"Ouch!!" Emma yelled while running up the stairs accidently scraping her leg. "Beep... 10 minutes and 48 seconds not bad!!" Emma said tucking the stop watch back into her shorts. Every morning Emma would run around hogwarts, and then up to the owlery and back down to the quiditich field to begin practice. Every day kept getting better and better times and her body was getting back into shape for the quiditich season after summer vacation. "Ahh... I love running in the morning." She stated, walking over to the nearest window,"No one is here in the morning and the grounds couldnt be more beautiful." After stating this, Emma let out a deep sigh, and went over to her own beautiful owl."Here send this to mum and dad, and this is for the twins." She then attached the parcels, and watched as her owl flew bye.

Leona walked slowly through the Gryffindor halls taking in the sights and sounds of nothingness. It was quite calm actually. When she got bored with that she decided to pay a visit to her owl that she hadn't seen in a while. Once there she saw another new girl. Woodwork, she told herself, woodwork...."Hi there!" She said "I'm Leona

Emma spun around quickly at the sound of another voice. "Oh.. hello, my name is Emma Potter. I am not used to people being up this early in the morning" Emma said very quickly, embarrassed by her shock of another person. "Oh, if you need a school owl, i think the one to the left over there is very good!" Emma said pointing to the brown barn owl to her left.

Mari awoke in the morning not feeling tired and decided to take a walk around the owlery. She saw Emma and Leona already there, an owl taking off.
"Hey guys," Mari smiled and waved, "What's up? What are you guys doing up so early here?"

Cara stumbled into the owlery and smacked into a wall. she bounced back and smacked into another wall. she had her eyes closed and she was walking around aimlessly. she walked over and walked straight into mari and this time fell heavily to the ground.

Mari oepned her mouth to say something when Cara came in and knocked straight into her. Mari tumbled backwards into a herd of owls which went off flying in different directions.
"Woopsie!" Mari cried in suprise, "Cara what's the matter? Tired?"

Cara woke with a start when she heard mari aske her if she was tired. she blinked up at mari then looked around her. "umm....... where am i?" she looked around and said "ah!! im in the owlery...... but how did i get here....... oh dang!! i must have been sleepwalking!!!" she looked apologetically at mari and got up. "so wats going on here?"

"Oh.. hey cara, mari, I was just up here sending an owl to my family after my morning run." Emma said trying to calm down the birds Cara fell onto. "I havent seen you guys for a long time, how are you?"
Finally turning around to face her friends after getting the birds settled.

"Sleepwalking?" Mari looked in surprise, "you sleptwalked all the way from the dungeons to the owlery??"
Then she turned to Emma and grinned, "Oh that's nice to know, I've missed you guys too, I'm good how about you?"

"Oh... I am doing great, classes are going well, quiditich is a blast... what about you?"Emma said happily.

Closing her eyes half way in the nice soft breeze coming through, Jo was strolling slowly around Hogwarts, not for the first time.
Jo liked to stay up late and get up early, and somehow that suited her body perfectly fine. So, when she had nothing to do in the morning, she usually took a long walk around the school.
For some reason, Jo had the urge to go to the owlery this morning.
Still strolling along, she heard voices, and suddenly found herself facing Emma, Cara, Mari, and Leona.
"Oh! Um.. hi! I didn't expect so many people to be up so early..."

"I know neither did I!" Emma said half laughing.. replying to Jo's reaction. "Obvisouly we are all early birds! But Jo, you know I run every morning so you shouldn't be that surprised..I was just sending a letter out to my parents and the twins." she said with a smile!

"Well, yeah, I knew you ran, but I didn't realize so many other people did!!" Jo laughed along with Emma. "So,... how's everyone's lives?"

"Good good," Mari replied to Jo's question, "School work, flirting, guys, drama... the usual!"
Mari laughed just as an owl flew in and dropped a package on her head, "What's this?"
She looked at it and opened it slowly, revealing a periwinkle-colored fabric.

Jo laughed along with Mari, but she leaned in closer in curiosity as Mari opened the package that the owl had dropped on her head.
"Ooo, whatever it is, it's really pretty!!" Jo said, seeing the periwinkle fabric.

"It does," Mari agreed happily and took the whole thing out.
Mari gasped as it revealed a beautiful periwinkle strapless dress that flowed across the floor, "How pretty, who's it from?"
Mari looked for a tag but could not find any. It turned to dress in her hands and surveyed the package, "I don't think I know who's owl that is..."

"Oh my god.. how beautiful." Emma exclaimed hurrying over to the side of Mari. "Ooh.. looks like you have a secret admirer who wants to see you in that dress." she said giggling. "The color is marvelous... especially on you." Emma saw as Mari put the dress up to her body. "And I must say I had to laugh when you mentioned guys because you always have them around you... it is more like many guys."

"Secret admirer?" Mari blushed, "Guys? I was just kidding, I don't know what guys you're talking about.. It's just Mark and sometimes Remy... But Mark most of the time..."
Mari grinned and held the dress up and spun around with it, "it is beautiful, but do I have any time to wear it?"

"Hmm.." Emma sighed.. trying to think of an opportunity Mari could wear this at! "Well.. you could wear it to the 1st years ball.. everyone is invited to it.. all ages and years.." "Gosh I just cant get over how beautiful that is.. I am going to have to ask Mark where he got it!" Emma said with a grin.

Jo listened to Emma and Mari's conversation with an open mouth that turned into a broad grin. She loved talking about this kind of stuff.
"OOooo, Mari and Mark, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G...!" she teased, hoping that Mari wasn't the type who fired up at things like this.

Emma just rolled her eyes.. Jo could be so much fun some times.. but sometimes she over did it.

Jo saw Emma roll her eyes at her and grinned. "Sorry.." she muttered.

"No it is ok Jo.. but we need to think of when Mari can where this!"

"The first years ball?" Mari repeated, "Is the school really allowing it, besides, I don't think Mark is the type to do that..."
Mari blushed at Jo's comment, "It's not like that, we're just friends!"
Mari grinned nonetheless and agreed with Emma, "Yeah I mean I'm not gonna go strutting into the Great Hall with this on... OH Maybe we can make a dance at the ROR and invite people!"

"I'm sure Mark would go if you asked him nicely. But you know what would be really funny... if you wore the dress while playing a quiditich match!" Emma said with a grin. "I would pay money to see that!!"

"Ahahaha," Mari said sarcastically, "I'm sure Dream would have a fit. Besides, I still don't think Mark did it, he doesn't even like me..."
Mari trailed off and began folding the dress into the package, "Maybe my parents bought it for me as a surprise or something, it wasn't Mark's owl anyway, I'm sure that wasn't Toffee. I don't think, I think this is stupid... If not embarrassing... Now, imagine if it wasn't him, do you know how horrible I would feel for dressing up like that like a freak or something and it being from my family or something?"

"Yea I understand your point!" Emma said looking embarassed. "Well whatever you do.. I am sure you will look beautiful in it!" she then said looking back at Mari.. smiling. Then turning her head at a noise..she saw a bird come through the window headed in her direction... but the only problem was that Jo was standing in front of her. Immediately.. she yelled.."Jo.. MOVE!!" and yanked Jo out of the birds way.

Mari smiled at Emma's agreement and was glad she did. She saw the bird come over and saw as Emma pushed Jo away from the bird. The bird then headed straight for Emma and landed on her head, pecking at her, something in its beak.

"What the...?" Emma said looking up at the bird but tilting her head back so much that the bird fell to the ground. Emma then scooped it up and took the parcel out of its mouth. "Hmm.. what do you have their little fella?" she murmered opening up the letter first leaving the package on the ground. It read:

Dear Emma Potter,


We are sorry to inform you that your mother has died from a disease that she had contracted from a patient at St. Mungo's. The package that came with this letter..was on her orders(right before she died) to be sent to you. It is among her many items that will now come to you. Hope you are enjoying Hogwarts!

Sincerely,

The Ministry


Emma mouth just dropped open and the letter floated to the ground.. she then went to sit down over at the window sill for shock. "I..oh my..my mom...disease" she said mumbling to her self..leaving the package just laying their at her feet.

Mari watched as Emma opened the letter and was about to ask what it said when it fell to the ground and Emma slumped slightly.
"Your mom?" Mari repeated after Emma, "Disease..... Oh."
Mari did need to pick up the letter to know what was going on. She approached Emma and put an arm around her, "Oh Emma, I'm sorry, would you like to go to the Hospital Wing or do you want something to drink?"

Emma then murmered "No..No I will stay here.. no reason to go to th Hospital Wing!" she said not resisting Mari's help and kindness. "Do you think I should open the package." Emma said looking up at Jo.. a tear running down her cheek.

Mari stared at Emma for a few seconds and remained silent withdrawing her hand from Emma's shoulder. She clasped her hands together and watched the girl. Mari could never imagine losing any family member... Ever. She also felt to tear drops go down her cheeks at the sight of Emma's vulnerability. She waited silently for Jo to answer Emma's question, wondering if she should wait to open the package until she was ready.

Emma finally bent down to pick up the box. Standing back up..she placed it on the ledge..and montioned for her friends to come stand next to her. Slowly un-tieing the string that held it together..she pulled different objects out of the opened box. The first couple of things she opened were books..some of spells and other of potions. She then opened her mother's old Ravenclaw robes and scarves. Finally in the very bottom was a book that was filled with pictures and memories made by her mother. She flipped through the pages..seeing that her mother had written comments in it and then on the last page was a note from her mother reading:

My Dearest Emma,

Once you get this book..I will be dead. I know it is harsh but it is life and I know you will be strong.. I am counting on you to help raise your sisters..and support your father. In this box contains many things I treasured (and you will be inheriting more of them), I also made a scrap book/picture book to always remember me by. I will always be with you and be proud of you.

Love,
Mom

Emma smiled..she now knew that things were going to be ok. She looked back up at Mari..and said "Well..do you think I should try the robes on?"

Mari smiled softly as she saw the different items and the letter. She looked at Emma and nodded.
"yeah I think your mom would've wanted that..." Mari looked at the letter, "how old was your mom anyway?"

Emma smiled..and put on the robes. They fit her perfectly! Smiling..Emma said "Oh..she was turning 39 this November. Do you like the robes..well good thing I got these because I was going to order some new ones this weekend." Emma then took off the robes..and put everything back in the box and sealed it up..and sat the box next to her bag. "We should go shopping together sometime!"

Mari smiled softly at Emma and nodded, "You look great in them, Emma!"
She grinned as Emma mentioned shopping and clapped her hands together, "Well totally should! A whole girl's day out... Where do you want to meet up?"

Jo was standing there, her mouth open, not knowing what to think. Suddenly, reality washed over her and she had to close her eyes and bite her lip so that she didnt start crying herself. "Ohh...." she muttered quietly. Having known Emma since they were very little, Jo knew how attatched Emma was to her mom. .. And what a great person she was...
With a sudden burst of unknown energy, Jo practically attacked Emma with a giant bear hug and whispered in her ear, "I'm so sorry, Emma...", and, to her embarrassment, started to cry too...

Emma smiled..when Jo basically attacked! She then pulled back and looked at Jo and said a "Girls day out..all three of us..How does that sound?"

Wiping her eyes with the back of her hands, Jo smiled. "That sounds great!" she said. "I haven't had a girl's day out in a while..."

"That would be awesome," Mari cheered happily, "Going shopping for the cutest clothes and fashions, we should definitely do it."
Mari smiled at Jo and Emma and asked, "So where do you want to go shopping at and when?"