Hello everyone!
Sorry for the huge delay, a series of unfortunate events led to me not having internet for the past month. At least it gave me time to write a couple more chapters! I'm warning you though, my course is so much harder than last year's, so don't be surprised if there isn't an update every week, it might be every two weeks (though I'll try to keep to my usual schedule).
Anyway, now that's done, I just want to warn you that this isn't a chapter. That will be posted shortly, along with a ton of answers to reviews!
A reviewer asked if I could post some sort of summary, to remind you all of what's happened so far. So everyone who isn't interested, just look out for the next update! Every one else, please continue.
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Emma and James are twins. Emma was sorted into Slytherin with her friends Alecto, Rabastan, Lucinda and Regulus - but also with Snape, Mulciber and Nott - whilst James made it into Gryffindor with the rest of the Marauders and the famous Lily Evans.
Emma's relationship with her father grows more and more strained as the years go by. He never really came to terms with the fact that she was in Slytherin, and Emma adopting a different view on Muggleborns didn't help. She believes that Muggleborns and Purebloods should be segregated to start with, so as to give a year of "catching up" about wizarding traditions.
At the same time, the twins grow distant due (in part) to Remus's secret and the Marauder's map, but also because of Emma's friends' opinions.
The older Gryffindors bullied the little Slytherins (and vice-versa), so Emma learns a couple of spells from Bellatrix. One day, a group them throws Emma's things in the fountain below, and she's been seething ever since.
In their fifth year, the animosity between Gryffindor and Slytherin grows to the extent that Dumbledore decides to hold an "interhouse ball". By then, Lucinda os busy admiring Sirius and Regulus for their good looks - along with many other girls. Regulus appears to not take any notice (though the real reason Sirius hints at is due to his love for Emma). Alecto reveals that Amycus, her brother, is on his way to becoming a Death Eater.
Emma goes to the ball with the plan to humiliate Hector Miller (the Gryffindor bully), but Miller misinterprets it as her being anti-Muggleborn. He tries to assault her on the grounds that Sirius stole his girlfriend and James hexed him for no reason. Before he can though, Emma turns him into a big beetle and stamps on it. The end of this act is witnessed by several of her friends, who are impressed with Emma's hatred for Muggleborns.
Emma lies to her friends about Miller's lovebites - ashamed - and lets them think she slept with Sirius during the ball. Whilst Alecto is impressed, Regulus feels betrayed.
After Christmas, Avery is impressed with Emma's handling of Miller, and tells her to go to Malfoy Manor during the Easter holidays for Narcissa and Lucius's engagement party. Emma visits Grimmauld place (under the guise of an Astronomy project) and finds out that Regulus admires Voldemort, whilst Sirius hates his family. She also find out about the strange bond Kreacher and Regulus have - more loving than the rest of the family. It is revealed that Bellatrix has become a Death Eater, and only Sirius is horrified by the news. He leaves home early on the Knight Bus.
At Malfoy Manor, Emma meets Lord Voldemort, who makes Amycus duel Emma in exchange for the Dark Mark. When Emma bests him with an Unforgivable, Voldemort is impressed and offers her a spot in his outer circle and promises to teach her magic "she could only dream of".
Whilst Kreacher tends to her wounds, Regulus reveals his bitter childhood, where the world revolved around Sirius and only Kreacher seemed to notice the younger brother. He also shares the story of Sirius's beating (for being placed in Gryffindor) and his guilt for doing nothing. He also tells Emma about Legilimancy and Occlumency and promises to help her learn the latter.
Some time later, Alecto comes to Emma for help: she's been seeing a Muggle in Hogsmeade called William and her brother has found out. Emma asks Regulus to stall Amycus for time. Usually when they meet up, Alecto Obliviates William's memory of any magic he has seen. This time, they go to the shack, where Alecto tells William for the last time about magic. He seems to accept it until they tell him he'll never be able to become a wizard. At this point in time, Regulus, Rabastan and Amycus appear: Regulus didn't bother stalling Amycus because he thinks what Alecto is doing is wrong.
Amycus sends William flying into the wall and William turns his fear and anger into harsh words. Alecto - heartbroken - tortures William into insanity and vows to never trust a Muggle again.
During the summer before 6th year, Sirius appears at their house: he has been disherited and has nowhere to go. The differences between Sirius and Emma force Charles to make comparaisons in Sirius's favour. During an argument, he reveals that he burned all of the letters with the Black family crest, because he didn't "want Sirius to worry" although they were addressed to Emma. James takes Emma's side, telling his father that he shouldn't judge people for things they can't control, explaining Remus's condition.
An unfortunate incident in the Potions class of sixth year transfigures Sirius into Regulus and James into Emma (and vice-versa). So as to not get into trouble, Slughorn places a silencing spell on everything to do with the potions incident. During their time as their siblings, Emma befriends Lily Evans, whilst Regulus deals with the backlash of Sirius's womanizing ways. Sirius mischieviously sets up a date between Regulus and Sophie Parkinson. James finds out that he doesn't know his sister as well as he'd like.
The Polyjuice potion takes a while to wear off, during which time Rabastan accidentally lets slip that Regulus has been invited to join Voldemort's ranks. Sirius initiates a duel with Emma for failing to protect his brother as he had asked her to. During their argument/duel, Regulus turns up and tells Sirius that Orion had defended his older son by going out to look for him, that he was wounded by Walburga whilst trying to keep Sirius on the family tree, and that Voldemort had used the Cruciatus curse on him because he had begged him to spare Sirius's life.
Over Christmas, Emma and Sirius agree to a ceasefire, even having uneasy banter. Sirius tries to find out if Emma fancies his brother. James tries to keep the peace, but it doesn't last for long.
The arguments between Emma and her father come to a head, and Charles admits that he would prefer Sirius as a son to Emma as a daughter. Deciding that she may as well live up to his opinion of her, Emma packs her bag and goes to Rabastan's New Year's party, hoping to ask Regulus if she can stay at his. She doesn't want to ask any of the others, for fear of retribution on her family (Charles is a blood-traitor in Voldemort's eyes).
Avery is the one to pick her up as Side-Along Apparition, telling her he'll look out for her if she agrees to try and turn her brother to the Dark Lord's side. Having this already in mind, Emma agrees. Emma tells Regulus about her Christmas, and in return Regulus tries to tell Emma about his feelings, but is interrupted. Drunk on Cheering Charms and Firewhisky, she snogs Avery in the back garden.
At the countdown to the New Year, Emma looks for Regulus to wish him a Happy New Year on the dot - their tradition for the past five years. However, he is snogging Lucinda, much to her disgust. When Rabastan offers to kiss Emma for the New Year, she agrees, but as the countdown draws close, he is pushed aside by Regulus. Unthinking, Emma kisses Regulus instead.
He tries to tell her about his feelings instead, but Emma drunkenly tells him that he's as good a friend to her as James is. Hurt by the reference to her brother, Regulus goes off to find a room with Lucinda.
The day after, Emma regrets her everning with Avery, as he meets her the next morning. She finds herself in a powerless situation, and is even more ashamed when it is Regulus who rescues her. They go to Grimmauld Place, where Walburga is overjoyed to see Emma again, thinking that she would make a good daughter-in-law.
Later in the holidays, Regulus uses Legilimancy on Emma and finds out the true story behind the her cursing Miller. He also finds out that her parents had a replica of Slytherin's locket made for her to show that they would love her no matter what. He advises her to repress her feelings, as they are her weakness.
Like Harry with Snape, she grows annoyed at the intrusions and uses the Protego charm. Looking into Regulus's mind, she sees what he has mostly kept from her - his mother abusing his brother all throughout their childhood, whilst he looked on like a ghost, always there but always forgotten. She sees his admiration for his brother and the pain of Sirius denying that they were ever related. It reveals that Regulus only started his interest with the Dark Lord to get his parents off of Sirius's back.
On the train, Lucinda and Emma have a fight: Lucinda accuses Emma of being the only one truly close to Regulus and reveals that she was one of his many fleeting affairs, whereas she thought she had been special. Emma reprimands Lucinda for being too innocent. Later, after Lucinda finds out about Emma dating Amos Diggory, she turns the situation against Emma, earning Emma's respect and turning them into fast friends.
Emma goes on a date with Amos Diggory, but feels uncomfortable, remembering Miller and Avery. She is saved by her brother who tells her she's too young to date. Emma is angry with her brother for not caring about what happened to her at Christmas. James goes on to say that Emma "belongs" to him, as she is his twin.
They are interrupted by Rabastan, who tells the Marauders that he and Emma are on a date. In actual fact, he came to get Emma for their initiation ceremony. Sirius doesn't believe them and accuses them of being evil.
Emma realises how much she hates physical contact when Rabastan pretends to be her date.
Voldemort talks to each of the initiates in turn, giving them a secret task that they must not fail: Emma must convince a tribe of Giants to turn to the Dark side, whilst Regulus must take out 5 wizards opposed to to Voldemort's cause. They are impossible tasks, ready made for failure. However, Emma and Regulus decide to work together on theirs to complete them.
Emma invents a new dangerous play for her Quidditch team that involves one of the Chasers dropping from their broom to be caught by a Beater. She maintains that the other two chasers must practice, as she will do this in her free time. Later, this ploy works during their games. In training, Regulus notices Emma's fear and calls her out after the rest of the team has left. Emma admits that she doesn't like having to rely on people, as Regulus astutely observes that Emma gets angry when she is afraid. He reveals that he knew about Miller long before the Occlumency and so understood why she didn't like getting close to people - although she didn't seem to mind with Avery at New Year's.
Emma tells him that she doesn't mind it as long as she has an objective in mind. Regulus challenges her, telling her that in real life her instincts would take over, convincing her to try the play with him.
Regulus catches Emma with ease, but she has a panic attack. He realises this and apologises. She admits that she feels like a Muggle (something Regulus abhors) when she isn't in control, to which he replies that he could never mistake her for one.
Regulus and Emma appeal to Barty Crouch Jr to help them with Voldemort's plans. He agrees to help in part due to his friendship with Regulus, in part because Emma promises him the Quidditch Captaincy and in part because they'll help him rise up in the D. L.'s ranks. Regulus forges a note from his father for the school, informing Dumbledore that Regulus went back for a family emergency.
At a pub in Inverness, Regulus and Emma bond over Regulus's story telling. This is the second or unique story that Regulus has come across and kept secret. He tells Emma that he doesn't tell people's stories to many, because of his love of secrets, leaving Emma to ponder why she was so special to him.
They gain the help of the Giants with the aid of the D. L.'s enchanted items and Emma's bluffing to bolster the king's ego.
After the near-death experience with the giant king and his enchanted sickle, Regulus apologises for Emma's panic attack at the Quidditch game.
Next, they track down the wizards on Regulus's hitlists. They manage to intimidate or persuade most of the wizards to swap sides or go into hiding, and are after the fourth wizard, an Auror. When Regulus hesitates to use the killing curse, the wizard goes to attack him, but Emma intervenes by breaking the Auror's arm. After that, Regulus casts "Reducto" on the wound, which has the odd effect of reducing the wizard's right arm to dust.
Emma's hood falls down, and she suspects the wizard of having seen her face. Regulus feels guilty for what he did, but Emma reassures him: telling him it was partly in self-defence.
They cast modified memory charms (with Emma's skill in Obliviating and Regulus's knowledge of Legilimancy) on the last wizard - a Muggleborn - to give him the recollection of having killed the wizard for sleeping with his wife.
To celebrate their victory, Regulus and Emma decide to sneak to Hogsmeade - discovering a new secret passage as they did so. Regulus shows Emma a small jetty in the forest on the Black lake. Regulus regrets the dismemberment of the Auror and feels guilty that he might have seen Emma's face. He vows to only kill the next time, so as to not put his loved ones in danger.
The next day, Emma meets Barty Crouch Sr. in Dumbledore's office. He suspects Emma of the crime (as she matches the victim's description), but is interrupted by James bursting in to take the fall for a prank. He tells Dumbledore that Emma's been in hospital all week and that the prank was his fault (not realising that the allegation was more serious).
Emma finds out afterwards that James has "meetings" with Dumbledore, but he doesn't explain any more, apart from to say that he wanted to be an Auror and declare his hatred for Voldemort.
Soon after, Emma recieves a letter informing her of her mother's illness.
At the next meeting, Voldemort expresses his appreciation for Emma and Regulus, and punishes the Death Eaters who were supposed to do the jobs that they accomplished. They recieve the special "death eater robes" and the dark mark.
Emma has a birthday party in the room of requirement, but James has the same idea. After a confrontation between Sirius and Rabastan, the latter defuses the situation by offering James firewhiskey. Emma accuses James of judging her friends before getting to know them, so he agrees to talk to Rabastan. They bond over their love of mischief and dangerous sweets, but the moment is short-lived.
Sirius accuses Rabastan of trying to poison James with the sweets. He calls Rabastan a Death Eater and Rabastan calls Sirius a blood traitor. This escalates into all of their friends pointing wands at each other. Regulus then states that Sirius isn't worth it, and the Slytherins leave. Emma realises just how different her and James's lives are.
James and Emma are brought into the headmaster's office, who informs them that their mother has Dragon Pox and confines them and Sirius to the Hospital Wing. James and Emma have a fight out of grief, and Sirius accuses Emma of having abandoned her family for the Dark Lord. She accuses him of having stolen her family in return and reminds him that he broke up his family too.
A couple of months later, Emma is invited to use a portkey to get to the hospital, as her mother is better. James and Sirius arrived before her, and so visited first. Emma waits half an hour, furious that Sirius had been given preferential treatment although he was not a blood relation. Upon entering the ward, Charles accuses her of not coming earlier, whereas Natalie feels bad that she hadn't asked for the Portkey to be for three people (having forgotten about Sirius).
Emma starts to bond with her parents over Quidditch and excellent schoolwork, and in return her parents offer her a belated birthday gift: the traditional wizarding watch. Just as she believes the wounds to be healed, Charles notices her Dark Mark peeping out of her sleeve. He recoils and drops the watch, breaking it into numerous pieces.
Their worst shouting match starts, and Charles states that he doesn't have a daughter anymore. He forbids Emma from touching her mother, who was trying to get out of bed, and calls the nurse to bring her away. He then forcibly restrains Natalie from going to her daughter.
The next day, Emma recieves two letters from the hospital: one informing her of her mother's death, the other informing her of the quarantine of her father (who caught the Dragon Pox).
During her grieving period, Emma grows even closer to Regulus, appreciating his silence and gentle manners over the other Slytherins' rambunctious antics.
Another problem presents itself when the Ministry sends James and Emma letters telling them that they could not go back to Godric's Hollow for the summer, as the house was being purified of the disease. James decides to go to Romania to learn about dragons, whilst Emma spends two weeks at Narcissa's as maid of honour at the wedding.
Narcissa is one of Emma's closest friends (outside of Hogwarts) and resolves to help Emma. She is in the Healing program at St mungo's and reveals that Emma's mother was able to get a letter to her, including a note asking Emma to forgive her and the pieces of the watch. The two women resolve to fix the watch in the evenings, whilst preparing for Narcissa's wedding in the day.
Emma finds out that Lucius's best man is Severus Snape, her classmate. Snape shows them his newly created Sectumpsempra curse and his resulting Dark Mark.
At the wedding, Rabastan is employed as a host/person to show people to their seats. When accompanying Regulus's parents to their seats, Walburga drops heavy hints that she would like Regulus to marry Emma - as she is already close with his cousin. Rabastan also recieves an admonition, telling him to find a woman before the "good ones are gone".
Regulus later explains that most heirs have arranged matches before their seventeenth birthday. Sirius was matched with Marlene McKinnon, but as Regulus was younger, he didn't have to worry about it before.
Upset at the family gathering and her mother's death, Emma decides to use a Cheering Charm on herself in order to blend in (leading to a series of humourous events). Rabastan laughs, but Regulus offers her a Calming Drought and sits with her to talk about the wedding. He asks her if she'd want to get married, and tells her that the wedding vows (charmed to be unbreakable) shouldn't matter if you marry the right person.
Rabastan returns with the information that he Confunded all of the wedding guests so as to avoid Emma's embarrassement, cementing their friendship.
A few days later, the rest of the Slytherins are Marked at Rabastan's house. Bellatrix notices Emma's locket and confronts her about it, calming down when she realises it's a replica. The Dark Lord takes Emma to the side and tells her not to hesitate in ridding her family of "impurities" as he once did himself. Alecto becomes Bellatrix's apprentice - going on Muggle hunts with her - whereas Rabastan and Lucinda decide to help Emma in finding an apartment in Diagon Alley.
Emma tells Regulus about the Dark Lord's command, who simply told her that Bellatrix wanted nothing more than to kill Sirius.
They find out that Emma has been disowned by her father, but that her mother left her a very large inheritance before she died.
Rabastan finds Emma a flat above "Broomstix" that has been magically modified to be overlooked to all but those who were searching for it. Emma puts the Malfoys as her guardians in case of money problems, scaring the estate agent.
Outside the building, they find out that Sirius wants to rent out the flat opposite, but Rabastan blackmails the estate agent into refusing. Sirius hints that Mr Lestrange won't be in business for long.
Emma's flat is later refurbished by Lucinda, after seeing the state Emma left it in whilst on missions for the D.L.
Alecto, Regulus, Rabastan, Lucinda and Emma go to Bertie Bott's only to find that the manager had been sent to Azkaban (Patrick McKinnon). It is revealed that Lucinda's brother (who also worked in the sweet factory) set the manager up as he was a member of the OOTP, which upsets Lucinda and makes her resolve to try to stay neutral in the war.
James announces that he'll be back at the end of the holidays and that Charles is getting better in a letter. Emma asks Regulus to impersonate Sirius as they look fairly similar to see if Charles can be visited (and if so, if he intends to tell James about her Dark Mark). They go to St Mungo's with Emma under the invisibility cloak. This is the first Regulus p.o.v chapter in which we see that he agreed to do this against his better judgement for love of Emma, though he believes it is unrequited.
They are relieved when the healer tells them that the hospital isn't accepting any visitors or even letters, as they believe that a family feud is what made Natalie Potter relapse and die. He counsels Sirius (actually Regulus) to make up with Emma before letting them see Charles.
Before they leave, Regulus gets the healer to agree to not tell James the reason why there are no visits, to which he agrees.
Regulus demands the truth of Emma's hospital from her, but worried that he would hate her, Emma refuses. He believes that the problem is between her and Sirius and asks why she is protecting him. When Emma refuses to explain again, he leaves in anger, leaving her to her guilty thoughts.
During the train ride to Hogwarts after the summer, Alecto finds out the truth of Emma's visit to her father, whilst Emma realises how bloodthirtsy her friend has gotten after Bellatrix's tutelage.
Amelia Bones is appointed the new DADA teacher, worrying the Slytherins and DADA becomes comulsory, with extra lessons being combined with Charms and Transfiguration. Bones's second agenda seems to be to find out if any of the students had leanings towards the D. L.
At Halloween. Emma tries to convince Remus to join the D. L 's side by appealing to his isolation, but instead finds out about his devotion to Dumbledore, hinting at the "club" James had joined. She realises that James and Remus are part of the OOTP and tries to keep it to herself.
James recieves a letter informing them that Charles was getting better. Emma decides to use a Memory Charm on her father, deciding that she could reverse it when the war was over. However, she runs into the group of Death Eaters at school and finds out that a raid is planned for that night. However, Lucius wants the Death Eaters at his Manor 3h earlier to go over the plan.
She finds out that Alecto is banned from going, as she drew too much attention with her red hair during the summer. Emma devises a plan and covertly asks Alecto to deal with the situation with Charles.
Regulus, Rabastan and Emma discover the joys (sarcasm) of battle, and spend most of their time trying not to get killed. Emma and Rabastan had recieved training for misleading information, building traps for aurors and order members and recruitment. Regulus on the other hand, was good at battle spellwork because of his cool temperament. He shelters the other two as they make their way to a portkey, but doesn't follow them.
During the battle, Emma rescues a big black dog trapped under a collapsed roof.
The two find out Regulus didn't come back, and go looking for him. Alecto informs Emma that she completed her task. Worried that she couldn't find Regulus, Emma resorts to asking Sirius, but before she can say anything, he asks her if she came to gloat, because he chose the dead family. She finds out that Alecto misunderstood and killed Charles instead of using a Memory Charm.
Emma begins to doubt the D. L's cause, remembering the dead Muggles at the battle. She meditates on her situation in the Quidditch pitch (her favourite haunt), where she is joined by Regulus. She notices that he has been crying. She tells him she is responsible for her father's death, and he tells her that Bellatrix saw Sirius at the battle and called a family meeting.
He tells her that Walburga was outraged and Orion stuck to the "blood is blood" motto of the Blacks. Walburga tortured Orion in order to keep the Black blood "toujours pur", but was interrupted by Voldemort's arrival. Voldemort asked Orion what the most important thing was, and orion replied "blood", knowing that V was half-blood. Then Voldemort killed Orion, whilst Regulus watched.
They sleep together.
Emma regrets sleeping with Regulus the next day, not wanting to be "one of those girls" that he left behind afterwards, so ignores her conflicted feelings and tells him to forget about the previous night.
Alecto notices that Emma is upset. When Emma says it is because of the killing at halloween, Alecto tells her that she'll get used to it, and that Lucius shouldn't have sent Emma and Rabastan on the mission in the first place, as it did not play to their strengths.
Emma angrily tells Alecto that she should have obliviated Charles instead of killing him, but Alecto is hurt that her friend doesn't appreciate what she did for her and becomes bitter.
In Potions, Emma realises that she has become awkward and shy around Regulus, not knowing how to act anymore. She realises that she is developing a crush on him.
Rabastan notices that something strange is going on, but thinks that it has to do with the death of Regulus's father. He guesses that it was the OOTP that killed Orion.
At the next Hogsmeade visit, Regulus voices his doubts about Voldemort's strategy, wondering if they had made a mistake. Emma refuses to consider the possibility, after all she had lost to choosing the D. L.'s side of the war.
They are met by Rodolphus Lestrange, who takes them to an impromptu meeting with Voldemort. The latter asks the students to observe the rest of the sixth and seventh years to determine who could be "converted" and who was likely to join the OOTP, like Sirius. He also congratulates Emma on "dealing with" her father, asking her to keep an eye on her fellow Death Eaters.
She voices her doubts about Lily Evans, and Voldemort immediately tells her that Lily was a pureblood who happened to be adopted by Muggles, cementing her belief in his crusade.
The Slytherins compile a list of potential threats, with Alecto making sure that Emma wasn't assigned her brother to watch over. Out of spite, Emma tells Alecto that the D.L. made her in charge and that Lily Evans was a pureblood.
On a patrol, Regulus voices his unhappiness at Emma's dedication to the D.L. above everything else, asking her to not speak of it. Another wedge of awkwardness is driven between them. Emma tries to persuade Regulus that his father dying was Sirius's fault, but Regulus maintains that Sirius was not the one to hold the wand. He wonders aloud why Voldemort was so angry when Orion mentioned blood. Emma rationalises Voldemort's actions by saying that he wanted to grant Orion relief from his suffering in killing him.
James interrupts the patrol to run outside, saying cryptically that Sirius really messed up. Regulus goes to the Gryffindor tower to confront him, and James reveals that Sirius told Snape to go and see what was underneath the whomping willow at the full moon. Emma decides to help her brother and looks for a teacher, but James refuses, unwilling to let Remus pay for Sirius's mistakes.
Emma finally manages to become an Animagus (trying since 3rd year) and turns into a fox, slipping through the branches to find the button. James rescues Snape, who knows that Remus is a werewolf and they go to the castle. The werewolf is detained by Emma, who leads him on a chase into the forest.
Snape wants to go to Dumbledore, so James buys time by sending him and the Black brothers up to the headmaster's. He goes back outside to find Emma and Remus.
After an eventful night, Emma admits to James that she has lost her passion for Quidditch (alarming James). He resolves to make Regulus tell him what was wrong with his sister and to take better care of her, realising that she was the only family he had now.
The next day he decides to stop spending so much time with Lily and find out what Emma has been doing, after making Sirius realise the consequences of his actions. James has matured since being with Lily, and has learned to control his anger.
He wonders if Emma is ill, as she has the same manic energy as before she went to see the Giants, not realising that it is the fevered resolve of the D. L.'s followers. He decides to interrogate Rabastan too.
In Herbology, James makes sure he's partnered with Regulus to question him, but gets annoyed very quickly. Eventually, Regulus admits that he doesn't understand Emma either.
Meanwhile, Emma and Rabastan follow Sirius around the castle with the Invisibility Cloak, to find out where the OOTP meetings are - after having found out somehow that Marlene McKinnon was also a member (like her father), along with Mary McDonald and Benky Fenwick.
Alecto wants to Obliviate Fenwick, but he has taken copious notes on Death Eater patterns, so they need a different approach - Lucinda would give him a Love Potion. Rabastan and Emma brew it in class.
Emma realises that Rabastan has fallen for Lucinda and agrees to ask her about him.
In the same Potions class, James makes Regulus his partner and thinks that Helen (Regulus's usual partner) is his girlfriend. After more fruitless questions, James begins to think that Emma is actually closer to Rabastan instead of Regulus, as he often sees them together. Regulus is angry about this supposition, and James realises (from having loved Lily for so long) that Regulus is in love with Emma.
However, Sirius ruins his plans by teasing his brother, and Regulus reacts by poisoning Sirius (and then administering the antitode when Slughorn reappears).
James thinks that Rabastan is Emma's boyfriend and finds him the next day to ask about Emma. Rabastan replies that James is asking the wrong person, but when the Gryffindor insists, he implies that Emma has been at odds with the other Slytherins for adhering to Muggleborn views. He goes on to say that he doesn't mind Muggleborns either, tricking James into revealing that he is with the OOTP, which Rabastan then relays to Emma.
After a failed Quidditch practice, Emma corners Regulus by using a Disillusionment charm on the Snitch. Regulus is angry at her, accusing her of having distanced herself and of fancying Rabastan, hinting that she might have slept with Rabastan. He also says that she is cold-hearted for treating her like she did Sirius after the interhouse ball. Emma is quick to correct him, saying that she lied about Sirius to hide the shame of what happened with Miller. She accuses Regulus in return of wanting to break every girl's heart but keep their love for him.
Regulus realises his mistake and kisses Emma, telling her he loves her.
They tentatively start a relationship, with Emma privately worried that people close to her had a habit of dying.
Rabastan catches them and teases them before heading out to set a trap for Amelia Bones, having decided that she was too dangerous to let live. However, his plans are thwarted by Gilderoy Lockheart's head floating above the Quidditch pitch.
Emma manages to dispel the charm, earning her the suspicion of Amelia Bones, who supposed that the charm was a lot like the one used to create the Dark Mark (Morsmordre).
Rabastan confesses his fears to Emma, cementing James's belief that they are dating. Emma promises Rabastan that they will find a way to deal with Bones.
James finds Emma in the library and holds out an olive branch, inviting her back to Godric's Hollow for Christmas. She agrees on condition that Regulus and Kreacher come, though doesn't mention Kreacher by name. James misinterprets this as Emma asking if Rabastan can come, to which he flat out refuses, being suspicious of Rabastan.
An argument ensues, in which James realises that Regulus and not Rabastan is Emma's boyfriend.
Voila, action packed, and slightly longer than I expected!