Chapter Twelve: Aftermath

The first thing Emma Swan feels when her green eyes open is a painful throbbing in her temples. The brightness of the room she is in doesn't help either and neither does the relieved cry that comes a mere five seconds later.

"Oh Emma! You're awake."

Emma recognizes the female voice as Mary Margaret's and she herself groans.

"Please don't shout. My head is killing me."

"It will do." Mary Margaret replies as she slowly comes into focus through Emma's vision. "That was a really nasty hit you took to the head there. It could have been worse if Killian hadn't pulled from his dive and caught you."

Emma's eyes widen as she listens to the last words of what Mary Margaret was saying to her. "He did what?"

"Chose saving you over catching the snitch. His teammates and the entire Slytherin house are pissed at him and he got booed off the pitch as he carried you here. Anyway he was forced to go back onto the pitch by my father because they can't just end a game of Quidditch. We had to use Anastasia instead for seeker. Anyway she caught the snitch so Killian is definitely in for it with the Slytherin's. He could have cost them the Quidditch and probably the house cup." Mary Margaret explains as she looks at the bruise on the side of Emma's head. "You've been out for two days. Madam Amara saw it fit to let you wake when you were ready. Your arm was shattered but she fixed that with a wave of her wand."

Emma looks down at her still bandaged arm and she can still feel the ache and stiffness, probably from the re-setting of her bones. She winces as she tries to lift it but can't get it more than a couple of inches in the air.

"She reckons that will be a couple of weeks in the healing."

Emma though isn't interested in that. She is looking around and straight away Mary Margaret can see she is looking for anyone else. Or someone else more like it.

"I'm the only one allowed in here because of mum and dad." Mary Margaret explains. "The team and Killian all tried to get access to you but Madam Amara refused."

Emma feels her heart flutter at Killian's name and despite her head feeling as though she has been bludgeoned by a truck she gives a nervous smile in Mary Margaret's direction.

"Killian tried to see me?"

Mary Margaret nods not failing to notice the obvious change of mood with Emma. The blonde looks happy and relieved.

"Yeah even after being booed by his entire house." Mary Margaret smiles. "Anyway he threatened to get his father involved if he couldn't at least see you for two minutes. You know Madam Amara though… she still said no."

Emma chuckles and winces at the same time. "Well at least he tried. It was scary though. I've never seen a bludger act like that. I heard it takes dark magic to alter something to behave in that manner."

Mary Margaret nods. "That's because it was dark magic, Emma. Dad recognized it straight away. The professors are in the process of trying to work out who could have enchanted the bludger to behave that way. My money is on a Slytherin who didn't want us to win the game or someone who has a personal vendetta against you."

"So that means about ninety nine percent of the Slytherin house."

"Yeah."

Madam Amara exits her office five minutes later and begins her usual routine of fussing over her patients. Mary Margaret tries not to snigger as Amara keeps muttering poor dearunder her breath, each time she looks at Emma's swollen temple and every time Emma winces when her arm is touched.

"You should be able to leave when you're ready." Amara says after a few moments. "I warn you though if you feel sick or dizzy at any given time, I want you straight back in here…"

Emma goes to respond but is interrupted by the hospital door flinging open. Emma, Mary Margaret and Amara almost jump out of their skins as their eyes land on Headmaster Leopold, Mother Superior and Neal. Emma watches curiously as the three of them walk over and straight away Emma can tell that Neal is looking pale and Leopold furious.

"Headmaster, what is going on?" Amara asks clearly not keen on the idea of people bursting into her hospital wing.

"Emma my dear…" Leopold says in a surprisingly soft tone for such an angry looking man in that moment of time. "Neal here has something to say."

Emma and Mary Margaret quickly steel glances at one another and both of their eyes settle on a sullen Neal, who looks as though he would rather face a Hungarian Horntail than Emma in this moment. And that is when it finally hits Emma. Neal must have played a part in the bludger and that is why he looks so faint and Leopold and Mother Superior look so enraged.

"It was me…" Neal begins his voice slightly shaky. "I interfered with the bludger but it was never meant to go after you. It was supposed to attack Killian. I didn't like him taunting me and I just wanted to get back at him."

"So you thought interfering with a bludger, which could have killed him or I in this case was the best plan of action?" Emma spits shifting awkwardly in the bed. "That is insane."

Neal rocks back and forth on his feet edgily. "I wasn't thinking. It wasn't even meant to go for your or his head. It was supposed to be a warning…"

Mary Margaret looks horrified and Emma doesn't know how to stomach what Neal is saying.

"You're eighteen surely you could have endured a little bit of taunting. Killian's known for it." Emma snaps as her eyes narrow at Neal in a menacing manner.

"I heard him say my family was bad because we take the dark arts seriously. Plenty of Wizarding families do…"

"Yes but they don't use it on fellow wizards or Muggles in this day and age normally." Mary Margaret interrupts not believing what she is hearing from the Hufflepuff boy.

Neal shrugs. "Like I said it was meant to go after Killian, not Emma."

Emma tenses at his words and she can't believe the boy she once thought she loved is standing in front of her and trying to justify that what he had done was okay, and that he doesn't even look sorry about it, only scared that he is in trouble.

"It doesn't matter who it was meant for." Leopold snaps. "Any behaviour in this manner is not permitted at Hogwarts and we do not tolerate intended physical harm. I thought you deserved to hear the truth from him Emma and now we will go and deal with him properly."

Before Leopold, Neal or Mother Superior had any chance to go anywhere, Emma stops them with another question.

"Why did you admit to it, Neal?"

Neal turns and faces her, his eyes narrowed in slits. "I didn't. Your ruddy Slytherin boyfriend intercepted my owl. He seemed to have suspicions about me the entire time. He followed me into the Owlery, pretended to be sending a letter and once I disappeared he sent his bird after mine and his bird managed to get my letter and he took it straight to Professor Leopold. Of course I couldn't lie my way out it as the professor's recognized my handwriting straight away."

Emma shakes her head in disbelief. "God you are a psycho."

…

Emma finally gets permission to leave the hospital wing an hour later. Mary Margaret had brought her a fresh change of clothes, her toothbrush and hairbrush, and Emma leaves the hospital feeling rather fresh.

Mary Margaret had concluded that Neal would more than likely be dismissed from the school and have his wand snapped in half but Emma didn't care about that. She handed Mary Margaret her small bag with her dirty clothes in, promised to meet everyone later and set off to find the raven haired and blue eyed Slytherin.

The Great Hall for a weekend is rather empty. There are a few scattered people about. On the Gryffindor table a small group of first and second years are all huddled together and as soon as they see Emma they burst out in excited whispers. The Slytherin table on the other hand is full of sour looking students. Killian isn't amongst them, but Zelena, Walsh, Smee, and Milah are sat there and soon as their cold gazes land on Emma, they glare. Emma doesn't even flinch as she turns her back on them and exits the hall.

Killian isn't in the library either and Emma is about to give up when Regina and Robin approach her. Robin quickly hugs Emma tightly.

"Glad to see you're okay, Emma." He smiles squeezing her shoulder. "Quite a nasty hit you took there."

Emma rolls her eyes. "It's all been dealt with now. Regina have you seen Killian?

Regina nods. "He's out by the lake. He took a walk about an hour ago and hasn't come back. My guess is he's still there watching the Giant Squid swim around."

"Thanks." Emma quickly smiles at Robin and leaves the new couple at the top of the staircase and flees out of the castle altogether.

The air is cold and Emma finds herself wishing she had gone back to the tower first to grab a jumper, and just faced the worried Gryffindor's sooner than she wanted, but when her eyes land on the silhouette of Killian who is leaning against a tree a book open in his lap, she forgets all about the warm jumper as she approaches him. Within ten metres of reaching him, he looks up and his eyes widen slightly and his kissable lips break out into a small, hopeful grin.

"Is this seat taken?" Emma asks as she stands in front of him her hands in her jean pockets.

"Definitely not. Only Regina, Tamara and Greg have spoken to me since your accident. The rest are calling me a traitor." Killian answers as he moves over slightly.

Emma feels a small twinge of guilt flood through her as she sits down beside him and she reminds herself that Killian chose to save her, so it wasn't technically her fault he was shunned, but at the same time she can't help but think it was.

"I'm glad you're okay." He smiles closing the book.

Emma looks at him and sighs. "Thank you. You know one of the teacher's would have stopped me from falling but you still chose to abandon your winning catch to…"

"Help you." Killian spoke softly. "Gods Emma it wasn't even a choice I had to think about. I was already pulling away from the catch when I saw the blasted bludger smash into your arm. And then it came back a second time I… I couldn't think how it would make me feel if you were killed or more injured than you were…"

Emma cuts him off when she laces her frozen fingers through his gloved ones. Killian's eyes widen at the sight of her bare skin and without even thinking about it twice he quickly moves forward and removes one of his two jackets before holding it out to her. Emma wraps the smart, black woolly coat around her and sighs at the warmness it offers.

"Better?" He asks noticing that her shivering dies right down.

"Thank you." Emma smiles.

The atmosphere goes silent around them for a few minutes. They listen to the giant squid basking in the warmest water it can find and the calling of Robin birds. It is peaceful and Emma finds that she feels very comfortable sitting there with Killian and that she wouldn't mind doing this every day of the year.

"Are you definitely okay?" Killian asks as he cautiously reaches out to twirl a lock of her blonde hair where the lump on her head rests.

Emma closes her eyes at the gentle feel of his fingers playing with her hair and she finds that it is rather calming. Neal had never done this and now that Killian was she found herself wishing that Neal had done. It felt nice.

"I'm only okay because of you."

If Killian was surprised when Emma rested her head on his shoulder, he didn't show it. He simply smiles and with the graciousness of a gentleman he lays his head on top of hers and Emma can almost say that it was a loving gesture.

A few minutes go by in blissful silence. They ignore the shocked murmurs from a couple of Ravenclaw seventh years who walk by and the hisses of disgust and curses that come from a small group of Slytherin boys directed to Killian. Once they boys are out of sight, Emma lifts her head and looks at Killian. He raises an eye-brow as she leans closer and when he realizes what she is about to do, he sighs happily.

Her lips meet his in a gentle kiss. He rests his gloved hand on her cheek and deeps her kiss shyly. Only this time Emma makes no move to pull away nor does she tense, she simply allows him to deepen it and she smiles. It feels like they have been kissing for hours when Emma finally breaks apart from him. He has a glazed look in his eye and she has never seen him look so relaxed.

"So…" Emma says nervously. "What now?"

"Would you like to court this dashing Slytherin, princess?" He asks in a teasing tone.

Emma simply smiles, leans forward and pressed her lips against his once again.

…

Killian doesn't think the Slytherin's could turn on him more than they already have but when he enters the Slytherin common room that evening, it is clear that word had gotten around about he and Emma's afternoon under the oak tree by the lake. Greg, Tamara and Regina are the only ones in the entire common room who move over and make space for him.

"You are really going to fuck up your reputation with her." Greg whispers.

Regina rolls her eyes. "If he likes her then that's all that matters. And anyway Killian's in the same boat as me now. They still haven't gotten over that I am dating Robin."

"Yes but at least Emma is pureblood." Tamara says giving a small glare at Regina.

"Give this fucking blood nonsense a rest." Killian hisses. "Robin is still a wizard. He is able to produce the same spells as you and is probably even smarter than half of this house combined. Blood doesn't matter."

Regina smiles proudly at Killian.

"That Lion is really rubbing off on you." She smirks as she takes a sip of her tea which she had probably gotten from the kitchens.

…

The next morning Emma sits in between Mary Margaret and Ruby picking at her bacon on her plate as she waits to hear what will happen to Neal. Mary Margaret says her father and mother haven't said anything to her about it and she is just in the dark as much as Emma is on the whole situation.

The morning post arrives a couple of minutes later and for the second time in a month, Emma receives mail from Lily. The last letter she had received she'd sent one back saying that if Lily could get to Hogsmeade then Emma would see her and this letter is clearly the answer.

Emma,

Mum said she can get me to Hogsmeade today. Apparently you have a Hogsmeade trip. She told me to meet you outside Honeydukes… I'm guessing that's a shop that sells honey.

Lily.

P.S. Are they're hogs in Hogsmeade?

Emma almost spits her orange juice out at the last question on the letter. Mary Margaret who has read the letter over Emma's shoulder doesn't quite know what to think either.

"Did she seriously write that?" Mary Margaret asks on the brink of laughter.

"Yes." Emma says flabbergasted. "Idiot."

Mary Margaret suddenly turns serious and she glances around at the Slytherin table where Killian, Tamara, Greg and Regina are all sitting together, clearly being excluded by the other Slytherin's.

"I take it Killian and Regina will be joining us in Hogsmeade?" Mary Margaret asks and it is clear that she is not too thrilled on the idea.

Emma nods. "Yeah but I have to meet up with Lily so please don't let anyone punch or hurt him. He's not that bad."

"I promise." Mary Margaret says though Emma isn't too convinced with her tone.

Ten minutes later Leopold makes his way over to them and pulls Emma aside so he can tell her what they have decided to do with Neal.

Like Mary Margaret guessed he had been dismissed from the school with five months till his graduation and his wand had been snapped in half.

…

Half an hour later Emma walks down the staircase wrapped up in a very woolly jumper and boots. Killian is waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs casually leaning against the banister. When he sees her he smiles, once again ignoring the sneers sent his way.

"Hello, princess." He smirks as she stops in front of him. "Ready to see your cousin?"

"Not really." Emma smiles as she tentatively slips her hand into his.

Killian squeezes her fingers and they exit the castle and make their way over to Emma's friends. David and Mary Margaret are standing there with their arms around one another; Mulan and Graham are in conversation about a Quidditch team, whilst Robin and Regina stand off to the side looking rather awkward. Killian suddenly tenses as Emma leads him over to Mary Margaret and David and it appears David most definitely does not want Killian there.

"Okay well you know Killian already…" Emma starts ignoring David's cold gaze. "But, can you please try and be nice? Killian's changed and he did just save my life."

Mary Margaret pinches David's arm and he finally snaps out of his angry gaze.

"Hello, Jones."

"Dave." Killian replies with a leer.

Emma sighs knowing that today is going to be a disaster. And now she understands why Robin and Regina are stood off to the side of the group.

…

The feel of Killian's arm around her shoulders as they make their way down to Hogsmeade is warm and comforting. They are walking in silence. Mary Margaret and David are a couple of metres ahead and Robin and Regina behind them. The snow is falling softly and they pass a few third year students making snow angels.

"Are you nervous to see your cousin?" Killian asks after a few minutes.

Emma shrugs. "No. I think she will have lost her dominant streak with me now knowing that she has magical blood in her."

"Do you think she's a squib or just a Muggle?"

"I don't know. She's clearly a half blood, so I'd say a squib." Emma says peering up at him from under her long lashes. "Anyway I told Mary Margaret that she and David need to be civil to you whilst I'm with Lily. I probably won't be with her too long. We can grab a butterbeer after and go see the shrieking shack if you want?"

They stop beside Honeydukes and Emma can see Lily a couple of metres away.

"I'd love to." He smiles before leaning to pepper her cheek with a kiss. "See you soon."

Emma smiles and watches him walk away before turning to Lily.

"Who was that?" She asks.

"My boyfriend. Now, what did you want to talk about?"

They end up sitting on a park bench away from the other students. Lily is looking around in amazement but Emma can see that she still looking weary and rather thin.

"Everyone looks so happy." She whispers. "They're just like non-magic people."

"Of course they are happy. It's not some alien race, Lily. We just have the ability to perform magic." Emma replies, honestly.

Lily sighs. "It was awful when dad found out. There was so much screaming and shouting. Dad won't come near either of us. Thinks we'll hex him. I don't understand why. I'm not magical and I can't perform magic. Why is he scared of me?"

Emma looks at Lily. "It's because your mother has made it seem as though our kind are terrible and should be burnt at the stake. It's only Priscilla's doing."

"Is there a reason why I can't do magic?" Lily asks after a few moments of silence.

"You're a squib. It means you have magical blood but struggle to accomplish any magic at all. You're not the only one. There are people from pure-blood families who sometimes struggle to grasp magic." Emma explains as Lily listens intently. "You know if you are interested in learning magic, I'm sure Priscilla can get you a Kwikspellcourse."

Lily shakes her head. "I don't want to learn magic until everything is settled with my dad."

Emma nods. "That's understandable… but Lily there is nothing I can really help you with. You need your mother to explain these things to you. Not me."

…

January the twenty-sixth arrives which means that Killian is turning seventeen. He awakes to a birthday card from home and a thousand galleons, which he decides he's going to put away in his vault. Instead of going out and buying a present, his dad simply likes to flaunt around the gold and his wealth.

He leaves the Slytherin common room to a few small murmurs, even though his house mates are slowly getting over it his heroic act to Emma, and makes his way into the great hall. Emma is sat with her friends and he sits down at the full Gryffindor table surprising Emma when he wraps his arm around her shoulders.

"Happy birthday!" She smiles quickly kissing him.

"Thanks Princess." He replies before grabbing a plate and beginning to pile it up with food.

David and Mary Margaret are apparently still in shock that Killian has joined them, that they don't realize that David has just overfilled his glass of orange juice, and that the yellow liquid is now all over the table.

"Happy birthday." Robin smiles and surprising to everyone, he and Killian do some form of manly handshake.

"Cheers."

Emma looks at Regina across the table and the brunette shrugs before returning to the bacon sandwich she had made.

"Yeah, happy birthday." Mary Margaret smiles finally managing to compose herself.

Emma looks at David who is hastily mopping up the spilt orange juice with a serviette.

"Happy birthday." David mumbles quietly.

Emma rolls her eyes and moves closer to Killian's side. Whether he is bothered or not by David's moody tone he doesn't show it and drapes his arm around Emma's back.

Half an hour later Emma and Killian walk out of the castle hand in hand and down towards their tree. They are both holding a book on boggarts each and are planning to read up some more for their assignment. The temperature is warmer that day and even the sun is poking through the clouds. The giant squid is once again in the shallows and is looking very peaceful. When Emma and Killian arrive at the tree she turns to face him and smiles. He gives her a curious look as she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small lion silver pendant.

"Thought you could use some Gryffindor courage when you face the snake common room at night." She smiles shyly.

"I love it, princess. C'mere…" He loops his fingers into her belt loops on her jeans and pulls her forward.

Emma laughs as both of their books fall to the floor and then his lips are on his and she forgets about the fact that they are supposed to be studying. He smiles into the kiss.

"I'm glad I stopped acting like a jerk." He whispers. "I can't believe I've been missing out on this the whole time."

"I'm glad you stopped being a jerk also." Emma chuckles. "Happy birthday."

"Aye, a happy birthday indeed."