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Chapter 10: Harry and Snape

The next morning, Emma found François and Marie waiting for her after breakfast. They were walking out of the castle when Ivan and Viktor joined them. Emma spent the morning showing them around the grounds. Emma invited them to lunch and they followed her into the Great Hall. She knew Dumbledore was happy to see the five of them sitting at the Gryffindor table together. Emma wasn't surprise to see Harry missing lunch. Everyone was talking about him as the fourth champion.

"Emma, you know this 'arry," Marie said. "Could he have put his name in?"

Emma shook her head. "No. Things have a way of happening to Harry. Harry doesn't want the attention, and I know he didn't put his name in."

Ivan shrugged. "How does he plan on competing? He is only 14."

"Poor boy," Marie said.

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Classes the next day were tense. Emma wasn't surprised to see that most of the students were hostile towards Harry. During herbology the Hufflepuffs glared and jeered at Harry behind his back. Emma happened to be working alongside Hannah, Susan, and Neville.

"I don't think Harry would have done it," Neville said after Hannah accused Harry of putting his name in. Emma gave him a smile.

"How else?" Susan asked.

"So, what do you think of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students?" Emma asked changing the subject.

"They seem really nice," Susan said kindly. Emma kept the conversation from Harry for the rest of the class period.

Emma was walking back to the castle for lunch when Cedric ran into her. "I was looking for you," he said with a grin.

"Really? Tired of your adoring fans after 1 day?" Emma teased. Right when they walked in, some third years asked Cedric to sign their bookbags.

"Maybe a little," Cedric said with a grin. He pulled Emma over to the Hufflepuff table. "Do you really believe Harry didn't put his name in?"

Emma nodded. "Of course! He's not suicidal, Cedric. He's only 14! What chance does he have against three 17 year olds?"

"Sorry, sorry," Cedric said. "Harry was always a sensitive subject. Anyways, how are the blast-ended Skrewts?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Horrid, nasty little things. What else would you expect them to be? Today, we went for a walk with them," Emma said with a grin making Cedric laugh. She gave him a peck on the cheek and went back to the Gryffindor table. Harry's loneliness and anger towards Ron floated down towards her so she went and grabbed a seat next to him.

"Hey," she said as she sat. Harry nodded. "It will get better. Soon everyone will start to think that now Hogwarts has better odds at winning," Emma joked. "Even if I have to force them to think that!"

Harry laughed thinking Emma was just joking. "Well, then they would at least think of me as an asset," he said. "How did the walk with your blast-ended skrewt go?"

"I named mine Ollie, after Oliver," Emma said laughing, "unless it's a girl, in which case it is short for Olivia."

"You named it?" Harry said laughing. "What if it dies? I'll write to Oliver telling him he died." They joked around the rest of lunch and headed off to transfiguration.

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The next day was potions. Emma arrived a little late and saw Hermione holding her hands in front of her rather large teeth and then run off.

Emma caught Snape's eyes as he turned to go into the classroom. Snape gave an imperceptible shudder. He never liked how Emma seemed to be able to look right into his soul.

Emma sat next to Neville during potions. He gave her a grateful smile. No one wanted to sit next to him.

"I think he's going to pick me," Neville said worriedly after Harry left. Emma whispered instructions to help him out.

"Now, to test someone's antidote," Snape said. He made his way over to where Neville and Emma were sitting. The Gryffindor's started muttering that Snape was picking on Neville again.

"Miss O'Neill," Snape said. Emma grinned. She took the potion he gave her, and then took the antidote she had made.

They class held their breath, and much to their delight, she didn't drop down dead. "Full marks, then, miss O'Neill," Snape said and walked back to his desk. "Everyone else will turn in a flask of their antidote. Dismiss."

Emma cleaned up her mess. "Wow, Emma. I thought for sure he was going to pick me again," Neville said.

Emma looked up at Neville. She just gave him a smile. "I guess today is your lucky day, then," Emma said with a grin.

"And I think I did decent on the antidote with your help, so I think I'll get good marks on it too," Neville said enthusiastically. They walked out of the dungeon together.

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Neville. You just need to relax and you will be fine on your own."

Neville smiled. "You're too nice, Emma. Herbology, maybe. Potions, I'll never be good at them."

"You have to stop telling yourself that Neville. You are talented. Just believe in yourself," Emma said as she walked off to Arithmacy.

That night she got another letter from Sirius. Emma jumped onto her bed and opened the letter.

Emma,

I hope you are having a better year than Harry. Do you know who could have possibly put Harry's name in the Goblet? Moony told me that you don't trust Moody, but I agree with him that he is one of the best things protecting Harry right now. (Emma frowned at this). You should continue to go to your DADA lessons. With these dark times, everything you can learn is important-especially what Moody has to teach.

Keep an eye on Harry. Something is definitely going on at Hogwarts.

Padfoot

Emma practically screamed. "Watch out for Harry. Trust Moody. Not even a proper Hello!" Emma muttered to herself. She marched straight to the Room of Requirement.

She was taking out the first batch of cookies when the door opened. "I arrived right in time, I see," Draco joked as he shut the door.

Emma just glared.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked popping a cookie in his mouth.

"Everything is peachy. Nobody believes Harry didn't put his name in that damn Goblet, nobody believes me when I say Moody is a creep, and everyone is trusting him!" Emma complained.

"Wow, you must be incredibly angry if you're using profanity. I'm on your side though. Wanna know why? First off, I don't care if Potter put his name in there or not, does it really matter? Everything always happens to him anyways. Secondly, Moody is a creep, I agree with you on that one. And I don't trust him," He said and poured them each a glass of milk that he made appear.

"Why aren't you angry?" Emma asked suddenly.

"What?" Draco asked confused.

"Here I am furious, and venting, and you should be smashing something right about now. Why aren't you furious?" Emma asked. "I am doing some major projecting here."

"Don't know. I can tell your angry. It is buzzing around me. But while I know your angry and upset, I don't feel it myself," Draco said.

Emma took a bite of her cookie. "Hmm, the only other person I have ever met that is unaffected by me is Jane, my American friend. She is also an empath, and empaths tend to be unaffected by each other."

"Well, I am certainly not an empath," Draco said with a grin.

Emma rolled her eyes. "You most certainly are not," She teased. "Do you think Snape will help me with my Defense lessons?" Emma asked.

"Nice changing of the subject," Draco laughed. "I have no idea. He seemed . . .guarded around you."

"He certainly is. He doesn't like the idea of me being able to read him," Emma explained.

"Like today. What was that about? He seemed a little creeped out by you, and then chose to poison you," Draco said.

"Nah, that was his way of making amends," Emma said. "After the spell fiasco with Hermione and Goyle, he felt a little . . .guilty since he knew I could sense his reasoning. He doesn't like the fact I can 'read his soul.' (Draco laughed over that). That is what he calls it. So, to make amends he decided not to poison Neville and knew I made a proper antidote," Emma explained.

"And you want Snape to grade you on your defense?" Draco asked. "You are definitely brave. I am the only other person unafraid to talk to him outside of class."

"That's because he is your godfather," Emma said. "Do you think he will help?"

"Maybe. . .I would bring some of your chocolate fudge pudding. He has a sweet tooth." Emma looked incredulous. "Deep down," Draco added. "So, how are we going to do these apparating lessons?"

"Well, the important thing is to get off of Hogwarts so that we can apparate. Hogsmeade would work, but we don't have a trip yet." Suddenly, an idea popped in her head. "How anxious are you to learn?"

"Very, why?"

"Well, I have an idea that would take us to Hogsmeade anytime we wanted. How about next weekend?" Emma asked. Draco nodded. "Good, I'll send a note with the details," Emma added. She packed up the batches of cookies into boxes and gathered them up. Her and Draco walked out together. "I'll see you around, then," Emma said.

"Night Emma,"

"Night Draco," and they both went their separate ways.

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The week passed by quickly. Emma was ecstatic when Harry talked to her during Herbology and breakfast. Usually she was the one to initiate conversations.

"That Skeeter is an annoying twit," Emma said during breakfast. She, Harry, and Hermione were eating when the Daily prophet arrived with her latest story. "Honestly, what could she know about losing one's parents," Emma said disgustedly.

"And Krum! He isn't that good looking, it's only because he can do that wonky-faint thing," Hermione said.

"Wronski-feint," Harry and Emma said at the same time.

"Don't worry, Harry," Emma said. "The first task will be over with sooner than you think."

"Time goes by a lot quicker when you are not looking forward to something," Harry said. "How did you know I was worrying about it?" he asked.

Emma shrugged and answered nonchalantly, "if I was the accidental fourth champion competing with three 17 year olds, I would be thinking about it once in awhile too," Emma said with a grin.

"Yeah, maybe once in a while," Harry agreed laughing. They walked to their Herbology class and Neville joined them at their table.

That afternoon, Emma walked down to Snape's office and knocked. She heard a muttered 'come in' and opened the door.

"Miss O'Neill," Snape said somewhat surprised. "What do I owe the pleasure," he asked darkly.

"I have a . . .question to ask, Professor. I was hoping you could give me my Defense lessons this year." Emma asked.

"And what, pray tell, do you find lacking in Professor Moody's instruction?" Snape asked.

"His instruction is not what bothers me. He has excellent lessons, sir. I just can not stand being in the same room as him."

"And how have you been able to stand it so far this year?" Snape asked.

"I have not been going to lessons since the second one," Emma admitted. Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Really. And you expect me to catch you up in these lessons?" he asked dryly.

"No sir. I am not behind. I just need to have a professor give me a grade. I was hoping you could be the professor to evaluate me," Emma asked.

Snape sat at his desk for a moment. Emma waited for him to come to a decision after his internal debate. "Alright. I do not know how you have been able to escape detection so far in missing your other lessons. We will meet twice a week in the evenings after dinner where I may evaluate your weekly progress. I will not be easy on you, Miss O'Neill since you seem to think you can take matters into your own hands," Snape said.

Emma nodded. "I do not expect you too, sir."

"In the meantime, I want a foot of parchment on each of the spells your classmates have already accomplished. Perhaps, then, you will not jump to taking matters into your own hands."

"Yes sir." Emma said. Then, rather than walking out (which is what Snape expected), she walked up and put a package on his desk. "A thank-you gift," Emma said, and left.

Snape opened it curiously, and was glad he was alone since he almost smiled. Inside was some double chocolate fudge pudding, and an entire Black Forest cake.

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Author's Notes:

KRP-- I try to update on Friday or Saturday and then again around Tuesday. As for Snape, he doesn't dislike Emma, he is just hesitant around her.

AnimeCrazy-- Thank you! I like Snape so I brought him in it more.

Amarthiel-- Thanks! I am a LOTR fan myself (it is my other fanfiction here). As for the the Cedric and draco stuff, it happens later on, but it is coming! I have to make Cedric more suspicious first.

Childofthekng-- I think Emma would make a great politician/ambassador too, but it would be emotional hazardous to her. Thanks! I love your reviews.