Disclaimer: this is my version of year 7. I Do not own or profit from anything you see here. I wrote this months ago with a few revisions lately, but it is my version. I will write another version that follows JK's final book, but this is not it! Anything that is similar to book 7 is completely coincidental! Credit belongs to me : )
Author's notes: I just saw Order of the Phoenix and OMG!!! I loved it! I know they cut a lot out ::grrr:: but they did wonderful with what they had! I wanted to strangle Umbridge, shake some sense into Draco (like Emma did : ) kiss Fred and George, and I loved Bella, Tonks, & Luna!!
Chapter 2: What's in a Horcruxe?
The next morning Harry woke up a little earlier than normal and saw that Emma was still in bed. Once again he felt a pang of guilt for her having to guard him while he slept. He decided to try and be helpful and let her sleep while he took a shower. When he got out, he found Emma awake and dressed. They went down to breakfast together.
After breakfast, Harry and Emma were back in his room and soon Ron and Hermoine apparated in. The girls left Ron to keep Harry company while they went to Diagon Alley. Hermione had talked with Ron and Harry the day before while Emma was helping Petunia and they all noticed that Emma seemed even more withdrawn than usual.
Their first stop was to Flourish and Blotts. Since school was just out, there was no rush of Hogwarts students trying to buy their books. This made it easier looking through the shelves of books, much to both of the girls' delight. After several hours in there, they decided they had enough to start with. Both were happy Harry and Ron were not there rushing them. Then they went to the apothecary and bought a ton of supplies. They bought some stuff they would not have dared bought if they were just going to school. The wizard who was working the shop had an odd look at some of the ingredients since they weren't normal things for 17 year old witches to buy. Emma sensed his confusion and accusing thoughts. "We are interning at the ministry. My father pulled some strings and got us these wonderful summer jobs. Don't you just love nepotism? I have a feeling it is going to be a lot of errand running, though," Emma said with a frown, making the wizard shake his head in understanding and both girls grabbed their bags and left before he could think to ask what jobs they would be working at that would need them to use ingredients such as these.
"That was a great idea Emma, now if we come back it won't be so odd," said Hermoine. "I think we have got enough for tonight. Look at the time! It's been almost 6 hours! Harry and Ron are probably going crazy there."
"Lets get something to eat before we go back, since we missed lunch already," suggested Emma, and they headed to a café back in muggle London. They decided to eat at a table outside. After the waitress left with their orders, Hermoine turned to Emma with a concerned look on her face. "How are you doing Emma? Honestly? That night was just as much of a shock to you as it was to us."
Emma knew they were worried; she was worried for all of them, and was going through an internal debate (between herself and Draco) over new feelings and emotions. "Honestly, I . . . I've changed, Hermione. I miss Draco, which I think is all Harry and Ron think is wrong; to them it sounds weird since we're telepathically connected and all."
"It's not odd at all."
Emma smiled. "If Ron or Harry were here they would say 'but you can talk to him anytime! You know how he is, I mean, after all, if something happens to him you'll be the first to know!', but it's not the same. I want to see him with my own eyes, not my head. I want to touch him, hold him, and tell him everything's all right, have him tell me everything is alright. And that is just the tip of the iceberg of things going on in my head."
"That's why you're talking to me about it, and not them. Harry would listen to you, because you're his friend and cousin, but he wouldn't understand because it's Draco. It's hard since we have hated each other for so long. I'll confess it's even hard for me. And Ron, he is not the most sensitive person to begin with."
"I think he at least has the sensitivity of a tablespoon now," Emma said which made them both laugh. "I know it's hard for you guys, and it's hard for Draco too. He doesn't like the idea of sharing me with anybody, especially considering my interactions with everyone in the past. And he especially doesn't like the idea of having to share me with Harry of all people. He doesn't hate Harry anymore, he hasn't for awhile, but he is still jealous of Harry in some ways I think. Plus, our world is so full of these ingrained prejudices: Slytherins hate Gryffindors, Gryffindors hate slytherins,. . . it's exhausting always constantly having to deal with it. What's going on with you and Ron now anyways? Has he finally asked you out?"
"No," Hermione said. "That boy is so slow on the uptake."
"All 3 of them are. And from my many sessions, most boys generally are. It's their genetic makeup I think. I mean, look at Oliver," she used as an example.
"I did ask him to come to my house. I think he was about to pass out, so I told him it was just because I have met his parents and been to his house and all, and he has never really met mine except for the few times they were at Diagon Alley or something. He has never even been to my house! Actually, come to think of it, none of you have."
"It's understandable why I haven't, so don't beat yourself up over it. Maybe we could all go, that is, after Ron goes alone with you, and if it is alright with your parents and all," suggested Emma.
"I'm sure it will be, so let's plan on it," and with that, both girls walked to an alley to apparate back to the Dursleys.
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While the girls were shopping, Harry and Ron were going over what they knew about the horcruxes, and Ron was telling Harry about how he managed to not get caught sneaking out everyday. "Don't you think she will notice if you're gone everyday though?" Harry asked but Ron shook his head saying "Probably not at first."
Around lunchtime, they were nervous the girls weren't back. Not so much worried that something happened to them, but that they weren't there to keep them company at lunch and help to outnumber the Dursleys. Harry wished at least Emma was there since Petunia seemed to like her a little. She at least acknowledged that Emma was human. Lunch was a mellow affair. Harry explained that Hermione and Emma were both gone for the day, but that Emma would be back for dinner (Harry secretly hoped that this would be true). Nobody talked too terribly much, but the atmosphere wasn't as tense as the boys thought it would be.
The rest of the afternoon started out boring. Since they didn't think the girls would be back too soon (Do you even think they are out of the bookstore yet? Ron joked), Harry decided to take a walk to the park. Once there, Harry explained some of the muggle games going on since Ron hadn't seen some of them ("Why do they call it hopscotch?" Ron asked which made Harry laugh).
Eventually Ron brought up the fact that Hermione had invited him to her house. "She says that it is because she has come to my house every year and that I have never been to hers and its natural being friends. It makes sense, but what if it's something more?"
"So what if it is? You've liked her for ages, and I mean more than a friend. I thought you would have asked her out officially by now".
"After everything that has happened lately, yeah, I realized life is too short to wait, and I am hoping it means more. . . but . . .I don't know, what if she doesn't feel the same? It took me forever to accept the fact that I liked my best friend, and now if she doesn't like me more than a friend, it could ruin our friendship."
"You just said friend a lot in there. Trust me, she likes you. She didn't get so jealous over Lavender just because you guys are friends," he said which made Ron smile.
"Maybe I will, but the question is, before or after I meet her parents? Should she introduce me as her friend, or her boyfriend?"
"Why are you asking me? Does it matter to you that much? When are you going anyways?"
"Probably the day after tomorrow. So we probably won't be coming over. I think I'll tell my mum tomorrow that I am going to Hermione's."
The girls returned to the Dursley's, and made it up to Harry's room a few minutes after the guys got back. Hermione and Emma showed them everything they had bought, and decided to divide the books up between the four of them (with Emma and Hermione taking the majority). Hermione charmed Ron's so that they would look like quidditch books, so that no one would get suspicious if they saw them or saw Ron reading for that matter. Then they left since it was late in the afternoon.
Dinner at the Dursley's was as close to what Harry thought a normal family meal would ever be. Emma, always trying to get Vernon to warm up to her, talked to him about his company. She surprised Vernon by seeming to have an interest with all of her questions about his company and by praising him for running it so well. Harry decided that it was good to have a cousin who was an empath. If anyone from the wizarding world would know how to talk to the Dursley's it would be her.
'Draco, . . . I . . . I don't know how to explain it. I feel so angry over this, I can't even think straight sometimes.' Emma thought, walking back up to Harry's room.
'Is that why you have such an avid interest in the Dursleys?'
'Partly. A project helps to keep part of my mind occupied, at least. Plus, if I can really help them get over their prejudices, isn't that a good thing? For both Harry and this war.'
'Just don't focus so much on them that you don't face what happened,' Draco warned. 'You know Dumbledore had to have had his reasons, but I do wish he told us beforehand.'
'I could have helped more! I should have just looked, I could have avoided all of this,' Emma said sadly. 'Has Snape brought up that night?'
'No. He . . . well, at first we were so busy moving, keeping our trail covered up and he didn't say anything. Mother is actually the most talkative, worried over me and her. Oddly, she hasn't said anything about father.'
'I can't stand by on the sidelines anymore, Draco,' Emma admitted. She had come to that conclusion, but it was the first time she confessed it to anyone including herself.
'I know,' was all Draco said.
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The next day the four friends compared notes of the books they had read. Ron and Harry weren't surprise to learn they hadn't read as much as Hermoine and Emma (who had read all of their books, plus Emma had started on some of Harry's).
What they learned was that the horcruxes would be difficult to recognize if they hadn't any clue what they were looking for, since they could, and would, look like regular objects or, in the rare case, living things. "Well, then it is a good thing Dumbledore figured out which ones most of them are," said Ron.
They also learned that destroying the Horcruxes would be difficult. Horcruxes placed in different objects were destroyed differently.
"So, if it was a mirror, we could just shatter it right? But something like Helga's cup would need a potion of some sort, right?" Ron clarified.
"Yeah, but making the potions will be difficult. Well above seventh year level, and seeing as how we haven't even taken those classes yet . . ." Hermione trailed off.
"Most of us, anyways" said Harry looking at Emma.
"I don't know how much help it will be. It's not like Slughorn actually taught a class on how to brew a horcrux destroying potion. Although if there is anything in there I'm sure I'll find it. I actually think my magical theory class is going to be more helpful."
"Magical theory?" Ron asked having never heard of it. Harry had the same blank look.
"Exactly what it sounds like. Basically, it is where you study how new theories, practices, charms, spell, etc. are created. Some of the more wacky spells are made up by students over the years."
"Why wasn't it ever offered? How did you get in?" Harry asked.
"You have to be chosen by Dumbledore to get in the class. Not only because it is highly advanced, but also because it's. . . well, a different type of class. It's not learning by the book," she said looking at Hermione, who firmly believed the answer to everything was in a book somewhere. She changed the subject to trying to figure out what the last horcruxe could be, but no one had any ideas.
Emma was helping Petunia with the dishes after dinner that evening when the topic of Dudley's birthday came up. "We are having a small get together the day after tomorrow, so if you could tell your friends to be done early, it would be wonderful."
"Of course!" Emma agreed quickly. "In fact, I think they are going to be gone the entire day, so you don't have to worry about any of us."
"Thank you Emma. You are . . . understanding," Petunia said thoughtfully. "You are more than welcome to join us. I think Dudley has taken quite a liking to you," Petunia said with a maternal grin.
"Lovely," was all Emma said as she finished putting the last dish away, glad the cupboard door kept her face hidden from Petunia.
Upstairs, Harry looked at her with a look of confusion. "You're really going to go the party?"
"Yes, we are going to go. Now don't complain. They are your family. What do you want to do now?" And they spent the rest of the night before Harry fell asleep, just talking as if they had grown up together and known each other their whole lives. After Harry fell asleep Emma read and talked over theories with Draco while she guarded Harry.
The next morning, Harry woke up first again, which was something he figured would happen a lot. He wanted Emma to get as much sleep as possible. When he got back from the bathroom, she was awake and they went to breakfast.
After Vernon left, the two decided they would study on their own for awhile. After an hour and a half, though, Emma got up and said she was going to the kitchen and that she wouldn't be back for awhile.
Curious, Harry went down after awhile, and found to his amazement Emma was baking in Aunt Petunia's kitchen!
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Author's notes: Another chapter! I just realized how long my story is, so bear with me!
Readerwriterwhatever I'll try to limit the boring beginnings : ) There will be a few chapters dealing with summer, though. Potter Fan Bo Pinky Loved it! Hope you have more to work with! Professor Epona Thank you! I am so happy to see that someone has been here since the beginning and still is reading it now Elizabeth Hello and Thank you!!! Childofthkng Ew, but entertaining I think : D AnimeCrazy Thank you! I'm sure JK's version will be better but it is fun to write : ) Erica Maybe not Shoe shopping, but I can see her jumping at the chance to spend a day (or week) at the bookstore. Snuffles Sweetie I thought it a funny twist too : ) devil-angel I wrote this ages ago before the final book was even thought to come out. Now I just want to post it because it is key for my last story (Hint hint!!!) Anime Writer for Life Thank you! It's always wonderful to hear from new reviewers. iceball Definitely nervous : ) Trying to fit in as much of what we know could possibly happen in this year and still make it my own. I'm glad someone else thought Dudley's crush was funny : ) And you will definitely see more of Dudley in the next few chapters while I am writing the Dursleys.