Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot and the character of Emily Black.

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Event

"Mom! I'm going out to the movies with Jenna, okay?" Seventeen year old Emily bounded into the kitchen with her hair bouncing in waves around her beautiful face.

"Sure, sweetheart. But make sure that you come home right after the movie. You know how I don't like you to be out after dark in this city." Kate Black looked over at her daughter who just sighed.

"But mom -" started Emily.

"I'm sorry, Em. But this is how it works." And then with a smile she added, "And besides, I'm the mother here, so you have no choice but to listen to me."

Emily let a small smile creep onto her face as she went up and wrapped her arms around her mom from behind who was reaching up into the cupboard for a glass. "You're lucky I'm so obedient." She said as she let go quickly as her mom turned to face her.

Kate smiled. "No, I'm lucky that I have you for a daughter." She gave her daughter a quick hug before going to the fridge for some juice. "But don't forget, that we're going shopping for your school supplies tomorrow. I think that we have to get you some new robes. I can't believe that you've grown taller from last year."

Emily laughed. "Well, I can't wait to get back to school!"

"Well I wonder why little miss prefect!" Kate gave Emily a teasing smile. "You deserve it Em. You've worked so hard and have grown into such a talented witch. I'm so proud of you." She rested a hand on Emily's shoulder who was now sitting on a chair at the table. "And your father would be too."

Emily got a glossy look in her eyes and looked away from her mother.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Asked a concerned Kate taking a seat across from Emily.

Emily just shook her head as she looked down at the table.

"Emily?" She asked in a soft voice. Then a knowing came to mind. She nodded as she looked down into her glass. "Em - you know it's not your father's fault. He would be here if he could -"

"He left us mom!" Emily looked up with tears flowing from her eyes. "Why can't you just accept that?!" She hated talking about the father that she never knew.

"Emily Elizabeth!" Kate said in a harsh tone. "Don't you ever talk about your father that way!" Tears were coming to her own eyes for a very valid reason. She wanted so badly to tell Emily the whole story behind her father leaving them. But she knew that she couldn't. Sirius didn't want her to know for her own protection. It would risk way too much if any word got out that this was his family. "You're father loves you! He wishes that he could be here, but he just can't....he-"

"What, mom? Why can't he be here?!" Emily nearly shrieked. "Oh, now I remember - it's for our own protection! Our own bloody protection?!" Emily slammed her fists down onto the table. "Mom, that's a load of bull-"

"Emily! Don't you dare speak like that!" Kate leaned forward in her chair and looked at Emily with pleading eyes. "Emily, dear, he does love us. And I want so badly for you to see him again, but at this time - it...it's just not possible right now. And I'm sorry for that." She leaned back in her chair before continuing. "I've tried the best I can with you, Em. All I want is for you to be happy-"

"But mom," Emily said with sincerity, "I am happy. You've done a great job- everything that you've done for me...I'm the one who should be proud - proud to have a mom like you." The with a smile she added, "I'm the luckiest girl in the world. And for once, everything is going right in my life...and it's all because of you." Emily wiped a lost tear on her cheek. "I love you so much mom. And I don't know what I'd ever do without you."

Kate got up and hugged her daughter. "I love you too sweetie." And then releasing her she said, "but I am truly sorry about dad."

Emily just shrugged and said, "Well, I guess if I meet him one day, that's great. But if I never do, then that's okay too."

"I promise you, Em, you will meet him." Kate smiled as she tucked a piece of Emily's blonde hair behind her ear.

Emily gave her mother a half smile before turning to grab her coat from the hall closet. "Well, I guess I better get going. Jenna will have my head if I'm late."

"Okay, sweetheart. Make sure you have fun. You have your charm, don't you?"

Emily pulled out a light blue charm that was dangling from a silver chain that was clasped around her neck. "Of course, mom. I haven't had it off since I was born." Emily smiled and rolled her eyes.

"I know sweety. But, just in case - because you never know. It's very important that you wear it-"

"All the time." Emily finished for her mom. "Right, mom. I know this already. It helps control my urges to change into a wolf."

Kate just nodded. As soon as Emily was born, Sirius had given her that charm because he knew that there was a chance that she could very well be an animagus just like him. And it soon later proved that she was. And even though she proved to be a powerful witch, Emily still couldn't totally control the changing process on her own.

"Okay, then, dear. Have fun with Jenna and don't be out too late!"

Emily quickly hugged her on her way out the door and then climbed into the car and drove to pick up Jenna.

"Be safe," Kate whispered as she shut the door when Emily was out of sight.

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"Wasn't that a great movie?!" Jenna slammed the passenger side door as Emily started up the old chevy.

Emily smiled over at her friend with laughter twinkling in her eyes, "Don't you mean what a great view?"

Jenna looked shocked. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she said in a mockingly innocent voice.

Emily laughed. "Oh, give me a break! You spent more time looking at Luke than you did the movie! I bet that you don't even know what the plot was!"

Now it was Jenna's turn to laugh. "But I can't help it Em! Luke is such a hottie! All the girls are crazy about him, and it's not MY fault that he sat right next to me, now is it?"

Emily just shook her head as she pulled up to a red light. "You are going to be the heartbreak of so many young men, Jenna."

"C'mon, Em. Don't start on that."

"But I'm serious! Every guy our age in this city has his eye on you!"

"But not Luke..." Jenna almost sounded sad. But then pepped up almost immediately. "One of these days I'll work up the courage to talk to him! You just wait and see!"

Emily smiled as the light turned green again, "You are too much! You are the most talkative person I know, and this one guy makes you go totally at a loss for words!"

"You wait and see, Emily. Some day it will happen to you too." Jenna threw her hands up in the air and then clasped them close to her cheek. "One day, you'll fall totally head over heels for some guy that you just couldn't possibly bring yourself to talk to because every time you try, you stutter, and mumble and make a huge fool of yourself!"

"Yeah, right!" Emily shot back. "It hasn't happened yet, and I doubt that it ever will!" The car turned into Jenna's driveway and came to a stop.

"Ah, but you haven't ever fallen in love, have you?"

Emily shook her head. "No, I haven't."

"Well, then. We'll see, won't we?" Jenna opened the car door and leaned back down before shutting it. "I'll give you a call sometime tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay," Emily agreed. "Talk to you later."

Jenna shut the car door and walked into her house. Emily backed out of her driveway and started the drive towards her own home. Emily laughed to herself as she had just thought about their conversation. Jenna had been her best friend since they had been four. However, Jenna knew nothing about the wizarding world - or the fact that Emily herself was a witch. She had just always told Jenna that she went to an elite school, and Jenna never argued because she knew how smart Emily was.

As Emily pulled into her driveway, she immediately felt like something wasn't right. She got out of the car, locked it, and headed for the front door. She went to put the key in the door, but as soon as she touched it, she found that the door was ajar. Fear immediately set in because she knew that her mother always kept the door locked. Cautiously, she opened the door and poked her head in. Taking a few slow steps so that she was all the way inside the house now, she silently shut the door behind her.

"Mom?" She called from the entrance way. There was no answer and so she turned the corner and entered the living room. She couldn't believe what she saw. It was a complete mess! It looked as if her house had been robbed, but nothing seemed to have been taken. Books were thrown about, the coffee table had been overturned, two lamps had been shattered, and the couch looked as if it had been ripped apart. No, it wasn't a robber - whoever had been here was looking for something.

"Mom?!" Emily cried more urgently. She ran into the kitchen only to find another mess. "Mom!!" she shrieked. She turned back into the hallway and raced up the stairs. Her heart felt as if it would explode! She had never been so scared in her life.

She turned into what would have been her mother's bedroom, "Mom-!" Emily stopped dead in her tracks as she saw what she feared most.

Kate was lying in the midst of a mess - sheets and clothes all over - and she wasn't moving. There was no sign of any blood. But that didn't make Emily feel any better.

"Mom-" Emily gasped as she fell at her side. She gently lifted her head as she checked for a pulse. There wasn't one.

"Mom - no!" Emily began to sob uncontrollably as she held her mother close to her. "Don't leave me, mom! Come back to me!" She couldn't stop crying.

Suddenly, she heard a noise come from the bedroom doorway. She didn't even think that the murderer could still be in the house. Looking up through her tear blurred eyes she didn't care what happened to her anymore. But she was surprised that the stranger didn't attack her in any way.

"Emily -" the stranger knew her name. "I'm so sorry about this..."

Emily continued to cry while holding her mom.

"Please, we must go now. I have to take you away..."

"No!" Emily screamed. "I'm not leaving her here! I don't even know you, so why should I go anywhere with you?!" she demanded.

"Because," said the man, "I'm your father, Emily."

A/N: So? What do you think? Is it okay for a first chapter? I'll try and post up my next chapter soon! ^_^