Disclaimer: So not mine. (would buy if could . . .)
A/N: hope this isn't to long! I leave next week for a week-long vacation, so I will try to post another chapter before I leave. Enjoy!
Chapter 9: Explanations
On Thursday the Irish Society reflected upon the uproar of the school. "Can you believe it has attacked ghosts now too?" Someone said while another said, "You mean, Harry attacked them."
"Harry didn't do it." Emma said.
"How do you know? He had something against everyone that was attacked?" Another guy said.
"What could Harry have against Nick? He is the Gryffindor ghost for crying out loud" Cedric said helping Emma. Emma gave him a smile.
This made everyone think. Why would he attack Nick? What could he have done to offend Harry?
"Harry didn't do it. He happens to have rotten timing. I was walking in the halls behind him when he came upon Nick and Justin and they were already petrified." Emma said.
"Then what is causing all of this?" Maddy asked.
"Anyone staying for break?" Morrigan asked suddenly.
"I am" Emma said. She was one of 3.
When their meeting was over a few hours later, Cedric walked Emma back to her common room.
"Thanks for sticking up for Harry." she said.
"I don't think it was him. I mean, he defeated you-know-who. Why would he attack his fellow students? Besides it doesn't make since to attack Nick." Cedric said.
"None of it makes sense" Emma said. "So why are you walking me back?"
"Are you kidding? If you got attacked I wouldn't forgive myself. No one should be alone now."
"Aw, how sweet, but I could walk back with Abby and the other Gryffindors. I'm surprised you aren't walking your fellow Hufflepuff girls."
"Between you and me, Sean enjoys the attention he gets from it. Why rob him of it?" Cedric said. "Besides, this way if you get caught out after hours you are with a prefect and can't get in trouble" he added.
"True."
As they got close to the portrait, they ran into Percy. "Emma, Cedric, what are you doing up?" he asked.
"Don't get upset, Percy. Just bringing Emma back." Cedric said.
"I'll walk back with you then."
When they reached the portrait Cedric said, "I'll see you later Emma, I'll see you at the Prefects meeting Percy"
"Bye Cedric-be careful!" Emma said.
"Of course. Wouldn't want to make you angry now would I?" He said with a wink and gave her a peck on the cheek when he left.
Percy and Emma walked inside. "I suppose Cedric already gave you the lecture about being out after hours."
"Sure." Emma said.
"Then I wont have to. Although, now that I think about it, he seems to be out a lot on Thursdays." Percy noted.
"Really? Hmm" Emma said. "You wouldn't be making sure Penelope got back to her room safely now would you?" She teased. This made Percy blush.
"Don't tell anyone, alright?" Percy asked. Emma smiled and went upstairs.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Saturday night Emma went out for a fly again. It was a little later than usual thanks to Lavender and Parvati.
She flew out. "Your late" Draco said.
"What can I say. I live with a bunch of girls who like to gossip."
"I don't see the mudbl- Granger as being a Gossip."
"She isn't but the other 3 are."
They went for a fly for a bit, and then sat by their oak tree. "So, you promised to meet me last Saturday."
"Things were a little hectic" she teased.
"Really? With everyone thinking it's Potter as the heir? Honestly! Saint Potter the heir of Slytherin is ridiculous." Draco said.
"Your telling me." Emma said. "That would make me the heiress!" Draco smirked.
They sat and just enjoyed the comfortable silence for awhile. "Why are you staying for break?" She asked.
"Mom and dad are having a party, like every year, but it is basically a big gathering of all the former death eaters who are under my father. Just don't feel like it this year." Draco said.
"Really." Emma said. This made her happy.
"Shocking I know" he said sarcastically. "Besides I was hoping you would stay over the holidays as well." He added.
"Really? Why?"
"This way I could give you your present in person" He said. "Having a friend on Christmas would be different for a change." he added.
"I am staying. My da doesn't understand, but I let him think it was because I was staying to be with the ton of friends he thinks I have." Emma said.
"How does he not see what your life is like?"
"Your parents don't see what your life is like either. Your dad wants you to be a death eater, be into the dark arts, push for the pureblood ideology."
"Lets not talk about that" he said.
"Why? Because you don't know what it is you want yet?" Emma said.
"I swear you know me better than I know myself" Draco said.
Emma smiled. "I do tend to know people better than they do themselves"
"Who knows you?"
"Touche." she said sadly.
"I didn't mean it to be mean, sorry" he said and grabbed her hand. They both felt a
tingling sensation go through their hands. "I am just trying to understand you." he said.
"You aren't exactly open to others either." Emma countered.
"True, but can you see my dad if I didn't turn out just the way he approves of? He would go ballistic if he knew I was friends with a Potter." he said. This made Emma smile. "So, you going to tell me?"
"What?"
"What did you mean that you are your mother?"
Emma sighed. "It is complicated. When my mother died, she was experiencing several emotions. Betrayal and anger amongst them" Emma said.
"Ok."
"Well, remember I was only about 3 months old. This happened August first, the day after Harry was born. When she was there, knowing she was going to die, she was filled with sadness and regret she would not be able to raise me, and that I would never know her. She wanted me to know her-she was sad that her child would never know their mother. I guess just watching Lily give birth to Harry made her extra emotional too." Emma said.
Draco just listened patiently.
"She decided she wanted to leave me something to remember me by. She decided to leave me her essence. Something went wrong, though. Potters know ancient magic (Draco didn't doubt this- a lot of ancient families did including his) and she meant to transfer her essence to me so I would always know her goodness and kindness, and think happily of her
whenever I thought about her. But since she was so emotionally distraught at the time, when she died, something was too power, and instead of just her essence being transfered to me, her memories were too." Emma said.
Draco paused for a moment to process this. "So you have your mother's memories inside of you?" He said.
"Yes. I know her spirit went on to whatever happens after life, I don't know that, but it is like she is inside me. All of her memories, everything that was her, was sent to me. It's like I have two people in my head." She said.
"So, your mother is in your head too." he repeated. This was way bizarre.
"I know it is way bizzare" Emma said.
"How . . .?"
"Remember, I was only 3 months old. I have had a whole other person's memories in my head for my entire life. As I got older I learned how to separate myself from her, to be my own person. This has always been a constant battle within myself." Emma said.
"So you aren't always you?" He asked.
"Now, for the most part, I am. Growing up it was more difficult."
They both sat for a while. "So, what effects have this had? You mentioned before that the answer you couldn't give-the one you just told me-was tied to all my other questions."
"Like how I am able to tell what other people are feeling?"
"Yes."
"Well, basically, this constant struggle over my mind led to me becoming skilled in the more mental aspects of magic . . ."
"You mean you're a leglimens?" he asked.
"A little bit more. My skills are highly developed. I can ease in and out of minds with ease, even if the person is skilled in occlumency. And so far I have not met anyone who has the talents to get into my head." Emma said.
"Not even Snape or Dumbledore?" Draco asked.
"You know they are Leglimens and Occlumens?" She asked. He nodded. "No, not even they can, which is quite entertaining I must say," Emma said with a laugh. "Snape has stopped trying, and Dumbledore finds it all in a weird way fantastic." She paused knowing that this had to sink in. "I was also born an empath. That is how I know what others are always feeling."
"You're an empath? That is the least shocking thing you have said all night" he said. That made Emma smile. "Was it also caused by your mother's death?" He asked.
"No. Empaths are born at random. I would have been an empath even if she was still alive today."
"Being an empath– is that why you are always happy?" He asked.
"O dear no! I don't have emotions. . ."
"I thought empaths felt all emotions?"
"We feel everyone else's emotions, and depending on what type of empath you are, you do feel your own emotions."
"Why don't you? What type of empaths are there?" He asked.
"Don't you think it is time to get back to bed? We only have a few hours before sunrise." Emma said.
Draco looked up and didn't realize they were out so late. "I suppose."
They both stood up and grabbed their brooms. He didn't know how to say what he wanted to say. "Remember? You don't have to say anything, Draco. I know what you want to say" she said. She gave him a smile, which Draco thought looked a little sad, and took off.
He mounted his broom and left too. He wanted to ask why she was sad. When he got back to his room he realized what it was he wanted to say. No wonder he didn't know before.
Thank you.
A/N: special thanks to Animecrazy88 and Childofthekng! Childofthekng: Yes, I know, "trust' and "Draco" are not something you see in the same sentence often (unless it's Harry saying 'I trust Draco to hex me to smithereens'). Draco is everything Emma needs :)
