I hope you are in good health! I'm back with another chapter and very grateful for all of you who are reading this story. I appreciate your feedback very much. Enjoy the chapter!

Having left Snape's office Emma realised that that night was as good as any to try and sneak into the greenhouse to at least snoop around for a bit and figure out where the delphinium plant might be located. Not having taken any detailed notes back in the library would probably hold her back from acquiring the plant that night, for she knew nothing about the root build or any other parts, really. But she could risk. It was well past midnight and if she waited a bit for professor Snape to get back to his chamber, then sneaking out might be easy. Emma knew a few spells to aid herself in the process. She decided to conceal herself right by the entrance to the castle, behind a column.

It was difficult to hear any footsteps coming from the dungeons, so Emma had to gauge some time long enough to safely sneak out. Tipoeing towards the door she could only hear her own heartbeat and light tapping of her feet across the stone floor. As soon as she took hold of a massive pewter doorknob, a shriek similar to an alarm siren burst out in the Entrance Hall, awaking the portraits immediately.

"A student trying to leave!"

"A student outside at night!"

"Headmaster!"

Emma cursed and began retreating towards the main staircase. Of course – she had no idea what would await her once she would try to sneak out at night because she had never snuck out before. And had never really heard first-hand stories of that, as a matter of fact. She got anxious but knew that the people in the portraits could not see her too well, as she cast a chameleon spell over herself, with average result of her being her blurry self partially invisible. But still, it was very dark – dark enough – in the corridors.

Not hearing anyone approaching, with the uproar still ongoing, Emma decided to take a chance and speed up the staircase for dear life. Filch might get in her way, but it was probably better to try and avoid it than to wait aimlessly for him to find her. Her footsteps echoed much too loudly and her panting made her unable to hear any minute sounds indicative of someone heading her way.

She made it to the Ravenclaw tower. Panting and gasping, Emma stopped at the foot of the last staircase leading to the common room and she bent down, letting the anxiety out with a massive exhale before she would enter. So apparently sneaking out at night was strictly controlled. Could it be due to the recent poisoning incidents? Who could tell. Emma decided to give up that tactic, though, for her own good. She did not want to get on anyone's bad side simply because she might be interrogated and the true reason for her actions could be revealed. She did not act politely because it was the right thing to do. She had to act politely and according to rules so as not to make things even worse.

Finally her heartbeat calmed and Emma was in a condition to solve an annoying riddle and get inside. The fire was out, but a few candles were still burning in their sticks. The moonlight sent a narrow beam across the floor of the common room. There was nothing else for Emma to do but get to bed quickly and just sleep the adrenaline rush away. That is what she did immediately, not turning back, not even daring to think through what had happened moments before. She needed some restful sleep and strength to continue her search for delphinium over the following days.

It was already a Saturday morning. Emma did not manage to find time to even visit the library throughout the rest of the week; all of sudden the teachers assigned a ton of homework and the spells they were learning were much more complex than before, and so Emma – in order to stay informed and on track with school duties – had to focus on meeting the deadlines. She also had to focus on avoiding Luise and other blondes that were being interrogated for the whole week. It was a weird sensation and experience to realise that people knew her solely because of the fact she made their life worse. It was not really her business, though, so she would not pay too much attention to what people's reactions to her were.

Throughout the week she managed to bump into Snape once in the Entrance Hall. None of them spoke more than a muttered apology and none made any effort to keep in touch from a distance. Emma's feelings calmed as she was on her path to finish the deal with Peeves. She was unphased by the consequences of the rumour for herself, but she definitely wanted to prevent them from damaging her relation with professor Snape. It was only on Saturday when she realised that unless she does something reckless or contacts the man again, they might just go separate ways from then on and the bond they had created would be forever gone. That thought hit Emma as she was idly chewing on toast. She paused and looked over to the teachers' table. Snape was absent.

She only had until dawn to figure out how to get the plant. A visit to the library was in order, naturally. As soon as her plate was empty, Emma pulled her jacket tight over her body and left the Great Hall, heading up the staircase. Within minutes she found herself inside a musty room, dimly lit and very serene. Not too many students came there on the weekends. The weather was awful that day with rain drops drumming against the tall glass windows and metal panes. Emma quickly found that same book she had studies before and also picked a few more, just in case. She sat near the window and began to carefully flip the pages, not quite able to focus fully. A slight anxiety built up inside her as she feared she indeed might not be able to finish the deal.

"Ah, finally," she grunted and pinpointed the information with her finger on a worn-out page. Apparently the toxicity of the delphinium plant was stronger the more it was towards the bulb. So finding a bulb would be the best solution. Emma sighed and quickly put the books back on the shelf. Where was she supposed to go now? Sneak into the greenhouse? Visit Hagrid?

She chose to try the former. Not too many students were around outside the castle, so Emma might pass unnoticed. The air was morbidly cold, even colder than a few days prior, and she cursed for not having taken anything warmer than her measly jacket. Shivering all over and partially numb from cold Emma finally reached the greenhouse and to her relief noticed that there was no one around. A flicker of her wand and the door stood open. She cast a low quality chameleon charm over herself and quickly closed the door behind her with a spell. She raked her brain for a charm that might reveal a specific item and suddenly Accio came to her like a godly revelation. Why hasn't she thought about that before? Emma cast the spell numerous times while strolling among the plant stands, but no delphinium bulb flew over to her.

Suddenly she heard footsteps and the door to the greenhouse being open. Her heart skipped a beat when two familiar voices also reached her ears – it was professor Snape and professor Sprout. Emma clenched her teeth and as quietly as it was humanely possible she retreated into the further corner of the greenhouse, squatting right behind one of the taller plant stands. The two were dangerously close.

"... and once they sprout, we shall be able to carry on with the potion. How long do you think it will take?" Snape's voice came to her ear first, as the man stopped right in front of the stand Emma was hiding behind. She held her breath as her mind raced for possible answers she might have to give once discovered.

"Oh, at least a month, Severus," professor Sprout was apparently standing a bit away. Emma could see neither of them through thick vines. "I can't rush it. If I did, they wouldn't work as well."

"I am not asking you to rush it. I have to schedule my brewing plan. What is it that you wanted to show me?"

For a moment there was silence interrupted only by professor Sprout's footsteps. Emma realised the other was carrying something.

"See these? They were found in that Gryffindor boy's pocket," the woman spoke with concern and Emma could hear Snape walk a bit away from where she was hiding.

"Delphinium?"

"Yes. And Severus..."

"Yes?"

"A girl came asking about those. Emma Hawthorne. She was the first-"

"Oh, I know who she is," Snape's voice exuded irritation and Emma could sense his exasperation very clearly. "And why on earth would she want to get delphinium?"

"I asked her that. She said someone challenged her to get it. But I find it slightly odd, now that it was found on that boy..."

The two fell silent and Emma felt she suddenly got very, very weak. She must have paled terribly and she definitely felt her limbs going numb from both being squished in the corner and having a sudden adrenaline rush through her entire body.

"That damned girl," came Snape's growl.

"Do you know something about it?"

"I can only suspect. I will have a conversation with her."

With that being said the two left the greenhouse. A question banged against Emma's skull: why on earth did Accio not work? Surely the plant must have been there all along. Why else would they come all the way to the greenhouse if professor Sprout had it on her the whole time? There was no way to know that, but what Emma did know was the fact that she had to get out of there quickly. And maybe grab that delphinium if it was still there.

Slowly she crawled from behind the stand and looked around. There was no bulb to be seen. Not wanting to risk it even more, the girl quickly unlocked the door and made sure to seal it back with a spell. No one was around to notice her leave. And now she knew for sure that the greenhouse failed her. What was left for her to do was to visit Hagrid. With her hands numb from cold and her head thudding, Emma rushed towards where the hut was, through the mist-covered courtyard and ahead. She passed by some rocks and meadows down the path towards the forest. Hagrid was home, fortunately.

A knock on the door brought her some low groan of a man and barking of a dog. Soon the massive wooden door opened, casting some warm golden glow on the gray surroundings. Hagrid looked down and his expression lightened.

"Emma," he greeted her. "How come yer here?"

"Hey, Hagrid. I have something I want to ask you. May I come in?"

"Ah, ye, sure."

The interior was divine – warm and smelling of food. Hagrid treated her to what looked like biscuits and some weird herbal beverage. Emma sat down near the fire and grabbed one of the little sweets.

"Listen, do you know where I can find delphinium bulbs?"

Hagrid furrowed his massive eyebrow and thought for a bit.

"Why don't ye ask profess'r Sprout?"

"Oh, I did. She doesn't have any."

Hagrid thought for a bit more and sighed.

"Now that is a task there, girl. I s'ppose ye could try to dig some yerself."

Emma sat up, quickly chewing the biscuit through and washing it down with the hot drink.

"Where?"

"Oh, I dunno. I s'ppose there's plenty by the gates, they always bloom so nice ev'ry spring."

"Is there any way to reveal them using a charm?"

Hagrid chuckled deeply and shook his mane.

"Nah, I dun think so. If there was a spell like that, I bet ye that I'd be the first to use it on stuff. It takes some time to find bulbs, it sure does."

"I thought so..." Emma trailed off and sighed. "Can I at least borrow a shovel?"

Hagrid laughed again robustly.

"Ye, sure. But eat up some more, ye look frozen to death."

Emma spent an hour at Hagrid's, very pleased to have found at least what seemed like a solution. She would get the shovel, put on some warm clothes, eat proper dinner and go digging. She would have at least three hours to find the delphinium bulbs. There was only a matter of trying to avoid Snape. So maybe dinner would need to be skipped that day. Emma waved her goodbye at Hagrid as she walked away from his hut, holding the shovel in one hand and a biscuit in the other. It was already getting dark.

Thankfully she did not come across anyone she knew on her way to the Ravenclaw tower. Within minutes she was ready to go, dressed in a very long wool coat with a massive hood, a pair of ever-warm gloves, a beanie and a long scarf tied around her neck. She got some attention of her fellow Ravenclaws as she strolled down the staircase, but she had no time to return the looks. She had to work quickly.

Before Emma got to the area near the gates, it started to snow. Snowflakes were small, but wet, and Emma knew they would make the whole process more difficult. She collapsed to her knees and began digging, not really having any specific plan in mind. Using a wand might be useful once she would hit the hard ground. Maybe a few fiery spells would be in order, too.

She was digging mercilessly for two hours. There was a chance she forgot what she was looking for at some point, the digging serving her as a much needed meditation. Snow was creating a thin layer all around her. There were no bulbs in sight. She sat for a moment to take a deep breath – her whole body was aching, especially her upper arms. She could not remember the last time she had done that much of physical effort.

Finally, after another hour, she dug out what looked like a bulb. Naturally she couldn't be sure, but it wouldn't hurt to take it. She pocketed the sphere and kept digging in the ground, and soon a dozen of bulbs of various sizes was filling the pockets of her coat. Emma thought that if there were bulbs placed so close to one another in the soil, then it must have been planned to serve as some kind of a decoration. And she hoped that it was delphinium. Picking up the last one, Emma moved the heap of soil back to where it was before with one swift movement of her wand and she sighed deeply. The last step to this process was getting back to the dorm safely, without bumping into Snape – or any other teacher for that matter. It was probably dinnertime, so they all were probably in the Great Hall.

She made it to the castle safely. Throwing on a hood was a good idea to conceal her identity as she basically sprinted up the staircase leading towards the Ravenclaw tower. She was so sure of her victory that she did not notice a few girls walking down right at her, and they all crashed.

"You idiot!" Luise moaned, now tumbling down a few stairs before managing to regain balance. "What the hell are you doing, Hawthorne?!"

Emma cursed and put down her hood.

"I'm sorry, Luise," she muttered, wishing to just get away from the scene. "I didn't notice you."

"Of course you didn't!" the other raged. "You are so annoying. Also, professor Snape came and asked to leave a note for you. What the hell?"

Emma knew that meant trouble. He couldn't find her in the castle, so he came looking for her directly. This wasn't good. And if the rumours spread? Then there would be at least one human witness of the weird relation she had with Snape.

"I've been helping him with the antidote," Emma muttered again. "I'll see what he wants from me. Where is the note?"
Luise looked her up and down, and grimaced.

"Hanging on the common board. Clean yourself up, you look ridiculous," was what the other said and the group moved away and down the staircase, heading down for dinner. Emma swallowed and quickly rushed into the common room, having solved a riddle first. There was a note for her, indeed. It read "Hawthorne is to come to my office straight after dinner. SS". Emma quickly tore the note off the board and pocketed it. There was nothing else but to go eat dinner as if nothing ever happened, and then go to Snape's office. Easier said than done. And she would have to take a long bath first.