Emma watched as the brunette beat a hasty retreat from the pub. Then she returned to the bar where her friends were chatting cheerfully. They asked questions about Regina and what had happened, but the blonde simply shook her head and refused to answer anything. Not that she could actually give them any of the information they were requesting anyway, but even if she had been able to she would have kept Regina's private business just that; private.
"Spiced Mead for Emma and Ruby," Killian handed out the tankards with practised ease, using his hook to push the drinks towards their intended owners, "Gillywater for Mary Margaret and Belle, Elderflower Wine for Aurora and Hog's Head Brew for David and Phil."
As the group took their drinks and retreated to one of the booths dotted along the walls of the pub, Killian poured himself a glass of Rum and joined them. They chatted about work for a while, paying particular attention to the information that David and Phillip gave them about their current operations as Aurors. It seemed that there were several more raids planned on suspected Death Eaters, although so far they hadn't managed to pin much on anyone in particular.
"We had a tip off about your brother, mate." Philip told Killian, almost apologetically.
The darker man shrugged nonchalantly. "Doesn't surprise me. What's Fin been up to now?"
"Apparently he's attempted to control several Ministry members with the Imperious Curse."
Killian shrugged. "Again, that doesn't surprise me. You'll want to look into my dad as well if that's the case. Fin hasn't got the brains to work something like that on his own."
Philip and David nodded, making mental notes to look into Abraxus Jones as well as his elder son. Then they turned the conversation to how things were going up at the school. It was news to the two Aurors that Dumbledore kept leaving the Castle and they were slightly concerned when they realised that the women had no idea where he was going.
"Are Potter and his friends keeping themselves out of trouble?" David asked with a chuckle. He had been one of the first at the Ministry the year before and seen the aftermath of what had happened there.
"As far as we can tell." His wife replied with a smile. "Their minds seem to be on other things this year."
"What other things?"
Ruby laughed loudly. "Love!" She chuckled again and nudged the brunette beside her. "Belle thinks Harry Potter has a crush on Ginny Weasley. She also thinks that there's something going on between Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."
"It's amazing what you overhear in the library." Belle agreed with a small smile.
"And Belle's usually right about these things, isn't she, Em?" Aurora teased, nudging the blonde with her shoulder.
"I have no idea what you mean." Emma replied innocently, taking a long drink of her Spiced Mead.
Her friends all laughed and Ruby leant forward, arching an eyebrow. "She means the fact that Belle was the first one to notice the ginormous crush you had on Regina when were at school."
"The crush that she still has on Regina if her behaviour is anything to go by." Mary Margaret added with a grin.
"I still don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, come on, love." Killian chuckled. "You are the only female at this table who hasn't willingly kissed me. Multiple times in some cases."
There were several spluttering coughs at his words and Mary Margaret and Aurora carefully avoided meeting David and Philip's eyes. Ruby arched an eyebrow at Belle, who shrugged apologetically, before they all turned back to the blonde, who was looking distinctly uncomfortable under their scrutiny.
"That should have told us that you weren't into men far sooner than it did." Killian continued with a casual shrug.
"Hey!" Emma tried to argue. "Just because I didn't want to kiss you didn't necessarily mean that I wanted to kiss girls! Besides, I was going out with Neal, remember?"
"That should have been our second clue." Ruby chuckled, loving seeing the normally calm blonde so flustered. "I mean, Neal's gay."
"Well he wasn't at the time!"
"So you turned Neal gay because you were a lesbian while you were together?" Aurora asked, blinking innocently.
"It's not… it doesn't work like that… not that… oh, shut up!" Emma sighed, seeing that she wasn't going to talk her way out of this. "I just feel bad for Regina, OK? I mean… Daniel died and she had to raise Henry on her own. I know she was really nervous about coming back to Hogwarts… I'm just being nice!"
"So if Regina tried to kiss you…?" Ruby asked with a wicked grin.
Emma shrugged. "I'm not blind, Rubes. Regina's hot. But can you honestly see that happening?"
As one, every single person at the table screwed up their faces and shook their heads. The idea that Regina Mills would let down her guard enough to do anything as ordinary as kissing someone was a strange concept to all of them. They had found it odd, to say the least, when they had found out that she was going out with the kind, gentle Hufflepuff Seeker, Daniel Saddler. Regina and Daniel just didn't seem to fit as a couple but, as time went on, it was undeniable that they were good for each other. Daniel softened the Slytherin Prefect and made her somehow more human and approachable. Regina encouraged Daniel to have confidence in his abilities and work harder to achieve the results he wanted.
Even though she was pleased that Regina was happy, Emma hated seeing the older girl with her boyfriend. She had stayed with Neal longer than she probably should have, just because of her jealousy. Emma didn't want to wreck things and she figured that if she was in a relationship of her own she was less likely to do something stupid. Not that Regina had ever given her the slightest indication she felt anything other than irritation towards the younger woman.
"You know what?" Mary Margaret asked, attracting Emma's attention at last. "I don't think Em does have a crush on Regina."
"Thank you, Mar!"
"I think it might actually be love."
"What?" Almost everyone around the table asked at the same time.
Mary Margaret nodded slowly. "I mean, she constantly defended Regina while we were at school and she still does now. Then there's the whole love potion incident…"
Emma sighed loudly as Killian burst out laughing. "You would have wrecked her relationship if you'd succeeded with that plan. I intercepted the potion for Daniel's sake as much as Regina's."
"Whatever you say, love." The former Slytherin chuckled, shaking his head at her continued denial.
"It was the only way you got me to kiss you." The blonde pointed out with a glare. That shut Killian up and he pouted at her while the others laughed.
Emma strode along the corridor, swinging her school bag absent-mindedly. It was only the third day back after the Christmas holidays and she already had far too much homework for her liking. The teachers hadn't been joking when they'd told the sixth years to expect a much heavier workload as they prepared for their N.E.W.T. examinations.
With a Charms essay due in the next day which had to be a minimum of twelve inches, Emma had decided to skip dinner and go straight to the library instead. She was hoping that Belle would be around to help her or, failing that, Mulan. It wasn't that Emma wasn't capable of doing the essay on her own, she just couldn't be bothered.
She had barely taken a dozen steps along the corridor when she came face-to-face with the very person she was looking for. Belle blinked at her anxiously, her expression very different from the one Emma had been expecting to see on her face.
"What's up?"
"It's Killian… he's going to slip a love potion in Regina's drink at dinner." Belle told her quickly, chewing on her lip.
Emma gaped at her. "What? Why?"
"Because over Christmas Killian's family went to visit Regina's and Regina told Killian that even if he was the last person on earth she wouldn't consider going out with him."
The blonde arched an eyebrow. "She's told him that many times. Lots of girls have told him that many times. A love potion seems a little drastic as far as revenge goes…"
"Yes," Belle sighed exasperatedly, "but apparently Killian's parents and Regina's mother are trying to set Regina and Fin up. Killian hates the idea that his brother might succeed where he failed."
"But Regina's dating Daniel…"
"I know!" Belle sighed again, as though Emma was being particularly stupid. "But I don't think Regina's mother knows. Either that or she doesn't care." She shook her head. "Either way, Killian's determined to kiss Regina before his brother gets the chance."
"We have to stop him, if for no other reason than Regina will murder him when the potion wears off." Emma turned on her heels and headed back the way she'd come.
They spotted Killian sitting beside Regina at once. The girl was looking away, pointedly ignoring him and chatting to the girl sitting on her other side. Killian grinned across the room and Emma and Belle followed his gaze to where Neal, David, Philip and Graham were sitting together, egging him on.
Breaking into a run, Emma and Belle made their way over to their friend as quickly as they could. Before they could reach him, Killian had tipped something into Regina's goblet and was grinning broadly as he watched her reaching for it, still firmly avoiding his gaze.
"No!" Emma cried, grabbing the goblet just before the brunette could and pulling it out of her reach.
Killian looked disappointed, but Regina looked downright irritated. "What on earth are you doing, Swan?" She demanded. "Give that back!"
"No! I… I'm thirsty!"
Panicking, Emma raised the goblet to her lips and took a sip of the liquid inside. Instantly she felt a buzzing sensation inside her head and blinked rapidly. Her eyes unfocused for a moment, before focusing once more. Suddenly the only thing on her mind was Killian.
As she turned and her gaze fell on the boy, who was regarding her with amusement, she sighed and smiled broadly. Belle grabbed for her, intending to haul her away from Killian before Emma embarrassed herself and did something she would regret when the potion wore off, but she was too slow. The blonde had grasped Killian's face between her hands and was kissing him with everything she had.
Belle spared Regina a look as she managed to wrestle her friend away from the boy and saw understanding dawning on the older girl's face. Regina's eyes narrowed and she stood abruptly. Before turning and stalking out of the Great Hall, she raised her fist and hit Killian straight in the face with a sickening crunching sound. He blinked up at her for a couple of seconds, blood pouring from his nose, before realising that she knew what he had attempted to do.
"Hey!" Emma shrieked, indignant on Killian's behalf. Belle tried to shush her as everyone turned to stare, but the blonde batted her away. "Oi! Regina!"
"What, Swan?" The brunette asked, arching an eyebrow and putting her hands on her hips in a challenging manner.
"You do not get to go around punching people I love!"
Regina laughed. "Love? Oh, Swan, you fool…"
Emma let out a strangled noise and leapt towards Regina. She was prevented from reaching her by Belle, who wrapped her arms around her friend's waist and clung on tightly.
"Em!"
"French, bring her down to the Potions classroom so we can sort this mess out." Regina ordered in a bored tone, sighing deeply as though brewing an antidote for the blonde was beneath her.
Belle looked surprised that the Slytherin would even think of offering to help, but didn't argue; unwilling to miss the opportunity as it had been offered. Struggling against Emma, who was doing her best to escape from her clutches, the brunette was relieved when Ruby appeared and began to help contain the pale, flailing limbs without asking any questions.
Together they managed to force Emma down the stairs into the Dungeons and from there into the Potions classroom where Regina was already stirring something in a cauldron. Neither Belle nor Ruby spoke as they battled with their friend, keeping her away from Regina who, after hitting Killian, was now her biggest enemy.
When the antidote was brewed, Regina waved her wand and conjured a glass, tipping a little of the potion into it and approaching the three younger girls with a bored expression on her face.
"Get her to drink this." She ordered.
"Umm… how?" Ruby asked, arching an eyebrow. "We're a little busy stopping her physically attacking you."
With a long, drawn out sigh, Regina grasped Emma's chin in one hand and pushed her head back. Forcing the blonde to open her mouth, she tipped the liquid down her throat slowly, careful not to spill any down the younger girl's robes. She paused as Emma spluttered a little, relaxing her grasp on the blonde's face and tilting her head to a better position so that she could swallow without choking.
As soon as all of the antidote had disappeared down Emma's throat, Regina stepped away, moving to deal with the cauldron that was still simmering gently over a small flame. She kept her back firmly turned on the three girls as Ruby and Belle guided Emma onto one of the stools and conjured her a glass of water to take away the aftertaste of Regina's potion.
"You should be perfectly alright now, Swan." Regina informed her, avoiding meeting her eyes and moving towards the door.
"Regina, wait!" Emma called, slipping off the stool and moving towards the brunette.
She shot a glance at Ruby and Belle and the two girls nodded, understanding what she was hinting at and leaving the dungeon classroom quickly. Each shot Regina a warm smile as they went, trying not to notice the glares she sent in their direction as she attempted to regain some of the distance that had been lost over the past quarter of an hour.
"Thank you." The blonde continued when they were alone once more.
"What for?" Regina asked casually, looking as though she wanted nothing more than to escape from the room and Emma's presence.
"The whole antidote thing… and for punching Killian in the face; you've got an awesome right hook, Regina. Remind me never to get on the wrong side of you!"
"Trust me, Swan, you'll never get on any side of me." There was a pause and then Regina went crimson at the smirk on Emma's face. "Honestly! I… you…" Taking a deep breath, the brunette calmed herself. "I have to go and meet Daniel."
Emma barely managed to stop the small frown that threatened to pull the corners of her lips downwards. "You're welcome."
Regina looked totally bewildered. "What for?"
"I drank that stupid potion and kissed Killian to save your arse from embarrassment and possibly breaking up with Daniel." Emma snapped, folding her arms over her chest. "So you're welcome."
"I never asked you to do that for me."
"So you'd prefer that I hadn't stepped in? You would have preferred that I let you drink that potion and you had made a fool of yourself in the middle of the Great Hall with Killian?"
"Why did you step in, Swan?" Regina demanded, taking a step forward, closer to Emma. "Why?"
"Because…" The blonde faltered. "Because… because Killian had no right to do that to you, because you had far more to lose by drinking that love potion than I did and because Killian needed teaching a lesson."
If she was not very much mistaken there was a hint of disappointment in Regina's eyes as she listened to the explanation. Deciding that if she was ever going to make a move on the brunette there would probably not be a better time than when she'd just sacrificed what little remained of her own reputation to save the older girl's, Emma stepped forward, closing the gap between them. Regina's eyes widened impossibly as she realised the blonde's intention. She seemed frozen to the spot as Emma raised a hand and gently caressed her cheek.
"Regina…"
As soon as she spoke, the spell was broken. Regina gave an uncharacteristic squeak and backed away hastily until her back connected with the stone wall. She shot Emma a last, fearful look, before scrambling to escape from the Potions classroom.
Emma squeezed her eyes closed for a moment, before scowling at the wall in front of her. She lashed out, her knuckles connecting firmly with the rough surface and sending a sharp jolt of pain up her arm. She cursed herself silently for acting without thinking, before dragging herself back up to the Great Hall and taking a seat beside Ruby with a deep sigh.
"Did you kiss her?" The tall brunette asked.
Emma shook her head. "I was going to, but… she freaked out. That was it, my one chance and I blew it."
"You never know, she might come round to the idea… she's probably terrified."
"Don't give up, Em." Belle encouraged, leaning forwards with her elbows on the table. "This is Regina Mills we're talking about… if you want her you're going to have to fight for her and it won't be easy."
All three glanced up as a shadow fell over their table and they saw Killian smirking at them. "You are a fantastic kisser, love."
"You mention that ever again and I'll make Regina's punch look like a friendly pat… understand?" The blonde growled furiously.
Killian simply touched his forehead in a mock salute and chuckled, sauntering away with his hands pushed deep in his pockets as though he didn't have a care in the world.
