Emerald Waters

Chapter One: September First

September first came this year like it knew I was longing for it all year. I woke up to the sound of the wind blowing and the smell of bacon filling the air in my room. I could hear my father flipping through the newspaper downstairs and my mother rummaging through the kitchen cabinets. I left my bedroom window slightly open last night because there was a slight chill in the air and now it was giving me goosebumps.

I sat up in bed and turned on the lamp on my nightstand. It was still dark outside but the sun had just began to rise. I got up, put my slippers on, wrapped my robe around my body, and shut the window. I looked around at my room that I wouldn't see again until Christmas break. I took a deep breath. Although I have done this every year for the last three years, my fourth year at Hogwarts seemed to come too quickly and I knew my years in school were going to come to an end in the next three years. The thought of not being at Hogwarts with my friends made me shutter. I pushed aside my thoughts and decided I couldn't let that longing feeling that I was getting older stop me from enjoying right now.

I dressed in my robes with my house tie on and made my way downstairs to the kitchen. My father looked up from his newspaper "good morning Juliette. How did you sleep?"

"Good" I mumbled. I wasn't really a morning person. Both of my parents were always up at the crack of dawn and I never understood why. My mother put a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of me. "Eat up! You have a long day ahead of you!"

Our home in London was a short ride to Kings Cross Station but the train ride to Hogwarts was long. However, with all the commotion of seeing friends we haven't seen all summer, it does go quickly enough.

"I have something for you" my father said proudly as he slid a brown paper back crumpled up across the table. I giggled "what is this?" I asked, fumbling with the bag and trying to open it. I finally managed to get it open and I pulled out a Gryffindor winter hat, gloves, and a chocolate frog. I grinned at my father who was looking at me with admiration. "I picked them up in Diagon Alley, we are supposed to have a harsh winter. I wanted to make sure you don't freeze." I put the hat on my head and tried the gloves on "I love them, thank you" I got up to give him a hug.

I was a Gryffindor through and through. My parents were so proud as Gryffindors themselves. The sorting hat was on my head for merely a second before it shouted "Gryffindor!".

My older brother Graham was sorted into Slytherin when he was eleven. My parents weren't shocked as my brother idolized our Uncle Everette, my mothers brother. Uncle Everette was a decorated Slytherin and while attending Hogwarts, he lead the winning of his Quidditch team 3 years in a row when he was captain.

Graham was in his final year of Hogwarts and had gone earlier this morning with his Slytherin friends to grab breakfast in London. Graham had the same deep brown eyes as I did but my hair was chocolate brown and wavy and his hair was jet black with curls. He was tall and muscular and his jawline was always tight like he was angry about something. Although he was never really angry, I think he just liked giving the persona as being mysterious.

I ate my breakfast and packed the winter hat and gloves in my bag. I tied my shoes and went around the house looking for Willow. Willow was my gift when I was eleven and boarded the Hogwarts Express. My mother had handed me Willow's carrier right as she put me on the train and kissed me goodbye. Willow was the best surprise and quite the companion at school. Willow was right where I thought she would be, in the sunniest spot in the house. She was laying on her back with her belly straight up in the air. Willows black fur was warm to the touch and her bright green cat eyes looked up at me and she let out a long meow. "Yes Willow its time to go back to Hogwarts, you better hurry up before I leave without you". Willow sprung up and gave a big stretch. She climbed into the carrier and purred the whole way to the car.

We arrived at Kings Cross Station a while later. The sun was still rising but bright as can be. My father helped me with my bags and handed them to my brother Graham as I boarded the train. Although Graham had a tough exterior, he always watched out for me. The role of protective older brother was made for him. He would joke with me that he wanted a list of all the students I wanted hexed.

I blew my mother and father a kiss and Graham helped me find my seat with my friends. Willow was meowing like mad when we were walking through to aisles. She is a needy cat and wanted to say hello to everyone. I ignored her until I found my seat next to Ginny Weasley.

I gave Ginny a big hug and she squeezed me back. "How was your summer!?" She exclaimed as she helped me pull my bags into the car. Graham gave me a wave goodbye and went on his way. "It was too long! How about yours?" I said as I opened Willow's carrier. "Good! We just went to the Quidditch World Cup, which was amazing until all hell broke loose at the camp". My eyes widened, "I heard about that.. we had to leave the game early because my mom had a bad box or fish n' chips.." I laughed "but we were lucky she did!" Ginny went on to tell me all about how they had to flee and how her parents are so worried.

The one who must not be named and his death eaters wreaked havoc after the world cup in the camp where wizards and witches were celebrating the game. A man had lit up the sky with the dark mark to symbolize that the one who must not be named had returned. It was all anyone could talk about.

Ginny took a deep breath, "Im so worried about Harry." Ginny fancies Harry Potter, who was good friends with her brother Ron Weasley. "I know but he will be okay, he's stronger than we know". I said, trying to make her feel better. She nodded, looked out the window, and continued petting Willow who was nestling in her lap.

Ginny and I talked a lot and ate treats from the trolley and our fellow Gryffindor friends Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom joined us halfway through the train ride. I decided I needed to get up to stretch my legs as we were nearing closer to Hogwarts. I made my way to the back of the train where the Slytherins were sitting to ask Graham if he had remembered to bring his Polaroid camera as I wanted to borrow it for a bit.

As I neared the end of the train, Draco Malfoy had looked up from his seat. Draco was a Slytherin boy who had a sour attitude about pretty much everyone who wasn't him or his mother and father. He stared up at me and moved his blonde hair out of his face. "Can I help you Monroe?" He said nastily like he had no idea what I was doing this far back in the train.

I looked at him coldly. "I don't need your help". He looked at me surprised and was about to stand up when Graham made his way towards me from the very back of the train. He looked at me and looked at Malfoy and then back at me waiting for me to say something. "Can I have the Polaroid camera?" I asked quietly. Graham could tell I was uncomfortable. He reached in his pocket and handed it to me. I could hear Malfoy muttering under his breath. "Gryffindors don't belong here so run a long" he mumbled. Just then Graham hit Malfoy on the back of his head. "My sister can go where she pleases." Graham spat down at him, he was already losing his patience. My eyes widened and I smiled at Malfoy who was so flustered. "My.. my father will-" "your father will hear about this.. yeah I know, tell him I said hello" Graham muttered back at Malfoy while turning to go back to his seat. Graham muttered one more thing before he was back in his seat "disrespect my sister again and that will be the last thing you ever say to your father".

I walked back to my seat giggling to myself. Stupid Malfoy.. Thinking he could disrespect me. I was proud to be a Gryffindor. Proud to be a Monroe. I was proud that my brother protected me despite our differences. Although some piece of me wished I'd known what Malfoy was feeling. He must have a lot of issues at home. His parents Lucius and Narcissa were obviously supporters of you know who. Everyone knew that even if they didn't come right out and say it. Malfoy was their only child and I could imagine they had put pressure on him from a young age to follow in their footsteps. Im not so sure he really had much of a choice. However, I knew because of my brother that all Slytherin's were not "evil" as some of my fellow Gryffindors believed to be true. I knew they had a side of them that people didn't understand. I wondered as I went back to my seat what I didn't understand about Malfoy. I decided I probably would never find out as the train came to a slow and we were nearing the station.

I got back to my seat and carried Willow who was fast asleep in Ginny's lap into her carrier and zipped her up. I grabbed my bags and we all headed out of the train once it came to a complete stop. As soon as I stepped out on the pavement I could smell the forest trees and that chill was back in the air from last night. I could see Hogwarts across the lake lighting up the night sky. The moon was shining full and bright. I snapped a photo of the castle with the Polaroid and my fourth year at Hogwarts was just about to begin.