The Reckoning of Emmie MacKenzie

To Hogsmeade We Go

Emmie couldn't help but smile as she walked down the main street in Hogsmeade, half paying attention to the conversation that Kara, Melanie and Toni were currently engaged in. There was something about being in the village that always cheered her up. She heard Toni and Melanie list off several names and assumed they must be checking out all the various eligible blokes from other houses now that everyone was milling around the town in something other than their house robes.

They had just spent what felt like forever in Honeydukes as the three were painfully slow at making their selections. Emmie always got the same thing - an incredibly large amount of various chocolate - therefore was done much faster than they had been. She was hoping to convince the others to go by the bookshop, but from the looks of it, they were steering her towards The Three Broomsticks.

She couldn't help but window gaze as they passed the quidditch supply shop. Thanks to her da and brother, she didn't need anything, but she still loved to browse through the brooms.

"No! No quidditch today!" Melanie shouted, catching Emmie staring.

"I wasnae about to go in," she retorted.

"Good," Melanie said with a nod of her head.

"I already have all the equipment I need, anyway," Emmie added. "Between Da and Alex."

"How is your brother? Noticed you got a letter from him," Toni asked.

"About the same. Season's started up so he's busy with practice and matches. They won the other day against Pride of Portee," Emmie said. "Hoping to catch the next one on the wireless."

"How's his girlfriend?" Kara asked, smirking slightly as Melanie and Toni's faces fell slightly.

"Good, I suppose," Emmie said. "Didnae really mention her much..." The two started smiling slightly. "Though suspect I'll see her durin' Christmas break. Alex'll be home and she's sure to pop over." They frowned again.

"Speaking of brothers and girlfriends, isn't that Karl with what's-her-name?" Melanie asked, pointing ahead of them. The group came to a stop as Kara looked over, the surprise apparent on her face as they watched her twin walking hand-in-hand with another sixth year Ravenclaw.

"Hmm, what do you know? He does have social skills," Kara commented. "He didn't even mention her over the summer..."

"Love is in the air," Melanie said dramatically as she swung an arm around Emmie's shoulders. "First, Karl and then soon Emmie here will be united with her one true love-"

"Shut it!" Emmie hissed as she clamped her hand over Melanie's mouth.

"Reckon that'd be quidditch, if I remember correctly."

All four girls looked over and saw Oliver walking up to them, two of his roommates trailing behind him.

"Aye," Emmie said decidedly. "Quidditch."

Melanie and Toni started giggling as Kara wore an amused smile.

"See ye've already raided Honeydukes. We were just headed to The Broomsticks. Care to join us?" he asked, looking around the group before settling on Emmie again. She just blinked as words once again failed her.

"We'd love to. Just heading there ourselves," Kara said, grinning. He smiled and turned, motioning them to follow.

Emmie forced her feet to move, nearly tripping herself. Oliver slowed his pace so that he was at her side as Melanie and Toni started chatting with Ian and Walter. Kara acted as though she were listening, but really, she was watching Emmie and Oliver.

"See ye've still got yer obsession with chocolate," he said, glancing down at her bag. Emmie looked at it and then back up at him. "Remember Alex was always gettin it for ye by the pound."