The Reckoning of Emmie MacKenzie

Juggling Act

Emmie was humming to herself as she looked over her transfiguration book at breakfast that morning. It had been a couple days since the Hufflepuff match and she was still in high spirits from the win.

"Just what has you in such a good mood?" Kara asked, sitting across from her. "We do have potions today. And defense against the dark arts."

"Still happy about the match," Emmie said, looking up at her.

"Sure it has nothing to do with a certain seeker?" Kara asked casually as she started filling her plate. Emmie just shrugged as a small smile played across her face.

"Maybe," she admitted. Kara paused and looked over at her.

"Exactly what is going on there?" she asked. "I thought you were all about Wood? Didn't he pretty much confess that he wanted to kiss you?"

"Aye, well... it's no like he's asked me out yet, in it no?" Emmie replied. "And there's nothin' wrong with talkin' to Cedric. I am still single."

"True," Kara said, watching closely Emmie as she continued to fill her plate.

She knew she only had a short amount of time before Melanie and Toni showed up and Emmie closed up. While they were all friends, Emmie tended to save information such as this for when she was alone with Kara, knowing that Melanie and Toni spoke too loudly for their own good, even if they didn't intend for others to overhear.

"Though for now, I'm still no completely sure I want to date either," Emmie said lightly as she shut her book. Kara raised an eyebrow at her. "Seriously, Kara."

"I know. I am the one who agreed you didn't need to date if you didn't want to," she replied. Emmie nodded. "But I am curious as to how you truly feel about all this."

Emmie sighed and dropped her chin in her hand.

"Dunno, really. It's all a bit new... the idea that the bloke I've fancied for so long could possibly fancy me as well," she said. "And then there's Cedric..."

"He's made it clear that he does fancy you," Kara said. "Won't be long before he asks you to Hogsmeade again. What will you do?"

Emmie scrunched her face up slightly. She wasn't sure, to be honest. She still very much fancied Oliver. But she was also started to develop something a bit more for Cedric. And she felt closer to Cedric despite knowing Oliver longer. Perhaps it was because they were in the same house and on the quidditch team and therefore spent more time together.

What if one or both of them asked her out? Who would she choose? Would she choose either?

And then there was Flint.

Emmie looked over, seeing him seated at the Slytherin table. He was looking at her and once he noticed her gaze, he smiled and winked at her. She quickly turned back to the table, looking down at her plate with a frown.

"What was that?" Kara asked, turning to figure out what Emmie had been staring at.

"Nothin'," she said quickly. "Just Flint."

"He hasn't been giving you a difficult time, has he?" Kara asked, wondering if he had managed to find a way to harass her when they weren't around.

Emmie sighed and looked at her best friend, figuring it was about time she came clean. Kara would figure it out regardless.

"No," she said. "But... there's a bit more to that than I've let on."

Kara frowned, worried immediately etched in her face.

"What is it?" she asked, leaning towards her.

"Just... well... so the night that I walked out of our patrol..." she started.