Chapter 1.
Emma cried when she realized this. She cried when she woke up and saw everything the same, but different.
She was still herself in the mirror.
Memories of a welcoming family flooded her mind.
A family that wasn't hers.
They were kind. All redheads, just like her. The Weasleys. There were seven of them—eight, counting her.
At Grace Field there were thirty-eight.
Here, she was the youngest. Ginny was her twin, but still older by a few minutes.
Only Norman and Ray were older than her.
Emma woke up crying. Weeks, months, years of no memory had led up to this. Sometimes she would catch glimpses of something. The smell of Molly’s cooking might remind her of cheerful voices and a woman humming. Or maybe one of Fred and George’s games would make her think of two little boys.
She could no longer differentiate reality from her fragile and deceptive memory.
Yet nothing was as overwhelming as the drastic explosion of 14 adjacent years of memories she had. She had been little, visiting a sick albino boy in a hospital ward while a boy with haunting green eyes told her that idiots didn’t get sick. Later, she had grown older, playing tag with several children until she was the last one standing—but empathy had made her let herself be caught by that same albino boy. She couldn’t linger much longer on the next glimpse…
But she cried every night as she remembered, anyway.
The pale and fragile girl holding a blood-red flower in her chest was something hard to forget.
Goldy Pond was worse, her mind supplied.
Their memories showed them forging a plan to leave this place. But Emma, being an empath, would not leave anyone behind. The albino, however, would not care if he became a god or a demon, as long as they escaped this world. And the black-haired boy with the disturbing green eyes was a traitor—but a good person nonetheless.
It must have been months, but in the meantime, her leg broke and her heart broke when the albino left.
His name was Norman.
Her heart was healed by determination, and she saved the green-eyed boy from setting his fragile, unstable body on fire.
His name was Ray. She cared about his life. He cared about her life. But other people's lives mattered more.
Her intact right ear brought back strange memories. The pain she felt when she cut it off. The fever and exhaustion after failing to properly care for the wound. Mujika’s motherly care for her. Her slightly impaired hearing during times of stress and strain. The questions from the various children she met along the way. And the memories of some children awkwardly braiding her hair to try to help—even if she re-braided it later, she always thanked the children and praised their efforts.
She couldn't braid her hair like that anymore .
The escape and much of what happened afterward were composed of strange traces of fragmented memories. She remembered much and little; all the tense moments with Yuugo at the shelter; the challenges and carnage imposed at Goldy Pond; Yuugo and Lucas’s sacrifice to ensure all the children escaped…
She would always remember everything. But she would never carry the scars again.
She cried softly, a faint noise and a subtle sob. She wished she could see how things were before just one more time in the mirror. She wished she could be with her reunited family one last time. She wished she had said goodbye to them all. It was a necessary evil, but she wished she had never made the promise she did.
Her memory of everything and everyone would remain, he said. She disagreed, saying she would have to remember them at some point. Then it would be her memory of everything up to a specific age, and only some of them would be able to remember and reincarnate into different lives, remembering before her, the self-proclaimed god countered. And she cried but had to agree.
Emma felt weak. Her sobs must have been loud enough to attract someone’s attention by now. Her eyes must have been so swollen that it would be impossible to hide if she went to the kitchen. Her body trembled so much she feared she wouldn’t be able to get up anymore. Her breathing must have been so unstable she might stop breathing at some point. And her mind must not have been processing everything as it should.
She heard the door open slowly but remained motionless in her bed, completely covered by the blanket. She knew she was the only one left in the room; Ginny had already left their shared room some time ago, she realized. “Emma…” she heard Ginny’s voice whisper, but she lacked the strength to respond.
An added weight was felt as the mattress sank and creaked. Ginny’s hands gently pulled the blanket away from Emma’s face and wiped her tears. It was a silent gesture of support.
“Mom’s worried you haven’t come down yet… Was it a nightmare?” she asked softly, keeping one of her hands on Emma’s tense shoulder.
Emma stifled another sob and another wave of tears with a strangled cough. “I… don’t worry, Ginny.”
You know you can’t fool me, Emma, a blonde girl with two braids once said to her.
“You know you can’t fool me, Emma,” Ginny said gently, squeezing her shoulder and looking into her eyes. “What happened?”
Emma struggled to sit up and hugged her sister. “I saw… I saw horrible things, Ginny.” She let out a strangled sob and began to cry on her sister’s shoulder. “I don’t know what happened… I don’t know who they were… I feel awful…”
Ginny tightened the hug. “You can cry, Emm. I won’t tell Mom.”
***
It took her a while to compose herself, but at some point during her stupor, she had changed and gone down to the kitchen.
Molly gave a sincere smile, with a sad undertone, and hugged her. “Oh, little Emm, come here,” she said as she hugged her. “It will be okay, my love. Dreams are not reality. Nightmares come like a storm, but the sun rises right after.”
She hoped it would be like that. That all of it was just an invention.
But she was wrong, and she knew it.
“Have your breakfast for now, dear. I’ll make sure the twins won’t come bother you soon.” She left the kitchen right after leaving a plate prepared for her. Emma smiled, Molly reminded her of Isabella and Mujika.
Isabella, the mother who let many die but always supported them discreetly. Mujika, the demon who gave her blood to humanity.
She took a deep breath. She wanted the memories to leave her once and for all. She simply wanted to forget everything.
But she had agreed to the promise herself, so how could she forget?
It couldn’t be so bad after some time, she thought.
***
The next few days were blur. Everything was just a subtle familiarity, but still, it was a blur.
As long as Emma still showed a sad and desolate expression, Fred and George stopped their pranks for a while. Ron would always ask how she was. Ginny would hug her every morning. Occasionally, Percy would throw some warm glances. Molly made sure no one would mention what had happened, while Arthur always wore a concerned but warm expression.
Between one day and another, Ron, Fred, and George took their father’s car and went to Harry Potter’s house, apparently worried since he hadn’t been in touch. She knew that her mother would soon find out, so she preferred not to mention anything, but she also knew it could lead to a huge scolding.
The four arrived by car a little more than an hour later. Until then, Emma had only heard about Harry Potter from her siblings. He was clumsy, she noticed.
Between introductions with everyone in the family, Ginny becoming slightly more shy and even a bit smitten in Harry’s presence, and the pranks pulled by the twins, they went to Diagon Alley.
Now, this was a memory she wouldn’t forget. The place buzzed with magic. The sounds of conversation were drowned out by the loud magical noises Emma could hear. The feeling was almost overwhelming, if not for the sense of freedom. She wanted to do magic.
“Let’s go, girls, we need to buy your wands,” Molly insisted, guiding her and Ginny away from the brothers. Emma knew that her family usually ended up with second-hand wands if they broke or were lost or if they didn’t have the money for a proper wand at the time, but Molly had saved up so that both of them could get wands this year.
The three arrived at Ollivanders quickly. The narrow shop, filled with wands from floor to ceiling, had a decrepit air. The shopkeeper, Garrick Ollivander, quickly appeared and introduced himself. Ginny went first, and although Emma didn’t pay much attention, she knew that Ginny had gotten a wand made from yew wood.
The next few minutes were a blur, but at some point, it was her turn. She stretched out her right arm, her dominant arm, and tested a few wands. After noticing several failures, including boxes falling or extremely strong gusts of wind, Ollivanders quickly left. “I have the perfect wand for you, my dear. Don’t be sad for now. Remember, the wand chooses the wizard.” He returned with a burgundy box in his hands. “Try this one, chestnut wood with a phoenix core, surprisingly swishy flexibility,” he offered the wand to her.
The wand was simple, with few details, but it fit perfectly in her hand. A feeling of familiarity flooded her heart. She felt the magic flowing through her veins. She waved the wand.
A blinding and comforting light flooded the room. What was once fallen or the shelves that were about to break returned to their place.
“Hmmm… interesting. A phoenix core is the rarest of all cores. Unusual. You will be capable of great feats, young one. Though this is a highly uncommon wand, don’t be fooled by its core. Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic.” He handed her the wand’s box.
Emma smiled, she would finally have her own wand. But then the realization hit. She was going to Hogwarts, but what about her siblings?
Norman, Ray… would they have magic?
She suppressed the thought and left the shop with her mother and Ginny right after paying.
“Let’s go to Flourish and Blotts, your brothers should still be there,” Molly said, guiding them to the bookstore. “Some of your books will need to be bought too.”
Flourish and Blotts seemed like a regular bookstore, if not for its intricate magic. Harry was still inside when they entered, Emma noticed, along with Ron and his father. But soon after they entered, there were more people. Of course, it was a public place, so there were bound to be more people. But these were talking directly with Arthur and Harry.
A tall man with long hair, too light to be blonde, almost platinum, spoke mockingly to her father. Right next to him was a boy who seemed to be about Emma’s height, with the same platinum blonde color as his father. A malicious scowl was plastered on his face.
Late, Emma realized there was another boy, located further back among the shelves, holding an open book. He was too familiar to be real.
Norman, her mind supplied.
Their gazes met. Emerald green against crystal blue. He smiled, recognizing her. She smiled warmly, recognizing him. She wanted to get away from her family, she wanted to talk to the boy. No, she wanted to talk to Norman. But she couldn’t. He gave her a smile before turning his gaze back to the book, realizing she wouldn’t approach.
It was then she realized he must be from the family facing her parents. She ignored the fact, Emma knew him, and Norman knew her. This time, she supposed, fate wouldn’t separate them.
The tall man tossed a book at Ginny with disdain before quietly leaving the store. “Let’s go, Norman,” he called before closing the bookstore door without looking back. Norman crossed paths with her family, politely asking for permission and giving her a discreet smile. Yes, this was the Norman Emma knew.
She was happy, at least someone from her world was here too.
“Since when does Draco have a brother?!” Ron asked accusingly, interrupting her train of thought.
Harry murmured in agreement. “And since when is a Malfoy so polite?”
Arthur interrupted them after picking up all the necessary books. “Come on, kids, you can sort this out later.”
Emma smiled.
Now, she had hope.
***
Hogwarts arrived faster than she expected.
The station was beautiful. The train reminded her of Phill, the innocent little boy whose dream was to see a train. Her mother organized everyone, and although they almost missed the time to pass through the platform, everyone was here, including Harry and Ron.
Emma said goodbye to everyone and boarded the train. She quickly adjusted the holster of her wand, which was tied to her wrist, and looked around the platform.
A familiar gleam of annoying green eyes met hers.
Ray, her mind supplied.
She swallowed hard. Hope was truly beginning to form in her heart. They were both here. If it were up to her, she would get off the platform right now and hug him, but Ginny was already staring at her, waiting for her to board the train.
“I… I’m just nervous, I guess.” She snapped out of her stupor and boarded next to Ginny, waving with a smile to her family.
“I’m nervous too, don’t worry.” Ginny agreed.
***
For the first time, the three of them locked eyes as they waited for the doors of the hall to open. Norman was talking to Ray while she discreetly watched them. They must know each other, she supposed. They smiled at her, but didn’t join her and Ginny.
After the door opened, the house sorting passed like a blur. Although the Sorting Hat singing was almost unbelievable, Emma supposed it had to be possible with magic and all.
The names began to be called, but she only really paid attention when a familiar name was announced by the vice headmistress, Professor McGonagall.
“Snape, Ray.”
Ginny audibly sighed behind her. “Professor Snape has a son?” Her question wasn’t different from the others, but Emma didn’t care much about the whispers.
Ray was there, about to be sorted. Ray, the Ray she knew, was right there. The boy with the annoying green eyes locked gazes with her and smiled.
“Ravenclaw!” The Sorting Hat announced, and the Ravenclaw table erupted in applause.
Several other names were called before another familiar name was heard, followed by whispers asking about the other Malfoy family member.
“Malfoy, Norman.”
The albino walked with his back straight and head held high. Emma noticed the hall vibrated with repulsion and doubtful excitement.
“Slytherin!” The Hat announced, and only a few cheers were heard, some from his own table, while others came from the other houses. The albino walked to the table and sat down next to the other first years who greeted him with a few smiles.
Some names were called until the next one.
“Weasley, Ginevra.”
Ginny walked triumphantly to the bench and smiled warmly at her as she sat down.
“Gryffindor!” the Hat announced, and her table erupted in applause and cheers. All of her siblings smiled and clapped enthusiastically. She walked over to the table and sat down next to Ron, starting to chat with the other students.
“Weasley, Emma!”
Emma felt her heart beat at a dangerously fast pace. All eyes were on her. Ray and Norman's gazes followed her as she walked to the bench. She took a deep breath and sat down.
The Hat spoke something inside her mind, reviewing her personality. She ignored it, more focused on other things. Her entire family had been in Gryffindor, what if she wasn't? What if Ray and Norman didn't talk to her anymore? Did they really remember her?
Norman and Ray's kind gazes reached her, and she smiled.
They had to remember her.
“Gryffindor!” the Hat announced, and once again, all that followed was applause.
But what really mattered was that she was with them.
The three were safe. The three were together. The three would never be separated again.
But she was gone, she remembered. It didn't matter, as long as she had returned.