"Stop it." she hissed as she pulled him away from their classmates.

He rolled his eyes as he pulled his arm out of her grasp. "Stop what, Emmy?"

"Stop teasing him."

Draco rolled his eyes again. "Potter can fight his own battles, Emmeline. He doesn't need you to do it for him."

"This isn't about him—"

"How can it not be?" the boy asked tauntingly, "You want me to stop talking about how he fainted like a baby in the face of the wittle dementors."

"This is about how heartless you can be." she hissed in return, "Dementors make you relive your worst memories. I think he has enough to torment him. He doesn't need you adding—"

"Yes, Potter really needs your help. He needs your compassion. Why don't you just snog already? Maybe that'll get your picture in the post."

Emmeline sighed and met his cold eyes. "You'll never understand." she swore before she turned her back on him and hurried to join up with the rest of their class—she filled the open spot next to Harry.

He was jealous. Emmeline could see it all over his face. He couldn't stand Harry having all of the attention. Emmeline knew he did stupid things when he was jealous.

Emmeline could not stop him; she knew that. Thus, she could only watch in abject horror as he rudely approached Buckbeak. As Draco fell to the ground after Buckbeak's attack, she was divided. Half of her worried for his health; the other half thought he got what he deserved.

Days after, she and the trio heard the news that Lucius Malfoy was going to try to get Buckbeak executed. Emmeline found Draco in the library.

"Well?" she asked as he stared up at her with his arm cradled in a sling.

"Well what?" he asked.

"Are you dying?" she asked poignantly.

"No." he shook his head, "That bloody bird nearly took my arm off—"

"Because you didn't listen to Hagrid."

"The bird is a menace!"

"No he isn't! You're just a git! You were jealous that Harry was getting attention so you wanted to do it too. And you failed so now you're embarrassed and you are lashing out to hurt whoever you can. You're going to get Hagrid sacked."

"That oaf shouldn't be a teacher. He was too stupid to even finish school—"

"Quit being a prat, Draco. They're trying to put Buckbeak to death."

"The stupid bird deserves it!"

"No, he doesn't."

Draco rolled his eyes at her. "Figures you would be so emotional about—"

"It's a life, Draco." she hissed. "And I don't know how you can be so cavalier about the fact that Buckbeak may die because you're a little jerk."

Draco looked at her and was surprised to find tears in her eyes.

"Emmeline—"

But she only shook her head at him and left.

"What if he's still in the castle?" she whispered.

Draco rolled his eyes at her—trying to appear braver than he felt. "The professors are searching the castle. They'll find him if he's here."

"I'm scared." she whispered.

Sirius Black had slashed the portrait guarding the Gryffindor common room.

"Don't be." The two of them were the only ones awake in the Great Hall. He took her hand in his. "Besides, I don't have to worry about anything. Black's probably after Potter."

She ripped her hand from his.

"You're horrible." she hissed before leaving him alone.

He came across her sitting outside, staring off at Hagrid's hut.

Her eyes were red.

"Does your face hurt?" she murmured as he sat down next to her.

"Stings a little." he muttered.

"Well…I guess that is worse than getting your head chopped off." she bit out sarcastically.

"Emmeline, it was just a bird—"

"No!" She propelled herself off the steps and stood before him. "It was a life! He was not just a bird. He was living and breathing! That doesn't even matter to you because you're just like your father!"

"What does that mean?"

"It means you're heartless and I still keep coming back to you! I'm still your friend even though my friends think I'm insane for trusting you!"

"Emmeline—"

"Tell me I'm not insane. Show me it's an act. Show me you're the same boy who I've known all my life!"

"Emmeline…" he trailed off as he stared at her unflinchingly.

"You…you can't, can you?" she sighed. He said nothing. Emmeline wiped the tears from her eyes and left him.