The night went as well as it possibly could considering the turmoil of emotions Emma was going through. Newt needing Remus and Elara present to work on his report helped make the lead up to the full moon a lot easier for Emma. It made Greyson's job that much simpler, and Emma liked being able to feel like a mostly normal person until the moon had risen to the correct point in the sky.

Emma couldn't stop herself from pacing even after Greyson's arrival, just needing something to keep herself occupied. She felt odd being watched by the lone student left in the wing, but they were released relatively quickly. Pomfrey tried to insist on her taking a calming draught, but Emma refused. Emma knew that the calming draught would probably help, but she felt it was pointless. With how fast the potion would burn through her system, she didn't feel it was worth it.

The only point Emma stopped pacing was when her muscles seized up, and she didn't want to move. She braced herself against the metal frame of the nearest bed that she could find, needing to keep herself upright. The burning pain under her skin felt a little more painful than usual, but Emma wondered if that came with the smallest inkling of acceptance of what she was.

She wasn't human.

Newt's words continued to echo in her head over and over again. Would she ever be able to truly accept that small piece of information? It seemed stupid for her to care so much, but the idea of being anything less than human seemed ludicrous. It didn't matter that she hadn't been fully human for over a year; she just couldn't process the idea. She didn't transform – why did that have to mean she was a werewolf?

Because it makes you better than what you were before, Soleil decided to say to Emma's displeasure. You have spent months ignoring the truth. It is time to accept me, just as Fenrir has said to do.

Emma nearly let out an audible "No" in response, but she bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself. She glanced up at Greyson, who stood near her bed, trying to ignore his look of concern. Emma knew that Greyson felt terrible over how much she suffered, knew he didn't care about helping her, but it didn't make things any less embarrassing. She felt her body heat up, but whether it was from embarrassment or the pain, Emma wasn't sure. Emma was just grateful that Greyson understood to wait until she needed his help and waited patiently for her to give some sort of sign to step in.

She remained where she was for a few minutes, practically doubled over as she tried to breathe through the pain. As Emma straightened up, she nearly dropped to the floor at the electric pain that shot up her spine. Humiliated tears filled her eyes, and she knew that she wasn't going to be able to do much for the rest of the night without help. She met Greyson's gaze, and a soft sigh escaped his lips as he approached her.

"What do you need from me?" Greyson asked softly, wrapping his arms around Emma and rubbing her back.

"I don't know," Emma murmured, resting her forehead on Greyson's chest. "I don't think I can make it back to the bed."

"Do you want to try?" Emma thought about it for a moment and shook her head with a whimper. "All right," Greyson said. "Wrap your arms around my neck. I'll carry you back."

Emma grumbled as she let Greyson pick her up. She kept a firm hold around his neck as he lifted her and wrapped her legs around his waist. If Emma had her choice, she would be perfectly okay with Greyson holding her how he was all night. The relief was near-instant, and Emma wondered why she forced herself to wait for so long. She enjoyed being close, and the press of her body against his was nice. He was warm and comforting in the otherwise chilled room.

"I hate that I can't actually do anything," Greyson said softly, his words meant for both Emma and for Newt. He went to put Emma down on her bed but decided to sit down on the edge of the mattress and hold her in his lap instead. "I feel useless."

"You're not useless," Emma muttered. She leaned back just enough to kiss Greyson and then immediately hid her face back in the crook of his neck. "This is nice. It helps."

"Would you say that this is typical during the full moon?" Newt asked gently.

"Very much so," Emma said, lifting her head up to look over at Newt. She wasn't entirely sure why she was surprised that he was scratching away with his quill in his notebook. Newt had told her he would wait to ask most of his questions until that night, and he was scratching away feverishly. "The times I didn't spend the full moon with Dad was absolutely miserable. So, every moon from June, well, July until November last year was absolutely agonizing. The first few moons were taken without full doses of the Wolfsbane Potion, and those were probably the worst. Having a fever while being in absolutely agonizing pain during the hot summer months wasn't very fun."

"No, I imagine it wouldn't be," Newt agreed. "What exactly changed in December?"

"I, heh…I more or less forced myself into Dad's office," Emma giggled. "He wrote me a letter during our massive fight that he told you about, and I discovered it during that full moon. I couldn't wait until the next morning to yell at him."

"And how did he react?"

"Well, he was on the Wolfsbane Potion," Emma said, resting her head on Greyson's shoulder. "He reacted as he normally would while human – with displeasure and with resignation that we would have to approach things differently."

"What exactly changed?"

"I spent the full moons with him," Emma said. She hummed contentedly as Greyson pulled a blanket around her shoulders and massaged her scalp. "Every full moon until the end of term was spent with him. Elle was there almost every time except for the last full, and then, well…It could have ended much differently."

"You're referring to the incident with Moony?"

"Yes," Emma yawned. "It was scary, and I had no idea what would happen, but in a way, I think I got to experience my father at his best. Even though he had absolutely fallen victim to his condition, and it was absolutely terrifying, in a way, he was still himself. Perhaps a bit more mothering than usual, honestly, but we connected."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It was two ways, really. We had a connection where he was aware that I was his child and the other was mental. I'm sure in your research you've come across the way werewolves communicate?" Emma asked, smiling slightly when Newt nodded. "We shared exactly that. It's how Soleil was named, actually. I pressed my head to his, just as a moment of comfort and Moony shared a picture of the sun with me, and Soleil understood what it meant."

"He shared a visual with you?" Newt questioned.

"He did," Emma said. "I think Dad was planning to let Moony forward just enough to tell me that night, but then everything happened. Moony ultimately got to tell me himself regardless, but it was the full version of the wolf."

"You didn't tell me that part," Greyson whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of Emma's head.

"I forget what I've told you and what I haven't, honestly," Emma murmured. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Our whirlwind romance a few months ago involved a lot of information in a very short amount of time."

"And that's why we're taking things slow now. So it's not too much at one time."

"It's still too much," Emma huffed. "Full moons are too much."

"Well, it's a good thing we've got our entire lives to figure it out, yeah?"

"I wish I had your optimism, Grey."

"Well, I've got plenty enough for the two of us."

Emma lifted her head to kiss Greyson's cheek. She was grateful for the brief reprieve from Newt's questions as he wrote things down in his notebook, and she soaked in every bit of comfort Greyson provided. Emma couldn't help but wonder if she had ever sat on Greyson's lap like this before? Her lips twitched slightly as Soleil reminded her of one of the more heated moments she shared with Greyson in his room a few months prior. She mentally chastised the wolf for even daring to bring up those memories when her entire body was fully pressed against Greyson's.

He's wrapped the blanket around you, Soleil purred. No one will ever know if you were to just adjust yourself to get closer.

Absolute bloody minx, Emma thought. There are other people in the room. Poppy will literally have our heads, and I don't need this part of things in Newt's report. I'm sure he already knows, but I'd rather not have it written down, thank you. This is already awkward enough…even if this bit is nice.

To try and save herself from doing what Soleil wanted her to do, Emma shifted her hips backward to put some distance between their bodies. Greyson stilled suddenly with a quiet hiss, and Emma snorted, lifting her head to meet his startled gaze. His eyebrows shot up in question and alarm, and Emma had to shove her fist in her mouth to try and silence her giggles.

"I'm so sorry," Emma snickered when her mind finally put together why exactly Greyson looked so bothered. She was too focused on being close to Greyson to realize his thoughts had started to stray as well, and he was feeling the same way she was. "Soleil, you know, and the full moon…just trying to resist. However, I now realize that you certainly weren't opposed to me being so close."

"I was quite enjoying you being exactly where you were, thank you," Greyson muttered just loud enough for Emma to hear. His cheeks turned pink as he shifted himself awkwardly, and Emma giggled even more. "Shitting hell, you are the only female who has ever managed to affect me quite so…well, painfully."

"Good thing you've got this blanket around us then," Emma whispered, putting on the sweetest voice she could manage. "Would hate for someone else to know just how affected I've made you."

"Emma," Greyson hissed, his eyes growing wide. "We are not alone!"

"Yet," Emma pointed out, waggling her eyebrows. "Newt's leaving after he's done asking questions, and technically I don't need to be in the hospital wing tonight. We're only here because I didn't want to be in class, but we've been granted use of a room near the entrance hall."

"And when were you planning on telling me?"

"I wasn't," Emma grinned. There was no mistaking the look in Greyson's eyes, and Emma's grin turned into a smug smirk. She was in a terrible amount of pain, but Soleil was insistent that the activities she had in mind would help. Emma felt inclined to agree just to relieve some of her stress. She was about to say something else to tease Greyson further, but she was startled by Newt's voice breaking through their little moment together. They sobered up quickly with the reminder that they weren't alone and cast sheepish looks to one another.

"What about in the time after June?" Newt asked, not looking up from his notes and flipping between his pages. "How would you say things have been since then?"

"Miserable again," Emma answered after a long moment, turning her attention to Newt. "We already went through June, so that was covered. August was all right, but July…"

"What happened in July?"

"Too much," Emma said. "Did Dad go over the entire situation with my memories and the whatnot?"

"He did," Newt said, looking up at Emma. "It was a peculiar scenario."

"It was," Emma sighed. "We, erm…" Emma trailed off. There was absolutely no way she could talk about Fenrir while being in Greyson's lap the way she was. The entire thing felt incredibly awkward even though it was meant to be a comforting gesture…at first.

With another sigh, she carefully disentangled herself and sat down next to Greyson instead. She cast Greyson a look, and he put his arm around Emma's shoulders, his expression softening.

"It's all right," Greyson whispered. "You know I hate what my father did to you."

"I know," Emma whispered back. "It doesn't make it any less weird to talk about him around you, though."

"Is everything all right?" Newt asked.

"It's…complicated," Emma said as she turned her attention back to Newt. "July really changed a lot for me, especially with piecing together parts of my life. My relationship with Fenrir was already complicated, but I didn't understand just how complicated it was. Certain parts of it still don't entirely make sense, but he made things very clear to me."

"In what sense?"

"Well, in everything, I suppose. Fenrir was hesitant to tell me exactly what he wanted me to be to him, but he was quick to act on other things. Fenrir took care of me but also threatened me every other day if I didn't obey him. He treated me like, well, a pup, but there was always something else underneath what he wasn't telling me. It was to the point Dad was worried that Fenrir would turn me in July and requested that I be moved for the full. The solution was to lock me in a dark room for the night."

Newt's brows knit together, and he tilted his head. "They locked you in a room?"

"It was pitch-black," Emma said. "I couldn't see anything. I obviously don't have the heightened senses, so it was miserable."

"Surely there was a bed or something for you? Something to keep you comfortable?"

"No," Emma said. "There was nothing in the room. It was completely bare. I had to use what I had to try and get myself comfortable. The actual details behind everything don't matter, but it was miserable. We didn't know that Fenrir had plans and decided to act on at least half of what he had in mind."

"You were attacked the next morning," Newt said.

"I was attacked the next morning."

Newt studied Emma for a long moment, a frown crossing his face. He stared at her for a few moments longer before writing something in his notebook.

"And in August?" he asked, not looking up from his notebook.

"Well, I had Fenrir with me that night. Well, later in the night," Emma clarified. "I'm not sure if his pack was still nearby at the time. He said they were, but I'm not too sure. He returned to the house I was staying in sometime after moonrise. He didn't want to leave me alone just in case things went wrong with Jude."

Newt lifted his gaze slowly, looking perturbed and oddly excited. "You spent time with Fenrir while he was a wolf?"

"I did," Emma replied. "He planned to turn me then, too. He took Wolfsbane every day, but I pointed out that it would be stupid to turn me just before I started school. Fenrir, he, ah…he didn't like that very much. Regardless he returned to the house, and, er, I cuddled with him all night while he was transformed. Figured it would make more sense to take advantage of the whole werewolf magic or whatever it is exactly that relieves the pain."

"Fascinating," Newt said. "I've heard that he's quite massive, but I've never seen him in his wolf form before."

"I, uhm…I actually have a photo," Emma said quietly. "In my bag, actually."

"You have a photo of my father as a wolf?" Greyson asked in surprise. "You never told me that either."

"I didn't think you would want to know," Emma admitted. "Besides, your dad and I came to the conclusion the night was never going to be spoken of again. I told him that I wanted a photo so I could draw him. If you ignore everything else, he's a bit interesting as a wolf. He's huge."

"Do you…do you mind sharing?" Newt asked.

Emma cast Greyson an apologetic look and looked over at her bag. Greyson sighed, and he slid off the bed to grab Emma's bag. He passed it over to her, and she went through her things, pulling out her sketchbook. She flipped through the pages until she found the page with Fenrir's photo taped down and her sketch next to it.

"Do you mind?" Emma asked Greyson, holding the sketchbook close to her chest. "You don't have to look if you don't want to. I just don't know if I can walk yet without struggling."

"I'm a bit curious," Greyson said, taking the book from Emma's hands. He peered down at the pages in front of him, the look of uncertainty on his face turning to shock.

"Emma," Greyson said sharply, looking at her with comically large eyes. "I think you greatly underexaggerated just how huge he is." Newt only looked more excited as Greyson walked over with Emma's sketchbook. Greyson cast Emma a disbelieving look before passing the book over to Newt.

"Extraordinary," Newt breathed out as he studied the photo and Emma's sketch. "He is an absolutely remarkable creature."

"Well, when you take the murder-y bits out, yes, I can see it," Emma said, wrinkling her nose. "I'm not sure his size really phased me too much, honestly. I was too tired when he arrived, and I'm sure I was annoyed with him. He was absolutely annoying and shameless that night as a wolf, but that's no different than his human form."

"Do you mind if I make my own sketch really quickly?" Newt asked. "You're the only person in existence to have proof of Fenrir's wolf form, and I'd like to document it for myself."

"Please, feel free," Emma said. "Honestly, if you'd like, I could send you a copy of the photo. Fenrir's enough of a narcissist that he would probably pleased with you having a photo."

"Yes, that would be wonderful," Newt said excitedly, sketching in his notebook really quickly and then handing the sketchbook back to Greyson. Greyson frowned slightly as he looked down at the picture.

"Do you have other photos?" Greyson asked. "Of when he's not a wolf?"

"I do," Emma reluctantly admitted. "After everything, I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't ever forget things again. He hated it but let me take his photo. So, I not only have probably the only known photo of Fenrir as a wolf but Fenrir in his every day." Greyson looked incredibly torn, and Emma felt guilty at the look on his face. "I was never hiding them from you if that's what you're worried about. I just didn't…I can show you if you really want to see."

Greyson looked between the sketchbook and Emma and then nodded. Emma gave him a small smile in response and reached back into her bag to find the photos of Fenrir.

"It's not many," Emma said, trading the photos of Fenrir for her sketchbook and tucking it back into her bag. She rested her head on the side of Greyson's arm as he sat back down next to her. "Just the few times he would allow it. Mostly when he wasn't overbearing, and I could tolerate him."

She watched as Greyson flipped through the photos, his brows knitting together with each picture. Emma could remember each moment as if they just happened – Fenrir with Figaro laying on his chest, playing the guitar, several of him with a cigarette in his mouth. She cringed when Greyson flipped to the only photo that she had where she was also in the picture.

"I forgot about that photo," Emma murmured as she looked at the photo. She barely remembered the moment and recognized herself even less in the photo. Fenrir had been fascinated that Emma took pictures of herself and wanted to see what the appeal was. She was sitting on the windowsill with the window cracked open, watching as Fenrir turned the camera to face himself after fiddling with the buttons. It had taken him a few attempts to figure out what to do, and his expression showed just how proud he was. Meanwhile, Emma was in the background looking resigned to her fate.

"God, you look like a prisoner," Greyson breathed out. "I've never…you shouldn't ever have had to look like this. You still shouldn't."

"I hadn't met you yet," Emma said quietly, taking the photos back from Greyson to tuck them back into her bag as well. "I was resigned."

"And how are things now?" Newt asked, a soft smile crossing his face as he looked between Emma and Greyson. "Obviously, things changed again."

"Is this…is this going in the report?" Emma questioned.

"No. This is just for my curiosity and to see what information I can take to include. No one will know of Greyson's involvement in the information I report."

"Well, I met Greyson. That's what changed," Emma said, smiling at Greyson. "I don't think either of us expected for things to turn out the way they did."

"Speak for yourself," Greyson said softly, kissing the spot near Emma's temple. "I knew."

"Did not," Emma smiled.

"I absolutely did. You're the one who was trying to ignore it."

"You're not wrong," Emma huffed out.

"What were things like when you two first met?" Newt asked curiously.

"Well… it depends on which time," Emma said. "I feel like we met each other three different times. The first time was all right until we actually looked at each other and realized what we literally walked into. The second time was a little better as we were forced to interact."

"And the third time was right here in this room," Greyson finished. "When we finally took the time to talk to each other and set our issues aside."

"You both felt threatened in the beginning," Newt said.

Emma and Greyson looked at each other with equally unsure expressions. Emma tried to remember the moment they met in Diagon Alley and then looked over at Newt.

"I suppose in a way that would be accurate," Emma said, glancing at Greyson for confirmation. "I didn't see it that way, but I suppose when you phrase it like that, it seems accurate."

Newt nodded, looking between the two again before turning his attention to his notebook. He looked as though he wanted to say something to the two of them, a faint smile still on his face, but he said nothing. Instead, he closed his notebook and gathered his things.

"Well, I believe I have more than enough information to put things together," Newt said softly as he stood. "Greyson, I thank you for answering my questions, and Emma, I hope that the rest of your night goes as smoothly as possible. I hope that my intrusion hasn't caused too much distress."

"No, it didn't," Emma said with a blush. "I'm still really sorry about the other day."

"Don't apologize – it was to be expected. After all, I was encroaching on your territory as a stranger; it was only natural for you to react how you did," Newt said. He gave them a small nod, gave them one final look, and went on his way.

The moment the hospital wing doors closed, Emma looked at Greyson with a questioning look. Greyson arched an eyebrow at her in response, trying and failing miserably to hide the way his lips lifted on one side.

"Well, since Newt's done, I suppose we should be on our way," Emma said to Pomfrey as she left her office. Emma stood up slowly, wincing as her tight muscles stretched out.

"Not so fast, Miss Lupin," Pomfrey said, stopping in front of Emma, with her hands on her hips. "You insisted on coming here to skip class, and this is where you'll be staying."

"But I'm supposed to have a private room!" Emma protested.

"Not tonight, you don't," Pomfrey said, punctuating her sentence with a, "Hmph!"

"I…but why? It's meant to be for tonight so that I'm comfortable!"

"Well, I don't believe that you two need to be too comfortable, and anything you might need to get through tonight is here. I already consulted with Mr. Scamander earlier to make sure my decision wouldn't be detrimental to your health. One night without being in a private room will not kill you and my decision final," Pomfrey said, giving Emma and Greyson pointed looks. "I was young once too, you know. You're lucky I'm even allowing you two to share the same bed. I think it's best you get your rest instead, Miss Lupin. Good night." Pomfrey gave them a disapproving look before shutting the curtains around the bed. Emma looked back at Greyson with wide eyes in surprise.

"Did she just…" Emma frowned, sitting back down and crossing her arms. "It wasn't like we were going to do…much."

Greyson pressed his lips into a thin line to keep himself from laughing, and he shook his head. "Well, that ended that particular idea quickly," he said, letting out a deep breath. He pulled Emma under his arm and pressed a kiss to her hair. "Besides, sleeping would probably be a better use of our time. We've got a long weekend."

"I can think of several things that would be a much better use of our time," Emma muttered, shooting Greyson a glare. "But fine. Would hate to make the warden of the hospital wing even more irate."

Emma curled up into Greyson's side as they settled in the bed together. She made a grumpy little noise as she dropped her head on his chest, and he pulled her close.

"My father will hear about this," she grumbled, poking Greyson's side when he started to laugh at her. "Oi, it's not funny!"

"It's a bit funny," Greyson said. "Get your beauty rest, princess."

"You are so bloody lucky that I –" Emma was grateful that she stopped herself from saying what she was about to. After weeks of sending letters to each other and their brief moments together, she knew without a doubt that she loved Greyson, but she could tell him that. Not yet, at least. They already shared their first kiss in the hospital wing – she wanted the first time she said the words out loud to be somewhere a little more special. "You're lucky that you're you, and I'm a bit tired because I should yell at you for calling me princess. No one calls me that."

"Hmm, but the thing is, I think you like it when I call you princess."

Emma shook her head and closed her eyes. "You're terrible, Grey," Emma said.

"You didn't deny it."

"Good night, Grey."

"Good night, Emma," Greyson said. "Sleep well, princess," he added with a chuckle.

Newt being in the castle most of the week made Greyson's sudden appearance out of nowhere seem almost normal. It seemed accepted that Newt would disappear and someone else would take his place. Emma's classmates had picked up that she had formed a sort of friendship with Greyson during his time in the castle but were seemingly unaware of anything else. The only one who had any idea of the truth was Finley.

"Oh," Emma said when Finley immediately froze as she stepped out from the dorms and into the basement hallway. Emma cast an apologetic look at Greyson and smiled at Finley, beckoning her over. "Come here, Finn. I promise he's nice."

Finley looked unsure, but she slowly walked over to them. She shifted nervously, looking between Emma and Greyson, her expression doubtful.

"Finn, I know you were worried about Greyson, but I promise you he's wonderful," Emma said, grinning at the pleased flush that crossed Greyson's face.

"I know that I had you in class, but I suppose I should reintroduce myself again," Greyson said, holding his hand out towards Finley. "I'm Greyson." Finley slowly took Greyson's hand to shake, still doubtful. "You know, Emma's told me a lot about you," Greyson added as Finley pulled her hand back quickly.

"She has?" Finley asked in surprise.

"Yes, she has," Greyson said, taking a quick look around before taking Emma's hand in his and leaning towards Finley as if he was about to tell her a secret. "And I think you are very brave, and I know that you're brilliant from teaching you. Emma said you've been doing a great job working on your spell work and have been doing very well in Potions."

"Emma's helped me a lot," Finley said.

"But she can't do magic for you," Greyson said pointedly. "I've been a bit jealous that I haven't been able to see it myself."

"W-well, maybe I can show you!" Finley said, brightening up considerably.

"We'll do some more work, and you can show him next time he's here," Emma said quickly. "Grey and I have a busy weekend, and I think Cedric said you've been skipping the first year study group to hang out with Raewyn and Brennan. I believe that means you've got some homework to get done this weekend."

Finley's face turned practically the same color as her hair, and she giggled.

"That's what I thought," Emma said with a knowing grin. "Go eat, Finn. When I'm back here on Monday, I expect to hear that you've gotten your work done. You're only going to get more work each year you're here, and believe me – I'll be double-checking with everyone that you've gotten it done."

"All right," Finley giggled, giving Emma a quick hug and giving Greyson a much more approving look as she skipped off.

"Thank you," Emma said, leaning against Greyson. "She's been worried."

"I didn't realize how close you two actually were," Greyson said softly. "She looks at you like you're her older sister."

"All three of them do," Emma said, taking Greyson's hand back in hers with a sigh. "It's why I was so worried when the other two weren't on the platform. With how things went…"

"I know," Greyson said. "I'm sorry." A cheeky grin crossed Greyson's face as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "You know, I wouldn't be surprised if you're picked as a Prefect next year."

"I should hex you for that one," Emma said, shooting Greyson a good-natured glare. "Me – a Prefect. Ha! Dad will love that one."

Spending the day in the library with Greyson felt different in a good way. It occurred to Emma that it was the first time she could visit the library without any specific need in mind. She didn't have to research werewolves and didn't feel the need to look up answers for wizarding law. She didn't have to study business deals and legal loopholes that only served to confuse her to the point she didn't bother looking into it further. Emma felt oddly free.

"What's wrong?" Greyson asked her as they walked through the shelves together to look at the potion's books. With no real pressing need, Emma thought it would be nice to start figuring out ways to possibly adjust the Wolfsbane Potion safely. "You're quiet."

"Nothing's wrong; that's the problem," Emma replied quietly. "I've spent so long being worried about things, but I just realized that it's over in a way. I'm worried, obviously, but it's not like I've got a million things looming over my head anymore."

"Because you don't," Greyson said gently. "Emma, you haven't had a moment's rest since the end of June. Everything really came down to what happened last weekend, and I really think that Newt's input will help make sure you can go home."

"But at what cost? Greyson, if I'm…if I'm truly a werewolf, then they're going to force me to sign the registry."

"Didn't you say that they already planned to have you sign at seventeen?"

"Well, yes, but –"

"Then we ignore it. It's not like it matters," Greyson said, setting down the books in his arms to tug Emma close to kiss her. "We're opening an apothecary together, remember?"

"And when people realize a werewolf is helping to run an apothecary?"

"Well, by the time we have the apothecary open, it won't matter," Greyson smiled. "It's not like someone is going to come in and ask if a werewolf is running the shop. Besides, the moment people realize how skilled you are, they'll be lining up in the street to buy from us." Greyson gave Emma another quick kiss, brightening up. "Come on, let's see what we can find so we can start working on our first project."

It was easy for Emma to lose track of time with Greyson, especially while researching. They worked well together, pointing out bits of information they came across that could potentially work to adjust the potion. Emma's first concern was to change the taste of the Wolfsbane Potion to make its taste bearable, but she needed to make sure it wouldn't alter how it worked.

"It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't a mind-altering potion," Emma muttered, dropping her head onto the table. "That's the problem."

"There has to be a way to do it, though," Greyson said. "There are always solutions, but the combination of ingredients makes it complicated."

"It's because it's so caustic that I'm worried. Theoretically, you could cut the Dittany and the fluxweed, but then you have to worry about the aconite eating through everything. It's nauseating as it is, so I can't imagine removing either ingredient."

"Did you ever get around to brewing it with your own hair to see if it makes a difference?"

"No, not yet. I've been too busy batching it so that it gets sold, and then I'm too tired to make it on my own."

"Well…I'm sure I could come and help brew," Greyson said. "It would give you a chance to focus on what you're doing and still experiment."

"And when there's an extra dose to sell?" Emma asked, turning her head to look at Greyson.

"Then you just say that you're experimenting for yourself. It's not a lie, and no one needs to know when it's being made or that someone else is brewing it. I know how to read instructions, Emma," Greyson replied. "I'm pretty sure I can handle making it and making sure that you're not sick." He opened his mouth to say something, but his attention was suddenly elsewhere, his brows pulling together. Emma, startled by the sudden change, sat back up and frowned when she saw Harry and Hermione standing next to their table.

"Er, yes?" Emma asked, unsure of why they were there.

"I need you to do something with me tonight," Harry said flatly. Hermione smacked his arm, and Harry groaned. "Hagrid asked for us to meet him tonight for something important."

"Hagrid? Why?"

"I don't know, but he said that you need to be there, too."

"What are you talking about?" Emma asked, giving Harry a funny look.

"Look, I don't know," Harry said in exasperation. "It sounded important whatever it was. We ran into him in the Three Broomsticks with Moody. But he wants us to meet him at midnight."

Emma looked over at Greyson, who gave a slight shrug.

"I mean, if it's important," Greyson said slowly. "We were walking to the village anyway, yeah?"

"It'll be cold," Emma muttered. "And it's at midnight. We were supposed to be in the village by eight."

"I don't think Hagrid would have brought you up if it wasn't important," Hermione added. "I don't know what he could want, though."

Emma looked between Harry, Hermione, and Greyson and let out an annoyed groan. She plunged her hand into her bag to grab her notebook and yanked it out along with her quill. It didn't hurt to ask Remus his thoughts.

Question. Sort of, Emma wrote with a grimace. Harry just came up to me and said that Hagrid needs the both of us to meet him at midnight. I'll admit that I'm curious to know what he wants with the both of us. Is it all right if Grey and I are a little late?

What does Hagrid want? Remus wrote back. I thought you two were going to be here by eight.

Well, that was before Harry came to talk to me. I kind of want to know what's going on and what's so important.

How long do you think you'll be?

"How long do you think it'll take?" Emma asked Harry.

"I, er…have to be back here by one to talk to –"

"Don't bother finishing your sentence," Emma muttered bitterly.

Harry says he has to be back at the castle by one to talk to Papa.

What? How is he talking to Sirius?

Something with the Floo, apparently. Heard about it yesterday at breakfast. Is he not home?

I think I would know if he was home. There was nothing from Remus for a long moment, and Emma wasn't sure if she was meant to reply back. Go with Harry. I'm going to have to be here to wait for Sirius. We have the same house as last time in the village, and if you're not there by two, then I'm coming to find you.

"All right, I'll come with you," Emma said, looking up at Harry. "Where are we meeting?"

"Er, meet me near the entrance hall at eleven-thirty."

"Do you have the map?" Emma asked. Harry nodded, and Emma held her hand out for it. "Give it, then. I'll need it. He already knows about the map, so it's fine," Emma added when Harry gave Greyson a funny look.

Harry grumbled to himself as he reached into his jacket to pull out the map and handed it over. Emma tucked it into her bag and shot Hermione a look when she noticed her looking curiously at Greyson. Soleil wasn't the only one who didn't like Hermione's questioning look.

"I'll meet you in the entrance hall then," Emma said. "This better be quick, Potter."

Emma huffed when Harry and Hermione walked off, and she went into her bag to look at the map again.

"Didn't even bother to clear it before giving it to me," Emma muttered, pulling out her wand and tapping it to the map with a quiet, "Mischief managed."

"Is everything all right? The three of you all seemed a little tense," Greyson said quietly.

"It's a bit of a long story."

"Well, it's a good thing we've got all night, then."

Emma was glad that she had the thought to take the map from Harry. Unsure of where to hide out for a while, she decided to seek out one of the empty classrooms that Filch never checked near the entrance hall. She considered the alcove near the Defense classroom just to have a small space to wait in, but she didn't want to go there again. Emma regretted not taking that route as she was starting to grow tired, and the alcove was cozy.

"How long do you think it's been since this class has been used?" Greyson asked as he browsed through the books on one of the shelves.

"Well, my dads graduated in 78, I believe," Emma said, rubbing her eyes as she walked over to Greyson and laid her head on his arm. "Dad said that he couldn't recall this room ever being used except for sneaky little escapades."

"What do you think the room was for? None of these books are really for one specific subject."

"No idea," Emma said quietly. "Perhaps it was like a study hall? It seems like it would be a good room to have used at one time, but most students go to the library instead."

"Do you think we should take advantage of the room for an escapade of our own?" Greyson asked, waggling his eyebrows.

"You are terrible, Grey," Emma said with a wide smile.

"Oh, as if you weren't thinking about all of the wicked things you wanted to do last night?"

"I'm thinking about all of the wicked things I want to do right now," Emma giggled. "But I would rather not have the questioning looks from Dad tonight, thank you."

"Fair point," Greyson sighed. "Considering it's the first time I'm staying with all of you, it would probably be best to not anger your father."

"Correct. Especially because I think he secretly likes you even if he doesn't admit it."

Emma fell silent, and she returned to where she had been watching the map. She wasn't entirely sure what she was looking for when there was still time before it would be time to meet Harry. Was she looking for Sirius to somehow appear in the Gryffindor common room? Was she curious to see where Filch was wandering? Or was she curious to see if Dumbledore was pacing in his office? Perhaps, if Emma was being honest with herself, she was only looking at the map as a distraction from her newest thoughts.

She wanted nothing more than to have a normal relationship with Greyson. Having to avoid as many students as possible all day was exhausting. It was one thing for people to know he was in the castle, but it was another for them to understand he was there for her. It wasn't uncommon to notice various strangers walking around the castle, but Greyson wasn't entirely a stranger. He had taught at least half of the school for two weeks, and he was familiar, but no one understood why he was with her. "Normal" people didn't want to be around her, even if she was slowly forging friendships with the other two schools.

Emma couldn't stop the errant pangs of guilt each time Greyson would be stopped and be asked to hang out with someone else. He had an incredible amount of tact in turning down the offers, especially with the Hogsmeade trip, but it was still hard to deal with. She wanted to be able to kiss him freely and not have to hide in empty classrooms or wait to be alone. Emma wanted nothing more than to be able to walk around holding his hand and not settle for the light brushing of their fingers. They were only together officially for a month, unofficially for two, and it already felt like a lifetime of running. Emma felt that Fenrir already knew the truth, so what were they really hiding from?

"You're quiet," Greyson said as he stood next to her. "What is it?"

"I'm frustrated," Emma said quietly. She scanned the map for a few moments longer before meeting Greyson's curious expression.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to have to hide," Emma sighed. "I'm just wondering how much it really matters to keep pretending we're not together."

"Well, I wasn't expecting you to turn things around on me."

"What do you mean?"

"I worry about you being safe," Greyson said softly. "I don't particularly want to hide all the time either, but the less people know –"

"Your father already knows," Emma huffed out. "The fact he brought up Diagon Alley was far too specific – he had to smell you on me. You literally ran into me, so your scent would have been on me. I had hoped that we were out long enough that it would have faded, but it obviously didn't."

"But he never actually mentioned me, so maybe he thinks it's something else."

"If I know him as well as I think I do, he's going to wait until I say something myself. He'll try to find the truth himself, and once he has it, he'll let me dig my own grave first before he questions me. He's a bit predictable in that way."

Greyson frowned, his lips pressing into a thin line. He lifted a hand to tuck Emma's hair behind her ear with a soft sigh.

"I don't want you getting hurt," he whispered.

"But we can't hide forever, Grey," Emma said pointedly. "Hiding was only going to get us so far in the first place. Didn't you just tell me yesterday that I can't let fear hold me back?"

"That I did," Greyson chuckled. "That one bit me in the arse, didn't it?"

"Got to be careful of what you say around me, really," Emma said with a sad smile. "I just feel like you're right. I've spent so much of my life living in fear that I don't think I've ever really lived. Fuck what your father thinks about us – my life isn't his, even if he thinks it is. I don't want to hide us."

"Are you sure that's what you want?" Greyson asked. "I'll do whatever you want to do, but I worry about you."

"Yes, it's what I want. When I made up my mind about wanting you, I meant it. As long as I don't say anything, he can't do anything. The only way he'll be able to have proof is if he sees us in person together, and even then…I don't think he'll do anything."

"All right," Greyson said after a few minutes of silence. "I don't want to hide either, but I think we should talk about this with your father tomorrow and see what he has to say. He'll have more input."

"He's only going to say no," Emma muttered.

"We won't know for sure until we talk to him."

Emma grabbed onto the front of Greyson's shirt to pull him down to her and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. If she let herself, she could feel some of the optimism that Greyson felt. The idea of normalcy made her far happier than she thought it would. Emma had no doubt that Remus would protest, insist that it was a bad idea, but she was determined. If Fenrir knew the truth, then he knew the truth. She didn't want him to hold back her life any longer.

But she would have to put aside the thought of not having to hide for just a little while longer. She would have to hide to find out what exactly Hagrid wanted. Emma could only hope that it wasn't dangerous.

a/n: Things are weird, have a Gremma chapter. I love them. This was supposed to end differently oooooops. Oh well.

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