Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any other element of the story. Emily Black and her mother, brother (Zandyr), and Isaac are my creations so don't use without permission :) Sarah (sweets), Rilee, and Nephiro own themselves.

Chapter 13: Draco's Birthday

I went to Professor Lupin's office after my Care of Magical Creatures class. I taken note that Nephiro wasn't in class and decided to worry about it later. I approached the Defense Against the Dark Arts room with great caution, like the handle would bite me. As I reached to open it, the door flung open, reveling a grinning Lupin. Crap, he is actually here.

"Oh, here for more extra credit Miss Black?" he asked, chuckling. I glared at him and walked into the room.

"That wasn't funny," I said, totally not happy with him. "You humiliated me!"

"So?"

"So! My reputation in bad enough as it is! I don't need your contributions to it!" He just laughed again. "Did you talk to Dumbledore yet?"

"No. Why the rush?"

"I have my reasons," I replied, taking a seat on the desktop. "Besides, I shouldn't have to tell you."

"Fine," he stated, winking at me. 'Ew.' I thought. "Follow me." I hopped down and hurried to catch up with him.

"Why do you have to walk so fast?" I complained, walking faster.

"It's not my fault you're short." he mocked me. I was just about to stick my tongue out at him when Dumbledore and Nephiro appeared from a small side corridor.

"I believe you wish to speak with me, Emily?" I nodded my head and glanced at Nephiro. She was looking particularly harassed; her amber eyes glowed like fire. She mouthed the word 'Die' to me and continued down the hallway. Lupin's weird smirk left his face and he looked serious.

"Let me ask him Emi," Remus whispered.

"No! You'll mess things up!" I replied.

"I'm sure Professor Lupin will give just as good as explanation as you would Miss Black," Dumbledore interrupted. They traveled a few yards away from me so I took this time to examine the moving pictures. One with a silver stag, a black dog, a sick looking rat and what looked like a wolf fascinated me more than the others did. "Beautiful picture, isn't it?" I jumped at the sound of Dumbledore's voice.

"Yeah."

"I believe this was done by your father," he commented. I turned and looked into his sparkling blue eyes. "He was quite an artist.

"Now, about your predicament . . ." I waited for a long speech about his decision being fair to the other students and blah blah blah, but it never came. Actually, it was the complete opposite.

"Professor Lupin and I have agreed to let you go to Hogsmeade, but just this one time. You mustn't let your classmates know though." I felt like bursting to joy but I just smiled. "Go and get you cloak and meet Remus at the entrance hall, he'll be escorting you." Damn.

"Yes sir." I gave a quick bow and started to run towards the common room as fast as I could go. I turned the corner and bumped right into someone, knocking me to the floor.

"I'm so sorry," I heard a male voice say. It was deep sounding with an accent that made my heart skip. I looked up at the person and met a pair of golden eyes. He had medium brown hair that was flipped up in the front and a small goatee that framed his face perfectly. 'Who is this heart-throb and where has he been?' I thought to myself. He helped me back on my feet and apologized again.

"No, it's my fault, I should have watching where I was going," I told him. He shook his head, but before he could say anything I introduced myself. "I'm Emily Black." He smiled at me. 'God he is good looking! Damn . . .'

"Isaac, Isaac Qwin." He informed me that he is a forth year Ravenclaw and a chaser for the house team. After about five minutes of conversation I remember I was suppose to be meeting Lupin. I said my good-byes, hoping I'd see him later, and rushed to the Gryffindor tower.

"Codswallop," I said to the portrait.

"Yes it is, isn't it?" Sir Cadogen replied.

"No, you moron, that's the password!" He scowled at me and swung open. I traveled to my room and grabbed my cloak and money. I was about to the entrance hall when I heard my name being called. I looked over my shoulder and noticed Zandyr was racing after me.

"Emi! Wait!" he cried. I just ignored him and pushed myself harder to go faster. Zandyr was still on my list of people to avoid and didn't feel like stopping to erase his name. The main doors came in view and I saw Lupin waiting patiently, watching me run as if something was chasing me.

"Come on!" I screamed as I past him. He stood there for a second until Zandyr flew by, chasing after me.

"Hey!" I heard my brother bellow. My body was getting tired I didn't know how long I could run and I began to get scared. I felt my pace slowing down and I figured it's best to give up now. I spun around and faced my older brother.

"What do you want?" I asked meanly.

"I wanted to apologize for the other week." Ha! Apologize?

"I'm not in a very forgiving mood for people who break their siblings bones."

"Hello, Alexzandyr. Will you be joining us?" Lupin asked curiously, as he drew nearer to us. "No, he won't," I said harshly. "Will you Alex?" He glared at me and briskly walked away. I gave a sigh of relief and continued towards the school exit.

"What was that all about?" Lupin questioned me.

"I do not wish to talk about it." And I left it at that. I didn't feel the need to tell Lupin anything. He wasn't family and he wasn't my friend. He was just a teacher who happens to be helping me on my quest.

When we got into town I looked around. There were so many stores, and I still hadn't chosen what I was going to get him.

"So, what are you getting him?" Doesn't he ever stop asking questions?

"A switchblade," I answered, not thinking.

"You're getting him WHAT?" Lupin exclaimed at me in complete surprise. I just smiled evilly and continued on my merry way. I found a shop called "Ceres Knifes of All Occasions" and entered into it. A tall, pretty woman with long red hair and brilliant blue eyes helped me; I envied her beauty.

"What can I do for you, young lady?" she asked.

"Can I see your selection of switchblades?" I answer, waiting for a reply like Lupin's.

"Sure thing. Right this way." She led me into a small part of the shop where it was dimly lit and pointed at case that seemed to have about twenty knifes in it. "There they are. I'll be up front if you need me."

"Thanks." I got closer to the glass and marveled over the gleaming metal. One particular one caught my eye. It was dark silver with a wooden handle, marked with a green snake up the blade. It reminded me of my necklace and I reached in my shirt and pulled it out to compare. The snakes weren't all the same but close enough. I brought the lady over and she unlocked the case, flipped the blade back into the handle and handed it to me.

"That's quite a knife," she commented looking at it again when I went to pay. "May I ask what it is for?"

"It's a gift for a good friend of mine." I grinned at the thought of Draco. "How much more does it cost to have it inscribed?"

"Nothing at all. What do you have in mind?"

"Can you write 'To Draco, Family may be the most important, but love is the most valued. Love, Emi.'" She nodded and I looked on as she waved her wand and the words magically appeared along the blade. I paid, and left the shop feeling more accomplished.

o.O

The next day past slowly. Draco wasn't at breakfast . . . or lunch. I began to get worried that maybe something had happen to him. When I asked Rilee she just laughed and walked away.

"Remember. Tomorrow makes three days Black," she yelled to me from down the hallway. I shrugged her off and walked back into the Great Hall. The knife made my bag heavier, like a burden weighting down my soul. I need to get rid of it.

I sat on my four-poster and stared at the ceiling above me. "Draco, where are you?" I asked out to no one. The sound of something tapping on glass caught me off guard and I screamed. I glanced to the window and saw nothing. Intrigued, I got to my feet and walked over to the window and looked out it, then screamed again. Draco was there . . . floating . . . I don't know how, I don't know why, but he was. I flung the glass open to talk to him.

"What do you think you're doing?" I cried to him. He just smiled and floated up more. I caught a glimpse of the broomstick handle and laughed. "Wow, I'm stupid."

"Sometimes, you can be," he answered, smiling. He flew over and landed on the floor of my room. I jumped down from my perch and gave him a good shove.

"Where the hell have you been?" I pushed him again. "And what do you think you're doing? You are not supposed to be here! How dare you make me worry about you!"

"Wait . . . Stop." I pushed him a third time and he stumbled off his feet and landed on my bed. 'Hmm . . . Interesting landing place.'

"I've been going out of my mind the whole day!"

"Excuse me for wanting to enjoy my birthday!" he exclaimed, getting up.

"Well, excuse me for wanting to give you your present!" He looked at me with a shocked expression, and then laughed. "Why the hell are you laughing, Draco? I am serious! This is not funny! I don't like feeling like I'm in debt to someone!"

"In debt?"

"Yes, in debt."

"But I already got what's mine in the deal." He took a step closer to me, and I felt suddenly uncomfortable. I backed away and sat back down on the windowsill.

"The package is in. . . errr. . . I mean, on the bed," I commented, looking down at the Hogwarts ground. I heard my bed squeak as he sat down on it. I watched his every move from the corner of my eye, as he picked up the neatly wrapped box.

"Red and gold. Real nice," he mumbled.

"It's no more than you deserve," I snapped. He gave me a quick glare and resumed examining the present. "Open it already so I can do my homework!"

"Patience Black Patience. I'm trying to guess what it is."

"Well, since you weren't here this morning, it's probably dead," I told him. He looked down at the box, then back at me. I just grinned. "Open it Malfoy."

He ripped off the red wrapping quickly, gazing at the white box that was revealed. "This box is wonderful Emi! Thank you so much!" I rolled my eyes and went over to him. He smiled his overpowering smile. "I'm getting to it. I can see you shiver with antici . . . pation." I hit him. "Do it again. Do it again." 'Sadistic little bastard.' He opened the lid of the box a little and peered through. "What the hell?"

"I thought it'd be appropriate," I stated.

"How?"

"Because you like being-" I shoved him back onto the bed, standing over him, grinning. "Pushed around by girls."

"Hey! Wait a minute!"

"You have to leave!" He looked at me confused. "People are coming you idiot! Leave!" He leaped to his feet, grabbed his broom and literally jumped out the window. I ran and closed it after him, not ever bothering to see if he even made it on to his stick.

"What are you doing up here Emi?" Lavender Brown asked me, as she walked to her bedside.

"I was doing extra credit."

A/N: If anyone caught the true perverseness of this chapter . . . then you deserve a cookie. :) Anyway. Yeah. This chapter sucked. And yes I know, siblings are not suppose to be scared of each other, but hey, he broke her freakin fingers for Kami's sake! Hehe. Oh well.