Yet another Emma's point of view. I really shouldn't be writing this. I have so much homework and I have to study for my exams. Argh! But I'm putting it off. Yay procrastination!
Chapter 7
Before It Starts
Emma ate her fill. Though, she couldn't help feeling a little depressed. The last time she ate a meal like this, warm, fresh and one that filled her up so well, was when she still lived with her real parents. Emma found it hard to be depressed with everyone laughing and in a good mood. So she shook it off.
It's been over five years now. Get over it. She scolded herself.
She forgot everything when, across from her, Connor lifted his cup to take a drink only to have Ben lift the end up higher, causing Connors drink to dribble down his robes. He spit out what was left of his drink and started coughing. Stephen slapped him on the back, though he was having trouble doing so because he was laughing so hard. Everyone else joined in, even Emma, who Connor had spit all his drink on.
"That was fun," Ben said, still laughing.
"Here," Brock handed Emma a napkin.
Emma tried to clean her robes while still laughing. Lily saw what she was doing and begun to laugh harder.
"Way to… go… Connor," Lily gasped between laughter.
Ben looked over at Emma cleaning her robes and laughed even harder than before.
"Oh, yeah. Real funny!" Emma tried to hide her smile.
"I'm sorry, Emma," Connor said, looking at her, all trace of humor gone.
"It's okay," she said placing the napkin down.
Ben laughed so hard he snorted.
Everyone, even some other Gryffindors who were sitting around them laughed at the group.
"Oh to be a first year again!" Brock murmured to himself.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Connor asked. Emma couldn't help but chuckle as Ben, sitting next to Connor, whipped the tears from his eyes.
"Crying Ben?" Lily teased.
"I'm going to ignore that comment."
Lily only laughed in return.
"What a lot of us wouldn't give to be an innocent first year again. No worries. No drama." Brock looked up at the floating candles.
Some other students nodded in agreement. Someone actually shouted from a little way down the table, "Amen to that, Brock!"
Brock chuckled, "That's my best mate, Toby."
"Charming," another first year, Marilyn, muttered.
Brock snorted, but didn't say anything.
Eventually students began to finish their dinner. The older students left, but the first years were to stay put and wait until everyone was finished, for they would travel together.
The excited first years just chatted while they waited.
"So Brock, what year are you?" Ben asked him.
"Fifth."
"Are you a prefect?"
Brock nodded.
"So is that why you have to watch over us all the time?" Connor asked.
"Yeah. The prefects of Gryffindor decided I should be the one to greet you first years and show you around."
"Shouldn't the girl prefect help you?"
Brock rolled his eyes, "She doesn't do anything. I'm on my own wrangling up you ankle-biters."
"Hey! We're well behaved," Lily argued.
Ben broke into a fit of laughter. Connor and Stephen followed suit.
Brock raised his eyebrows at Lily.
"Well, Emma and I are at least."
"Mmm," Brock murmured distractedly as he watched the last first year finish up their plate of food.
"Alright let's go!" Brock said enthusiastically, getting off the bench. The Gryffindor first years followed him out of the Great Hall. It was an uneventful trip to the Gryffindor common room. Mostly the first years were all entertained by Ben and Connors questions that just seemed to keep coming. Some were just plain stupid causing everyone to laugh, but Brock answered every single one, stupid or not. Finally Brock the group stopped, standing in front of a life-sized picture of some fat lady.
Emma jumped when the lady spoke, "Oh, hello dears!"
"Hi to you too, ma'am. I'm flattered you missed me," Brock batted his eyes.
The fat lady scowled, "Not you! The cute, little first years. Oh, I just want to pinch you cheeks." She said making a pinching motion with her fingers.
Ben's hands flew up to his face with a scared look. While Connor said, "Thank goodness she's only a picture."
Brock rolled his eyes at the fat lady, "So you don't miss me at all?"
The fat lady gave him a look, "Password?"
"Knuckle Nargles." He said before turning to the first years behind him with a quick, "Remember that."
Emma repeated the password over and over in her head while she and the other first years followed Brock into the common room. The common room was everything Gryffindor. Every piece of furniture or decoration was either red or gold. There was a huge fire place that Emma could see herself warming up in front of when it gets cold. Multiple couches, loveseats, and armchairs were spread around the room with Gryffindor students lounging across them. Occupying one loveseat was a couple snogging. Emma turned away a giggle escaping at the sight of Ben and Stephens face. Stephen shut his eyes tight while Ben gasped, "Ashley!"
Ashley, who had been sitting on the guys lap jumped off quickly, whipping her mouth on her sleeve.
She grinned sheepishly, "Oh, hey Benny."
Ben turned away disgusted, "That's my sister." He said to Connor, pointing behind him, his eyes still wide.
"Really?" Connor looked around Ben to Ashley who was now chatting with the guy she was snogging with, "Not bad."
Ben's hand flew up to his ears, "Ew. That's my sister!" he repeated.
Connor only laughed.
"I can't deal with this," Ben shook his head.
"Deal with what?" Stephen chuckled.
"My sister snogging some guy!" Ben groaned.
"Oh, please. Your sister is allowed to kiss other guys," Lily rolled her eyes.
"Uh, no." Ben glared at her. "My brothers will hear about this," he muttered.
"Oh that poor girl!" Lily rolled her eyes again. Emma laughed.
Ben opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Brock, "Anyway…" Brock called for their attention. "Girls rooms are up this staircase," he pointed to a staircase to their left, "first door on the left."
Brock walked over to the other side of the common room, "Boys are up here," Brock pointed up the stair case on their rights, "Also first door on the left. Questions?"
No one spoke.
"Right, go up to your rooms, you should find all your belongings already there waiting for you. Go to bed somewhat early," Emma looked at the clock, 10pm. "You'll all have a big day tomorrow, Good night."
The girls exited to their dormitories, while the boys followed Brock to theirs. There were six beds around the large, rectangular room. Each bed had a desk just next to it and a bedside table on the other. Emma headed towards the bed at the end of the row to claim as her own. The other girls followed suit, calmly taking their trunks over placing it at the foot of their bed. One of the sides of Emma's bed was up against a wall, on that wall was a window looking over the Hogwarts grounds. While the other girls chatted quietly Emma sat on her bed looking out the window. She could still see that beautiful moon and the stars sparkling around it. She saw Black Lake, the lake they boated across to get to Hogwarts and sighed. That seemed so long ago. At least she wasn't back with Donna though. Emma thought about her parents, what they were doing now. She did that often. Would they still feel the same way if they saw her again? Saw that she was capable to control her magic and not harm people? Would they feel guilty and take back what they did? Emma gasped when the bed dipped.
"Hey, watchya up to?" Lily crawled next to Emma, looking out the window too. "Wow. What a view." She breathed.
"I know," was all Emma said.
They sat in silence, just taking in the view until Marilyn from the opposite side of the room yelled, "Hey! We're supposed to be unpacking our trunks!"
"Yeah, yeah," Lily waved her away, crawling off Emma's bed and heading over to hers right next to Emma's. Emma now noticed that across from her was Kylie, another Gryffindor girl, and Gloriana next to her. Heidi was on Lily's other side and Marilyn across from Heidi and next to Gloriana.
"I'm done." Marilyn said, plopping down on her bed.
Emma and Lily had just started.
Heidi did the same, "Me too."
Emma ignored them, "Why do you think Ben cares so much about his sister dating?" She asked Lily.
"I don't know," Lily shrugged, "He's a boy."
"Speaking of boys," Marilyn cut in, "There's a lot of them in this school."
"Yeah, half the students are boys genius," Emma muttered.
Marilyn rolled her eyes, "But not every boy you meet is cute."
This time it was Emma's turn to roll her eyes, "Is that all you think about?"
"It hard not to think about it when every single Gryffindor boy is so cute!"
"Oh, please," Lily scoffed.
"They are," Heidi nodded in agreement. Marilyn carried on, "The first, second, third, and fourth years, mmm"
When no one responded she added, "Don't worry, I wouldn't go after anyone over four years older than me."
Emma snickered.
"I prefer boys my own age," Gloriana chimed in, Kylie nodded.
"Oh yes, but you have to have options," she waged her finger like a teacher. "Connor would a nice first target don't you think?"
Emma felt herself stiffen at the thought of Connor ever dating or even talking to Marilyn. Why she felt like this she didn't know. Surely she couldn't like Connor. She hadn't even known him for a day yet. Yet, her heart couldn't help but flutter at the memory of him standing up for her on the train.
"Or maybe Benjamin," Marilyn cut into Emma's thoughts. Thankfully no one had noticed her tension.
"His friends call him Benny," Lily said, not bothering to look at Marilyn,
"You're friends with him?" Marilyn snorted.
"Yeah," Lily smiled.
"Just friends?" Marilyn raised her eyebrows.
Lily stopped smiling, "Why does that matter?"
Marilyn shrugged, "Just like to know what competition I have."
"Well we're just friends and that's all I ever plan on being," Lily said.
Marilyn nodded and smiled, "I'll add him to the list. Along with Connor, Nathan, Ethan, and Eric."
Emma rolled her eyes, Marilyn just got on her nerves. "What about Stephen?"
"Eh," Marilyn shrugged.
"What's that mean?" Emma butt in.
"Got a little crush Emma?" Marilyn snickered.
Not on him.
"Nope," Emma shook her head.
"Are you saying Stephens not cute?" Lily raised her voice.
"Whoa," Marilyn raised her arms in defeat.
"Don't say mean things about my friends. Got it?" Lily sure did look intimidating.
Marilyn rolled her eyes, "Whatever." She turned away from Lily, "I'm tired. Night."
Lily turned away, quick changing into her pajamas and crawling into bed. Marilyn did the same. After a few moments of silence the rest of the girls did the same.
Emma was the first to wake up. For the first night in a long time she hadn't had dreams of her past. She shivered just thinking about her parents, her eyes already pooling with tears. She sat up in bed, slapping the escaping tears away.
Calm down you baby. Emma scolded herself. She had been doing that a lot lately.
She took some deep breaths and calmed herself by listening to the deep breathing of her room mates and looked out the window at the stars. Before long she heard Lily next to her getting restless.
"Emma? Are you up?" Lily whispered eventually.
Emma turned and smiled, though she wasn't sure if Lily could even see the gesture, "Yeah. Morning."
"What are you doing up so early?"
"I… just wanted to see the sunrise," Emma lied.
"Oh!" Lily said a little too loud. She looked around to make sure she didn't wake anyone up. Then she whispered extra quietly, "Did I miss it?"
Emma chuckled, "No, not yet."
"Good," Lily flung off the covers and crawled next to Emma. They watched the steady sunrise for a while before Lily yawned, "How was your first night at Hogwarts?"
"Good. Already made an enemy, hm?" Emma said referring to last night.
Lily groaned, "how am I supposed to put up with that brat for the whole year?"
"Oh, don't worry. You only have to eat all your meals with her, have all your classes with her, and room with her."
Lily stared at her.
"I'm kidding!"
"But it's true," Lily whined.
"We all have to put up with her. You're not alone."
"True," Lily nodded.
They went quiet again the sun was now higher and surrounding the sun was a pink, orange, and red sky.
"We should get dressed now," Emma murmured.
"Yeah. It must be breakfast soon," Lily went over to her trunk quietly and the two girls dressed.
In an unspoken agreement they decided to go down to the common room. Emma opened the door to find two other girls in front of their door.
"Oh hi… er… Emma," The girl in front greeted her.
"Hello?" Emma couldn't help but be scared this stranger knew her name, the last time this happened she was made fun of for being muggle born.
The girl chuckled at Emma's tone, "I'm Kira. Kira Babback. And this is my friend, Rachel Cothale," She gestured to the girl behind her.
"Nice to meet you, but why are you here?" Emma hoped she didn't sound too rude.
Kira only smiled wider and Emma really hoped she hadn't sounded to mean, "Brock asked me," When she said this Rachel put her hands on her hips, " to escort you first year girls to breakfast and your classes."
"Humph," Rachel grunted from behind.
"Rachel just tagged along," She pointed behind her.
"You just want to say that Brock asked you and only you," Rachel muttered.
Kira blushed.
"Are you dating Brock, Kira?" Lily asked.
Kira blushed more and Rachel laughed, "No she isn't. She just wishes she was."
Kira put her hand over Rachel's mouth, "A little louder Rachel. I don't think Canada heard you."
Rachel brushed Kira's hand away, "No one's up now anyway. It's too early. Which reminds me why are we up this early?"
"I have to help the first years, you decided to join me."
"We still don't have to be up yet, it seems as though these are the only two first years up," Rachel looked to Emma and Lily for approval and they nodded.
To that Kira had no answer.
"Hah! Score thirteen for Rachel, and what? Kira's only at five?"
"Shut up," Kira laughed.
"Where were you two heading anyway?" Kira asked Emma and Lily.
"The common room," Emma answered.
The four Gryffindor girls were the only one's up, so they got the best seats: the couch right in front of the huge fireplace.
"Why couldn't Brock just come and get us," Emma asked.
"Boys aren't allowed up to the girls dormitories."
"Why?" Lily asked.
Rachel opened her mouth to answer but Kira interrupted, "It's against school rules."
"Oh," Lily nodded looking at the fireplace.
"When do you think the rest of you will be up? I'm hungry," Rachel whined.
"I'm not sure," Lily said.
"They all seemed dead asleep when we left," Emma added.
Rachel groaned.
Nobody talked. Emma watched some other students coming down to go to breakfast.
Eventually Kylie ended up coming down, her face brightening when she saw Lily and Emma.
"This is where you guys went. Everyone's been looking for you," Kylie said.
"Well everyone but Marilyn. She's still asleep," Gloriana said, trailing behind Kylie.
Rachel groaned again.
"Okay. Rachel's hungry. So Rachel's going to go and wake up the first years. And don't try to stop her," Rachel said.
Kira laughed as she watched Rachel head up to the first year dormitories. Minutes later Rachel came down with Heidi and an annoyed, tired looking Marilyn.
"Yes," Lily punched the air, "Let's go eat."
Kira smiled, "Follow me."
"Follow us," Rachel muttered running up to join her friend.
Emma couldn't help but laugh at the way Marilyn's hair was still messy or the way she kept rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"I can't believe I was woken up! I need my beauty rest you know," Marilyn muttered to Heidi.
Heidi only rolled her eyes.
"From now on you may head down to breakfast at your own time. We just thought we'd bring you all down at the same time the first day," Kira explained.
"So Kira," Lily bounded up beside Kira and Rachel, Emma followed her, "Tell us about Brock."
Rachel laughed at Kira's red cheeks.
"Like what?" Kira muttered.
Lily shrugged.
"Ask her anything. This girl is beyond creepy. She knows everything about him," Rachel said ignoring the look Kira gave her.
"I do not," Kira blushed a deeper red.
"How'd you meet him?" Emma asked.
Kira sighed, "He's my brother's best friend."
"He's a fifth year isn't he…?" Emma asked.
Kira sighed, "Yes. He's a fifth year and I'm only third year. But I just can't help it." Her eyes glazed over as she looked into space while Rachel pretend gagged behind her.
Kira whirled around to Rachel and said menacingly, "Because you don't get all dreamy eyed when you talk about certain boys."
Emma winced at Kira's tone but Rachel only grinned, "But I don't stalk them. I don't know their favorite color or animal. I don't know their middle name. And I defiantly don't know where they live."
"I found that out by accident!" Kira defended herself, her cheeks extra red.
Rachel snickered.
Kira groaned, "Your right. I'm a creep."
"I think I'm at fourteen now…"
Kira laughed and Lily and Emma joined in.
LIZanimeHPfan. Thank you soooooo much for reading and reviewing my story! I really cant thank you enough! I'm also sorry this one took so long to update. Please review!
