva, she's just a child!"
"Yes, that may be, but she's an idiotic child! I thought we taught her better!"
My tears welled in my eyes as I heard my mothers harsh and heartbreaking words. I jumped up and ran to the door, Sirena following after her moment of shock at my sudden movement. I slammed the door and ran down the hall.
I did ponder the situation as I ran to my tranquil destination. I deserved those words... It was idiotic of me... I was foolish and stupid for putting myself in danger...
I made it to the courtyard and collapsed in a heap of tears. Sirena hopped over and nudged me, making me whimper more. I looked up to the tree and got up slowly. I climbed up with great ease. Climbing all the trees around the orphanage gave me a little strength in this sort of thing.
I looked up at the full moon and sighed. I put my knees to my eyes and cried loudly. Sirena tried to comfort me, but it didn't help the stinging pain in my heart. I started to mumble to myself at how foolish of a child I was.
"First the troll, now putting my life in danger with Fluffy... Moms right! I'm just a stupid child who can't even try to keep her life safe! I don't deserve such loving parents like Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore!"
I cried louder at the truth of my own words. I looked up when I heard my parents call to me.
"Esmeralda!"
I gazed towards the woods in the distance and cried harder. I yelled out loud enough so they could hear.
"Stop looking for your stupid and homicidal daughter! She doesn't deserve to be looked for by her caring parents!"
I saw them through the branches as they entered the courtyard, looking worried. I felt Sirena leave my side and looked to see her come out of the tree towards my parents. I growled.
"Traitor..."
They looked up and saw my shadowed form, huddled in a ball. I felt a magical aura surround me, and swiftly pulled out my wand.
"Sheildia Breakora!"
It broke the ball trying to levitate me down to them. They looked at me in shock as I bore my red eyes into their worried ones.
"Why were you even looking for me? You should be happy that you don't have to worry about me anymore..."
They looked at eachother and this time used both of their wands for the spell. I couldn't break it, so I let them pull me to the ground. I didn't look at them when I felt the coolness of the grass. I felt the gentle hands of my mother on my shoulders and whimpered. She tilted my head and looked at me with concern.
"Why wouldn't we look for you?"
I let another tear grace my face as I answered.
"You said I was an idiotic child for what I did, and your right! I don't deserve to have you for my mother or Dumbledore for my father! I'm just trouble for you..."
She paled and looked at me, regret shining in her eyes.
"Sweetie, that's not what I meant when I said that... I was just angry and terrified... And I meant that what you did was idiotic, not you! You are not idiotic! You are so intelligent and bright, willing to learn as much as you can to succeed... I'm sorry you thought I said you were stupid."
I shook my head at the last statement.
"You can't be sorry for what I need to be for. I know it's not going to erase what I did, but I'm so sorry for disobeying you and putting myself in danger. I never meant to... I just... wanted to help my friends..."
She hugged me tightly, father soon joining us. Father looked down and rested his chin on my head.
"We understand that, but please... Please, Esme, don't do this to us again."
I sighed in content.
"Yes, Dad. I promise I won't try to do it again."
I felt them smile and grew one of my own on my face. They got up and pulled me back to the room gently, as I looked back to the moonlit sky.
The next few days were like healing days for me and my parents. My arm had healed, but the marks remained. They would stay there for the rest of my life, but I didn't mind. They were reminders that I was merely a girl who could be harmed, not an immortal. I sat in the Great Hall in silence, glaring slightly at Slytherin House, who were smiling proudly. I tuned out my fathers voice and looked dead into Draco's eyes, filled with pride and malice. I heard Ron and Hermione's names called faintly before my own name was heard.
"To Miss Esmeralda, who put others safety before her own and gave the affection and support for her friends. And for that she has earned Gryffindor House... 50 points!"
I looked flabbergasted up at my father. He and mother simply smiled as I got pats on the back from my house. I smiled warmly around the table and shot a proud smirk at Draco, who glared back. I saw a glimpse of another Gryffindor staring at me from across the table. I blushed deeply as I looked at his features, ignoring my fathers speech.
The boys hair was a light brown colour and he was tall but he looked kind of slim. And his eyes... I had to intake a breath, fearing I would stop breathing when I saw those electric blue eyes.
He caught me staring and blushed a tinge pink. I quickly looked away and saw my mother raise an eyebrow at me. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled innocently. She mouthed a "tell me later" and I wanted to shrink out of existence right then. I didn't know what was going to happen the next few months of summer, but I knew that the tougher times of my life were just ahead...
