As Victoire and Ruby had promised, when Emma was finally allowed to leave the dungeons, they were waiting for her in the Entrance Hall. Emma grinned as she saw her friends waiting. Looking around the Entrance Hall, she saw a few groups of people who must have been allowed to stay back to greet the Champions as the rest of the school had been told to return to their dormitories.
"Well done, Emma!" Victoire cried as she ran forward, embracing Emma like her life depended on it, Emma rocked back on her heels in an attempt to keep them balanced. Ruby followed suit but with slightly less enthusiasm so that she didn't knock Emma to the floor.
"We're so proud of you!" Ruby said as she pulled back.
"I couldn't have done it without you," Emma replied as she grinned brightly. "Vicki, you were right. We had the instructions but there were lines and ingredients missing. If you hadn't basically drilled them into me, I'd have been lost."
Victoire grinned even brighter. "But you did it, Em. You filled in the blanks and technically, you were joint first. Sucks that they've included the order you completed the task though. They didn't do that with the Triwizard Tournament."
Emma shrugged. "I guess. Now, I believe you promised me an evening of gorging ourselves on chocolate."
"We did," Ruby agreed, "and Granny's special brew. Let's go!"
The three girls rushed past where the other Champions were meeting their chosen friends. Emma glanced at Regina as she met up with the Tremaine sisters, but she didn't stop to speak to her. She was still far too confused at what the Slytherin had said before they had entered the dungeons before the task. Although she did notice that Robin hadn't been allowed to stay behind to greet his girlfriend which filled her with a joy she didn't understand.
Once they arrived in their dormitory, Emma was showered with praise by everyone she walked past. Some people even wanted her autograph, but she batted them all away out of sheer confusion.
"Thank you everyone!" She cried. "I'll be back later but for now, I need a rest. That was hard work!"
Everyone let out a groan but didn't stop her from going up to her dormitory where she and her friends giggled at getting away with her excuse.
As promised, Emma pulled out her mirror and called her parents as soon as she got to her room and was thrilled to see that both Killian and Mal were over too. She and her friends crammed on the bed so that they could all be in view just as her parents and godparents were.
"Tell us everything," her mother requested as soon as they had all said hello.
"Sod that, what place did you get?" Killian asked, not beating around the bush as was his way. The brashness was what made Killian Killian.
"I got nine out of ten for the potion brewing, but I finished third so only got an additional two points," Emma replied. "Elsa finished first and got nine and Regina came second but got eight, so we came in joint second."
"That's preposterous," Mal scoffed. "If you got a higher score, that should mean you're second on your own. You would have been if I'd accepted being the Ravenclaw judge."
"You were meant to be a judge?" Ruby asked interestedly.
Mal nodded. "I was, but I declined as I'd be too biased." She chuckled when Emma frowned. "It wouldn't have challenged you enough if you knew I was a judge, so I said no and put Penny forward instead."
The use of a nickname for the Ravenclaw wasn't too unusual but the slight affection her godmother used when saying it confused Emma. Her godmother was usually straight taking and only held affection on her voice when she was speaking about Emma or her mother. However, before she could say anything, her mother chimed in.
"I agree, you wouldn't have had the right mind frame if you went in thinking you'd win as Mally was a judge," she added. "So, what did happen now that we know the result?" She looked at Killian with her eyebrow raised. "Seeing as someone was too impatient to hear the full story first."
Emma chuckled before she started telling her parents and godparents what had happened. She was also filling in Ruby and Victoire who had only watched but didn't know what Emma had been thinking the entire time.
By the time she had finished, she felt like she'd been talking for hours. Her throat was parched, but she was too relieved to really care.
"We're so proud of you!" David said, beaming brightly at his daughter. "So, what does the parchment say in regards to your next challenge?"
"Oh," Emma murmured, pulling the parchment out of her pocket. "I hadn't opened it yet." She pulled the page through the wax seal and opened the sheet and read aloud:
In the dark we thrive, ready to catch you off guard,
If you manage to find us, we may leave you scarred.
In the mountains we hide, lurking in the rocks,
But water is our combined enemy, you will not find us in lochs.
In number we are together, the minimum of four,
Yet play your card incorrectly, then there could be more.
Your task is to fight one of us, but for all you must prepare,
The battle may be bloody, there's no doubt you will be scared.
The first of us is abominable and lives amongst the ice,
The second of us is flammable and likes to play with mice.
Another of us is unreliable and could multiply on sight,
The last of us is dreadful, with two bodies to fill you with fright.
If you conquer us quickly, the tournament may be yours,
But quickly isn't always correctly, for what lies in store.
The time will soon run out and the battle will begin,
Learn all you can, for only one of you will win.
As she finished reading, she looked up to see six similar faces. Each one had wide eyes and a dropped jaw. It was Killian who recovered first.
"Well, shit."
Mal hit him in the chest, slightly harder than was possibly necessary. "Useful, Killian."
Emma released a nervous chuckle. "At least we know that it won't be more potions."
The rest of them then let out a small chuckle, they couldn't help it, the comment was so totally Emma.
"Well, you have until February to work it out," her father said. "There's no point worrying about it now. I say, put it away until after New Year's and start working on it then. You've got plenty of time. How are you girls planning on celebrating?"
Ruby the pulled up a bottle of her grandmother's special brew. "With drinks and chocolate."
Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Of course, but make sure you do go down for dinner and eat something that won't make all your teeth fall out."
Emma snickered. "Yes, Mum."
"Well, we'll let you girls get to celebrating," David said. "We're so proud of you, Em. We told you, you could do it."
"I know," Emma replied and smiled. "And thanks to all of you who helped. I couldn't have done it without any of you. Even your useful words of don't burn it, Killian."
Killian winked. "Always useful, me."
Mal hit him again. "I wouldn't exactly call you useful, Killi." She turned back to Emma. "But congratulations, darling. Enjoy your evening and Eugenie's special brew!"
"We love you, Em," her mother finished before blowing Emma a kiss and hanging up.
Emma shut her mirror and exhaled before turning to her friends. "So, chocolate frogs first?"
oOoOo
As requested, the three did eventually make it to the Great Hall to have some dinner. The Hall was packed with students, all celebrating the end of another week of classes. There was also an infectious level of excitement throughout the majority of the student body due to the finishing of the First Task.
Just as they were about to walk through the oak door, Emma heard her name being called from behind her. Turning, she saw Minnie running towards her, her silvery blonde hair flying around her shoulders.
"Congratulations!" She cried as she launched herself at Emma. The other blonde managed to open her arms just in time to catch the Chaser and hug her tightly.
Carefully, Emma put her friend back on the floor and grinned. "Thanks, Minnie. Joining us?"
Minnie nodded. "Hell yeah."
She turned to her friends and told them she'd meet them later before joining her sister and her friends. As they walked up the Gryffindor table, Emma braced herself for comments. Fellow Gryffindors congratulated her but she didn't receive any comments from the other Houses, which she was very much relieved about. It seemed they were too busy congratulating their own Champions. Both Regina and Elsa were surrounded by their friends and admirers from their Houses, beaming with pride.
However, Hufflepuff seemed to be the exception. Instead of congratulating Mary Margaret, it looked like they were consoling her. The pixie haired girl had puffy red eyes as if she'd been crying all afternoon. It was made worse when she saw Emma and her friends taking their seats. Ruby and Minnie had their backs to her but both Emma and Victoire noticed the Hufflepuff Champion looking even more distraught by the appearance of the four Gryffindors.
"That's ridiculous," Emma commented as they sat down. "I mean, I know she came in last but there's no point crying when she sees me."
Victoire bit her lip as she dished herself a portion of stew. "I think that may be my fault." She replaced the ladle and turned to Emma, biting her lower lip. "Remember when you asked us not to tell you if we'd been invited to the Hogmanay Ball until after the Task?"
"Yeah?" Emma said slowly and a grin started to form as she realised where Victoire was going.
"Teddy asked me," Victoire revealed, beaming. "About a week ago. He said he didn't want to date Mary Margaret and wanted to go to the Ball with me and asked me. I said yes immediately."
"That's great news!" Emma replied excitedly. She decided it was best not to mention that she had confirmed to Teddy that Victoire would love to go with him.
Ruby then coughed quietly. "I guess I should also confess that I have a date too." The surprise on both Victoire and Minnie's faces showed that neither of them were aware of this information. "Do you know Billy Gus from Ravenclaw? He's on the Quidditch team, in Seventh Year."
Emma tried to think of her cousin's Quidditch team. She knew that the Beaters were from their year so she couldn't mean them and the rest of the players were female aside from the other Chaser, she realised that this must be Billy.
"Vaguely," she admitted.
"Well, yeah, him," Ruby said with a laugh. "He asked me literally this afternoon, just as I was heading up to Divination. He called me over and asked me. I thought why not, he's pretty cute."
Minnie then let out a groan. "I keep thinking I might get asked, but nothing yet. If I don't get asked soon, I won't be able to go."
Emma shrugged. "You can be my date if you like? Then you can go. I mean, you'd have to open the dance, that's the only issue."
There was silence for a while as Minnie weighed up the options. Slowly, her pale lips formed a smirk. "You know what, sure. Like Ruby said, why not. We'll cause the biggest stir Hogwarts has ever seen and it'll be great. I can't really dance though." She glanced at Victoire. "I don't think either of us have inherited the grace from our Veela ancestor."
The other three let out a laugh over their pots of stew.
"Then we'll suck together," Emma agreed before high fiving her friend. "Mate date it is!"
Decision made, the four of them returned to their meals and shared a large chocolate sundae before they returned back to the Common Room. Contrary to her previous statement, Minnie didn't rejoin her friends but instead went up to the Fifth-Year girls' dormitory with the others and joined in their chocolate binge with a drink of Granny's brew.
Surrounded by her friends and having spoken to her family, Emma felt sheer happiness. She could relax as her stress was lifted, at least for now. She was with her friends and enjoying herself.
oOoOo
The end of term was wrapped up quite quickly after the First Task. The next three weeks seemed to flash before their eyes.
A week after the task, Emma was called to her Head of House's office once again. She'd never spent so much time in the Herbology Professor's office before and that was saying something because it wasn't unheard of for her to get into trouble, normally when one of her, Minnie or Ruby's pranks went slightly awry.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" Emma said as she walked into the office.
"I did," Professor Longbottom confirmed and motioned to the chair at the opposite side of his desk. "Nothing to worry about, I just wanted to explain how your grades would work this year with competing and it being your OWL year."
"I did wonder," Emma confessed. "I was going to ask but kept getting distracted."
Professor Longbottom nodded and chuckled. "Preparing for a task can do that to you." He then grew more serious. "As you're aware, you sit end of term exams throughout the year before the big exams at the end of the school year. For you and the other Champions, your end of year grades will be taken from them along with looking over your schoolwork over the year as a whole. An average grade will be taken and that will be your end of year grade, thus your OWL grades. The same will be true for the others, of course OWLs and NEWTs are a different story, so for you and your cousin it is imperative that you maintain your grades."
"Right," Emma said slowly. "I think I understand. But Professor, at the start of the year, some of my grades haven't been great. I got a D in Potions because it all went crazy and I got a P in Arithmancy when I didn't fully complete the class task because I was so annoyed about the D in potions."
"I see," Professor Longbottom replied as he pulled a sheet of parchment towards him. "In that case, I'll ask Professor McGonagall if the grades can be taken from the end of this term and work from next term as you're now settled in as being the Gryffindor Champion. I'm sure the other Champions will be grateful for the change too."
Emma released a breath in her relief. "Thank you."
"It's only fair," Professor Longbottom said as he quickly penned a note to remind him to speak to his boss. He placed his quill down and looked back up at his Champion. "So, how are you feeling about the next task?"
"I mean, it's kinda obvious that we're going to be battling some creatures," Emma said. Despite her father suggesting she ignored the next Task until after the New Year, she had read over the parchment again a few times to get the gist of it. "I just don't know which ones." She shrugged. "But my dad suggested to just ignore it until after the New Year." She paused. "Do I really have to open the Ball?"
Professor Longbottom chuckled. "You look as scared as Harry was when he was told he had to open the Yule Ball. You'll be fine. I had a great time. I took Ginny Weasley so she could go as she was a younger year."
Emma hadn't expected her professor to say that. Especially with the fact that Ginny was now married to Harry Potter and it didn't seem to have negatively impacted on Professor Longbottom's relationship with either of the Potter adults.
"I haven't decided yet," she said, not wanting to expose her choice of partner just yet in case her Head of House discouraged her from going with Minnie. "Is that all Professor?"
"Yes, I believe it is," Professor Longbottom said. "Good luck with your end of term exams and I'll see you in class."
Dismissed, Emma stood up and went to find her friends in the dormitory.
oOoOo
They had their first mock test for their OWLs, Emma still sat these as requested and for the first time ever, Emma came out first in Potions, receiving her first O of the term. She was so happy that she could cry. It was her highest score out of all her tests. It made her happier that this would be the first grade that was taken into account for her OWL at the end of the year. She just had to hope that she would continue on this path.
The rest of her results were also high E's and she even received a second O in Transfiguration. She wasn't worried about the E's for now as she had time to bring up the grades over the year. Therefore, finishing term with two O's and eight E's was promising. It was better than some of her previous years' first term marks.
In Quidditch, Hufflepuff had somehow beaten Ravenclaw who had been leading them by an impressive one hundred and twenty points, that is until Alice Wonder had caught the Snitch, ensuring a slim Hufflepuff victory, proving just why she had been chosen as the Seeker. She had speed when she was concentrating. It seemed she'd had an off day when competing against Gryffindor, not that Emma was complaining.
Ravenclaw had pulled themselves back in their next game, having beaten Slytherin by fifty points. However, it had been pretty Slytherin-dominated match for the first half of the game, with Regina scoring ten goals in a row, but Elsa pulled Ravenclaw back with two goals which was paired with Billy, Ruby's date, scoring another three before their Seeker, a fellow Fifth Year named Aurora Rose, caught the Snitch before Smee of Slytherin had even seen it.
The results meant that Gryffindor needed to stay on their toes as Ravenclaw had high score through the sheer number of goals despite losing their first match. The Cup depended on the amount of goals scored as well as wins and losses. Although Ravenclaw had played one more match than Gryffindor already, Emma's team still had to play Ravenclaw and Slytherin, there was plenty to play for.
During the final Gryffindor Quidditch practice of the term, Emma decided to have some fun and left the balls in the crates, choosing instead to play tag on brooms.
"That's a little girl's game!" Robin complained.
"Then you should fit right in!" August had quickly replied making the girls laugh. Even LJ seemed to be biting his lip to stop a chuckle from escaping.
"For that comment, you're on first, Robin," Emma said. "Everyone on brooms and let's go."
Robin didn't look impressed but gave in and joined the rest of the team in the air, flying to tag LJ first. Once the first move was made, he loosened up and seemed to enjoy himself as he dodged Lily's attempt to tag him.
By the time they called it a day an hour later, he was actually grinning. "Your methods are strange, Swan, but that was quite fun. You won't hear me saying it again though."
Emma chuckled. "Your secret is safe with me, Robin."
However, she saw something flash through his eyes at the word secret, but he'd walked away before she could say anything further. Everyone else had left the pitch, all aside from August. He seemed to be hovering near to where Emma was standing, but he looked rather unsure of himself which was highly unusual for the Head Boy.
"Everything alright?" Emma asked as she walked over to him.
"Are you going to the Ball with anyone?" The words came out so quickly they were almost mushed together, but Emma understood. She had been prepared for this since Teddy had made a passing comment that he thought August would be asking her.
"I am, actually," she answered truthfully. Minnie had agreed to be her mate date after all.
"Oh," August said suddenly deflated. Clearly, he'd been hoping her answer would be something else. "Right." He faked a smile. "That's fine. No worries."
He then quickly walked away before Emma could say anything. She sighed, watching as her visible breath escaped in the cold December air. That went better than she thought it would. It wasn't painful, but she just hoped things wouldn't be awkward between them.
When she walked back up to the castle for dinner with Ruby, Emma revealed what had happened.
"I told you," Ruby said. "I said he liked you. It's a good job you're going with Minnie then." She paused for a few moments. "You do know what it's going to look like if you turn up with a girl. Are you aware of what might happen?"
"I'm going with a friend," Emma replied firmly. "It doesn't imply anything."
"I'm just saying–"
"I get it," Emma said, cutting off her friend. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't know what it meant. Minnie can't go otherwise. I'm being a good friend. It'll be fine."
Ruby didn't look convinced, but she let the conversation topic drop and changed the subject. She knew when not to push her friend when she didn't want to talk. "It'll be weird not spending New Year's Eve with Granny. I don't want her to be alone."
Grateful for the change of subject, Emma smiled softly. "My parents usually have people over. I'll get them to invite her. Actually, thinking about it, I think they're going to the Senior Weasleys, so I'll suggest them inviting her along to that."
The term 'Senior Weasleys' had been once the Weasley boys had started having families of their own and saying 'going to the Weasleys'' was getting too confusing, so Molly and Arthur had been called the 'Senior Weasleys' to try and ease the confusion.
"She'd like that," Ruby said with a smile. "She knows Molly Weasley from school so it should be good. Thanks."
"No worries," Emma replied. As she went to speak again, she heard Ruby cuss having seen something, or someone it turned out, that Emma hadn't yet seen.
"What is she doing here again?" The brunette asked.
Looking up, Emma saw Regina walking away from the Quidditch Pitch. Emma had said that if she caught Regina watching another of Gryffindor's Quidditch practices, she would be calling the Slytherin Captain out on it and it seemed the time had come.
"That's it," Emma snapped as she passed her broom to Ruby. "I'm going to call her out on it."
Ruby looked like Christmas had already come with the excitement in her eyes. "I'll be here waiting."
Emma let out a sharp laugh as she hadn't expected Ruby to stay behind but it also shouldn't have surprised her. Like her grandmother, Ruby liked to be involved in gossip.
"Oi, Mills!" Emma called at Regina's retreating back.
The Slytherin stopped and shut her eyes as she inhaled at being caught. She turned and feigned ignorance. "What, Swan?"
"Will you stop watching Gryffindor Quidditch practices?" Emma demanded. "I'm fed up with it. It's not like you're getting any tactics, especially when we're just having a laugh."
Regina didn't seem to be able to reply. Her mouth opened and shut several times before she shrugged. "I can watch any practice I like. They're open for anyone unless specified and you haven't specified a closed practice yet."
Emma raised here eyebrow at the pathetic reason. "If you want to watch Robin fly, then whatever, but you can't be at every practice and don't say you're not, because I've seen you at most of them this year. Don't you have better things to do? Like trying to get out of another Quidditch match? Didn't do very well last week with that loss, did you? Looks like you'll be going for that swim."
Suddenly, Regina's eyes narrowed. "You know nothing, Swan. I don't know why I helped you in the Task."
"Yeah, me neither!" Emma scoffed. "You make no sense, Regina. What do you even want?"
Regina looked startled at the blunt request, as if she'd never been asked it before. She faltered in her reply before shaking her head and running away, leaving a very confused Emma behind.
"What the fuck?" She murmured as she turned back to Ruby who held out Emma's Firebolt X.
"She's so weird," Ruby said as they started to walk towards the castle. "I mean, she's never been the most normal person but this year, she's just getting odder and odder."
Emma shook her head in confusion. "I know what you mean. I'd say keep an eye on her, but I don't want to do that either. I dunno. It's all very odd."
"Just concentrate on you, Em," Ruby replied. "The truth will come out eventually. You never know, maybe she's like August and fancies you too."
Emma ignored the way her tummy seemed to swirl in happiness at the idea that her feelings were returned. She quickly schooled her features and managed a quiet chuckle to stop Ruby's thoughts from following where Emma's had truly gone.
"You're ridiculous," she muttered with a roll her eyes.
"But you love me," Ruby said, nudging Emma's shoulder softly, meaning Emma had successfully got Ruby off her scent. "I can't wait to go home for Christmas though. This term has dragged."
"Yeah, me neither," Emma replied, thinking it would be great to get away from the Tournament and her ever conflicting feelings towards the exceptionally pretty, yet enigmatic Slytherin Champion. "Now, let's get some food. I am starving."
Ruby flashed Emma a toothy grin. "Race ya! Winner gets a galleon."
The brunette then rushed away before Emma realised what she'd said. Laughing, Emma started running behind her friend but with Ruby's head start and the fact she was a faster runner meant that Emma burst through the oak doors of the Entrance Hall at least a minute after Ruby who was leaning against the wall beside the doors to the Great Hall. She grinned wolfishly as her friend approached.
"What took you so long?" Ruby cheekily asked as she saw her friend walk towards her. "Another galleon for me this year. I am on a roll!" She then strode forward and walked into the Great Hall for dinner.
"Piece of shit," Emma muttered behind her friend's back.
"Excuse me?"
Emma turned to see that of course Regina Mills would be standing beside her, about to walk into the Great Hall herself.
"Not you, Ruby," Emma said before shrugging. "I guess you could be included with your behaviour at the moment." She looked around and saw that no one was around so she took a step closer to the brunette, missing the way she inhaled sharply at the movement, so she could speak quietly. "But seriously, what do you want? I don't understand your behaviour this year. You barely looked at me last year, I was just a competitor. What's different?"
Regina didn't answer at first, she just looked at Emma as if she was trying to see down to her soul. "Everything is different."
Without giving an explanation, Regina walked through the doors to the Great Hall and left Emma in her own thoughts. It was the first thing that Regina Mills had said that Emma fully agreed with. This year, everything was truly different.