The road to freedom

:Answer to anonymous reviews

Dragonrider: Yes, what Emily will do to avoid the love potion, the answer will be in this chapter. I'm not going to spoil it here. Thanks for the review!

Hedwig301: I will write a flashback of the first time she learned that her... friends were fake. I can only say that Neville will have a pretty big role in it (because he is my favorite character hihi), but I do not know if I will write that scene in this chapter or not. I will try to do it so it hangs Together. Thanks for your review!

Guest: Of course, Emily have many plans in progress. I'm so glad you're looking forward to read about them. :D Oh, and her boyfriend will not be revealed... yet. You all have to wait a few more chapters. But I can say these, there's a little clue about him in the previous chapter. And who knows, ;) maybe there will be some more clues in the future. Thanks for your review!

Thanks again to everyone else who has reviewed. I respond to your reviews in a PM if you are not anonymous/guests.

-X-

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AN: I know it's been a long while, and I'm so sorry for that. But I simply have not had much time to write because it has been a lot of work in school. Besides, I've been sick a lot so have had to make up for things I have missed. Assignments, tests, presentations, etc, etc, etc. And I still have some things left. So unfortunately, this story has had to be moved to the bottom of the priority list. But I have good news! In three weeks I will get summer break, so then I will have time to write much more and probably update often.

I want to thank everyone who has followed, Reviewed and favored this story. It is really appreciated and made me happy and motivated to keep writing. But anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Warning: female Harry, much Dumbledore, Hermione and Weasley bashing. This chapter has olso extra bashing for an OC character.

~OoOoOo~

Chapter 2: Preparation for escape

Molly Weasley was happy.

She had just finished baking her delicious syrup pies which she intended to send away to her children on Hogwarts, including Hermione and Emily.

Speaking of Emily, she would get a little "surprise" this year, but without her knowledge, of course.

Molly had namely put a few drops of a special love potion in Emily's pies.

But the love potion that Molly was using right now was not so strong.

Unlike amortentia, this love potion would not have an immediate effect.

Instead, it would evoke emotions at a slower pace. this potion had been banned in 1807, after it was discovered that a man, Perseus Prewett, had used it to force a woman to marry him. The woman was very beautiful and came from a fairly respectable and a rich pure blood family. She was actually engaged to another man she liked. But one day Perseus managed to cast the imperius curse on her. So she was forced to cancel the engagement and leave everything that was dear to her behind. Thus, the poor woman was under duress all the time, both with the help of imperius and the special love potion. It was not until several years later, when Perseus was away on a business trip, that she began to deteriorate sharply. A very worried house elf had quickly taken his mistress to St. Mungos for help. So healers were called, an examination was done on the woman. Perseus was arrested, forced to remove the curse on Eleanor. Because the potion must be given regularly for it to work, it eventually became very stressful for the body. It can be compared with a blood quill. The first few times it has almost no effect at all, except that it can feel like a small sting in the skin. But the more it is used, the more difficult it becomes to heal the wounds and to stop the blood flow. Now when Eleanor was free from imperius and had her free will back, the healers told her everything with real evidence that included all the spells, hexes, potions and everything her husband admitted during veritaserum that had been recorded with a truthfulquick quote quill. Unfortunately, she died shortly after because her body had been so badly damaged by the potion. No potion master or mistress could have found any antidote either because the potion was not known before and had not been studied. But just before she died, Eleanor had expressed her last and only wish in front of healers, some trustedreporters from theDaily Prophet and her lover who she was engaged to from the beginning. "I, Eleanor Elizabeth Fawley, here now ask Lady magic to give the fairest punishment for all his other evil deeds and sins that he has committed. Revenge on the lives of all the people he has threatened or destroyed. May his hole family, descendants, heirs both in blood and body or blood adoptees be unblessed. May also ^^*&$**^%**&&#$ burn in hell so that he can never again ruin someone else's life as he did with mine" She spat out and used her last strength. but anything that could help destroy that %*&$^^#*#$'& bastard was worth it according to her.

Who would not want to be the first to report on such a tragic but still full-blown story. So Perseus was sent to Azkaban for the rest of his life, the name Prewett was slandered, spit on and dragged through the mud by almost everyone. The family's rumors were completely destroyed until they lost all allies and this has been the case ever since. And the rest was history.

Although Molly anted to use Amortentia for a faster result, she knew it would be suspicious if Emily just started getting feelings for Ron from nowhere so she had to be careful. Molly was sure that Ron and Emily would be together before the summer. And if they did not, well, then she would take other measures. Albus and she had long ago signed a marriage contract so Molly was not worried at all. She was convinced that it would only have good consequences. Her loved Ronnie would get one of the most famous and richest witches and everything he wished that Molly or her #*%**&^%& incompetent, naive husband could not give him. Now everything would be compensated. Molly got a happy smile on her face when she thought about how much money, prestige and respect she and her family would have access to in the near future. They might even take that $&%**%#% *%#& Malfoy's place, that Molly thought was scum and deserved no respect at all. It was really unfair that Weasleys who were such good, noble, helpful, loving and caring people had no respect, money or influence. But no matter what, Molly knew they had the greatest wizard since Merlin on their side and he had promised that they would get the rewards they deserved. After she sent the syrup pies with Ron's owl, Piggy, she made a cup of tea for herself. She sat in the living room where she enthusiastically waited to listen to Celestina Warbeck's new album live on Wizarding Wireless.

-X-

It was afternoon and Emily was sitting in her dormitory, which was currently empty. She was currently sitting and waiting for a letter from Gringotts that Dobby would take to her. Since all incoming and outgoing mail to Hogwarts was checked, by who one can guess, Emily had to receive the letter in secret and without anyone else noticing. Ron and Hermione, or the weasel and know-it-all as she called them in her mind, were apparently on a prefect patrol. But she knew better. A look at the marauders map showed that both were on their way to Dumbledore's office. She had no doubt that they would report everything she has done or said. If Ron and Hermione had been given the opportunity to read her thoughts without her knowing about it, she was sure they would report her thoughts as well. She thought back to the time she got it confirmed that her friends were fake. It was on the third year.

~~Flashback to the third year~~

It was Saturday and it had been four days since Sirius Black had broken into Hogwarts. It was also a Hogsmeade weekend but since she did not have permission from her relatives she could not go. The only one from her year who would not go either was Neville because he had lost a note with the password to Gryffindor's common room, and had therefore been punished by being forbidden to go to Hogsmeade. Emily thought it was really unfair to blame everything on Neville because (1) he did not lost the note on purpose. (2) Even if Neville had not lost it, Black would probably have found another way to break into Gryffindor's common room. When she tried to talk to him about it was Ron, Hermione, Ginny or someone else who tried to stop it or distract her. But since everyone was gone right now, Emily knew she had a chance to talk to him. She found him standing outside Gryffindor's portrait. She told him and said it was not his fault at all as all the Gryffindors said.

"But it's still my fault", he said, "If I had not been so careless, lost the note and...

"No, it's not your fault at all. And even if you did not actually lost it, I'm sure Black had found another way to break in." she tried to convince him.

What do you think he would do to break in otherwise?" he asked nervously.

Emily leaned closer to whisper. "Well, if he's already broken into Hogwarts, which is said to be one of the safest places," she snorted. "What prevents him from breaking into other places? Or follow after a Gryffindor undetected and hear the password. and then... come in at night when everyone is asleep.

"We just have to be careful then." he sighed. They began to discuss that the ministry should have had aurors guarding the school instead of dementors who were so dangerous, especially when there were so many children. "By the way, I'm glad we talked because there's one thing I wanted to... tell you, but have not been able to because we have not... been able to be alone." he said, looked uncertain.

"What is it?" Emily asked, and looked at him curiously.

So he told her he had gone to the bathroom in the middle of the night a few months ago, and when he returned to Gryffindor's common room he heard two people talking. "I heard them say that the next payment would be made soon and that one of them laughed and said he would buy the best broom that would probably make Potter jealous." And then when they turned around and went to the dormitories, he saw that it was Ron and Ginny.

End of flashback~~

–––––

When she now reflected back on that time, she understood that she must have been spelled to ignore some things. For example, it could not be a coincidence that she met Weasleys off the platform before starting her first year. It was just not credible that Molly Weasley did not know the platform number because she has several children at Hogwarts and two others who had already graduated. Everything seems to be arranged by a guess who. She really hated not being able to see or talk much in public with Neville, her boyfriend or her few true friends, Luna Lovegood and Sally-Anne Perks. Luna was a year below her, but in Ravenclaw. She was always called Loony because she believed in strange creatures that did not exist and were just generally... strange. Sally-Anne went the same year as Emily and was in Hufflepuff. She was mocked because she was a muggle born, did not have much money and was outcast. She was really grateful that she met them all. They had one thing in common and when they could meet in secret, they tried to support each other as much as they could. A silent crack was heard and interrupted her thoughts. Dobby had returned with the letter from Gringotts.

"Dobby, did everything go well?" she asked.

"Yes, everything went well, mistress Emily." he replied and handed her the letter which was sealed.

"Thank you Dobby, you have done an excellent job as usual." she said and hugged the little elf.

Dobby got tears of joy and gratefully hugged her back.

"Dobby must go now, Miss Emily, otherwise the other house elves will wonder where Dobby has gone." he said and twisted his hands.

"Of course, Dobby, you should not be here too long." she nodded.

"And say hello to Winky from me."

"Dobby promise to say hello, Miss Emily." he squeaked he and then disapparated away. Emily was very grateful that she had bonded with Dobby and Winky. She had bonded to Dobby during the second year, just after Dobby became free. Then Dobby had gone to the head master and pretended to want to work at Hogwarts because he had nowhere else to work. The head master had accepted and then said he could help keep an eye on Emily Potter and report back to him. And then Dobby was forced to swear not to bond with Emily Potter because she would not feel comfortable with it. But since Dobby was already bonded to Emily, he could truthfully say he would never do it and get away. Luckily, Winky did not have to go through the same thing as Dobby. She imagined Hermione's facial expression if she was told she had house elves. Emily had actually asked Dobby and Winky why you had to bond. The answer was that a house elf could lose her or his magic and not live as long if he/she was not bond to a witch or wizard. he It also strengthens the house elfs' magic if it is a bond. But Emily just knew that even if Hermione heard it from a house elf, she probably would not believe it. She would say they were brainwashed or something. And nothing else would ever convince Hermione Granger. Emily opened the sealed letter and read it.

Lady Potter Black

Since we did not have time to clearly discuss some things last time, I hoped we could do it now. This letter is also a port key that takes you directly to my office. You just need to say Gringotts bank and it will be activated.

Ragnok

Account manager, Gringotts.

Emily cast the tempus spell and saw that it was half an hour until dinner would begin. She quickly grabbed the letter, whispered Gringotts bank and felt a familiar pull.

~OoOoOo~

She ended up for the second time in a very ornate and orderly office.

"Take a seat, Miss Potter." he said and pointed on a chair in front of a table.

"I understand you do not have much time so I I will be fast." he said succinctly.

"I'll start by calling in a goblin healer so you can be examined because you think you've been spelled a lot."

"Yes it is true." she confirmed.

Ragnok pressed a button.

"But while we wait for the healer, I want to discuss a few things. First of all, much of the money that Vernon Dursley illegally received from your trust vault has been returned. One of our contacts managed to give an anonymous tip to the muggle authorities that he has used money. in the wrong way, so he has been arrested."

Emily could not help but imagine her uncle's face when he was revealed.

"What about my aunt and cousin?" she asked.

"Because they were not found guilty, nothing happened. However, we did a discreet investigation as you asked for in the last meeting and got an... interesting result." He continued at her questioning look.

"We found some objects in the house that had quite powerful hate spells aimed at you. But also some very dark wards that impair the development of your magic core and there are some others that we could not identify that we would need the help of unspeakbles."

"I understand, but we must try to find someone neutral, who is not in Dumbledore or Voldemort's pocket." she pointed out.

Ragnok nodded in confirmation.

"The next thing I wondered was how you want to do with the money paid from your vault to Weasleys and Dumbledore?" he asked.

"No, do nothing with them yet, I do not want to risk them being warned that I know it. Wait until my escape." she answered.

"Ah yes, when were you going to make your escape?"

"The day before Christmas." she replied with a wicked grin that promised chaos.

"Very well, did you mention that Dumbledore and his lackeys will be on one of the Black properties in Lodon?"

"Yes, I know you said I could throw everyone out because I'm Lady Black. But I do not think it would have been wise to do so right now and instead wait until all Dumbledore's… deeds are revealed, and then strike when he least suspects it." she told.

"You are very wise, Miss Potter." he smiled, or at least that was a smile for a goblin.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Ragnok said. "Enter."

The door opened and a female healer, with dark hair in an elegant bun, entered.

She introduced herself as healer Artemis and began to investigate Emily.

"It can feel a little uncomfortable at sometimes, but it's not dangerous I can assure you." she added.

After almost ten minutes, she stopped. She looked shocked and angry.

"Never in my entire career have I seen anything like it." she said and looked like she was going to explode at any moment.

She calmed down and her gaze softened a little when she looked at Emily.

"There are many different spells, hexes, charms and even potions.

"Can you list some of them?" asked Emily, despite her suspicions as which they can be, she wanted confirmation.

"Including loyalty potions, guilt spells, potions for ruthlessness, fatigue and even blocks against certain traits such as becoming an animagus, occlumency and a few more. Then you have some damage that is misfired like broken bones." she said and looked serious.

She took a deep breath and continued. "You've become immune to basilisk venom, do you know how it comes?" she asked, and looked up from her long parchment.

And so Emily told briefly about when she fought the basilisk in her second year. And that Fawkes healed the wound that the basilisk did when it bit her.

"I should not be surprised at all that you have been exposed to." sighed Artemis.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to remove most of the spells that are on you because there are trackers on them to make sure to warn when they are removed."

"Yes, I guess we'll have to wait until my escape." said Emily resigned.

She told her escape plan to Artemis who reluctantly agreed.

"Since there are two weeks left until you can put your plan into action, I have a suggestion." said Ragnok, who had otherwise been completely silent.

"Any suggestions that may be helpful are welcome." Emily smiled.

"We at Gringotts can offer protective amulets for a fee, of course. which can warn that certain potions or spells have been added.

"Okay, it sounds good. Is it available to buy now?"

"Yes." Ragnok answered and took out a small box with a ring inside.

"It is invisible to others, but not to the person who wear it."

"Thanks, I'm paying right now."

Then they spent the rest of the time making arrangements about where she would live after her escape. Healer Artemis was also allowed to swear a secrecy vaul, the results of Emily's investigation were saved, archived and a copy was including to be sent to Amelia Bones, who was head of department of magical law enforcement.

~OoOoOo~

There were a few people in the common room and Neville was one of them. Emily made eye contact with him and nodded subtly, which meant she had news later. She continued her way to the great hall and when she sat down at the Gryffindor table she felt someone staring at her from another table. She rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's behavior. She was just about to inspect her safety ring when Ron and Hermione sat down next to her. "Merlin, I'm starving. Reporting to the head girl and the head boy is so strenuous." Ron whined.

"Ronald, we have to be responsible for and make sure that..."

Before Hermione could finish her sentence, a familiar cough was heard in the great hall.

"Hem, hem."

Emily felt like moaning loudly but refrained from doing so.

"Before we enjoy dinner, I have a new decree that I must announce." said Umbridge.

"The new decree, which is decree number 29, means that permission must be granted by the high inquisitor, ie me, to leave the school before the holiday begins. If this decree is not followed, you will be expelled immediately. I will also post this information in every house." she concluded and when she sat down,

she looked even more complacent.

Emily could not in herself care less about the stupid decree.

She would only wait two more weeks and then she would be away from this hell.

Away to a place there were no false friends, controlling old men or sadistic toads.

She could not wait.

…

And… done!

I can not believe that I have written over 3000 words in this chapter. Most of this was actually written unplanned, such as the story behind the potion. But anyway, I'll try not to linger as long until the next chapter. Suggestions and reviews are always welcome.

:)

~Miss P

Last edited: 2022-05-24