(Chapter 6)
9:30am Herbology was honestly lame. Emily- who had grown up in a fairly secluded home, surrounded by the nature that she often explored in her youth, was so bored by the subject at hand she had resorted to digging small holes in the dirt before her- repeatedly with no objective or pattern. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she was with a bunch of Ravenclaws, whom she would have thought would have been a lot more intelligent then the lot she was stuck with. Or maybe it was because it was a Monday. Either way, she couldn't help but sit silently at her station, done before the rest of her classmates.
Their task at hand was to plant 5 different magical plants into 5 different soil types, with 5 different liquid solutions. Each had different potting techniques, and care instructions though. Not difficult when you followed the notes, directions AND book that was there to aid them… yet, somehow it had taken the whole hour and twenty minuets for the class to set up their complete project and label them (there was no muggle tape so instead they had to resort to carving their initials into each pot with a simple spell.)
Emilia would have usually been people watching, or at least trying to associate with her fellow classmates but the memory of her first Monday Herbology class often replayed in her mind (and quickly reminded her to shut up).
"Hello, do you mind if I sit here?" Looking up from her bench Emilia immediately noticed a pair of soft blue eyes. Before her stood a girl, slightly shorter then herself with her hair braided and with dirt already on her hands- embedded in her nails too (class hadn't even started yet).
"Oh, yea sure no problem." Moving closer to the edge of the bench, the other girl sat beside Emily.
"My name is Baily Dodds, Ravenclaw if you haven't noticed." Motioning to her tie and waiting for an answer, Emilia smiled at the girl.
She could barely get out her name, which in it's rush sounded too much like 'Emily Fidoh' before the Herbology professor had stood to speak.
On their first day, much like the other classes 'first days' they were to just go over expectations and rules before 'diving right into' their first assignment. Their first assignments had all been complete jokes- at least to Emilia's perception. Potions was to mix together simple ingredients and record it. Charms was to swish your wand in a circle and create sparks. It wasn't any kind of spell, it wasn't really even to "harness your powers." To Emilia's understanding it was just to see if the students could hold their wands and move them in a circle.
And while the rest of the classes had similar objectives and tasks, Emily had hoped that being a magical kid, at a magical school, would be more about learning to be a great magical witch, and less like muggle primary where you're treated like a complete idiot just for being young. To make matters more infuriating, the tasks did take forever for everyone to grasp and understand because they were young, and it seemed like everyone was completely gob smacked by the simple tasks put before them!
By the time 9:30 am, Monday Herbology had come, Emilia was fairly used to the hand holding, busy work 'assignments' they had been given. This was class was no different.
Bailey Dodds was nice enough to 'volunteer' to be Emily's partner when the class had finally split to begin their first assignment of planting two 'rare' flowers that emitted light when they bloomed (yea, like they'd give a class of 11-year olds 40 seeds of a 'rare' plant, Emilia had thought).
The two worked nice enough together until the vary last 10 minuets of class.
Emilia cringed as the memory continued to replay in her mind.
Almost done with the plotting of their second plant, Emilia had begun to add the second solution that the book notes instructed them to add.
"Oh Emily, you don't need to do that, its not on the board." Grabbing the cup with the new water and nutrients right out of Emily's hands and placing it to the side, Baily started to add the original plain water to it that they had put for the first plant.
"But Baily, the book says to add thi-"
"I've already read that book and no it doesn't." The girl, with a smile still plastered on her face snapped at Emily.
Obvious to Emily, due to the girls rather permanently looking rough and hands, and rambling previously about other plants in the nursery, she liked to garden. Or at least, this Herbology class was going to be some sort of new home to her.
While Emilia, knew she should leave the subject, or should have at least taken a zero on the assignment for the sake of keeping a possible friendship, her inherent pride immediately got in her way.
Without even asking she poured the second solution into the plant.
Really in a way, the following events were completely Baily Dodds fault, but if you were to ask any other Ravenclaw in the room they'd say something along the lines of 'that freak Emily just threw the pot at the other girl, and it had acidic solution on it so it totally burned poor Baily Dodds!'(Slytherins would just call Baily a dunce and not add to the conversation).
That wasn't true, but as eleven-year olds are- they're dramatic. In a quick match of female dominance, Emilia had found herself attempting to pull the pot out of an upset Baily's hands. This is of course the inopportune time where reason struck, and Emilia had decided that this argument wasn't worth it, and had let go of the pot. Unlucky for Emilia the pot flung itself into the chest of Baily and her robes began to sizzle faintly.
Emilia immediately grabbed the bucket of water near her and splashed it at a screaming Baily whose robes were still sizzling.
The sizzling stopped, Professor Sprout bounded over to figure out what had happened. Baily was sobbing- it was almost pathetic how upset she was when she was in no physical pain.
Professor Sprout had taken away 5 points from Slytherin for the "nasty attack" but before leaving, had asked how Emilia had known to throw water on Baily to stop the minor burn from occurring.
Emilia's only response was "I read the book."
That day Emilia didn't make any friends like she had hoped.
Cringing inwardly again at the events that had transpired in her first class, she sat back in her seat and counted down the minuets until class was over. Digging more holes in the dirt her partner had returned.
"That was quick. I was gone for less than 2 minutes and you finished the last pot?"
"Severus, you know this isn't hard. Also, it was more like 5 minuets"
"I saw Lily on her way to Flying Lessons. Couldn't continue with out scaring her first. She's going to be dreadful again and I know it." Smiling softly at the thought of his best friend, Emilia thought of hers too. Or rather, the person who was her best friend.
It was already the beginning of October, and the first month of classes had gone by quickly. Despite their separate houses, Emilia saw Remus often, everyday but Friday she had classes with Gryffindor. She no longer sat with Remus in Potions due to the Potion Partner assignments given on the second week. While she often sat in the middle of her classes, usually with other Slytherin housemates that she got on with well enough (usually because they didn't speak much), she wished she could sit by Remus in all of her classes.
He always seemed like he was in the middle of a laugh when he was with those other boy, and whenever she appeared he'd somber up and ask how she's doing and was polite enough. But that was the problem. They've been friends their whole life! Why did he feel the need to get all serious all the time and be polite towards her? Additionally, she always felt so left out, as she often heard those boys whispering about plans in the common room- the very one that she can't enter because she's a Slytherin.
She often wondered if the entryway to the Gryffindor common room some sort of battle with a magical creature. How else would you prove your Gryffindor bravery? Either way, she felt very confused around that lot, as Remus was her first and very best friend, but seemed to be some sort of stranger to her now (or maybe she was exaggerating but she still wasn't sure?)
Despite her incident during Herbology, the Slytherins do seem like a lot that sticks together. She had made a few friends within her house and didn't seem to find herself without company during her classes.
In fact, the very thought of what sparked her friendship with her Herbology Partner caused her to actually smile.
"And students, I will be assigning new partners for the full term as I have seen your abilities last week!" Professor Slughorn looked completely pleased with him self when he had split the class into their new partners and rearranged the new groups. Not surprisingly enough, the Slytherins had all ended up together and to the left of the class (this had only upset two different groups though), and four particularly gifted students had wound up at the front of the class room.
Emilia was one of these students, and she wasn't very happy with her new partner, Severus Snape.
As the class had continued with a small lecture and the parting of ways to complete the beginning draft of a simplified healing potion, Emilia was absolutely livid with her partner.
He didn't allow her to cut up or grind any of the ingredients, while somehow simultaneously giving her flack for not helping out enough. The two didn't talk.
As he continued to work, and Emilia merely gathered up ingredients and placed them nearby, she watched as he moved. Stirring the pot 12 times clock wise, adding frogs egg and stirring again 3 times counter clockwise, Emilia watched as the potion turned a dark purple.
Without saying a word (having learned her lesson in Herbology) she quickly dropped the inch of unicorn hair in, while Severus' back appeared to be turned to read the instructions. He was supposed to do that directly after stirring the potion, but when it still turned dark blue, Emilia figured it was all right. She wouldn't dare obviously temper with 'Severus' potion' as he seemed to be fairly controlling.
When he had turned to add the next few ingredients (after a 3 minuet wait) Severus did almost a double take (not noticed to Emilia) as he quickly read over the last few instructions again. Glancing at the girl beside him who had just turned to gather what was needed for the last step of the potion his eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, before his expression had gone blank. Almost finished with the potion by the time Emilia returned he spoke.
"You can add the last few lizards egg and stir it. I'll grab the bottles."
Turning quickly, he didn't watch her, and upon his return wasn't surprised when the potion had turned crystal clear as it should have.
Class ended shortly after that, and the two quickly ran off to catch up with their respective Gryffindor friends. It wasn't until Herbology at the end of the day, when the two saw each other again.
"Okay, as we planted the Everlight yesterday, today we are to all check up on our hopefully now sprouting plants and add some more Acidic solution to both the plants now. Be very careful with the solution! After that we will return for our lecture and begin our next potting. Please remember to keep your stations clean as this will be yours for the rest of the year!"
Due to the incident yesterday, Emilia wasn't surprised to find that her station was missing both of its plants, and the day's previous partner. Sighing to herself, she began to gather two more pots and figured she'd just be a day late on these plants before a voice spoke behind her.
"Here's mine. I was alone yesterday so we'll be partners now."
Severus set his two plants down and begun to add the solution to them both. Him and Emilia sat beside each other at the center benches and waited for the Professor to explain their new task.
They worked well together- which was lucky since the were partners in two classes now.
"Hey Severus, do you want to sit together at lunch later?"
"No, I'm meeting Lily at lunch in the court yard and we're just grabbing sandwiches."
"Oh okay." While Emily was a bit disappointed, Severus frowned and just thought her to be a tad bit pathetic. His best friend was in Gryffindor too so why is she acting like she lost hers? While he wanted to remain unsympathetic a part of him felt for the other girl.
"I'll save you a seat at dinner."
"Come on Emily aren't you just so excited to head to History of Magic with those Hufflepuffs?"
"I don't mind them. My partner is nice enough."
"Your partners an idiot."
Unable to contain her laughter, or come up with a valid comeback, Emilia merely swatted at Severus before the two set off for the next class.
Dearest Emilia,
This is my new owl Barns. He's not a barn own. As you know I am still traveling in Africa this term with my father so please don't send your owl after me. I really don't want you to be with out an own for weeks or months just because they're searching for me and I'm so busy to respond I might forget to write you back or even feed your owl and that would be atrocious. Ava was so patient last letter though and actually saved me in a pinch and was quite a great companion these past few months I'm actually saddened to see her go, but that is why I have sent both owls. Hopefully Ava has shown Barns the way to you. He really likes plums if you have any to give him- I think the great hall has them at lunch.
Anyways, congratulations on Slytherin! It is a very hard-working and unified house, despite their reputation. I hope you have found yourself with some more friends by this time as your lot does try to stick together. Don't pay any mind to what others have to say, and I'm sure you and Remus' friendship will be fine. You are not alone as you have both me and him and your family, and Rafi and so many others here for you. Okay well not actually there but there for you in spirit.
My travels have been amazing. Every time my father and I travel I do find myself learning more and more each day about myself and about our creatures. We aren't doing a traveling zoo's right now, but we still have our friends with us. I do miss my mother though as she is still in the states working and we will be un able to see her until Christmas.
Please do tell me about how these past few months have been for you. I wish you all the best.
With Love,
N.S
"Whose giving you love now?" Emilia jumped before whipping around to one of her dormmates, who was peering over her shoulder.
"Blimey Addi, anyone tell you how to mind your own business." Pushing the other girl off her bed all while laughing, the other girl moved away. Her long brown hair swirled around her waist as she twirled around to go back to her bed.
"I was just curious what got you in a mood and I don't have siblings so sorry if that was rude."
"Oh it's no bother. Just a friend from home, I'm about to write to him so I figured I'd re read his letter before doing so."
Before the other girl, Addison could respond, a third roommate spoke.
"Good. Does that mean you'll be getting rid of that disgusting beast soon here? I was afraid it was going to attack me all last night." Turning up her nose, Elizabeth Mulch (Pureblood, very rich as she would let you know) scoffed.
"Yes Elizabeth. I'm getting rid of Barns now. Just need to finish up my letter and give 'em a few plums."
"Good. Anyways as I was saying, I wrote my parents to tell them about that Lily girl in our Astronomy and they found out she's one of those mudblood… And when my parents questioned about it they had the audacity to call me a disgrace because I have an A in that class."
"Acceptable isn't even that bad Elizabeth." Their fourth roommate Nancy Darling chimed in (but with a unenthusiastic tone).
"I know but my parents seem to find it unbelievable that a mudblood could do better then me, but lets think about this for a second… Astronomy is super late and don't those muggles have a fascination with the stars anyways? It's not my fault I'm not perfect at it!" Ending her rant with a small cry of frustration she flopped down on her bed in a very unlady like fashion.
"You can't be perfect at everything Liz." Emily, though not usually one to sympathize with the others (especially while they used such foul language) kind of understood where she was coming from.
"Ew don't call me Liz. My name is Elizabeth, and my mum thinks it's a beautiful name and so do I, so use it in full. Are you done with that letter yet! I want that stupid owl out!"
"Sure thing, my queen. Letters done, owl is out, will never call you Liz again. Got it." Sarcastically replying and rolling her eyes, when her back was turned to the others had become apart of her every day rituals.
"Thank you Em."
(October 31st. Feast)
"Welcome all to our Halloween feast. We have many special treats for you tonight! Curfew has been extended to 11pm as we hope you all will explore the corn maze, pumpkin smashing, curse or treat, and various other exciting events around Hogwarts grounds. All will begin at 8pm after dinner. Our prefects and upper years have been working very hard to bring to you tonight's festivities. Enjoy the food and fun tonight!"
Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye, stepped down and walked back to his seat at the heads table. As food appeared the excitement buzzed through the air- the students began to speak all at once.
"Did you even know stuff was going on tonight?" The guy next to Severus spoke before Emilia could- asking the same question as her.
"No, I didn't Avery, I was under the impression that nobody did."
"Well actually my brothers said they usually did this but it's obvious that the Gryffindorks or annoying Hufflepuffs have more of a say as nothing is actually scary or any fun."
"I haven't heard that Mulciber. Also, who says GryffinDorks. They're just losers." Laughing at their own (lame) jokes, Emilia rolled her eyes. Ever confused by the company Severus chose to keep, she just begun to add food to her plate.
Emilia didn't know that anything was going on tonight but was beginning to wonder if Remus and his friends knew. Thinking back to their short moment in the library the other night, she shook her head to herself.
"Severus I'm meeting Remus here. I told you a thousand times. I don't know why you think its so weird, when you're also meeting Lily, a GRYFFINDOR, as well." Pushing past Severus who had been telling her meeting Remus was a bad idea (since the common room, which was already a long walk up 3 flights of stairs and down a long hallway), she continued to the doors of the library. She waited for him as she opened the doors and let him go in first though.
"I'm just saying that Sirius Black and James Potter are jerks and I don't understand how to can be friends with Remus when he spends his time with those insufferable people."
"Oh, you're one to talk. You know Remus has been my best friend for forever. Longer then you and Lily have been friends. And the company you keep is a whole lot cruder anyways. Just leave me alone."
This time she didn't wait for him as she bounded through the door and went towards the back-center tables to where the others were seated in a huddle whispering.
"I'm just saying Remus, where ever you cooked up this recipe is brilliant!" Sirius clapped Remus on the back, while James began to speak.
"Yea I'm so excited for the Halloween feast tomorrow. This will be great!"
"What are you boys up to? We have studying to do if you all want to pass Transfiguration and Charms with more than a troll." The boy's heads immediately split apart as they stared wide eyed at Emilia.
"Good thing you're here. Em I really need the help as I actually do have a troll in Charms right now." Spoke Peter in an exasperated tone.
"Hey, I'm better then you at Transfiguration anyways!" Sirius suddenly shouted before the Library lady quickly shushed him.
That seemed to loosen the other lot up as they all too began to complain about their grades (Emilia knew that Remus and James were doing just fine but took their feeble excuses anyways).
Nudging Severus with her elbow she whispered to him so that the other wouldn't hear.
"Want to go to all the other activities with me and try to find Lily?"
Not even looking at her, he just shook his head.
Emilia thought to her self that she would have to try to find Remus before the night begun, however before she could even really think of what her plan would be a loud scream erupted down at the other end of the Slytherin table.
It all happened fairly quick but in less then a second, Emilia was covered in some sort of sticky substance. It took her a few minuets to process that the liquid was some sort of green goo, and another few second before she processed the horrible singing above her head.
"Ickle wickle Slytherins,
Find themselves at home again,
Covered in slime from the great sea,
Happy, Happy Halloween!"
It didn't take a genius to realize that Peeves the poltergeist had just pranked the whole of the Slytherin house- yet as the great hall erupted in both laughter and outraged screams, Emilia knew who was truly behind the stunt.
Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, she recognized the goo as the Halloween "Ooblec" that they made at home.
Emily whispering "Remus blood hell," barely managed to reach Severus's ears before his eyes narrowed and he was already thinking up what his friends would do to retaliate.
Yet as he watched Emilia flick the goo from her shoulders and back (how did she know how to get it off so quickly?) and smile to herself, Severus knew he wouldn't be telling anyone that night.
He quickly began to mimic Emilia's motions as well.
The rest of the night was spent in all great fun (after Professor Dumbledore had assisted the Slytherins in cleaning themselves off, while tutting about how mischievous Peeves was).
Despite the fact that she had tried to find Remus, she ended up spending the rest of the night with her dormmates. As it turned out Addison was quite brilliant at directions and finding their way out of the maze (which made them the fasted group that night- they won a chocolate frog each) and Emilia was quite good at Defense and charms. So as the group proceeded to show off their magic for the professors in exchange for various treats, the girls got along better than they ever had.
Maybe it was because they could all help each other out in some way or maybe it was because they were sort of becoming friends?
Regardless of what was happening, Emilia enjoyed every bit of it, from the haunted hallway, to the bobbing for apples. She didn't really even think about the fact that she hadn't seen Remus all that much that night. Well she had, but it was only for a second when she saw him having good fun with friends, but Emilia was quick to remind herself that she was having a great time too. Really, she didn't think of him much though (even when she was going to bed that night and discovered a bit of un washed green goo in her hair).
"Emilia you look awful are you all right?" Peering around Severus was the red head whom Emilia had begun to refer to as "Severus' Lily" in her head.
"Oh yea I'm fine. I've just been a bit sick lately. Head hurts and all."
"But you're so pale!"
"I've always been like this. It's something to do with my immune system being so weak." Shuffling to grab her papers from the front of the room, Emilia began to walk back to her seat while Lily followed.
"Sounds kind of like Remus. Weren't you sick last month too?"
"Yea we've always been like. We're neighbors back home, family thinks it was something to do with the water when we were young. We use only filtered stuff now."
Seemingly satisfied with the other girls answer Lily began to walk back to her own seat, leaving an admittedly too pale Emilia to limp back to hers.
"Wait, where are you headed for the second half of break?" Emilia had been sitting next to Remus, as all four boys and herself were squished into one compartment. She had only come to pay attention to the second half of what the boys were talking about as her focus was on her book.
"James's. His family said we could all come down for break. Apparently, him and Sirius haven't seen a muggle film before, so I wanted to take them to a night on the town!" Remus so excited by the prospect of spending time with his friends had completely forgotten about what Emily would be doing. It wasn't until the hurt expression that crossed her face before he had realized his mistake.
"Oh Em, I'll be spending the whole first half of break with you at home, and I'm sure the Potter's wouldn't mind if you dropped by for the day and came and saw that film with us! Right James?" Without really waiting for and answer Remus grabbed his friends hand.
"Yea Elizabeth, don't you know the Potters already? We'll save the movie for when you can come over." Peter didn't really wait for James to speak either as he too tried to cheer up Emilia.
"Woah is nobody going to wait and see if I want her there?"
The carriage became silent.
"Oh come on… you all know I'm joking. Emily it'll be no problem, I'm sure you could even spend a few days. Maybe not the whole time Remus will be there because you are… a girl and all, but you could come over for a bit." James continued to sort through his chocolate frog collection as the others all cheered and continued to talk about their plans.
Emilia was completely baffled by what had transpired. She wasn't particularly close with James or any of the others, besides the few study sessions they had before finals and big projects were due, yet James was inviting her to his house? Sure, he had been to hers when they were children, but that had been years ago and they weren't going as friends, more so as a favor to their parents. Emilia's hand slid from Remus' as she continued to read her book.
It didn't take long before the train had found itself back at Kings Cross Station, and the children all piling out- shouting good byes and all, before splitting off to find their parents.
Before Emilia had even spotted hers, she was knocked off her feet by her very own sister. Untangling themselves Emilia jumped up.
"Lisa! I missed you!" hugging her younger sister (whose once shoulder length dirty blond hair fell inches past her shoulders) Emilia laughed.
"Oh I missed you so much too! I never got to writing you. Did you know Muggle school gets hard when you're 9 years old? I've missed you so much and so have mum and dad!"
Remus was dragged by Emilia, who was dragged by her sister over to their families as everyone rejoiced and hugged. The two were so excited to tell their families about their first term at school, and their families were so excited to hear about it that everyone spoke at once in an excited rush. It took a few minuets (okay actually many minuets) before everyone had calmed down enough to begin their trek back home so that they could properly re tell their school story.
A/n Thank you for reading and those who have Favorited/followed/review thus far. More to come, just felt like updating today.