A/N:Sorry for the delay all. Corona life is starting to level out to pre-pandemic levels (for me, at least) so gonna get back into the writing game.

Chapter 3

Emily made her way down the hallway to the front door. For a row, things had been solved ridiculously well. Though, in hindsight, it hadn't really been much of a row. A tiff, if anything.

As she made to open the door, she was surprised that it began opening before she touched it. Tilting her head down to take a breath, she prepared herself to greet Harry's godfather. The voice that greeted her, however, was not what she anticipated. Apparently, she was not the only one shocked.

"This was unexpected."

It was a slick voice that she'd know anywhere. Looking up she saw the gaunt face of Severus Snape, with Sirius Black and Alastor Moody at his sides. It seemed as though the old auror had been working hard.

In a flash all four of them had their wands drawn. Sirius stared her down hard, asking "Where's my godson, Voldemort?"

Of course, with a master potion's expert at his side, Emily couldn't have held onto the hope that her forgetfulness potion would remain. While she was curious as to how the man had managed to locate these other two within a couple hours of their altercation she discarded the idea of questioning them. Sneering, she decided to entertain herself. Harry would be along soon enough to end her fun, and she hadn't had a chance to flex her magic in a good while.

"You'll find his corpse rotting in your sitting room, mutt. Alas, I'm but a poor widow now."

Sirius bodily pushed past Snape and probably would've made a lunge for her, but Moody's gnarled hand snatched his cloak.

"He's fine, sitting in the dining room."

Of course, the old auror's eye would make things difficult. Though the auror was trying to keep his group's heads cool, Emily was one to let herself lose out on a psychological advantage, so she pressed further. "For now, maybe. But Severus here can tell you how quickly some poisons work. It won't be long now, but you can relax, his surrender to death will be painless." Sirius would be the first to snap, she knew he had a volatile temper.

As much as the words made her stomach twist, they also thrilled her. Murder and pain were her hobbies if one were to put it lightly, obsession being a more appropriate term. It was a shame she used them in reference to Harry. Still, the words worked and Sirius ripped out of his cloak to rush her.

This broke their formation, the hallway was fairly narrow and with Sirius now blocking their way, Emily was able to combat them easily. She cast a tripping jinx that Sirius was able to sloppily swipe out of the way of. In the past, she may have been in more trouble from the scenario, but Harry had a knack of charging her physically, so she was practiced in defending against it. After he overextended his wand from blocking her harmless jinx, she banished him the way he came. Right towards Severus and Moody. Both were experience in fighting, and neither were hit by the flying body. Severus did some strange magic and sunk into the wall, while Moody just moved out of the way.

Moody took the forefront and began shooting spells at her one on one. She blocked what she needed to and dodged others. She could feel someone's magic nearby, most likely Severus, but couldn't focus exactly where he was. Finally, Moody made a mistake and she capitalized on it. Soon enough, she had him writhing under a Cruciatus. Harry may or may not yell at her later for the use of the torture curse. She knew it wasn't wise to use such a time consuming spell in the midst of a battle, but she'd yet to take the three of them seriously. Moody's exposure wasn't long as Severus decided to make his reappearance.

His head and upper body descended from the ceiling behind her, a trick she would have to learn. Had she not been constantly trying to detect his location, she wouldn't have noticed him. She turned swiftly and hit the ceiling with a knock down jinx. Different from the flipendo, or knock back jinx, that pushed someone back, this jinx pulled something down. And with enough power, one could pull down a ceiling, which she did, with Severus still poking out of it. She only had a brief moment of comedic relief, staring at his legs poking from the the second floors wooden finish, before she heard a viscous growling behind her. This time, she wasn't fast enough.

Twisting herself, she held her arm out to shield her body, barely managing to get it in between her neck and the massive black canine's jaws. She smirked as she felt the animagus bite down on her arm, inwardly laughing through the pain. Her body wouldn't be harmed by a dog's bite... or so she thought.

Sirius put his paws on her chest and with a sudden wrench of his neck, her arm separated from her body with a sickening sound. It was painful, but was nothing compared to her hand exploding at the Dursleys or the pain she endured when her body was destroyed. She grunted, and only allowed herself to falter for a moment. It was time for the gloves to come off and have all three of them writhing in pain on the floor. The one moment of inactivity from her, however, was all Moody needed as she watched him begin waving his wand in her general direction. Only for him to stop and turn his head to the wall, staring at it.

"Oh, bollocks."

With a giant crash, the wall exploded, sending Moody flying into the other side of the hallway. Harry stepped through the hole he made, dusting himself off. He turned to her, looked away, and then his eyes snapped back to her immediately.

"Your arm? Are you okay?"

Emily laughed. She was quite alright, something Harry should have been aware of, but she'd forgive him for the oversight. After all, one did not see their spouse dismembered often. "Well, as you pointed out, I have been unarmed. If you could convince your dear godfather to return my appendage to me, I'd be forever grateful." Her wit would probably gotten a smile from him any other time, but now he just sighed, making his way to the transfiguring Sirius Black.

"Can I have that, please?"

The scene was almost comical to her. Harry was standing there, hand outstretched as though he were accepting a butterbeer from a bartender. Sirius was standing still with her arm tucked behind him, as though he could hide it.

"Its mine. I took it, fair and square." His tone was borderline petulant.

"Give it to me, or I neuter you." Harry's threat to the only person he considered family, other that herself of course, took Emily by surprise. She'd have thought that nothing could make her husband raise his hand against his godfather. Apparently her limbs were worthy of an exception.

"You wouldn't d-"

Harry's wordless incantation hit his godfather in the crotch with a severing charm, and Emily saw the man's face drain of color. She didn't hear anything hit the floor, so she could assume that Harry's aim had been off. Still his godfather keeled over backwards a few seconds later in a dead faint. Harry must've struck enough of his mark to matter. Stepping over the fallen the fallen man, he grabbed her arm, and moved back towards her. At this point, Severus had freed himself from the rubble and Harry looked to the potions master. "I snipped his bollocks, wake him up will you. I didn't use any dark magic, so he should be able to fix himself up."

Harry didn't bother listening to any forthcoming reply, gently pulling Emily towards another room. It was the house's second sitting room and he sat her on the bed and began patching her up.

"How did this happen? I've hit with enough cutting curses to turn you into mincemeat if your body was normal, what did he do?"

Emily grimaced as the magic slowly mended her arm back. "He must've used dark magic on his teeth, or something. Pulled my arm right off, like it was parchment."

Harry huffed. "Thankfully it hasn't been too long, you'll barely see the scar."

Emily smiled at him. "While I appreciate you caring about my looks, I won't be too put out by a scar. After all, I married a man with a rather obvious one on his forehead."

"Considering the fact that you put it there, I doubt you would've had much right to complain, regardless. Should be right as rain now, how's it feel?"

Emily wiggled her fingers, then kissed him on the cheek. "Feel like we never parted. Your skills in healing have remained pretty steadfast, I see."

"I had an adequate teacher."

For a moment Emily preened, thinking the comment was for her, before remembering that she hadn't taught him much in the art of healing. It was Bellatrix. Must've been where the 'adequate' part stemmed from.

"Yes, I suppose she was skilled in several areas."

A knock on the rooms entrance caused their heads to turn. Sirius stood there, and was smiling, abashed. "Everything okay?"

"I've put her back to rights, though I'd like to know why you felt the need to tear off my wife's arm?"

Emily had just settled herself down to enjoy the show before Sirius reminder her that she was the one in hot water.

"She said she poisoned you and you were about to die. I lost my composure. Why did you feel the need to emasculate me... in a literal sense?"

Harry groaned, completely ignoring his godfather's question, twisting his head slightly to look at her. "Why must you provoke people?"

"I didn't expect to come face to face with your godfather, Alastor Moody and Severus Snape in the same moment. I also lost my composure." Surely, if the comment worked for Sirius, it would work for her.

"You don't lose your composure, Emily. Even if you did, that's not a reason to provoke them. Let me go out on a limb her and take a guess. You did it because you were bored, didn't you?"

"Certainly not. Really love, do you think that I'd provoke your godfather to relieve my own boredom."

She didn't bother mentioning the other two, they'd only hurt her case. The fact that he knew that she did it out of boredom already meant it would be hard for her to con her way out of his accusation.

"Yes, I think you would, so long as you knew he'd survive. Bonus points for the appearance of Snape and Moody. Speaking of, where is Snape? I have a question for him."

Emily inwardly sighed, he was dropping the issue. Which of course, made sense. There were bigger fish to fry. Sirius looked over his shoulder. "I left the two of them in the dining room. I came her to defuse the situation. Things got awful volatile real quick, so I felt it was best I come in waving the white flag."

"So you're saying you all didn't mean to assault my wife?"

"We didn't even know she'd be here, Harry. We came to see you. And we most assuredly didn't expect her to be standing right inside the front door."

"Wrong place, wrong time, I get it. Now that we are all calm, I'd like to speak with Snape."

"Erm, sure, follow me."

The two of them left the room to see that Sirius had mended the damage to the ceiling. Moody was further down the hallway having a whispered conversation with Snape. Harry coughed lightly to announce their presence and the two turned to face them.

"Potter." Moody's gravelly greeting was met by deaf ears. Harry found that selective hearing was serving him well in ignoring people who annoyed him. Well, most people, anyway. His wife had the same penchant, but was not so easily dismissed.

It was Emily who took the reigns of the conversation. "Why don't we head to the sitting room and discuss things." Emily smiled brightly, but as soon as Sirius and Moody entered the room, her wand started moving. First she flung Snape away from the door and closed it. Then she made the door vanish and the entire wall glowed a light purple. Then in four quick strides, she pressed her wand into Harry's old potion professor's neck.

"Where are they?"

Snape, to his credit, only sneered at her. "I've no idea what you're talking about."

"Do not lie to me, Severus. I know to whom your allegiances lie. Where did you place my horcruxes?"

The look on Snape's face shriveled up and vanished, in truth, he seemed resigned. "They are gone."

"What do you mean, gone? You were not supposed to destroy them, you were supposed to guard them."

For the first time in Harry's life, he heard Severus Snape laugh. A true laugh, one that did not match him, though that was easy to understand, as the man had live a rather sour life.

"And they'd have been guarded well, as long as the order member who had been keeping me appraised of your actions remained steadfast. However, my contact vanished, so I did as I was instructed. Lo and behold upon my return to Britain to aid in your destruction, I find things to not be as I expected."

Harry had assumed she would continue with her angry interrogation, and only planned to intervene if things looked as though they'd take a turn for the worst. However, she sighed, and removed her wand from Snape's neck. "You have failed me Severus, and what is worse, you have betrayed me. If it weren't for the fact that you are loyal to Harry, I'd end you. I might have had to do so in secret, but it would have most assuredly been done. However, I am in need of competent people, Severus. And you are, without a doubt, an able wizard in every regard."

The shocked look on Snape's face was almost too much for Harry. He couldn't blame Snape for his next words. It honestly did sound as though Emily were trying to rope him back into the fold. "You… are am imbecile."

His response lacked elegance, however, and Emily hexed him several times.

Emily stormed out of the room and Harry went to tend to the man he assumed hated him more than anyone else. "Everyone seems intent on pissing her off today."

"Forgive me if I thought the destruction of her horcruxes would bother her more than a verbal slight."

Harry chuckled, taking the man's sarcasm at face value. "Don't ask forgiveness of me, Professor, I don't have that much sway over her." Harry stopped speaking for a moment, removing the itching hex, and began working on the burning hex. "She's over the horcruxes, wrote them off when you vanished. Er, well, a month after you vanished, and she finally gave up searching for you."

"I fail to see the Dark Lord being content with being mortal." Snape sneered.

It finally dawned on Harry the true circumstances of their situation. Dumbledore had not told Snape that Emily could create another horcrux. He had left that final piece of knowledge to Harry and Harry alone. So it would truly be Harry's choice as to whether or not Emily needed to be destroyed. Dumbledore knew that, in the end, the buck would stop with him. Harry chose his words carefully.

"She's not mortal. She still has one horcrux."

"So I've heard. Her brilliant plan to use her last remaining horcrux to clear her name. Shame that the thing went rogue on her. Still, hard to believe that she'd face mortality head on, just to keep the noose from tightening around her neck."

Harry smiled. "Maybe love can do that to a person. Perhaps her fear of death only stemmed from having no one to face it with her."

"I strongly doubt it. You're attributing qualities to your 'dear wife' that she does not possess."

"I'd like to point out that your head is still attached. Maybe you're the one who isn't aware of my wife's true character. We'll see you in the sitting room."

Harry allowed the man a few moments to ruminate on his words. In all honesty, if Snape held onto his blind hatred of Emily, then any sort of cooperation with the man would be futile. They'd have to find some sort of common goal and... Harry just shook his head, uncertain.

When Severus finally joined them in the sitting room, Sirius was the first to speak. "So, I hope we can discuss things more calmly now."

Emily plastered on what Harry knew to be a fake smile. "Of course. We'd be h-"

"Let's cut the shite." Moody spoke over Emily. Harry watched her as she closed her eyes and grit her teeth, probably reigning in the desire to add to his collection of scars. Emily detested being interrupted. "We have some things we plan on making clear, and we aren't leaving until you understand, Voldemort."

Emily lifted her head slightly, "Please, that name has fallen by the wayside. I am Mrs. Potter now." She finished the statement by absentmindedly tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear, pretending that the conversation was as disposable as one about the weather.

"You can be whoever you want, as long as you abide by the terms we are setting forth."

"No."

To the surprise of every else, it was Harry who refused immediately. This made Moody sour quickly.

"Should've known you'd be the biggest problem, Potter. She's got you wrapped around her fingers."

"In ways you'd never suspect, however, for the most part the reverse is true. She tends to be the one wrapped around my fingers." At this, both Emily and Sirius snorted. Emily, still smirking crudely, snaked her hand over his and entwined their fingers. Harry had not meant the comment perversely, but was not surprised by their reactions.

Moody huffed, the unintended pun flying over him. "So, you're saying I need to be negotiating with you, rather than her? Thats fi-"

"No, I didn't say anything of the sort. My 'no' was our answer to your question. Emily answers to no one, and no one will dictate her actions."

Severus Snape stood, teeth bared in a snarl. "So you have no intention of preventing her from burning our world to the ground? No intention of stopping what we all know she is capable of?"

Harry countered quickly enough. "You act as though ability is the same as action. I am capable of murdering thousands of muggles, does that mean I should be seen as someone who will do so?"

Snape scoffed. "That argument is obtuse, even for you Potter. Ability and action, she is guilty of both. We all know of her past deeds here, except you, so you can remain in that rose tinted bubble charm of yours, but the rest of us are going to take this seriously."

Harry leveled the man a cool look. "I am more aware of Emily's actions than anyone else in this room. Past, present and future. My wife will not be walking the same path that she used to, therefore, she has no need for a keeper."

Emily frowned, Harry was doing quite well in his attempts to sway their guests. The only problem was that he believed the words flowing from his mouth. Surely he had to know that if bloodshed was absolutely necessary, then it was a step she wouldn't shy away from. What notions did he have rolling about in that head of his?

"Then how do you expect us to work together?" Moody asked gruffly. "What with our inability to trust her and your boundless faith, what do you suggest we do?"

"Just put your trust in me, then." Harry said the phrase almost flippantly. But the words struck each of the three men at their core. After all, Albus Dumbledore had, at one point or another told each of the three men to do that very thing.

To Severus, it had been as the Headmaster was sending him overseas with the horcruxes. "Do you think this to be the best course of action, Albus?"

Dumbledore had smiled, bemusedly. "I don't believe a 'best' course of action is available to us anymore, Severus. All we can do now… is trust Harry."

To Moody, it had been months ago. Right after the man had expressed his desire to obliviate Harry, but before he had gone against Dumbledore and actually done so. "He's gonna make a run for it, Albus. She's corrupted him, mark my words."

Dumbledore, with the same bemused smile, "Perhaps, but I feel as though he has done far more to change her than she has to change him. I feel that, in the end... we should place our trust in Harry."

Lastly, to Sirius, it had been a much more emotional conversation, right after Harry returned to Emily for the last time. "He's gone, Albus. He's gone back to her and this time, I don't think he's coming back."

This time, Dumbledore could only sigh deeply. Harry Potter had been smuggled out of the school by his friends, something that Dumbledore could not have fathomed. He had never expected the logical mind of Ms. Granger to turn down that route.

In a rare show of physical consolation, Dumbledore placed a hand on Sirius' back. "Things are uncertain now, Sirius. We can't know the outcome of what has recently transpired. However, you and I both know the goodness that lies within your godson. Let's put our faith in that goodness… and trust Harry."

All three of them had been told the very phrase that they had just heard. Sirius immediately caved, only offering a nod, but that was to be expected. He had been around Emily the past few months and witnessed her interactions with his godson. He knew first hand what kind of person Emily could be, as long as Harry was in the picture.

Moody balked slightly, "Hmph, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt only until we've taken care of the other you running amok. Once she's been dealt with, we'll reopen the discussion." Harry wasn't fooled by the man's attitude. Moody had played underhanded actions before, and Harry would be wary of them in the future.

Severus, who was normally a quiet man, was the most vocal about his disagreement. "I'd rather we just kill you now while we can."

Emily stayed silent, gazing at a picture on the wall, as though she didn't even hear the man. She would let Harry do the talking on this one. He'd be far more convincing than she would. "Considering the three versus one scenario you had earlier wasn't particularly going in your favor, I doubt a three versus two would be any better."

Emily loved it when he spoke highly of her. It was the best stroke to her ego. Of course, his opinion was generally the only one that truly matter to her, but she liked it all the same.

"I am aware. It matters little what I feel, however, I am here to destroy the Voldemort that is being a nuisance. Once that is done, and your wife has no other horcruxes tying her to life, I'll leave again. If she becomes a problem in the future, it will be your problem to deal with."

Emily didn't believe the man in the slightest, but she was surprised by Harry's immediate acceptance at the man's statement. "Don't worry, she won't."

The conversation stagnated then, with no one adding anything further. Moody stood after a few moments of silence. "Well, that didn't go as I had planned, but we've reached an understanding regardless. I'll keep my ears to the ground and keep you all updated. I expect you to return the favor."

Emily hadn't been directly addressed by this comment, or most of the others, but she couldn't help but latch onto the chance to goad the man. "Of course, Alastor. You're welcome to swing by any time, should you wish to. I only had a chance to show you one of my favorite spells up close, and I'd love to show you another."

The auror growled at her, "Piss off." Looking at Harry, he said, "Potter, good luck with marriage. Idea never sat well with me, but I certainly hope you survive it."

With that last, almost kind, remark, the ex-auror left. Severus' departure was wordless, only giving Sirius a nod as he left the room. Once the two other men were gone, Sirius deflated in his chair. "Oh boy, that was... intense. Didn't you have something to ask Snivellus, Harry?"

Harry shook his head, "Emily covered it for me, no worries."

Sirius accepted that answer without further persuasion. "Well, I need a drink. I'll be in the kitchen, Harry."

Moments later, Emily and Harry were alone. Emily was glad that things hadn't go too poorly. Though she, herself wouldn't have been directly affected, Harry might have been forced to burn some bridges here, which would have hurt him. Which, of course, would have caused her pain as well. Still, now she had a few more pawns at her disposal to deal with their new threat.

"I know what your thinking, Emily."

"Oh, do you now?"

Her smug smile transformed into a smirk. Though Harry's love for her was true, and his understanding of who she was as a person was far greater than anyone elses, maybe even herself, she doubted he knew what she was thinking.

"They're not your followers. Don't try and treat them like it, it'll only cause us problems."

Damn, he had known. Was it possible that he'd ever cease to amaze her. Her smirked turned, and as it did so, he gave a small laugh.

"Your face is easy to read love. For me at the very least." Though they were seated next to one another, Harry stood, and turned, placing one knee on the cushion, close enough to her leg that they were touching. His other leg remained standing, but he leaned his body downward so they're eyes were level. Both of his arms gripped the couch's cushion on either side of her head. In this one swift movement her breath was taken away by the sudden appearance of his bright green eyes. With only inches separating their faces, he continued to speak. "God knows, I've spent countless hours admiring every piece of it."

Had he not leaned in to kiss her there, she have pulled him towards her. But he knew better than to speak such words and simply walk away. After a couple minutes of heavy kissing, she pushed him away. "As much as I like where you're taking things, I have no interest in fucking you in your godfather's home. Let's leave."

He gently ran a hand down her arm. The one he had only just reattached. His fingers repeatedly ran over the barely visible line where his magic had healed her arm. Though the line was hard to see, it was jagged. "Looks like you have a bit of a lightning bolt scar yourself."

Emily scoffed at him. "I suppose, if that's how you wish to view it. I'm more disgusted by the fact that some of your godfather's disgusting saliva is probably flowing through my veins."

Harry chuckled, "Yeah, dog spit isn't probably the best thing to have in your blood stream."

"Its of little consequence. This body is an incredible replica of a normal one, even its cardiovascular system. It should filter all foreign bodies out well enough."

Harry faked a pout to her. "Stop channeling Hermione, Emily. Really kills the mood."

"Oh please, Harry. I have far more knowledge than your teenage friend, despite how well read she may be. You can't be put out every time I tell you something you don't know."

"Its not that, per se. It's when you say some random fact that I've never heard of. Reminds me of her."

Emily frowned as he sat next to her. "Clearly you miss your friends. I suppose it has been quite some time since you've seen them for more than a few brief moments." This time it was her turn stand, and once she had done so, she pulled him back up as well. "I suppose tomorrow we'll just have to break into Hogwarts for a visit with them. Its only their first week into the term, they shouldn't be too swamped with work."

Harry laughed, but he also nodded. "You know what, yeah. Lets do that."

Emily whisked him off to the fireplace, only briefly allowing him to inform his godfather he was leaving. The man seemed put out, but Emily knew the two of them would find time to spend with each other later. Though Harry's desire for sex may have been dampened moments ago, hers had not taken such a hit, and she planned on getting him back into mood as soon as they made it to their bedroom.