Emmeline Longbottom

“Yes you are.” He smirked, since it suited him to tease her. It was easier than he’d like it to be, talking to her. He didn’t want friends, especially not when they were good like the Longbottoms were. “You are talking to me, you must be stupid.” He snorted when she called him a knight in shining armour. “I’ve never been that.” Even in the times he’d tried to do good things things, he’d always been dark. He didn’t know any other way to live. But he did care about Em, more than he’d care to admit. She was a friend. “I don’t do holidays. Never did. So I came out here to get away from it.” There had never been anything to really celebrate in his life, but he hadn’t wanted to ruin anyone’s mood.

Roland chuckled softly, without humour. “My family is a complicated one. To say we have our dramas would be an understatement.” He’d never say anything that would embarrass his family, but since Gussy was already parading around the school, he couldn’t escape some of it. “I have recently been reunited with my sister, and it was not… a pleasant reunion.” He explained, realising the description fit both Lucinda and Gussy. “I am sorry for your loss.” Other than Gussy, there had never been any family he had been particularly close to. 

“I understand she is married?” Roland prompted, wondering why Emmeline would fear her opening her heart when she was already spoken for. “It’s impossible not to worry about our younger siblings, isn’t it? I can’t remember a time when I haven’t worried about Gussy.” The problem with the Kesser’s emotional outbursts was that it was always anger. Roland didn’t know how to talk to Gussy anymore, not without arguing with her. “It seems unfair that she can follow her heart, and I cannot, if that is the case. And believe me, emotions are not always right. I know that shouting at her will not help anything, but when she accuses me of falsehoods, I know she is as much in the wrong as I am.” 

“Perhaps we should get a drink sometime and commiserate.” Emmeline chuckled, not realizing she had effectively asked him on a date. At her age she didn’t consider any possibility of romance viable anymore. “You know my sister and I were  separated for a while. It was mostly my fault...” She paused and looked down at her hands, “But now we’re thick as thieves. Give them some times.” 

study had taken aurora by surprise. she’d had little to do with it before, reading had only been for pleasure, nothing to do with what she was educating herself on now. it had been years too since she’d received any formal education, having learned enough to be married to a suitable bachelor and begin a new life with him. however, this was one of the new times that she had indulged herself, a moment of peace with her own novel that was soon shattered when she heard a voice that was so clearly aimed in her direction.

looking up in the direction the voice had come from, the figure was vaguely familiar, just enough so that aurora put down her book on the table, words pressing into the table to give the woman her full attention. “i have. it’s one from my private collection. i assume that you have as well?”

“Please, you couldn’t be much older than myself. I’m twenty-five.” He shook his head, disagreeing with her. “No, it is because the world is not always beautiful that we need art to remind us of what is good and beautiful out there. To show us the light in things and places we do not necessarily see it.” 

Emmeline noticed the beautiful young woman often in the last few days. She had a sort of dignity that inspired a bit of kinship in her. Clearly she was from a well-bred family. To Emmeline, this could only be a good quality. She had struggled to find an excuse to talk to her, however, because they were not in the same house or class. Finally the opportunity came when she saw the other woman in the Library. 

“You really shouldn’t be, it’s lonely.” there were no cousins for her to play with, her whole family living thousands of miles away, her parents had little friends, too picky to accept the people who wanted to be close to them, too poor to be accepted by the ones they wanted. 

Pressing her lips together, Vasilisa wanted to explain herself further, to explain why Elizabeth was so unpredictable. But seeing as she had just contradicted Emmeline, she kept her mouth shit, not wanting the girl to think she was trying to pick a fight. “Yes, I guess you are right.”

“I am sure he wanted to marry you as much as you did.” pity shone in her eyes, “I truly am sorry.” 

“I think we all feel a bit lonely in our childhoods.” Emmeline said thoughtfully.  “Even with sisters I didn’t always feel understood. But perhaps that’s just me. Her world being destroyed by the loss of her mother had also contributed to that but she would never bring that up with a stranger, much as she was beginning to like her. 

“I’m sure we can be friends and then you’ll be an honorary Longbottom sister. Curse not included.” Emmeline teased. She noticed some reluctance to discuss more about Elizabeth. Maybe the child was more than just moody, so she tried to be comforting, “I’m not a mother, but in my experience, the most important thing a child needs is a parent that loves them, and I think you fit that description.” 

“Of course, Em.” His smile warmed a little more, although it became tight when she mentioned drama. “I am sorry to hear that. There is nothing like family to cause drama, is there?” His own Christmas had involved a screaming match between him and his mother. Or more accurately, he’d ended up yelling at her when she was so cold about abandoning his sister. It made him wonder what she’d done to Gussy, but she’d refused to answer any further questions. 

He had met Evie, and while he was sure she was a nice person, he hated to be paired up with her in class. She was so easily distracted, and she’d even forgotten to bring her wand to class once. “She’s a sweet girl. But I can imagine, it must get very loud sometimes.” He lifted his own drink to his lips. “I’m rather dreading speaking to my sister, truth be told. I have some news for her that…. I’m not sure how she’ll handle. She’s not known for her rational decisions. We tend to respond rather emotionally when it comes to family.” 

“Do you have one of those families?” She asked, knowing the answer already. “Don’t worry, it’s been worse. It was a bit lonely. My grandmother passed away recently. She practically raised us and it’s sad to celebrate without her.” Her grandmother’s soothing presence would have made all of it so much easier. 

Tomas had nowhere else to go, but he didn’t feel like staying at the castle, so he’d enjoyed some time in the woods. Life was simple there, without the added difficulties of friendships that he didn’t want. People got hurt or hurt him, and neither option was something he was comfortable with. 

But when Emmeline found him, he didn’t disappear further into the trees without a trace, he just took a seat on a stump. “I didn’t give you that. If you don’t want it, I’ll take it.” He held his hand out for the coin that he’d broken into the Ravenclaw dorms to put on her bed, even thought he had known she’d figure it out. Who else would leave both a French coin and one of his handmade arrows? That didn’t mean he wanted to accept her gratitude, however. “Thank you.” He grudgingly added, since he’d found the gifts she had left him. 

“You know I’m not an idiot, right?” Emmeline said, sitting alongside him. “The arrow was beautiful too. I promise to save it for a special occasion.” Like putting it through the eye of a viking. She smoothed out her dress and looked up at him. Tomas never told her about his past, who he was and how he had become so cold. She got the feeling that if she asked him, he’d end their friendship. 

With all that had happened regarding his family, and his own more reserved nature, Roland had not made many friends at Hogwarts. Truthfully, he’d argued with more people than he’d gotten along with, but that was Gussy’s fault. Alone at lunch once again, the lieutenant knew his friends were likely somewhere causing trouble, but he was hoping to see one of his sisters to talk to them. There were important things to discuss. 

“Hmm?” Hearing his voice, he glanced over at the woman with a polite smile. She was in some of the same classes as him, a bright student. He enjoyed class discussions with her involved. “Miss Longbottom. Please, call me Roland.” Kesser was just a reminder of his family issues. “It was fine. How was yours? Did you and your sisters have a nice time?” From what he could see, the Longbottoms were much happier a family than his. A part of him was jealous. 

He seemed receptive enough but didn’t take the opportunity to talk about himself. Interesting. She took a sip of her drink, smiling, “Well, Roland, you must Call me Emmeline then, or Em if it’s too much of a mouthful.” It was a nickname usually reserved for her sisters, but if Evie was universally called that then Emmeline could expand her own nickname. 

“Oh have you lived a far-flung type of life,” Xio leaned forward, a glint of excitement in her eyes, she loved knowing everything she could about everything. She let out a hearty chuckle, and nodded her head, taking the book and flipping it through. “You’re grandmother is an accomplished witch? This is an interesting book,” she leaned forward and squinted her eyes, “the illustrations are marvelous, and there are some potions in here I’ve never heard of,” excitement laced her tone. “Are you good in potions? What type of magic do you practice? What level are you at Hogwarts?”

“It must be great to have sisters, I often wished I had sisters to fight with and to take care of me when I was growing up.” she had wished the same for Elizabeth, to have several siblings to play with, but it wasn’t meant to be. “You must be a great older sister.”

“I hope so. It will at least make it easier to predict her moods.” 

The story tugged at her heartstrings, she knew how terrible it was to lose someone you love. “That’s so sad! I am so sorry.” losing a fiancee must be so terrible, you lose someone before you really had them. “I am sorry for making you tell it, I should not have asked.”

Emmeline chuckled, “Well, it was alright. We fought more than we took care of each other. I’m a little envious of you that you didn’t have any siblings. I guess that’s how it goes, you always want what you don’t have.” 

The idea of a little girl so full of spirit made Emmeline sigh. What could have been if she had stayed with Einar for a little longer. Would they have had a beautiful blue-eyed daughter? “I don’t think any child is truly predictable.” She said sweetly, hoping not to show her true longing. 

Tomas may not like that he had friends, but he did and Emmeline counted herself among them. He had saved her life, but more than that, he was someone she knew she could depend on. For whatever reason he had supported her and her sisters. He would complain that she thought that, but she did. And Emmeline wasn’t going to let him be alone on Christmas. 

Emmeline had made a few friends at school, though she was usually quite solitary. Even Tomas was her friend, though he’d probably get mad at her for saying so. Still, she had felt for a while like the only person who didn’t have a lot of friends. Unfortunately, Mr. Kesser seemed to have taken that title. She knew him well enough from classes, but often during meals he was alone. 

He shook his head, but couldn’t help smile as Emmeline was also hit with a snowball. Perhaps it was the joyous environment, but this was getting fun. “In all fairness of the game, I have to allow it. No matter who you were talking to, you were distracted. I’m sorry. But while he’s still there, if you hit him now, it’ll be an even point. I suggest you do that before he’s out of sight,” he urged. 

“She truly is! And so kind.” it’s not easy to be a student and a parent, but the founder has shown her nothing but kindness and understanding. “Oh, no! She was very nice, very energetic. Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply she did anything wrong.”

Elizabeth was a child of many moods, it was hard to summarize them or even give a general description of her behavior. “She is young, still trying to decide if she is rambunctious or serious. She has a lot of energy and imagination, but she can be very shy.”

“You have been unlucky?”  frowning, she rested her hand over Emmeline’s, “and you think it was because of the curse?”

“Oh of course not, but as an older sister I’ll always find reason to scold her.” Emmeline chuckled, “Evie and I are very different in some ways. We butted heads a lot as children and now I feel like I have to take care of her. I shouldn’t, she’s an adult and married at that.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. 

“She sounds like Evie when she was young. I’m sure she’ll grow up to be quite a woman.” Emmeline wished she had more experience in the matter and was able to have some serious advice. But unfortunately, despite her deepest wishes, she had no children of her own.