#em;starter

[OPEN]

Emmeline stuck out like a sore thumb. Or at least she felt like she did anyway. She’d been gone for the better part of two years, off in France training with the best of the best at the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France, and her contact with the Order had been minimal - enough that she knew what was happening in Britain and enough for her to send reports from inside the French Ministry, but not enough that she’d really understood the true escalation of the threats the Order were facing. It hadn’t been until she arrived back in England that the full force of their situation hit her. Everything was the same, but nothing was. 

She felt like she’d missed a crucial part of their life, like she didn’t really belong at this table surrounded by friends she hadn’t been there for these past few years. Friends she hadn’t been here to fight alongside. Em swallowed thickly, willing herself to get a grip. Her insecurities would have to wait; they were here for a reason. Dumbledore was missing. 

She was early, but so were a few other people, and she watched more people trickle in to join the meeting, cataloguing everyone as they entered. Finally, unable to take the negative voice in her head anymore, she turned to the person beside her and said as calmly as she could, “I was surprised to hear it was Dumbledore missing. Of all people, he’s the last I’d have ever expected to be taken.”

So then she’d had to rush back to her dormitory for her astronomy book and papers and when she’d finally made it back the stupid door knocker wouldn’t let her in until she answered the stupidest riddle it had ever come up with. She blamed the Gryffindors for this. They were always upsetting it. When she’d finally gotten in she’d dumped the rest of the homework she’d been slaving over and grabbed everything she needed for the club meeting, bar the star chart which she was still pissed at herself for forgetting. 

Then she’d had to rush all the way to the astronomy tower at full pelt and by the time she’d thrown herself down in the last empty seat she was a mess. Wild hair, papers poking out of her bag and books left, right, and centre. And when she finally managed to compose herself, she’d realised the person she’d plonked herself down next to was staring at her like she was a lunatic. 

“What?” she asked, only slightly miffed. 

Emerald was on stage, doing her show and having the time of her life, as always. She loved being able to dance on the stage, apart from her day job at the dance studio. She loved to perform, ever since she was a kid. Being a drag queen meant everything to her, she could do things Colin couldn’t. 

Once her show was over, she thanked the crowd and curtzied, gathering the money people had thrown for her, before leaving the stage. She let out a huff, fanning herself with her hand. “I need some water.” She said, mostly to herself, but in a matter of seconds, someone brought her a water bottle. She looked up and smiled. “Oh, thank you, darling!” She smiled, accepting the bottle. “Are you going up next?” She asked smiling.