Something Wicked This Way Comes

CHAPTER FOUR

I sighed, letting myself ease while I walked with my house back to our dorms. Up the winding moving staircase we went and before long we reached the door with barrels outside to the side against the wall. I stepped forward, and began to tap on the barrels in a beat of "Helga Hufflepuff," Oh I hoped I got it right, there were a few times before I mucked it up and made a fool of myself. Once before I had made the mistake and locking us out of the dorms for an hour and a half. I heard a click and the door creaked open, and I sighed, "Home sweet home..."

I heard the patter of footsteps approaching quickly and getting louder as they grew quicker. I could only guess it was the other Hufflepuffs that were in the choir. I glanced behind my shoulder and saw Amelia rush up beside me, "I'm terribly sorry I'm late! We just got done with Professor Flitwick!" I chuckled as we walked through the door into the gold, and brown homely room. With a few bookcases to the left and right, a fireplace in the middle, which lit upon entry, and a few tables scattered around with cozy wooden chairs with fluffed-up cushions, it truly felt like home in this room. We all gained entry and the prefect began telling the new students where the boys' and girls' dorm rooms and laboratories were (standard procedure mind you), while me, Amelia, Jonathan, and Ellie (also a part of the group and our best friends) went over to the large fireplace and sat down on the yellow couch, its space filled with pillows. Just the walk up there was ache-inducing enough, but coupled with my train ride... I shuddered, I didn't even wish to think about it.

Amelia, elegant as ever, ripped her shoes off and groaned, tossing them to the side as she rubbed her feet, "I will not miss those stairs when we leave!" she cried out. I shook my head with an amused smile. Jonathan chuckled and rested his arms on the back of the couch on either side of me and Amelia, "You and me both Amie..."

Ellie curled up in a small chair nearby that matched the couch, "I don't know, I think we will," She shrugged slowly, she always took her time with her movements. Honestly, with her attitude, you would never have thought she would be a Hufflepuff, but stranger things had occurred before. I nodded, "Honestly, I have to agree..."

Amelia rolled her eyes, "You two are sentimental fools!" Not as sentimental as she thought as I dreaded what the future would look like. I couldn't just stay home with my 'dearest' mommy and daddy.

"Speaking of, what's everyone's plan for afterward?" Of course John... you had to ask. I clenched my arms around my knee, tugging it a bit closer to my torso, I didn't want my feet touching the ground right now. I was already playing the mental game of "The Floor is Lava", I didn't need to play the social one too.

"I'm planning on opening up a bakery!" Amelia smiled cheerfully, "But.." She spoke dramatically, her hands moving theatrically with a flourished wave, "It'll be filled with books!" John ooh'd, "That's a good answer," He nodded to Ellie, "What about you El?"

She shrugged and played with the patterns on the arm of the chair, "I think I'll maybe become an Auror..." I nod, it made sense to me. Not to John, "An Auror? You?"

She nodded slowly, "Why not?"

He shook his head and gave a shrug, "It just wasn't something I saw you doing I guess... you don't seem to be the type to sit and do paperwork."

I rolled my eyes, of course he only saw the paperwork that went along with it, "There's more to it than a desk, yes it comes with paperwork, but there are also types of Aurors. Some who work more in the field rather than in an office."

He nodded, "True... I didn't think of that..." Hopefully, that would sate- "What about you Oz?" Fuck... I sighed, of course, he asked me, why do I put myself in these situations. I shrugged, "I don't know..." Note, I didn't mean to sound so disgruntled, but that question was a thorn in my side, and it was getting deeper every second I thought of what the future held.

This seems to grab everyone's attention, even Ellie's. John sat forward, "You don't know?"

"What about your dream to work as a lawyer?" Amelia asked with a shocked expression. Oh yeah, that dream. The same one that was crushed to oblivion last spring when I got a letter from my folks, "Mum and Dad said it would be too hard to accomplish...They said I'd never make it," I muttered. They all groaned in their ways. Amelia sat forward and put a hand on my knee, "Oz... you can't listen to them...

"They're batshit crazy!" Ellie sat forward with a growl. She especially hated them and wasn't afraid to show that. I shook my head and muttered, "Maybe they're not..."

Amelia took my hand in hers and her face turned to a stony-firm one, "Ozwald Emerson," Oh I did it now... "They are insane! They treat you like crap! You don't deserve that!" I gulped and looked down at my lap, staying silent. She muttered, "Ozzie... what happened this summer, you barely sent any letters..."

Too much happened... I shook my head, "My father showed me who he truly was..." Her eyes widened, "Your dad?!" I nod, I couldn't even bear to think of it. It all happened too quickly and there was too much to cover. Every time I even thought about what happened I felt my insides twist, "Yeah... I um... I'd rather not talk about that..."

John and Ellie gave each other a concerned stare, and Amelia was always good at sensing when to back away. She went back to her perky self, smiling as she squeezed my hand, "Well, it's getting to be a bit late! We should head to bed, tomorrow is our first official day!"

We all listened to her, the mother hen she was, and mother always knows best. John and I went to our dorms, and Ellie and Amelia went off in their own direction. As I settled down into the bed I could have sworn I heard dogs howling in the distance.