Our Choices Define Us

Chapter Three

A/N: Thank you to my lovely beta, badluck, and to all of my reviewers from the past you chapters. All of you rock!

Harry looked towards the doorway. He saw Weasley and Bitch standing there. He wasn’t going to do anything; just merely let them take care of their business and go, because he didn’t want to cause any drama… yet. That’s what the rational side of his brain was saying, the other one was screaming at him to punish the bastards that had pretended to be his friend and then turned around and told Dumbledore everything that came out of his mouth. He was doing pretty well in listening to the rational side until Weasley started saying his name and something inside of him snapped.

He leaped out of his seat and pointed his wand at the son of a bitch. He mind was quickly going through all of the spells that he had learned that summer, thinking of the most painful.

Emily jumped out of her seat and ran over to Harry. She snatched the wand out of his hands before he could do anything stupid.

Harry rounded on Emily, intent on getting his wand back. He was furious and intended to vent all of it on the Gryffindors standing in the doorway. “What the fuck are you doing!” he growled at Emily.

“Stopping you from doing something very, very stupid,” Emily said in a livid whisper that only Harry could hear. “You just fucked a lot of shit up and now we have to do some serious damage control. I thought you had a better hold on your emotions!” She turned away from Harry and looked at Ron and Hermione. “I suggest you both get out of here. h” The two scared Gryffindors left.

“Well that was certainly interesting.” Draco said as he looked at them with a raised brow.

“Yes, it was. And no, you will not find out why he flipped his lid any time soon. That information willnot be available until after you find out who he is. So save your breath and don’t ask.” Emily said coldly. She shot Harry a pissed off glance and reclaimed her seat. Harry kept his head down while following suit.

The Slytherins realized that they wouldn’t be getting any information from either of them and moved onto a new topic.

“What year are you both in?” Pansy asked.

“Sixth,” Emily and Harry answered at the same time.

“Do you know what houses you’ll be in?” Pansy questioned again.

Emily and Harry both smiled at each other. Emily answered, “Yeah, but it’s a surprise,” she smirked.

Harry turned to Emily. “Do you really think it’s a good idea to keep so much from them? Because I think they’re going to try tomaul theanswers out of us.”

“Whatever. I don’t really care, I like keeping people in the dark about stuff. It gives me an aura of mystery.” Emily waved her arms around her, as if showing them her ‘aura of mystery’. She laughed and got out of her seat. She reached up to her bag, dug through it for a while and grabbed a pack of cigarettes out. She offered one to Harry, who declined, and lit one up for herself. “Since someone killed my high.” Emily said, looking pointedly at Harry. He just shrugged.

“Smoking gives you cancer,” Theo stated.

“No really?” Emily said sarcastically and then took another drag of her cigarette.

“Then why do you do it?” Theo asked again.

“You’re going to die, no matter what. So, why deny yourself the simple pleasures in life?” Emily recited. If only she had a penny for every time she had explained the reason she smoked.

“Vampires don’t die.” it was Theo, yet again.

Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Well vampires don’t have to worry about dieing of cancer, do they?” Theo didn’t respond. “Anyone else have a problem that we both smoke?” No one said anything and Emily nodded her head. “So what do you British people do for fun?”

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The train ride was spent with the Slytherins getting to know Emily and Harry and vice versa. Before they knew it, they had arrived at Hogsmeade. They quickly changed into their uniforms and disembarked the train. They found an empty carriage and rode to the castle. When they got there, Emily and Harry had to wait in the Entrance Hall, so that they could be brought in with the first years.

Emily leaned against the wall, next to the Great Hall doors. “How do you think our new friends will take it?”

Harry knew she was referring to who he really was. “To tell you the truth, I don’t really know. All that I can hope for is that they won’t kill me in my sleep.” was his small attempt at humor. Truth be told, he was scared shitless. Even though he would never admit it, he wanted to be accepted by the Slytherins very badly and he guessed he always had. Harry had always wanted to show off for Draco, always wanted to do his best. At first it was because it proved that he was better than Draco and he had beaten him. After third year, though, it didn’t so much have to do with being better than Draco. Suddenly, he couldn’t even imagine being seen by Draco as not doing anything but his best. Harry didn’t understand it at first, and kept dismissing it as their old rivalry and not wanting to be beaten. But now, he couldn’t just pass it off as that, not after spending time with the real Draco. Well, maybe not the real Draco, but not the sneering little bastard he had known for the past five years. Emily saw through his little delusion, and now he could too. It was time to admit he had feeling for Draco, and he did.

But just physical attraction, Harry thought, even though a little part of his head was nagging at him telling it was more. This little voice was roughly pushed away.

“Hey, buddy!” Emily said in a louder voice than what was necessary, in Harry’s opinion.

“What do you want!” Harry snapped. He was very confused about his feelings towards his ex-nemesis, and he was unintentionally taking it out on Emily. Harry took a deep breath. “Sorry I snapped, I’m just a little confused about some stuff.”

“It’s otay, Hawry,” Emily said like a three-year-old and gave him a hug.

Harry laughed and hugged her back. “Thanks,”

Just when they pulled apart, Professor McGonagall came into the Entrance Hall with the first years and spotted the two of them. “What are you two doing in here?” she said as she approached them.

“Well, I’m the transfer student from America,” Emily began, but suddenly stopped, cleared her throat, and rubbed her forehead. Harry got the massage and took out his wand and took off the Concealment Charm of his scar. “And, the rules say that any student can request a re-sorting at any time.” Emily finished with a small smirk.

McGonagall’s attention was immediately turned to Harry, whom she probably hadn’t recognized when she first saw him. “M-Mr. Potter, you wish to be r-r-re-sorted?” she asked, flabbergasted.

“Yes, ma’am. I don’t believe that Gryffindor House is the right place for me.” Harry said, keeping his voice politely cool.

“Are you sure this is a wise decision, Harry?”

“Yes, I am sure,” Harry’s voice had turned from cool to icy and assertive. He didn’t appreciate being questioned by Dumbledore’s right hand man… woman.

“Alright, please follow the first years in,” McGonagall easily complied, caught off guard by Harry’s demeanor.

Harry and Emily waited while McGonagall and the first years passed, then following them into the Great Hall.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

“This year we have a transfer student from America attending Hogwarts this year. She is a sixth year and I really hope you make her feel welcome. Ms. Alarice, if you please, ” Dumbledore had stood and made his little announcement after all the first years had been sorted.

At the mention of her name, Emily looked up from where she had been leaning her head on Harry’s shoulder.

Harry prodded her and whispered, “Go get sorted,”

“Oh!” Emily’s little light bulb in her head went on. She tiredly walked up to the stool and took the Hat off of it to sit down. She placed the thing on her head. She jumped a little and Harry knew that she had been surprised when she heard the Hat talking to her in her head, just how he had been.

After a few moments of debate, the Hat visibly took a deep breath and shouted the name of the House in which Emily had been placed.