Emerson Wilmore was an exemplary Ravenclaw student, known for her unwavering dedication to academics and an unyielding moral compass. However, things took a twisted and deviated turn in her life after her boyfriend, Cedric Diggory, was murdered by L...
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The Room of Requirement buzzed before the meeting even properly began.
Ginny was speaking to Mattheo at the edge of the practice area, and though her tone stayed polite, the whole thing still looked faintly surreal. She was discussing defensive footwork with him and she wasn't even the slightest bit intimidated. Ginny did not exactly fully trust him, not after the many years of him associating himself with those who hated blood traitors and muggleborns but she was trying, and that in itself said something. Mattheo, while answering her, kept looking past her shoulder every few seconds.
Because Emerson was across the room.
Ginny followed his gaze once, and looked back at him with faint amusement. "You're not even pretending to listen properly."
Mattheo's expression stayed flat. "I heard you."
"You heard half of what I said."
"I heard enough."
Ginny snorted and let it go, because there were bigger things to worry about than Mattheo looking at Emerson like his concentration was a personal inconvenience.
Meanwhile, Ariel and Eric were in front of Emerson, both First-Years standing with a seriousness that would have been almost comical if they had not been trying so hard. Emerson held her wand in hand and she looked extremely patient.
"No, not like that," She suggested, correcting Ariel's wrist with two careful fingers. "You're flicking too sharply at the end. Incendio needs more direction than force. Think of it like you're guiding it rather than throwing it."
Ariel nodded as if Emerson just shared some precious secret of the universe. Eric, beside her, was concentrating so hard he looked on the verge of personally apologising to the spell if he got it wrong.
Emerson demonstrated once more. A controlled tongue of blue flames sprang neatly from the end of her wand and lit the nearest practice torch.
"There. Now you try."
Ariel tried first. Her flame came out too fast, and vanished. Eric's came slower, making him look briefly astonished with himself.
Emerson smiled proudly. "Better, both of you. Keep practicing."
The two First-Years moved off together, immediately trying again on their own, Ariel whispering something excitedly to Eric while Eric gripped his wand like this was the most important test of his life.
Olivia drifted to Emerson's side and nudged her lightly with an elbow. "They're not here yet," She murmured.
Emerson glanced around, already knowing who she meant. "Enzo and Elena?"
Olivia sighed impatiently. "Obviously."
Emerson's mouth curved. "They're probably swapping ties again."
