#hphm nora magnus

[hphm-etched-engraved-everlasting]

28. Em

Author’s Note/Table of Contents

MCs/OCs featured: 

Nora Magnus [ @dat-silvers-girl ]

Sarahi Silvers [ @dat-silvers-girl ]

There was something about the pumpkin juice at Hogwarts that brought a smile to my face despite all that was happening. Perhaps it was the flavour of the drink, fresh in any temperature, or the bright orange colour that looked a bit like liquid fire. Whatever the case, it was something I wouldn't turn down for the world, even as things got bad.

And I knew things were about to get really, really bad.

I couldn't get Jacob's words out of my head, insistent as he told me to not get involved with he trouble he dragged our family into. The look on his face was enough for me to feel guilty, not only for him and his predicament, but for me and my reckless behaviour. If I dove too deep into this, they feared that I wouldn't surface again. I knew Jacob already took too deep of the plunge to even bother coming back up for air, but he couldn't control the people he took in tow. Clara was already caught on the line--what did it matter if I joined in? Even if I was just a first-year who knew only the most rudimentary stuff, I knew I had to help my siblings. Not knowing them well enough when I was younger was no excuse.

The sweet tang of the pumpkin juice coated my tongue as I swallowed it down, imagining it drowning down the worries and fears I had for my older siblings. I just hoped that neither of them suffered from horrible repercussions that could potentially arise.

"Oi, leave her alone, will you?" I heard someone pipe up from behind me. "The only reason she doesn't want to speak to you is because you've already injured her enough!"

I turned around now to see Dawn and Nora face Eunice and Travis with daggers in their eyes, eyebrows narrowed as they stared the two Slytherins down. What was going on here?

"It was just a lousy Flipendo," Eunice drawled. "I didn't ask for her to break her elbow."

"Does it matter? First her nose, then her elbow--not even Nora would hurt her intentionally!" Dawn cried. "Whatever trick you two have up your sleeves this time, we're not interested in seeing it. I'll even tell Professor Snape what you've been up just to stop you both from bullying anyone else."

"She's another source of disgrace!" Travis added on, not even sparing me a glance. "I'm surprised you two would rather roll around in 'cursed kid' scum. No thanks. We'd rather squash her out before she infests everyone with her disgusting--"

SMACK!

The resounding crack of cartilage made me blink as Nora's fist connected with Travis' nose, punching deep into his face. Blood slowly began to trickle out of his nostrils, the scarlet carving a path over his pale face; the sneer suddenly dropped, and his expression morphed into one of horror.

"You--you wouldn't--" Travis muttered wildly.

"Key word: intentionally," Nora repeated, eyebrows narrowing further. "Now scram before I do something even worse."

The two Slytherins didn't have to think twice. With one last horrified look at Nora, they turned on their heels and hightailed out of there.

"What did they want with me this time?" I asked Nora and Dawn then, wiping my mouth with my napkin as they sat down by the Hufflepuff table. "And why bother you two about it?"

"Your guess is as good as ours," Nora responded grimly, twisting her fist decisively against her robes. "I'd assume they'd want to pick a fight with you after hearing that you've learned and somehow perfected the Disarming Charm way before Professor Flitwick taught it to us."

"Though it did surprise us, I'll say that!" Dawn added. "How did you learn the Disarming Charm so quickly?"

I didn't tell anyone about my involvement with Clara's friends. Well, Nora saw me and Diego working together, and Hillary saw me with the Weasleys, but no one else knew much about the people I spend time with. I don't even think they know about the fact that I've attended a few of Bill's Defence Against the Dark Arts tutoring lessons sometimes.

"Diego taught it to me," I eventually replied. "He taught me while we were in the Duelling Club one night."

"Not to be rude, but...who's Diego?" Nora asked, tilting her head slightly at the name. "Not one of us first-years, right?"

"You mean Diego Caplan?" Dawn interjected. "He's one of the strongest duellers at Hogwarts! Not to mention he's good-looking. He's a sixth year Hufflepuff," she added to Nora, who only nodded in slight confusion and acknowledgement.

"And he's one of my sister's friends," I said. "They've been looking out for me quite a lot since the start-of-term feast. They've always had my best interest at heart."

"So that's who your sister introduced you to, then!" Nora finally realized. "No wonder you've already gotten quite a few friends."

"I can't always rely on them, though. They'll be graduating soon, and who would I be left with once they're gone?" I pointed out. "I'll admit, though, you guys are a good bunch to hang out with too."

"Aww!" Dawn gushed then, pulling me into a brief side hug. "I mean, why not? You're a student just like any of us. There's really no reason to treat you differently because of who your brother is."

For all the bullying and attacks that Eunice and Travis had beset on me, it was a relief to see that there were a lot of people who still cared about me and my well-being. I nodded and smiled at the two of them, a warm fuzzy feeling radiating within me. "Thank you both."

The two girls just smiled back as they grabbed a sandwich each, and we shared our dinner together that night.

---

As Halloween started to roll around, the excitement for the spookiest day of the year began to spark in bursts like heated embers by the fireplace. Professor Dumbledore eventually called on a few student volunteers to help with decorating for the season a few days prior, and not to my surprise, a lot of students actually signed on.

"You should join too!" Dawn encouraged me, pointing to the sign up sheet. "We need someone of your creative calibre, after all! I'm sure you'll do a great job leading us."

"This isn't like creating flower hairpieces, Dawn," I warned her. "I can make a few basic crafts, but to lead students into making them?"

"It should be cake!" Hillary chirruped beside me. "Please?"

"Not to mention, we'll even get to work with Hagrid's giant pumpkins!" Nora added. "And I bet we'll create some awesome Jack-O-Lanterns with your help!"

Next thing I knew, Dawn grabbed the quill and signed my name on the sheet before I could say anything, and everyone wheeled me into the Great Hall to help with the decorating process.

"Ahh, Miss Lin," Professor Dumbledore greeted me with a serene smile. "And I see your friends convinced you to help, is that right?"

"That's right, Professor!" Hillary agreed. "She's actually pretty talented with crafts."

"Then I see you'll be a wonderful asset to our team," Professor Dumbledore said with an approving nod. "Very well. You four can go take a seat over there, and we'll get started shortly."

I normally wasn't a fan of Halloween. When I was much younger, my mother once scared me with a banshee mask on her face and a short loud "boo!" that made me cry in fright. I was wary of scary faces from that point on, but here it seemed very different. There were no masks around, no scary faces to be pulled--just floating Jack-O-Lanterns and dark candles that Professor Flitwick levitated with the recently taught Levitation Charm, and a couple of streamers and banners for us to hang around the Great Hall. Everyone had different tasks to do--the younger students had the job of making the streamers and banners, while the older students handled the knives and carved the Jack-O-Lanterns. I remembered offering one of my designs to one of Clara's other friends who signed on--Liz, I think her name was--and in no time she and a boy sporting Gryffindor coloured face paint carved out the Hogwarts castle on the biggest pumpkin in the room.

"Whoa! That looks amazing!" I heard one of the Weasley twins suddenly exclaim behind me, and I turned to see the two of them grin at the giant Hogwarts castle silhouette on the giant pumpkin.

"Now that is what I call an impressive Jack-O-Lantern!" George agreed with Fred. "Who came up with the design for it, by the way?"

"I did," I said, waving a hand.

Now Fred beamed at me and shook my hand excitedly. "Well, I'll say, you got quite some potential!" he said.

"Right?! We all played a part in the decorating, but I think her Hogwarts pumpkin is going to be the ultimate highlight," Dawn said, joining us with a huge grin on her face. "If I had any say in this, I'd say she should start an arts and crafts club of her own."

"What?" At the sound of that, I shook my head. "Dawn, you can't be serious--"

"I'm serious! You can literally turn something into anything!" Dawn said. "Like your flowers--you can turn them into crowns! I've seen you do that in our dormitory a few nights ago. And you even turned a Sickle into a pendant--and a button into a charm--"

"I figured we could all use that kind of extracurricular," I nodded thoughtfully. "I mean, if everyone loves and appreciates that, I guess I can foster their interest in that."

Just then, I saw Sarahi enter the Great Hall with a few books in her arms. The moment she saw me, she quickly ran over to me.

"Em!" she called out.

I quickly waved her over just as she approached, a tired smile on her face. "Hello, Sarahi."

"I know I meant to reach out to you much earlier, but how are you doing?" she asked. "You know, with Eunice and Travis messing around with you and all."

"Managing," I managed to respond with a sheepish laugh. "I mean, at least they haven't had the urge to injure me again. A bloody nose and a fractured elbow is enough for me for one year. Let's just hope I don't get petrified next."

"Oh, yeah. I wouldn't want to think about the Petrification Curse either," Sarahi mumbled darkly.

"I just hope my sister and brother know what they're doing," I eventually said. "They recently just told me to have at least one normal year at Hogwarts. How can things be normal when they're pulling themselves deeper and deeper into danger every year? All I can do in the meanwhile is try to dodge Eunice and Travis every chance I get."

Beside me, Dawn wrapped an arm around me and squeezed my shoulder with a hand. Sarahi just nodded at the mention of my older siblings.

"Em, you know that when it comes to family matters...I'm not exactly the best person to turn to for advice," Sarahi said. "But know that when it comes to bullies, I'll protect you with everything I have. If I have to, I will Depulso Eunice and Travis into the sun, and I don't care how young they are. If they only act to hurt, that's not okay at all."

"Better than throwing a Dungbomb at them?" Fred countered, slightly disappointed.

"Lots of problems can be solved without Dungbombs, Fred," Nora warned him as she caught up to us. "And besides, I think we have gotten enough of your stinky pranks."

"Speak for yourself. Come Halloween, though..." George winked at Fred and chuckled. "You may have yet to see our first big heist."

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it, alright," Nora mumbled while everyone else laughed.

The sounds tumbling out of my mouth made my heart light again, and I thought back to the time I helped Hagrid with making rock cakes in his hut a few weeks ago. I had never really felt this happy since then. I suppose that was all a part of life--the happy times, the sad times, the scary times that would detach us from what we used to call 'normal'.

If only life was just as sweet as the pumpkin juice here. I wouldn't hesitate to drink it down every day if I had the option to.

[dat-silvers-girl]

🖍

"Fancy a game of football mate?"

"NOT IN THE COURTYARD, NORA!!!"

(@lins-hogwarts-mystery 's Clara or Em at some point😅)

I was appalled that I gave such an important role to Nora in Year 6 and yet I had never drawn her!? Time to change that! And this was the perfect excuse to draw her.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present... Nora Magnus, muggle-born witch, and first-year Gryffindor! She began her Year 1 at Hogwarts as Sarahi started her Year 6.

Details: Nora Magnus is the younger sister of Anna Magnus, one of Sarahi's muggle best friends. Nora was a late blooming witch. Her magical abilities were revealed when Sarahi was in Year 4, when a tantrum of hers let out some accidental magic.

Early on during her first year, Nora becomes close friends with Fred and George Weasley, Beatrice Haywood, and Ismelda Murk. She also becomes good friends with Cedric Diggory, but that was much later. One of Nora's best friends is Emily Lin, the younger sister of Clara Lin, the Gryffindor prefect.

During the course of Sarahi's sixth year, Nora proceeds to become her venting buddy, when she realizes that none of Sarahi's so-called friends truly care about her. Nora does not trust most of Sarahi's friends, with the exception of Rowan and Barnaby. However, she keeps her feelings to herself so as to not hurt Sarahi. However, much later, after [Redacted]'s death, she openly tells all of Sarahi's friends how she feels about them. Nora's accusations upset Sarahi at first, but she clarifies that she doesn't hate them, but that they can be better friends to Sarahi.

As a muggle-born, Nora is deeply interested in the Wizarding world. She does not feel afraid of the curses at Hogwarts, because she fully trusts Sarahi, and her belief is that every curse is meant to be broken.

And if it isn't obvious already, she loves to play Muggle football and is actually very good at it. She often used to play in the courtyard, but after a few accidents with some students (including Em), Clara has had to keep reminding her to STOP freaking playing football in the courtyard! If you gonna play, play in the training grounds!

[lins-fandom-hub]

HPHM Profile: Em Wen-Hui Lin

Template by @hogwartsmystory​

Profile subject to change.

IDENTITY

Name: Emily “Em” Wen-Hui Lin

Gender: Female

Age: 12 as of May 31, 1990

Birth Date: February 19, 1978

Species: Human

Blood Status: Half-blood (both parents are Muggle-born attending wizarding institutions)

Sexuality: Undetermined

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Ethnicity: Chinese

Nationality: Um...British, I think?

Residence: Oxford, England

Myer Briggs Personality Type: ISFP

THE MAGE

Wand: Rowan and Phoenix feather, 11 inches, quite flexible

Animagus: N/A. Of the three siblings, only Clara has become an Animagus.

Misc Magical Abilities: Like her siblings, Em is a Legilimens--although she did not recognize the power until late in her 6th year.

Boggart Form: Her inner demons are her downfall. Her Riddikulus form makes the entire room dark, leaving her in the spotlight, standing in front of the glowing column of a Cursed Vault, while shadows of her past begin to echo her worst thoughts. Most of them pertained Jacob’s permanent disappearance, or her older sister abandoning her for good. She just cannot stand the thought of standing there, helpless while her family suffered.

Riddikulus Form: Her Riddikulus form is of the demons popping like soap bubbles all around her, the voices warbled with every bubble that rose. The prevailing darkness will fade as well. The Cursed Vault will become a giant teddy bear. 

Amortentia: (What do they smell like?) Freshly ground mint, cinnamon, freshly baked fudge, and tomato juice.

Amortentia: (What do they smell?) She smells fresh linens, nutmeg, smoke from a fire, and...wait, is that honey lemon tea?

Patronus: If she can produce a Patronus, it would be of a black swan. A little strange when compared to Jacob’s falcon and Clara’s unicorn, but her grace and poise is not to be underestimated.

Patronus Memory: the day the tension from the Cursed Vaults finally subsided and she saw the light return to her siblings’ eyes.

Mirror of Erised: She sees herself with her older siblings, both of them genuinely smiling in happiness. Her family has completely reconciled, and she feels at peace.

Specialized/Favourite Spells: Before Em goes to Hogwarts, she knew already of the Herbivicus Charm, which her father taught her to speed up the growth of flowers. This was very useful for her whenever people requested her to make flower crowns at the arts and crafts club she heads along with her friend Dawn. Em can cast a really good Expelliarmus as well--a powerful one that could send the wand flying far away from the owner. In later years, one should watch out for her Tarantallegra and Obscuro. Unbeknownst to several of her classmates, she could also perform a good shield charm thanks to training with her siblings in her first year.

APPEARANCE

Faceclaim: TBD

Voiceclaim: TBD

Game Appearance: (may subject to change every once in a while)

Height: 4’10 at 11, but grows a bit before reaching adulthood

Weight: She is on the slightly light side, lighter than average.

Physique: Relatively frail, but her glare can make up for her strength and power behind her spells.

Eye Colour: Dark brown

Hair Colour: Black

Skin Tone: Pale

Body Modifications: N/A

Scarring: N/A

Inventory: Em carries two silk bookmarks, a beaded bracelet, her wand, a few flower clips, several quills and bottles of ink, and some parchment.

Fashion: Most of the time in school, Em wears her school robes. Yes, even when she’s not in class, she wears her school robes. She would always have a flower in her hair.

ALLEGIANCES 

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff

Ilvermorny House: Pukwudgie/Wampus?

Affiliations/Organizations: Hufflepuff House (Hogwarts); Circle of Khanna (Hogwarts); Order of the Phoenix (1996-); St. Mungo’s Hospital

Professions: Healer at St. Mungo’s

HOGWARTS INFORMATION

Class Proficiencies:

Astronomy: A

Charms: E

DADA: O

Flying: A

Herbology: O

History of Magic: A

Potions: E

Transfiguration: E

Electives: Care of Magical Creatures (E), Ancient Runes (A), Muggle Studies (E)

Quidditch: Em does not join the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, but she is a great supporter of the team in the spectator stands.

Extra Curricular: Arts and Crafts Club (leader), Duelling Club

Favourite Professors: Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall

Least Favourite Professors: Professor Binns

RELATIONSHIPS

Brother: Jacob Pan-Hui Lin

Although she and Jacob never really were that close, she still admires him for what he does and never held a grudge against him for his mistakes. She longs for them to reunite when she learned he went missing, and always wanted to know him and get along with him.

Older sister: Clara Xing-Hui Lin

Em didn’t really get a chance to connect with Clara until the summer before her first year at Hogwarts. Still, she was firm on helping Clara through her trying times and helped her in any way she could to break the final curse and stop R once and for all.

Father: Sueh-Yen Lin

Mother: Renee Lin (nee Tao)

Love Interest: currently N/A

Best Friends: Dawn Everett, Hillary Redstone, 

Rival: Travis Poulter, Eunice Ahn

Enemy: R, Voldemort and Death Eaters

Dormmates: Dawn Everett, three other Hufflepuff girls

Pets: Cheddar (rat), some others TBD

Closest Canon Friends: Penny Haywood, Chiara Lobosca, Nymphadora Tonks, Diego Caplan, Andre Egwu, Charlie Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Cedric Diggory, Badeea Ali, Barnaby Lee, Liz Tuttle, Tulip Karasu

Closest MC/OC Friends: 

Sarahi Silvers (@dat-silvers-girl )

Nora Magnus (@dat-silvers-girl )

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

Pre Hogwarts: 

Em was around 5 or 6 when Jacob disappeared. Since then, all she had known was broken bonds and tears.

Her sister drifted away from her as well in her first 5 years at Hogwarts. She had to learn in this time to stand alone in the worst of the storm. 

1st Year: 

Em was Sorted into Hufflepuff on the first day at school

The statue curse prevailed during little Em’s first year at Hogwarts

Following the Halloween Feast, Em created the Arts and Crafts club at her friend Dawn’s suggestion--where members create many wonderful things out of everyday items

She and Clara take up Bill’s offer to go to the Burrow for Christmas.

After Rowan Khanna’s death, Em was roped into the Circle of Khanna by Diego Caplan who insisted the group needed her duelling skills

While Clara was preparing the Polyjuice Potion to infiltrate R, Em got to see all the Vaults firsthand that have been broken

Prior to Clara’s trip to the Black Lake with Ben, Merula, and Jacob, Em comes around and gives Clara a flower crown to present to the merqueen

After the curse was lifted, just as Clara threw a party at the Three Broomsticks, Em threw a party in the courtyard with the people who were unable to go to Hogsmeade

2nd Year: 

Em returns to Hogwarts for her second year prepared to help her siblings take down the rest of R

3rd Year: 

Em returns to Hogwarts without her siblings for the first time. However, it was then when she met the Boy Who Lived--Harry Potter.

The year passed pretty normally for her

4th Year: 

When the Chamber of Secrets was opened, little Em was one of the first to ensure that all the younger Hufflepuff students remained calm in this time

She already knew firsthand that Gilderoy Lockhart was suspicious, and so she wrote her mother when he was outed (and his memory was permanently wiped)

5th Year: 

Em becomes a Hufflepuff Prefect for her fifth year along with Cedric Diggory

The year that Sirius Black escaped has been a tough one for her. Imagine Percy constantly on high alert, especially since he’s Head Boy--she’s adapted his high alertness once more, fearing for the entire student body once more

Despite all this, little Em came out successful in her OWLs, obtaining an impressive eight OWLs while only failing History of Magic (she dropped Muggle Studies after her 4th year)

6th Year: 

Enter: The Goblet of Fire, and the Triwizard Tournament!

Em was too young to participate, so she ended up sitting by the sidelines cheering both her friend Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter on

She did not develop a crush on any of the boys in her year (mostly because she can’t be bothered right now with romance, maybe), but she did go to the ball with another Ravenclaw boy in her year

The loss of Cedric Diggory at the end of her 6th year had put her in another mute grief. First, she sat through Rowan Khanna’s memorial--she didn’t expect to sit through another one five years later, and one for one of her closest friends too.

7th Year:

Prior to starting her 7th year, her older sister Clara left for China

Em becomes one of the Head Girls in her 7th year, but the arrival of Dolores Umbridge and the way she instilled all these regulations made her secretly pissed off

She wholeheartedly supported Fred and George in testing their joke products so that they could make a profit out of their talents

When they left Hogwarts on their broomsticks after a while, she too was one of the few who wished she could leave the school but could not

Order of the Phoenix / 2nd Wizarding War:

Em was roped into the Order of the Phoenix along with her brother, Jacob, by none other than Professor Dumbledore immediately following graduation

While her sister was in China holding back the Japanese forces, the times they had to talk were far and few in between--however, they were able to talk when they could, and Em relayed everything that happened to her through encrypted letters sent to her grandmother

Em was the one who alerted Clara of the upcoming Battle of Hogwarts--while the siege went underway, she stuck close to Diego

Em survives the battle--she mourned for Fred and the many lives that were lost

Post-War:

Em ends up becoming a Healer at St Mungo’s, helping those who have undergone traumatic experiences during Voldemort’s rise

Future relationship TBD.

PERSONALITY

Though she comes off as a shy soul, little Em is not completely fragile. Behind her kind eyes laid years of suffering from her family’s arguments and broken bonds--yet she pushes forward, and her persistence does not go unnoticed

Em is always willing to offer a helping hand, even though she’s the one who needs it most.

She cares deeply for those who she ends up befriending and trusting. This also includes most of Clara’s friends at Hogwarts.

Though soft-spoken and easy to knock over, her spells could pack a serious punch.

MISC

Em’s love of Herbology came from her father, whom she loved helping in the family gardens long before Jacob’s disappearance.

She doesn’t play many instruments like her sister, but she has a decent singing voice good enough to join the Frog Choir. However, the thought of that made Em shake her head--she really only sings for fun, after all.

Em’s love for crafts came from the time Jacob gifted her a Hippogriff ornament at her first Christmas that he made himself.

[hphm-etched-engraved-everlasting]

16. Em

Author’s Note/Table of Contents

MCs/OCs featured:

Nora Magnus [ @dat-silvers-girl​ ]

Clara wasn't the only one shaken up by the Haywood sisters' argument. Even if I tried my hardest not to show it, I couldn't help but feel rage's fire flicker through my veins, blazing through my entire being. What Beatrice did was just not cool at all. Pushing away a sibling like that...it was like a slap to the face for those who cared for them most dearly. Though I was perhaps the most detached from my older siblings, I never saw any reason to shut them out from any business of mine if they ever asked me about it. In fact, I'd rather embrace every opportunity I'd have with them.

I just hope I still had enough time with Jacob--assuming he's still alive.

Since that argument, though, Diego never left my side. Well, unless we were both in class, but besides that he was always there. Always catching up with me at the Hufflepuff table at lunch with a sandwich in hand. Sitting in front of the fireplace in our common room on some evenings with a small bag of cheese at the ready. Stress over the Cursed Vaults had taken a toll on Clara, and whenever she wasn't around her friends would always be there. They were like the family I never had, with each of them guiding me through all my troubles and making sure I was doing alright.

Of course, I would never forget about Hillary, and Fred and George, and Cedric, and Angelina and Alicia. Time spent together in the classrooms and beyond made us bond even more, and it made me smile to think that I even have friends of my own now. Sitting now with Angelina and Alicia in the courtyard, with the bright afternoon sun shining down on us, I felt the anger from the fight I witnessed melt away, flowing deep into the cracks of the cobblestone beneath my feet. Even if it was just me watching them play a game of Gobstones, there was no reason to remain so mad or worried or stressed.

"Ha! Gotcha, Angelina!" Alicia cried, laughing as Angelina got doused in the stinky liquid.

"Eugh!" Angelina's face literally screamed disgust as she wiped off as much of the green fluid with her hands. "Remind me never to get distracted with your Quidditch shenanigans."

THWACK!

As suddenly as the liquid had sprayed Angelina, a rather heavy thing thumped me on the back of my head, almost knocking my glasses off with the force.

"What the--"

SPLASH!

"My football!"

A girl with mousy brown hair whom I've never noticed before darted past me, lashing out in an attempt to pick up the black and white ball that was now bobbing up and down in the middle of the fountain.

"Nora, for the last time we've told you, the courtyard is not the best place to play Muggle football," Angelina sighed. "You could seriously hurt someone!"

"I'm sorry! I can't help it!" the girl--Nora--cried. "What else can I do besides homework?"

I took a closer glance at the girl in front of me--now I recognize her from Transfiguration class. She almost always caused trouble with Professor McGonagall in class. It's a miracle she's still in one piece.

"It's no harm to play a little," I said then, reaching out to grasp the ball with the tips of my fingers and handing it back to her. "Just be careful, alright?"

"I swear I was only juggling," the girl admitted with a sigh. "I'm sorry about that. Everything here's so new to me, it's only a miracle I'm able to catch up with all this wizarding stuff." She sat next to me and put the ball in her lap. "I'm Muggle-born, you see. Completely Muggle family, and I'm the only one who's shown any kind of magical potential! Crazy, isn't it? And everything here--it's just so different! A good different, actually..."

"That explains the football, then," I ventured carefully, nodding at the ball in her hands.

"Yup! I love watching football! And I play it quite a bit too," she responded with a firm nod. "Though I understand that we have Quidditch here, right? Angelina and Alicia are really firm on making the team together next year."

"I can tell. They're exceptional flyers," I noted, nodding at the girls who were still playing competitive Gobstones against each other. "I can't imagine, though. I've grown up knowing about the magic here, so it's kind of become no surprise."

"Though the surprise is that you're Clara Lin's younger sister! And you're the youngest sister of--"

"Jacob Lin. I know." I shrugged and folded my hands in my lap, clasping my fingers together. "Best I'd remain a quiet subject rather than become the new talk of the school, you know? At least, that's what Clara thought before I came here."

"Still, that's really cool! I can already imagine you'd have great adventures here either way." She grinned a toothy grin then. "At least promise you'll let me help you if you ever get in a pickle, okay?"

"I would...but I don't know much about you," I slowly admitted, glancing at her with a quizzical look.

The girl didn't look upset at all, though. She just kept grinning at me like a little kid staring at the window of a candy store.

"Well, let's start with this." She stuck her hand out. "I'm Nora. Nora Magnus. Younger sister to Anna Magnus, from a Muggle family."

"You're a younger sibling, too? That's cool." I shook her hand firmly. "And you know I'm Emily--though you can call me Em if you like."

"Awesome!" Nora cheered. "Maybe I can teach you Muggle football some day if you're up for it."

"And help me out of...a pickle?" I added again, raising an eyebrow.

"Muggle expression, I guess. Just saying I'll help you out if you ever need it," she clarified for me.

Just then, who should suddenly run into the Courtyard but Rowan Khanna, a huge grin on her face as she ran up to me and Nora.

"Em! I've been looking all over for you!" she called with a wave. "And I see you've made friends with Nora, Alicia, and Angelina."

"Yup!" Nora agreed before I could say a word. "And we both have older siblings! Isn't that nifty!"

Rowan chuckled at Nora, then she turned to me. "I wanted to see you, Em. Word just spread that Bill Weasley is coming to Hogwarts tonight."

"Bill Weasley? The eldest Weasley who graduated last year?"

"The one and only." Rowan's brown eyes twinkled in excitement. "I take it Clara told you a bit about him?"

"She told me everything up to now. Of course I've heard of Bill Weasley--all good things, really," I replied. "I've been wondering whether I would get to see him. I was hoping to say thanks for helping my sister out of...many pickles."

"Pickles?" Now it was Rowan's turn to raise an eyebrow, her eyes darting between the two of us.

"A Muggle expression," Nora clarified. "Just saying he helped her with many tough situations--namely, the Cursed Vaults."

"Ah." Rowan nodded thoughtfully. "If you're down for it, you can join us in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom tonight. We don't know exactly what his visit's for, but I'm sure it would be interesting--plus you can say your thanks."

Rowan didn't even have to wait too long for a response. I just nodded and threw my arms around her--completely unexpected, but she chuckled as she returned the hug.

"Yes, I'd love that," I said, my voice muffled in her robes.

---

It was clear that Bill was adored very much by most of Clara's friend group, and as I entered the classroom with Clara that evening I could easily see why. All around me I could see all of Clara's friends sitting around and chatting eagerly, and my eyes automatically honed in toward the tall redhead whom I could only assume was Bill--standing at the front with such a cool air, yet laughing with a happy twinkle in his eye, I could imagine just how popular he must have been in his time at Hogwarts. Of course, he is very skilled and powerful, too, being two years Clara's senior. Some of the spells Clara knew were taught by Bill, after all.

"Wow. Seems like Rowan's word really spread around," I murmured to Clara.

"It was actually Charlie's word, but I think he wanted everyone he knew to know," she responded with a laugh. "This is a really good turnout, if I do say so myself."

With a hand on my shoulder, she lead me to see Bill, who was talking then with Charlie. The moment he saw Clara approaching, he gave a huge smile.

"Clara! It's great to see you again," Bill said.

"Bill!" Clara practically beamed at the sight of her old friend. "We haven't had a chance to talk since Mad-Eye Moody Disapparated me out of your graduation party."

"And don't ask Clara about it," Charlie added with a shake of his head. "She's been sworn to secrecy."

Bill only chuckled, though. I took it that they were pretty tight-knit as friends, then.

"Well, I've missed you, secrets and all," Bill finally said with a grin. "And what about me? Have you missed me since I've been gone?"

"Of course I've missed you, Bill. We all have," Clara responded with a nod.

"And it's been really rough recently, especially with the statue curse running rampant," Charlie chimed in again, his face falling at the mere mention of the curse.

"Statue curse? Seems like I'm missing out more than I thought," Bill murmured. Then he looked over at me, still standing at Clara's side with my head tilted in intrigue. "And who's this?"

"I'm Emily," I piped up then before Clara could open her mouth to introduce me. "Clara's little sister, Jacob's youngest sister, and a first-year at Hogwarts. And yes, as you can see, I'm in Hufflepuff," I added, looking down at my school robes with the badger crest and yellow hood. "Um, anyway, thanks for all that you've done for Clara. It's nice to know you were around to help her with the Cursed Vaults and everything else."

For a minute, Bill looked a little taken aback by the fact that I announced myself as the youngest sister of Jacob Lin, but eventually he recovered with a shake of his head and chuckled.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you," he said with a nod, extending a hand for me to shake. "And you're welcome. The last five years have been a whirlwind, but I wouldn't have ended up working at Gringotts without your sister here."

"And thanks for visiting us, too. I'm sure we need it with all that's going on," I added, glancing at Clara who only nodded encouragingly. "See, Charlie mentioned the Statue Curse, and it started with one student in the courtyard..."

"I was there. I saw it with Professor Snape and Beatrice Haywood," Clara chimed in. "Snape thought it was the work of the last Cursed Vault."

"And then Clara got a prophecy in Divination!" I continued. "She went to see Centaurs who agreed to help her find the meaning behind this strange prophecy."

"With any luck, it would help me keep the promise I made to you to beat Rakepick to the final Cursed Vault," Clara finished. "We all know what she did was unforgivable, after all."

Bill nodded firmly. "I hope you can pull through, Clara. And we all need the support we can get." Then he frowned and looked at her skeptically. "Wait. You don't seem surprised at the fact that I'm here."

"Well, Charlie told me," Clara said. "And then I told Rowan and...well, word spread, I guess."

"Charlie! That was meant to be a surprise!" Bill cried, glancing at Charlie in shock.

"Consider it payback for spoiling your surprise party," Charlie responded with a roll of his eyes. "Though I didn't mention why you came. No one knows, actually."

"I just thought I'd take the opportunity to thank Bill, that's all," I said, turning to them. "If that's all though, I can go."

Charlie shook his head and patted my shoulder. "No, you can stay. You're one of us now, Em."

"And the best part is yet to come!" Bill said. "Everyone, gather round."

He walked to the centre platform and everyone glanced up, looking at him as they formed a small crowd around him.

One of us, Charlie had said. Yet even while I stood with Clara, I didn't feel like I was special in any way. These kids have been with Clara for years now. Me? I only just started out in the realm of magical education.

Still, what was there to lose? If I stay, maybe I'd learn something useful.

If I stay, perhaps I could find a way to help my sister--without her saying no.