"Who is this, Lupin?"
"Who—Emma! I told you to wait in your room." Lupin fussed. The little girl hiding under the table giggled and crawled out to her uncle.
"Hehe, sorry Uncle Remus. I was hungry." The five-year old answered. She looked at the visitor sitting at the table and gasped, "You're Professor Snape!"
With a slight pause, Snape slowly responded, "Yes…"
"I head you're an amazing potions master! I love potions!" Emma explained, smiling brightly. Her uncle added, "Yes, she does seem to have a knack for making them, as well."
"Does she now?" Snape inquired, slightly curious as of the true talent of the girl.
"I'll show you! Come on!" The black-haired girl seized Severus Snape's wrist, pulled him from the table, and dragged him up the stairs to her room. As the potions master left the meeting, Remus gave him an apologetic look and sighed. What was he going to do with that girl? She was as high-spirited as her father.
"Okay, here we are!" Emma sat on the floor in front of an advanced potions set. "Remus lets you play with chemicals this dangerous?" Snape raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "I know how to use them. They're not dangerous." The girl's face changed from carefree-happiness to that of upmost serious—well, as serious as a five-year old child can be. "This is the beginnings of the philter I'm making." A look of surprise appeared on Severus' face. "You are awfully bright for someone of your age." Smiling, she replied, "Thank you! I love potions! My uncle bought me a lot of books to read." Emma pointed to a large stack of potion books on the other side of the room. Bending down to her level, Snape analyzed the potion. "What all did you use?" The little girl started to become very excited, for a real potions master was helping her with her work. "I used this one, and this one…"
"What am I to do, Dumbledore?" Remus asked, still sitting in the meeting room of the Order of the Phoenix. "She can't go to Hogwarts when she becomes of proper age, not now." He continued. "How am I supposed to take care of her with my… condition?" Dumbledore placed a comforting hand on Remus' shoulder. "Now, now, no need to fret. Have you tried using the Wolvesbane potion like we talked about?" A small smile played on the corner of Remus' mouth. "I would… had my potions ability remained as it were back when I was a student." Dumbledore chuckled and responded, "Then, I shall have Severus conjure you enough vials to last you until Christmas break." Washed with a wave of relief, Remus looked Dumbledore in the eyes and said, "Thank you…"
A series of thumps was heard from above, and then the sound traveled closer until the members of the Order could see little Emma running towards them. "Uncle Remus! Uncle Remus! Professor Snape is amazing! He helped me finish my philter!" Remus pushed his chair back and walked towards Emma, smiling, "Well, that was awfully kind of him, wasn't it? Did you thank him properly?" He asked, patting her on the head. Before Emma could reply, Snape interrupted, "You have one talented niece, Lupin. I must admit, I have never seen anyone in my potions class that understood a concept better than her." Kneeling in front of her Remus took hold of Emma's shoulders and said, "That's great. See, Emma, I told you that you were brilliant." The black-haired girl merely giggled and blushed.
"Why don't you teach her, Severus?" Dumbledore wondered aloud. Everyone in the entire room turned to look at Dumbledore in surprise.
"She's quite brilliant for a five-year old, isn't she?" Mad-Eye Moody whispered to Tonks. "Ita's hard to believe it, considering how her father was at Hogwarts." Molly Weasley added. "What do you expect? After all, Remus has been taking care of her, and he is quite the studious fellow himself." Tonks responded softly.
"That would be fantastic!" Emma squealed in delight. "Would you, please Professor?" She clasped her hand together in a begging gesture.
"We can talk about this later." Remus exhaled, patting the little girl's head once more. "Run back to your room until we're finished."
"Oh, alright…." Emma responded, pretending to admit defeat. The black-haired girl ran up two flights of stairs and shut her bedroom door. A few minutes later, Emma cautiously and hesitantly turned the black doorknob and opened the door. Slowly, she tiptoed down the hallway, careful not to cause any squeaking. Her Uncle Remus had told her that the meetings were for adults only, but Emma eavesdropped anyway. The wizarding world was so fascinating; Emma wanted to know everything. For the most part, all of the adults talked about who Voldemort had killed recently; whoever Voldemort was, she didn't know. All she knew was that he was starting a war. Several people from the first meeting of the Order had disappeared. The Potters and Longbottoms, Remus told her, had died. Her father, on the other hand, was no where to be found. The day he didn't come home was the same day of the meeting that Emma found impossible to sneak in to or listen in on. The black-haired girl was sure that during that meeting they talked about her father. However, Remus and Dumbledore had refused to disclose any information (They were the only two she trusted, until she met Snape). Three weeks had passed since that meeting. During this time, Remus has been living with and taking care of her. Molly Weasley tried to help out, but Emma expressly told Remus that she did not want another mother. Even though Emma never knew her mother and knew that she was dead, Emma still loved her mother dearly.
Standing at the top of the stairs, the little girl leaned over the rail in attempts to hear any voices from below. The only sound she could hear were hushed whispers.
"The young mistress should know better than to sneak around like a theif."
"Oh! Kreature… you scared me." Her heart was pounding in her chest. "Go on now. Leave me alone and get back to cleaning!" She commanded, pointing up the stairs.
"Yes, my mistress, of course." Kreature bowed and passed her, heading up the stairs.
With a small sigh, Emma proceeded slinking down the stairway ever so stealthily. She stopped when she heard the voices more clearly. Silly adults left the door open…Emma thought.
"…even Hogsmeade." One of the voices said. Hogsmeade? Emma wondered what they were talking about.
"Yes, well, we will just have to be careful, won't we?" Remus commented. The Order was awfully quiet; that, or she wasn't close enough. As soon as Emma started to move, she head Dumbledore say, "I suppose we're done for today. I will contact you all with further details soon." Chairs squeaked and footsteps made the floor creek as the members left Grimwald Place.
Emma didn't move until the noise stopped. She then walked down the stairs, still listening carefully.
"Since you will be… unable, I can watch the girl." The voice speaking was deep and slow. The black-haired girl recognized it to be Snape's. Suddenly very excited, Emma ran into the room, talking as fast as she could, "That would be fantastic! Please, Uncle Remus! Can I visit Professor Snape for a while?" Slyly, she pushed out her bottom lip, staring at her uncle fondly. Remus held her eyes for a moment and then agreed. "Alright, go pack your things." "Yay!" Emma ran up the stairs and into her room. Once she was gone for sure, Lupin looked at Snape and said, "I can't tell you how much I appreciate this, Severus."
"Don't get the wrong idea, Lupin. I am not doing this for your gratitude but to examine the full abilities of your niece." Snape explained bitterly.
"Severus, seeing as you've taken such an interest in her, why don't we make this arrangement permanent?" Dumbledore suggest.
Snape looked form Dumbledore to Lupin then back to Dumbledore. "I suppose that could… be arranged."
Remus knew that Severus wasn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart, but nonetheless, he felt grateful.
"Uncle Remus?" Little Emma shouted down the stairs; her voice echoing.
Stepping out of the room, he looked up the staircases and replied, "Yes?"
"Can you use your wand to fit all my books into my bag?"
A small smile appeared on his face, as he responded, "Coming!"