Emma [On hold]

Just because I uploaded this, don't expect more soon.

Despite the rumours that followed Emma around, about her being insane, the next few months flew by without a hitch. She’d told Professor Cura all about what the voice had said to her. And she’d been spending copious amounts of time in the library, looking through old archives in an attempt to find out something about herself. She had to abandon her search, however, as the Easter Holidays came, bringing a torrent of homework and study with them. Before they could even breathe after Easter, their June exams were upon them – even John Clearwater was seen to be studying.

The five of them ignored their fears of failing their exams in the last few weeks, and spent the warm summer afternoons together, basking in the sun beside the lake.

“It’s too late now,” Percy told Penelope as she fussed over how badly she must have done in transfiguration. “What’s done is done – best not to think about it.”

“I wish you could see how beautiful you were.” Aubrey said to Emma as she braided her dark hair.

“A lot of people with sight still can’t see their own beauty, it’s a pity.” John said softly, and Emma felt Aubrey’s hands tremble a little as they worked through her hair.

The day their test results were due, Emma raced down to breakfast with only a “see you soon!" to ”im. She wanted to know what she’d gotten so desperately, and if they were good she could surprise him – well, except for her Defence Against the Dark Arts mark, of course. Emma, Percy and Audrey sat side by side by side and waited anxiously for their results. Finally, Professor McGongall handed theirs to them with a ‘Congratulations.’

“Oh my goodness,” Aubrey said. “We passed. We passed with flying colours.”

“Straight O’s? What does O mean?” Emma asked.

“Outstanding. It’s the best you can get – and we got it!” Percy cheered.

The Clearwaters waved and mouthed ‘STRAIGHT O’S!” to them, and Aubrey passed it on to Emma.

“I need to tell Professor Cura,” Emma said excitedly. “I’ll meet you guys outside in twenty minutes. Next to the lake.”

“Sure thing, Em,” Percy grinned and Emma tapped the home button on her device, and went trotting off in that direction.

Outside the door, she heard Professor McGonagall’s footsteps.

“Happy with your marks, Emma?”

“Ecstatic,” She breathed. “I hope Professor Cura will be happy with me.”

“Of course he will be.”

“I’ll see you later Profess – agghh!” Emma leant on the door, like she always did before unlocking it, but today she fell forwards – the door had been left open.

“Are you quite alright?” McGonagall asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m… I’m fine… Why was the door unlocked? We always lock the door.”

“Emma,” McGonagall’s voice was so sharp that Emma flinched.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s blood on the floor.” She breathed, and she sent off a Patronus charm to Dumbledore.

“W-what?”

“Just stay here.”

She heard the croak of Professor Cura’s door being opened, and then a strangled cry.

“Is he okay?” Emma asked, frightened.

“Oh my god. Gerald.”

Professor Dumbledore entered the room.

“Minerva?”

“In here, Albus.”

Their quarters was taped off, and Emma was not allowed back inside. No one had told her what was going on yet, but she’d more or less figured it out for herself.

“Emma,” McGonagall said kindly, sitting down next to her over an hour later.

“He’s dead, isn’t he?” Emma whispered.

“Emma, he was murdered.” Her stomach knotted.

“It was the voice. He did it. He killed him. He said he would do it.” She cried desperately. McGonagall wrapped her arm around her shoulders.

“It’s going to be okay, Em. You’ll be okay.”