The Great Hall was full of happy chatter and dimmed sunlight the afternoon approaching winter and everyone seemed in high spirits as they all debated back and forth on the second upcoming task. Emeline normally sat with her back to the trio's and twin's so that they could easily turn around to chat if necessary. She was currently in a conversation with Cedric and another girl in their year when she heard the loud snickering and Ginny's ghastly comment behind her.
Turning quickly, she saw Ron standing for the whole Great Hall to see, holding up the most dated set of dress robes Emeline had ever laid eyes on. She chuckled to herself also as he offered them to Ginny and Hermione could hardly contain her amusement.
"Ronald, they are not Ginny's! They're for you. Dress robes."
"For what, pray tell?" He asked, annoyed.
•
In their next class of the afternoon, they had their answer. Emeline was huddled next to her Gryffindor friends as McGonagall stood to inform them of the upcoming Yule Ball and all that it entailed. She felt an odd, nervous excitement welling up inside.
McGonagall singled out Ron to practice with her, much to the twins' delight, and everyone couldn't help but laugh as he obliviously attempted the semblance of dancing with his professor.
"You're never going to let him live this down, are you?" Harry nudged the twins.
"Never!" Came their response in unison. George cast her a flashing smile as they imitated their brother's dancing attempts. The excitement overflowed in her chest yet again.
•
Once their rundown on the ball was through and the chimes rung for their next class, Emeline grabbed up her books and shoved them in her bag quickly, catching Calliope close to her.
"Hey! Callie, hold on!"
Calliope stopped in her tracks as the other students filed out ahead of her and turned to Emeline what appeared regrettably, with a downcast smile.
"Hi Em." She replied meekly, normally as bubbly and fun loving as her friend.
Emeline gave her a confused glance and laughed nervously.
"I've been trying to chat with you for weeks now. It's so great to get to be together another year! I've missed you."
"You don't say," she nodded. "And yeah, Hogwarts is great."
You didn't need a keen eye or to know Calliope to witness the awkward 180 she was displaying.
She tried once more.
"So much has changed, I just want to catchup even if you won't be here next ter-"
"-I know what's changed!" She replied, whether angry or sad Emeline could not tell. "I'm not interested."
Emeline took a step back, completely blown away.
"Callie, I don't understand. I figured you were just busy with the move; I didn't think I did anything to you."
"You didn't," she lowered her voice, glancing around. "Everyone knows what happened last year, Emeline. My parents strictly forbade me from involving myself in it."
Emeline's face went white.
"You're not allowed to be friends with me?"
Calliope swallowed hard, looking far sadder than angry now.
"I'm sorry, Eme-"
"-my father isn't even here this year!" Emeline hissed, not giving a damn who heard now. "And if he was, you'd find he was the kindest, most understanding, and certainly most qualified professor we've ever had here. Your prejudice is vile and in which case, I'm happy to be free of you."
Emeline saw her mouth open to respond, but turned on her heel and stormed out of the classroom, leaving McGonagall and George who was waiting to talk to her, stunned and fairly distraught on her behalf.
•
When George finally found Emeline later that night after she avoided everyone, bustling in and out of classes, she was sitting in the courtyard where they'd sat a few weeks ago, silent tears falling as she looked out at the moon.
A sliver away from full.
"This seat taken?" George asked softly. Emeline glanced up and bat her tears away quickly.
"Now it is." She smiled.
George sat in silence for a moment, looking up at the moon with her, feeling its weight for the first time in his life. He slowly reached his hand for hers, and when she didn't flinch away as he expected, rested it overtop hers gently. She turned to look at him.
"I know you heard her horrid excuse today. I can't believe it."
"I'm so sorry. She's cruel, you're better off without her."
"I don't give a damn about her."
George looked slightly surprised as Emeline turned back to the moon.
"I am better off. But my dad; this is how he's spent his whole life. I couldn't help but initially think it was a little dramatic. Surely there couldn't be that much judgement. My grandparents hated werewolves, but my mother never raised me that way, secretly. It never occurred to me that he could be made a mockery of by the entire world. I mean, France knows what happened. You're shitting me, right?"
George remained quiet as she steadied her breathing.
"The worst part is he's going to ask me if I've spoken to her. For his sake, I've not the faintest idea what to say. It will break his heart."
"Then don't tell him." George shrugged. "She's different; not the friend you remember. It isn't a lie."
Emeline nodded.
"You're right."
A peaceful silence fell over them again and George breathed in the crisp air, his hand tightening around hers.
"I don't mind that your dad is a werewolf, you know."
Emeline laughed. "You don't say."
"It's only fair that he wouldn't mind me asking you to go to the ball together, then, right?"
Emeline's eyes shined under the moonlight. Crystal blue and breathtaking. George hoped she couldn't feel his hand shaking.
"That sounds fair." She whispered quietly.
"Is that a yes, Miss Lupin?"
"That's a yes, Mr. Weasley."
George shivered animatedly.
"Yuck. Let's stick to George."
•
Two days later, she was on the train home for a short holiday. The ball was upcoming and she'd need to be back for it on Christmas Eve, but she still opted to take the holiday with her father and uncle. Not to mention, a looming thought that needed rectified: she still had no gown for said ball.
As she settled in to her cabin, alone, she cracked open a new novel and started on the first page. By the time the train was in London, she had finished the entire book.
As she stepped onto the platform, only a few other students with her, she scanned the small crowd for her father. Her heart sunk as she realized he wasn't there which quickly turned to worry for how the prior night's moon had treated him. In his letter he seemed sure he'd be well enough to pick her up.
She wasn't lost to her thoughts long before she felt a tugging at her jeans. Sitting happily at her feet was Padfoot and a smile erupted on her face.
"Hey boy!" She grinned, playing along. "How did you mana-"
"-hello, darling." Remus smile tiredly, leaning heavily on his cane and using his one free arm to pull her close.
"You could've told me it would be too much." She said softly, Sirius making a low and sad sound in joking pity.
"Hush, I'll take you to the pound." She shot back and he immediately laid at her feet. She looked up at Remus, surveying a deep new gash across his face and how strongly he was still relying on his cane. He shook his head.
"I told you: no more missed time. I'm sorry for running behind." He grimaced.
"Let's get you home." She responded with a smile, locking arms to steady him further.
•
When they were fireside that evening, Emeline at the epitome of content with her second novel in her latest series in hand, Sirius walked into the living room with an annoyed face.
"You know, we could've done without the pound comment today. I risked my tail to help get your old man there."
Remus rolled his eyes silently as he poured over a novel of his own next to her on the couch and Emeline glanced up from hers with a pouting face.
"Poor boy. He had a job to do today. Imagine that."
Sirius grumbled further and Emeline grabbed a spoonful of her soup hovering next to her.
"You make this too?" She asked, eyebrows quirked in surprise.
"Why, yes I did." He replied proudly, his demeanor changing.
"It's terrible." She challenged him, lying through her teeth as she took another spoonful.
"I hate your daughter, Moony. I actually loathe her."
Remus did not respond, and Emeline glanced at Sirius with a 'you did it' face. She felt sorry for what a terrible moon it must've been, his exhaustion and lack of conversation only proving her point further.
"You do not." She said cheerfully. "Doomsday would agree." She smiled. This got his attention and he nodded absentmindedly, patting her knee briefly.
"Whatever you say, pup."
"Doomsday?" Sirius snorted. "Okay I take it back, Moony. I actually love her."