Chapter Seven

After disarming Harry and giving a little more proof of her newly advanced wizarding skills, Emersyn was finally "allowed" to join Dumbledore's Army. She had spent so long learning spells and ignoring the trio though, that there was only one more meeting before Christmas break later this week. She hadn't seen Ron since she stupefied him yesterday afternoon and she was currently on the hunt to find him.

She felt so bad about throwing him against the tree and when he didn't show up for the Dumbledore's Army meeting at all last night, Emersyn had sat in the common room until she fell asleep on the couch waiting for him. He never showed up though, so either he was still in the infirmary, or he was ignoring her. Neither seemed like a good thing.

She was skipping breakfast this morning in her hunt for Ron and since it was Saturday, the halls were pretty empty this early in the morning. That itself should have made it very easy to watch where she was going, but unfortunately she seemed to keep her clumsy ways and ran head first into the worst possible person. Professor Umbridge.

Taking a quick step back, Emersyn looked up to see Umbridge frowning at her. Not surprising. "I'm so sorry Professor, I wasn't watching where I was going."

"As usual Miss Carter, you seem to be everywhere but where you should be. Come along now." Then she turned around on her heel and began walking in the opposite direction. Emersyn had learned very quickly that you do not argue with Professor Umbridge, so she quickly followed along behind her.

"Professor, may I ask where we are going?" Was she in trouble for simply running into the woman? Emersyn continued to look around her as she followed after Umbridge, hoping she'd maybe catch a glimpse of a head of red hair.

"It has come to my attention Miss Carter, that you brought a certain young Weasley to the infirmary some time yesterday."

Emersyn's eyes went wide and it took everything in her not to make a sound. How was she going to get herself out of this one? If Umbridge found out she had stupefied Ron, she could get expelled and she didn't even know if she has a family to go to in this reality. Plus, Umbridge was going to be suspicious as to why Emersyn was even learning a spell like that in the first place. She quickly strengthened her resolve. She'd take the complete blame, she decided. She couldn't let Umbridge find out about Dumbledore's Army. Quick, Emersyn, think. There has to be some story to explain why she brought Ron to the infirmary yesterday.

"Oh, well you see Professor I-"

"That's quite enough. We shall speak in my office."

Emersyn had never shut her mouth so quickly in her life. They still had about a minute or two until they'd reach Umbridge's office, maybe that was enough time for her to come up with a convincing enough story. She was practicing transfiguration and a spell went haywire? No. Why would she be practicing transfiguration out in the woods? Did Umbridge even know she was in the woods?

Maybe she could claim that her parents had taught her the spell to protect herself at Hogwarts and when she was walking and heard someone behind her, she acted on instinct? Yes, that definitely seems convincing. Worst that will happen is they'll write a letter home and she'll get her wand confiscated for a week or two. No big deal, she'd gone 19 years without magic. What's a few weeks?

Umbridge arrived at her office and unlocked the door with a quick spell. After her body moved from the doorway and entered to go sit in her desk chair, Emersyn froze. The headful of red hair she had been searching for was sitting right next to the empty chair she was expected to occupy.

First, Emersyn felt relief. He looked okay and when they made eye contact he gave her a sad smile. Second, she felt anxious. Had Umbridge already spoken to Ron? What did he tell her? She hadn't come up with a story with him, so Umbridge would know if one of them was lying if their stories didn't match up.

She stood in the doorway, not wanting to move until she heard the tell-tale high pitched sound of Umbridge clearing her throat. Tearing her eyes away from Ron's, Emersyn took the empty seat next to him and faced the Professor.

"You both know why you're here. I'd like to know why Mr. Weasley was brought to the infirmary yesterday by you Miss Carter."

"As I tried to tell you Profess-"

"Mr. Weasley, I've already told you to speak only when addressed." With a quick wave of her wand, Ron's mouth slammed shut and it was clear she had silenced him.

"Miss Carter." Umbridge was looking at Emersyn expectantly. Okay, well maybe if Umbridge hadn't let Ron speak she had a chance of using her story that she thought up on the trip to the office.

Taking a deep breath, Emersyn gave it a shot, and hoped to graces that it would work. "Professor, yesterday I went looking around the woods because I heard I could find some ingredients I needed for my potions extra credit. It was stormy outside and I found that it put me on edge. I heard a noise behind me and it sounded like someone was following me so I- well I… I turned around and threw a quick stupefy. My parents had taught me the spell before I came to Hogwarts this year in case of emergencies and I used it without thinking. It turned out it was just Ron coming to check on me."

Umbridge made a humming noise and quickly un-silenced Ron. "Is this true Mr. Weasley?"

Ron turned to her then with worried eyes. He knew she'd be in a lot of trouble for using the spell, but she didn't see any other way out of this mess she made. She gave him the smallest nod of encouragement and he turned back to Professor Umbridge. "Yes, Professor. I had seen Emersyn walk into the woods and I knew it was going to rain, so I walked in after her to warn her."

The woman seemed to think on this story for a moment, deciding if it was good enough to believe. She clearly came to a conclusion when with a flick of her wand, the door opened. "You are dismissed Mr. Weasley." Ron didn't make a move to leave, not wanting to leave Emersyn to fend for herself with this dreadful woman. "Maybe, I did not make myself clear the first time Mr. Weasley. You are dismissed and I would suggest you leave quickly before I change my mind."

Ron turned to her again and for the second time today, she gave him a nod of encouragement before he stood up and tentatively left the office, the door closing behind him.

"Now Miss Carter, what you did was extremely reckless. Going off into the woods and then using stupefy of all spells."

Emersyn bowed her head and looked at her hands folded in her lap. "Yes, Professor. I understand and I am very sorry."

"You will serve detention with me for a week beginning tonight. Arrive at my door promptly after dinner. Dismissed."

"But Professor, it's Saturday. I-"

"Unless you would like to make it two weeks of detention, you are dismissed."

Emersyn knew she was not going to win this fight, that was clear enough. Standing up, she said her goodbyes to the dreadful Professor and headed out of the office, only to find Ron leaning against the wall across from the door.

She paused, unsure of if Ron was mad at her or not. "Hi." She said quietly, looking down at her feet. Emersyn was still so embarrassed that she had stupefied him yesterday and she felt even worse for almost getting him in trouble with Umbridge.

"Hi." Was all he said back. He didn't move and neither did she. The halls were still relatively deserted and she doubted that anyone would willingly walk down the same hallway as Professor Umbridge's office anyway, so for that moment it was just the two of them.

"Look Ron, I am so so so sorry. I don't know what came over me, I was scared and I heard footsteps and I-"

Emersyn felt a hand on her shoulder then, cutting off the rest of her sentence in her throat. She looked up to find that Ron had moved to the space in front of her. "I'm not mad at you Emersyn. I frightened you and you protected yourself. It honestly makes me feel better to know you're not walking around here defenseless."

She chuckled, not knowing what else to say, she hoped a simple shy smile would suffice. Next thing she knew though; she was being pulled into a pair of warm arms. "I'm glad we're talking again." Ron said with his face buried in her hair.

"Yeah, me too." Emersyn sighed, breathing him in. He smelt like woods, soap and home; if home even could be a scent.

Remembering where they were standing, Emersyn pulled away slightly, looking up into Ron's blue eyes. "We should probably move, unless we want Umbridge to come out here and hex us into next year." She laughed.

"You're right. Lunch?" He asked with a smile.

"Sure." She had missed Ron's easy going nature and kind smile. It felt good to talk to him again. Ron withdrew from the hug and grabbed her hand to pull her along to the great hall. Emersyn smiled when he didn't let go.

xxx

After spending a nice lunch with Ron, they met up with Harry and Hermione and discussed winter break. Emersyn had decided to stay at Hogwarts, since she didn't even know if she had a family and she didn't feel all that comfortable staying with one that she didn't really even know, honestly. It made her sad to think that in one short week, she'd be alone in this giant castle. Sure, she had ignored them for two months, but she was never truly alone. There were lots of students here at Hogwarts and the busyness of it all made it so she never felt alone. When everyone finally left for break though, what would it be like with nothing to distract her?

After a dinner filled with nerves about her impending detention with Professor Umbridge, Emersyn said her goodbye's to the trio and found herself standing in front of the Professors office for the second time today. Two times to many, if you ask her.

Just as Emersyn had raised her arm to knock on the door, it swung open revealing a woman dressed in the ugliest shade of pink with an even uglier frown to match. "Come in and have a seat Miss Carter. I am pleasantly surprised you made it here on time, but I am still very disappointed by your recklessness."

Emersyn bowed her head as she walked past the Professor into the office and sat at a desk with a quill and a piece of parchment on it, which she assumed was meant for her. "Again Professor, I truly a sorry."

Closing the door behind her, Professor Umbridge sat back down at her desk and gave Emersyn a look full of disdain. "Perhaps this will help you learn your lesson. Pick up the quill Miss Carter."

She sighed. There was no use trying to get herself out of this one. Once she picked up the quill though, she quickly realized there was no ink. "Professor, I don't seem to have any ink?"

With a wave of her hand, Umbridge brushed off the comment. "Nothing to worry about, the quill is special and works fine. Now, Miss Carter, you are to write 'I must think before I act.'"

"How many times, Professor?"

With the smallest hint of a smirk the Professor answered. "Until I am satisfied you have learned your lesson."

Holding back another sigh, Emersyn decided to get right to work. The faster she could write and get this done, the faster she could get out of here. As she began to write Emersyn noticed the ink looked rather odd. Instead of its usual dark color, it was red. Blood red, to be more precise. Looking up at Umbridge, she noticed the woman was giving her a peculiar look; expecting almost.

As she continued to write Emersyn began to notice some sharp stinging in her left hand. She tried her best to ignore the pain, it must be a mind trick or something. Eventually though, she simply couldn't take the pain anymore. It felt like someone was digging a knife into her skin over and over with no end in sight. Pausing her writing, she gently sat the quill down to examine her hand and gasped.

There, carved into her skin in her own handwriting 'I must think before I act'. Ignoring the pain for another moment, Emersyn looked back at the parchment she had been writing on. It was in fact blood there on the paper, her blood. She let out a small gasp. This was inhumane. Her hand was on fire, surely this wasn't allowed here at Hogwarts.

"I did not say you were finished Miss Carter." She looked up at Professor Umbridge then to find her looking at her with the most sickeningly fake smile on her lips, her face dripping with false sweetness.

"Professor, my hand-"

"Continue. Unless, that is, you'd like to write more?"

She felt her left eye twitch at Umbridge's statement. She would not let this woman get the better of her. Taking a deep breath, Emersyn picked the quill back up and began writing once again. As she wrote she had to stifled a groan. It was almost as if every sentence you write; the knife just digs in deeper. After what felt like a million more years of writing, Emersyn's vision began to become blurry with unshed tears.

She couldn't take this much longer. The pain was unbearable and her writing was getting sloppy, since her hand had begun to shake from the pain. She would not cry here. She would not give Umbridge the satisfaction of watching her crumble under the pain. Emersyn's tears seemed to have a mind of their own though and just as the first tear slipped from her eyes and down her cheeks, Umbridge spoke. "That's quite enough for tonight Miss Carter. I will see you again tomorrow, same time. Off you go."

She didn't have to tell her twice. Emersyn practically threw the quill onto the table and ran out of the room as fast as she could. Pain was not something she often experienced, and this pain to be exact was excruciating. Her left hand felt like it was on fire and as she ran through the empty hallways of the castle, her cold tears did nothing to cool her down.

She knew she couldn't return to the common room like this, a mess of tears and snot, unable to catch a full breath. So, eventually Emersyn found herself in the astronomy tower, she had discovered this place during her time alone. She didn't want Ron to feel guilty and she really did not want anyone to see her crying like this.

Emersyn found herself wondering if anyone else knew what kind of detention Umbridge gave. Did Dumbledore know? How could he allow such a thing? She was sitting on the ground now, cradling her left hand against my chest and rocking back and forth. Trying to find some semblance of comfort as the tears silently continued to stream down her face.

She continued to sit on the ground and stare out into the dark night sky for what felt like years, but the pain never lessened. Maybe it never would. This place wasn't right for her, she decided as she cried. It was dark, cruel and full of wars. Yes, it was also full of love and color and laughter, but was the pain worth it?

"Carter?" Startled, Emersyn looked up to find the one person she never wanted to find her here.

"Sod off Malfoy, I'm not in the mood." She said, quickly trying to wipe the tears from her face. She didn't want him to see her like this, crying and in pain. Weak.

"Why are you up here crying?" Why did he sound like he cared? Concern riddled his voice and it was never something Emersyn expected to hear from him.

"Maybe you didn't hear me before, I said sod off Malfoy."

There was silence and she thought maybe he had gotten the idea and left her alone to continue to cry, but unfortunately there was no such luck. She was surprised when she felt him sit down beside her and even more surprised when he gently grabbed the hand she was cradling and brought it out into the moonlight.

Neither one of them said anything as he examined the words on her hand. I must think before I act.

Then, as if he hadn't shocked her enough for the night, he did something completely out of character. He wrapped his cold hand on top of the burning words. The coldness of his hand soothing the burning from the magical cuts.

Emersyn didn't pull away and she'd like to say it was because the idea of the burning returning overpowered any hatred she had for Draco Malfoy. So, they were silent as they turned to watched the sky above them.

It was Malfoy that finally broke the silence. "I wasn't following you or anything"

Emersyn scoffed, but didn't respond. She knew that if they began talking, a fight would ensue and the pain relief would disappear. Malfoy seemed to get the memo and didn't speak further than that until sometime later. "I come here at night. To watch the sky."

"Why?" She asked, breaking her own bloody rule. Curiosity was getting the better of her, as it usually did.

"Probably for the same reason you chose to come here to cry after your detention with Umbridge." Emersyn hummed in approval. When she was running here she didn't even realize at first where her feet were taking her until she saw the beautiful night sky. It was a rather calming place to sit and think.

"Why didn't you turn around and leave when you found me here?" Realizing that statement sounded rude, she quickly added "Not that I um… don't want you here. I… appreciate your cold hand. I'm just curious why you'd comfort a 'blood traitor' like me?"

Malfoy looked at her with curiosity filled eyes. "Is that what I'm doing here? Comforting you?"

"Well I suppose so." She realized then that the sentiment was true. Emersyn had felt the tears stop falling some time ago and the mixture of the coldness of his hand and the warmth of his body next to hers was oddly comforting.

"Hm." Was his only response. They sat in comfortable silence after that, neither breaking the odd truce that had settled in between them. What would happen come tomorrow? Were Malfoy and her friends now or would they pretend as though this moment and this night never happened?

Oh bloody hell. Emersyn could feel her ever raging curiosity starting to get the better of her again. She had to ask him, she had to know what this odd moment of comfort would mean for them. "Malfoy?" She asked, turning to him.

"Hm?" he responded, still facing the open sky before them.

"I was wondering, tomo-" Emersyn was cut off before she even had the chance to finish her question.

"Emersyn?" called a voice from down the stairs. She knew that voice well, it was Ron. But, the excitement Emersyn usually received from hearing his voice was now replaced with a feeling very close to dread. As crazy as it sounded, she didn't want this moment with Malfoy to end. When he kept his snarky comments to himself, he just seemed like a sad boy who needed someone to care for him and that Malfoy wasn't all that bad.

She heard footsteps begin to walk up the long staircase, leading up to where her and Malfoy sat and she knew Ron was on his way up and by the way Malfoy stiffened beside her, he knew their time was up too. Without as much as a word, Malfoy released her hand and stood up. Turning to her, they locked eyes for a moment before Malfoy gave her the smallest nod as a goodbye and left down the stairs.

Before Emersyn could even dwell on the interaction she just had, Ron had rounded up the last of the stairs and was walking up to her. "Emersyn, I've been looking for you. Where have you been?"

She looked up at the red headed boy then, feeling like she was almost in a daze of sorts. "I, um… had detention with Professor Umbridge. I needed to clear my head after." Ron held both of his hands in front of her face then to help her get up and after a moment, she complied. After Emersyn had found her footing, Ron didn't let go of her hands. She thought maybe he was doing what he did earlier today and simply holding them until she realized he was inspecting her left hand with wide eyes.

"Bloody hell, Emersyn. Are you okay?" Emersyn had almost forgotten about the dull pain in her left hand, Malfoy's cold fingers had dulled the burn to a slight tingling sensation, but the words were still there.

"Hm? Oh yeah, I'm fine Ron. Really, nothing to worry about." She said, forcing a small smile.

Ron continued to study her face for a moment, looking for anything to indicate that I was in fact, not fine. After feeling satisfied that he didn't find what he was looking for, she gasped as he lifted her left hand up to his warm lips and left a kiss on the tingling words, that Malfoy had held only moments ago.

They just looked at each other then. Neither of them talking. Neither of them moving.

Finally, Ron cleared his throat. "We should get back to the dorms before we get caught out after curfew, wouldn't want to get more detention." Emersyn cringed slightly, remembering her detention from earlier and Ron mumbled a sorry.

As they were walking back to the dorms, Ron turned to her as if he just remembered something very important. "Oh, Malfoy passed me on the stairs when I was coming to find you. Were you sitting up there with him?"

Emersyn assumed Malfoy would not want her to expose that not only were they sitting together, but he was in fact comforting her. "No. I never saw Malfoy."

Ron seemed to think on that for a moment before accepting her answer and turning to look where he was walking again. "Odd." He said, quietly.

"Yes" She responded, thinking about the cold fingers wrapped around her hand and the sad boy who just wanted to look at the night sky. "Odd."

Hi All!

Sorry it took me SO LONG to get this last chapter edited, but school was coming to an end so I was busy busy busy. But now that I have this edited, I can start positing new chapters again (yay!) and now that school's out for a month I'm hoping to be writing a lot more since there's nothing else to do lol. Anywayyyyy Make sure to leave a review for a shoutout in the next posted chapter & checkout the new short stories I've posted for Fred, George and Ron on my page!

xx
Jayne