The Unlikely Rose

Dilemma

Emra sat in the Gryffindor common room that evening, telling Nellie everything about her talk with Carson in the library. Suddenly, a wad of paper was flung at the fire. Emra stuck her hand out and caught with tearing her eye contact from Nellie.

The person who'd thrown the paper approached her and took it from her hand. She then said "Hey, Scamander!" Emra looked at the speaker. She was a tall and lanky girl with electric lime green hair and hazel eyes "That was an impressive catch!" she leaned forward a little "You know, first years aren't usually allowed on the team, but if I talked to Professor Dumbledore; I might be able to get you the Keeper position on the team. Our last keeper has graduated from school."

Emra, though very surprised, smiled "Thank you. I never thought my catching was that of extraordinary, but I guess it's better than nothing."

The girl smiled and held out her hand "Jenn Ashington. Beater for Gryffindor."

Emra took it "Ashington? As in Mason Ashington? The Hufflepuff?"

Jenn laughed as she vigorously shook Emra's hand "Yeah. He's my brother." Emra smiled. She looked Jenn's hair. Jenn smiled "I get those kind of stares all the time. I'm a Metamorphmagus and enjoy the shade of lime."

Emra smiled at her "So, you have an ability that sets you apart, too? I'm a Legilimens."

Jenn smiled "You are?! That's amazing! Now I don't have to feel so alone."

Jenn left Emra and Nellie to go head to bed. Nellie looked at Emra "So, you have a possible boyfriend and you might be on the Quidditch team, at only eleven! You are a badass!"

Emra looked at Nellie "Oh, come on, Nellie! I do not have a boyfriend!"

Nellie giggled "Did I say you had one?" Emra opened her mouth, but closed it "No, that's what I thought! I said possible boyfriend!"

Emra gave a weak smile. She looked down into her lap and her hair fell in front of her face; shielding her from the world. She felt Nellie get up off the couch and she was about to follow when she felt someone else sit down next to her

Looking up, she looked into the kind face of.....

Carson!

Emra felt her heart skip a beat and she smiled a little bit. Carson looked at her "Your smile is the prettiest smile I've ever seen, Emra."

Emra blushed "Th-thank you. I didn't think anyone cared that much about me." this was a lie. She knew lots of people who cared about her. Her family being a large majority of them "What do you want, Carson?"

Carson laughed and he grabbed Emra's hand. Emra felt her cheeks flush pink again as he said "To talk to you, of course!"

Emra looked down at her lap and gave a nervous chuckle "But, why do you want to talk to me?"

Carson scooted closer to Emra on the couch "Because I like you. You're easy to talk to and you always have answers to my questions right as I ask them."

Emra gave a weak smile. This was because of her Legilimency and she started to not want it when he started to respond "If you knew why, you would like me." she said, sadly.

Carson pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear "Why?"

Emra looked into Carson face. It was kind and handsome, and the flickering light the fire cast upon it made him look welcoming. Emra opened her mouth, but what she wanted to say didn't come out. Instead, she said "I'm going to bed, Carson."

As Emra rushed up the stairs, Dilly poked her head out of Emra's robes. She looked up at Emra and gave a small noise that sounded a gag "Oh, be quiet you!" Emra said, looking at Dilly. But she wasn't watching where she was going and she tripped on the stairs. To protect Dilly, she put her hand up to her pocket and held onto her breast for dear life. Not having a lot of time to catch herself, she hit her head on the stairs.

As she sat up on the steps, she rubbed her head a little and reached inside her pocket, producing Dilly "Are you okay?!"

The little bowtruckle stood on the back of her hand and gave Emra a little nod. Emra put Dilly on her shoulder and proceeded up the stairs. When she reached her door, she opened it and shut the door behind her. Nellie was wide awake.

Emra heard 'So? What did you guys talk about?' Emra suddenly felt her face turn red. She set Dilly down on the desk and flung herself down, face first, into her pillows.

Nellie rushed over to her "Emra? What's wrong? Did you read something?"

Emra shoulders began to shake as she brought her hands to her hair; pulling it in anger. Nellie rested her hand on Emra's back; running it across her back soothingly. Emra looked up at her, tears staining her face.

"Nellie! I don't want this anymore! I don't want to read minds anymore! I won't be able to have any kind of relationships with people, because they're going to be terrified!" Emra sat up to face her friend head on.

Nellie put her arm around Emra's shoulders and Emra rested her head on Nellie's shoulder. Nellie stroked Emra's hair "Shh. This sounds exactly like a dilemma my brother went through a couple years ago." Nellie looked at Emra "But you know what? He managed to get out of it, because my mother told him-"

"Don't be afraid of yourself. Embrace yourself!"

Emra sniffed "But, embracing myself means letting people know I can read minds and not everyone will find it appealing."

Nellie looked Emra in the face and wiped away a tear "Then, you can tell them to go to Hell! To Hell with everyone who can't see past your gift!"

Dilly crawled up Emra's knee at that time and rested on her knee. Emra smiled. Nellie saw through her teary eyes a faint glint of happiness. And Emra was happy. She had friends who loved her. A family who were behind her. A boy who was interested in her. And a hope of getting the Keeper position. She lots of things to be happy for and the fact that her friends found her gift amazing, helped her a lot.

_______________

Emra had been sleeping for quite a while before she started stir.

Emra was walking down a dark corridor to a pair of dark oak doors; a bright light shining through the crack. Bobbie, Adilyn, and Carson followed close behind.

When she reached the door, Emra pulled on the heavy handle and only felt a great blast of air as she got blasted backward; hitting her head on a stone wall. Just before she slipped into unconsciousness, she heard Bobbie's voice yell:

"Carson! Help me!" there was a hint of anxiety in Bobbie's voice "She'll die if she doesn't get help soon! Help me get her to the Hospital Wing!"

Carson voice rose above them "I'm sorry, Bobbie! But I can't help her! I have to get out of here!" his voice was calm.

Bobbie voice responded, anger rising up behind the anxiety "I thought you cared for her! She cares for you! You're a coward!"

Carson footsteps echoed through the hall. They were very fast. He was running "Look! You might want to save Emra, but I'm saving myself! She'll die anyway! Leave her to die!"

Carson's footsteps were gone and Emra slipped into unconsciousness right she heard Bobbie say "Emra, please! Don't leave me! I-"

Emra shot awake. She was sweating all over. Her hair stuck to her neck as she thought 'What could that dream have meant? Carson's not like that!' she stopped her thought process 'Is he?'