Disclaimer: Sorry, y'all. I forgot to put a disclaimer on the last chapter. The only things I own are Ember, Eve, the plot, and any other characters I might create later on. Everything else belongs to the brilliant Harry Potter mastermind J.K. Rowling and anything LOTR belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien.
Author's Note: For those of you who like LOTR, that will be coming in chapter 6 or 7. Also, I wanted to thank all of the people who reviewed chapter 1 and especially Filthy who reviewed twice and also agreed to be my beta-reader. "speaking" thinking
Chapter 2- Looking Back and Moving Forward
Early in the morning, Ember slowly woke up as the hotel alarm clock rang. As she quietly got out of bed, trying not to bother Eve, she reflected on last night. After a nice dinner at the Leaky Cauldron, Eve and Ember had gone to Diagon Alley to get the rest of Ember's supplies. When she got in the shower, Ember noted with a start that she had lost nearly all of her weight and every single one of her ribs was clearly visible. Just as alarming to her, she noted that her cheeks were sunk in and her eyes looked hollow. I guess my disorder was what made me faint, she thought as she hopped into the water, I wish I could stop but I just can't.
Feeling much better than she did when she got in the shower, Ember carefully stepped out and dried off. Deciding that she needed some coffee to really wake her up, Ember tried to wake Eve. However, any attempt to wake her sister up was proving to be futile. No amount of shaking or screaming could wake Eve up. She was sleeping like the dead. Deciding that she had no alternative, Ember took her wand out of her pocket. Leaning over Eve, she whispered "Aquarias".
Freezing cold water shot out of Ember's wand and rained in a cloud on Eve. "What in the heck is going on here?" she yelled as she sat up with a start.
"Oh," said Ember, smiling sweetly, "I just wanted to let you know that I was going to go to Starbuck's and ask you if you wanted anything."
"You woke me up for coffee!" Eve roared.
"I take it you don't want any then?" replied Ember sweetly.
"No I don't want any coffee! Now get out before I strangle you!" bellowed Eve in reply.
Walking out the door after grabbing the room key, Ember threw back her head and laughed. Many people weren't able to even speak after a brush with the famous Wilson temper. But Ember was used to it. None of the women in her family were redheads, well except for some distant cousin, Lillian, or Lila or something like that. Yet all of the women in the Wilson had a temper that would put any redheads temper to shame. When a Wilson woman wasn't happy, nobody was happy.
She walked to the coffee shop and ordered a café au lait for herself and an expresso for Eve. When she had paid the cashier and collected her coffee, she slowly drifted back to the hotel, once again lost in her thoughts. Back in the room, the two sisters drank their coffee and then they packed their bags so they could take Ember to the station.
A while later, as eleven o'clock drew nearer, Eve turned off the TV and walking into the to bedroom, said, "Hey, we better get moving if you're gonna catch the train."
"Okay, I guess you're right. Hey, I can come home for Christmas, right? I mean, if you're going to be too busy, I'd understand ---, said Ember, trailing off.
"Of course you can come home for Christmas. Now whether or not you'll want to come home is another thing," replied Eve, "But we gotta leave now!"
Picking up Ember's bag, Eve walked out the door in a rush. Sighing, Ember grabbed her trunk and followed her sister.
Ember and Eve were a little perplexed as to what to do to get to Platform 9 ¾. They were looking all over for the platform and just couldn't find it . Then Ember noticed a boy with an owl cage running through a wall. She thought she was just hallucinating because instead of hitting the wall, the boy ran right through it. But then, she saw others running through and heard someone mention the word "Hogwart's". Turning to Eve, she said, "Hey, Eve. I think we have to run through the wall."
"Right,then" said Eve.
Taking a deep Eve ran through the wall. When she didn't reappear, Ember knew they had the right idea. Bracing herself, she ran headlong into the wall and was amazed when she ended up on the platform.Since they were safely on the other side, it was time to say good bye.
Pulling Ember into a deep bear hug like the one they had shared in Diagon Alley, Eve whispered, "Hey you get a fresh start where no one knows who our father is, where no one knows about mom, and especially where no one knows about your problem. So don't screw it up. Ember, promise me you won't screw it up."
Looking into her sister's eyes, Ember said, "I promise. Now I have to go get on the train because it leaves in two minutes but I'll be home at Christmas."
"Okay," said Eve, "I love you. Now go catch your train."
As she picked up her trunk and walked away, Ember said, "I love you too."
When Ember reached the stairs to step onto the train, she heard a voice that sounded specifically like Eve's yell, "And don't forget to eat."
Earlier that very same morning, at the Weasley house, things were definitely off to a very hectic start. The Burrow may have not been all that large but the amount of noise in the house was larger than the amount made by a stampeding elephant.
It probably wouldn't have been so chaotic except that Fred and George, even though they weren't going back to Hogwart's, decided to make things as crazy as they were on the September firsts that they went to school. So, in honor of their first official year without school, they came up with a foolproof plan for chaos. They decided to set all the alarm clocks in the house off at once, and two hours later than when they were supposed to ring.
Mrs. Weasley's scream upon being awoken two hours later than scheduled was heard as far away as two miles. "Fred, George, come here right this instant," she roared.
"Honestly, Mum. What makes you think that we had anything to do with this?" the twins asked with fake incredulity.
"Oh, I just know you did," replied Mrs. Weasley.
"Well, sorry to disappoint, Mum, but we had nothing to do with this. We really must run," said Fred.
"Yes, business is booming," said George.
And with that, the two biggest troublemakers since the Marauders attended Hogwart's Apparated out of the Burrow.
Needless to say, the rest of the morning was hectic. As Mrs. Weasley tried frantically to make Harry one last filling breakfast, everyone else ran around like chickens with their heads cut off. They frenziedly tried to fit what should have been three hours of last minute packing into one. At ten forty-five, they finally managed to congregate in the living room. Dumbledore had a special portkey make so that the two Weasley parents and two Weasley children, plus Harry and Hermione, plus Harry's guard could travel to the platform.
Since Voldemort was becoming more and more public after the incident in the Department of Mysteries, Dumbledore didn't want to risk Harry's safety anymore than he had to. They could have used ministry cars but since Fudge had begrudgingly admitted that Voldemort had returned, relations between anyone who had supported Harry and the Minister were more strained then ever before. It was almost as if the Minister believed that it was Harry's fault that Voldemort was back.
It was along these lines that the thoughts running through Harry's mind were travelling. It's as if the bloody idiot of a Minister actually believes that if I weren't here, Voldemort wouldn't be back. Just then, Harry remembered the Prophecy. Oh, if I weren't here maybe Voldemort wouldn't be either. Maybe it's all my fault. Harry was about to continue on his depressing thoughts when a voice that he didn't recognise echoed through his head. If you weren't here, Voldemort still would be. At least with you here, the Light Side stands a chance of winning.
Harry was very confused as to whom the voice belonged. But before he had a chance to dwell on it, Mrs. Weasley's voice snapped him back to reality.
"All right, we're all here so I think we can go," she said irritably.
Knowing that simply allowing her to cool down was the best idea, everyone took hold of the portkey. It couldn't have been more than three seconds until Harry began to once again feel the familiar pull behind his navel.
In no time at all, the group spilled on to the platform, startling all the other witches and wizards. When they had all managed to regain their balance, Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, Remus, and Mad-Eye Moody quickly said good- bye to the kids.
"Now go catch your train," yelled Mrs. Weasley as the conductor called the final "all aboard." Sprinting onto the train, the four decided to go get a compartment.
"Hey," said Harry, "Why don't we go see if the back compartment is open?"
"Well, why don't we see if any of these up front are open first?" asked Ginny, a bit confused.
"Because the Marauders always sat in the back," said Harry simply.
Nodding their agreement, the other three quietly followed Harry to the back of the train. They opened the door to the last compartment and sat down not noticing a strangely familiar girl who was sitting there asleep.
However, when they sat down, Ember awoke and sat in a surprised voice, "Who are you?" Wryly, she thought, I always have been a light sleeper.
Noticing the girl for the first time, Harry nearly keeled over in shock. It was the girl from the Leaky Cauldron! Gathering his wits about him, he said, "I am Harry Potter, and this is Ron and Ginny Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Now if you don't mind my asking, who are you?"
Surprised by his straightforwardness, Ember thought, Hmm, I wonder why he's talking to me. I mean the only people who ever talked to be were Dad, Eve, Jason, and Matt. Realising that the boy, Harry, was waiting for an answer, she said, "My name's Ember Wilson. What year are you all going into?"
The brunette girl with bushy hair, Hermione, said, "We're all sixth years except Ginny who is a fifth year. If it's not too bold, why are you here? I mean I've met every sixth year at least once and I don't remember you."
"I'm here from the New York Institute of Magic. I'm going to finish my schooling out here because my dad was British and he used to always want me to go to Hogwart's," replied Ember quietly. Lost in reflection, she added, "He and Mom used to always argue about that. He went to Hogwart's and she went to New York. But they divorced a year ago so it doesn't matter anymore."
"I'm sorry," said Harry, "I never knew my parents but I can only imagine what it might be like if they split."
"Not meaning to be impolite or anything, but were you at the Leaky Cauldron last night?" inquired Hermione rather curiously.
"Yeah, me and my sister, Eve, were. I think I remember seeing you there," Ember replied.
Ginny was getting bored with the conversation. So she said, "Anyone up for a game of chess?"
Laughing, Harry agreed to play Ginny in chess. Ember sat staring out the window and Ron and Hermione went to patrol the train. Eventually, they came back and Ron helped Harry play chess while Hermione talked with Ember. They continued through the mountains like this in relative peace. That is, until a certain blond-haired Slytherin had to show up.
Crash! Without warning, the compartment door slammed open and in walked the reigning Hogwart's king of evil.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" sneered Ron. The others began mumbling under their breaths.
"Malfoy?" said Ember confused. Isn't Jason...hmm, she thought.
"I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," said the above-mentioned king of evil. "Who are you?'
"Why Draco, I'm hurt that you don't remember me," said Ember, shocking all of them into silence.
"Who are you?" repeated Draco.
"Jason will be surprised that you don't remember me," she said.
"Who are you and how do you know about Jason and Matt?" Draco yelled.
"Draco," said Ember rather softly, "I'm Ember Wilson. Remember me now?"
Seeing Draco confusion on his face, she decided to fill him in. "I'm Jason's girlfriend and Matt's best friend. I went to school with both of them and I spent last Christmas holidays with you at Malfoy Manor."
Shocked, Draco could only sputter, "Ember?" in disbelief. But then his disbelief turned to anger. "Don't you ever talked about them again!" he yelled.
And with that, he turned and walked out of the compartment, Crabbe and Goyle close on his heels.
"What is going on here?" asked Ginny confused.
"Well Ginny. Draco has two American raised older brothers. One of them, Matt, is my best guy friend in the whole world. The other, Jason, is my boyfriend," explained Ember.
"Draco has brothers?" asked Harry, still stunned by this whole conversation.
Taking a deep breath, Ember said, "Two years before Draco was born, his dad had an affair with an American witch. She became pregnant and had Jason. Then, when Draco's mum was pregnant with him, Lucious met up with Jason's mom again, and she had Matt. I guess Draco still has a hard time accepting them. Jason and Matt love Draco but Draco just closes himself off to them."
Her announcement left a completely shocked group.
"Did you know?" she asked them all.
Murmurs of "No" and "I had no clue" were heard from everyone.
After they had answered her, they all became silent again, each lost in their own thoughts. They stayed this way for quite a while until Neville and Luna knocked on the door. Standing up, Ginny opened the door.
"Hey you guys," Neville and Luna said together.
"I'd like to introduce you to our newest sixth year," said Hermione pointing to Ember.
"Hey, I'm Ember Wilson. I'm the American-exchange student," Ember replied politely.
"Nice to meet you," said Neville, "I'm Neville Longbottom and this is Luna Lovegood."
"Likewise," said Ember.
Pleasantries aside, the seven settled down to enjoy the rest of their train ride. They played Exploding Snap and Gobstones and just talked. They were enjoying it so much that when they arrived at Hogwart's it came as a complete shock to all of them. Scrambling to get their robes on, the seven grabbed their animals and got off the train.
Noticing Ember staring at the castle, Harry walked over and said, "Magnificent isn't it? Welcome to Hogwart's, Ember."
With a thank you from Ember, the seven made their way over to the carriages.
A/N- Hey everyone. I'm sorry if this chapter was a load of crud. My muse sort of abandoned me. In your reviews, tell me what you think of Ember. And what do you think of Draco's secret? Please read and review
-Elvenwitch