#emerson yaxley

[hope-and-roll]

Adelina Blodwyn

“Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides.” ― André Malraux

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

- Adelina Serena Blodwyn - Née le 18 décembre 1980 - Reborn  - Anglaise - Sang-Pur  - Poudlard, Serpentard - Lesbienne - Ancienne professeure de Soins aux Créatures Magiques à Runstone  - Maintenant prof de SACM à Poudlard  - Tiera Skovbye.  ~ Fille de Philip et Serena Blodwyn, née Parkinson  ~ Petite soeur de Jasper Blodwyn ~ Belle-soeur d'Isobel Blodwyn, née Yaxley  ~ Tante d'Emma, Sean et Mallory Blodwyn ~ Grand-tante d'Azalea Tingley * Petite-amie de Sarah Horowitz * Amie de Grace Dawson et Astria Hollister à Poudlard, se sont perdues de vue ensuite

[theaurorfileshq]

CASE UPDATES:

Occamy Egg Theft at Merlinus City Zoo

Current Status: CLOSED

Lead Auror: April Monday

Assisting Auror: Emerson Yaxley

Conclusion: After investigating the scene, and interviewing both the security guard and the on-staff magizoologist, aurors Yaxley and Monday suspected the magizoologist was involved in the the theft of the eggs. After following the magizoologist into a warded closet, aurors Monday and Yaxley confronted her with what evidence they had at their disposal. At this point the magizoologist, Dr. Wallis, confessed to aiding a group of smugglers steal the eggs. Her motive was that she hoped her involvement in the crime would ensure the chick’s safety once they hatched from the silver eggs. After tracking down the eggs’ location, Yaxley and Monday were able to successfully retreive them, and arrest all involved. 

Point Rewards:

Corporal April Monday (Lead)

+75 points for solving as lead, level one +10 for discovering wallis’s motive

Resulting point rewards: +85

Officer Emerson Yaxley (Assisting)

+70 points for solving as assisting, level one +10 for getting dr. wallis to confess

Resulting point rewards: +80

[endlessly-cursed]

Weekend With The Grays

𝟔𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓— 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒓 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒆? pt.1/?

Lady Gray's dormmates had gathered in Lady Gray's luxurious bed. While Siobhan looked at her blue, grey and purple decor, Roxie and Gwen giggled at something and Nadia settled beside Primrose as her closest friend.

“So, I suppose any of you has played Truth or Dare?” Primrose asked.

Nadia nodded and so did Siobhan “The Gryffindorks and I play it most of the time!”

Gwen and Niamh nodded negatively. Prim shrugged “It's simple enough. We spin the bottle and we ask someone 'truth or dare' and if that person answers truth, she must answer one question truthfully, and if she chooses dare, she must do something someone tells them, for example, prank somebody!”

Siobhan smirked ruefully and Gwen and Niamh looked at her in horror, knowing her, it wouldn't end up well.

The maid served eggnog to compensate the fear as Primrose spun the bottle, landing in front of Roxanne “Truth or Dare, Roxie?”

“Mm... Truth!”

Primrose mulled over the question before asking with a knowing smirk “How good of a kisser is Sapieha?”

Roxanne and Gwen giggled “Good enough.”

The women erupted in giggles as Siobhan mimicked a rather exaggerated way of kissing as she teased Roxanne with phrases regarding her 'version' of a snogging between Gabriel and Roxanne, thing that made them all laugh.

Roxanne spun the bottle and landed on Niamh “Truth or Dare, Niamh?”

“I'll go with truth.”

Roxanne mulled over the question before going easy on her “What are you looking forward in the holidays?”

Niamh smiled “See my family again and sing carols in front of the fire.”

Niamh spun the bottle, which landed on Nadia. She decided to be merciful on her “Truth or Dare, Nadia?”

“Dare!”

Niamh asked for assistance for her friends and they plotted for two minutes before Niamh cleared her throat “I dare you to put on some red chapstick, break into Mr. Seymour's table and kiss him on the cheek, leaving a mark.”

Primrose gladly led her best friend to the other corner of the estate and looked into the big poker room. Her father arched an eyebrow at Miss Erbland with her lips red but said nothing as she sneaked behind Jesse's chair and her hand cupped his jaw and kissed him, a bright red mark on his porcelain skin. His inmates barked a laugh as he blushed rather violently as both women took the scene to flee the crime scene.

Nadia and Primrose giggled and stopped in the now empty ballroom, doubling of laughter “Did you see his face?” Primrose laughed.

“Something tells me he'll lose that round.” Nadia commented between giggles, her hands on her knees as they both realised that they were with their hair down and in their nightgowns. They thanked goodness it was winter and not summer... It would've been a scandal.

They came back and Nadia spun the bottle, that landed on Gwen “Truth or Dare, Gwen?”

“Hm, dare”

Nadia smiled mischievously “I dare you to send a Howler saying something embarrasing to one of the Gryffindorks.”

They all decided to go for Emerson and they wrote together the Howler, between giggles and pure mischief. They sent it and waited for the results. All over the estate, they could hear it perfectly

YOUR HAIR LOOKS LIKE IT WAS LICKED BY A COW, EMERSON!!

The women erupted in laughter as they could hear the men's laughter and teasings over Emerson as well.

Now it was Mira's turn, and they all looked at her with a smirk. Gwen asked “Truth or Dare, Mira?”

“...I'm doomed either way, am I?” She sighed “Truth.”

“How much do you like Mr. Hawthorne?”

She bit her lip and looked away bashfully “Very.” Her cheeks reddened.

The women erupted in cheers and Mira chugged enthusiastically her bottle of Chardonnay and soon it was Primrose's turn. Mira beckoned Nadia and the both of them plotted before asking “Truth or Dare, Prim?”

“...What the hell, dare!”

Nadia and Mira giggled “We dare you to crash Mr. Yaxley's game and say this to his ear...” they whispered it to her ear and her eyes went wide! But at the same time... It'd be Laurent's turn to be flustered.

“Alright.”

Mira and Nadia escorted Primrose to where Laurent's desk was and she strided the room confidently, sashaying her hips the right way to Laurent before whispering to his ear coyly “While you clean up nice, I rather much prefer the sight of you bare.” She kissed his cheek, close to his lips and exited the room holding back her giggle. The moment they were away from the wing, they all erupted in giggles and Primrose was bright red.

“I can't believe I did that!” They all giggled before running back to the room, where they told the story and the girls erupted in cheers and giggles.

“Maybe this game is not so bad...” Niamh smiled.

“Another round?” Gwen asked.

They all agreed in cheers, unbottling another wine.

Niamh Kelly belongs to @unfortunate-arrow | Nadia Erbland belongs to @gcldensnitch | Gwen Archeron belongs to @thatravenpuffwitch | Mira Iverach and Emerson Page belong to @cursebreakerfarrier | Roxanne Haley belongs to @beloved-bucky | Gabriel Sapieha and Laurent Yaxley belong to @slytherindisaster | Siobhan Llewellyn belongs to @kc-and-co

[malachaifortune]

[incoming telekit message] Cadet Emerson Yaxley: if you swap clues with me, i'll make ransom a bracelet with any word of your choosing on it and cry when i give it to him so he can't say no to wearing it :)

     “Do you have a bead with the clown emoji on it?”

[slytherindisaster]

Full Name: Lysander Felix Mercury 

Nicknames: Lys (most people)

Birthday: April 1, 18—

Zodiac: Aries 

Blood Status: half-blood

Gender Identity: male (he/him)

Sexuality: heterosexual, bi-curious

Nationality: British 

Hometown: Castle Combe, England

PERSONALITY

Myers-Briggs Type: ENTP (The Debater)

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Strengths: Charismatic, playful, optimist, intelligent, passionate, ambitious, determined, observant, confident

Weaknesses: Sarcastic, humorous, impulsive, temperamental, competitive

Interests/Hobbies: painting/drawing, writing, reading

APPEARANCE 

Lysander has an ability to change his appearance due to him being a metamorphmagus. This is how he appears most of the time. 

Faceclaim: Leonardo DiCaprio 

Voiceclaim: Joe Dempsie

Height: 5ft 10in / 177cm

Build: average, in hogwarts more on the muscular side due to playing quidditch

Hair: blond, straight

Eyes:  blue

Skin: fair

Body Modifications: n/a

Scars/defects: n/a

Fashion:

WITCHCRAFT 

Wand: Spruce, unicorn hair core, 11,5  inches, slightly springy

Spruce wands required a firm hand because it often appeared to have its own ideas about what magic it ought to be called upon to produce. However, when a spruce wand met its match, who was a bold spell-caster with a good sense of humour, it became a superb helper, intensely loyal to their owners and capable of producing particularly flamboyant and dramatic effects.

Animagus Form: n/a

Patronus: brown hare

Boggart: A mirror but the reflection is distorted and he can't recognise himself

Riddikulus: The mirror breaks and it's pieces turn into colorful confetti

Amortentia

what does he smell like to others?: lemon, fresh cut grass, new parchment, butterscotch 

 what does he smell?: clotted cream, honeyed whiskey, polished wood, the dew on morning grass

Favorite Spells: Hurling hex, Silencio

Misc. Magical Abilities: Shapeshifting; Apparition

HOGWARTS 

House: Hufflepuff 

Best Subject: Charms, Flying

Worst Subject: Herbology

Third Year Options: Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, Divination, Study of Ancient Runes

N.E.W.T.s: Charms, DADA, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, Transfiguration 

Extracurriculars: Art Club

Quidditch Position: Keeper — 3rd to 7th year

AFTER HOGWARTS 

18—26: Journalist for The Daily Prophet 

26—30: Freelancer Illustrator 

30+: Founder & Editor in Chief of The Mercury Gazette

65+: Retiree 

RELATIONSHIPS

Father: Benedict Castor Mercury

Mother: Adelaide Rosalie Mercury (née Fawley) 

Younger Brother: Evander 'Evan' Leon Mercury

Pets: n/a

Dormmates: Jim Hexley @the-al-chemist; Anthony Rosen @unfortunate-arrow; Lyle Astor @cursebreakerfarrier; Jesse Seymour @endlessly-cursed

Best Friend: Jim Hexley @the-al-chemist

Friends: Gabriel Sapieha, Josephine Edwards, Laurent Yaxley; Anthony Rosen, William Devlin, Maxwell Pembroke @unfortunate-arrow; Bradford Pendleton, Oliver Gerard, Siobhan Llewelyn @kc-and-co; Gwendolyn Archeron @thatravenpuffwitch; Arthur “Teddy” Ellison, Liore Harewood, Galen Stagg, Emerson Page @cursebreakerfarrier; Reuben Willows @that-scouse-wizard; Danny Gibson @catohphm; Vinny Raymond @hogwartsmysteryho;

Love Interest: Ethel Hexley @the-al-chemist

Rivals: Ethel Hexley @the-al-chemist , Selene Fraser @lifeofkaze

FAVORITES

Color: gold

Food: pumpkin soup

Flower: sunflower

Drink: elderflower wine

Book: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Music: tbd

Season: spring

template credit to the lovely @thatravenpuffwitch <3 

[victorsierraa]

( the office, lets say its a wednesday because those are always ruff / @emmyyaxley​ ) 

Victor was still getting used to this, the feeling of a case file dropping on his desk for him. He feels like he’s been semi-lucky with partners for his first two cases –– even if the cases themself have been stressful and intense. He had Brittany, who he trusted more than anything. Eris, who he was familiar with even if only because they sat across from each other every day. He isn’t proud of it, but he’s been shying away from most of the office, afraid of what they’ll think of it. He isn’t sure that its done him any favours, and it may have only begun to play in to the gruff assassin persona, the way he silently prowled around the office, or stuck to his desk. 

He casts his gaze around, when he flips through the new case file on his desk. Emerson Yaxley was a bright pop of colour, compared to the rest of the office. He knew logistcially that she wasn’t really that much younger than him, a few years, but she had a youthful gleam to her that made her seem like she was from a different world. He’d noticed that about her most of all. She was bright, and he thinks that Ileana would like those bracelets that she wears around her wrist. He feels a swell of nervousness at the idea of working with someone new, someone who he hasn’t spoken to much already. He hopes, above all else, that she isn’t scared of him or something. He wouldn’t blame her if she was, but he can still dream that people will realise at a glance that he’s put away all weapons and claws, left his more vicious instincts behind him. 

There’s no way forward but to leap straight in, he imagines. He’s sure that no matter what she ends up thinking of him, she’ll be a good lead on this case. He slips away from his seat, silent footing leading him in the direction of her desk. He’s glad that it faces his own, so that she can see him coming from across the room. He gives her an almost sheepish look, when he arrives at her desk. “Um. Emerson, right?” He asks, and tries to school himself into the polite smile that Brittany said usually worked for him. “Recruit Sierra, reporting for duty.” 

[auroraprilmonday]

location: harbird’s residence

time: early in the party

status: closed to @emmyyaxley​

Ten years, ten years April worked for the aurors and managed to talk her way out of nearly every party she’d ever been invited to. Most of the time, it wasn’t even that hard of a task, she was a wallflower by nature, and usually one of the quietest aurors in the office- easily blending into whatever background she found herself against. That would all change though after she stepped onto the Pacific Squad a few years ago. Not because she suddenly had a desire to include herself in the various celebrations the Pacific Squad seemed to always be having- but rather because of one Emerson Yaxley. 

“I really don’t know why you keep dragging me to these things,” April shakes her head with a small chuckle as they step into the lively back patio of Harbird’s Malibu residence. It’d now been the third or forth time she’d come to the deputy chief’s home, a home which somehow fit the older wix to a t, even if it was his father who purchased it and likely furnished it to some degree. 

As they stroll past the dessert table, April plucks a licorice wand from a jar that sat open. A flood of pride soon swells in her, as her hand comes into contact with the sweet, and she can quickly recognize it as Harbird’s pride, likely from the rush of it he felt as he levitated the various desserts onto the table. Figuring Harbird’s pride wasn’t the worst thing to be afflicted with, especially at a party as overwhelming as this one, she continues to munch on the small treat. 

“Well, I guess we should exchange these, right?” She asks, as she holds up the slip of paper holding her clue for the Detective Game. “You can have it if you like,” she has to fight the urge to say, ‘I don’t need a hat to tell me I’m a great detective’, knowing it was Harbird’s pride telling her to do so, rather than her own. 

“I’d much rather watch you guys scheme and trick each other all night, than do it myself.” 

.

[crowfq]

( a couch at the party, early-ish, @emmyyaxley​ ) 

If there’s one perk of moving to Pacific Squad, its proximity to Emerson Fucking Yaxley. That distance has always been a strange thing, but whenever Crow is around her, he slips instantly into the connection, the warmth of family and the spark of friendship, true and easy and genuine. He feels like fucking shit, every time he forgets to talk to her, forgets to update her on something important. Relationship drama and parties, Emmy is well up to date on –– his occasional mental breakdown, not so much. He hasn’t been avoiding her, not at all, he couldn’t even want to. But he might have been avoiding any kind of serious converation, which is practically a chronic condition for him. 

She probably deserves better, as one of his best friends, but he’s here now to lavish her with all the attention that she deserves. He brings her a drink –– a real one, none of the shitty ones, something genuine that he knows she will like, that’ll be appreciated. His company will probably be apprecitaed even more, he’s sure. So he finds her in her spot and he collapses down next to her, slips the drink into her hand with ease. 

“I think fancy people are disgusting.” he declairs, definitely with in earshot of one of the fancier ministry types walking around. But not anybody that Crow recognises, so he’s pretty sure that he doesn’t actually care. Vesper shouldn’t have invited him if they didn’t want him to make at least three people uncomfortable before the night was out. “This house is disgusting. Have you seen all these rooms? The weird rich people art?” 

“Oh, but I had a really good idea for a drinking game.” He looks at her, twists to put his feet up on the couch under himself. “You drink every time Branwen gets that thinly-veiled look if dispair in their eyes, around our most esteemed of hosts.” 

[ignatiusyaxley]

midmorning, tuesday, central squad offices // @theaurorfiles-npc​

He had considered not even going into work. One day off didn’t feel fair, when he and Cass had been put through so much for a week, and then ended things even worse off than it had all started. Hell, once he had gotten out of the hospital, had made it back home, hugged Emerson and Tide, once Tide has filled him in on the news, he had genuinely just considered never going back to work ever again. Maybe move to Canada or something with Emmy, dropping Yaxley entirely, finally, maybe living like a muggle family, like his father had assumed he would’ve been doing anyway. But that would just be more cowardice, and he couldn’t stand the thought of giving the world one more thing to prove that he was just that, a coward.

So Ignatius comes in late, hoping maybe he’d be a little better prepared for it all, despite the ache in his bones, and in his head that just wouldn’t go away. And, of course, he’s not. He hasn’t been able to sleep since getting back, even with Emmy clingy, cuddling up next to him, and he hasn’t been able to wrap his head around Judith Eames asking him to do this, and then refusing to be honest, when it all comes out. Paranoia makes him wonder if she planned all of it, the ambush, planned not to have any of them come back, paranoia makes him wonder if he’s reading into it all.

And that’s without worrying about himself. Because there’s no defense here, if Eames is going to keep saying she didn’t do this. Where the fuck does that leave him? He’d joked with Marleigh about MACUSA needing to pay for therapy, but now he’s wondering if they’ll pay for legal defense, or if Eden can still do pro bono work even if they’re disbarred. He walks into the office, doesn’t even make it to his bloody desk, before an unfamiliar ginger comes towards him.

“Let me guess, I’m in big trouble, and you’ve got a few questions for me.”

[aurorduffyzanetti]

[incoming telekit message] Cadet Emerson Yaxley: how do you feel about some squib solidarity, toddrick? a clue for a clue maybe?

Going after my fellow squibs, now why didn’t I think of that? Good idea, Yax. 

You got yourself a deal. 

[yaxleyemerson]

❝It tastes so bitter. The truth’s a killer, but I cant leave it alone.❞ EMERSON YAXLEY looks a lot like that muggle, AVAN JOGIA, right? Only 28  years old, that RAVENCLAW alumnus works as a LAWYER and is sided with the WRAITHS. HE  identifies as MALE  and is a PUREBLOOD. [ 47, 28, THE VENGEFUL. ]

Death TW/Murder TW for mentions in the intro

Emerson was born exactly seven minutes after his twin sister Elianna. There was magic in that-the power behind the number seven magnifying their twin bond from the very beginning. The Yaxley’s were not an overly social or influential family. They had remained largely neutral during the last two conflicts within the wizarding world, and had come out of both of them largely unscratched. It didn’t make them many friends, seen too frequently as fencewalkers, but the few families that the twins socialized with prior to going to Hogwarts were those of respectable, pureblood names. Emerson didn’t mind it, not really, not when he had Elianna to spend time with growing up. He never felt lonely, never particularly felt the need for more even once they went to school. 

Not much changed when they started Hogwarts. Elianna was sorted first, and Emerson wasn’t surprised when they hat called Ravenclaw for her. He kept his nerves hidden when he had the hat placed on his head, silently hoping to follow his sister. He did, and he was happy to have his closest friend near to him. He made other friends over the years, but Emerson had never been the social twin, and was content to largely focus on his studies.

It wasn’t until after Emerson had finished becoming a lawyer that things began to shift. His parents started talking of marriage for him and his sister, and  they would never outright say it was a betrothal, but when Emerson proposed to Valentina, it wasn’t due to any love between them. They were friendly enough, in those early stages of their courtship, but it wasn’t until recently that there was any level of closeness to them. He thinks it might have to do with his joining the Wraiths, something he wouldn’t have considered until the unspeakable happened. There was a level of understanding between them now, this secret no longer having her keep him at arm’s length. It wasn’t love, not really, but it was at least friendship, someone to lean on as he struggled to deal with the unexpected loss of Elianna. 

It was Orion who told Emerson what had happened. That Elianna had been working for the Wraiths, spying on the Order to bring knowledge of their movements back to the Wraiths when she was caught. Her disappearance was because the Order chose to kill her for her betrayal. Emerson lost it when he heard, already deep in mourning for his sister, his twin, his best friend that he didn’t stop to question what Orion was saying. Emerson swore vengeance on those that took Elianna away from him, and he joined the Wraiths in order to do so. 

He chose Mortifer as his codename after careful consideration. Death bringer was what he was trying to be, and it felt apt to  name himself after his goals. It kept him grounded, reminded him why he was fighting. Emerson was never the type to get his hands dirty, and he likely would never have moved from his neutral position had Elianna lived, content enough with knowing his place in the world and not feeling a need to prove it. But he couldn’t let Elianna die in vain. He would avenge her death and further the cause she had given her life for. It wasn’t much, not when she was gone, but it was all he could do to honor her.

He hasn’t taken a rune yet, not sure which one would work best for his needs. He’s working on it now, thinking of the best way to maximize his abilities to do what needs to be done. There’s no lines he won’t cross to right the wrong that is Elianna’s death

Emerson puts little stock in the prophecy, his focus less on the conflict overall and more on his personal vendetta. He hasn’t given his own role in it much thought, hadn’t considered what line might refer to him, and he doesn’t particularly want to know. Eventually, when the truth of Elianna’s death comes to light, that it wasn’t the Order that killed her, that Orion twisted the truth and destroyed his sister’s legacy to recruit him to the Wraiths, he might regret this ignorance. The vengeful  will one day realize that they are the villain in their story – not the hero – and the aftermath will be catastrophic once they finally see themselves for who they truly are. A warning, that he was wrong, that he’s the one dishonoring Elianna’s memory, that she would never condone the actions he’s taking, one he could have heeded if only he wasn’t so focused on revenge.

[theaurorfileshq]

E M E R S O N   Y A X L E Y  /  A U R O R   O F F I C E R

AGE: Twenty-Eight

BADGE NUMBER: U76T43

BLOODSTATUS: Halfblood (No-Maj Mother) 

GENDER/PRONOUNS: Nonbinary, She/They

IDENTIFYING FEATURES: Always Wearing Beaded Bracelets, Always Wearing Something Pink, Slight Scottish Accent, Pierced Nose

STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES:

(+): Forensic Psychology Background, Potions, Magical Theory

(-):  Lack of Magic, Chip on Her Shoulder, Doesn’t Like to Take Direction

BACKGROUND:

There are two strange things that Emerson Yaxley knows as simple facts of her life from an early age. The first is that she knows that she doesn’t have a mother. At least that’s what she thinks her dad means when he first tries to explain in long rambling sentences to her why so many of the other kids in her class have two parents to draw in pictures, and she only has one. The second is she knows that she probably doesn’t have magic, even though her dad, and most of his friends do. It takes a little while longer for her to realize how both of those things are related, a little while longer still for her to realize she wishes she’d stop hearing about things she doesn’t have that make her life strange, and someone would tell her about secret, strange things she does have that make her life wonderful.

She’s one of the lucky ones, though, she knows. There’s never a point in which her dad makes her feel less for not having magic, and he makes sure she knows from the moment he tells her there’s a whole world of magic, and a whole world without that she can choose whatever she wants, no matter what. There’s never any illusion about things, so she’s in no-maj school from the start, makes friends easily who have no idea there’s another world, and she gets to grow up with them. She’s lucky that there are other people around, her dad’s friends who make it easier to understand, but it’s hard not to wish she could do all the things they can do, especially as she gets older and she’s around more and more people with magic, and realizes that most kids her age who have parents like her dad have magic. Unlike her.

One of the good things about being firmly rooted in the no-maj world is that her last name means nothing to her classmates, or her teachers, or anyone else she meets. It gets questions for its oddness sometimes, but they all end after she tells them her dad is Scottish. It’s different when she’s with her dad in the other world. There are stares, sometimes there are whispers, and it’s another one of those things that she doesn’t fully understand until she’s older, just what her dad’s family had done, exactly why they had had to run to America in the first place.

As all of that is happening, something else is, too. She knows that her mother is in England, knows that she doesn’t remember her or her dad because a lot of bad things happened right after Emerson was born because her mother didn’t have magic, either, and her dad’s family is full of bad, bad people. But she’s observant enough to realize even before her dad has a capital “t” talk with her that even things like that aren’t black and white. She likes having Athena around, and she can tell her dad likes having her around, too. He seems like he’s in a better mood more of the time, and it seems like it’s because of her. So she’s thrilled when she starts living with them, and she’s even more thrilled when they get married, partially because she gets to be the flower girl at the wedding.

But more importantly because everything feels a little warmer with the house fuller. It helps that she loves learning everything that Athena will teach her; she knows more about magical theory than most with magic, thanks to her, has all the helpful little enchantments she wants, could brew perfect potions on her own with her eyes closed. By the time she’s posed the question of if she wants to be a big sister—which, of course, she does—Athena isn’t Athena, she’s already mom to her. And when Jack and Cassandra Yaxley Falconer-Quinn are born, they’re not half-siblings, they’re just her siblings.

Still, there’s a serious conversation with her dad when she’s a teenager about whether or not she wants to try to find her mother. It’s a conversation she appreciates, even more so because she knows what her dad’s choice was once England was safe for him again, and he could’ve searched for her. And she considers it, has been considering it since she could understand fully what had happened and the complicated nature of all of it. How many times has she imagined seeing her mother for the first time, getting to hug her, and tell her just how alike they are? But she knows that’s not how it would go, because her mother doesn’t know she or her dad exist, doesn’t know magic exists. And considering it again, older now, makes her understand why her dad never chose to try to find her. It would be the selfish choice. It’s been years and years, and life keeps going, and it might be safe now to meet her, but her life didn’t stop moving once the memory charm hit her. She could have a family, a whole life that neither of them know about. It feels selfish to consider shaking her entire world to see if someone might be able to undo a years old memory charm, or even worse, to try to explain it all without undoing it. And they have a family here in America, a whole life her mother doesn’t know about, Emerson has her dad, and her mom, and her younger siblings. It leaves an ache in her chest, and she can’t help the tears that come with the decision, but she has no doubt in her mind that it’s the right one.

There are squibs who she knows of, and those as close to squib as the government says, who are happy living in the magical world, and she knows it would be possible, there’s so much innovation that you don’t need magic yourself to do a lot of things, and with her mom being who she is, she’s sure she would have it easier than most others out there trying to live in the wixen world without magic. But she can’t do the one thing she’s had her heart set on since she was little and her dad started introducing her to his friends at his old job, and she knows that she’ll never be fully satisfied in the wixen world if she’s not allowed to work as an auror. So when she graduates high school, and she’s a legal adult in both worlds, she makes the choice to live life in the no-maj world, a world where she could do whatever she wants.

Emerson decides that the best path to finding her own way, without all of the have nots hanging over her head, is to leave, at least for a few years. And leaving is easy for her, oddly enough, because of her dad, when she’s heard countless stories about how hard it was for him to leave because of who he is. Because she has an American passport, and a Scottish one, thanks to her dad, and there’s a manor sitting empty in Scotland with their last name on the deed, and no other Yaxleys left walking free to claim it. Her dad isn’t against it, per se, but she can tell he doesn’t like the idea of it. She wants to make something good of it, though, fix the place up, then get it off their hands so one of the last ties to that part of his life is gone; and she does like the idea of spiting the man who made it so she never knew her mother, and her father had to run. And once she’s made her mind up about something, there’s no use trying to stop her.

She gets into the University of Edinburgh easily, and she lists that address as her residence when she enrolls. And then she flies to Scotland, Kisky apparating ahead of her to help undo the wards around the manor, and make certain it was in a safe enough condition. She takes inspiration from her dad’s job at a private investigation firm, seeing the way he’s been able to keep doing the same good without being an auror on a squad that had put him through so much. They have jobs like that in the no-maj world, so she goes into forensic psychology, gets a degree, gets a masters, then plans to sell off the manor to some historical society or something, then head back to America to find a job.

It’s on a trip to London with some friends from school during holiday of her last year of her masters, before heading back to America for a few weeks until the new term. It’s at a flower stand in Covent Garden that she hears a name in the crowd, and looks around, unable to stop herself, and she sees her. There’s no way to be certain it’s her, and yet Emerson knows in her very soul that the woman in the pink dress looking up from a bouquet of a dozen blush roses at the sound of Sawyer called by a woman at the end of the aisle is her mother. It feels like a movie, everything slowing down and fading away but the moment she’s witnessing. She watches the way she smiles when she finds the other woman in the crowd, and she thinks her own smile looks a lot like hers, she watches her put the bouquet down and find her way to the woman, watches her kiss her cheek, take her hand, and then leave. And she knows they made the right choice. There’s no way to explain to her friends why she can’t stop the tears when she buys the bouquet of blush roses, but that doesn’t really matter.

She takes the flowers home when she leaves, and it feels a lot like closure of sorts. Her dad enchants the flowers to stay fresh forever, she leaves six with him, and takes six for herself, and it feels a lot like permission to keep going.

And it feels serendipitous that as soon as she’s back in Scotland to finish her masters, flowers in hand, she gets word from her dad that new laws were being passed, and suddenly she’s allowed to have the very thing she’s wanted since she was six.

The timing is too perfect, in the time it takes for all the changes to take effect, she has time to finish her degree, rid the Yaxleys of that stuffy old manor once and for all, and move back to America to prepare to do whatever she can to become an auror. And as soon as it’s all up and running, she’s accepted into the academy for people like her, and it’s no surprise she does well, determined to be living proof this should’ve been allowed a long time ago.

Two years later, she’s got interviews with both the Central Squad, and the Pacific Squad. The obvious choice is her parents’ old squad. It would make adjusting easier, still a few of her parents’ old friends around, but it would also make sure that not only would she have her lack of magic working against her, but she would be firmly in the shadows of her parents’ legacies. And she wants to make her own way. Plus, she’s always hated how gloomy Chicago is. She likes to think she was always meant to be in the sun, as cliche as it sounds.

So she moves to California, and starts with the Pacific Squad.

It’s not easy, of course, it was never going to be, but not one person could argue that she’s not excellent at her job. Her background in forensic psychology helps immensely, but so does everything that she learned from her parents. Sometimes she jokes that it’s lucky she doesn’t have magic, because it would be unfair to everyone else if she did on top of all her other skills. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t silently heartbroken the first time someone refused to take a case with her because of her lack of magic, it doesn’t mean she didn’t spend the next two weeks fluctuating between pissed off with the fact that’s even allowed, yet alone that someone would do it, and in tears convinced she should just go back to the no-maj world where she could be an expert with only the normal shitty prejudices, like gender, working against her. But she keeps going. The good people around her outweigh the awful, and she’s too stubborn to give any assholes the satisfaction of thinking they’re right that people without magic shouldn’t be aurors. No, she has every intention of proving those people wrong.

And she thinks she’s done a damn good job of it, so far.

[uprising-hqarchive]

event; the 30th war anniversary.

On the evening of the Second Wizarding War’s 30th anniversary, a memorial dinner will be held in the Great Hall of Hogwarts in honor of those who fought against the Dark Lord. Everyone in the wizarding world is invited to attend.…but during the memorial dinner, The Successor will finally make their appearance, and a war hero will fall.

ooc; this is information regarding the event that begins tomorrow, may 1st. we’ll make a post when the event begins, please don’t make starters until we do. under the cut is more about the event, guidelines, and starter task pairings.

what will happen:

All is well at the memorial dinner. During the night, Harry Potter stands at the Headmistress’s podium to make a speech -- but minutes after Harry begins talking, a cloaked figure emerges at the back of the Great Hall. A green light flashes through the Great Hall as more cloaked figures flood the room. The whispers are that it’s the Successor, finally making a physical appearance. The school, and party-goers, are placed under a lockdown and instructed by aurors not to leave as an investigation begins to take place. The fate of the Chosen One is unknown.

event info:

this is a major plot event, so we encourage everyone to participate. all characters can be involved, even if they aren’t paired for one of the starter tasks below. for this reason, the event has two moving parts.

part one: start of the dinner / general party

to set the mood of the event, members are encouraged to post general starters open to everyone. this will go on until a post is made on the main, announcing the attack. feel free to continue these threads throughout the entire event, but make no new general starters after the second post has been made.

part two: after the attack / the lockdown

this is where your pairings will come into play. members are encouraged to plot with their partner to figure out how their pairings ended up together, or even if it happened randomly. they will be together throughout the entire lockdown, how they handle the situation is up to you and your partner so have some fun with it! they must remain in the place until we announce that the lockdown has been lifted.

note: for characters who are not paired up. we’ve created spaces for them to go as the lockdown takes place. army members will meet up with each other, while neutral characters are reconvened to another location.

rules, guidelines, and reminders for the task:

no one is to know the successor is in attendance or have prior knowledge to the attack, we also don’t want any character interaction with the successor. (they attacked harry and vanished.)

no injuries, this won’t be a battle or fight between armies, so we don’t need anyone else getting hurt. (however, if you’d like your character to be involved in some kind of plot dealing with this, shoot us a message and we can discuss it!)

we’ll begin the event tomorrow at the start of the dinner. when it’s time to begin to the starter task portion of the event, another post will be made on the main. 

the starter tag for the general starters will be nirp.30 

this event was created to have some fun drama and to have characters branch out!  hopefully, this will encourage some new character plots and interactions.

and always, remember to have fun!

activity:

If for some reason you won’t be able to be active this week, please let us know ASAP so we can give your partner a new one. this is A LOT, so if you have any questions or are confused about anything, let us know and we’ll help out! 

locations in hogwarts for pairings:

Boathouse

Dylan Parkinson and Sebastian Thorne

Courtyard

Marcie Bloem and Albus Potter

Shrieking Shack

Emerson Rosier and Étienne Clavel

East floor Corridor

Jackson Krum and Hugo Weasley

Astronomy Tower

Ingrid Drake and Kennedy Rosier

Dumbledore’s Office

Ginny Potter and Elizabeth Jones

Prefect’s Bathroom

Harper Westenberg and Victoire Weasley

Charms Classroom

Charlie McLaggen and Alice Longbottom

Potions Classroom

Sakae Chang and Lyndsay Bell

Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom

Asra Yaxley and Reese Weasley

Library

Jacqui Aide and Morgan Laing

Hagrid’s Hut

Nikolai Nott and Lucy Weasley

Grand Staircase

Alexandra Flint and Celeste Dursley

Dungeons

Cassie Malfoy-Potter and Chrissie Parkinson

Ravenclaw Tower

Louis Weasley and James Potter

Quidditch Pitch

Maddie Wood and Daisy Bones

locations for armies & everyone else:

Dumbledore’s Army (after the attack, the coins of the d.a. members began to heat up. if they’re not involved with a partner their coins read; ‘R.O.R. Now’ to regroup with each other).

Room of Requirement

Death Eaters (after the attack, the marks of all the death eaters began to burn. if they’re not involved with a partner, they have been summoned).

Chamber of Secrets

Crimson Allies (after the attack, the crimson allies who are not paired up reconvened and went to their location together).

Greenhouse

Neutral Characters (after the attack, the neutral character who are not involved with a partner found themselves drawn back to where they started).

Great Hall

[thesacredrp-archive]

FEBRUARY 14, 1979 | VALISBLOT & VALENTINE’S

Since the death of Regulus Black, the magical world has changed. A vigilante group, the Order of the Phoenix, has been seemingly blamed, though only the Death Eaters are aware of the truth. Even the more liberal purebloods worry for their safety. If a young, pureblood scion can be found dead on the steps of Gringotts, what could happen to them? But life, as always, must continue, and though the pureblood contingent is in a state of mourning, they soldier onward. A date for the Ministry elections is set and Interim Minister for Magic Abraxas Malfoy begins to set his agenda.

Through Muggle influences, many magicals now celebrate Valentine’s Day, an aberration in the minds of many purebloods and other magical traditionalists. The original day, Valisblot, is an ode to the old Norse gods. It is a day to remember what they have lost, a day for sacrifice; it is a day for vengeance.

The Interim Minister for Magic has begun the first phase of his official campaign and though he cannot openly act against his detractors, he denounces the idea of Valentine’s Day in an exclusive interview with the Daily Prophet. “We have lost so much in this past year,” he says. “It is unconscionable that we, as witches and wizards, continue to take up muggle customs instead of celebrating our own.” Minister Malfoy announces that the Ministry will host a traditional sacrificial feast the night of February 14 for the entirety of the wizarding community, paid for from the Malfoy vault.

The newspapers, as always, have their commentary, and while the Daily Prophet lauds the Minister for standing up for traditional wizarding values, other, smaller papers argue that doing so ostracizes muggleborns from truly assimilating into their world.

A few muggleborn-owned businesses in London find it laughable and announce Valentine’s Day events at their locations, with one of the local pubs planning an all-night extravaganza.

But a small contingent of Death Eaters, acting with approval from the Dark Lord, if not having his explicit instruction decides that the traditional feast is not enough. This year, they decide, they will reclaim the day as their own. And vengeance will play its role.

The sacrificial feast goes off without a hitch, held in the atrium at the Ministry of Magic. Attendees mingle with each other, dining on cold food to symbolize the sacrificial nature of the feast, the loss of winter, and hope that spring will soon arrive. The mood is relatively somber, and for one evening the purebloods do not feel that they are entirely alone in saving their culture.

Attendees come and go as they please, with some staying for a short time and others staying for the entirety of the evening. Aurors are stationed at all entrances and it is clear that the Ministry is making a point about safety.

The small group of Death Eaters decides to attack London shops and businesses owned by muggleborns who choose to bring muggle culture into the magical world. It will be a sign, they believe, that assimilation is necessary to truly succeed. They wait until the feast is nearly over, when they assume everyone else will be at home or enjoying the Malfoys’ generosity, when those they care about will be safe.

And they miscalculate, unaware of how many magicals had gathered for a night of revelry in the London bars and pubs. What is intended to be a calculated attack becomes little more than mayhem, bolstered in part by the Death Eaters’ inebriated state as well as the intoxicated inhabitants of magical London.

There is chaos in Diagon Alley, Horizont Alley, and Carkitt Market as the Death Eaters attack; some fight back, others loot, and in the melee, several are injured. By the time the aurors arrive, anti-apparition wards have been placed and several people are stuck in the magical districts until early morning.

PAIRINGS

[Players are not required to do a thread for each of these, but I sincerely hope that you all wish to! At the very least, please work out specifics/headcanons together.]

EMERSON YAXLEY had little desire to participate in the Minister’s feast and had begged off, instead writing a short puff piece for the Prophet about one of the events in Carkitt Market. With HENRY SAYRE by her side, she is happily enjoying the evening until the shop next door to the pub is attacked. The two hide in a storeroom until they believe the danger has passed.

Though SIRIUS BLACK was still in mourning for his brother, he had attended the feast at the Ministry before slipping away to have a drink with an old friend. He is walking back to the apparition point when he hears the breaking of glass. As he investigates, he sees FLETCHER TRAVERS holding his hand to his side, looking worse for the war. When FLETCHER moves to shake his hand, SIRIUS is shocked to see it is covered in blood.

BRIAR AVERY had every intention of leaving the feast early. She had just come out of the powder room when NARCISSA BLACK came in. After engaging the other woman in conversation, word comes of attacks in London. Worried about her boutique, BRIAR leaves the Ministry to check on it. Against her better judgment, NARCISSA follows and the two are swept up in the throng of panicked people in the streets.

After the feast, AVA NOTT goes to Knockturn Alley to see her fiance. However, she is waylaid by the chaos in London. A stray spell clips her ankle and she crumples to the ground, the bones in one leg vanished. She is found by CHARLES AVERY who must devise a way to get her to St. Mungo’s amid the confusion.

While OPHELIA GREENGRASS attended the feast on her betrothed’s arm, she leaves with FITZGERALD GREENGRASS to see a band they like playing in a bar near Carkitt Market. When her brother disappears for a cigar, OPHELIA steps outside for some air and is surprised to see OCTAVIUS BURKE in the streets. She engages him in conversation and the two watch as the muggleborn-owned shop across the street is burned to the ground.

Meanwhile, FITZGERALD GREENGRASS pops over to Sip and Smoke for a cigar or two, planning to return before his sister misses him. He is stopped by ROSALIND SELWYN, who is near hysterics at the chaos in the streets. FITZGERALD agrees to see her home but before he is able to, the aurors arrive and place anti-apparition wards, forcing the two to remain together in Horizont Alley.

Unaware of what his comrades are planning, RICHARD SELWYN takes VIOLET WILKES for a drink in Horizont Alley. When sounds of breaking glass echo from the street, RICHARD investigates. He is joined by ROMAN DELACOUR. They do not engage the revellers and are just stepping back into the establishment when ROMAN is hit by a stray curse that leaves him unable to move.

Left to her own devices in Il Tavolo, VIOLET WILKES searches for a familiar face. Seeing HAZEL FAWLEY, she convinces the other woman to sit at the bar while they wait for an opportunity to escape home. When the aurors come, the two women watch as several innocent bystanders are carted off for questioning.

ADELAIDE GREENGRASS worries that her brother will continue his escapades with MARLENE MCKINNON. When she sees the younger woman at the feast in the Ministry, she engages her in conversation, eager to suss out her intentions. The two are still speaking when word comes of the attacks in London. They attempt to leave but are stopped by aurors fearful of their safety; instead, they spend the night drinking wine and playing cards in the corner while they wait for the all-clear.

LOGISTICS

The event will take place through SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, after which a short time shift will occur. You may roleplay anything listed above, but please do not roleplay past early morning on February 15, 1979. Make sure to tag your starters with thesacred:starter as well as thesacred:event6.  

Players are welcome to continue any current threads they have and are also encouraged to participate in the event. Any new players will be paired as well upon acceptance!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

[thesacred-events]

The Daily Prophet; June 23

Breaking News

Several muggle families were murdered on Midsummer’s Eve. The Ministry of Magic has confirmed that while the Dark Mark was not seen over any home, there was at least one child missing from each and most of them were killed through magical means. The missing children had seemingly reported having magical abilities. With no suspects, the Ministry of Magic implores its citizens to speak up with any information or knowledge of suspicious activity.

Social Event Commentary

As is usually the case during Litha, there were simply so many events that covering them all would be rather superfluous. Listed below are some highlights.

It is notable to mention that the Selwyns’ largest celebration in years was well attended and rather exclusive. When juxtaposed against the inclusive Crouch celebration, it was quite evident that wizarding society has doubled down on tradition and extravagance. The Daily Prophet has no complaint.

Arcturus Black’s yearly speech did not disappoint and many noted that most attendees at the Black Family Midsummer Brunch did all they could to avoid falling asleep in their soup. Perhaps it is time for the Blacks to allow the younger generation to take charge as it has clearly worked for the Selwyns.

The Burke Dinner Party also deserves a mention, as it was the first large event that has been held since Octavius Burke took over as head of the family. Whether it was truly planned by Octavius or if it was a Nott celebration in all but name remains to be confirmed.

The Avery party, while going long into the night, was rumored to descend into debauchery as the elder generation left, though that rumor was not confirmed by any known attendees.

Witch Weekly; June 24

Seen in Britain:

Roman Delacour: seen attending Henry Sayre’s morning after Midsummer brunch. Witnesses were heard to remark that he was not, technically, invited.

Coraline Parkinson: seen looking rather bereft at Hazel Fawley’s Midsummer party. With an engagement on the horizon, one would assume that Miss Parkinson would be happier on a daily basis.

Violet Wilkes: seen having tea with Fletcher Travers in a Diagon Alley cafe. Stepping out on Richard Selwyn already?

Octavius Burke: seen looking rather besotted by his fiancee. It is worth mentioning that Ava Nott was the perfect society hostess at the Burke Dinner Party.

Amycus Carrow & Rabastan Lestrange: overheard arguing as if they were scorned lovers before leaving a Litha party together.

Rhiannon Crouch: heavily involved in conversation with Roman Delacour at the Crouch Midsumer’s Eve Party. WW has to wonder if she was the only person he graced with a smile that evening.

Emerson Yaxley: seen kissing Henry Sayre. Witnesses report Miss Yaxley ran away immediately after. Is Mr. Sayre that bad at snogging?

Bellatrix Lestrange: noted as perhaps the only one who appeared to take in the erstwhile speech of Arcturus Black during the Black Family brunch.

Richard Selwyn: overheard to have lamented the loss of a great deal of money in poker to Amycus Carrow.

Rodolphus Lestrange: seen in the company of Maida Flint looking decidedly more than a little friendly. What would his wife say?

Ariadne Greengrass: seen talking animatedly with Hazel Fawley at the latter’s party to the point that one has to wonder about her state of intoxication.

Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black: seemed strained during the Black Family Midsummer brunch, missing the loving glances we are used to seeing.

Tristan Nott: seen giving lustful glances to both Bellatrix Lestrange and Ariadne Greengrass. Does he think he can have them both? Or, to be more specific, could he handle them both?

Rosalind Selwyn: seen dancing with Charles Avery at the latter’s party before walking off in a huff. Witnesses noted that words unfit for print were mentioned.

Isla Rosier: overheard to be arguing with her brother, Evan Rosier, at the Black Family’s Midsummer Brunch. About what, however, is anyone’s guess.

Rita Skeeter’s Blind Items

This man was noted giving his sister-in-law adoring gazes during multiple Litha events to the point that it made even this reported uncomfortable.

Overheard arguing, this couple may not be headed toward marriage after all. One is unsure of what to expect given that he was already known to have a wandering eye.

[emersonyaxley-blog]

Personal Para: Seeds of Friendship Location: Hogwarts When: Beginning of the Semester (3 mon.) Muses: Emerson, Isla ( @islarosier ) & Henry ( @henrysayre ) Other: Henry Yr. 3, Emerson Yr. 2, Isla Yr. 1 Note:This ended up with a lot of Isla in it. Oops.

Isla stood just outside of the second year girl’s Ravenclaw dormitory. There were a series of rumors about a garden growing inside. Any time Emerson was absent someone remarked that she likely got lost in the forest by her bed. Emerson Yaxley. That was a familiar name, though the face was hazy in her memory. The girl who should have been born a boy. That was what her mother always said. 

When the door opened, Isla jumped, her head bowing in embarrassment as one of the older girls looked her over, not without some disdain, before squeezing by her. Her stomach turned anxiously. School had started three months ago, and she still didn’t have anyone to call a friend. In the brief moment that the door was freed from its frame, Isla’s curiosity was fueled. All of the windows and much of the free space around a bed sitting on the left side of the room was littered with multiple plants with a surprising slew of colors. The scene ended too quickly. 

Emerson hummed, cradling the plant against her stomach as she lumbered toward her dorm room. Another plant meant another annoyed look from some of the girls in her dorm, but she didn’t mind. In truth, it was a bit of fascination for everyone. The girls who complained about it the most were also the ones telling everyone about the garden she kept in the dorm. 

“It's a nice door, isn’t it?” 

Isla jumped at the voice behind her, spinning around rapidly, forcing the female to step back to keep from dropping what she held. She was amazed by the older girl’s grace, her vibrant smile, the confidence in her posture. “D-door?” Isla stuttered, a blush creeping over her cheeks.

Her head inclined, hazel eyes slipping past the blonde’s shoulder. “You were staring at it,” Emerson pointed out, shifting the plant to the crook of one arm. “It’s oak,” she added, still smiling as her dark hair spilled into her gaze. A sharp jerk of her head sent it back. Sighing she moved the pot from one arm to another. “Mind opening it, this is getting kinda heavy,” she grunted hoisting up the plant. 

She couldn’t help but watch at the dark-haired girl. Was she really talking about the door? Isla glanced back at it; it was a nice door but she’d hardly say that it was captivating. There were ones at the estate that were more ornate compared to this plain wooden door. “The door?” 

“Yeah, can you get it? I think my arms are about to pop outta their sockets,” Emerson groaned. 

“I don’t think that’s possible,” Isla remarked looking the plant over. It appeared heavy, but there didn’t seem to be a chance it would free the girl’s arms from her body. 

Emerson blinked dumbly before giving into a bout of laughter. “I was joking!” She exclaimed with a quick shake of her head trying to get her hair out of her eyes. “Really though, it’s getting heavy.” 

“Oh, yes!” Isla spun back around and opened the dormitory door. Stepping into the room, Isla found herself speechless. The glimpse she’d caught earlier hadn’t done it justice. Up close the colors were far more vibrant; it was astounding to see how many types of plants were hiding away in the dorm.

Grunting, Emerson shuffled into the room and set the plant down on top of the trunk at the foot of her bed. A satisfied groan parted her lips as she stretched her arms out above her head. “Thanks,” her grin was back on her face as her fingers stuffed her dark hair back behind her ear. “Let me wash my hands, and we can go.”

Her gaze settled on Emerson’s face, “Go where?” Isla asked - she couldn’t help but notice that somehow, the jungle that surrounded Emerson suited. There was a small twinge in Isla’s chest. If only she had someplace she belonged too.

“Dinner of course!” Emerson responded brightly, hands already slapping against her thighs to clean off the dirt.

Isla matched Emerson’s pace as they moved toward the Great Hall. With the other girls in her year, there was always a strange, awkward silence, but the second year girl seemed to fill that easily. Even when she hadn’t been talking, Isla didn’t feel the strain that the silence left. The only issue she had now was keeping up with Emerson as she managed to move from one comment to the next, all in a steady train of thought. She’d seen her do this before, in the common room — it was hardly a secret how intelligent Emerson was, but her strange nature was what made her a little off-putting for some of their classmates. She’d noticed that there was almost a sort of roughish charm to her fellow Ravenclaw.

“What I really want is a Wiggentree,” Emerson continued, almost skipping down the corridor. Her head turned as she beamed at Isla. “Just imagine all of the little Bowtruckles!” A hand came up, fingers pinching together, eyes shining brightly. Before she could continue, a call from down the hall drew her attention.

“Emerson!” Henry jogged up to the girl, leaving his housemates behind, an arm slinging around her shoulder as he fell into step on her other side. There was a small thrust of his chin, feeling smug as he made sure Emerson noticed how he shortened his stride to match hers.

She’d almost failed to realize how tall he’d gotten. Seeing Henry every day during the Summer had played a trick on Emerson’s eyes. It wasn’t until their mothers had dragged them out shopping for new robes that she’d realized how her best friend’s body was starting to change. He now stood at least a head taller than her which he often rubbed in her face. For the longest time, she’d been exactly an inch bigger and he’d gone and ruined it.

“Who’s your friend?” his head inclined toward Isla when he noticed the small blonde walking with them. It had been the distinctive hand movements that had alerted Henry to Emerson’s presence ahead of him in the hall in the first place. Though initially, he’d assumed she’d been chattering away to herself.

Henry’s question made her pause. While she’d been talking the girl’s ear off for the past several minutes she hadn’t paused to ask her name.

Noticing his friend’s expression, Henry grinned and leaned in front of Emerson, extending his hand toward the blonde. “Henry Sayre,” he announced.

A light blush colored Isla’s cheeks as she noticed Henry matching the lopsided grin Emerson had earlier. She knew who he was too. In the past, she’d seen him with Emerson at some of the events, though their heads were usually bowed, the two of them giggling with one another, and darting off before she had a chance to speak to either of them.

“Isla Rosier,” she accepted his hand, giving it a brief shake with a bit of a wobbly smile.

“Emerson Yaxley!” the girl between the two of them announced with a pleased grin. This earned her an elbow in her side from Henry. “Everyone else was introducing themselves,” she said with a light sniff, her pout quickly shifting back into her patented smile.

Henry sighed and shook his head, “This is why I’m your only friend, Ems,” he noted. Momentarily shocked when nudged shoved him away with a loud protest. Used to Emerson’s physical reactions, Henry was able to keep his feet beneath himself and match her pace again with ease. It was comfortable walking with her like this. What worried him was her protesting. It’d been a long running joke between the two of them. Henry was her best friend by default because he was her only friend. Most of the time Emerson was the one to announce this fact with pleased laughter.

Isla shrunk back when Emerson objected. Her gaze shifted between the two of them. They seemed to have been doing alright a moment ago. “I’m sure she has other friends,” Isla said breathily, trying to help Henry out. She was suddenly nervous, Emerson had seemed so nice, a part of her had found herself hoping that maybe the two of them could be friends but— the sudden influx of thoughts ceased as she felt an arm settle around her shoulder. A quick assessment of Henry and Emerson’s faces seemed to suggest that in spite of her complaint, everything was fine. 

“I’ve decided that Isla is my friend too!” Emerson proclaimed boldly.

Henry’s head fell back with laughter. There was no denying that Emerson was a peculiar sort, but that was all the more reason he enjoyed spending time with her. You never quite knew what to expect when it came to her, she easily moved between reality and fantasy, finding a home in both.

“Fine, fine, fine,” he sighed, draping his arm around her neck again. Henry leaned in front of Emerson again, his eyes narrowing at Isla, though his wide grin gave him away. “Don’t think you’re going to be her best friend yeah?” his features softened. “That’s my job!” he crowed happily as the three of them entered the Great Hall.

After a moment more of needling, Emerson peeled herself away from Henry, her arm still holding Isla near. She noticed that the young girl had seemed almost reclusive, though through no fault of her own. Emerson had experienced something similar herself. There was just something about their classmates that left them lingering somewhere on the outskirts of it all. Not that she minded, it was what she had Henry for after all. So long as she had her best friend, she’d be fine. 

Isla was a different matter. Not everyone fared as well as Emerson did on their own, she knew that. There just wasn’t an opportunity to talk to the girl. Because of her headstrong and energetic nature, Emerson assumed she was the last person Isla would want to talk to — though all of that seemed to have been forgotten as she’d rambled away as they walked to dinner.

When she’d left the Ravenclaw dorm that morning, Isla been set to walk on her own. Emerson’s declaration was just wishful thinking, wasn’t it? The dark-haired girl had been nice during dinner, but Isla had chalked it up to her pureblood upbringing. Even she knew that you had to put on something of a face in front of other purebloods. Though Emerson didn’t seem the sort, Isla didn’t think she should push her luck.

It’d been a surprise to find Emerson waiting for her, and even more of one when she’d latched onto her arm and started dragging her out into the hall telling her that Henry was already waiting for them.

Isla’s hand moved to cover her mouth as she watched Emerson and Henry making faces at one another the next morning over breakfast. She’d only been looking for one friend, but somehow she’d found two.

Emerson nudged Isla but turned away as her finger turned her nose up, tongue sticking out as she made a face at Henry. “Come on, Isla,” she urged, her eyes shining brightly as she turned toward the girl. “We can’t let Henry win!”