"Is it true you've banned Henry and Ginny from going to Hogsmeade?" Emma demanded, crossing the room and stopping just behind Regina.

The brunette jumped at her proximity and turned quickly, scowling at the younger witch. "Is that any of your business?"

"They're my students and, while they're here, we have some responsibility to them." She retorted. "So yes, I think it is my business. Have you banned them?"

"Yes, I have." Regina replied shortly, pushing past the Charms Professor and heading for the door.

Emma hesitated for a moment, before crossing the staff room and blocking Regina's escape route. Looking totally outraged, the brunette set her books down heavily on the closest surface and folded her arms. Emma faced her, not the slightest bit perturbed, putting her hands on her hips and sending her a challenging look.

"What do you want?" The Head of Slytherin demanded, emphasising every single word.

"I want you to tell me what's being going on around here… with you."

"I've been doing my job, Professor Swan, teaching the students and… what was it you said? We have a responsibility to our students? So, like you, I have been fulfilling that responsibility."

"What about your responsibility to Henry, Regina? What about your son?"

"How… how dare you?" Regina breathed, her entire body shaking with fury. "How dare you use my son against me?"

"The son you haven't spoken to since he witnessed you attacking your own niece?" Emma shot back, equally angry.

She couldn't understand what was going on in the brunette's head. It was clear that she hadn't changed in her fierce protectiveness and yet she was content to let Henry continue to believe that she was working with her mother and the Dark Lord. Emma watched Regina's face twitching with fury as she worked around what the younger woman had said. It was almost funny, Emma thought, that the brunette was so affected by her and she hadn't even started yet.

"I would never…" Regina threw up her hands and shook her head. "Get out of my way, Swan, or I'll make you."

"Make me, then."

"I'm serious, Swan."

"So am I, Mills."

There was a slight hesitation where both women just stared at each other, wondering what the next move was going to be. Then, without warning, they both reacted at once. Regina threw a stunning spell in Emma's direction while the blonde blocked it easily, retaliating with a stunning spell of her own. The older woman deflected the jet of light easily, hitting a vase on the mantelpiece above the fireplace and causing it to shatter into tiny pieces. Neither woman reacted however, continuing to aim and deflect.

Finally, Regina let out a small scream of frustration and changed tack. She sent a disarming spell in Emma's direction and, thrown off guard by the sound her ex-girlfriend had emitted, the Charms Professor felt her wand being ripped out of her hand. She was forced to watch as it flew through the air and Regina caught it deftly, a smug smirk on her face. They were both breathing hard, adrenaline coursing through their bodies in the aftermath of their impromptu duel.

Looking at the wand in her hand, Regina considered it for a moment. She remembered sitting with Emma as they'd talked about anything and everything. It had seemed so cheesy and yet romantic at the time, stretched out on blankets in her garden and staring up at the stars. Trading information about their wands seemed such a boring topic and yet at the same time it was so painfully personal; giving Emma knowledge of something that was an extension of her very self.

"Aspen and Phoenix feather… 13 inches… springy." She murmured, still looking down at Emma's wand.

"Acacia and Phoenix feather, 9 and three-quarter inches… surprisingly swishy." Emma replied without missing a beat. "We're like Phoenix feather twins."

Despite her better judgement, Regina sighed and met the blonde's eyes. "I'm sorry. I should never have…"

"No," the blonde agreed, "you probably shouldn't have. Why did you?"

"Oh, Emma…" Regina shook her head, holding out her wand with an apologetic look on her face. "It's… it's far more complicated than…"

"What's going on?" Emma urged, stepping forward into the older woman's personal space.

"Don't."

"Regina–"

"I've got a class to teach, Professor Swan." Regina told her firmly. "I suggest you get on with whatever you should be doing now, too."

"Oh, come on, Regina!"

Emma felt the progress that she had managed to make, tenuous as it was, slipping away as she stared at the woman in front of her. She knew the closed off expression that was taking over Regina's face al too well and the last thing she wanted was for the older witch to walk out of the room. If she did, then anything she had managed to break through in the last couple of minutes would be completely undone.

"Professor Swan, I–"

"Regina!" Emma shook her head and laughed mirthlessly. "Come on!"

"Come on, what?"

"Come on, don't act as though I'm no one." She urged gently. "Even if… even if there's no chance of us getting back together… I still want to be your friend, Regina."

For a split second Emma was sure that a stricken look had crossed the brunette's face at the idea that they might not work out their differences and be a couple again. But then it was gone and Regina was shrugging, bending down to pick up her books from the table where she had put them before their fight. She shot Emma a quick look, before fixing her gaze on a more neutral, safer point – the painting above the fireplace.

"I'm saying this for your own good, Emma… you do not want to associate yourself with me, let alone be my friend." Regina assured her calmly. "Times are dangerous and there are certain… expectations… now. It might be difficult for you to understand or reconcile yourself to my decisions but… they are mine."

"Regina, I don't believe you."

The brunette shrugged. "Believe what you want."

"Please…"

"There are two weeks left until the Christmas holidays and I doubt Henry will…" She broke off, forcing her tone and expression to remain neutral. "Please ensure my son enjoys his holiday, Emma."

Before she could respond, Regina had left the staff room and the door was banging closed behind her. Emma simply stared at the spot that had been blocked by the other woman's frame as though she was still standing there. In fact, Emma only had to close her eyes and she could recall Regina's face perfectly in her mind's eye. Sighing and mentally reprimanding herself for being so stupid, Emma moved towards the door.

"That girl is trouble." A voice behind her said and the witch turned to find herself staring into the smug face of a former Head of Gryffindor, Valeria Myriadd.

Rolling her eyes at the painting, Emma pulled open the staffroom door with more force than was necessary. "Shut up, Valeria. What do you know about anything, anyway?"


Emma had gone through the rest of her day almost in a daze, her mind totally focused on Regina. She was wondering whether the brunette had actually given up on persuading Henry to forgive her and that, more than anything else, was worrying the younger woman. She knew that, through everything she'd been through, Henry was the thing that had kept her on the light path. If she thought she'd lost her son then there was no telling what Regina might do or be capable of.

"So, guess what happened this afternoon?"

"What?" Emma asked disinterestedly, shooting Ruby a cursory glance as she dropped down beside her.

"Regina sent for Leora Kuhn at the end of my lesson."

"And? What happened?"

"I followed her down to Regina's office." Ruby said, almost triumphantly. "I tried to listen, but I couldn't hear anything, so I hid and waited for Leora to come out."

"Did she?"

Ruby scrunched up her face slightly. "Well, yeah, she did. But she looked like she'd been crying and she went straight up to the fourth year girl's dormitory."

"So what?" Emma shrugged, unable to feign interest in the story while her mind was elsewhere. "Maybe she was in trouble?"

"But what if she goes missing?"

"What if she doesn't?"

With a frown, Ruby shook her head. "What's up with you?"

"Go and speak to McGonagall again if you're worried." Emma suggested with a deep sigh, her eyes finding Henry at the Ravenclaw table. "Get her to tell you the password and go and check whether Leora's gone or not?"

As though she hadn't thought of that course of action, Ruby nodded slowly. "OK… I'll let you know what happens."

"Mmm…" Emma agreed distractedly, her eyes fixed on the dark-haired fourteen-year-old sitting amongst his friends. "You do that."

While Ruby headed away to speak to Professor McGonagall, Emma left the teachers' table and headed down to the Ravenclaw table. She smiled at the students who greeted her, coming to a stop behind Henry and his friends. The fourth years smiled broadly at her and she engaged them in conversation for a couple of moments, before requesting a private word with Henry.

He stood at once, following her from the Great Hall into the Entrance Hall, which was completely deserted. "What's up, Professor?"

"Henry… it's… it's about your Mother."

Instantly his face clouded over. "What about her? What's she done now?"

"She… she hasn't done anything, Henry." Emma assured him, the hint of frustration breaking through in her tone. "She misses you, that's all."

"She misses me?" He stared at her incredulously. "How do you know that? You haven't been talking to her, have you? This is what she does, Emma! She gets inside people's heads and makes them think–"

"No, Henry." The blonde stopped him firmly with a shake of her head. "She doesn't. She didn't want to speak to me and, before you say anything, she wasn't putting on an act. She really didn't want to speak to me."

The fourteen-year-old hesitated for a moment. "Yeah, well… she attacked you and Tonks at Bill and Fleur's wedding. I can't forget that, let alone forgive her for it, even if you can."

"But she didn't attack me, Henry. Or Tonks… not really. We attacked her and she just deflected our spells. She didn't even try to defend herself." Emma sighed. "Think about it. This is your mother we're talking about. If she'd wanted to hurt me then we wouldn't be having this conversation now, would we?"

"I suppose not…" Henry agreed slowly. "So… what do you think she was doing?" His face lit up eagerly as he thought of another possibility. "Do you think she's a spy? Like a double agent?"

"I honestly don't know." Emma admitted. "But I think–"

They both froze at the sound of footsteps and voices coming towards them. Grabbing Henry by the arm, Emma pulled him behind a suit of armour as they watched to see who was descending the Grand Staircase. Neither of them were quite sure why they were holding their breath, let alone hiding, but it seemed like the best course of action and so neither of them questioned it too much.

"… know it seems mad, Leora, but I promise you that this is the best option."

"My parents?"

"I'm afraid not… not at the moment." Both figures behind the suit of armour stiffened as the speaker came into view and they recognised Regina immediately. "Have you got everything?"

The Gryffindor fourth year beside her held up the small satchel she was carrying and nodded. "All in here, Professor."

"Excellent." Shooting a surreptitious glance around the Entrance Hall, she nodded.

Perhaps it was their imagination, but Emma and Henry could have sworn her eyes lingered in their direction for a couple of moments before she motioned towards the doorway that led down to the Slytherin dungeon. They crossed the flagstones quickly, disappearing from sight without another word.

"What's going on?" Henry demanded as soon as the dungeon door had closed behind them. "What's Mom doing with Leora Kuhn?"

"I wish I knew, Henry…" Emma muttered. Then she nodded decisively. "Come on."

They hurried across the Entrance Hall and through the door the two females had just vanished through. Instinctively they headed for Regina's rooms, pausing as they realised they had managed to catch them up. Peering around the corner, the pair watched as Regina ushered Leora into her office and, with another cautious look over her shoulder, followed her inside.

"Now what?" Henry whispered.

Emma thought for a moment, chewing her lip as she concentrated. Then she sent Henry a knowing smile. "You should go and knock on the door."

"What? Why me?"

"Because your mom is desperate to see you. Like I said, she really misses you, kid."

"You want to use that to find out what she's up to?"

The blonde shook her head vehemently. "No, I want you to speak to your mom. If you happen to find something out at the same time, great."

"You really believe in her, don't you?"

Emma looked at him seriously, before a tiny, crooked smile crossed her face. "Yeah, kid, I do. You should as well."

He hesitated for a moment, before smiling weakly and walking towards his mother's door. Raising his hand there was another short pause, before he knocked firmly. Henry's eyebrows furrowed lightly as he heard a thudding noise and a small scuffle before footsteps moved towards the door. Regina's harassed face appeared in the gap and she simply blinked at him for a couple of moments before a bright smile broke her expression and she opened the door fully.

"Henry!"

"Hey, Mom…"

"What are you…? Come in… please?"

"OK." He paused for a moment. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"No?" Regina shook her head and ushered him inside. "Of course not! I'm so happy to see you." She settled on the sofa beside him, just far away not to be crowding him, wary not to scare him off. "How are you? I am sorry about the Hogsmeade ban... but it's a better option than–"

"I know, Mom. It's fine."

"I just want you to understand that I… I'm trying to protect you, Henry."

"And Ginny?" He asked curiously.

Regina paused for a moment and then nodded guardedly. "By extension…"

"Not because you like her, then?"

"Like or dislike has nothing to do with it, Henry."

"Or because you're friends with her mom?"

"Again, this is a far more complicated situation than like and dislike and friendships."

He arched an eyebrow. "I think friendship is exactly what this situation is about. Friendship and loyalty and doing what's right."

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment and then she smiled, shaking her head in amusement. "You're so grown up."

"What's going on, Mom?"

"Nothing, Henry." She told him lightly. "Absolutely nothing."

They continued to talk for almost another hour. Henry forced his suspicious nature into the background and Regina was delighted by the opportunity to speak to her son as though nothing had happened. By the time the boy glanced at the clock and realised he was in danger of breaking the curfew set in place by the Headmaster, they both felt as though things might be getting back on track between them.

"I'm so glad you came to see me, sweetheart." Regina told him honestly. "I really do love you, you know."

"I know, Mom. I love you too." He agreed, hugging her tightly.

Regina melted into his embrace, holding him closer. If she wasn't very much mistaken she felt him cling on tighter and heard him mumble, 'please be careful', into her hair. Pulling away, Regina cupped his face and smiled softly, before telling him to get back to the Ravenclaw Tower before he got into trouble.

"If you bump into anyone tell them you were with me." She informed him, leaning against the doorway of her office. "Send them in my direction if they have a problem."

Henry nodded and waved as he rounded the corner. Emma stepped out of the shadows, causing the teenager to jump and almost cry out, but she clamped a hand over his mouth just in time.

"Chill out, kid." She whispered. "So, what happened?"

"Nothing." Henry told her with a shrug. "Absolutely nothing."

"But… we watched Leora go into the office with your mother just before you went in. She never came out. She must have been in there?"

"No way." He denied, shaking his head vehemently. "Mom was on her own."

Emma frowned, completely confused by that turn of events. "Definitely? You're sure?"

"Emma, Mom's office isn't exactly equipped for hiding fourteen-year-old girls. She wasn't there."

"So where did she go?" The witch queried, more to herself than the teenage boy standing in front of her. "How could she…?"

Henry shrugged and started walking in the direction of the steps up to the Entrance Hall. He knew that there was real truth behind his mother's assertion that he might run into trouble if he didn't get back to the Ravenclaw Tower soon. Emma followed, still deep in thought.

"I don't know." The boy admitted quietly with a shrug, seeing that she was still trying to work it out. "But you were right… we should believe in Mom."

Emma beamed at him, despite her intense bemusement over the situation. Squeezing his shoulders, she left him at the bottom of the Ravenclaw Tower, satisfied that he would be safe enough to make his way to the Common Room without running into anyone. The past few hours were still running through her mind on repeat as she tried to work out what was going on and just how Regina was connected to it all. With Henry's agreement that they should believe in the witch in question, Emma was even more determined to get answers.