Chapter Three

'THE SINGLE DORM'

Emily walked in the opposite direction to the Hogwarts mischief makers, 'Gred and Forge,' her best friends unwillingly. She headed to the front of the train where the prefect carriage was. As she finally reached the compartment, she slid the door open effortlessly and walked inside, "Sorry I'm late, I had to sort out some Gred and Forge troubles," Emily grinned, "I hope you guys understand?"

"I guess so; Fred and George have a knack of keeping one busy, don't they?" Jack Wilkes answered politely. Jack was a member of Ravenclaw house, and was also this years Head Boy. Emily scanned the compartment quickly, checking to see if there were any familiar faces, of those in their fifth year who were lucky enough to be appointed prefect.

There was Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson from Slytherin, the pair of them made her feel sick. They were both uptight and shoved so far up their own arses it was unbelievable.

Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff – She only knew of these through Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and to her amazement and incredulity they were the Gryffindor prefects. Finally, the last two prefects from Ravenclaw she found out were named Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil (with the courtesy of Jack).

"You're able to dock points from houses, but your not able to dock points from other prefects," Emily said in a light tone, "You're to patrol the corridors, and will be given a timetable to when your duties are," Jack continued, his voice stern but breezy, "Any questions?" Emily asked, trying to be friendly – which was the opposite of what Jack was doing, "Yeah, can we go now?" Malfoy asked, his voice almost demanding, "You can now." Emily answered, and all the prefects left.

"Emily," Jack called her name the moment the compartment was partially empty, the moment she was about to leave to find Fred and George, "Jack?" She turned round, her facial expression questioning, "Actually…it doesn't matter," He replied shrugging, "Oh. Okay then, I'll see you later," Emily smiled sweetly, and she left the compartment.

*

"Fred, George!" Emily scolded when she reached their compartment, "What?" They asked, looking mildly innocent, "Why aren't you guys pulling pranks? Giving first years puking pastilles or nosebleed nougat?" She demanded, grinning, "Because," George sighed, "You told us we had to look after Snuffles." Fred answered, blinking his eyes repeatedly.

"I did, didn't I? By the way, where is Snuffles?" Emily asked. The twins grinned evilly. "Fred, George, where the bloody hell is Snuffles?" She demanded, as the twins sniggered amongst themselves, "What do you mean Emily?" Fred asked in a relaxed manner, "Where the fuck have you hidden my dog!?" Emily snarled, which caused George to physically roll around on the floor, laughing hysterically.

"WHERE. IS. HE?" Emily demanded through gritted teeth.

"He's…"

"In…"

"Fred's…"

"Trunk!" The twins laughed.

"YOU WHAT?!" Emily screeched, and she lunged for Fred's trunk to relieve Snuffles from the torture of Fred's smelly socks.

*

"Evil," Emily spat as they got off the train and headed towards the carriages, "What?" Fred asked, a grin etched across his face, "Pure evil. Shrinking poor Snuffles so he could fit in your trunk and endure the life-threatening smell of your socks," Emily stated plainly, shaking her head. George snorted loudly and Fred scowled at her, "There is nothing wrong with my socks, thank you very much," Emily laughed, "That's what you think Fred, that's what you think,"

*

The sorting and the welcome feast flew by – thankfully. Emily couldn't wait to get to the common room. McGonagall had told her before she'd entered the Great Hall that she'd have her own dorm this year being as she was Head Girl. This dorm had a secret passage way that led to the Head Girl and Boy common room if both her and Jack needed peace from their own common rooms. She felt pleased, but she didn't want to keep this 'secret' to herself (and Jack).

"Oh right…um…Oi, midgets!" She heard Ron Weasley call, addressing the first years. Emily chuckled as she walked past them, searching for Fred and George to tell them about her 'secret dorm.'

*

Emily raced up the stairs and up into Gryffindor tower, and fairly soon she reached the Common Room, "Password?" The portrait of The Fat Lady asked, "Oh, right yeah…password," Emily mumbled to herself. "Pumpkin Juice," She answered, and the portrait swung open and Emily entered it, embracing the warmth of the welcoming Gryffindor Common Room.

Later that evening…

"No, Snuffles!" Emily sighed as Snuffles clambered onto her bed flamboyantly. "Get down from there!"

He refused, and he barked, wagging his tail enthusiastically. "Snuffles…" She moaned, "Right, I'm going to get changed for bed. Behave okay?" He barked knowingly.

*

As Emily left the bathroom to which she got changed, she almost screamed in fright as Snuffles was no-longer a dog. In his place was a pale-skinned man…

The convicted murderer, Sirius Black.