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Back in fifth year, Muggle Studies had been Emma's chance to shine. She was not particularly gifted, but her knowledge in that class was clearly higher than anyone else's.

Professor Burbage used to draw on Emma's experiences a lot to teach the class about muggle customs and culture. One day, as they discussed cooking without magic, Emma had innocently said that she preferred it to cooking with magic, because it felt almost cleansing to have a break from it.

"Magic is not dirty," had said an angry voice at the back.

It was Theodore Nott, and that was the only time he'd ever spoken to her.

"I'm not saying that," Emma had replied. "I just meant that sometimes it feels good to do things properly, and take the time, rather than jump to shortcuts."

"Magic does things properly," replied Nott, glaring at her.

"I know that-that's not what I meant!"

"You just don't know what you're talking about."

"Neither do you! You think muggles are inferior-"

Professor Burbage had stopped them there, and that had been the one and only exchange she had ever had with Theodore Nott, prior to entering his common room and kissing him on the cheek whilst under the influence of Felix Felicis.

"You will complete four weeks of detention, miss Kettleburn," says Snape.

"Yes, sir."

"Detention will consist of whatever professor Carrow deems suitable punishment."

"Yes, sir."

"You will apologise to Miss Bulstrode whom you have publicly insulted, and to Mr Crabbe, whom you have assaulted."

"Yes, sir."

"And should there be one more incident from you from now until the end of the year, you will be permanently expelled. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"You are fortunate to have friends such as Theodore Nott, miss Kettleburn. Professor Carrow holds his word in high esteem, and I believe your punishment will reflect this."

"Yes, sir."

"Leave."

Following the incident in Muggle Studies, Emma now has to complete a six foot long essay on the topic of "The Natural Bestiality of Muggles", which she is due to read out to the class at the end of her four weeks of detentions. She isn't tortured, however, which is probably what Snape was alluding to when he said that she was fortunate to have a friend in Theodore Nott. Half of her still thinks she might have dreamed everything, and that that swearing, aggressive girl having a go at Millicent and Crabbe was never actually her.

She doesn't get her DA coin back, but when she passes Neville and Ginny in the corridors, they give her an appreciative nod. Luna Lovegood beams at her.

Apologising to Millicent and Crabbe is painful, but Emma manages to grit it out. Nott stands near her as she does.

"It's just words," he whispers to her moments before, "just noise and breath. It means nothing, it's a means to an end."

To her surprise, this gives her the strenght she needs to go through with it.

When it's over, and Emma is walking to the library to work on her endless list of essays, Nott joins her silently. They walk side by side, him keeping up with her fast pace.

"That was my estate," she tells Nott out of nowhere. "That picture Millicent showed. It's where I'm from."

"She probably didn't know," he tells her after a short pause. Emma realises that this is the first time she's spoken to him in days. "Sit next to me," he abruptly adds. "In Muggle Studies. Carrow will forget about you, and you can always hit me whenever they say something that makes you angry."

Startled, Emma looks up at him. He's got a hint of a smirk at the corner of his thin lips, and returns her gaze.

"Thanks."

It's not a blush that's creeping along her cheekbones. Ever since she's convinced herself that he is gay, and therefore could not possibly be interested in her that way, it has been making it significantly easier to relax around him, though his ideologies are still a great barrier to any kind of genuine friendship.

She avoids looking at him the rest of the way, and settles her bag on a table at the back of the library.

"Should we have a look at the Transfiguration essay?" He asks, sitting himself at her table. "Or do you want to do Charms first?"

Emma sighs, contemplating which of the two choices is the least unbearable, when two additional Slytherin students appear behind Nott.

The first one is a tall, blond girl called Daphne Greengrass and known as something of a stunner in their year. The other one has brown hair and blue eyes, and Emma knows she's in her year, but has never bothered to learn her name. Something quite common... Is it... Something Davis?

"Hi, Theo," says Daphne, setting a hand on the back of his chair. She throws a pointed look at Emma but doesn't really greet her.

"Daphne. Tracey."

Tracey! Emma thinks with triumph. Tracey Davis, that's it. Not a very witchy name. Even Kettleburn sounds more authentic.

"You're still with her, then?"

Emma blinks. Pardon?

"As you can see."

"It's just that with what she's done to Vincent and Millicent..."

"Did you need anything, Daphne?"

Daphne withdraws her hand from Nott's chair and crosses her arms.

"Actually, yes, professor Snape wants to see you."

"Now?"

"Now."

Conflicted, Nott looks over at Emma who shakes her head.

"If you need to go, you need to go." He's hesitating, maybe wondering if the Greengrass girl hasn't made the whole thing up. Emma would quite like a break from him, though. "We've got Dark Arts this afternoon, right? I'll see you then."

It's probably for show, and it definitely doesn't mean a thing, but he stands and leans over and places a very quick, feather like little kiss at the side of her face before leaving with Daphne. Emma stares after them in a daze.

"Trace?"

Emma looks up to see that Tracey Davis is still there.

"I'll catch you up," replies Tracey.

The two girls look at each other awkwardly. Emma knows next to nothing about Tracey, apart from the fact that she's a Slytherin and hangs out with Parkinson and Greengrass.

"You're half blood, right?" Asks Tracey.

"I guess so."

"Me too."

Emma's eyebrows shoot up.

"My dad is muggle born. All his side of the family are muggles." The Slytherin throws a look over her shoulder, then leans in to whisper: "I just wanted to say that I also think some of the stuff we learn in Muggle Studies is complete rubbish. My grand parents are a bit weirded out by magic, but they're not animals. They're very nice people, in fact. So, yeah. Just thought I'd let you know you're not the only one, and uh... Not all Slytherins believe what the Carrows say."

Tracey's lips twitch in what tries to be a smile, then she begins to move away.

"Tracey? You uh... You take Ghoul Studies, right?"

"Yes?"

"Do you want to work together on that project?"

"Sure."

"Cool."

In the great hall, Emma finally gets to spend some time away from any Slytherins and amongst her own house. Unfortunately, this does not turn out to be the respite she so desperately needs, because what she finds instead of welcoming friends is a bunch of very suspicious and resentful Hufflepuffs.

"Is that all Snape said?"

"You've got four weeks detention?"

"No Crucio?"

"You've literally just got to write an essay, after that massive scene?"

"I have to read it in front of everybody," tries Emma. "It's humiliating."

"Boohoo."

Emma is about to have a go at Susan for that comment, but Hannah unwittingly saves the day.

"Do you think they're together?"

"Who?" Asks Emma, turning her back on Susan and Ernie.

"Neville and Ginny."

Emma follows her friend's gaze over to the Gryffindor table, where Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley are engaged in conspiratorial whispers.

"No," says Emma. "She's Harry Potter's girlfriend."

"Harry's not here."

"Still, she seemed pretty crazy about him."

"Do you think he's with Luna, then?"

"I doubt it."

Luna Lovegood has never struck Emma as the kind of person who would engage in romantic relationships. She has always seemed too...distracted.

"They're probably all just hanging out together a lot this year, with all the DA stuff."

"No need to sound so bitter, Ems," says Susan.

"Have you got something to tell me?"

"Ladies," interjects Ernie. "Let's not lose sight of who the real enemy is, shall we?"

"I'm not losing sight," says Susan, "I'm not the one who's cosying up to Slytherins in the library."

"Do I actually need to remind you that Nott and I-"

"I'm not talking about Nott. I'm talking about Tracey Davis. Padma heard you two having a nice chat in the library, all friendly..."

"We were saying that we're both half bloods," Emma retorts, "she was saying she agrees with me that Muggle Studies is a load of-"

"That's not what Padma heard. Padma says you two were talking about some project you're working on together, for Ghoul Studies." She lifts an eyebrow. "Well?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything! Padma even said that Nott kissed you, Ems! I mean, what's next, braiding Parkinson's hair?"

"It was a half second peck on the cheek to shut Daphne Greengrass up! And so what if I'm on alright terms with Tracey Davis? Not all Slytherins are complete arseholes."

"You'll never get back into the DA, at this rate." Huffs Susan.

"The reason why I'm in this sodding mess in the first place is because of your stupid magazines-"

"Ladies!" Ernie stops them forcefully. "Enough!"

"I'm going to Dark Arts," Emma declares, standing up.

"I'm sure Nott's saved you a chair," calls Susan. "Or if not, you can always sit with your great friend Tracey Davis."

"Sod off, Susan."

"Or what? Are you going to muggle-fight me like you did Crabbe?"

"Do you want to find out?!"

"Merlin's tits, what is even going on? Just shut up, both of you!" Shouts Hannah. "I'm leaving. You're both pathetic."

Somewhat pacified, Emma makes her way to Amycus Carrow's classroom.

She sits next to Nott, and stiffly returns the little smile Tracey Davis gives her from the row in front of hers.

Four third year students are lined up at the front of the room, and Amycus Carrow 's pervy smile says it all. He first asks Neville to perform the Cruciatus curse on the younger kids, and when Neville refuses, Amycus whips his wand and a deep gash appears along Neville's cheek, making the whole class gasp in shock. Even Neville appears speechless. Amycus sends Neville to the hospital wing, and with their hero away and wounded, the rest of the class prepares to endure this lesson like one would get through a particularly vicious nightmare.

"Bones." Orders Carrow.

Shaking, Susan prepares to stand up, when Theodore Nott jumps to his feet next to Emma and walks to the front of the room.

"I'll do it, professor, or this will take all day."

He stands confidently in front of everyone, raises his wand.

"Crucio!"

The next hour goes in a blur. Everyone is almost hypnotised, staring at the horror in front, too cowardly to stop it. Emma watches Theo. There's nothing but focus on his face. When it's over, he lowers his arm, and turns to her. Their eyes meet from across the room, and there's something in his look, something like...victory? Or a question? It's hard to see through her tears and Emma blinks away, staring at her hands instead.

"He did it for her, I bet," whispers a voice behind her. It's Parkinson, talking to Zabini. "So her precious little blood traitor friend wouldn't have to do it. I'm sure that's why."

Theo walks back to their table and sits down. From the corner of her eyes, Emma can see the dark circles that have appeared under his eyes, and the light sheen of sweat at the top of his forehead. He's a bit out of breath. His fist, on the table, is shaking slightly. Emma's hand moves of its own accord and goes to rest against his.

At that moment, that's the best she can do.