A Pint-sized Point of View

the Hogwart's Express

(Author’s note: Many scenes in this chapter contain either direct quotes from POA, or closely paraphrased ones.)

Walking around Hogwarts was way too cool. Emma’s dad wouldn’t let her go outside since she was still in trouble for sneaking out yesterday, but the inside of the castle was so impressive that she didn’t feel as if she was missing out. She marveled over how smooth the stone on the floor was while the stone on the walls was rougher and bumpy. The ceilings were so high, she imagined a full grown giant would feel perfectly at home under them.

A ghost with a curly mustache and an old, puffy tunic came floating through the wall. “Good day to you Mr. Lupin. And who is this young lady?”

Her dad smiled. “This is my daughter Emma; Emma, this is Sir Nickolas.”

“How do you do?” Sir Nickolas asked, bowing gracefully. As he did so, his head flopped over to his right shoulder, neck nearly severed.

Emma gasped, staring up at him wide-eyed. “Wow. I wish I could do that.”

Sir Nickolas grimaced. “It’s not as fun being nearly headless as you would think. Much people seem to think it’s nearly as impressive as being completely headless.” He gave a huffy sniff.

“Why? If I if I you’re head wasn’t attached, you’d have to carry it around all day cause it wouldn’t stay on your head. Or you’d have to be really careful when you walked and stuff so it wouldn’t fall over.”

“She has a point you know,” Remus said, ruffling Emma’s hair. “And imagine if you lost your head! Your body would have to wander around without eyes and would get into all kinds of trouble, while your head just sat there, bored.”

Sir Nickolas nodded thoughtfully, looking much more cheerful. “Too true! I hope Mr. Lupin, that you will take on the role of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. You and your daughter would be wonderful additions to our school!”

Emma smiled, liking the idea already. “If Daddy takes the job, you should come play with me sometime.”

“I most certainly shall.” He gave one more bow, with a theatrical flourish, and zoomed away through the walls.

Emma turned to her dad. “We should move in now.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’ve only seen two floors. Are you really that eager to get rid of our old house?”

“No, I love our place! But Hogwarts is..is..I don’t know, it’s like magical!”

“Well, it is a school designed to teach magic…”

“Daddy! You know what I mean.”

Her dad smiled widely in her favorite way, making the corners of his eyes go all crinkly, and scooped her up and onto his shoulders. “Come on you little day-lily. If you like it now, just wait till you see the kitchens.”

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After a few more conversations with Mr. Professor Dumbledore (during which Emma stayed with Professor McGonagall. She rather liked the stern woman; McGonagall told her funny stories about her Dad, Uncles Peter and James, and Aunt Lily while they were in school) her Dad had finally decided tot accept the job. The school year was roughly a month away (and unfortunately the day after the full moon), so they would go home, pack and what-not, then come back via the Hogwarts Express. Emma was particularly excited over this since she’d never ridden a train before.

Emma did wonder why they didn’t just floo to the school, but she thought she’d overheard something about Dumbledore wanting a professor on the train this year. Emma was quickly distracted from her thoughts though when her Dad started in on another of his Marauder stories.