Somehow the whole school had figured out that Emily was missing by lunchtime. The Gryffindor's were all depressed, and the table was unusually quiet during this mealtime. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaw's all felt sorry for the Gryffindor's loss, but their tables were in an uproar, making up rumors on how Emily could have disappeared. The Slytherin's all wore huge smiles on their faces.
Kelly had broken down into tears during potions, where they had a substitute teacher, and then she had broken down into tears again during lunch. Rosie looked like she would start to cry at any moment, but refused to let the tears flow. The Gryffindor's all ate in silence, picking at their food.
Remus Lupin walked into the Great Hall followed by Professor Snape and Emily. The two professors headed up to the staff table and began to explain what happened. Kelly and Rosie ran up the Emily, hugging her and screaming for joy. Emily hugged them, but felt a bit embarrassed because the whole school was watching them. The Slytherin's looked furious at the sight of Emily. Emily smiled at them and took her seat at the Gryffindor table.
"Emily, what happened? We were so worried," Rosie asked.
"You want to hear the whole story?" Emily asked.
"Of course!" Parker replied.
"Ok, well…" Emily said, and told them everything that happened, including her forgiving her father and the feeling of her mother holding her in the air.
"Do you think your Mom was protecting you?" Kelly asked.
"I think she was," Emily said, nodding her head.
"You must have been so scared!" Rosie said.
"I was, I thought I was going to die. But I know my Mom was protecting me and then my father came and he tried so hard to protect me. I hope he's ok," Emily explained.
"This is quite a tale to tell your grandchildren," Andrew said. "But at least we're all safe now!"
"Fudge and Dumbledore are still missing. Fudge has been missing since the summer and from what Sirius told me, Azkaban is empty now," Emily replied.
"You mean, the dementors are roaming around free?" Grant said, paling slightly.
"That's exactly what I mean," Emily said, nodding her head. Grant shivered, and quickly started gobbling down his lunch. Andrew looked at him like he was crazy, but ignored his odd behavior.
"Students! Please be quiet! I have an announcement to make!" Professor McGonagall yelled over the students. The Great Hall grew silent as all eyes turned to their new headmistress.
"Now, I would like all of you to return to your common rooms. The heads of houses will give an explanation in a few minutes. Food will be sent up to you shortly," Professor McGonagall announced.
The students all quickly left the hall, heading up and down stairways, through corridors and to their common rooms. Grant almost ran to the portrait hall, looking around like he feared something was following him.
"What's this about?" Parker whispered, once they were in the common room.
"I don't know, I'm sure Remus will tell us soon," Emily replied, taking a seat on one of the couches. Kelly and Rosie sat down next to her and Parker sat on the far end of the couch. Andrew was sitting on the arm of the couch and Grant was in a chair next to them. He still was pale, and looked like he would wet his pants.
"Settle Down! Settle Down!" Remus said, entering the common room.
"What's going on?" A 7th year student asked.
"You all must be wondering why you are sent to the common room. Well we have reason to believe that Dumbledore is hiding in the castle and we feel that if you are in you're common rooms, then you'll be safer. Also, since Emily Potter was kidnapped, but is now returned, a Death Eater known as Peter Pettigrew or Wormtail has escaped, and we want to take a few days to search the castle. He was the one who kidnapped Emily, and he probably found a way back in here. Now food will be sent up three times a day and lessons will be canceled for the time being," Remus said, and then left through the portrait hole.
"That doesn't seem like much of a reason to keep us all in here," Rosie said.
"I have a feeling we're not being told something," Andrew said.
"This is just too weird," Kelly said, shaking her head.
"Something isn't right and I think we should investigate," Emily said, getting a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"The invisibility cloak?" Parker asked, getting the same look in his eyes. Emily nodded.
"It could be dangerous you two!" Rosie said.
"It'll be fun!" Emily replied with a smile.
"But what if you're kidnapped again?" Rosie asked.
"Parker's coming with me and we can probably fit one more person. Who wants to come?" Emily asked.
"I wouldn't miss out on something like this!" Andrew said with a smile.
"Ok, we'll meet down here at midnight," Emily said and headed up to her dormitory. Rosie followed, trying to convince Emily not to go. Emily ignored her and curled up in her bed, hoping to get some sleep before she left. Angel purred, she was so happy to see Emily again. Emily smiled and kissed her kitten on the head.
"Emily, it could be dangerous!" Rosie said.
"Night Rosie!" Emily said, shutting the curtains around her bed. Rosie stomped her foot and sat down on her bed, looking furious. She turned on her lamp and took out a book to read.
***
The clock in the common room chimed midnight when Andrew, Emily, and Parker crept down the stairs into the common room. They were surprised to find Penny crying in front of the fireplace. She looked up when she heard them come into the common room.
"What are you doing here?" She snapped.
"Penny, what's wrong?" Parker asked, walking slowly over to his cousin.
"You're going to hate me for it! You'll turn me in and I'll be expelled!" She cried.
"What are you talking about?" Parker asked, sitting down next to his cousin.
"No! Get away! I don't want to hurt you!" She yelled. Emily came up to Penny and put her hand on her shoulder. Penny looked up.
"I'm sorry Emily! I really am! Please leave! I don't want to hurt you!" She shouted. Emily looked at Parker and he looked at her. They then nodded and took seats next to Penny on the couch.
"Penny, please tell us what is wrong," Emily said quietly.
"I-I can't! I'll be expelled," Penny cried, as Andrew sat down next to Parker.
"What did you do that was so bad?" Parker asked.
"You'll hate me if I tell you," Penny sobbed.
"Penny, please just tell us," Emily begged.
"Should I start from the beginning?" Penny asked slowly.
"Of course," Parker replied. Penny took a deep breath, wiped away some tears and began her tale.
"During the summer, while I was in Diagon Alley, and death eater came up to me. He threatened to kill me if I didn't help him. I didn't want to die, so I agreed. I began to hate myself for it, but I kept telling myself, I'd die if I didn't do it. I helped Wormtail come in here and kidnap you Emily. I also let the Death Eaters in and told them everything I saw you do. I even eaves dropped on your conversations. I'm so sorry. I thought you were going to die. I knew everything they were planning. I can't believe I did this! I want to be out and when I found out Voldemort had died, they told me they didn't need me anymore. I can't stop crying. I'm so sorry Emily! Please forgive me. I never meant to turn against you and help plan you're death. I don't want to be expelled, but I know you should turn me in. Please turn me in before I change my mind," Penny explained. Parker's eyes had grown wide and Andrew's mouth was open with shock. Emily looked sadly at Penny.
"We better turn you in then," Emily said sadly. Penny nodded and slowly stood up. She followed Emily out into the corridor, the boys following them. They ran into Professor McGonagall just outside of her office.
"What are you doing out here?" McGonagall demanded.
"Penny has something to tell you," Emily replied. Penny had begun to cry again.
"I should be expelled! I let Wormtail in! And I did so much other stuff!" Penny cried. McGonagall looked at her with anger on her face, but sadness in her eyes.
"Come with me Miss Weasley," She said, leading Penny into her office. Penny followed slowly, her body shaking from her sobs.
"Should we go see why we're being locked in our common rooms?" Andrew asked.
"I think we've seen enough things for now. Tomorrow night, same time," Emily said, and headed back to the common room.
***
"I can't believe Penny would do that!" Rosie said, after Emily, Parker, and Andrew told her the story.
"Well she did, but I don't want her to get expelled," Emily replied.
"But she does deserve it!" Kelly pointed out.
"I agree with Emily, she shouldn't be expelled, I mean, look Emily is here, safe and she didn't even get hurt," Parker said.
"Did she ever come back to the common room?" Grant asked.
"Dunno, I bet my aunt and uncle were informed though," Parker replied.
"Well you guys aren't planning to go out again are you?" Rosie asked.
"Of course we are," Emily replied. "I'm hungry!"
Emily stood up and walked over to the table that was filled with breakfast foods. Emily grabbed a huge plate full of pancakes and strawberries and then took her seat back on the couch. The others soon followed, and within five minutes, the couch was full of eating people.
"We're missing so much school," Rosie said, after she ate her breakfast.
"So?" Andrew replied quickly.
"Boys!" Rosie said, rolling her eyes. Andrew laughed and went to get seconds.
***
Andrew, Emily, and Parker silently crept down to the common room as the clock in the common room chimed midnight. They searched the common room and didn't find a living person down there. Emily pulled out the invisibility cloak and threw it over her head, lifting it up so Parker and Andrew could get under. They pushed open the portrait hole and quietly crept down the corridors.
"Where are we heading?" Parker whispered.
"McGonagall's office," Emily whispered back.
"Why?" Andrew asked.
"Because, that's where they'd tell all the things that are happening," Emily replied in a whisper. Andrew nodded his head and they all silently walked forward.
"That's my toe!" Emily yelled as Andrew stepped on her toe. Parker put his hand over her mouth just as Snape walked by. He looked around suspiciously.
"Peeves! We don't have time for pranks right now!" Snape yelled and headed for McGonagall's office.
"Follow him quick!" Emily ordered. They walked as quietly as they could, following Snape to the gargoyle in front of McGonagall's office. Snape said the password and they quickly ran through the archway behind him. Once inside McGonagall's office, they hid in a corner, barely daring to breathe.
"Oh good, nice of you to join us Severus," McGonagall said, offering him a seat in an empty chair.
"May I ask why you wanted a meeting with us all?" Flitwick squeaked.
"Well, I should tell you that we have reason to believe that Dumbledore is hiding in this castle. Somehow he is able to turn into a tiny snake and slither around the school. I have reason to believe that Emily Potter has seen him around, for we all know she is a Parseltongue as well as her father," McGonagall explained.
"Why then do we have the students locked in the common rooms?" Lupin asked.
"Safety precautions. Yesterday, before we found out that Miss Potter had disappeared, Dumbledore's head popped into my fireplace. He said he was going to kill us all and take over the school. He would be the greatest Dark Lord of all time. Then his head disappeared and a tiny snake slithered by me and into a crack in the wall. I sealed up the crack, but I feel he knows where Fudge is and they, together a plotting a way to take over the school," McGonagall said.
"Maybe we should let the kids resume lessons, having them hide out like this, won't allow them to learn anything," Lupin pointed out.
"You are right, lessons will resume tomorrow. Meeting adjourned," McGonagall said.
Emily, Andrew, and Parker quickly left as quietly as they could, trying their best to hold the cloak over them. They ran up the corridors and threw the cloak off them once they reached the portrait hole.
"You're out late," The Fat lady in the pink dress said.
"Marmaduke!" Andrew yelled and the portrait hole flew open.
"So Dumbledore is in the school and Fudge too?" Parker asked as they headed up the stairs to their dormitory rooms.
"I knew Dumbledore was, but I didn't know about Fudge. He's been hiding somewhere for a while now," Emily replied.
"Classes start tomorrow, let's get some sleep," Andrew said.
"You actually want to go to class?" Parker asked amazed. Andrew rolled his eyes and pushed open his dormitory door. Emily did the same and collapsed on her bed, fully dressed and fell asleep quickly.
A/N: Well what you think? I think this chapter is a little dumb, but maybe you like it. I know some of the characters are OOC but it's my story so just bear with it. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon. I don't think this story is going to be much longer then 25 chapters. Please review and tell me what you think! Tell me if this story is horrible, ok, or great. I want to know! Go review! J