Chapter 11: Snow

Emily sighed contently and sunk deeper into the cushions of the red couch she was currently lounging on. She opened the book in her hands, loving the silence that the Potter library gave to her. It was her second safe haven, right after her room, where she could go to be alone. Her father and brother, who would usually ignore her anyway, would never go near the library, and her mother knew when to leave her alone.

She had faked the whole happy family Christmas, opening the little presents her mother gave her, and politely thanking her and her father and James, whose names had been signed on the card in her mother's handwriting. It was still a mystery to Emily as to why she still bought them gifts, and she refused to think that she wanted her father and brother to love her again. They didn't even bother to open them, much to Emily's disappointment.

Emily sighed. There's no way things can go back to the way it was. She continued to flip through her book, maybe a little harsher than necessary as she thought of the addition to their little family: Sirius Black.

He had only just arrived, but he still got more presents than her. Her father happily accepted him as a second son, not seeming to care that Sirius came from one of the evilest pureblooded families. Edward Potter didn't care about any of that, all that mattered was that Sirius was a Gryffindor, James's best friend, and had run away from home.

Emily eyed the Gryffindor decorated library with distaste. What's so great about Gryffindor? They'll all just narrow-minded gits who don't care about anyone but themselves. I'm lucky mum was a Ravenclaw or I'd be disowned by now. A smirk formed on her face. Like Black's going to be.

Her amusement didn't last long however, considering Sirius was probably happy to be disowned.

She snapped her book shut and got up to get another, picking a book about the Dark Arts that she had put there months earlier, knowing her father and mother wouldn't know it was there. Emily really didn't understand why those who claimed to be good shunned all that was considered evil. Didn't they realize that the dark side was at an advantage because they had no boundaries on what spells they could cast and how they achieved their goals? Who really decided what was dark or good? The Minister? Dumbledore maybe? Did it matter if a spell caused harm if the result was for the good of everyone?

Did the end really justify the means?

"What are you doing?"

Emily's heart jumped briefly, but she showed no outer signs of being surprised. She unconsciously hid the title of the book and looked up, eyes narrowed. "It's called reading Black. I would hope you were smart enough to know that even, but," She paused. "You are a Gryffindor."

He glared. "No, I meant what are you reading?"

"A book."

"What kind?"

"It's a history book. There's nothing wrong with learning of the past." She said coolly.

Sirius scoffed and strode over to her, catching her off guard and snatching her book. He peered at the title and sneered. "'The Life and Times of Salazar Slytherin" yeah, nothing wrong with reading about a slimy bastard who wanted to kill all muggleborns and muggles." He dropped the book in disgust. "Why are you reading that?"

Emily got down and picked up her book, giving Sirius a look. "I find nothing wrong with reading about the founder of my house. And for your information, he only wanted those of pureblooded families to attend Hogwarts, there was nothing about killing them, and!" She raised her voice a bit when Sirius looked as if he wanted to interrupt. "I agree with him."

Sirius's eyes widened for a second, but quickly turned into a fierce glare. "How could you think like that? How could you be like the rest of them when you come from such an accepting family?"

She snorted. "Accepting, right. The men of this family are just as accepting as your family."

Sirius snarled and pushed Emily back down on the couch, pinning her there. "Don't compare James and Mr. Potter to my family! They're nothing like them."

"I can speak of my family however I want and think however I want." She retorted, trying to push him off her. "Did you ever think that it might not have been good for muggleborns back then to attend Hogwarts?"

"I would never think like those bloody bastards! Thinking they're better than everyone else. That they have the right to-"

"Oh shut it! I get it okay!" Emily yelled, surprising Sirius. "You're not like the rest of them, but don't think for one second that you're noble and good because you aren't going to follow the Dark Lord. You're a hypocrite, and just like the rest of them!"

"I am not!" Sirius yelled.

"You are!" She cried, pushing him off her with a newfound strength. She stood over him, hands clenched and shaking at her sides. "How many people have you and the rest of you bloody Gryffindors judged because of their house or family? How many people have you and your friends hexed because they were different? How many girls have you hurt by shagging them then dropping them? What gives you the right to do what you do?!"

Sirius stood, glaring down at her menacingly. "I'm not the only hypocrite. You judge people because of their family as well, but if you keep going down the path you're on, people will start dying."

Emily let out a harsh laugh. "Yes, because all Slytherins are going to be Death Eaters after Hogwarts. We're not all the same. We aren't all pureblood freaks. Do you really think I'm going to go out and start killing muggles and torturing muggleborns?"

Sirius shook his head. "How should I know? You were just saying how muggleborns shouldn't be able to learn magic and how you agreed with Salazar Slytherin."

"I said that it might not have been good for muggleborns to learn magic back then! It couldn't have been very good for witches and wizards back then, when they were punished if they were found out for being magical."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "All that about burning witches is total bullocks. Even if a witch was caught they only have to cast a spell to-"

"Yes I realize that." Emily said, eyes filling with tears of frustration. "But what about when muggleborns were first told? Do you really think that their parents took it well that their son or daughter was a witch or a wizard? You of all people should know how easily parents could go from loving their child to burning their name off the family tapestry."

Sirius's eyes clouded over with anger. "How do you think the children felt being taken from home to be taught something they were raised to hate? It was wrong back then, but now…" Emily glared at him. "Now it's not the same and some muggles are more understanding, and I really don't care if muggleborns learn magic, it's their own business. It doesn't bother me!"

"Then why are you in Slytherin?"

Emily took a deep shaky breath. "I was raised thinking I was going to be a Gryffindor. I wanted to be a Gryffindor, but the hat made the decision for me when it saw my great ambition to be strong. I didn't realize how bad being ambitious was until James, my lovable brother, and Edward, my darling father, started to shun me." Tears continued to brim her eyes. "I didn't understand why I was hated. I first thought that I was evil, but now….I don't care." She wiped her eyes and pushed past Sirius. "Think what you want about me, because once I'm old enough…none of you will have to worry about me anymore."

Sirius stood alone in the library, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Emily threw the book angrily at the wall, looking frustrated.

"Damn it!" Why did I tell him all that?! What could I possibly gain by telling Sirius bloody Black my problems and thoughts? Emily cursed again and angrily tore open her curtains and opened her window, letting sunlight shine into her room. She strode onto the balcony and leaned against the railing, letting the cold winter air cool her heated body.

Sighing, Emily watched her frosted breath fade into its surroundings. Her vision focused on the falling snow and she slowly reached out a hand to catch the falling flakes, watching emotionlessly as each melted when they touched her skin, only occasionally staying long enough for Emily to see its unique design. "Each one is different, but in the end it doesn't matter." She focused on the white snow that covered everything in sight.

"They'll only different for a little while before everything's the same." She smiled lifelessly and pulled her hand back. "What a nostalgic thing to say. It's only snow."