Disclaimer: Do not own or profit from this

Author's Notes: Some have asked and I forgot to clarify. Magical theory was a class I made up for the unidentified 11th class at Hogwarts. It is like Magical experimentation, where you learn how magic is developed, theorized, new magic is developed, etc. It seemed like an Emma-type of class : )

Chapter 6: A Happy Christmas Comes and Goes

Harry and Emma shared a seat while Ginny, Ron, and Hermione sat across from them on the train ride to King's Crossing. "Snape is actually a good teacher," Ginny said. "Kinda freaky to think about."

"I don't think anyone doubted he'd be good," Hermione said, "just that he would be. . . frightening."

"It's almost bittersweet," Emma spoke up.

"Why do you say that?" Harry asked.

"Well, we know no teacher has last longer than a year," Emma said. "What will become of him?"

"Hopefully he will be gone too," Harry said. "No one besides Malfoy will miss him."

"I like him," Emma said making Harry do a double take. "But I am afraid of how he will leave. Defense teachers don't have a. . . pleasant retirement."

"He'll get what he deserves," Ron said. Pippin gave a cat like 'hmph' and dismissed Ron's comments. Emma refrained from laughing. 'It seems Snape even won over Pippin,' Emma said making Draco laugh.

They arrived at King's crossing and Emma waved goodbye as they all left to go to The Burrow and Emma went with her dad back home. "I have a surprise for you," Riley said grinning.

"You mean being in England for Christmas wasn't good enough?" Emma smiled.

"Well, it's more of a proposition, I suppose," Riley decided. They had arrived back at their manor and the house elves had already taken her trunk up to her room. "You don't look so well, have you been eating your vegetables?" Riley asked.

"No," Emma said honestly. "Some Kale when they serve it, carrots, peas, but it's not the first thing I put on my plate," she replied.

"Make sure you eat more, dear. I hate to think you don't take care of yourself," Riley said.

I take care of more than myself, Emma thought. "What was this proposition?"

Riley nodded. "Arthur and Molly invited us over for Christmas Dinner," he said. "I told them we would if you would like to go. Would you like to spend Christmas Day at the Burrow or here?"

"The Burrow would be great," Emma said. She could tell her dad was happy with the news as well; both of them realized it would be the first Christmas they spent with people other than just the two of them or business affairs. "Can we go shopping and get them Christmas presents?" Emma asked hopefully, giving him her best puppy-dog eyes. Riley laughed and they flooed to Diagon Alley.

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Christmas Eve Emma apparated to the Burrow. "Emma?" Lupin asked startled. He was talking with Molly and Arthur after Harry, Ron, and Ginny went to bed. "What in Merlin's name are you doing here?"

"I have become a nocturnal being," she joked seeing some of the other Weasley children in the room. She bent and whispered in his ear. "No one told you? I guard Harry in case Voldemort starts to try to posses him again."

"Every night?" he asked incredulously. Emma nodded. "You must be exhausted," Lupin said concerned. With a waive of his wand the kettle hissed and he filled her a mug. "Here is some cocoa." Emma smiled her thanks. She sat in the kitchen with Lupin, Molly, and Arthur as they finished their discussion about Order business during the first Order and what it was like then.

"Your mother and Lily went out and chopped down a tree to decorate," Lupin said laughing as he remembered. "We came back to find a tree entirely to big for the house, but there it was, decorated with everything from fairies to popcorn. Lily used a spell to bring the tree down, but Emily was willing to use an axe, they told us."

"I can see my mother doing that," Emma said laughing. "I love the Christmas during your seventh year," she said.

"That is when Riley proposed," Lupin remembered.

"You must have loved hearing those stories," Molly said.

Emma smiled sadly. "They are among some of the happier," she said. "My father doesn't talk about my mother a lot." More like hardly ever, she qualified. Arthur and Molly said goodnight and went upstairs. Lupin kissed the top of her head and went to apparate to his house.

"I'll see you tomorrow Emma?" he asked.

"Yes," Emma said happily. "We are coming."

"Try to get some sleep!" he said. She nodded as he left.

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Riley knocked on Emma's door early Christmas morning. "Happy Christmas sweetheart! We'll apparate to the Weasley's as soon as your ready," he called.

Emma stirred in bed. She had only gone to bed two and a half hours ago. "Just give me a minute to get out of my pajamas," she hollered mingled with a giant yawn. A few minutes later they arrived at The Burrow. "Happy Christmas!" Molly and Arthur called as they opened the door. They hugged Emma and Molly hugged Riley and Arthur shook his hand. "Everyone is in the parlor," Molly said.

"Emma!" Ginny said. "Happy Christmas!" Emma called out Happy Christmas. For a minute she just watched as all the Weasley children ripped open their presents. 'So this is what a Christmas is like with a family,' Emma thought.

'A bit different with just your dad, huh' Draco said. 'At least you can sleep during the break. I have to explain why it is taking me longer to accomplish than he was expecting' Draco muttered darkly.

Emma sat down when Harry beckoned her over. "Bit different, huh?" he said happily. He looked over at where her dad was talking with the Weasley's. He realized that this was probably the first big family-like Christmas she had ever had. Last year was so hectic with Arthur in the hospital it didn't even seem like a true Christmas celebration.

Emma nodded. She handed everyone their gifts she had brought them. "Did you send Hermione one too?" Harry asked surprised.

Emma nodded. "I send her, Seamus, Neville, Dean, Luna– everyone a gift every year," Emma reminded him.

Harry laughed. "I actually remembered to get you one too," Harry said happily. He handed Emma a gift, and smiled when he saw her jaw drop.

"You have no idea how much this means to me," she said, and Harry was distressed to see a tear run down her cheek.

"Hey, don't cry, you haven't even seen what it is yet," Harry said quickly.

Emma laughed. "I love it already, whatever it is," Emma reassured him. She opened it to find a broach of a firebolt with Irish regalia. She laughed and hugged him, making him smile. The only other gifts she got from people other than her father were the Diggorys, Seamus, Jane, and Draco.

"Who's that one from?" Ginny asked as Emma pulled out a beautiful green robe with shamrocks and celtic knots.

"The Diggorys." Emma said with a smile.

"I have one last present for you, Emma," Riley called out. Emma laughed. Her stack had, by far, been the largest and that made Emma feel horrid, but she felt the joy Riley had at this last gift. "Mind you, I was threatened if I didn't get you this gift."

"Who on earth would dare threaten you?" Lupin asked with a laugh.

"A very feisty American," Riley said grinning.

Emma jumped up. "Jane? What is it I wonder?" Emma asked as her father handed her a small box. "Surely she wouldn't threaten you over jewelry," Emma said as she fit the box in the palm of her hand.

"No, but she was very adamant about this gift and very specific. Open it," he said.

Emma gasped when she opened the box and then laughed. "Jane would threaten you. She was impressed I knew how to drive." The others watched as Emma took out a miniature car from the box. It looked like a toy mini-cooper.

"A toy?" Ron asked making the adults laugh.

"Far from it," Riley said. He set it on the ground, and with the flick of his wand, it became a normal size mini-cooper. He reshrunk it so it wouldn't take up the living room.

"I didn't know you could drive," Fred said amused.

"I have many secrets," Emma said making Lupin snort in his drink. "So can I drive Seamus and I to that theater tomorrow then?" she asked giving him some puppy-dog eyes.

"If Seamus' mother doesn't mind," Riley agreed. Emma jumped up and hugged him.

They soon sat down to eat which was an emotional and tense dinner. Emma sat between Riley and Lupin, and across from Fleur. She watched as everyone tried their hardest to be rude to Fleur and succeeded. Fleur's stubbornness wouldn't allow her to show her broken pride.

"Comment est-ce qu'allez votre famille?" Emma asked. Fleur gave her a relieved grin, and Bill smiled a 'thank you.' ('How is your family?')

"Ils sont bons, merci beaucoup," Fleur said. ('They are good, thank you')

"Je pense que vous avez une soeur, non?" Riley asked. Emma grinned, happy her father had picked up on the situation. The three of them chatted in French until Molly stood up suddenly. (I think you have a sister, right?')

"Arthur! It is Percy! With the minister!" she said excitedly. Then there was a shuffle as all the Weasley's tried to get a view as Percy came in.

"Emma, come along," Riley said, and she, Riley, and Lupin stepped out letting the family have a reunion alone.

"Something is wrong with Percy," Emma said. "I need to go back in," she muttered, but Riley had her stay in the parlor until Percy and the minister stormed off. Emma ran to the back door but the Minister and Percy apparated right as she reached the door. 'Something is wrong with Percy,' Emma decided.

'What?' Draco asked. 'Do you have any idea?'

Emma shook her head. 'No, I couldn't get close to him for any length of time. I need to see him . . .'

'I can try to find out something,' Draco said. 'No promises, though. I don't know who would know anything if there is anything to know.'

'Don't get in trouble for it,' Emma said. 'But thank you.'

Amarthiel-- Emma knows Dumbledore suspects what is happening (between his own suspicions and Snape's). It will come up in a couple chapters : ) I will try to put in more society stuff, but I didn't have any this year originally. I'll see what I can do ^_^ ABitofBlack-- Thank you! Every story has a line or two I adore, and that was definitly my favorite line in year 6! My beta says it's her favorite line in all of Emma : ) Snape is so much fun to write (especially when surrounded by Luna, Slughorn, and a drunk Trewlaney). Snuffles-sweetie-- It's coming soon : ) Hopefully you will like Harry's reaction. I do! AnimeCrazy-- It seems everyone is slowly starting to put the puzzle pieces together about Emma and Draco. It all comes out very year1989-- Thank you! Potter Fan Bo-- I loved it! Hopefully this will give everyone something to chew on as well. KRP-- I swear, sometimes I think you are psychic : ) I think Draco slipping, and Emma's lack of a solution, are subtle signs of how wearing the situation is on them. Once Harry does find out. . . well, things do tend to get more complicated between Harry and Draco before finally settling down. Iceball-- I am so thrilled you are addicted to my story::author does happy dance:: Percy will pop up again, but not this year because, like you said, it is more complicated and I have enough going on this year without him (sorry Perce). And I like Snape too, I like how he has sort of developed his own relationship with Emma.Childofthekng-- Poor Emma, and you also guessed it, things do tend to slip out of their control. In the very near future : ) soon.