Chapter 3

I let myself fall against the side wall of our wooden house. Fine, you know Alicia? If she wanted to kick me out, then I would sleep outside. No big deal. Not complaining about it would push her buttons even more, which was my aim anyway. The sun was just setting so there was plenty of light outside. I watched an owl fly overhead. It was almost calm.

It was only after about ten minutes that I realized that the only things I had eaten all day were a bit of toast in the morning, and a spoonful of mashed potatoes at dinner. I was too nervous to eat, after all, due to the roster being posted and things like that. I know, I know, Alicia. You are just thinking 'Why didn't you just apparate, Katie?'. I did not apparate, Alicia, because I felt as if I had something to prove. I'm not sure what I felt like I had to prove, but maybe it was to show my mother that she was the one that was out of line.

Ah, well, maybe that wasn't entirely true. I actually planned just to go to sleep, wake up, and then go inside for some food. Play up the pity deal, you know? Poor Katie, starving to death outside in the June wilderness in England. Let's give her some waffles.

I had managed to doze off for a few moments, but was awoken by someone standing over me. Have you ever had that feeling that someone was incredibly close to you, but you can't explain why? That was why I nearly jumped out of my shoes, and tried to pull out my wand…

Which was unfortunately in my back pocket…which I happened to be sitting on. Thank God, Alicia, that it was only Emmy and not some crazy muggle or wizard.

Yes, it was Emmy, my brother's best friend. She is shorter than me, but she is one of those younger children that you see and immediately think of as angelic. She has long brunette hair and gray eyes, even though I couldn't see them as she was silhouetted against the sky. She is skinny, and a Ravenclaw chaser, which makes me like her even more. You've met her. You know. We chasers must stick together.

As I realized who it was, I relaxed and patted the ground next to me. In response, she just slid down the wall as I had done. "Hello Katie", she whispered (Why she was whispering? I don't know. Still don't.). "Connor sent me an owl. He wrote that you got kicked out. Why's that?" She looked up at me, and I wondered why I couldn't get stuck with a sweet sister like this.

I sighed and explained to her my situation. That we were moving, that I was playing quidditch, that my sister is a bitch. That I was homeless, especially. You know what I mean; I just wrote the entire thing out for you.

Emmy was a very appreciative audience, just so you know. She shook her head and gasped at all of the right places. "That's terrible! Ana should be the one in trouble!", she told me when I wound down. "I don't know what I will do during the summer hols without you next door." All of a sudden, she looked very sad. During the summer holidays, Emmy has been known for joining us for every single meal for weeks at a time. It's not that her parents didn't care; it's just that they were not around.

"You'll be fine, Emmy", I assured her and patted her on the shoulder a bit. You know, really supportive-like. I thought that I was doing a really fine impression of you, Alicia. "You know, there's always Floo powder. We have some. Connor can bring some to you, if you don't have any." I nodded knowledgably. I loved my Floo powder, but had recently forgotten to fill my pockets with it. Which brought about another thing that I had to remember to do.

Emmy looked relieved for a moment, and her eyes widened. But she didn't stay that way for long. She then looked extremely serious. "Which reminds me." She pulled out a bag that had been under her knees. I hadn't noticed it before, which made me feel pretty bad.

"Connor asked me to bring you this--", she handed me a pillow, "And this". She handed me a bottle of butterbeer. "He said that you probably wouldn't be able to conjure a pillow, because you were pretty mad--" And he was too right, Alicia. How does that kid know me so well? I still don't know if he drinks coffee or not. "But he also asks that you not look too much into it. He only asked me because he doesn't want to move, either. He would have brought them out himself, but your mum has him in his room for cursing."

I took the supplies and looked up at Emmy with a blank look. "He wrote that all in about ten minutes?" She nodded solemnly and sighed a bit. "He can write faster than anyone I know." I just nodded in agreement. Sometimes when I got home, I would find a two-page note shoved under my door jamb about what I needed to do that day. More of a threat, really, Alicia.

Emmy stood up abruptly and looked back down at me. "Need anything else, Kate?" She flung the bag over her shoulder and played with the end of her ponytail in a preoccupied fashion. I shook my head. I mean, what should I have said to her? 'Yeah, I'm good in the pillow and drink department, but do you think that you could get me some food?' No, that would have been extremely rude. Even I know that.

I cracked open the bottle and raised it toward her. "Thanks. I owe you a scrimmage. Cheers, Emmy." I grinned and took a sip. Emmy smiled shyly back. "No problem. Cheers, Kate." She spun on her heel and walked back toward her house, not pausing as she threw over her shoulder, "I'll hold you to that scrimmage, Katie. G'Night."

"Night Emmy", I called back.

Leaning against the house, I finished the butterbeer and watched the sun go down. Have you ever done that, Alicia? You don't have to be leaning against the house that you just got kicked out of, any house will do. It is a very peaceful feeling.

Setting the bottle on the grass beside me, I fell back onto the pillow. I don't remember anything else, so I must have fallen asleep as soon as my head hit it, or else passed out due to excess of butterbeer.

I'm going with the latter, Alicia. It goes better with my peaceful fantasy.