Chapter 36:

Emily leaned against the railing in the astronomy tower, looking down at the small pink blob that was Dolores Umbridge. Fudge had made her high inquisitor at the school a couple of weeks ago. Emily urged Albus to do something about this, but he would not do a thing... And frankly he barely had time to see her. He simply said 'things are what they are' and left it at that. He had warned her about what was going to happen this year. Their contact was at a bare minimum and it was killing her. Umbridge wasn't exactly the thing that was on her mind at the moment, it was the potion. The one that could send her back. After she told Fred about it, he... Well he hadn't said much to her at all. He's been rather quiet for days now. She knew she should have listened to Albus, he told her not to get attached, but she did. She got too attached. She had undoubtedly and unquestionably fallen in love with Fred, or more so than she did before. Before all of this had happened, Emily liked him. Sure, he was her favourite character. It must have had something to do with reading about him. She always loved reading about him and the pranks he'd pull with George. Then at the end... when he... well you already know of course. That's what she was afraid of. That's what she was trying to avoid. She already knew she was going to lose him.

Surprisingly, Albus came up beside her and wrapped his long, slender fingers around the railing as he looked down in the same direction in which Emily was. She noticed him and looked over, but he did not.

"Severus has spoken to me about this potion." He said.

"What about it?" She shrugged.

"Do you think it is wise to do such a thing?" He asked.

"Wise? Sir I think it's the wisest idea I've ever had. Only a fool would abandon their family." She went on, trying to convince herself. "And why would I not want to go, there I have a family, and here..." she paused.

"You don't. I understand." He said, nodding his head. "I've tried to raise you like my own daughter."

"I know. I'll never forget what you've done for me. But I've got to go back, Albus. And I bet they miss me more than I would ever imagine missing them."

"Do you think this is the right choice?" He asked. Emily was quiet for a moment, thinking about it in her head.

"I think it's the only choice."

Emily left the astronomy tower and headed to the potions classroom to where she would brew up the potion. She knocked on the door.

"Enter." She heard Snape call out and she opened the door. Snape turned to see her peek inside. "Come in, come in." He said as she closed the door. "What is it?" He asked.

"I've managed to get all of the things ready for the potion." She said. "Would now be an alright time to start it?"

"Right now?" He asked.

"Well yes. The faster I get it done, the faster I get home." She said.

"Of course. Have you spoken to the headmaster about this?" He asked. Emily nodded and headed for the nearest cauldron. "Very well."

She left his office and headed for the potions lab. She took her bag off and began to pull out various supplies to create the potion. For what seemed like hours, she slaved over the cauldron, as if she was concocting a recipe that only a skilled chef could manage doing. She added bits of what the book had told her. She looked over at the grandfather clock by the wall, it was a little past eleven at night, and she was exhausted. Snape had already left her alone and said his goodbye. She added the bits of Flitterbloom that was needed and the potion suddenly began to glow green. Then the door flung open and Fred came running in, panting as if he was running for a long time.

"Fred?" She asked, confused to see him here. "What are you doing here?" He looked at the glowing green potion.

"What are you doing? You were just going to leave?" He asked.

"Well yes. I told you today, before you left for Quiddit-" She was cut off by Fred going up to her and forcefully kissing her. He instantly pulled her closer by the waist and deepened the kiss. Emily wound her fingers around his neck, seeking more warmth from him. After a few moments, she pulled back.

"You can't leave." He stated.

"Fred we've talked about this..."

"No, you can't. What would happen if you left?" He said. Emily stood and listened.

"Fred what would happen if I stayed?" She almost shouted. "I know what happens when I leave! I don't know what would happen if I stayed..."

"We said we'd try again, remember? That we didn't want to lose each other again. I'm not going to." Emily looked at the potion, then back at Fred.

"My family is there. They need me." She said. "I'm sorry. I really am."

"I love you." He held her one last time.

"I love you too." She kissed him with all the passion that she possibly could. She put both hands on the side of his face, looking at him for what felt like the last time, because it was. "Promise me you'll be careful." He nodded.

She looked over at the potion. She took up the ladle, full of the glowing green liquid that sparkled on it. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back as she drank it. She waited for a moment, but nothing happened. She opened her eyes to look at the ladle. She put it back in and drank some more. Nothing happened.

"What's wrong?" Fred asked from behind her.

"There's no... Nothing is happening!' She cried. "No... I did it exactly how it said-" She dropped the ladle and picked up the book, scanning it. "I didn't miss anything!" She cried again. She ran over to the supply table to see if anything was in the wrong place maybe she accidentally made it wrong? But no, nothing was out of the ordinary. She slumped against the wall, crying to herself, with a bottle of Flitterbloom in her hands. Fred came and sat beside her. She leaned her head on his shoulder as she cried even more.

"I can't believe it didn't work. I was so sure it would! I'll never get home." She cried.

"It's okay, it's not the end." Fred told her. "We'll find a way."

"What if we don't? What if I get stuck here forever?" She asked.

"Would that be so bad?" He smiled. Emily smiled as well, she was sure he wouldn't mind her staying.

"Well certainly not for you." She said. After a few moments of silence, Fred convinced that she had fallen asleep on him. But she moved her head a bit and realized she was still awake.

"Come on, let's get back to the common room. You're exhausted." He said, helping her up.

"I meant what I said, you know." She said suddenly.

"What?" He asked, confused.

"That I loved you." Fred smiled and wrapped his arms around her, she melted into his touch.

"Me too." He smiled. The two of them headed back up into the common room.

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