Both Emma and Regina had gone to visit Dumbledore within half an hour of each other. The headmaster was amused that, less than ten minutes after the blonde had left his office, the brunette had knocked and appeared agitatedly in the doorway. Both women had been less than reassured by his manner, but there was nothing he could do about that; both Emma and Regina were naturally cautious and suspicious and Dumbledore doubted that would ever change.
Emma had informed him of the conversation they'd overheard in the Hog's Head. She frowned as he waved away her concerns over the plan the group had been discussing. Emma already knew that Dumbledore was aware of Fenrir Greyback's involvement because of Remus' undercover role within the werewolf community, but she hadn't expected him to brush off the rest of the information she laid out before him so flippantly.
As he informed her, quite firmly, that he wasn't in any way alarmed about Cora's mention of the second stage of their plan, the blonde Charms teacher left the office with a slight shrug, leaving the man chuckling lightly and shaking his head in amusement. He didn't have long to mull over the conversation, however, as Regina appeared to bring him more information.
Her, slightly panicked, announcement that Cora was intending to use Draco's newly repaired Vanishing Cabinet to transport Death Eaters into the Castle with the aim of killing him, was met with a similarly dismissive attitude. Regina gaped at him as he smiled jovially and waved a hand in her direction, informing her that he was sure things would work out.
"Where the hell have you been?" Emma demanded, catching Regina's arm as the older woman made her way through the corridors back to her own rooms after the day's lessons were over. "No one's seen you since you went to your mother's house."
The warmth the contact spread through her limb was instantly replaced by icy cold fear as she remembered what Narcissa had told her about wars causing casualties. She dreaded to think what would happen if Cora discovered her relationship with Emma. Pulling her arm away, Regina tugged on her robes and straightened her spine.
"It is none of your concern how I spend my time, especially in relation to my family, Professor Swan." Regina replied coldly, fixing Emma with a hard look.
Emma frowned at her. "What are you–?"
"If you'll excuse me, I have essays to mark."
Without a backwards glance, Regina swept away along the stone passageway, keeping her head held high until she had rounded the corner. Then she stumbled slightly in her step and lowered her chin with a long exhalation of breath. She almost leant heavily against the wall, but realised that Emma was probably following her and sped up once more. Sure enough, she heard footsteps and someone calling her name behind her.
"Gina!"
"Professor Swan!"
"Back to formalities, are we?" Emma demanded angrily, catching up with the brunette and wrapping her hand around Regina's bicep. She pulled her backwards roughly, forcing her to turn and meet her gaze. "What the hell happened?"
"Kindly unhand me." The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher ordered; nothing kind about her tone at all.
"That's not what you were saying yesterday morning, Gina." Emma reminded her in a low voice, leaning close so that her breath tickled the brunette's ear.
Regina managed to stop herself shivering slightly. "That's as may be, Professor Swan, but I think you and I should…"
Letting go of her arm, Emma stepped back. She shook her head and the expression on her face cut straight through to Regina's heart. Her resolve shook, but she managed to stay strong. "Regina… please don't tell me that you're about to say we should break up or stop seeing each other or whatever?"
"I think it's for the best."
"Fuck that, Regina!" The blonde exploded, her eyes flashing. "Fuck that! What happened with your mother? What did she say?"
"This has nothing to do with my mother, Professor Swan." Regina lied swiftly, folding her arms. "This outburst proves that you are far from mature enough to–"
"Bullshit. Until you went to see Cora you were happy. You and me… we were good. No, we were fucking amazing, Regina. Before you spoke to your mother you weren't thinking about breaking up with me."
Regina fought to remain emotionless. "Think what you want, but whatever we were… it has to end."
"I'm getting serious déjà vu here, Regina." Emma told her irritably.
"Then you should realise that I am completely serious, Professor Swan." The older woman said firmly. "This cannot happen."
"You've gotta stop moping about Queen Regina, Ems." Ruby sighed, dropping onto the ground beside her friend and following her gaze to where Regina and Severus were sitting on the grass with various books and sheets of parchment spread out around them. "Even if she weren't so bloody crackers about Daniel and you stood the tiniest of chances with her, she's revising for her N.E. W. T.s. She'd probably murder you if you even tried to distract her right now."
"I know she likes me." Emma replied stubbornly, resting her chin on her hand and her elbow on her knee as she kept her eyes trained on the brunette seventh year. "I catch her watching me sometimes like she wants to say something or…"
"Emma!" Ruby glanced towards Mary Margaret and Aurora who were sitting on the blonde's other side looking equally wary at her refusal to admit she might be seeing something that wasn't there. "Just gi' up!"
"Come on honey… concentrate on what you've got with Neal." Mary Margaret advised her gently.
"Even if Regina did feel anything other than strong dislike for you, she would never act on it." Aurora pointed out. "She'll be too worried about what people will say and what they'll think about her. Did you know that her aunt once used a love potion on my aunt?"
"What?" The other three chorused in surprise.
The red-head nodded. "Yeah… she convinced Aunt Briar that she was in love with her and persuaded her that they should run away together. Regina's mother found them and brought them back. No one's quite sure what happened, but Maleficent went mad and no one ever sees her now."
"Bloody hell, Em… stay away from that family, whatever you do." Ruby advised, shaking her head and letting out a long, low whistle.
Emma sighed deeply and scowled, keeping her eyes firmly directed towards the pair of older students who were deeply engrossed in their work. She loved the way Regina's hair looked perfect, even with the girl running her hand through it nervously as she flicked through a text book. The sunlight made it shine and the blonde wasn't even sorry that she was unable to drag her gaze away.
A jolt of electricity ran through her as, in response to something Severus had said, Regina glanced quickly over her shoulder and their eyes met. The dark eyes locked with hers widened slightly as something seemed to pass between them and, unless Emma was very much mistaken, a soft blush crossed Regina's cheeks.
Whipping her head back towards her books quickly, the older girl's shoulders hunched and she bowed her head. Her friend appeared to be trying to talk to her, Severus' eyes sliding to where the sixth year girls were sitting every so often, but Regina completely ignored him. He laughed as she reached out and pushed his arm before gathering her things and stalking away in the direction of the castle.
"Don't!" Ruby growled, grabbing Emma's arm and pulling her back down to the ground as the blonde made to follow the older girl inside. "Em, don't."
"What?" Emma asked innocently. "I just remembered that I have to go and see Professor McGonagall…"
The brunette shook her head, flicking her long dark hair over one shoulder. "You can't kid us on, love."
"I'm not trying to." Emma replied, scrambling to her feet and setting off quickly towards the building, leaving her exasperated friends behind her.
As the blonde was almost running and Regina had slowed her pace significantly, Emma entered the castle just behind the older girl. She was so close that she actually walked into the brunette just inside the huge wooden doors. Regina jumped and whirled around, fixing her piercing gaze on whoever had dared to touch her. For a split second her expression softened when she realised who was standing behind her, but then she glared furiously at Emma.
"Are you stalking me, Swan?"
"What? No!" Emma replied defensively. "Are you stalking me?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Regina scoffed. "I'm not the one with the almost obsessive crush."
There was silence between them as Regina's words sank in. Emma's stomach churned and she felt heat rushing to her cheeks. Her gaze dropped to her feet and she took a step backwards, trying to put as much distance between them as she could. Her heel caught an uneven flagstone and she stumbled. The blonde would have fallen and almost definitely hit her head hard if Regina's hand hadn't darted out and grasped hold of her tightly, pulling her back.
Their bodies collided heavily as Regina's action caused Emma to pitch forward into her. The blonde's hands automatically found their way to the brunette's hips to steady herself, while Regina's landed on Emma's shoulders. For a split second they just looked at each other. Then, unable to stop herself, Emma slowly leant forward and pressed her lips gently to Regina's.
It was hard to say who was more surprised when Regina started kissing her back. It only lasted a minute, because the sound of footsteps somewhere reminded both girls that they were standing in the Entrance Hall and they pulled apart. Emma was unable to stop the broad grin that crossed her face as it dawned on her what had happened. Regina, however, looked scared.
"Swan…" Her voice cracked slightly, before she took a breath and pulled herself together. "Stay away from me."
Emma gaped as the brunette turned and walked quickly in the direction of the Dungeons. "Wait… hey! Regina, wait!" She almost tripped in her haste, grasping Regina by the bicep and pulling her around to face her. "What's wrong?"
"Let go of me." Regina ordered.
Emma complied instantly, but her eyebrows furrowed as she took in the hostile expression being sent in her direction. "Regina… I don't understand. You kissed me back?"
"I think it's for the best that we forget that ever happened."
"Fuck that, Regina!" Emma was genuinely hurt by the request. "Fuck that! You kissed me back… I can't pretend that never happened. I won't!"
"I'm warning you, Swan…"
The blonde pouted at her childishly. "Yeah? What are you going to do about it?"
"You are such a child!" Regina half-laughed, shaking her head. "How could you even think that I would choose you over Daniel?"
"Because…"
The brunette arched an eyebrow. "Because in a moment of insanity I gave in and kissed you?"
"Bullshit. You liked it, Regina. You kissed me and you liked it and now you're scared because you don't think you're supposed to feel like this about someone like me. You and me… we could be good. No, we could be fucking amazing, Regina." Emma told her earnestly, reaching for the older girl's hand. Their fingers touched for a moment, before Regina pulled away.
"Think what you want, but I love Daniel."
"Do you?"
"Yes, Swan, I do." The brunette snapped angrily. "Now I suggest you drop this and get it into your thick skull that this is never going to happen."
After her conversation with Emma, instead of heading back to the loneliness of her private chambers, Regina made her way towards the rooms that Professor Dumbledore had kindly allowed Maleficent and Briar to move into until they could figure out a more permanent arrangement. She knocked softly on the door and waited until it was opened.
"What's wrong, dear?" Maleficent asked, seeing instantly that something had upset her niece. Ushering Regina inside, she shot a look at the other woman and Briar nodded and retreated through a door and out of earshot. "Now, GiGi, tell me what's wrong."
At once everything that was bothering the younger woman came tumbling out; from going to visit Cora to breaking up with Emma. Regina managed to get almost the whole way through without breaking down, but recalling the confused, heartbroken expression on her girlfriend's face sent her over the edge.
"So… you threw away your chance at happiness because of what Cora did to Daniel?" Maleficent asked. When Regina sniffed and nodded, she sighed and cupped her cheek gently. "My dear, darling girl… you can't hide away for the rest of your life because you're scared of what that woman might do. I did that and, if it weren't for you and Rory, Briar and I would still be separated."
Regina was briefly amused by her aunt's use of Aurora's nickname, but she didn't smile. Instead she shook her head slowly. "Aunt Mal… it's bad enough that I can't keep Henry away from Mother, but I won't let Emma put herself in danger for me. I know her… she acts and speaks before she thinks. And I know she would try to protect me and I wouldn't be able to stop her and Emma would get hurt."
"So you've got someone who wants to protect you? Count yourself lucky, girl."
"I don't want her to protect me!" Regina argued. "I want her safe."
Maleficent smiled gently, tucking a strand of her niece's hair behind her ear. "And that, my dear, is how I know you've just done something completely stupid."
"What?"
"If, as you say, Emma is impulsive and reckless, then I hardly think you telling her you want to end your relationship is going to stop her coming to your rescue should the need arise. I suspect that it will simply make her more determined to prove herself to you."
Regina groaned, realising that her aunt was probably right. "So how can I…?"
"You cannot control her, GiGi." The older woman reminded her gently. "You can't keep her tucked away in cotton wool and safe from harm. Emma will make her own decisions and I don't doubt that one more than one occasion you will be incredibly glad of that fact."
"What do you know, Aunt Mal?"
The Seer chuckled and shook her head. "Maybe something, maybe nothing."
"I hate it when you say that." The brunette muttered, glaring at her childishly and earning a tinkling laugh in response. Then she sighed. "But what about the other thing… the Dumbledore thing…"
At once the mood turned sombre and Maleficent sighed. "Dumbledore knows what he's doing, Regina. He knows more than he's letting on about the events taking place. If he doesn't think your mother's plan is something to be worried about, then rest assured things will work out."
"But what if–?"
"Professor Dumbledore is a pillar of the magical community, Regina." Maleficent reminded her gently. Then she smiled, a slightly triumphant smirk twisting her lips. "D'you know why your mother was so against Briar and I being together? The real reason why she was so keen to have me under her control?" When the brunette shook her head, her aunt chuckled. "Apparently He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was of the opinion that I would make a prophecy relating to Dumbledore and the Dark Lord's rise to power. Cora couldn't risk losing the chance to be the one to inform her master of any such prophecy."
"She destroyed your life just so she could gain his favour?" Regina asked, shaking her head. Then she remembered what she'd told her sister only that morning. "I shouldn't be surprised; Mother is a Death Eater first and foremost. Everything else is secondary."
"Your mother does love you, Regina… just… in her own way."
The young woman smiled weakly and stood, pressing a kiss to the top of her aunt's head and saying goodnight. She called out to Briar as she left, smiling as the other woman appeared from the bedroom in time to return the sentiments.
It was only when she was making her way back to her chambers, feeling more relaxed than she had been before visiting her aunt, that Regina realised something that made her stomach drop and an icy cold surge through her veins. Maleficent had prophesied that when evil approaches a pillar will fall. She had also called Dumbledore a pillar of the magical community.
Dumbledore was the pillar that was going to fall.
Dumbledore was going to die.
A/N: I feel like I need to translate some of Ruby's Yorkshire phrases, thanks Lauren and Lucy for them!
'weren't so bloody crackers' - wasn't so crazy
'Just gi' up' - Just give up
'You can't kid us on' - You're not fooling us
