A/N: WARNING! Trigger warning ahead for abuse. This story is becoming darker than I planned but there is a reason for it. I hope you enjoy it regardless, and as always reviews are welcome!

Regina and her father stood on platform 9 ¾ their heads bowed together talking in low voices. A small smile lit upon Henry's face as he listened to Regina tell even more stories about her studies last year. He couldn't put into words how proud of his daughter he was with the high marks she achieved even after not knowing anything when she started the school year. But she had started to perfect her craft and even though he hadn't witnessed any of it, he knew she wasn't exaggerating about anything. Her mother was still treating Regina like she didn't exist; the only time she did take notice of her daughter is when she thought she needed to be punished. Her most recent punishment had taken place last night after Regina had talked back to her mother.

"Oh father I forgot to tell you! We'll be meeting Kathryn and her family on the platform tomorrow. But don't worry, I remember how to get there," she said beaming at her father.

"What do you mean how to get there? It's a train station Regina, certainly you and your father can't be that stupid."

"It's nothing mother."

"It is something. Tell me now why you'd have to remember how to get to the platform," her mother ground out.

"You'd know if you bothered to come," Regina said under her breath. She wanted to take it back as soon as it left her mouth but the damage had already been done.

Her mother jumped up from her seat at the table and quickly grabbed Regina around her upper arm, yanking her to her feet. Henry's mouth opened to protest but before he got any words out Cora shot him a deadly glare and said, "This lesson will be taught whether you want it to be or not." She dragged Regina through the house and to her study, slamming and locking the door behind her so they wouldn't be disturbed.

Regina stood in the center of the room trying her best to be brave. She knew what was coming but knowing didn't make it any easier to accept. She was mentally berating herself for even opening her mouth at the table, she should have known better letting her anger get the best of her. Cora stood by the door contemplating what the proper punishment should be. This was the by far the boldest her daughter had ever been and she knew that the lesson must be tough enough that her daughter wouldn't dare repeat it. "Take your shirt off," she said softly.

Regina whirled around to face her mother, this was new. She had never been told to take her shirt off before and never had she heard her mother so calm before doling out a punishment. "W-what?" she stammered.

"You heard me. Take your shirt off. And don't make me repeat myself."

Slowly, obediently, Regina took off her shirt. Her hands shook as she dropped the garment to the floor. She closed her eyes waiting for further instruction; her stomach was in knots and she felt bile rise in her throat as she heard Cora's footsteps approach.

"Put your hands on the desk dear."

Regina shuffled over to the desk, her eyes never leaving the carpet beneath her feet. Her heart was pounding in her chest, she was sure her mother could hear and that would only fuel the fire that was Cora's fury. She placed her hands on the desk, wishing she could find purchase on something besides the flat surface.

"You know dear, talking back to your elders is rude. Talking back to me is just plain stupid," Cora spat out before she reared back and let the belt fly, buckle end first. She had contemplated using the leather end like she always had but this occasion called for something more serious. Something she was sure Regina would never forget.

Regina's breath let out in a whoosh as she doubled over the desk, not expecting the rough bite of the metal in her back. She bit her bottom lip hard enough to taste copper, she could endure this, it would be over soon if she just took it.

"I thought you were smarter than that Regina, my dear girl. But I realize now just how wrong I was. Never in my life did I ever expect you to talk back to me in such a way." She let the buckle fly again and it connected over Regina's spine. "You will never speak to me that way in this house again, do you understand young lady?" she asked as she reared back and let the belt fly again.

Regina took a deep breath in just before the metal connected with her back, trying to soften the blow. "Yes mother," she said between clenched teeth.

A soft tap on her shoulder brought Regina out of her reverie. She turned around expecting to see Kathryn but was surprised to find bright green eyes staring at her and a sheepish smile framed by long golden locks. Regina stared in wonder and it wasn't until her father broke the silence that she realized she hadn't said anything.

"Who's this dear?"

Regina continued to stare, she couldn't but think why Emma Swan would come up and voluntarily say hi to her on the platform.

"I'm Emma Swan sir, I'm in the same house as Regina," Emma said as she stuck out a hand to introduce herself.

"Well it's nice to meet you Emma Swan," Henry beamed as he returned the handshake. He gently prodded Regina in the back and she winced slightly before clearing her throat and smiling.

"Hi Emma," she said softly.

"Hey Regina. I was just wondering um…" Emma scratched the back of her neck and looked around the platform awkwardly before continuing, "Would you and Kathryn like to share a compartment with Ruby and I on the way up to school?"

Just then Kathryn came up from behind and hugged Regina hard. Regina tried to hide the pain from the hug on her face but she couldn't school her features fast enough before Emma noticed.

"Hi Regina!" Kathryn squealed, "And hello Emma. I heard my name, what's up?"

"Well Emma was just asking if we'd share a compartment with her and Ruby on the way up to school," she said through clenched teeth. Kathryn finally let go of her and she took a small step to the side to join the circle of people.

"Sounds good to me," she said through a toothy grin. "Hi Mr. Mills! My mom's just over there if you want to go say hi."

Henry looked over and saw Kathryn's mother, taking the hint he said "Have a good term girls, let me just say goodbye to Regina and I'll leave you three alone." The two girls walked away and Henry again knelt down like he did the year before to say goodbye to his daughter. "Now listen here young lady," he started seriously. Regina looked at him with something like fear in her eyes until he broke out in a wide grin and continued, "I want you to have fun this year! And keep working hard on all of your studies. I don't want you to worry about anything while you're up at school. Be yourself and embrace who you are." He gently wrapped his arms around her and before letting go he whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry about your mother. I'll see what I can do while you're gone. I love you my darling."

With tears in her eyes she kissed her father on the cheek and whispered, "I love you too daddy."

"Now go be with your friends, write to me won't you?"

"Of course daddy," she said before turning on her heels and joining Emma and Kathryn.


Regina had sat through the train ride up to school trying to distract herself from the looks that Emma kept sneaking her way. She didn't want Emma to know why she winced. She didn't want to let her in. She didn't want anybody's pity, she was stronger than that. She kept shaking her head every time Emma looked her way but Emma would simply smile and start talking about something else.

The sorting feast was the same. Emma sat next to Regina and would try to ask questions but Regina would shut her down and start talking to the other people at the table. She caught Kathryn's eye across the Great Hall at one point and Kathryn winked at her before turning back to her Ravenclaw friends. She saw Ruby and offered up a little wave which Ruby returned with a toothy grin. Out of options she turned back to Emma and sighed, too tired to try anything else.

Finally up in the dorms Emma cornered her before anybody else had the opportunity to interrupt them. "Listen Regina, I don't know what happened and I'm not gonna ask. But you can always go to Madam Pomfrey and she can help with whatever it is that hurts."

Regina took a deep breath but shook her head. "I'll be fine, I always am," she said as she looked at her feet.

Emma opened her mouth to argue but no words came out. She looked around and scratched the back of her neck before she said, "Yeah…well…I'm here if you ever need me. Ok?" She reached out and squeezed Regina's upper arm before turning to walk back to her bed.

Regina's hand shot out and before she knew what she was doing she had taken Emma's hand in her own and had given it a little squeeze in return. "Thank you," she said softly.


The first half of the school year passed in a flash. Regina found herself growing closer to her small group of friends than she ever thought possible. Whenever they all had free time they were in the library studying together or were out on the grounds enjoying the crisp fall breeze. The holidays snuck up on them all so quickly that they were all surprised when the sign-up sheet to stay at school turned up on the notice board in their common rooms. Regina was staring up at the notice, wondering if she would be the only one to stay behind at school over Christmas when Emma came up beside her and nudged her shoulder. "What do you think Regina?"

"About what Swan?"

"Stay with me over Christmas?"

Regina whipped her head around so quickly she felt something pop but she ignored it; had Emma Swan really just asked her to stay? She narrowed her eyes at the emerald green ones staring back at her and a small smile lit up Emma's face.

"Are you gonna make me say please?" Emma teased.

Regina felt a smile break out on her own face before she reached in her bag and dug out a quill. She quickly signed her name on the sheet and stepped back to give Emma room to put her own name down.

"Why aren't you going home this year?" Regina asked.

Emma shrugged her shoulders as she said, "No reason in particular. But I figured you weren't going home and I didn't want you to be alone over the holidays."

"Y-You did this for me?" Regina asked in amazement.

"Yeah I did. But don't go telling everyone I'm a softy ok? It'll ruin my reputation," Emma said before bursting into a fit of giggles. "Come on silly, we've got potions." She grabbed Regina's hand and hauled her out of the dungeon door.


Christmas morning arrived cold and snowy, just the way Regina liked it. She buried herself deeper beneath the covers wanting to keep the warmth in her bed for just a little while longer but a sleepy mutter of Merry Christmas from the bed next to her pulled her back up from dreamland.

She turned on her side and pulled back the curtains on her bed before she sleepily said, "Merry Christmas Emma." She looked at the foot of Emma's bed and noticed a decently sized stack of gifts before she looked at the foot of her bed and noticed a very similar stack. She slowly sat up and reached down to start opening gifts when her eye caught a small gift tucked into the corner of her stack. She eyed it curiously before tearing off the paper. A small gasp escaped her lips as the green and black scarf landed in her lap.

"D-did you make this Emma?"

Emma felt a blush crawl up her neck and paint her cheeks a rosy red before she nodded her head. "Yeah I did, I thought you might like it."

"I love it," Regina beamed as she wrapped it around her neck. "There's a small something there from me too you know," she said as she nodded her head towards the foot of Emma's bed.

Emma's eyebrows shot up into her hairline and she lunged forward to pick out the small gift wrapped box. She ripped off the wrapping and opened the box. A small working model of the latest Nimbus broom flew out of the box and around Emma's head.

"I know it's not much but I thought you could keep it by your snitch and—"

"It's perfect," Emma interrupted. She leapt out of bed and jumped onto Regina's to wrap her arms around her. "Thank you," she whispered in her ear.


Regina grew closer to Emma Swan than she ever thought possible. They spent every night staying up into the early morning hours talking about everything. Emma would educate Regina on everything magical and Regina would try to explain why magic wasn't necessary to live everyday life. The holidays were over too quickly in Regina's mind but she cherished every minute she got to spend with Emma Swan.

The rest of the year passed in a blur. The four girls still spent every waking moment together when they could but the friendship that surprised her the most was the one she was forming with Emma. Every night when they would return to their dormitory, they would spend time in one another's bed. Some nights they talked and other nights they laid in a comfortable silence. Occasionally Emma would reach out and squeeze Regina's hand just to let her know she was there but Regina knew, she didn't need the reminder. And a small smile would grace her lips as she silently thanked the stars that someone was looking out for her by sending her Emma, even if she didn't see it from the beginning.