Not in Kansas Anymore

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"You're out of your mind." "Am I?"

Dumbledore countered.

"Your mother knew the truth and was ashamed. She constantly rattled with the right way to tell you." "I don't believe you." "Your father's mother was the Wicked Witch of the West. And your mother killed her." "You wanted to see us professor?"

The discussion was interrupted and Emerald turned to see three students in robes all roughly her age. Her eyes zeroed in on the one in glasses with messy black hair. He seethed with power. Much like she did.

"Ah, yes." Dumbledoer walked over to them.

"These will be your guides." He explained. "Mr. Ron Weasley, Ms. Hermione Granger, and Mr. Harry Potter."

"Hi." ron said with an awkward wave. "Pleased to meet you." Hermione stuck her hand out for Emerald to shake, which she did. "Hello." Harry said with a nod. "This is Miss Emerald Thropp." Dumbledore said, gesturing to Emerald. "I do believe she goes by Emmy, is that correct?" Emerald nodded.

"She will be a new student joining us. No doubt she will need help catching up with classes. Miss Granger can help her with that, no doubt, and she will be adjusted into the same classes as Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley. For now she will be an honorary Gryffindor until she can be properly sorted." Dumbledore announced.

"I trust you three will do your best in helping her get around. Now off to your dorms. Tomorrow will certainly be a busy day for all of you."

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"A student starting almost halfway through first term... have you ever heard of anything like it?"

Ron asked harry as they made their way to the Gryffindor common room.

"No."

Harry said simply. "Me either." Ron replied.

"Which is exactly why we shall do our best to make sure Emerald is completely caught up with our work." Hermione insisted. She turned to Emerald and offered her a smile. "Not to worry, we won't let you fall behind." "Speak for yourself." Ron muttered. "Hermione's always on top of everything. There's not a class she hasn't passed or a paper she's ever procrastinated." Hermione seemed to glow with pride. "Honestly, I just like to stay organized." She said simply.

"Anyways, tomorrow's first class is potions." Emmy groaned. "Potions? I'm awful at that." She said with a sigh. "I can help you, if you want." Harry offered and Hermione shot him a look.

Helping others with their studies was always her job. Harry was slide stepping into rival territory. "I might take you up on that." Emerald said. "Then tomorrow afternoon we have charms." Emerald nodded. "Charms I can handle."

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As if the whispers at breakfast weren't enough the stares and pointing made Emerald feel more out of place in the great hall than a pumpkin in an apple tree.

She felt incredibly warm in her seat next to Hermione as eyes stared down at her like stars in the night sky.

"Why do people keep staring at me?" She wondered aloud as she bit into a pumpkin muffin.

"Probably because you don' look like us." Ron said with a mouthful of toast.

"Ron!" Hermione glared at him. "Well it's true!" He replied once he had swallowed his food. "She hasn't got her robes yet... no one dressed like that. Certainly not a student." He said.

Suddenly Emerald's gingham flannel shirt, jeans, and converse felt really big on her. Or did she just feel really small? Honestly, she couldn't tell but she knew she felt one thing. Uncomfortable. As if the gaping hole of loss inside her wasn't enough now she had to deal with teenagers doing what they do best, judging an outsider. She shivered.

"It won't be so bad later." Hermione said encouragingly. "It's just bad now because no one knows you." "Thanks?" Emerald said with confusion. "Once they get to know you it won't be so bad." Emerald remembered what both her mother and Dumbledore had told her. Who she was, who she really was.

Visions of a wicked green witch danced in her mind. As if being the descendant of the west's most wicked witch wasn't enough, she would also have to face the fact that her mother was one of the most infamous witch killers of all time. Dorothy Gale, child. Wonderer. Witch killer. Emerald wasn't so sure Hermione was right on this one. Once these students got to find out just who she was, she was certain they would be far from amiable.

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"Ah our new student!"

Professor Slughorn greeted Emerald as she filed into the potions classroom behind Harry and Hermione.

"Might I say I am quite excited to have you in my class! What an extraordinary opportunity!" He added excitedly. "Please have a seat next to Mr. Potter I think that will do nicely."

It hit Emerald suddenly that this professor knew. He knew who she was, what she was. Knock off Santa must have told him. And if he had told this professor than it was safe to assume he had told all of the professors. All the other students were soon to know her secret.

Emerald offered the giddy professor a polite smile and took her seat next to Harry.

"Before we get started on today's lesson of poison Anecdotes, I would like to introduce to the class our new student."

Slughorn announced. Emerald felt the tips of her ears heat up and sure enough they were bright green.

"Miss Emerald Thropp transferred from a distant western school lost in a disastrous attack of death eaters." He said as he gestured to where Emerald sat. "And of course she is most notably the descendent of Elphaba Thropp, more better known as the Wicked Witch of the West."

Whispers from around the room rose.

"And," He continued, Emerald fidgeted with her thumbs nervously, "The daughter of Dorothy Gale, the child who slaughtered wicked witches under the blessing of a Good Witch of the South."