Emmalyn didn't care much for the tone in the professor's voice. It was down right scary with a twist of evil. She had no idea if he was actually a scary person, but he sure did sound and look like one.

At the instruction for the first and second years to go and retrieve a copper cauldron, Emmalyn studied the one she had. She really had no idea if hers was made of copper or not. Glancing around the room, then to Night's cauldron next to her, she quickly realized that she did not have a copper cauldron. "Oh, I need one, don't I?" She quietly said to Night. Hoping that she wouldn't lose any points for her house, like the unfortunate gryffindor, Emmalyn quickly moved to the cupboard, grabbed the correct cauldron, and returned to her station.

After carefully listening and watching all of the instructions given, she pulled out her wand, crossed the fingers of her non wand hand, and firmly said "Diffindo!" Sadly, she hadn't pointed her wand end correctly and now had two notebooks where one had originally sat. "Ugh. That's not good." She quickly pushed the notebook under another piece of parchment, hoping it wouldn't be seen. Her face blushed full crimson at the mistake. Emmalyn glanced around, hoping that no one had noticed. Wand in hand again, this time being extra careful where it was pointed, she commanded “Diffindo!” Eureka! She slowly moved her hand in a circular motion to cut a rather large and not so perfect circle out of the top of her pumpkin.

Looking around, and hoping that what she had just accomplish was seen, Emmalyn saw that she was not the only first year to successfully remove the pumpkin top. She began the next step by taking the spoon and she gently scraped out the innards and separated the seeds from the goo. After filing the proper amount, she placed all of the two packed cups of pumpkin goo, minus seeds, into her cauldron.

Then she was faced with a delima. She could either risk starting the fire herself or she could risk walking across the room to light a splint from the fire at the front. Both options were risky in her mind. She glanced around to see if there was an older student willing to help. “Excuse me, I know there is a lit fire up front to light my bunsen burner from, but I’m afraid to cross with room with a lit object. Would someone please light mine for me?

"I'd be happy to take your seeds out for you. I like how slippery they feel." Emmalyn smiled kindly at her friend and held out her already pumpkin gut covered hands to help.