Giulia Kingsley felt her heart pounding as she stepped forward to be sorted into her Hogwarts house. "Slytherin!" the hat shouted, and Giulia felt a surge of pride and excitement.
But her joy was short-lived when she realized that her personal jou...
"You may want to enlighten us, Guilia." Poppy said as she turned her. "We may need to know what you know about this place. You spoke as if you knew that man and the fact, he ran this village... what aren't you telling us? You can trust us, can't you..." Despite Poppy's reassurance, Guilia remained hesitant.
"I appreciate it, Poppy, but the less you know about this place, the better it is for everyone's safety," Guilia said softly.
"Poppy is right. We do need to know about this place to better our chances of getting home." natty explained Guilia put her head down with a sigh now a little annoyed.
"Can you two please stop asking again? The little you know, the better... and if I recall, after the bookstore that painted red, the bakery is two right turns 73 steps down a flight of stairs a left then another right..."
Stunned, the girls looked at her but soon followed her instructions when they saw the bookstore.
The girls were taken aback by Guilia's reluctance to divulge more information, but they followed her instructions and were relieved to find the bakery. They were grateful for Guilia's assistance.
Upon arriving at the bakery, Poppy stood beside Guilia while Natty followed closely behind. Poppy's eyes widened with excitement as she gazed at the impressive display of freshly baked cakes and various types of bread through the bakery's window.
Guilia felt for the doorknob and reached over to her left, grabbing Poppy's cloak playfully.
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"Come on, sweet girl, let's go in already," Guilia chuckled, enjoying her friend's excitement over the sight of the bread. The baker greeted the girls with a warm smile, clearly pleased to see them.
"Wow, these look amazing," Poppy exclaimed excitedly, holding out a tray of freshly baked and delicious treats. "Welcome, please come indulge in my latest creation, the clustered-filled donuts. They are hot and fresh from the oven, so please be careful."
As Natty eagerly reached out to grab a donut, the baker cautioned her about the hot filling. Poppy couldn't resist the temptation and grabbed two donuts, handing one to Guilia to try. As they bit into the warm, gooey filling that melted in their mouths, they couldn't help but crave more.
The wait for these donuts was worth it. As they happily ate. The baker noticed Guilia and their attire. It seemed strange to him how they were dressed, yet Guilia seemed familiar to him. He just can't put his finger on it.
With a sense of purpose, Guilia spoke up after finishing her delectable pastry. "Excuse me, sir. I couldn't help but overhear that you are in need of some assistance with your bakery."
The baker, who had been busy preparing dough at the counter, looked up and smiled. "Indeed, I am. The more hands, the merrier. May I ask what brings you here?" Guilia took a deep breath, feeling a bit self-conscious.
"My friends and I were passing through town and bumped into someone who spoke of your bakery that needed some help thought we'd stop by to see if we could earn some money before continuing on our travels."
The baker looked them over and then nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Well, I won't turn away anyone willing to work hard. Here, has an apron." He handed each of them an apron, but he hesitated when he got to Guilia. "I couldn't help but notice your eyes. Are you sure you can handle a kitchen?"
Guilia smiled reassuringly. "Yes, sir. I know my way around a kitchen. You won't be disappointed." The baker still seemed unsure but ultimately handed her the apron. "Alright then, let's get to work.... but first... your names?" the nice baker looked at them as the girls realized.
"OH," they all spoke at once. "The names... Poppy, and this is natty and..." They looked to Guilia, about to say her name, but Guilia quickly spoke aloud. "Emerald... my name Emerald ..." "Emerald, huh?... pretty name..."
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Throughout the course of the day at the bakery, Guilia diligently monitored and assisted the girls to ensure that operations were running seamlessly. Though the girls had to help Guilia to some degree with the ingredients, aside from that, Poppy was facing a minor challenge with overheating certain items in the pot.
Thankfully, Guilia was able to provide her with some guidance and support when needed as, of course, Guilia knew her way around this kind of kitchen more so than the other girls, and the same applied to Natty.
As the day progressed, it was heartening to witness them find their rhythm in the kitchen, which prevented any mishaps from occurring. The owner was particularly impressed by Guilia's ability to handle the situation with such poise and finesse, highlighting her invaluable contribution to the girls regardless of her blindness that he can tell.
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In the afternoon, the girls were met by a gentleman who entered the kitchen with a genial greeting. "Good day, ladies. I hope your first day went well", he said while scanning the area and noting that there was minimal disorder - a little untidiness being expected in a kitchen. The girls reciprocated with warm smiles.
"In any case, I have a place for the three of you. If you clean up after completing your working hours, you can come with me. I will guide you to your new abode."
"Oh, that would be wonderful," Natty exclaimed,
Natty was overjoyed with the offer, and she and the others hastily cleaned up the kitchen before trailing behind the gentleman. Guilia held onto Natty's cloak tightly as they walked, her heart beating rapidly with fear and uncertainty. Although she had faith in Natty's character and knew him to be a good man, a nagging feeling of doubt lingered within Guilia.
Giulia's heart was racing, thumping against her chest with an intensity that was hard to ignore. She recognized the soft, gentle tone of his voice and the rank he held. His kindness was palpable, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of longing stir within her. Despite her desire to speak up, fear held her back.
She couldn't bring herself to utter the words that would reveal her true self, afraid that it would change everything. The pain in her chest was becoming unbearable, the weight of regret growing heavier with each passing moment. She knew that if she didn't find the courage to speak up soon, she would lose her chance to say what she had longed to say. But simultaneously, she knew she couldn't say anything more.
Once at the new apartment, the man let the girls in, and Guilia stood near the entrance near the man as he spoke.
"It's fully furnished and has running water and a fireplace to cook and keep yourself warm. You even have an ice box, so enjoy your stay, ladies, and be well" he smiled, then turned to Guilia. And spoke softly.
"Sleep well, little gem" Guilia's eyes widened when she heard those words as he left, closing the door. Guilia fell back, leaning against the wall as she clutched her chest.
