It was early in the morning of another 1st that a barred owl tapped viciously against a large window that provided all light in the room that the owl expected to hoot in. Inside, a girl's eyes could only see blur and her limbs tried to reach each end of the large bed she lay in. A low sound that came from her throat and the smirk that held her lips. Seeing that she was in no mood to stand up and let it in made the owl tap louder. Once the owl started to literally bang its head against the window, the girl shot a glare at it and jumped off the bed. Taking a cotton robe from a chair and putting it on, she walked over to the window, but only to stand there while trying her hair up on a bun. The owl raised its head and started making loud noises while banging its head harder against the window.
''For the love of- STOP!'' she shouted at it and opened the window and letting the owl fly inside. It landed on the bed and threw a package at her. ''What kind of owl are you? Rolling in some stranger's bed, banging head against some window...'' she shook her head at it while the owl simply buried its head among the sheets. She sighed and unrolled the parchment attached to the package.
Dear Em,
I've seen him and helped him up with all he need.
Those Dursleys kept it all from him. You can't imagine.
I'd tell you all about him... But I want you to see him for yourself.
It's incredible, looks just like them.
Hagrid
A smile lit up her face. She was about to put it away until she noticed she hadn't unrolled it completely.
PS: The portkey is in the package. I know you can't apparate
in public just yet. Feel free to name the owl, she's new and likes crackers.
The corners of her lips lowered and she glared at the owl that was rolling between the sheets. ''What are you, a dog or an owl?'' she snapped at it and threw the package on the bed, hitting the owls head and receiving a glare from him and a loud complaint. ''I'll call you Nosy'' Emmeline sighed once again and enchanted all her things to organize themselves. Nosy stood in the bed and looked around as clothes, shoes, books, and more zoomed, floated, and landed where they were meant to be. Right after she put on her flat ankle boots her trunk had closed shut with a simple click. A pack of crackers zoomed all the way up from the kitchen and landed on her hand. She threw it at the owls head. Without even complaining or glaring at her, Nosy ripped the pack to pieces and started eating his crackers.
''You certainly were a dog in the other life'' she shook her head at the owl and smirked. After giving her own owl, Mr. Hoot, his food and water, she waved her hand lazily. It was the room's turn to organize itself. Emmeline took a piece of parchment from her trunk and a quill along with ink and sat on the floor.
Dear Hagrid,
Thank you. I'll shortly be on my way to King's Cross.
I'm naming her Nosy. Where did you get her? She sure does not behave
like the owl she's suppoed to be.
Now, abut our boy. I must ask you, as usual, to be very
discreet when it comes to you-know-what and Harry.
He mustn't know just yet.
See you at Hogwarts,
Em
She rolled the piece and tied it with a green piece of cloth that sat behind the lamp on the end table. Emmeline looked at Nosy, who had happily swallowed every single cracker, and tied the parchment to her leg. ''Make sure Hagrid gets it. Those crackers give me some trouble. Be careful not to shower anyone with your faeces on your way there'' she ordered her. Nosy glared at her and then flew past the window in a blink. She stared after the owl as it flew out the window and zoomed off to the sky, moving her wings flawlessly. Emmeline sighed and grinned. ''Finally'' she whispered to herself and a smile reappeared on her lips.
It was already twenty minutes past ten and still no trace of him. She had seen the Spinnets, the Johnsons, and the Bells walking through the barrier, but no signs of him. Not even the Weasleys had arrived just yet. Emmeline tapped her foot viciously against the floor, her arms crossed and her eyes flickering from her wristwatch to everywhere around her. She wondered what might've happened. She even got to the point of wondering if he had turned out as a squib! She shook the thought away and remembered it was impossible. Far from impossible. Just not an option. She thought what the Dursleys might've done to him. Maybe they didn't let him go. If that was what happened, she swore to herself she'd go there herself and drag Harry with her if she had to. Harry was meant for this. He belonged there. He should never be denied going to where he belonged by some Muggles. Especially not by the Dursleys. Her patience was coming to an end. Emmeline started to think of something.
If he didn't come by ten forty, then she'd go to Privet Drive and snatch him from his uncle and aunt's filthy hands. Emmeline was certain that she would not get into the Express without him. She would never forgive herself. Her eyes looked down at her watch for what might have been the billionth time. It was half past ten already. Ten more minutes and she would run to the Dursleys' home. Just before she made up her mind to go right then, a big man with a large mustache who had been pushing a cart stopped dead not so far from where she stood with a rather evil grin.
''Vernon,'' she snarled under her breath. Nevertheless, she sighed in relief when she saw he was not alone. An elegant thin woman by his side and a mini-Vernon held their hands by his side. ''Petunia. And that must be... Who cares'' she shrugged and rolled her eyes. She searched for Harry with her eyes. The big man blocked her view from a pair of jeans that could only be seen behind the man's thick legs. She watched as Vernon, Petunia, and their son laughed and left. Emmeline's heart jumped, twisted, twirled and fought to get out of her chest and run to little Harry. Her eyes lightened and glowed with the big bright smile she wore. It was him. Finally, after so long, she finally had the chance of seeing him. And after that moment, she'd probably even have the chance of talk to him. She watched him careful enough for him not to spot her. He had stopped a passing guard who left furious after speaking to Harry. He kept looking down at his ticket and sighing after looking from the big plastic number ten over one platform and to the number nine.
Emmeline couldn't help but laugh slightly when Harry looked desperately to the large clock over the arrivals board as if it would tell him where the platform he was looking for was. Emmeline leaned forward on her cart, her hand supporting her head as she watched Harry in amusement with a grin glued to her face. She saw Harry swung around out of the blue. Emmeline stood straight immediately and pushed her cart when she saw him push his. When he stopped, she stopped far enough for him not to notice. She was too busy examining his face, his ways of moving, his hair, his height... far too busy to notice him talking to someone. She frowned and walked closer but from the other side and leaned forward a bit and saw Molly Weasley pointing at who she guessed was Ron. She smiled when she saw little Ginny turn to look at her and wave with a cute grin. Emmeline pressed her index finger against her lips and whispered, ''Shh!'' while winking at Ginny, who put her hand on her lips and laughed silently. Emmeline watched Ginny turn just in time and wish Harry good luck. Emmeline looked at Harry immediately and watched how nervous and anxious he looked.
Harry started to walk to the barrier quickly. He started leaning into it and just as he reached to the barrier, he disappeared. He had crossed. It was when he was no longer there that Emmeline noticed she had been holding her breath. She sighed in huge relief.
''Oh, dear! What are you doing here? I thought you would be in the train long ago!'' she heard Molly call after her and looked up with the same smile she had been wearing.
''I just had to-'' she stopped herself quick enough when she saw Ron's confused frown. He was now old enough to remember every conversation his mum had with anyone, especially with a girl that was Fred and George's 'friend'. ''I forgot to wake up early enough''
''Good thing you made it in time'' smiled Molly.
''Where are Bill and Charlie?'' she asked, noticing their absence.
''I thought they'd have told you,'' admitted Molly, surprised.
''Tell me what?''
''Bill's in Africa doing some work for Gringotts and Charlie is in Romania—''
''Studying dragons, right! Bill owled me before he left and Charlie told me before leaving Hogwarts. I've had so much to do this summer I forgot'' she chuckled.
''It's alright, dear'' Molly smiled and turned to Ron and said, ''Ron, you next''
Emmeline, Molly and Ginny watched Ron cross the barrier with his eyes shut so tight he might just get a headache later.. Emmeline stood there, unable to move. Her eyes fixed on the solid barrier. Soon, probably right after she crossed it, she'd be able to see him closer, to talk to him, to see him smile, laugh, and so much more she just couldn't imagine. She looked down at her watch and laughed at her own self. It was seven minutes for the Hogwarts Express to leave. She pushed her cart effortlessly and passed the barrier, Ginny and Molly waving from where they stood.
''Harry Potter,'' Ginny shouted not so far from where Emmeline stood. Her things were already inside an empty compartment and she stood on the corridor, near the end of the train. She glanced to the compartment where Harry sat leaning back from the window and hesitated to knock and walk inside until—
''Em!'' Katie's loud voice came from behind, making Emmeline jump and almost scream, but her hands clasped her mouth just in time.
''Jesus, Kate! You're going to kill me one day doing that'' she whispered hurriedly.
''Why the hushing?'' she mocked Emmeline's whispering. Emmeline hit her arm playfully and chuckled. ''What you doing, anyway?''
''Nothing, I er-'' she looked down the corridor and to the compartment where Harry was. The train had started moving. She saw Ron looking through compartment with a frustrated face. Emmeline pushed Katie into the compartment where her things where; the one right next to Harry's. The door closed itself quickly and the blinds went down. Katie raised an eyebrow at her and crossed her arms while plopping down. ''What?'' asked Emmeline.
''You get weirder over summer, Em''
''Talking about summer, how was yours?''
Katie leaned back in her seat and placed her hands dramatically on her chest and her mouth, ''Did you just ask someone how their summer was? Did you just ask me?'' she mocked a gasp and slammed her hand on Emmeline's forehead. ''You must be on your deathseat!''
''I'm being nice for once in my life and that's your reaction?'' laughed Emmeline.
The door was slammed open, ''Here are my-'' Angeline stopped abruptly when she was Emmeline's bright smile and frowned. ''Merlin, Kate, what herbs did you slip her?'' Emmeline smiled up at her with her teeth showing exaggeratedly.
''Who's drugging who?'' Alicia came from behind and walked inside, sitting next to Katie. ''That answers it'' she raised her eyebrow at Emmeline and laughed.
''You should appreciate and enjoy my mood instead of criticizing it, you know'' she said as Angelina closed the door and sat down cross-legged next to her.
''You are right, but I can't help but question it'' said Katie.
''Yeah, what's up, Em? Anything we're to know?'' winked Angelina, making Alicia and Katie start laughing and Emmeline roll her eyes.
''I'm barely thirteen for what you might just be implying, Angie''
''We're turning fourteen soon, though. It's never too early, Em''
''How was your summer?'' asked Emmeline, avoiding the subject.
''Jesus, Kate, what herbs are those?'' asked Alicia with a frown.
''Screw you! I'm being nice for a change!'' laughed Emmeline.
''A very unusual one'' teased Angelina.
The girls continued their jokes and laughter and, even through the non-stop teases, Emmeline didn't stop smiling. She knew very well what made her mood change. Seeing Harry for once and for all definitely had lightened her mood. The woman from the trolley had walked by and the girls bought their sweets. Angelina had stretched her legs all the way to the other seat while Alicia did the same. Katie sat upside down and Emmeline ate with her back against the wall, her legs crossed and her sweets going down her throat without her having to move a single finger.
''Either that's one suicidal frog or you've put an enchantment to it,'' said Angelina, curiously watching the chocolate frog jumping to Emmeline's mouth and being crushed to pieces.
''I didn't move'' mumbled Emmeline as she ate.
''I never knew you did wandless magic,'' frowned Alicia. ''Is it hard?''
Emmeline swallowed and sighed. ''No, it's anything but hard. I've known for... as long as I can remember. It's no big deal'' she shrugged.
''I know very few wizards that practice it; all of them close to Dumbledore's age... you're the youngest I've known of''
Emmeline rolled her eyes. She knew exactly what Alicia wanted and said, ''Want me to teach you?''
''YES!'' shouted Alicia. Angelina snorted and Katie spit a bean to the floor.
''Bleaaargh! Troll Bogey,'' she said, cleaning her mouth with her sweater's sleeve.
''That's why I never eat those. I have the worst luck and would probably get vomit or farm dirt'' commented Angelina.
''That'd be fun to watch,'' smirked Emmeline. Angelina nudged her rib with her elbow and they laughed. They had a fun time daring each other to try the funny-coloured ones and making the chocolate frogs dance all the way to their mouths. Katie and Alicia tried two beans while Emmeline tried three. When it was Angelina's turn she handed the box back to Katie with a disgusted face and no beans on her hands.
''That's not fair! You have to eat at least two,'' complained Alicia.
''What are you whining about? You got almond and soap!''
''Soap may be clean, but it awful, you know''
''Oh, for Merlin's sake! I got goblin piss, stop complaining and eat!'' said Katie.
''I don't know about you, but I got lucky with strawberry and cinnamon'' smirked Emmeline.
''See? It's not fair, she got the best ones! I'm left with the worst!'' Angelina crossed her arms and scowled at Emmeline.
''Hey, I had spinach too!''
''Big deal, there's probably dirty sock and tripe left and I don't want to eat that''
''Oh, but you will,'' Emmeline's smirk grew bigger.
''No, Em, don't you dare—''
It had been too late. Two beans went from the box the Angelina's mouth. She coughed and tried spit it but instead started chewing with a repulsed expression. Alicia was looking at her amazed at how simple wandless magic looked while Katie threw her head back, laughing. Once Angelina swallowed she shivered and glared at Emmeline.
''Did you know that Lemon and Ketchup aren't good friends?''
The girls roared with laughter while Angelina muttered how they should sell drinks in the trolley. Just when they started to eat again, the compartment door slid open and a round-faced first year came in looking tearful and sad. ''Sorry t-to interrupt, but have you seen a toad at all?''
Emmeline looked up at him curiously and said nothing, but simply gaped, worried. ''Sorry, but no, we haven't'' she heard Katie answer him.
The boy sighed deeply and said, ''Well, thanks. If you see him... um'' and he left abruptly.
''Poor kid, looks destroyed by his missing toad'' said Angelina.
''It's been a while since I've heard of anyone with a toad'' said Alicia.
''Talking about kids, I forgot to ask you guys,'' Katie said all of the sudden and leaned forward to them. ''Have you heard? Harry Potter's somewhere around here!''
Emmeline's gaze fell back to Katie immediately.
''Harry Potter?'' gasped Alicia.
''You don't mean the Harry Potter?'' asked Angelina.
Katie rolled her eyes and said, ''Of course it's that Harry Potter, how many of those have you heard of?''
The compartment door was slid open once again, but this time instead of being only the missing toad kid, a girl wearing her Hogwarts robes was with him. ''Have you seen a toad? Neville's lost his,'' she said in a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and a sort of big large front teeth.
''We told him we haven't—'' started Angelina.
''Neville?'' asked Emmeline with her eyes widened; gaining frowns from the girls and a confused look from the boy. Her heart started beating fast, jumping, and twisting almost as much as it had when she had seen Harry. Could it be? She wondered. ''Neville Longbottom?'' It all seemed like a coincidence, but then she thought of it more. It all sort of clicked. They had been supposed to be in the same year. And there they were... on the same train she was in.
''Yes?'' the boy asked. ''You've seen my toad?'' he asked excitedly, but his momentary happiness faded when she shook her head.
''No, sorry'' she mumbled, pressing her back against the wall and watching Neville carefully.
''Alright then, thanks'' said the girl, who turned to leave but immediately stopped herself and looked at them all. ''I'm Hermione Granger, by the way''
Neville looked at Emmeline with a tiny frown on his face as the girls introduced themselves. When he heard her say, ''Emmeline Warmsley'' he grinned side-ways to her and then left quickly with Hermione. Emmeline sat staring down at her Pumpkin Pasties but did not eat one. All hunger had been washed away by seeing that boy and the mention of Harry once again. It was nothing related to feeling disgusted or repulsed. On the contrary, she was happy, nervous, anxious, and excited. Angelina nudged her ribs, making her realize they were almost at Hogwarts, which made her stomach twist a bit more and her heart leap in joy. It wouldn't be long until he was sorted. But where would he be sorted? She wondered. Anywhere but Slytherin, she was sure. She knew he was smart, she knew he was brave, and she knew he was loyal and just. But where would he be sorted?
The answer was simple, but she kept it as an excuse of thinking of Harry. He looked so much like him from afar. And Neville. She couldn't imagine her luck. She'd be meeting them both this year. It surely was going to be incredible from now on. But, how would she approach them? If they were sorted into Gryffindor, she'd be seeing a lot of them. But what if they were sorted into different Houses? She'd barely see them. At the Great Hall, the corridors, the feasts... Almost never. The thought of it made her skin turn paler than the usual.
People outside had been racing up and down the corridors when they arrived at Hogsmeade. Emmeline pushed her way through the crowd and almost fell back twice by two second years that raced their way out of the train. Finally, when she got out, she looked around desperately for Harry before he got into the boats. Just for her luck, she spotted Hagrid and tried to reach him. But yet again, her luck wasn't so great by then, for someone had gotten a grab on from her sleeve and turned her around.
''Weasley, I've not time for jokes,'' she groaned when he wouldn't let go from her arm.
''See, George? Katie was only joking. This one would never be in a good mood,'' said Fred, letting go of Emmeline's arm and looking from his twin to her.
''You're right, Fred. But then remember it's us she's talking to,'' said George as they started walking with her.
''True. She'd never be in a good mood when with us, right, Warmsley?''
She sighed when she saw Hagrid, Neville, or Harry nowhere in sight and let herself be walked to a carriage with Fred and George. Her head was spinning, her heart was hammering, her stomach was dancing, and her feet and hands tapping against the long table and floor while the hat sang its song. Everything had moved around her so fast she barely noticed; her whole concentration on seeing Harry and Neville, talking to them, and see them get sorted into the House they belonged. When the Hat started shouting out the names of the Houses while on different heads, she became more anxious by the second. She grinned briefly to Lavender Brown, who had become the first one in Gryffindor, and her focus stayed on the sorting hat; waiting for those two boys to finally appear. She hadn't notice the strange looks she got from her friends. Not only for her behaviour, but because she had absent-mindedly sat next to Fred, leaving empty spaces everywhere else.
The brown-haired girl that had been searching for Neville's toad with him was sorted into Gryffindor and Emmeline caught herself smiling at the little girl, who sat just across from her. ''Welcome to Gryffindor!'' she found herself saying to her with a bright smile. Though it didn't last long. As soon as 'Longbottom, Neville' was called, her neck almost broke from how fast she turned her head to face the hat. She held her breath, a knot tightening on her throat. The hat took far too long and she was growing anxious. It all went away when the hat finally shouted, ''GRYFFINDOR!''
She laughed along with the rest of the Gryffindors when Neville ran off happily with the hat on and had to go back and give it back. Neville sat next to Hermione and smiled at everyone else. Emmeline looked at him with a beaming smile and Neville laughed from how excited he was. ''Feeling good, Neville?'' she asked him.
''Never been so happy before'' he said timidly, yet his happiness and excitement was noticeable.
''Did you find your toad?''
She only knew the answer was yes because of his nodding because of the noise that came shortly after she spoke. ''Malfoy, Draco!'' was followed by loud claps and screams from the Slytherin table, making it impossible for anyone to listen to anything else. She moved her head slowly to look up to a platinum blond little boy that swaggered his way forward and sat on the stool. Her lips parted and she stared at him.
''He's just like them...'' she mumbled to herself right after the hat sorted him into Slytherin.
''Who to whom?'' asked Fred leaning forward to hear her better.
''Er- no one'' she lied and turned back to stare at the hat. He shrugged it off and turned to watch the sorting. Emmeline sat petrified on her seat, becoming more anxious by the second. It was taking too long; she'd probably go up there and slam the hat into Harry's head herself. Her patience had started to run out when the hat called him forward. The hushing and whispering started at once, but she did not mind it. Fred, who had both of his arms under the table, widened his eyes and looked at her when Emmeline took a hold of his wrist when she could no longer hold all the nervousness inside. She saw, from the corner of her eye, Fred looking at George with his wide eyes, and George frown at him confused. She chose to ignore them and focus entirely on how long the hat took on sorting Harry. Just before it said one word, Emmeline felt Fred move his hand and take a hold of hers, but it wasn't long before she let go of him and jump from her seat and shouted, ''YES!'' when the sorting hat shouted, ''GRYFFINDOR!''
It was the loudest cheer she'd ever heard in any sorting, probably the loudest Dumbledore had. Half the table had stood up, cheered, and clapped. Fred and George started chanting, ''We got Potter! We got Potter!'', Percy had stood up and shook Harry's hand vigorously. She kept on clapping even when she sat down. It was when everyone stopped cheering and went back to watch the sorting that she noticed how he had sat right next to her. She failed to hide her smile at this and couldn't stop looking at Harry. The boy must've felt the gaze and looked up to her, a grin covering his lips. Just by that look he gave her, made her forget that Ron was being sorted.
Her eyes.