homesick ☆ f.weasley

.:28:.

Gravel was propelled along the countryside as the Hogwarts express dragged itself along the tracks. The scarlet steamtrain was carrying the Hogwarts students that went home for the remainder of the Christmas holidays. Emmeline's heart was full as she watched the grey clouds drift past the frosted windows. She did not have time to feel the January blues for her mind was fixated on the second task. If she got through one, could she get through another?

Hogwarts was just as welcoming as it always had been. It was even better with Angelina by her side. The blonde had expected her popularity to have perished alongside her friendship with Veronica. However, the students were swarming her more than ever, interrogating her about the tournament and what it was really like to be friends with the most popular girl in school. As for Veronica herself, she stayed well away from Emmeline and loathed the amount of attention she was getting.

January dragged to a close and the familiar sense of dread bubbled in Emmeline's stomach. Her and her friends had tried their best to work on the egg but they hadn't really advanced enough to settle Emmeline and Harry. The newly reformed friend group were currently in the library, poring over dusty books. McGonagall appeared and they swiftly altered their conversation to make it look like they weren't discussing the tournament.

"Good Christmas break?" enquired Fred. McGonagall looked taken aback by the boy's polite interest in the Transfiguration teacher's life.

"Erm, yes, have you?"

"Satisfactory, satisfactory."

"I'm here to ask if you've seen your sister, Miss Walshaw?"

Daisy, who had been perched at the window of the library, fired up at once to defend herself. "Professor, if this is about that time I shouted at Mad Eye M- I mean Professor Moody then I can explain!"

"What's this about you talking back to Professors?" Emmeline quizzed angrilly, her eyes narrowing on her sister.

"I was sticking up for Neville! Moody was showing him curses and well he was getting upset!" Daisy argued as Neville disappeared into the shadows created by bookshelves.

"Miss Walshaw, I remember Allister telling me you swore at him," McGonagall recalled.

"YOU SWORE AT A TEACHER?" bellowed Emmeline, earning her a glare from Madam Pince.

Daisy folded her arms. "Trust me, he deserved it. You weren't there," Daisy grumbled.

"Didn't have you down as someone who would stir the pot like that, Professor," said Fred, eyeing up the argument between the two sisters that promptly persued.

"I'm not-" began the teacher before shaking her head. "Anyway, you're not in trouble Daisy. Just come with me. And I'll need Ron and Hermione too."

"See? I'm definetly not in trouble if she wants Hermione too," said Daisy, sticking her tongue out at her sister. "I'm probably being rewarded for good work or something."

"That's unlikely if she's looking for Ron," George reminded them.

"It's nothing about school work, just follow me," said McGonagall impatiently.

Curiously, Daisy departed the library. Neville followed.

"I'm sorry Neville, you can't come."

"But, Professor, it's Neville, he comes everywhere with me."

"Not this time, Daisy."

*

Emmeline paced the Gryffindor common room waiting for Daisy to return. She was convinced McGonagall was lying and the girl had went off the tracks. Emmeline hadn't exactly been there for her recently so it made sense. What if she was getting expelled? That didn't explain why Ron and Hermione were needed...maybe as witnesses?

Eventually, as dusk was covering the sky, Daisy crawled through the portrait hole wearing a distant expression.

"There you are! Where have you been? What did McGonagall want? Where's Hermione and Ron? Are you expelled, you better not be!" cried Emmeline without taking a breath.

Fred chuckled from where him and George were working on something in the corner of the fire lit room.  "Give the girl chance to answer!"

Daisy's shaken hand was already on the banister that led to her dorm. She swallowed, her eyebrows furrowed. "I can't talk about it."

"What do you mean you can't talk about it?" Emmeline scoffed, her footsteps replicating Daisy's as she followed her up the stairs.

"I just can't!" she snapped. She settled slightly before her next sentence. "McGonagall said not to say anything. I'm fine, honest."

Emmeline was left open mouthed. She turned on her heel to shoot a questioning look at Angelina. The dark skinned girl shrugged.

The portrait hole swung open and revealed Hermione and Ron. They sported a look that resembled Daisy's. Emmeline was by their side instantly, ready to interrogate them.

"We can't say," Hermione said as calmly as she could but anxiety wavered in her voice.

"What do you mean you can't say?" Harry demanded. He was just as frustrated as Emmeline.

"It will become clear soon," Hermione promised. Ron remained silent, looking pale. "I'm off to bed."

The two trailed upstairs.

"Well that was weird wasn't it?" hissed Emmeline, shoving herself inbetween Fred and Angelina on the crimson sofa.

"Maybe they just don't want to tell you," George suggested. "If they are in trouble. I mean you do look pretty scary right now."

"But I'm Daisy's sister!" Emmeline argued.

"Exactly, she might just not want to tell you," Fred replied, snatching back his arm from where Emmeline was squashing it.

"She can't be in trouble, not with Hermione involved," Emmeline said.

George scoffed. "Those three are always in trouble no matter how clever Hermione is."

"If she's causing trouble you have to let her. She's her own person and she has to make mistakes herself," Fred said.

"Why won't they tell Harry either?" Emmeline demanded.

"Maybe they're taking the blame for something and don't want him to know. I mean, the whole of Hogwarts does hate him since he became the fourth campion," Angelina pointed out thoughtfully.

"I am here, you know," Harry shouted.

"And what do you think they were discussing?" Emmeline quizzed.

Harry shrugged. "Not sure but I hate them lying."

"Relax, it's probably nothing," Fred reasoned.

"When have I ever relaxed?" Emmeline seethed through gritted teeth.

"Try it, it's good," Fred advised.

"Do you want to know what I think it was about?" Harry offered quietly. Emmeline nodded eagerly. "I think it was about the tournament."

Harry's green eyes were flashing.