"Ok so tell me everything that you have been up to these past seven years!" Hermione said quietly.
"Ha ha ha! Ok well after the accident I was shipped from foster home to foster home. Well one day I was staying with this really nasty couple, the woman made me do all the house work and the man just kept leering at me, and I had enough so I ran away. Well I didn't get too far when an extremely elderly man stopped me. It turns out it was Dumbledore and he knew my mother well. So he took my in for the summer and found some of my mother's relatives in France. Dumbledore contacted them and told them of the situation and they took me in."
"Ok but how does that explain how Dumbledore knew you were a witch?" Hermione asked perplexed.
"Well it turns out my mother is one of the last Fireston's. The Fireston's are an ancient pureblood family who are nearly whipped out. I think my aunt, uncle and my cousin are the only ones left other than myself. But like most pureblood families they don't look kindly on outsiders and what I gathered from my relatives was that my father was defiantly an outsider. They didn't talk to me much because the thought I was a disgrace but what ever. So I lived with them in France in their mansion, which was more like a palace and attended Beauxbatons for my schooling. I excelled in practically every course, while my dear cousin failed." Emma said pausing for a break.
"Well while you were there did you learn anything else?"
"About my parents? No, no one seems to know anything about my father or where he is. And the really odd thing is that our family tree only shows one side of the family. Its almost like the other side had this huge secret that no one knows about. And it seems to have died with my mother, since my aunt and uncle are very out of the loop when it comes to relatives."
"Weird." Hermione said.
"Yah no kidding. Well that's about it for me! I've just been transferred here for work and I've been staying here at the inn but I've just found a cute little apartment that I'm renting from a muggle. But there is this awesome night club just down the street from it!"
"Ha ha ha amazing!" Hermione said laughing.
"Ok so that's what I've been up what about you!" Emma asked leaning on her elbow.
"Ha ha ha well, after the fourth grade I got my letter from Hogwarts and I was so excited. My parents were a little apprehensive but they got use to it. And I've been attending there ever since and now I'm working for the Ministry here in the Inter-Species Department."
"How was Hogwarts? I wanted to come when they held the Tri-Wizard tournament but I wasn't old enough."
"Oh right! Well it's a lovely school and most of the students are wonderful with the exception of the Slytherins." Hermione said distastefully at the memory of one Draco Malfoy and his posse, "And I became best friends with the two boys who were suppose to be here half an hour ago!"
"Ha ha ha oh really? And who might these boys be?"
"Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley!"
"Oh… you mean the Harry Potter." Emma said raising her eyebrow sarcastically.
"Ha ha ha yes the one and only!" Hermione said laughing.
"Well lucky you! I told you you'd be a boy magnet one day!"
"ME a boy magnet! HA! Emma they are just my stupid friends."
"Ha ha ha oh come on! Which one is it that you have the hots for?" Emma said teasingly but was surprised when some blush crept up her friends face.
Harry and Ron walked into the Leaky Cauldron nonchalantly. Ron was now about 6'2" and had filled out his body quite nicely, but still had that fire red hair of his. While Harry was an even six feet and had also filled in very nicely with muscles but he still had the unruly jet-black hair of his. They looked around the bar quickly and did not see Hermione anywhere.
"Where do you think she is?" Ron asked Harry with a slight note of panic in his voice.
Harry smirked to himself, he knew Ron fancied Hermione but he would never admit it, and said, "Dunno, prolly just running late with S.P.E.W. stuff!"
"Ah Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley! How good to see you again!" said Tom the innkeeper.
" 'Ello there Tom! How are you?" Ron said politely.
"I'm fine, just fine. Oh before I forget! Ms. Granger is here she told me to tell you that she's met up with an old friend and their in that back room over there." Tom said pointing to the room in which Hermione and Emma occupied.
"Thanks Tom!" Harry said.
"What old friend? Who is he talking about?" Ron asked his ears turning red, "Why doesn't she want us to met them? I bet you it's a boy! I bet its Krum!" Ron said angrily.
"Come on Ron." Harry said trying to calm Ron down.
"He's here you know! In London on some tournament! I bet they've hooked up for old times sake! Well not if I can help it!" Ron said barging towards the closed door with Harry hot on his heals.
Emma sat staring at her friend giggling and trying to get her to spill her beans when…
BANG!
The door came flying open and two young men stood in the doorway. One with fire red hair and the other with jet-black hair and both very tall. The one with red hair had his wand out and pointing into the room.
"Where is he? Hmmm? Where is he? I know he's here! KRUM come out and face me like a man!" Ron yelled sweeping around the room with more vigour and anger then Harry had ever seen.
"RONALD WEASLEY! WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" Hermione screamed.
Ron stopped and turned to stare at her bewildered, while his face turned a different shade of red.
All of a sudden there was a soft magical laugh that was coming from Hermione's left. Until then neither Ron nor Harry, who had just closed the door behind him, had even noticed the other occupant of the room.
Hermione stood with her hands planted on the table glaring at Ron. It was too much for Emma and she just had to laugh. It was in that instant that she knew who Hermione had feelings for.
"You stupid GIT! What on earth possessed you to come barging in on a private conversation and storm around the room like a mad man?" Hermione said heatedly.
"I… I thought that Krum was here and you um… needed help." Ron said sheepishly.
"Ronald did it ever occur to you that maybe, JUST MAYBE, I have other friends who AREN'T boys!"
"Well I mean of course… but… well… that is I…" Ron stammered.
"Uh honestly you need a new brain!"
"Ha ha ha! Calm down Hermione its alright! I think it's rather sweet that your friends care so much about you!" Emma said laughing her charming laugh.
It was the first time Harry had heard her speak and he could not take his eyes off her. She was possibly the most gorgeous girl he had ever seen. She had long chestnut brown hair that fell just to her chest, slightly pale smooth skin, and the brightest blue eyes.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I'm so rude!" Hermione said turning to her, "Emma this is the biggest git it the world Ron Weasley and his accomplice Harry Potter." She said nodding in the direction of each of them, "Ron, Harry this is Emma Fireston!"
"A pleasure to meet you both." Emma said standing and bowing slightly in both their directions, "Please sit down. Hermione and I were just catching up."
"Hi Emma! It's really nice to meet you!" Harry said blushing slightly as he took a seat across from her.
"Hello Emma, so how do you two know each other and how come we've never heard of you before?" Ron asked defensively.
"Ron! Do you ALWAYS have to be so rude and defensive?" Hermione said glaring at him.
"What? What did I do? Is it wrong of me to be concerned when all of a sudden this mysterious girl that you somehow know from your past comes into your life again?"
"Ha ha ha! It's ok Hermione, really!" Emma said laughing at the pair, "Hermione and I use to go to school together when we were younger. And you haven't heard of me before because Hermione didn't know I was a witch until just a few minutes ago like I didn't know she was one!"
"Oh." Ron said bowing his head slightly embarrassed.
"You'll have to excuse them. They are a bit high strung being Aurors and everything." Hermione said still glaring at Ron.
"Aurors? How neat!" Emma said her smile brightening.
"Yah. It's loads of fun! You know risking your life and all!" Harry said sarcastically and was pleased to hear Emma giggle slightly.
"Oh 'Mione! Guess what? Apparently the Ministry is getting a new Auror on Monday. He's supposed to be amazing! Both Dumbledore and Moody recommended him!" Ron said trying to make Hermione stop glaring at him.
"Well good maybe you'll learn how to actually do your job!"
"Oh come on now Hermione! Ron and I aren't that bad at being Aurors and it was an honest mistake about the whole barging in thing. Can't you forgive us?" Harry said smiling.
"Oh well of course I can! But just don't jump to such stupid conclusions next time!" Hermione said giving the boys a sweet smile.
"So Emma if you're a witch where did you go to school?" Ron asked curiously.
"Well I went to Beauxbatons in France."
"Why'd you go there if you live here when you were younger?"
"Ron!" Hermione said harshly kicking him under the table.
"OUCH! Hermione what was that for?" Ron asked rubbing his leg.
"Ha ha ha! It's ok Hermione! I moved to France to live with my aunt and uncle when my mom died." Emma said laughing.
The four of them sat and talked for a while. Emma's eyes were constantly being drawn back to look at Harry. Even though his robes were loose she could see the hint of muscles underneath. His bright green eyes enthralled her and she had to fight not to constantly stare into them. She blushed slightly once when he caught her staring at him. After a while she realised why Hermione hung out with them so much. They were the nicest and funniest young men she had meet in a while. They told her all about their adventures in Hogwarts and narrowly escaping expulsion each year.
A/N: Well there you have it Chapter two is complete! Ha ha ha! Stay tuned to find out what happens next! Don't forget to R/R please!