The Three Broomsticks:
A time after/About a month or so later:

Emma sighed as she set her purchases on the ground. Sitting by herself, she ordered one butterbeer to warm her up from hours of dawdling along down the road. When the butterbeer came, she thanked Madame Rosemerta and sipped her drink, watching the people pass by with a feeling of jealousy as they walked two by two. And her, all alone...

"Hey Emma! What's up?" Eddy bounced over smiling. She sat in the chair across from the Ravenclaw and leaned forward with her arms folded on the table.

JJ came in and ordered a butterbeer. He sighed as his ordered was fulfilled. I wish I could drink something stronger' he thought. He sat down at the bar and waited, not bothering to see if he recognized anyone. He wasn't depressed or upset or anything, he was just wiped out. First month of school was hard and he was quite stressed. You have to remember: he hates studying but lately he had been doing a lot of it. He manages to get average grades and he would keep that way even if he had to study a little bit. Of course, now he was studying a lot. He rested his head on the table and closed his eyes, only to find his butterbeer come flying at his face down the bar when he reopened them. He sat up and took a huge gulp.

Eddy glanced around the room and spotted JJ at the bar. Quickly turning back around she focused her attention on Emma. She didn't have the patience to deal with him right now.

Leaning back into his chair and stretching, he yawned broadly. He had asked for another butterbeer and again he was waiting. As he got it, he chugged it. He was in the mood to be relaxed and he wanted all that heavy weight of studying off his back.

Emma noticed Eddy look around before focusing on her. That could only mean one thing. JJ was here. Sure enough, once she looked at the bar, she became all shy and was blushing. Knowing it would annoy her new found friend, Emma tried to hide it behind her mug of Butterbeer.

JJ, who was on his 4th round of butterbeer, yawned again. How the heck was he going to make it to the Slytherin house? He stifled a burp. Ack, this was going to be a long night.

"You know, if you want to get his attention you could go sit on his lap or something." Eddy grinned at Emma as she tried to cover up her blush. "It would be more productive than hanging around me. He hates my guts."

"Eddy!" Emma shrieked, trying to hit the Gryffindor with her bag of clothes. "How could you suggest such a thing! I would never..." Of course, after this, she actually seriously considered doing just that...

JJ had heard a shriek... not a cry for help, just an embarrassed shriek. He didn't take much notice of it, but he stopped ordering butterbeer. It was making him quite sick. He stifled another burp only this time he felt like he was going to throw up. He groaned... All he wanted was to feel better; Not miserable.

Eddy threw her head back and laughed. "Well that got your attention. And don't deny it, I saw that look." Eddy grinned mischievously at her Emma. Emma's cheeks turning a red to rival any Weasley, Emma looked nervously at the slouched figure at the bar. "Do you think he knows?" After she voiced this concern, immediately, she regretted it. Now there wasn't a doubt. She had not denied such a look. She had simply commented on her friend's action. "I mean, do you think he knows what you think... not saying that I do or anything..." And here's a lower place... "I need another Butterbeer."

JJ opened his eyes a bit, regaining his focus. He gave a deep exhale. No more butterbeers he thought, trying to keep in mind that SOMEHOW he had to get to the Slytherin House. He sighed; it had been a miserable day.

"Butterbeers are non-alcoholic, so that's not going to help your crappy feeling of unrequited love. And no, I don't drink." Eddy leaned forward a bit. "Trying to deny it won't work. You are about as subtle as troll in a china store. But fear not, lucky for you, boys are dense. Very dense." Eddy hoped she had comforted her friend a little. She also hoped her friend would get over this crush soon; JJ didn't seem like the best choice for a boyfriend.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Emma nodded to that sentiment. "So, you don't think he knows? I mean... I wasn't exactly as subtle as I would have liked... but anyone who didn't know what I felt has to be denser than paste..." Blushing, Emma slammed her open palm down on the table. "And why do I blush this much, Eddy? It's just not natural..."

He heard the slam too. Who was making all those noises?

Eddy smiled. "Don't worry about him. And as far as the blushing goes, it's not like you can help it, so don't dwell on it too much. There's a muggle saying that I take very much to heart, it goes: 'Don't worry, be happy'." Eddy stood up. "I'll be right back, I can only ignore my butterbeer craving for so long. I'll get you one too while I'm up there." Eddy walked towards the end of the bar farthest from JJ.

Returning to the table, she handed a butterbeer to Emma and took a swig of her own. "Yum." Eddy was in heaven. "I LOVE butterbeer."

JJ was half-conscious. He knew he was in the Three Broomsticks. He knew that he was at the bar. He knew that there were people around him. But he didn't know what his purpose was while he was there. He groaned and tried to stand up. He figured it was time to go back to the Slytherin House.

As he stood up, he was quite unstable. Leaning against the bar with sickness, he closed his eyes. "God, this is going to be a long night," he muttered to himself. He tried to upright himself. It didn't help; it just made his head hurt. He waited a moment before he thought it safe to try and upright himself again; maybe this time he'd be able to walk. Only, he misjudged. This time, it was too much.

His head throbbed horribly and blackness was covering his sight. He couldn't feel anything; nor did he feel himself hit the floor.

Emma stood up in fright as she heard something hit the ground... hard. "JJ!" she screamed and ran to his side. "Oh my God!" Kneeling down to him, she checked his pulse. "Eddy, help me!"

"Great Merlin!" Eddy whipped around to see JJ out cold on the floor.

"Emma, run to the restroom and get a towel, soak it in cold water. I'm going to try to get him up." Eddy turned her attention back to JJ. Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Emma hadn't moved. "GO!" She watched Emma dash off. Eddy knelt beside JJ and pulled his head into her lap. After checking his pulse, she wiped so hair from his eyes and waited for Emma to return.

JJ groaned.

Eddy looked down at JJ, concerned. He may hate her guts and she may not be to particularly fond of his either, but she still didn't want him to be in pain.

It poured... It was pouring. No, wait, it wasn't... it was... What the hell was happening? JJ groaned again. He was becoming restless. In his mind, it was dark... No wait, he could see a light. No... it was dimming. Where was it coming from? What was the source? Where was she?

"JJ? Can you hear me?" Eddy questioned shaking him lightly. He was coming to. She looked down at him intently, her hair falling out of its bun and around her face.

There... she was. No, wait, that wasn't her. Where was she? He wrestled his thoughts in his mind. She couldn't be anywhere near... She had already left. She had died... But wait, maybe it was her. Was she really dead? In an exasperated gasp breath, he choked out, "No... Come back. No, please, don't do this to me..." A panicked look was across his face.

His thoughts were racing. Suddenly the face of a man came into his mind. JJ started muttering curses and people around Eddy and him stared.

"You're awake." Eddy whispered, not wanting to give him a headache. Emma will be back soon with a cold cloth for your forehead. "Does anything hurt? How many fingers am I holding up?" Eddy held 4 fingers up.

JJ, who half heard Eddy, reclosed his eyes.
"Dammit, don't do that to me. Not now..."

"Okay. Okay. Sorry." Eddy brushed a little more hair off of his forehead.
'Where is she?' Eddy turned her head and looked around for Emma. Turning back, she saw JJ's eyes were closed. "You still awake?"

He groaned his answer. His head throbbed horribly and he couldn't see straight. All he could think about was the pain: the physical pain and the mental pain he was having at the moment.

Eddy leaned in a bit closer. "JJ. JJ, please open your eyes. Look at me, nod, something. I need to know that you can hear me." Eddy was really worried now.

JJ couldn't process that voice's words. Who was that? Where was he? He was lost.

"Uhn..." he moaned, "Please... don't..." He dropped his sentence off and stopped moving. It was getting darker; it was getting blacker.

"JJ!" Eddy yelled. Headache or no, she needed a response out of him. "JJ! Hold on! Listen to my voice, you can't go back to sleep. You might have a concussion. If you go to sleep you might not wake up again!" Eddy shook JJ and tapped him cheek lightly. He was losing consciousness. It kept getting blacker. He could vaguely hear someone's voice. Who was that? He was almost sure he recognized it. But who was it? Thinking made it worse; it made everything worse.

Why not just give into the blackness? the darkness? Then he wouldn't be able to feel anything. Then nothing could hurt him; He would feel no pain.

"JJ! No! Come on! Wake up!" Eddy pulled JJ to a sitting position with his back across her chest. "If you die who's gunna groan when I walk into a room? Who am I gunna banter with? I have to relieve my viciousness on someone? Don't go! Hang in there!" Eddy felt sick, she was near tears.

JJ could still hear her... the voice. Who was it? He was almost ready to give in, to be consumed by the darkness. Oh Gods, the pain was horrible.

"JJ! Stay with me! It's Eddy! You know Hyper Peppermint Girl! Come on! Say something!" Eddy was so scared, she didn't know what to do anymore.

JJ heard one of those words... Peppermint? What? He groaned. Where was he?

Eddy saw him twitch at the word peppermint. "Peppermint! Yes! Sugar, lots of sugar! If you stay awake, I'll buy you 3 bags of whatever candy you want. Peppermints, Jellybeans, Chocolate, you name it! Come on!" His small movement had sparked so hope for Eddy.

JJ groaned again. "Dammit..." he muttered. Why was this happening to him? What's with all this pain?

Eddy smiled. "I'd slap you for cussing in a lady's presence if you weren't almost unconscious. Eddy wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Come on! Follow my voice, it's Eddy! I won't shut up until your eyes are open and you are insulting me again! Come on!"

He felt someone embrace him. Who the heck was that? Wait... 'Eddy'? He tried to remember. Eddy... Suddenly a poofy haired red-head came into view in his mind. Was that who was holding him? The pain wasn't as great but he still didn't want to open his eyes. He knew that Eddy was probably the only one who would wrap her arms around someone she had known for less than a week. At the thought, he groaned.

"Let go of me, Mudblood," he choked out.

"Oh Merlin!" Eddy sighed in relief. "You're not dead!" Forgetting herself, she squeezed him even harder.

JJ sputtered at the pressure on his chest. He didn't say anything though; it wasn't that he was enjoying it but it was that he didn't have any more energy. He just wanted to go to sleep...

Eddy looked down.
"Crap!" She quickly stopped squeezing. "Don't go back to sleep! I'll talk your ears off if you do. You know how chatty I get when I'm nervous, well your making me very nervous!"

"Shut up," he snapped, in a voice that wasn't as loud as usual but still stingy. He was tired of hearing her voice. Sure, it was fine with him if she was nervous but he prayed that she wouldn't keep rambling.

"I won't... go to... sleep, just be quiet."

Eddy grinned widely. 'He's gunna be okay.'
"I don't think so. I'm still pretty nervous. Your eyes aren't open and you don't sound as mad at me as you normally are." Eddy was just egging him on now, anything to keep him awake.

JJ ignored her. He had to so she would stop talking. Where was Emma? Wasn't she always with them? He stopped thinking about her; he was still in too much pain to try to think too much.

"Do you think you can get up? You'll have an easier time staying awake if you're sitting up in a chair." Eddy was still leaning over him. Then as an after thought she added, "plus, my legs are getting numb. You have a sharp butt."

'Wait, a what?' He thought to himself. He didn't feel like moving plus he felt that if he moved, he would faint again. He didn't want to go through that again.

"Just move yourself then."

"Allow me to repeat, my legs are numb. If I try to move them, it won't work. Or they'll start to do the prickly thing, which hurts really bad." Eddy smirked, he was carrying on a conversation.

"Sorry, but I'm not moving. You don't want me to faint again, do you?" he asked, trying not to smirk too much.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you LIKED sitting on my lap. Don't deny it, I saw that smirk." Eddy mock glared at him.

"I was rather thinking about the fact that you'd probably freak if I keeled over again." He didn't even think about liking being in her lap... of course, he was a guy and hormones were not easily controlled sometimes. Plus, he was a Slytherin. Of course he liked leaning against a girl.

Emma slowly came back into the room. The sight of him crumpled like an unwanted rag doll had made her go weak in the knees. She didn't need the memories. In the time it took for the Hogwarts express to leave Hogsmeade and get to London, she had gotten a cold cloth from the bathroom. And he was still there, but he seemed to be in his usual state of insulting her friend. Good. She had woken him up.

Kneeling besides both of them, she handed Eddy the cool cloth.

"Finally!" Eddy moved the hair from JJ's forehead and placed the cloth over his forehead and already closed eyes. "What took you so long?" Eddy turned back to her friend once JJ was taken care of.

He tensed as he felt the cold. But relaxed as he felt the coolness run through his body. He kept his eyes closed, listening to Emma and Eddy converse.

Remembering how she had to hold onto the sinks to stay upright, Emma looked up at Eddy. Oh Eddy, I couldn't bear how much he reminded me of my father. I'm sorry it took me so long. I just couldn't deal with it. Oh yes, that was the perfect thing to inform them both of.

"Sorry, you know there's always a line to get in front of the mirrors." This lie was actually believable as Emma stared down at JJ, her voice and face indifferent.

'Line at the mirrors my rear.' Eddy thought crossly, while keeping an indifferent expression. 'You're not getting out of that Emma.'

"So, how is he?" Emma asked in delicate tones. Her fingers stroked his head lightly. "Poor dear, you're probably still in pain, aren't you?" Looking up at Eddy, she noticed the look in her eyes. "What, do you not believe me?"

JJ looked up at Emma and didn't mind her touch. He sat up and looked at the two girls. Why did Eddy have such a cross expression? And why was Emma spacing out...? 'Shit,' he thought, 'Something happened.'

"No, I'm not in much pain," he started but he wanted to ask Emma what happened. He wanted to say something to her, but what could he say? He sighed. He knew that look on her face too. He moved towards her. Was she trembling?

Eddy saw JJ look at Emma worriedly. Eddy turned to see her friend shaking.
"Emma! Are you okay?"

Emma jumped at the voice. Looking around, she saw JJ was no longer on the floor and her hands were suspended in midair- her fingers curled against nothing. "What?" she asked, almost fearful. "I'm fine."

Looking up to where JJ was, she held her hand close to her chest. They couldn't see her shake like that again.

'Emma, sugar, you are so gunna get it when we're alone' Eddy thought.

"Can you get up you think?" She asked JJ who was still sitting down. "Emma, go get him some water." Eddy started getting up.

"Arg!" Her legs were tingling like mad. "Thanks alot pointy butt, my legs hurt and I almost had a heart attack." Eddy was ready to forget this whole mess. She could deal with a yelling, angry JJ, it was the weak, helpless one that horrified her. JJ watched Emma get up. He too got up. By impulse, he grabbed her wrist, not sure what to say. He just did. Emma's eyes widened on their own accord. Pulling her wrist against his hold, she felt a shiver run up and down her spine.

"Please... don't..." she whispered, still struggling to get her hand back to her.

Not sure what to do, he still didn't let go.

"Emma, stop," he said, trying to sound soft and comforting. He didn't want to scare her. "I'm not going to hurt you. Stop struggling." He saw the fright in her eyes. He wanted her to trust him.

Eddy's eyes widened. Okay, she knew Emma was shy but, 'What in the name of Merlin!'

Trying to calm down, Emma breathed out a sigh slowly. Her tensed hand relaxed slightly, and she looked into JJ's eyes. "I'm calm," she said, though her hand still struggled to free itself.

"Emma, dear, you stay put. Sit down in that chair over there. I'll get you both some water." With that, Eddy left and walked towards the other end of the bar.

As Eddy walked away he realized this was his chance. He moved closer to Emma. All he wanted was for her to trust him. He would never hurt her.

His hand was still gripping her wrist and wouldn't let go. He pulled her close enough so he could whisper ever so softly, "Please, trust me."

He had never wanted someone to trust him so much as he wanted Emma to trust him. 'Please, don't back away' he thought.

Clenching her eyes shut, Emma whispered back, "I do trust you... But you have to understand..." her voice broke, and she couldn't finish the thought.

Why did he have to do this to her. "I do trust you," she repeated instead of finishing her earlier sentence. "I do." And she meant it...

He looked at her. It was pitiful. She was so weak; so helpless.

"I do understand, Emma. I do," he said, trying to make her realize that he did. And he also knew she had to get over the fright. He knew that touch would cause her to immediately remember any trauma. But the closer he was; the more he caused her that trauma, the easier it would be for her to handle it. He knew what she was going through. He had seen it before. And he knew what he had to do because in the end it would help. He knew it would; after all, it had helped his sister.

Eddy turned around drinks in hand and stopped. JJ and Emma were talking in low voices. Eddy put the drinks down and pulled herself onto a barstool. Rubbing her temples, she sighed.
"Madame Rosemerta? Can I have a butterbeer please?"

Smiling at JJ, Emma nodded, biting her lip. "Thank you." He still held her wrist, but she doubted she could get him to let go. "Where's Eddy?" she asked, trying to distract him. She knew he meant well, but couldn't he mean well by not touching her? "There she is!" she tried to point with her hand, trying by pulling it from JJ's, but the idea didn't work.

"Wait..." he started, halfway trailing off. Guess he'd hafta to try again later, when Eddy wasn't there anymore. He let go of Emma's wrist slowly. He looked at Eddy who looked very stressed out. He sighed. What a strange group of friends they were indeed. 'I think I need a Butterbeer, too' he decided as he saw Eddy receiving one.

Rubbing her freed wrist, Emma slowly walked over to Eddy. "Hey..." she said, joining her at the bar. "Sorry about the wait..." she saw Madame Rosemerta passing and ordered a butterbeer for herself.

Eddy turned and saw her friends walking towards her.
"Here are your waters," she said pushing the cups towards her friends. "I think I'm gunna go back. I'll talk to you in the morning Emma. Right now I need some Midol."
Eddy smirked, knowing neither of her friends knew what Midol was, with them both being pure-blooded.
She walked out the door and back to the castle.

JJ watched Eddy leave. Now could he try? Maybe not at the Three Broomsticks.

"Emma..." he started. "Er, Want to go back to the school?"

Maybe he was being too forward. He didn't know. The butterbeer came flying down the bar towards him. He caught it and took a swig. He sighed. Confusion was a horrible thing... so was Uncertainty.

Emma looked at the water in her hands and at the already empty Butterbeer bottle. "Sure," she answered, pushing away the water. "Let me get my bag..." she walked to the table she had been sitting out... was it an hour ago? Taking her bag full of new things, she joined JJ at the entrance way of the Three Broomsticks. JJ smiled at Emma, walking out of the doorway of the Three Broomsticks.