Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter franchise (as much as I wish I did). I am merely letting my imagination run wild in a forest of ideas planted by J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 10
The cottage we moved into was beautiful. It was small, but comfortably so. It had a nice sitting room and kitchen painted it a warm shade of yellow. There were three bedrooms, one for Remus, one as an office and library, and one for me. The cottage was tucked away, hidden from the main road by large oak trees. A small, bubbling creek ran through the back of the property, and there were flower bushes all over, as well as a little bit of ivy creeping up one side. It was a picturesque cottage, and just perfect for Remus and I.
It was our third morning here in the cottage. Remus and I were just sitting down to a warm breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, a fresh bouquet of flowers from our yard placed nicely on the kitchen table.
"Emily, I got a job," Remus said while reading the morning edition of the Daily Prophet.
"Oh, really? Where at?"
"A Muggle coffee shop. It's nothing fancy, but it should hold us over nicely until I can find a more prominent job in the Wizarding World. The owner's wife is actually a Squib, so it's nice to know I don't have to be too careful with what I say."
"When do you start?" I asked, standing up to go wash my plate.
"Today..." Remus said tentatively.
"Today?" I was a little shocked that he hadn't told me before. "Isn't that a little quick? And weren't we going to-"
"Yes, I know I told you we could go look around the town a little, but then this came up, and..."
"It's alright," I replied with a smile. "I'll just have to go by myself and tell you all about my adventure when you get home. How long is you shift?"
"I'll be home at about half past three."
"Alright," I said, picking up his plate and washing it as well. "Do you need to leave soon?"
"Yes. I should go in about ten minutes. Are you sure you'll be alright here? If not, I'm sure you could go over to the Burrow."
I considered this for a moment. I do love the Burrow, but there is a whole little town just waiting for me to explore. "I think I'll stay here and explore the place a little. That's OK, right?"
"I suppose so," he replied. "Just don't stay gone the whole day. And don't talk-"
"To strangers, ya, ya, I know. You better head out for work. Tell me how it goes when you get home."
"Of course, dear." He gave me a quick hug and a kiss on the head, before apparating away.
"Well," I said to myself, "Let the adventure begin!"
Our cottage is located in a small Muggle village called Dorenshire. Our cottage is located on the outskirts, more removed from town. There is a small town square with several shops and restaurants. I decided that would be the best place to start. It was about three-quarters of a mile from the cottage, so I decided a nice jog was the way to go. I wanted to fly, but I didn't know what the Muggles would think if they saw an owl flying into town in the morning.
As I jogged along, I passed several interesting houses. Our closest neighbor was a good ways away, and had a very mysterious looking property. All I could see was a large iron gate with an ornate pattern, and I could have sworn I heard peacocks. The people who live there must be crazy, or rich, or both. I then passed a few small neighborhoods with friendly, average looking houses. Then I rounded the corner to see the town square in the distance. The first thing I noticed was a nicely sized library, and I immediately knew I'd be spending quite a lot of time here. I walked in and began looking around. I had never been in a Muggle library before. I began wondering through the section labeled fiction. Several books sought my attention. Muggle authors had such interesting titles, and I couldn't wait to read as many as I could. I walked around the corner to examine the next shelf when I collided with another person, knocking both of our books onto the floor.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I cried, bending down to pick up the fallen books.
"Oh, it's alright," the girl said with a smile. She wad pretty blond hair that was about shoulder length and chocolate brown eyes. She looked to be about my age, too. "I'm Tara, by the way."
"Emily," I said, shaking her outstretched hand.
"Are you new here? Dorenshire is a pretty small town, and I know just about everyone in it."
"Um, ya. My godfather and I just moved into the cottage on the other side of town."
"Oh, cool! I always loved that little place. It's not too far from my house either! Have you had time to check out the town much?"
"Nope, this was the first place I came to."
"Well, by all means, let me show you around a little. Just let me find my friend... Drake?" she called out scanning the rows of books for her companion. "I've got someone I'd like you to meet!"
"Coming!" a voice shouted from a few rows away.
"What is it, Tara?"
"Drake, this is Emily, my new friend.
"Malfoy?" I asked in shock. What in the name of Merlin was he doing here?
"Potter? What are you doing here?" He asked, clearly as shocked as I am.
"You two already know each other?" Tara asked, surprised as well.
"Ya, we go to school together," I said, still staring at Draco.
"Oh! So that means you're a witch?" Tara asked enthusiastically.
"Tara! Keep it down! We're in the library! The Muggle library!" Malfoy hissed, embarrassed by his friend's behavior.
"Sorry! I forgot," she whispered back. "Let's go walk around so I can ask more questions."
We checked out our books, then headed out into the main square.
"So," Tara started, "Are you in the same year?"
"No, I'm a second year—no third year now, making him a fourth year, but I do take fourth year Transfiguration with him."
"Wow, you must be really smart! Are you in the same house, too?"
"No," Malfoy replied curtly, no comfortable with the situation. "She's a Gryffindor."
"Oh, I see. That's why you two don't like each other, cause you're a Slytherin and she's a Gryffindor."
"That and she's a Potter," "That and he's a Malfoy," we said at the same time. We just started at each other, a look of loathing on our faces.
"What do you mean 'she's a Potter'?" Tara asked.
"Saint Harry Bloody Potter is her brother," Draco replied, a hateful smirk on his face.
"And he's a pompous, stuck up, rude prat!" I half yelled, irritated. Leave it to Malfoy to turn up and ruin my perfectly good day.
"Well, I'm sure we can all get along for the summer... put our differences behind us..." Tara said, trying to defuse the building tension.
"Fat chance," Malfoy spat. "No way am I going to be friends with an annoying, know-it-all blood traitor-"
"Arrogant, snotty ferret-"
"Like her!" "Like him!" we both yelled, faces flushed with emotion.
"Hey!" Tara yelled, her hair turning a violent shade of red. "Cut it out!" We both stared at her, shocked at her outburst and her sudden hair change. She must be a Metamorphagus, I thought to myself. "Look here, Draco. I like Emily. So you're going to get over that fact that the you don't like her and become a little more friendly, otherwise I'll just hang out with her. STOP BEING A GIT!"Malfoy seemed to cringe at her anger. "And that goes for you, too, Emily," she said, rounding on me. "I won't take any of this Slytherin-Gryffindor rivalry crap. Just learn to be friends! You're not at school, so it doesn't matter! Sorry I yelled; I just think this whole fighting thing is ridiculous and childish."
The clock in the middle of the town stuck twelve. "You want to get some lunch?" Tara asked, her anger dissipating and her hair changing back to its normal blond.
"Sure," I said, not wanting her to get mad again. "Where's the best place to go?"
"Benny's Diner," both Tara and Draco said together.
"To Benny's it is!" I said, turning toward my left and marching down the sidewalk. I spun around when I heard laughter behind me.
"Uh, Potter?" Draco said, his trademark smirk plastered on his face. "Benny's is this way."
"Oh," I said, a little embarrassed. We walked to the diner together, laughing all the way.
AN: Two chapters in two days! This is my way of making up for the several weeks it took to put up the last chapter. You all should be so happy with me that you REVIEW! Thanks :)