DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Harry Potter series; only Esme, Urwin, and Weston (for now). If I did, Fred and Dobby would still be alive.

CHAPTER TWO – DINNER

I hurried down the large staircase as the bells chimed eight. My coats swished outwards in an array of dark red and golden splashes. When I had first come to Hogwarts as a young girl, the sorting hat had put me into Gryffindor, and I have loved it since day one. It's not just my house but my home. I was devastated when Urwin was put in Ravenclaw, but the headmaster Albus Dumbledore – my true idol, had explained that perhaps it was for the best.

"If he is around his mother all the time, he won't be ready for the outside world." He had told me later in the evening.

"I can protect him when he is closer to me." I argued.

"He needs to learn how to protect himself." Albus retorted.

Now that I think back to the three years Urwin has been at Hogwarts, it probably had been a good idea. He has already learnt so much, and I still see him in potions classes. Well... I used to.

. P . A . R . A . G . R . A . P . H .

I turned left at the end of the stairs and down the dimly lit corridor towards the great hall. I could hear the sounds of the students laughing and talking, and could smell the most delicious roast dinner you can imagine.

"Coarse?"

I cursed silently, as I turned round to see the idiotic, sneering face of Severus Snape, or as the Marauders called him; Snivellus.

"To what do I owe the pleasure Snivellus?" I found myself respond.

He glared at me, "you're late."

"And I shall be later if you keep me held up here."

Snape glared at me again, and then pushed me through the doors of the Great Hall.

I scowled frustratingly. Coarse: ninety two, Snivellus: ninety two. Darn it!

. P . A . R . A . G . R . A . P . H .

Snape continued to shove me down the crowded walkways of the great hall. Students were busy eating and chattering amongst themselves, and only the Slytherins really seemed to notice us.

"I think I can walk by myself Snivellus." I said annoyed.

He stopped pushing and I stumbled ever so slightly.

"Obviously." He sneered, walking past me as I gathered myself together.

I climbed up the small set of stairs onto the large stage set at the back of the hall, and parked myself in my usual seat next to Minerva and Hagrid.

"How are you this evening my dear?" Minerva asked, as she passed me a plate of meats, that I was never, in my right mind, going to eat.

"Oh you know," I replied, trying to sound breezy and relaxed, shaking my head to the plate, "just doing my thing I guess."

"I reckon he's doin' fine. Urwin was always such a lively lad, he's probably just muckin' around with his daddy." Hagrid said, his mouth full of chicken.

I murmured a maybe, as I took a few leaves of lettuce and some fresh tomato.

"Oh Esme, do eat something else dear. You're worrying yourself to much." Minerva remarked.

She cut me a slice of bread with a thick layer of raspberry jam, and a large chunk of cheddar.

"Eat!" She insisted.

I took the bread and bit a large mouthful out of the side. The gooey jam made me feel sick, but Minerva nodded in approval, and cut me another slice.

. P . A . R . A . G . R . A . P . H .

Again, just a nice, simple little part of the story, just to get some chapters out there. Please R&R and don't forget to comment about suggestions for the story. I love hearing your feedback, even more than follows or even favourites. I literally live for the comment section ;) No I'm kidding, but SERIOUSLY!

Anyways, sorry for the shorter chapters, as I said, they will start getting longer as more and more people begin to read. I'm grateful to anyone who sticks around to read the entire thing.

ALSO, another quick thing, I am going camping on Wednesday for a week so I won't be uploading. I will try (don't count on it) to upload tomorrow but I have so much packing, shopping, etc that I need to do, it's unlikely that I'll have time to write much more. If I don't, I'll see you next week.

Byes!

'Be kind and have courage' Cinderella.

xxxxxHG22xxxxx