Chapter 1 – Lecture

The car journey from King's Cross to the Granger's wasn't what it had been the previous year. They were all talking animatedly, however, there was clearly a tension in the air, and Emma was sure it wasn't her imagination.

Richard and Jane were happy to see them both again, even Emma, even after what she'd done over the past few months, but they were trying to pretend it wasn't an issue, and listened with rapt attention to the story of their time at school, in rather more detail than they would have liked.

As muggles, the two of them saw the slightest danger in a school as worrisome, and worthy of closure, but the news that a giant snake that could kill just by looking someone in the eyes was something else entirely. They truly considered taking Hermione out of Hogwarts and transferring her to a different school. It was surprising how much Hermione and Emma were against that idea, and defended Hogwarts, despite Hermione nearly dying two years in a row, and Emma actually dying four times.

'Well, I am cursed.' said Emma, as if that made it any better. 'So's Harry.'

Hermione was upset when she heard that Emma had died for a fourth time. Emma hadn't told her that the Basilisk had killed her because she'd forgotten all about it with everything else that was going on. Hermione had asked how it happened, and Emma was forced to describe how she went looking for Ginny, who had disappeared from her map in Myrtle's bathroom, and then she basically walked right into the snake.

The Granger's could tell Emma was being very reticent with the details whenever she talked about the past year, but they didn't push her. Hermione was still treating Emma like she was made of glass, as if she could lose herself again at any moment. The actual reason she avoided the details was because she was overwhelmed with guilt.

Jane could tell what was going on between the two girls. She'd gotten letters all year from Hermione until they had stopped suddenly, only to get one more from the school saying Hermione had been petrified, but would make a full recovery in time. She watched Emma and her daughter talk together from the passenger seat of the car and shook her head minutely. She'd told them both during the last summer holidays that they were too selfless and that they needed to share their problems, yet here they were, both blaming themselves for everything, again, and, just like before, fault was definitely on both sides.

When they got back to the house, the girls unpacked their things into their wardrobes. Emma dawdled, expecting the lecture Hermione had said she'd get from Jane at any moment, however, that didn't happen until much later that evening. Hermione and Jane were reading, already back into their usual habits, while Richard and Emma watched the news.

Emma kept glancing over at Hermione, to see if she was alright, when she got up and said she was tired and going to go to bed. Emma said goodnight and watched Hermione leave with conflicting emotions.

'So.' said Jane, seriously, putting her book down when they heard Hermione's bedroom door close.

She'd been paying acute attention to the girls all day, and they'd both been too distracted with each other to notice. Jane had reasoned that she would have to talk to them both individually, before talking with them together, as there seemed to be more to what happened than met the eyes. They'd both been through a lot and she knew they really wanted to be friends again, but they wouldn't talk to each other about anything meaningful.

Emma simply ducked her head, waiting for the shouting or the measured tone of disappointment, but it never came. Instead what Jane did was reach into a drawer and pull out a stack of letters. Emma could make out Hermione's writing easily. Jane flicked through the pile and handed one to Emma, indicating for her to read it. It looked like it was one of the most recent.

'Dear Mum and Dad,

I made a mistake. I thought if I told Emma we weren't friends she'd stop being so cruel, but she's gone. She took her things from the dormitories and nobody has seen her outside of lessons since. Even in lessons she's not there, not her mind. I think the vampire's taken over. She just sits there, taking notes, not looking at anyone, and then leaves the second the bell rings. She's completely lost and emotionless and it's all my fault. Even Madam Pomfrey thinks so.

I tried talking to her, but Harry and Ron wouldn't let me. They think she's too dangerous now, but I know she won't hurt me. I don't know why though. She's so protective of me, but it doesn't make any sense. She's not like that with Harry or Ron, or anyone else. I'd try to slip away from the boys, but I don't know where Emma is hiding anyway.

I don't know what to do. I miss her so much.

Love, Hermione.'

Emma read it twice. It was clearly written a few days after their argument, after Hermione had caught her trying to smother Draco. She couldn't help notice the parchment was dotted with dried tears and had to give it back before her own stained it too.

'I could show you more,' said Jane, subdued. 'but I'm sure you can guess that they're all mostly the same.'

Emma nodded her head forlornly. She'd not been expecting a lecture to start like this. Mrs Cole just shouted, or sighed in exasperation, but now Emma knew where Hermione got her talent for punishment from. Jane knew exactly what would sting her the most.

'She blames herself, you know. For not pushing you hard enough to change your food at the start of the year, to pushing you away too much before that letter.'

'But it wasn't her fault.' said Emma, resolutely. 'It was mine.'

Jane sighed. She knew that's what Emma would say, but arguing with her was going to get them nowhere. Instead, Jane asked Emma to tell her what happened over the last year in her own words. All Jane had to go on was Hermione's letters and the brief talk in the car.

So, Emma explained everything that happened in their second year. She started with the increased volume and reduced frequency of her diet of animal blood, as that's what Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore had agreed to change it to, to avoid the constant feeling of hunger which had begun to make her dangerous.

She then described how it had unintended side effects. It had cleared up her hunger, for the most part, like it should have, however, feeding less often made her need other things. Madam Pomfrey had said that hunting was every much a part of vampire feeding as the blood was, and she was right. The new diet resulted in Emma stalking other students around the school, following them as if hunting prey.

After that she mentioned the thing that started the downward spiral; Draco calling Hermione a mudblood.

'What is a mudblood?' asked Richard. 'Hermione never actually wrote what he'd said, only that it was a terrible thing to say.'

'It's used to call someone impure. It's because people like Draco and his family hate non-magical's, or Muggles, like you two, and think those like Hermione, who don't have magical parents, shouldn't be allowed to use magic because their blood is dirty.'

'The magical world seems very prejudiced.' said Richard, frowning. 'Do they call you one as well?'

'It can be, but very few families actually think like the Malfoy's.' replied Emma. 'And no, I'm an orphan so I don't think Draco wants to insult my heritage in case my parents were magical, but if he found out I'm a vampire, being called a mudblood would be the least of my problems. After all, I'm not even human.'

'So what did you do when he said that to Hermione?' asked Jane, getting them back on topic.

A history of Magical's treatment of muggles and half-breeds would have to wait.

'I nearly killed him there and then. The only reason I didn't was because Hermione stopped me.' said Emma, ashamed, continuing the story.

She explained the prank that followed, which made Richard chuckle, and then her descent into crueller and more deceitful behaviour as well as the hunting that accompanied it. She added her other attempts on Draco's life as well as the argument with Hermione that turned off her emotions.

She then finished with finding Hermione petrified, and everything that happened in the chamber, until she was found, then Emma stopped. Jane nodded to herself.

'As I understand it, most of that happened because your predatory instincts were taking over, because you weren't getting the right sustenance?'

Emma nodded. 'Yes.'

'And do you really feel that you deserve the blame for that?'

'Yes.' said Emma, emphatically. 'I refused to drink human blood. Not that it helped, they'll be forcing me to do it next year.'

'Should they not have done that as soon as they realised you were having trouble?'

'I... guess so.' stammered Emma.

'So stop blaming yourself as much.' said Jane, softly. 'Take responsibility for your own actions, certainly, but not for things outside your control.'

Emma nodded awkwardly.

'What I don't understand,' added Jane. 'is why you behave so strongly toward Hermione. I appreciate you trying to defend her, but don't you think your actions were excessive?'

'They were,' nodded Emma. 'but I don't know why. She asked me that too, but I really don't know. We're best friends, or we were, but she thinks that's not a good enough reason.'

Jane looked at Emma, then shared another with Richard, who nodded.

'Do you think it might be more than that,' said Jane, delicately. 'more than being best friends? I've seen the way you watch her.'

'What do you mean?' asked Emma, frowning, more confused than ever.

'I mean...' said Jane, looking at Richard again momentarily. 'How do you feel when you're around her?'

'Ashamed.' said Emma, instantly.

'Yes,' sighed Jane, patiently. 'and?'

Emma looked between Jane and Richard. He was looking away from her, clearly trying to hide his smirk, and not doing a very good job. Jane, meanwhile, was calm and serious, but there was an amused edge to her expression. Emma was beginning to feel like she was being made fun of.

'Please, I don't know what you want me to say?' said Emma, flustered. 'She was the first friend I ever had. We were best friends. She means everything to me, and I ruined it.'

'Well,' said Jane, a wide smile on her face again, pointedly lifting up Hermione's letters. 'It's clear that she feels, if not the same, then very similarly. There's hope yet.'

'You really think she would forgive me?'

'I thought you two were the smartest in your year?' sighed Jane, still smiling. 'We've been over this. She wants you to forgive her.'

'But why? She didn't do anything wrong.'

'Then tell her that.'

'I did, but she doesn't believe me.'

'The same way you don't believe her when she says it?'

Emma frowned, but Jane spoke again before she could reply.

'You two are as bad as each other.' smirked Jane. 'You're going to have to sit down and talk about this together.'

The conversation continued for a while, but Jane and Emma both felt that they were going around in circles, so Emma was left to dwell on her thoughts when Richard and Jane went to bed. She went to find somewhere secluded outside, where she could think. The scaffolding she'd used to get onto the roof the year before had gone, so she couldn't go up there. Instead she went to the church and stayed there for a few hours. She had a lot to think about.

The following morning, she got back to the house early, and started her homework on the large kitchen table. Hermione came down shortly after and with a very uncomfortable greeting, she had some breakfast and then joined Emma. When Jane and Richard woke up to have their breakfast too, Emma saw them share a meaningful look and shake their heads.

The day continued with Emma and Hermione only talking about their homework, until dinner time. They were enjoying themselves, even if it wasn't what it used to be. After dinner, the two of them volunteered to wash up. Emma liked doing it as it was a chore she did often at the orphanage, to feel like she was earning her keep. She needed that now more than ever.

When the two of them were done, they went into the living room, as was usual, however, Richard and Jane had moved from their usual spots. They had taken up all of the room on the larger sofa, leaving Emma and Hermione to sit together on the smaller one. It was obvious to Emma what the adults were trying to do, and it wasn't lost on Hermione either. They both frowned at the adults, but sat down anyway.

Richard and Jane were watching a wildlife documentary on the television, and Emma joined in with rapt attention. She loved animals, of all kinds, and was certainly looking forward to her first lesson of Care of Magical Creatures after the holidays were over.

The documentary started with birds, something for which Emma had grown very fond of after getting Nephthys, but it never covered the common raven, just more dramatic birds, like Starlings and their vast murmurations, or Peregrine Falcons and their incredibly fast diving speeds. Emma felt somewhat scorned, the intelligence of Corvids should have at least gotten a brief mention.

After a while, however, it turned to another flying creature, the only mammal capable of flight, the bat. Emma smirked. She liked bats, a lot of them were very cute, but they had a very bad reputation, mainly because of vampire bats, and that was something she found very funny. That was until something very unexpected, and definitely magical, started happening. She felt her body changing, contorting and shrinking. It wasn't painful, but it did feel incredibly weird. She had no idea what was happening.