AN: Hmm... It's been a while hasn't it? I do apologize, but due to personal reasons will not state why I have been gone for so long. Message me if you're that curious. This is now up for ADOPTION. Caps so you see it. This is what I have left when I got on the doc. I realized that this story is shit in my eyes, and am no longer truly in the FNAF fandom.

It was days later that Emerald next woke, to the sight of Hermione reading in the chair next to his bed, the only bit of color in the otherwise blindingly white Hospital Wing. He kept still when he woke, not wanting to disturb Hermione, but she saw his shift into wakefulness and tackled him in a hug before calling for Madame Pomfrey. She rushed about, checking his vitals and magic levels.

It turned out that he had suffered major core exhaustion, causing him to pass out and stay that way until his core began to recharge. It had been nearly a full week, and he had the constant, silent company of Hermione and Neville. Even Draco came to visit once or twice, worried about the quiet boy that never bothered anyone, but would be sure to stop you the moment you began to bully another student.

Even when he was awake, Madame Pomfrey did not let him leave until another three days later. Hermione brought him his work, which he was able to finish in no time. It didn't leave him with much to do, seeing as his only three friends still had classes and couldn't just zip through their work (well, Hermione could, but she would prefer to take time and make sure she did well. Which meant at least five rough drafts per essay).

Rumors were circulating around the Hogwarts Grapevine™ about him and Quirrell. DADA classes were completely cancelled until a replacement was found. There was talk of foul play, that Severus had done something in desperation, wanting the man's position in favor of Potions Master. The stories got more and more outrageous as time went on, saying that a vampire finally found Quirrel and killed him despite the onion filled turban he wore. Not a single student actually knew what had happened, so there was no one able to slip in the truth.

Emerald didn't tell any of his friends what had happened, knowing that for Hermione it never seemed true when he talked about the previous night guards, and Draco and Neville came from too upstanding families to stay his friend if they knew.

When he was let out, it was a massive relief to be able to move again. There was another spike in the rumors, but it finally calmed down when a replacement was found for classes. Auror Dawlish, an older man with steely gray eyes who had been put on leave once again for being hurt in a raid. This was the last resort for the man, seeing as he was knocked out on a raid every other week (though not because he was an idiot, he just always ended up going against the cruelest of duelers).

Emerald did not like him. He sneered at the students, and tried to throw him out several times.

Finally, it seemed, Halloween was upon Hogwarts. The castle was decorated so well, it was reminiscent of the pizzeria, or perhaps a haunted house. Even Nathair decided that he would come out of his hiding spot in Gryffindor tower to explore the different decorations. Of course, the other Gryffs panicked at the sight (as did the other houses, in fact, when Nathair was in the Great Hall) and fled the room whenever possible.

It was highly amusing to see the house of the snakes run away when they saw a real one, though none of the teachers were aware of a snake in the school. He knew that if anyone found out Nathair would be taken away and possibly killed, and he was not going to allow that to happen.

Classes dragged on, all the students too excited to focus and the professors trying in vain to gain their interest.