Disclaimer: Don't own or profit from this . . .

Author's Notes: The long awaited chapter! After so long, Harry and Emma finally have THE talk : )


Chapter 9: Truth's revealed . . . Mostly

Harry watched Draco walk off and then headed towards the Room of Requirement. When he arrived he saw a door and heard muggle music coming through it. He knocked and then entered. "Emma." Emma looked up from her chaise where she was reading a book and eating cookies. Harry waited for her to say something, but she just sat and looked at him waiting on him. "What . . .what are you doing here?" he asked finally.

"Hiding," she admitted. "This is my sanctuary. I've always come here." Emma said. She took a sip from her goblet, and another appeared on the tray, as did another sofa. Harry sat on it.

"Just ask, Harry." Emma said. "Grant it, this isn't how I planned on having this conversation, but the fact that we are having it makes up for how it occurs."

"What conversation?" he asked puzzled. "What was it you did to me the other night?" he asked, slightly angry.

She was glad he started with that question. "In my anger I showed you a flash of my memories." Emma said sounding casual; in truth, it felt like someone was doing an Irish step dance on her ribcage, but she knew Harry was already emotional. He didn't need her added emotions projected onto him.

"How? And they all couldn't have been yours," he said logically.

Emma nodded. "Contrary to what Draco told you, I can see why you are the chosen one. They aren't all mine. They are my mother's."

"Why . . .why were my parents in them? Who was your mother?" he asked.

"It's a fairly long story," Emma said and handed him the plate piled high with cookies she had baked. "My mother was named Emily Potter." Emma watched Harry's reaction go from comprehension, to confusion, to shock.

"How is that possible? I am the last Potter," he declared.

Emma shook her head. "Not quite. My mother was a cousin to James. They grew up together and were actually more like brother and sister than just cousins," Emma said. "Mum was best friends with Lily when she was in Hogwarts, and with the marauders. Sirius and Mum were like brother and sister– they had both moved in with James and his parents in their sixth year." Harry didn't know what to say. "It is shocking, I know. And I have wanted to tell you for a long time."

"Why didn't you?" he asked suddenly. "I had family and I didn't even know it! All this time, you knew, and we could have been . ."

"Friends?" Emma asked. Harry looked stricken as he took in the last few days. "Dumbledore thought it best not to tell you yet. If you knew you had any relatives, well anyone else you could live with besides the Dursley's, family or not, would you have gone back?" Emma asked. "You had to continue going to the Dursley's and you didn't understand why yet, so Dumbledore thought it best if things didn't get complicated." Emma said.

"So we are cousins," Harry said in shock. Emma nodded, waiting for him to speak. "Why is it you have memories of your mother with my parents? That was when they were in school, long before you were born," he said.

Emma took a sip from her goblet. "That is a long, complex story. I don't know if you want to hear it."

"Does Draco know it?" Harry asked. Emma nodded. "Then I want to hear it."

Emma sighed. "Wanting something because Draco has it isn't a good reason. I swear, the two of you are more alike than you think," Emma laughed. Harry looked appalled.

"I want to hear it regardless. We are family," He said. "I . . .that might take some getting used to," he admitted.

Emma nodded. "I understand. If you never want to speak to me again I'll understand."

Harry looked shock. "Why would I want to do that?"

Emma shrugged. "I guess, I have always been afraid that that's what you would do when you found out," Emma admitted.

"He's rejected me" Emma told Draco as she cried into his shoulder. "I am surprised, but I don't want to turn from my family, Emma. Our parents were close, so I think if they were alive we would have been close. Tell me about it," Harry asked. Emma sensed his sincerity and nodded.

"Emily and James were very close. They grew up together since their father's were brothers and then went off to Hogwarts together. Emily was friends with all the Marauders, and Lily was her best friend. Emily and James were always doing stuff together. Not the pranking, that was strictly the marauders," Emma clarified, "but she and James were very close. Emily always tried to soften Lily towards James too. Well, she and my father dated during school and married after she graduated. Then I was born. They all thought it a sign that you and I were born so close together–I am only 3 months older than you," Emma said. Harry sat eating cookies as he listened to her story.

"How did your mother die?" he asked softly.

"Wormtail had just joined Voldemort. He had confided how close Emily was with all of the Marauders, especially James. Voldemort was starting to really detest all Potters, even before the prophecy. It was known they supported Dumbledore. I think that James and Lily had defied Voldemort once at the time, adding fuel to the fire. Well, Voldemort had decided to eliminate one of the Potters to send a warning to James and Lily that he was coming after them."

"Voldemort killed your mother too, then," Harry said softly.

Emma nodded. "The day after you were born, Peter apparated to my parents' house. Mum was waiting for Da to get back from the ministry so she could see how Lily was coping with you. You were coming home from St. Mungo's that day, and she was excited to see James gush about his son," Emma said with a small smile. "Your parents adored you," she added.

Harry sat numb. Here was someone right under his nose the last six years who could have told him about his parents and he hadn't known.

"Peter convinced my mom to come with him since my father was supposed to arrive in a few minutes. Said the house-elf could watch me sleeping that long. She was going to bring me along, but something told her not too. I think it was her maternal instincts, well, that and she had really good intuition. She kissed me sleeping in my crib and apparated out with Peter."

"They arrived somewhere, I'm not sure where, but there was Voldemort with a few of his fellow supporters. She knew she was going to die and she worried about me. She was afraid I would grow up without knowing her, knowing how good of a person she was, how much she loved me. She used ancient magic so that her essence would be transferred to me. She wanted me to have good feelings whenever I thought of her."

"That's what the memories were?" Harry asked.

Emma shook her head. "No. She only meant to give me her essence, her goodness, but in her panic, something went wrong and she transferred her memory to me instead. Her memories, like an imprint of her, came to me."

"Your mother's spirit is inside of you?" Harry asked surprised.

"Sort of. I mean, it's not her," Emma said. "She has moved on beyond the veil," Emma said. "That I have no memories of. I have no idea what the after-life is like. It is more like an impression of her. Her memories along with the emotions and personality are in my head."

"How have you . . ."

"Not gone crazy?" Emma asked and laughed. "That has been a struggle. Especially when I was younger and didn't realize what it was. I would be four and have memories of being twelve playing by a lake looking at a Giant Squid. As I got older I realized what it was."

"How. . .what . . .haven't there been effects?" Harry asked.

Emma frowned. "Yes. There are always effects and complications. Nothing is ever straightforward, not even life or death. Ever since I was three months old I have had two people inside my head. Separating the two, knowing who I am separate from my mother, has led me to develop highly skilled leglimency and occlumency."

"Is that how I saw what I saw?" He asked. Emma nodded. "You can just go into anyone's head like that?"

"Yes."

"Even Snape?" he asked.

Emma nodded. "Dumbledore, Voldemort, doesn't matter. Not that I do, mind you. I have always held myself to strict morals. I've never wanted to hurt others."

"Do you have to make eye contact?" Emma shook her head 'no.' "This is amazing," Harry said. "Here, I couldn't learn occlumency to save my life, and you've had it since you were a toddler," He said in awe.

"I would trade anything not to have it. You do know why you couldn't learn it, don't you?" Emma asked. Harry shook his head. "You are an emotional person Harry. Hey! Don't Look at me like that! Luna would say a nargle flew up your nose," she giggled. "Besides, being emotional isn't a bad thing Harry. I should know."

"How would you know?"

"I'm an empath." Emma said flatly. Emma went more into what she told Draco 4 years ago about how she could feel what others were feeling.

"Can you change how people are feeling?"

"Not all empaths can, but I can. That is why I don't have my own emotions, usually," she added. "And no, I won't make Ginny love you and hate Dean," Emma added.

Harry blushed. "That obvious?"

Emma smiled. "Only to me."

Harry asked her more questions about herself, and Emma happily told him. They talked through dinner but Harry didn't mind since he had Emma's cookies. They headed back to the common room. "What did you mean when you said 'everything you have done for me'?" he asked.

"I have been guarding over you while you are sleeping. Mentally, not physically!" She added seeing his shocked look.

"Phew, the image of you standing over my bed every night is disturbing," he said.

Emma laughed. "I know. I had the same image. No, I watch over your subconscious to make sure Voldemort doesn't decide to try and posses you again."

Harry paused mid-stride. "You are in my head?" he asked.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you. I don't go prying around if that's what you are thinking! I just make sure Voldemort doesn't go poking around."

"Has he?" Harry asked worriedly.

"He has let his occlumency down occasionally to see if you are up to anything, but I don't let him see anything."

"Doesn't he know you're there?" Harry asked.

"Did you?"

"Good point. I'm sorry for all those nights I couldn't fall asleep."

Emma laughed. "I do my homework. Don't worry about it." Harry really looked at her for the first time. He noticed how fragile and thin she looked, and now knowing everything he did about her, he felt sorry for her and wished he could do something more. He suddenly felt the urge to watch over and protect her.

"Don't go pitying me, Harry. I hate the emotion. And the entire school is pitying me now. If you really want to help me, then stop pitying me. That's all I ask," Emma said seriously.

Harry nodded. "If you need anything, Emma, talk to me. We're family," He said with a smile. "I'm glad it is you instead of someone like Romilda Vane, although maybe then she would stop trying to poison me with love potion," he said with a grin.

Emma laughed. "Think it over. Like I said, Harry, I'm not going to push you into anything. Good night."

"Night," Harry said heading up to his dorm.

Snuffles-Sweetie– Thank you! Yes, some people are starting to wonder about Emma : ) Potter Fan Bo– Hopefully you still have stuff to work with! Childofthekng– Thank you: ) Hermione does have her claws out for Emma, and it will become very apparent to Harry here soon, too. Things eventually work out . . . AnimeCrazy– Snape and Dumbledore's plans involve the end of the year (but that is all I can say on the matter right about now). Professor Epona– The long awaited chapter!! I can't believe it has finally happened . . . still more stuff to come, though : ) I'm glad you are addicted to it! Amarthiel– It has finally happened! Now (almost) everything is out. : ) So far, it is only Harry who knows the truth, the school is just suspicious (but Draco is working to make the school not think to much about it), and things between Hermione and Emma will come to a head next chapter . . .after Hermione finds out from Harry what he knows : ) Iceball– Hermione finds out next chapter! I think you will like the . . . confrontation : ) Fisher towers– Sorry it took longer than I would have liked to update! Stupid cold. Hope you enjoyed! FillyGal– Thank you! I appreciate the review! BornBlue– Your review cracked me up : ) Hermione was also listening to the conversation, she, like Harry and Ron, saw and overheard everything. I think more people will start to realize how little they know about Emma . . . but so far, only certain people will actually learn about her. Year 1989– Thank you!! It's nice to know I am getting sympathy for the character!