Emily Potter - Book 5 - Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 14 - The First Sign of Madness

Over the next few days the twins could not help noticing that there was one person within number twelve, Grimmauld Place, who did not seem wholly overjoyed that Harry would be returning to Hogwarts. Sirius had put up a very good show of happiness on first hearing the news, wringing Harry's hand and beaming just like the rest of them. Remus showed enthusiasm for Emily for her help in the trial, upon which he received the cold shoulder since he had taken his goddaughter's Quidditch privileges. It didn't take long for Remus to decide to give back to Emily her broom; Emily however expected this, giving him a tight bear hug. Soon, however, Sirius was moodier and surlier than before, talking less to everybody, even Harry, and spending increasing amounts of time shut up in his mother's room with Buckbeak.

"Don't you go feeling guilty!" said Hermione sternly, after Harry had confided to her and Ron while they scrubbed out a mouldy cupboard on the third floor a few days later, "You belong at Hogwarts and Sirius knows it. Personally, I think he's being selfish." Emily shot her a look but said nothing which Harry thought to be quite odd for her sister. "That's a bit harsh, Hermione," said Ron, frowning as he attempted to pry off a bit of grime that had attached itself to his finger, "You wouldn't want to be stuck inside this house without any company."

"He'll have company!" said Hermione, "It's Headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix, isn't it? He just got his hopes up that Harry would be coming to live here with him."

 "I don't think that's true" said Harry, wringing out his cloth, "He wouldn't give me a straight answer when I asked him if I could."

"He just didn't want to get his own hopes up even more," said Hermione wisely, "And he probably felt a bit guilty himself, because I think a part of him was really hoping you'd be expelled. Then you'd both be outcasts together."

"Come off it!" said Emily and Ron together, but Hermione merely shrugged, "Suit yourselves. But I sometimes think Ron's mums right that Sirius gets confused about whether you're you or your father, Harry."

 "So you think he's touched in the head?" said Harry heatedly. Emily exchanged looks with Ron, expecting a heated fight between Harry and Hermione.

"No, I just think he's been very lonely for a long time," said Hermione simply. At this point, Mrs. Weasley entered the bedroom behind them, "Still not finished?" she said, poking her head into the cupboard.

"I thought you might be here to tell us to have a break." said Ron bitterly.

 "Do you know how much mould we've got rid of since we arrived here?" She asked, hands on her hips, "You were so keen to help the Order," said Mrs. Weasley, "you can do your bit by making Headquarters fit to live in."

"I feel like a house-elf," grumbled Ron. Emily shrugged, "Just as much, you do look like one." She said lightly. Ron glowered at her, Emily only smiled innocently, helping him clean the cupboard.

"Well, now you understand what dreadful lives they lead, perhaps you'll be a bit more active in SPEW!" said Hermione hopefully, as Mrs. Weasley left them to it, "You know, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to show people exactly how horrible it is to clean all the time - we could do a sponsored scrub of Gryffindor common room, all proceeds to SPEW, it would raise awareness as well as funds."

"Thank Merlin I'm out of Gryffindor." Emily couldn't help but mutter. Harry chuckled upon hearing this.

 "I'll sponsor you to shut up about SPEW," Ron muttered irritably, but only so that the twins could hear him. Emily found herself dreaming about Hogwarts more and more as the end of the holidays approached; she couldn't wait to see Blaise and Luna, to train for Quidditch, even to climb up the ladder to Professor Trelawney's class; it would be a treat just to see other faces that weren't her brother's, Hermione's, or Ron's.