Disclaimer: Don't own or profit from it . . .

Author's Note: Alright, it is official, the kiss is in Chapter 13 . . . just to let the people eagerly awaiting said kiss know it is coming! I probably won't be able to update again before wednesday, which is why I updated today. Enjoy! . . . . . oh, and I have a couple clues about stuff that is going to happen later on in my author's notes at the end :-)

Chapter 11: Dragons

The next night was Thursday, so Seamus, Ginny, and Emma walked to the now bi-weekly Irish Society meetings.

"Emma," Cedric said and kissed her cheek as she walked in. "Cho did say yes to the next Hogsmeade trip," he whispered in her ear.

"Good. I told you not to worry," Emma said. Everyone was stretching out in a circle and telling jokes and catching up on the latest happenings.

"Can you believe Harry just walks around like he is deserving of being a champion?" Someone said.

Emma glared in their direction. "No talking about Harry," Emma declared. Everyone immediately silenced.

"It will only lead to arguments," Cedric said, realizing that the talk was upsetting Emma.

"Ah, Emma. The way you protect him you would think you have a crush on him," Brigit teased.

"Break a lot of hearts if you did," Sean said. Emma rolled her eyes.

"Ah, come on. You all know that the boy I like is in Slytherin," Emma said and everyone laughed except Cedric and Emma. Cedric looked at her with a questioning look.

"Good one, Emma," Seamus said. "Emma with a Slytherin. Can you just see that? Imagine Emma and Draco walking around holding hands," Seamus said making everyone else laugh harder.

Emma just put a smile on her face but Cedric thought it looked a little fake and a little hurt. Something is going on, Cedric decided, and once again decided to find out what.

The rest of the evening was normal, with people talking about the tournament and the other schools, but no one mentioned Harry.

Emma was walking back with Seamus and Ginny when Cedric caught up with her. He let Seamus and Ginny walk on ahead of them. "Hey, you alright?"

"What do you mean? What should be wrong?" she asked sounding confused.

"You seemed upset earlier, and not just about the talk about Harry," Cedric said.

"I am fine. You're sweet for worrying. Cho is one lucky girl," Emma said.

"I'm serious, Emma," Cedric said.

"I know you are," Emma said. "And I love your concern. But there is nothing to be concerned about," Emma said. She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you later, Cedric. I have a ton of work for Defense to do," she said with a laugh.

"Alright, just know you can talk to me about anything, alright?" Cedric said.

"Don't worry so much, Cedric. You know I love you like a brother. If I have a problem, I'll come to you," Emma said. "Who else would I turn to?" Who else do I have to turn to, besides you and Draco, she thought.

Draco met Emma that night by their spot by the lake. "Now where?" he asked.

Emma led him to the Whomping Willow. "What the . . ."

"Don't worry. It doesn't bite . . .if you know how to be nice," Emma said. She grabbed a long stick, and pushed the infamous knob. Draco was surprised when the tree froze.

"It does that?" He asked.

Emma led Draco down the tunnel. "Where are we?" He asked.

"The shrieking shack," Emma said.

"So this is where the marauders went in those stories you told me about," he said.

Emma nodded. "And, since we are in Hogsmeade, we can apparate here."

They spent the next hour with Emma teaching Draco to apparate. "Okay, enough for today," Draco said. "How did it go with Snape?"

"Well, he agreed," Emma said. "I meet with him on Monday and Wednesday, starting next week. In the meantime, I have about 15 feet of parchment to write on everything you guys have already covered."

"What if he asks why you aren't behind?"

"I'm not going to tell him it's you. I'll tell him a friend told me what we were doing in class," Emma said. They started walking down the tunnel back to the Willow. "Do you want to meet again next Friday?"

Draco nodded. "Yeah. Although I am nowhere near as busy as you are," he added with a smirk."Mondays and Wednesdays with Snape, Tuesday and Thursdays with the Irish Society, Fridays with me, you are not going to have time to do your school work or anything," he said.

"I'll find time. Don't worry about me," Emma said. They flew back to their separate rooms.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

The first meeting with Snape wasn't as horrid as Draco and her expected. He made her do everything the rest of her class had already gone through and tried to hide his surprise when she could do it all.

"I see you have found a tutor already so I wonder why you have asked me to do it," Snape mumbled. "Very well, we shall just have to continue on with your lessons," Snape said. "I don't suppose there is any use in asking who it is that has been keeping you abreast of everything, is there?" he asked. Emma just said it was a friend and confidant that was helping her.

The next two weeks before the first task went by extremely quickly. Hogsmeade came around and Emma went to buy some new supplies. "Emma, do you mind if I bring some other friends with us to this 'ogsmead?" Marie asked.

Emma shook her head. "The more the merrier," Emma said.

"This is Antoinette, and this is Fleur," Marie said.

"Bonjour! félicitations, Fleur," Emma said.

"Mercie beaucoup. Vous peuvons parler Francais?" Fleur asked.

"Oui,"

"C'est fantastic! But I really should practice my English while I am 'ere," Fleur said.

"Your English is very good for someone who has never been to England before," Emma said encouragingly.

"Thank you," Fleur said. They walked to Hogsmeade and went shopping through the different shops. They talked about classes, and France, and boys, and England. They popped into the three broomsticks for butterbeers, and then headed back to the castle.

"Thank you, Emma," Antoinette said. "It was most fun today."

"I'll see you at dinner, then," Emma said and waved as she walked on to the castle and the french girls headed to their carriage.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Monday afternoon before dinner Emma ran into Cedric. "Hey . . .you alright? You look a bit green."

"You trust Harry, don't you?" Cedric asked himself more than Emma.

"Whatever it is you are trying to convince yourself of, yes I trust Harry. He is a good person. Fair, bit emotional," Emma added, "But then again, I can tell you the emotional register of every person in the school," she added. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Harry told me the first task is Dragons," Cedric whispered as they walked towards the Great Hall.

Emma stopped walking. "Dragons?" she whispered. "So much for an academic decathlon," Emma said making Cedric laugh.

"Yeah, not quite the same," Cedric said.

"You'll be careful, right?" Emma said.

"Do you know any other way to behave around a Dragon?" Cedric said.

Emma rolled her eyes. "All I'm saying is, if you get hurt don't expect me to visit you in the hospital-- not that I could get through the legions of your adoring fanclub anyways," Emma said.

Cedric looked shocked. "You wouldn't visit me? But I would want to see my baby sister," Cedric said pretending to pout.

Emma smacked his shoulder. "You must really be worried if you can't take a joke. Of course I would visit you, and I would bring my famous chocolate chip swirl cookies you love so much," Emma added.

"It is almost worth it if you would," he teased.

"If you come out of this unhurt, I'll make you chocolate chip fudge," Emma promised.

"Deal. Something to look forward to after I fight a dragon," Cedric said, the fear coming back.

Emma gave him a hug. "I have faith in you Cedric," Emma said. She refused to let herself worry. After dinner, Emma returned to the common room, and took two of the "Support Cedric" buttons the Creevy brothers had taken. She pinned one on her robes, and magicked the other to say "Support Harry" and pinned it right next to the other.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Emma walked past the tent where the champions were. Taking a deep breath against the anxiety resting inside, she pulled the flap aside, and saw the four champions pacing.

"Emma? What are you doing 'ere?" Fleur asked.

"I just wanted to say bonne chance," Emma said with a smile. She gave Fleur a hug and then turned to Viktor and told him good luck in Bulgarian.

"Good Luck, Cedric," Emma said, and gave him a tight hug. She turned to Harry last. "Good luck Harry. I'm rooting for you too," she said, and pointed to the badge she had adjusted.

She made it to her seat right when Bagman started his announcing.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

When the first task was finally over, Emma ran to the makeshift hospital. Cho got there a few minutes after her.

"Well, the first one is over, at least," Emma said and Cho nodded eagerly.

They talked for a few minutes until Cedric came out finally. "How are your burns?" Emma asked at the same time Cho asked "how are you?"

Cedric gave them a grin. "Who could be upset when they have two great girls waiting for them?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "I take it you are fine then," Emma said. She gave him a gentle hug.

The three of them walked back to the castle. "I'll see you later, Cedric," Emma said. Cho said goodbye too. Cedric gave them both a kiss-cho's more intimate than Emma-and headed to the Hufflepuff Common room. Cho and Emma walked together part way to their common rooms.

Emma walked in on the party and everyone cheering Harry on to open the egg. Screeching filled the common room until Harry finally closed it.

"That sounded like the Banshee!" Seamus said worriedly. "Maybe you have to fight that next?" Seamus and Emma made eye contact. Emma knew that banshees were his biggest fear, and they were on her list too.

"It sounded like someone being tortured," Neville shaked. Emma put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

Emma stayed a little while, but went to bed before the others since she had her lessons with Snape the next night.

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Author's Notes: So glad people liked Snape's sweet tooth :-) Sorry if there are mistakes in this update. I wanted to get it up quickly since I don't know when I'll be able to update again. (probably not until the middle of the week).

Childofthekng-- Thank you! As for twists, I love them (in both of my stories) and I have a major plot twist planned for year 5 . . . and the reason for why Emma can express emotions around Draco is key.

KRP-- I can see Snape testing it for poison first . . . and then eating it all himself :-) There is a very good explanation for why Emma can express emotions around Draco (but not until year 5).

AnimeCrazy-- Thanks! I thought it was a cute touch ;-)

Amarthiel-- I'm getting to the Draco/emma stuff. Just a few more chapters!

Iceball-- I am trying to fit him in more (since I made him Draco's Godfather). I don't know how much I put him in this year, but he does play a bigger part in year 6 . . .