First Firsts

Chapter 6: First Firsts

Disclaimer: The usual. All but Emma belong to JKR and I'm making no money from this.

A/N: I'm grateful as always to my beta, Janeaverage, whose talents improve this story immeasurably. Thank you, too, for reading and reviewing!

"Quite right, Severus, quite right," Albus Dumbledore's hearty voice chuckled behind them. "The young lady will need a constant guide to our world. I thank you for volunteering!"

"And that, Emma, is the senile old bat who runs this place," Snape spat.

Emma stood frozen, mouth agape, staring at the magnificent sight of a purple-robed, star-and-moon-bespangled Albus Dumbledore.

"Oh, come, now, Severus, don't be cross. What will our guest think of your manners?" Dumbledore teased, as he reached over to grasp Emma's hand in his. He started a bit when he touched her and inquired, "My dear, are you a . . .?"

"No, Albus, she's not a witch, though she does have magical ancestors," Snape interrupted.

"Ahh, I could feel it," said Dumbledore, wonderingly.

Filius Flitwick soon joined the odd threesome. Emma's eyes opened even wider at the sight of the diminutive Charms Professor.

Flitwick squeaked out a greeting to Snape, then took Emma's hands softly. "I understand you need some assistance, dear lady. Close your eyes and I will gift you with sight."

Flitwick performed a long incantation and complex wand-wavings, and reversed for her the effects of Muggle-Repelling Charms. "I am finished, dear lady, open your eyes!"

"Oh! It's magnificent! And huge!" Emma cried, gaining her first sight of Hogwarts Castle.

"I hope you've gotten that same appraisal from her, dear boy!" Dumbledore said, smirking, sotto voce, to a murderous-looking Snape.

Ignoring the crude attempt at humor, Snape suggested: "Emma will need more Charms and magical assistance if she is to stay at the castle."

"Ah, indeed, Severus, indeed. We can take care of those tasks on the morrow," Dumbledore said. "Right now, you two have had quite a trip. I've taken the liberty of adding a guest suite onto your rooms, Severus, and the house-elves will be bringing up dinner. Time change, and all that. Have a pleasant evening, you two!" And with that, he and Flitwick nodded to each other and Disapparated.

Snape strode ahead through the gates, stopping only when he realized Emma wasn't following. "You are coming along, aren't you?" he inquired tiredly. He had only just realized the enormity of his responsibility to her. He did not completely regret it.

He showed Emma how to access the dungeons from his personal side entrance and keyed his wards to release automatically for her, saving the main entrance and the Great Hall for another, quieter, time. Students roamed the grounds and castle now, enjoying a rare sunny afternoon. He did not want any speculation about the identity of this new castle inmate. In fact, he thought, we should change her appearance somewhat tomorrow, in case any Death Eaters' brats see her. But not too much of a change. I like her just as she is.

****************

Emma got her first complete, chemical-free night's sleep since her family's tragedy. That's a good omen for this place, she thought. In the large bathroom, she investigated the deep, claw-footed tub she had longed for last night, but was too tired to use. "Why all the different taps?" she wondered. She twisted the tap nearest her and warm, sudsy, spice-scented water splashed out. "Mmmm, his scent," she mumbled, and jumped when she heard Snape's voice remark, "Try the last two taps. They are feminine-scented."

She turned to smile at her host and wish him good morning, but with a swish of his black robes, he was already gone. Emma settled on the final tap, a mix of jasmine and lily of the valley oils. She undressed and sank gratefully into the warm, comforting bubble bath water.

She was just nodding off to sleep, when a loud CRACK startled her. Emma screamed as she looked upon the ugliest creature she had ever seen. The creature was about the size of a three-year-old, had large bat ears, a pushed-up snout, green wrinkled skin, and bloodshot, goggling eyes the size of billiard balls. It wore a tied-off tea towel styled as an island sarong.

The creature shrieked in response to Emma's scream and wouldn't stop. Snape came running into the room. "What in blazes is going on in here?" he thundered.

At that, the creature stopped screaming and bowed down low. "Winky is sorry, master, Winky did not feels the lady to be in the room. Winky came to cleans the bathroom but will return," the creature squeaked. Glaring at Emma, it disappeared with another loud CRACK.

Snape turned, and tried to glare at Emma, but couldn't maintain his anger as her face screwed up. About to cry, he thought with disgust; but instead, she let out peals of pent-up laughter. Snape reluctantly smiled as he realized what was so funny. Her first house-elf. Her first first of many. Let's hope she takes them all this well, he thought. She certainly has strength of character and optimism enough for two. STOP RIGHT THERE, SNAPE, he inwardly snarled at himself. Spies have no business in entanglements.

"Here," he said gruffly, "I made this up for you. Shampoo with chamomile, a special formulation for your hair." Your beautiful blonde hair, he wished to say.

"Oh, Severus, thank you so much. You're very good to me. Do I have time to enjoy my bath for a while longer?"

"Yes, by all means. I will be teaching this morning. You will find breakfast laid out in my sitting room, along with some Muggle newspapers I procured. I only ask that you not leave the suite until I return, for safety reasons."

Emma obviously understood, as she dipped her chin and sweetly smiled her consent, unconcerned that the bath bubbles were disappearing rapidly. Snape inhaled sharply as he caught sight of her full, rounded breasts, glistening and gently swaying as she moved in the bath. Oh, bloody hell. What I wouldn't do to be in there with her.

She smiled sweetly once more, and he had the strong impression that she could read his mind. He turned on his heels and strode back to his private potions lab to steal a few precious minutes before his second year Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff DADA class of complete and utter idiots. And to stop thinking of her, which would be his most difficult task that day.

****************

Dumbledore came down shortly before lunch, meeting Emma in Snape's suite. She was shocked to see that he had badly injured, probably burned, his hand. She had not noticed the previous day due to her fear and heightened emotional state. The flesh was withered, and the skin, what was left of it, was black and necrotic. He saw the concern on her face and waved it away impatiently. "It's nothing to be concerned with, my dear. I thank you, Emma, for trusting Severus and accompanying him here. Just how much did he tell you about your predicament?"

Snape had told her everything. Anticipating his request, Emma held out her left arm for him. Dumbledore took what looked to be an old-fashioned jeweler's loupe out of his vast purple robes. He gently rotated her arm to look at all sides of the bracelet. He could feel the magic pulsing off it.

After a few minutes of silent analysis, he made his report. "I do not think that it is Dark Magic holding the bracelet on to you, my dear, but rather a series of elaborate protective Charms for the bracelet and its wearer. Leave it to brilliant Ravenclaw to capitalize upon the importance of intent in all our actions," Dumbledore murmured.

"For instance, this is the ancient rune Algiz. Its power is protective," Dumbledore explained to her. "How did you acquire the bracelet?"

Trustingly she told him her story. He nodded sympathetically, stroked his beard, and offered condolences. She brought him her pictures and he looked intently at her family. He inquired about her school and students. Emma replied happily at first, sharing anecdotes about her students with Dumbledore, but then she became lost in thought, her voice trailing off.

After a long silence, Dumbledore spoke. "Muggle poet William Shakespeare claims that it is better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all. Only people who have truly loved can understand his meaning. You also understand that true teaching requires love, and that sometimes love requires teaching." Smiling indulgently at her, he promised to meet with the staff that evening to see about her bracelet.

**************

Snape had arranged for Hermione Granger to spend the evening with Emma. The Muggle-born witch would share her experiences and explain some of the magical ways of living. Emma looked forward to some diversion and answers.

Hermione arrived with her familiar, Crookshanks. The half-kneazle strutted boldly up to Emma, sniffed her outstretched hand, then leapt lightly into her lap, claiming that space as his for the evening. Snape watched all this in bemusement as Emma cooed and petted Crookshanks, before glaring at Hermione and exiting the suite.

**************

Snape sat in Dumbledore's office with Minerva McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and Poppy Pomfrey. Dumbledore began the meeting with a bang. "We have, I mean, Severus has, obtained one of the missing Horcruxes, a bracelet belonging to Rowena Ravenclaw."

There was a collective gasp, followed by sighs of relief and even some clapping.

"Headmaster," Snape silkily intoned, "you have neglected to mention the bracelet is attached to someone."

Minerva's eyes widened. "Yes, do tell, Albus. Don't keep us in the dark any longer on a matter of this importance," she said tartly.

Snape cut across Dumbledore: "It's attached to a Muggle widow from New York City. By circumstance, she was the teacher of Walden Macnair's autistic son. Macnair and Goyle, Sr. used the Imperius Curse on a cab driver and caused the deaths of her husband and sons. They attacked the Muggle and attempted to remove the bracelet, but could not because of the powerful Charms attached to it . . . or rather, attaching it. Any attempt to remove the bracelet or destroy it is repelled. I submit that the only way to destroy the Horcrux is to destroy the bearer. She is in my suite now," he added calmly, not betraying the voice which screamed inside his mind, Save her! Don't let her be one more sacrifice to the Dark Lord!

A horrified silence filled the room. Even Dumbledore was momentarily at a loss for words.