𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐏 𝟐𝟐

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Kreacher, it transpired, had been lurking in the attic

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Kreacher, it transpired, had been lurking in the attic. Sirius said he had found him up there, covered in dust, no doubt looking for more relics of the Black family to hide in his cupboard.

Though Sirius seemed satisfied with this story, it made Emily uneasy.

Kreacher seemed to be in a better mood on his reappearance, his bitter muttering had subsided somewhat, and he submitted to orders more docilely than usual, though once or twice Emily caught the house elf staring avidly at her, always looking quickly away when he saw that Emily had noticed.

Emily did not mention her vague suspicions to her dad, whose cheerfulness was evaporating fast now that Christmas was over.

Emily did not want to leave her dads or brother again, she had been so grateful for them recently and had gotten quite clingy to them.

In fact, for the first time in her life, she was not looking forward to returning to Hogwarts. Going back to school would mean placing herself once again under the tyranny of Dolores Umbridge, who had no doubt managed to force through another dozen decrees in their absence.

Then there was no Quidditch to look forward to now that she had been banned; there was every likelihood that their burden of homework would increase as the exams drew even nearer; Dumbledore remained as remote as ever; in fact, if it had not been for the D.A., Emily felt she might have gone to her dad and pops and begged them to let her  leave Hogwarts and remain in Grimmauld Place.

Then, on the very last day of the holidays, something happened that made Emily positively dread her return to school.

"Emily, dear," Mrs. Weasley's voice called softly, poking her head into Emily's bedroom. Emily sat on her bed with Dice perched on her lap.

"Could you come down to the kitchen? Your father Sirius says he needs something."

"Coming," Emily replied, springing up and pushing Dice gently to the side.

A minute or two later, she pushed open the kitchen door. Her eyes immediately landed on the long table where her father, Harry, and Snape were seated. The tension was thick, practically palpable, as each glared in opposite directions. Harry sat beside Sirius, on his left.

A letter lay open in front of Sirius, the source of the unspoken conflict.

"Er," Emily said, announcing her presence.

Snape's dark eyes flicked toward her, his greasy black hair framing a face as pale as parchment.

"Sit down, Lupin," he said, his tone clipped.

"You know," Sirius spoke loudly, leaning back in his chair, tilting it on its rear legs, "her name is Lupin-Black. I'd prefer you not tell my daughter what to do. She has a mind of her own, thank you very much."

Snape's face darkened with an ugly flush, his thin lips pressing into a hard line. Emily quietly took the chair beside Sirius, on his right, facing Snape across the table.

𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒-ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪 ℙ𝕠𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣❥Where stories live. Discover now