Toy Soldiers

TOY SOLDIERS

CHAPTER TWO-THE OWL POST

Emmeline went back on her rear end from the force. I couldn't help it. I just snapped. Besides, she was asking for it.

Her lower lip was bleeding.

"How dare you!" she cried glaring up at me with vengeance.

Remus stood up also. I was breathing heavily and I was still angry at her.

"You asked for it," I growled.

"You monster! You attacked me for no reason!" she cried again as she got to her feet. Remus made no attempt to help her.

"She did have a good reason," Remus snapped. "You said that someone like her couldn't have a crush on me. That's degrading and cruel. You are the real monster here."

"You're helping her?" Emmeline squealed in shock.

"That's right. I don't like people like you who think you can push people around and get away with it," Remus snapped his eyes narrowing.

"What's going on here?" Madam Pince asked coming over.

"She punched me for no reason!" Emmeline wailed pointing at me with an accusing finger.

"She actually started it," I said.

"I don't want to hear it," Madam Pince said shaking her head. "There will be no fighting here. Both of you to the Headmasters' office."

I sighed and picked up my things.

"Emmeline did start it, Madam Pince," Remus offered stepping in.

"It doesn't matter," Madam Pince said. "She could've restrained herself."

Remus looked at me helplessly. I just swung my bag over my shoulder and followed Madam Pince out of the library as she led me and Emmeline out.

REMUS.

I felt awful that Hillary was going to get into trouble. I hurried out of the library and back down to the Great Hall.

When I arrived at the Gryffindor table, Lily, James, Sirius and Peter were talking. I was out of breath.

"Remus? Are you okay? You look upset," Lily said studying me.

"Hillary is in trouble," I gasped as I sat down and tried to catch my breath.

"Trouble?" Sirius demanded becoming alert.

"Yeah. Emmeline said some cruel things to her and Hillary puncher her. Madam Pince is taking them to the Headmasters office," I said finally able to calm down.

"Go Hillary," Sirius grinned but then turned serious. "I think we should stop asking Emmeline to hang out with us. She's becoming a snot."

James nodded.

"Well, let's go," he said as he, Sirius, Lily and Peter got to their feet.

I slowly stood up too.

"Where are we going?"

"To the Headmasters office," James said firmly.

I followed them out of the Great Hall just as the bell rang ending breakfast.

HILLARY.

I stood in the center of Headmaster Dumbledore's office. Emmeline was standing beside me.

Headmaster Dumbledore had a graying beard and kind blue eyes which were behind a pair of half moon spectacles. He was dressed in a light blue robe and matching hat.

He was a fair man, kind and considerate. But today, I doubted he'd be that way. After all, Madam Pince was right. I could've controlled myself...but I didn't.

I deserved to be suspended or expelled.

Just as Headmaster Dumbledore was going to open his mouth to speak, the door to his office burst open.

"Don't expel her!" I heard James' voice cry.

I turned around.

James, Sirius, Remus, Lily, and Peter stood gasping for breath.

"If you expel her you have to expel us too!" Sirius cried.

Headmaster Dumbledore held his hand up to signal silence. He cleared his throat.

"First, calm down everyone," he said softly. "I wasn't going to expel Hillary."

I looked at him shocked.

"What? Why not? She attacked me for no reason!" Emmeline cried outraged.

Headmaster Dumbledore looked at her sternly. "I'd say there was a reason. You were talking about her in a cruel way. What she did was out of defense,"

Emmeline's mouth hung open.

"If you hadn't been so cruel to her, she might not have punched you," Headmaster Dumbledore continued.

"You believe her?" Emmeline asked in a small voice.

"Yes. She's never gotten into any trouble before. You, on the other hand, have been sent here far too many times for starting fights," he said firmly narrowing his eyes. "Who do you think I would believe first?"

"That's so unfair," Emmeline wailed.

"But she will have to help me clean out my old papers," Headmaster Dumbledore continued. "For punching as punishment. Starting Wednesday. The same goes for you."

He looked at me. "Does this sound fair?"

I nodded.

"Emmeline, you will be serving detention with Professor Xander for 2 weeks,"

Emmeline sighed. "Yes, sir,"

"You are dismissed,"

Emmeline turned and left without even looking at me or anyone else.

Lily, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter turned and left too. I followed behind them walking in between Sirius and Lily.

"Wow," Sirius said shaking his head. "I can't believe you punched Emmeline!"

"I'm not proud of it," I said. "I could've restrained myself but I didn't."

"She had it coming," Remus said firmly. "She wasn't treating you right."

Suddenly, the reason why I punched her came flooding back.

I turned to Lily.

"You told her didn't you?" I hissed narrowing my eyes.

Lily's blue eyes widened. "Told her? No!"

"How else would she have known how I feel?" I argued back.

Sirius, James, Peter and Remus were watching us confused.

"Told what? Feel about what? What's going on?" James asked his green eyes narrowed behind his thin black-rimmed glasses. His black hair was untidy as usual.

"I can't tell you, James," Lily said sighing. "I'm sorry. You're just going to have to trust me on this."

James looked uncertain but he nodded.

"Maybe she could read into it?" Lily suggested.

Ouch. I hadn't thought of that. Maybe Emmeline could see it all along.

I should have known Lily would never betray me like that.

I just flopped down on a bench in the corridor under a window and sighed.

Remus and Sirius sat down on either side of me.

"I'm sorry Lily. I should have known you'd never blab that around," I said smiling up at Lily.

Lily grinned back.

"It's okay. I would be a little worried who I entrusted with that secret too. But trust me...its safe with me," Lily said giving me a big hug.

"Secret? Oooh! Hillary's got a secret," Sirius teased putting his arm around me and giving me a squeeze also.

"Shut up, Sirius," Lily laughed. "You can't make me tell it!"

"How about if I tickle you?" James asked.

"Nope!" Lily said as she began walking down the corridor.

James and Peter hurried off after her.

Sirius turned to me.

"Listen. If you feel you need to unload to someone else, Remus and I are here," he said seriously.

I smiled at him gratefully.

"Thanks. I know,"

Sirius gave me another squeeze before hurrying down the corridor after James, Peter and Lily.

Remus and I stood up and began walking slowly down the corridor too.

"Can I ask you something?" Remus asked clearing his throat.

"Sure," I said.

"It's a personal question though," Remus added.

"Fine. Go ahead," I said.

"Why don't you have a boyfriend?"

I felt my heart flutter a bit.

"Well, after Eric beat me up a few times, I decided to stay away from guys all together," I said softly and quietly.

"Oh," Remus said.

Was it me or did he seem sad? I thought.

His expression did fall though.

"But the right guy hasn't come along yet." I added offering him a smile.

His expression brightened a little.

"And I'm starting to like someone else," he said. "But I know it would never work out."

My heart pounded a bit more.

"Really? Who?" I asked. "And why not?"

"Lily," he said blushing a bit. "But she's with James. Why do I pick girls that are already involved?"

That pang returned.

Lily was pretty alright. I just gave him a small smile and fell silent.

"I'm sure you will find the right person," I choked out.

We headed to the classes.

The next morning, I quickly ran a brush through my curly hair and pinned two strands on each side back, fastened with a silver barrette.

I even applied a bit of makeup. Light pink eye shadow and clear lip-gloss with a touch of peach blush.

It just made me feel a bit better. Even though I knew someone shouldn't be judged on their looks.

I've been told I was cute and pretty. Right. If that was the case, why did I pick the loser Eric for boyfriend? I couldn't help but think it was my fault.

I sat eating breakfast mulling over my feelings and Remus.

Lily sat down beside me.

"So, I saw you walking with Remus yesterday," Lily said grinning. Her blue eyes were twinkling. "What did you talk about?"

My spoon froze half way to my mouth. I had been eating porridge.

I turned around and gave her a sarcastic smile.

"You actually," I said. "Remus is starting to like you now. Good show."

Lily's face drained of all color.

"Oh man," she said quietly. "I'll talk to him."

"I can't win can I?" I growled. "I'm not pretty enough."

Lily's eyes widened. "You are so pretty! Very pretty in fact,"

"Then why don't I have a boyfriend yet huh? Obviously, there's something wrong with me," I said stiffly and returned to eating my porridge.

Lily was at a loss for words. I felt her eyes on me the entire time.

I didn't know why I was so bent on having a boyfriend. Maybe I just wanted someone else to love and care about me besides my parents. They worked in the Ministry of Magic as Aurors. So I was a full blown witch.

And I normally didn't act the way I was acting. It wasn't like me.

Just then, Remus, Sirius, Peter and James arrived. Emmeline wasn't with them.

Sirius plopped down beside me. Remus and James sat across from me with Peter on Remus' left side. They began digging in to breakfast.

"Man I'm starved!" Sirius cried helping himself to some French toast.

"When are you not?" I teased him. "You've got a bottomless pit."

Sirius leaned in close.

"And that's a bad thing?" he asked grinning.

"Just when you gain about 50 pounds," I grinned back.

"Remus? Can I talk to you?" Lily said suddenly as she stood up.

"Sure," Remus said.

I had felt Remus' eyes on me as he got up and followed Lily. She pulled him aside out of ear shot. They began talking.

"So," James said turning his green eyes onto me. "Did anyone ask you to the Christmas party yet?"

I took another bite of porridge.

"Nope," I said. "Not yet. I'm not sure if I want to go anyway."

"Why not?" Peter asked tilting his head. "It's supposed to be fun."

I gave Peter a smile.

"Yeah. But by yourself? Who'd you dance with? The Invisible Man?"

"Well, if he had the Invisibility cloak on yep," Sirius grinned. "Guess what? No one has asked me yet either."

I looked at him with mock surprise.

"Get out!"

Peter giggled.

"Why would that seem shocking to you?" Sirius asked pretending to be hurt.

"Because you'd probably stuff a poisonous Womprovin down their pants or something," I teased.

Womprovins' were small beetle like creatures that if they bit you, they injected a poison that if not taken care of right away, would be fatal.

They were red in color and were a cross between a beetle and a fly.

"Me? Never," Sirius said looking appalled, but he was grinning. "What I was suggesting was that you and I could go together."

I was stunned for a moment.

"Um, sure. That would be okay," I finally said.

Sirius nodded and looked happy.

I studied him.

Could Sirius actually like me? I wondered. I never really gave thought to possibly going out with him. But if Remus doesn't like me back, then I should go with someone that does like me.

James' eyes were twinkling behind his glasses.

Sirius and Peter began talking about the classes for the day.

A short while later, Remus and Lily returned to their seats.

"Guess what?" James grinned to Lily and Remus.

"What?" Remus asked.

"Sirius asked Hillary to the dance next week," James said, the grin never leaving his face.

"Really? That's great!" Lily exclaimed.

I couldn't read her expression. Remus just nodded and seemed distracted now.

Just then, the owl post arrived.

"Oh goody! Mail!" Peter said as the owls circled around the ceiling searching for their owners.

My owl, a beautiful barn own named Chloe flapped her wings and landed gracefully on my shoulder.

"Hi," I said happily.

I gave her a piece of bread and untied the letter from her leg.

She took off again. James got the local edition of The Daily Prophet. No mail for the others yet.

James and Remus looked at the Prophet together, but something was telling me Remus had something else on his mind.

I looked at my letter. It was neatly addressed with my name on the front in neat script:

Hillary Willis

Intrigued, I opened the letter carefully and unfolded the parchment.

As I began reading the letter, I felt a pang of fear now. There was a note that read in block letters:

MERRY BLOODY CHRISTMAS...AND I MEAN THAT LITERALLY

I WANT YOU BADLY. I ALWAYS GET WHAT I WANT.