Disclaimer: Don't own or profit from this . . .
Author's notes: Luna was so much fun to write this chapter! Definitely expect to see more of her since I like writing her so much : )
attention: (Hopefully that got everyone's notice : ) My beta and I are looking for suggestions for what you think everyone's animagous forms would be. So far, only Emma and Draco's are set in stone (well, and the marauders, McGonagall etc). What do you think the trio, Neville, Luna, Ginny, etc would be? Thanks!
Chapter 13: Plan B
Harry left Ron in the hospital wing after the poisoning incident, mentally cursing Romilda Vane, and found Emma in the common room reading a book. "Can I ask you something?" he asked taking a seat at the other end of the sofa, facing her.
"Anything except what Draco is up to," Emma said brightly.
Harry actually laughed. "Why does Dumbledore want me to get the memory from Slughorn. You could easily get it from him."
"Not easily, it took a lot of work to see if he kept it intact, but I could. Dumbledore wants you to get it, though. He thinks you are capable of persuading Slughorn because you appeal to his ego. To him, he just collects "trophies" you could say. If he didn't think you could do it, Dumbledore would figure out some other way of getting it."
"I just have no idea what to do," Harry admitted.
"Have you been giving it your full concentration?" Emma asked. Harry looked down at his shoes, unable to answer. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. Something will come to you."
"How do you feel playing against Draco in the game this weekend?" Harry asked.
Emma shrugged. "We've done it once before when I subbed in for Angelina my third year. We'll survive."
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The day of the quidditch game arrived, and Harry stormed in late. He pulled Emma aside. "Why on earth is Malfoy not playing, and why is he with other girls?" He was furious.
"Well, we can't go parading around the fact we are dating, can we?" Emma said tersely. "It would look suspicious if Draco, one of the biggest player in all of Hogwarts, was not being adorned by girls. We can't draw attention to our relationship, obviously," she explained bitterly.
"You guys have one odd relationship."
"You have no idea." If they weren't in the middle of the locker room with the quidditch team nearby she would have told him about the bond.
"Why isn't he playing?" Harry demanded. Emma shrugged.
"Maybe he isn't feeling well." Harry gave her a look that said he didn't believe it, but stormed out onto the field.
Emma sighed. She flew out over the field and heard the unmistakable voice of Luna. "And there is Smith who was the commentator of the last game. He seemed to have been overly rude to the Gryffindor in that game and perhaps he is regretting it now that he is playing them," She said dreamily over the megaphone. Emma smiled to herself. 'Typical Luna.'
"And over to the east there is a cumulus cloud, widely thought to be responsible for rain. Few understand, though, that they provide breeding ground for the Septimbrus Boticie. But seeing as how it is March, their mating season is over and we do not have to worry about unsightly boils caused by their bites," Luna said. Emma glanced over and wasn't surprised to see that Luna wasn't even looking at the game at that moment.
Ginny passed Emma the quaffle and she scored. "And Emma O'Neill, famous for her short term dating of the Slytherin Draco Malfoy, scores. Poor Emma, such a nice girl, to be used like that," Luna said. Emma rolled her eyes as she dodged the bludger, half wishing it would knock her out.
"Pity, it seems that Zacharias Smith is suffering from Loser's Lurgy, not uncommon amongst people who are playing against . . ."
"30-20 Slytherin!" McGonagall called out frustrated.
"And so it is. And here is the big Hufflepuff player in yellow, who took the ball from Ginny. I can't remember his name, it's either Bibbles . . .or Buggins, perhaps Bladiski . . ."
"It's Caldwalder!" McGonagall shouted making everyone laugh.
"And somehow McLaggen has ended up with the beaters bat. Perhaps this is a new technique for the Keeper? Although Captain Potter doesn't seem to be too pleased with it. . . Oh dear, it seems McLaggen doesn't know how to use a bat! He has just clubbed his own captain. Harry has just fallen to the ground. My, he does have a history of being injured during games. To the east we have . . . " her voice trailed off as everyone was focusing on Harry falling 30 feet.
Emma and Dean were rushing towards Harry trying to catch him before he hit the ground. "Harry?" Emma asked. Hooch conjured a stretcher for him. Everyone turned to glare at McLaggen. "Stupid idiot!"Ginny yelled. "What possessed you to do that?! Just stick to your own job! You can't even do THAT! How do you expect to do everyone else's, hmm?" Ginny said. "Just wait till we get done here, I am so going to hex him," Ginny whispered none too quiet. Emma knew the same thought was running through all of their minds, and half of the Gryffindor fans.
Finally the game ended and McLaggen fled to the dressing room. "It's only fair we give him a head start," Ginny said with an evil grin. Emma had to suppress the laughter that was bubbling up. 'It is so obvious she still likes Harry. She would drop Dean at the drop of a hat is she thought she had a chance with Harry' Emma said.
'Loosers Lurgy. I'm still stuck on that,' Draco said with a smirk.
Emma and Hermione were pouring over Ancient Runes and Arithmancy books when Harry got back from the hospital. "Well, that is certainly different," Harry said. The fact they were getting along the last two months was a great change.
"Nah, once Hermione got over her jealousy they have a lot in common. The fact they are both into school and taking classes we would never consider is one," Ron said.
"Are you taking the apparition test?" Hermione asked.
Emma nodded. "Yeah. Might as well."
"What about . . .Draco?" Hermione whispered.
"His mother arranged for him to take it this past weekend. He's been of age for awhile," Emma said. (A/N: Sorry! I just don't see Draco as a June baby. I see him more as a winter baby. Plus, I want him older than Emma. Author's prerogative).
Emma waited for everyone to go to bed. 'Can you believe the school year's almost over?' he asked worriedly.
'I . . .I try not to think about it. How should I feel about it? We are either going to become murderers or murdered.'
'What do you make of the argument between Dumbledore and Snape?'
'I think it was about a plan they are working on. I don't think Snape likes it,' Emma said.
'I don't like any of this' Draco said.
'Me neither'
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Emma was walking back from Charms with the trio and they found Katie back from St. Mungos. "Katie!" Everyone shouted happily. "You're all better!"
Katie laughed. "Yes. They released me a few days ago and I'm back."
"Now we have a chance at winning the cup," Harry said happily. "Do you remember what happened?"
Katie shook her head. "No, I just remember going to the ladies room. Everyone's been asking me. I got to get to class before McGonagall gives me lines. I'll see you at practice?" She asked and Harry nodded.
"Well, then it was a woman," Hermione said. Harry and Ron nodded.
Practice that night went well. Emma was watching Harry around Ginny. He was less careful with his drooling around her now that she broke up with Dean. "What have I missed?" Katie asked as they walked back to the castle behind Harry and Ginny.
"Not much. She just broke up with Dean and Harry isn't sure he should move in or not," Emma said.
Katie laughed. "I can't say anything. It took Ollie two years to ask me out."
"How are things between you two? He was worried sick when this happened."
"I'm told he stayed there a lot. Practically lived there," Katie said with a smile.
"I'm not surprised. He cares for you a lot," Emma said. Katie smiled happily.
Emma watched as Harry debated with himself if it was alright to ask Ginny out. It was even a constant debate in his dreams. Emma was ready to throttle him, or just lock the two of them in a cupboard and see what Harry did.
"Emma, can I ask you something?" Harry asked. "I don't want to talk to Hermione about it"
"Of course," Emma said.
"Well… I . . .you know I like Ginny," Harry said. Emma nodded. "Well, is it wrong? I mean, she is my best mate's sister."
"You can't help who you fall for. Lily fell for James against all of her protests, I fell for a Slytherin and he for me . . .we really have no say in the matters of the heart."
"Do you think I should ask her out?"
"If you don't you will drive us both nuts," Emma said.
"But what about Ron?"
"Ron will understand, I'm sure. Who better to date his sister than someone he knows so well? Besides, when he sees how happy you and Ginny are, he can't complain. Plus, you're not dating Ron, you are dating Ginny."
"What if she doesn't want to date me?" Harry panicked. Emma just laughed. She got up, kissed his cheek, and left the common room.
Emma walked to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. She found Draco sitting and leaning against the wall. "Hey," he said. Emma sat next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I can't take this anymore, Emma. I don't want to be a murderer. At least, not to people like Dumbledore, good people, you know?"
Myrtle appeared. "You came back! I told them you would," she said happily. "Hello Emma," she said. Emma smiled and waved.
"I don't want you to either. Life is just so unfair. Fate is against us right now."
"You are supposed to be the optimistic one. Be optimistic now, for me." Emma's heart broke when she heard how miserable he sounded.
"Well, we have Dumbledore trying to figure out something. That's got to count for something, right? And don't forget Snape, who would do anything for you. You're his favorite godson."
"Emma, I hate them all! They think . . .they all see me as being no better than my father. They're the ones making me into this. They don't care what I want, who I am. You taught me that I don't have to become this Malfoy creation, but they are forcing me into it."
"Run away, reject it."
"Then I forsake my mother," he said.
"Not necessarily. I have been thinking on a plan lately," she admitted.
"I knew you were up to something, I felt the wheels turning," he said laughing.
"Our main dilemmas are to figure a way around your task of killing Dumbledore, keep ourselves from getting killed, and figuring out a way to prevent Snape from dying because of the unbreakable vow," she listed ticking them off her fingers as she went. Draco rolled his eyes. 'Thanks for the recap,' he said. "Hey, just listen. We need to know the exact wording of the unbreakable vow," she decided. "He has to help you. That much we know. So . . . we have him protect Narcissa, move her to a secure place no one knows about. We tell him it is part of the project so he is obligated to do it because of the vow," she said.
"Then what? My mother's protected . . .one less thing for me to worry about," Draco said. "I think I see where you are going with this."
"You have until the end of the school year, right? So . . . if we don't complete it by then, we just leave. I have my car, we can sneak off and no one will know any better."
"It all comes down to what the unbreakable vow is," Draco nodded. "I can at least protect my mother," he said. "One less person to worry about . . ." he trailed off. They sat talking with Myrtle there until Draco told her to take a nap. "This way, we can at least feel a little rested." Emma tried to argue but was so exhausted she practically fell asleep. "Besides, your glamour charm is wearing off. I can see the dark circles under your eyes." Emma kissed him and left the bathroom. She thought of going to the dorms but decided that she would get better rest in the Room of Requirement. She really didn't want to risk coming across any more emotions, even if everyone was in the Great Hall for dinner. She would be able to get an hour of uninterrupted sleep in the Room of Requirement without any rogue emotions.
Author's Notes: Hopefully we can all see what this is leading up to : ) Don't forget to suggest animagous forms! I won't be able to update again before Monday because of finals and Commencement/Graduation.
Year1989 Thank you! Native Kitten Thanks! I thought it a good way for the girls to start getting to know Emma better. And Harry can be such a pain/ass sometimes; I think it's because he is more emotional (espcially compared to Emma). KRP I understand! I'm just glad I'm not losing one of my devote readers! As for a different ending . . . it is soooo tempting, but I think JK wrote it for a reason. Hmm . . . Potter Fan Bo Something here: ) Amarthiel Hermione (and Ginny, too) will keep it to herself; it is something for Emma (or Draco) to tell Harry. He doesn't know about the bonding . . . yet. AnimeCrazy Harry will find out, and very soon! Professor Epona Thanks! Yeah, once Hermione gets over her jealousy, her and Emma probably have a lot in common : ) DaffodilSweetie Thanks! my ego is swelling : ) I'm glad I'm portraying Harry good!