Hello everyone!

Not much to say this week, only thanks to everyone who reviewed: ThePhantomismyLove, bulldoglover01, Guest (why do you want them to have children?), Nik1804, wiseguy123, Teddy2104, lizyeh2000 and Cae-Leigh Anne.

Special thanks to VidereLux, whose beta-ing made this more legible.

Also (not that anyone really cares), I decided to join the Hogwarts forum to keep my writing in shape (for better chapters in A Tale of Two Sides, of course), and I was placed in Ravenclaw! Can you imagine? Pottermore placed me three times in Slytherin! I feel like a traitor.

Anyway, enjoy!

If it had been anyone else, Emma would have expected a cry of outrage, a barrage of questions, for them to recoil as though bitten by a snake. But it was not anyone else. This was Regulus.

Instead, he looked her calmly in the eyes, probing without Occlumency. This is why people trust him with their secrets, Emma thought. This lack of judgement.

It was refreshing. Although James had been careful not to comment on anything during her meltdown the night before, Emma could see that he was burning with questions, with vengeance, with…she wasn't quite sure what. He hadn't wanted to believe that it was the whole story. Regulus simply accepted what was given to him.

'I'm sure that's not the whole story,' Regulus said, belying her thoughts. But he didn't press her, didn't ask any questions.

Instead, he huddled closer, silver eyes no longer reflecting the water but revealing the depths of his thoughts.

And so she told him about the night of the Christmas holidays, the flash of green, the screaming that preceded it, the guilt that followed, and her subsequent rescue of the rest of the Muggle family.

'I haven't dared visit St Mungo's,' Emma confessed, laying bare her innermost worries. 'I was too scared…that someone would recognise me, or that the man wouldn't have gotten better, or worse yet…that they weren't treated since they were Muggles. Where would they go? What have we done?'

The question was rhetorical, but Emma felt as though it weren't. The Muggles were a weight dragging her deeper underwater, her responsibility, and she had been ignoring them as though the chain linking them would just disappear.

She hadn't expected Regulus to answer.

'So we'll defect,' he said, voice growing stronger. 'We'll make up for our mistakes, all of them. Not everything we did was bad; the werewolves have better living conditions now that they have joined us than before.'

He stood up straighter, gesticulating passionately. 'We'll talk to the Giants. The Scottish Gurg respects you, not Voldemort. You're the go between, whilst the Dark Lord sits on his throne in the background.'

Emma watched him, entertaining the notion for a fleeting moment of happiness. Then reality descended, and she drew Regulus back down with her.

'We can't defect, Regulus,' she said heavily. She looked to the sky, the moon fully blocked by roiling clouds, and it seemed like a metaphor for the crushing of their hopes. 'We would always be seen as defectors on the one hand, Dark wizards on the other. Feared by all, trusted by none. We'd have no influence, no power to turn the tides, and even if we went to the Ministry or to Dumbledore, there's no saying they'll believe us. And Regulus,' she added, her voice quailing, 'I'm too scared. I'm just too scared.'

'Then we'll have to find our own way,' Regulus said firmly. 'A third path.'

'There you are!' James shouted, a little louder than anticipated.

Several students stopped to watch as he bumped and pushed his way down the staircase to the Entrance Hall, looking back every few seconds to yell out a "Sorry!" to someone who had fallen over. By the time he reached the double doors, there was no sign of his quarry.

Still, James had a pretty good idea of where Regulus was heading, since for once he wasn't accompanied by Emma. Acting on a hunch, he raced across the grounds to Greenhouse 5, the one hosting the most magical and fragile of plants. He caught the slighter boy just past Greenhouse 4, using his momentum to drag him into the small alley between the two Herbology classes.

He couldn't help but think of how creepy it was that the Slytherin didn't react, just looked at him coolly, as though James should feel childish for holding him by his collar. Still, James refused to let himself be intimidated. This was the little kid who had spent half of his first summer holidays at the Potter's, and something like that had an effect on whatever influence he exuded now.

'It was you all along, wasn't it?' James asked. 'Every time Sirius thought Emma was influencing you, making you more amenable to your parents' ideals, it was you egging her along, manipulating her into believing whatever pureblood bullshit you buy into.'

Regulus blinked calmly, slowly, glancing down as though he was tired of thugs like James wasting his time.

'Emma made her own choice, James,' he replied. 'She joined for her own reasons, not mine.'

'Bullshit!' James repeated, slamming Regulus frustratedly against the edge of the greenhouse, his head knocking against the metal panels.

'I wouldn't do that again, if I were you,' Regulus growled.

James felt a sharp pain in his side, looking down to see that Regulus had his wand out. Bastard, he thought. That's why he's reacting so calmly.

Still, he let go of Regulus's shirt, and in return the younger boy put away his wand, readjusting his tie. In a flash, James had his own wand out, pressing it to the centre of the Slytherin's green Prefect badge.

Regulus's mouth tightened, his eyes going sleet grey with anger. That, James could deal with. In fact, he looked like Sirius, when Sirius managed to control his bursts of anger.

'You're right,' James said, trying a new tack. 'Forget about the past. What's done is done. What I want you to do now,' he pushed with more force than necessary on the Regulus's chest, 'is to get my sister out of there. Out, completely, get it? No more raids, no more missions, no more Voldemort. I need her safe, and if you cared for her at all, that's what you would want too.'

'If I cared at all?' Regulus asked, indignation slipping into his carefully cultured tones. 'What the hell is that supposed to mean?'

'You know what I mean,' James growled, the sound resonating through his chest. 'Why did you ask my sister to marry you? Why so young? I let you off earlier because she seems to really love you, but how do I know you're not just using her? I know that that's what Wilkes tried to do.'

Regulus closed his eyes for a long moment there. James realised that it was what the younger boy did to control his emotions and thoughts. True enough, when he opened them again they were as opaque as the metal at his back.

'Wilkes liked Emma, it's true. But it's common knowledge that the Potters' fortune has but two heirs now: you and your sister,' Regulus had slipped into the tone James recognised as his "storytelling voice". 'It is also common knowledge that the Blacks, the "Noble and Most Ancient House" have far more wealth than is healthy for us. So no, I'm not using her for that.

'On the other hand, you could say that marrying a pureblood is an option to secure the Black family line, since my three cousins are all female and Sirius has officially been disinherited. But let's face it. The controversy that has surrounded the Potters and their love for Muggles…and Muggleborns…is such that I would have been far better off with the likes of Lucinda Rosier, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. So no, I'm not using her for that.

'As for why so young, well, why are you considering asking Lily Evans to marry you?'

The question disoriented James so much that he lowered his wand in shock.

'How did -'

'The question is not how,' Regulus interrupted, 'but whom. Next time you discuss proposal ideas with Remus Lupin, try not to do it next to the chattiest portrait in the castle.'

James realised that Regulus was referring to the Fat Lady. The Slytherin had already moved on, though.

'The question of why,' he said softly, as though he were almost afraid to say it. 'It's more a question of why ever not. I'm sure that my feelings for your sister do not interest you, though. The question you're really asking, is whether I would be prepared to do anything within my power to see her safe from harm, be it to ruin the Black family name, the Black family treasure, my own safety, my own life.'

James realised then and there that he couldn't have found someone he would trust more with his sister, his other half, than the person standing in front of him that day.

'So,' Emma said, carefully positioning herself forty five degrees to the right of the glass wall in the Slytherin Common Room.

The seat by the chess board was, according to Regulus, the best place a whisper could carry across the whole room. Lucinda sat half-facing her, whilst Regulus and Rabastan played a half-hearted game of chess to keep up the front of keeping up a front.

'I've set a time,' she said. 'The Muggles will all be out for the village fête that day. The Dark Lord chose well. I believe that nine o'clock at night will be the perfect cover. Night will have fallen and they will have lit the first bonfire of the year. A few children will have gone back home, but mostly the adults will be out to enjoy a drink or two before the lighting of the bonfire. Maximum diversion under cover of darkness and smoke equals maximum panic. Only a few of the most... select of the Dark Lord's friends will be present. After all, this is a ritual reserved only for the elite.'

'By Merlin, you make it sound so sinister,' Lucinda shuddered. 'They're only Muggles, do you really need to be so…theatrical about it?'

The blonde tossed her head over her shoulder as if to prove a point, and Emma had a hard time not catching Regulus's eye. He had made her promise not to say anything about Horcruxes to the others, for their own safety, just as she had not told them about her doubts. Something she had told Lucinda though, was that Lucinda needed to be more vocal in her support for the Dark Lord in the Common Room over the next few days.

Emma had told her that if anyone asked, it was just a ploy to make Rabastan propose to her, but to maintain her neutrality at all costs.

Something in her voice must have given her away though, because ever since, Lucinda kept shooting her worried looks during Charms.

'Speaking of Muggles,' Emma put in as much disgust into her voice as possible. 'I need to go and finish that paper on the importance of the invention of the telephone. Merlin knows that I wish I hadn't taken this subject, but you know...' she smirked as best as she could. 'Anything to keep suspicion at bay.'

With that, Emma grabbed her books, heading out to the library.

'Wait!' Rabastan said quickly, looking up from the game. 'I'll join you. Here Barty, you can take my place, I'm losing anyway.'

'Emma! Ems!' Rabastan called, jogging down the hallway with his book bag. 'Damnit Ems, the library's not going anywhere!'

Emma slowed down, allowing him to catch up. 'Sorry,' she replied. 'I was lost in thought.'

'I could tell,' Rabastan replied, tugging his brown locks out of his eyes. He gave the corridor a cursory glance before lowering his voice. 'Mind telling me what that was all about?' he asked. 'You aren't planning anything…dangerous, are you?'

Emma frowned, pursing her lips to the side. She had expected Regulus to tell Rabastan about their plan, but it would be just like him to have her take the risk for this whilst he searched for potential Horcruxes and locations. His reputation had to be perfectly pristine. Hers just had to be…ruthless.

'Actually, I was hoping to talk to you about this,' she answered eventually. 'I was hoping you would join me, as my second, on the raid. No one's a better dueller than you, and I've seen your traps for Aurors. There's a reason you're a part of the Inner Circle.'

'Of course, you only had to ask,' Rabastan said immediately. 'But I thought you and Regulus had made up? Why not ask him, since he's probably got better reconnaissance?'

'Regulus has something else he needs to do,' Emma said quietly as they passed the threshold of the library. 'Look, I'll tell you more later, alright? Let's study for a bit; I really do need to pull my act together. I think Slughorn's getting pretty suspicious that I've abandoned my plans for the future.'

Rabastan snorted, but sat down at the table all the same. The two worked in silence for a while, occasionally asking the other some questions or passing each other a book.

Emma finished her Potions essay, working in the finest details possible in order to bring in an O. If it hadn't been for her and Rabastan's joint practical potions, she would have been failing. She was surprised to find that she enjoyed the work, although she shouldn't have been. Once upon a time, Potions had been one of her favourite subjects.

She sighed, sprinkling sand over the parchment to let it dry. One down, four to go. She would have to go to talk to her other teachers, ask for extensions, makeup exams and the like. That was not something she was looking forward to.

In the meantime, she had another piece of business to attend to.

'So are you going to hand me your Potions essay to look over?' she asked Rabastan.

He looked up, eyebrows raised in disbelief. Blinking and heaving a sigh, he handed over a blank piece of parchment.

'This is what you were after, I suppose?' he asked, slightly louder than usual. A couple of Hufflepuffs looked up. 'I warn you, if I've found that you've copied my properties of Monkshood...' he trailed off threateningly.

The Hufflepuffs shared grins and went back to their group work.

I know you've found my behaviour recently slightly…erratic, Emma wrote quickly. But know that my reasons are well founded. Please keep in mind that my first and foremost concerns are you, Regulus and Lucinda. I took your advice to heart that night, but I believe that we would do better in choosing another path.

Fear not, my dear Rabastan, she injected a little humour into the letter. I am not proposing that we cut ties with our previous engagements. Instead, I think that we should keep our options open. I know for a fact that Lucius keeps aside most of the Malfoy fortune in the case of our failure, courtesy of Narcissa, and I believe that we should do the same, only in a different way.

This is why, at Easter, the Aurors will be present. I trust you to put into place your best laid traps. We must lose this battle, though it must be a personal win. There will be no Muggles to get in my way this time. You will have my undivided attention when it comes to the fight, and I put our safety into your hands.

Her hand itched to add a yours truly, since it seemed like such a formal letter, but she knew that the evidence would be too incriminating should Rabastan not choose to burn it.

Instead, she handed the parchment back to Rabastan.

'Dear Merlin, Rab,' she said in mock horror. 'That spelling of yours is enough to turn old Professor Binns in his grave!'

Rabastan grimaced in response.

'Professor, are the rumours true?' James asked at the end of their Order meeting the following Friday.

'And which rumours might these be, Mr Potter?' Minerva McGonagall asked, looking at him through glasses perched on the edge of her nose.

James shifted in his seat. Of course, he hadn't heard any rumours at all. But Emma had assured him that there would be, among the younger students who still mingled despite the differences in colour of their robes.

'That Voldemort,' James gulped. He wasn't sure he'd ever get used to saying it. 'That Voldemort is planning on destroying an entire village of Muggles.'

'Mr Potter, this is a very serious allegation,' a small man with a top hat said quickly. James couldn't remember his name. 'Are you quite certain?'

'I've heard the same thing,' Benjy Fenwick added, looking from James to Dumbledore. 'And I've heard that it's going to happen on Sunday.'

'Two days!' McGonagall cried. 'And we haven't heard a peep from our usual contacts?' she addressed this last question to the Aurors in the group.

They shook their heads, looking troubled. Remus was looking at James curiously, a slight frown creasing his forehead.

'We have to stop them!' Sirius said, leaping from his chair and knocking it over in the process.

'I agree,' Lily said, more calmly. 'But the most important thing would be to get the Muggles out.'

James could have kissed her in that moment. Trust Lily to think of those who couldn't defend themselves. He made a mental note to tell Wormtail all about it later, since the latter was in detention that evening. He wouldn't be able to relive it with Sirius or Remus, who wouldn't have the proper reactions.

'I second that,' Marlene McKinnon added. 'But how can we do that? Without drawing attention to ourselves?'

'A few of the guys down at the Misused Artefacts owe me a favour,' one of the Prewett twins said, James couldn't tell the difference between the two. 'I could get them to fast-track a memo about something affecting the entire village, putting a Memory Charm on all of them.'

'No,' Dumbledore said. 'A Memory Charm is too risky. We will need a diversion, something that will bring the Muggles out of their homes. I have just the idea. We will have people work the weather to make them think there are violent storms coming and that they must seek refuge at the nearest village. It is nearer to the river than the rest, after all. There could be a great risk of flooding.'

'Ah, splendid idea!' the small wizard said enthusiastically.

'Thank you Dedalus,' Dumbledore smiled. 'Very well, if this is true and we are to act, then this meeting must adjourn before its time, I'm afraid. We have much to do. Thank you, Mr Potter, Mr Fenwick, for bringing this to our attention.'

James let out a breath he didn't even realise he was holding, thankful that his part of the plan was in motion, and wondering how long he could keep it up for.