A/N: just warning you Dumbledore is kind of OOC. just warning you a head of time. okay, enjoy
Emily Costella
Who am I?
Who were my parents?
Are they still alive?
"Emily."
Do I have a little brother or sister?
Maybe I have a pet?
"Emily."
What about gran-
"Emily, wake up. Emily!" someone said.
Emily felt herself being nudged. She opened her eyes and looked into Ginny's face.
"Come on, sleepy head. We're here," Ginny said excitedly. She looked out the window. "Isn't it amazing?"
Emily sat up slowly, feeling a crick in her neck. She worked it out then looked out of the window. Outside it was dark and she could barely see anything.
"Ummmm….yeah just wonderful," Emily said.
"Wrong direction, over there," she said pointing.
Emily followed Ginny's finger and saw in the distance floating yellow squares. As the train got closer and slowed to a stop. Emily realized the floating squares were windows; she could also make out turrets and towers. There perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky was Hogwarts.
"Come on, Emily," Ginny said eagerly while standing up.
"When did you change?" Emily asked Ginny about her school robes.
"When you were sleeping, but come on."
Emily's stomach churned uncomfortably with nervousness as she stood. They left their compartment and joined the crowd of students that were pushing their way out of the train.
"Wait, don't we need our luggage," Emily asked over the other voices of the students.
"No, they said that they would… I'll tell you later," Ginny shouted.
Once out on the dark platform there was a voice that shouted, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"
Both Emily and Ginny followed the voice and came to find it was Hagrid. He led them and the other first years down a dark narrow path.
"Wow," Ginny whispered.
Emily looked up from watching the ground so she wouldn't trip, and got a good look at the castle. "Amazing," she murmured.
The building seemed to shimmer in the distance.
"No more'n four to a boat," Hagrid said indicating the fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.
All the young witches, wizards, and Emily clambered into the boats. When Hagrid was sure everyone was in he set off. The boats magically traveled across the black lake where the giant squid lay sleeping below. They sailed through a curtain of ivy and through a dark tunnel before reaching an underground harbor.
"Hallo there Emily. Let's see, red hair and brown eyes. I'm guessing yer another Weasley," Hagrid said while helping them out of the boat.
Ginny blushed and nodded.
"Hi Hagrid, this is Ginny," Emily said.
"Nice to meetcha. HEY!! DON'T KICK THE BOATS! Ruddy kids," he muttered.
Hagrid made sure everyone was out of the boats then traveled up a passageway— his lamp illuminating the way. The students followed the games' keeper and they soon came out onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
"This is it," Ginny whispered softly to Emily.
Yes, Emily thought, this is it.
Flesh met wood as Hagrid pounded on the oak doors. They swung open and an extremely intimidating woman in green robes stood in the entrance.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.
"Thank you, Hagrid," she faced the newcomers, "Follow me."
Minerva set off in a brisk walk not waiting to see if the students complied with the command. The girls and boys quickly went inside and followed Professor McGonagall. Heads turned every way they could, looking at the enormous entrance hall. She led them by a gigantic door and into a small cramped chamber.
"Now you all wait here. I will come and get you in a second. Oh, is there an Emily Costella?" Proffesor McGonagall asked.
Did I do something wrong? I hope they don't send me back, Emily thought frantically.
Fear and worry were creating tumultuous butterflies in her stomach as Emily shyly raised her hand.
"Follow me, Emily."
The sound of echoing feet were the only sounds heard as the head of Gryffindor led Emily to Dumbledore's office. They stopped in front of a statue of a golden eagle spreading its wings.
"Lemon drop," Proffesor McGonagall said sharply.
To Emily's amazement the statue sprung a side revealing a spiraling staircase.
"Head straight on up," and then she added with a small smirk, "don't worry it won't bite."
Emily gave Proffesor McGonagall a nervous smile as she realized the teacher had been watching her eyeing the eagle warily. She headed past the eagle and began climbing the staircase. When she reached the top there was a giant door.
Emily hesitantly knocked and heard a "come in." The sight that met her eyes was well magical. Contraptions of all kinds surrounded the room and there were pictures of people all over the wall. She turned around to take in everything. It was so amazing.
"I'm glad you like it," someone said.
Emily quickly turned to see who spoke and found herself looking at an old man sitting in a large chair that was behind a desk. His blue eyes sparkled behind half-moon spectacles. Silvery white hair seemed to stretch down his back and he had a matching beard to go with it. He looked at Emily over his long, crooked nose that looked like it had been broken twice.
Was he there the whole time? Emily questioned herself.
"Hello, you must be Emily," the old man said.
Emily nodded slowly, unsure of what to do.
"Please, take a seat."
She obeyed him and sat in the chair that was across from his.
"Ah now to the greetings...I am Proffesor Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. I am aware of your situation with Harry and have decided that you may have a room in Gryffindor tower."
"ummm..." Emily began.
"It's where Harry stays," he said.
Emily smiled. "Thank you Proffesor Dumbledore."
"Your welcome. Good evening Severus."
Emily turned around and saw a man dressed in all black and he had a very smug look on his pale face.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you Headmaster, but it seems that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley got themselves into a bit of trouble," the man said.
Emily had been looking at Severus' hair and wondering how it could be so greasy when the potion's master mentioned Harry's name. A troubled look came over her face.
What's happened to him now? she thought.
"Hmmm," Dumbledore said. He stood up and walked to the door where the man was waiting. He turned to Emily and asked, "Coming?"
She stood up and followed the wizards. They walked past the eagle and soon found themselves in the entrance hall. Dumbledore stopped in front of the door that led to the great hall and turned to Emily.
"Emily, I think it'd be best if you joined Miss. Weasley and ate your dinner now," he said.
"...Okay," she said relunctantly.
He smiled and then pushed open the giant door a little so Emily squeezed herself inside. The first thing she saw were four long tables and students croweded around each one eating.
Candles floated in the air and above that the cieling looked like it mirrored the sky.
"Emily!" someone called.
Emily looked for the voice that said her name and found Ginny amongst the students that were sitting at the table decked in red and gold. She headed over to the red-head and managed to squeeze herself into a seat next to her.
"I made it into Gryffyndor!" Ginny told her.
"That's great," Emily said with a smile.
"Here, you want something to eat."
Emily looked at all the different kinds of foods that were piled along the table. Some of which she knew and others that she didn't, although those did look very good. "You betcha," she said.
Grabbing a clean golden plate, Emily piled as much as she could onto her plate then began digging in. Ginny and Emily talked and laughed while they ate.
"Excuse me, could you pass the treacle tarts," someone asked.
Emily looked up and was looking at this messy brown-haired boy. His facial featrues looked smooth that Emily wanted to run a finger down his cheek. And his eyes were a beautiful blue-green.
A small sigh escaped from Emily's lips. Ginny cleared her throat loudly and made a small noise that sounded like a giggle.
Emily snapped out of her trance, blushed, and said, "Oh, uhh...sorry. Treacle tart? Here it is."
The boy took one from the plate and smiled. "Thanks."
"No welcome...I mean Your problem. I mean..." Emily stuttered.
"Don't worry. I got you," he said then grinned.
Emily sighed and then sat down. "Who is he?"
"I don't know," Ginny said, "but I do know that he's a first year. He was in with us on the boats."
"Oh," Emily said.
All of sudden Ginny laughed and mimicked, "No welcome...I mean Your problem-"
"Shut up," Emily retorted with a blush.
"Emily?" someone else called.
Hermione walked over to the two girls.
"Hi, Hermione."
Before Hermione could reply Dumbledore stood up and the room went silent.
"Students. Students. I bet you very tired but I have a few rules for you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And I remind you that there should be no magic used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. If you are interested, contact Madame Hooch," Dumbledore said to the four tables. "Now, it's time for bedtime. Off you trot!"
"Gryffinidor first years follow me," Percy yelled.
Emily and Ginny, who were stuffed and tired, followed Percy with the rest of the Gryffindor first years. They shuffled behind Percy as he led them to the Gryffindor tower. Apparently Peeves was busy because he didn't show his ghostly face around. He stopped in front of the painting of the fat lady.
"It's very important that you remeber this password or else you'll be locked out until someone else comes," Percy said.
"Password?" the painting asked.
Emily was way to tired to be amazed at the moving picture, but then again she was going to have to start expecting these things.
"Piggy feathers." (1)
The painting swung open revealing a hole in the wall. They all scrambled through it and found themselves in the Gryffindor common room, a cozy round room full of squashy armchairs. Percy pointed in one direction for the girls dormitory and pointed to in another for the boys. Ginny and Emily tiredly travled up the spiraled staircase and found the door that said "First Years." Ginny opened it and they both walked in. Finding their beds with the trunks at the bottom, both of them changed as fast as they could into their pjammas then they hit the covers.
"Good night," Emily slurred.
"Night," Ginny replied.
The pair dropped off to sleep immediatley, unaware that three other girls came in: their new roomates.
A/N: HOLY MOLEY. When I said Valentine's Day for the next chapter, I thought I was kidding but apparently this took me a lot longer than I thought it would. I finished this up just for you all. Reviews are appreciated and...yeah. But I am kind of depressed. I don't know if anyone reads this but I'm going to tell you about my sob story any way. I asked this guy to Sadie's today and he was like "No. I always go alone". I just kind of thought that was stupid but that's just me. It's alright though, I think I might go alone too this year. Only the Lord knows how much I embarresed myself today just trying to get courage to ask him. Oh well, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! XOXO
(1) I know this wasn't the original password but I don't have my book handy and I really wanted to publish this so I hope you're not too picky.