The Reckoning of Emmie MacKenzie

Telling Big Brother(s)

Emmie settled into the compartment, watching as the train pulled out of Hogsmeade while noise reigned all around her. Oliver was next to her, talking to Walter and Ian, while Kara, Melanie and Toni were squeezed in across from them. Fincher was standing in the door with Parks and Whitshire, the three of them chatting about the upcoming summer quidditch matches that Oliver and Emmie were planning to catch with the Gryffindors. Both Oliver and Emmie had just received a list of the games they were going to from their brothers the day before and all of the quidditch-obsessed friends in their circle were incredibly jealous.

For a moment, Emmie looked around the group, a small smile coming across her face. It seemed a lifetime had passed since she sat on the train coming in for her sixth year. She had wanted to show herself - and, well, everyone, if she was being honest - that she was no longer the shy, timid girl that she was before. That outside of her outward changes, she had also grown internally as well.

She had accomplished that, she thought to herself. She had stood up for herself and become more assertive. She faced down Flint. She had asked out Cedric. Then broken up with him. She had improved her spell work and grades. She had finally confessed her feelings to Oliver after years of watching him from afar. Not only that, she learned more about herself and what she wanted in life. Happily enough, it seemed Oliver was eager to comply with any of her requests.

And now here she was, heading home for a summer of training and focusing on her next goal - getting scouted during seventh year and joining a team in the Quidditch League. Honestly, after everything else, this felt like it would be infinitely easier.

After all, if she knew anything, it was how to play quidditch.

"What's this about?" Oliver asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

Emmie looked over at him and smiled, noticing that the others were still wrapped up in their various conversations and not paying them any mind.

"Just... thinkin' about the last year," she said. "Seems I've accomplished what I wanted."

"And what's that?" Oliver asked, a twinkle in his eyes. Emmie blushed slightly.

"Just... bein' more confident," she said. "I mean, I suppose I kenned all along that I was stronger than everyone gave me credit for, but... this year I finally realized it."

"Think the others did as well," Oliver replied. "I ken the Hufflepuff team and myself certainly learned that ye can hold yer own." Emmie chuckled as she straightened up slightly.

"Doubt anyone will mess with me next year. Flint included," she said, sticking her nose up slightly.

"I dinnae doubt that at all," Oliver said. "Though, still gonna need that new confidence of yers. We have to tell your brother about us."

Emmie waved her hand in the air, no longer worried about it. If Alex didn't like it, he could sod off for all she cared.

"Details," she said. "Besides, it's no like he'll be there breathin' down our necks all the time. He's fairly busy with the League."

"Though we both very well will be playin' in the League after next year," Oliver said. "Then he'll be around a lot more."

Emmie's eyes widened slightly at that - she hadn't really thought about them as a couple beyond seventh year. Though a nice warm feeling settled in her stomach at the thought of it.

She wasn't sure where they would be after Hogwarts, but it was nice to think that they would still be together. Perhaps they would.

"If you're going to snog, at least give us a warning so we can clear out," Melanie said loudly, causing both of them to whip their heads around to look at her.