Here's the post I promised

“Emily?” he croaked.

She nodded. “It’s really me.”

Sirius took two bounds toward her and engulfed her in a hug. He kissed her hair and held her tightly. She started crying in the crook of his neck.

“Shh, it’s okay, it’s okay, baby. I’ve missed you so much. I think about you daily. I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry,” Sirius begged.

Emily pulled back to look at him. “I need you to say it.”

“Say what?” he asked back, slightly confused.

“Tell me the truth. I need to hear it from you.”

“It was all Pete. If only I had got him, then maybe I wouldn’t have minded going to Azkaban, but I didn’t. He betrayed Prongs and Flower; he killed the muggles and Amelia. He cut off his finger to fake his death. I swear I didn’t do it, Ems.” His hands were on her shoulders and he was looking her directly in her eyes.

Emily nodded. “Okay, I believe you.” She smiled at him and he returned it. His smile caused his skin to lay tightly across his cheekbones and the wrinkles around his eyes to become more distinct as they stretched across his bones. They hugged once more and then broke apart. Emily plopped down on the bed next to Fred and Crookshanks.

“Oh, by the way, these are my two best friends, Fred and George Weasley. Guys, I’d like you to meet my Dad.” Emily grinned at his title. The boys all shook hands and said their hellos. Emily scooted to the end of the bed, putting the cat in her lap and petting it.

“Oh, by the way, Mr. Black, you are one of our heroes. The map has helped us so much,” said Fred with a grin.

“First off, the name is Sirius. Secondly, haha, how did you two get your hands on it?” Sirius asked, returning his grin.

“Well, Sirius, it’s funny you should ask that,” replied Fred.

“See, it was the first week of school for us,” started George.

“And we ran into Peeves,” continued Fred with a grin.

“When he was singing about Old Mr. Filch and his cat being on the sixth floor,” George said.

“He kept saying that he was old and grumpy, you know, those type of descriptions.”

“And we just couldn’t help ourselves,” continued George.

“So, we decided, why not make a name for ourselves?”

“And that, of course, was just the beginning of our mischief,” said George.

“We had a few harmless Dungbombs leftover from torturing little Ron and decided we’d throw a couple into a corridor,” smirked Fred.

“Well, we have now learned that Peeves isn’t completely truthful,” said George sadly.

“Filch was on the second floor and heard the commotion and we got caught.” Fred nodded his head gravely.

“We were sent to his office and while he was filling out the paper work, we noticed a drawer—”

“—that said Confiscated and Highly Dangerous,” said Fred.

“So, I caused another diversion by dropping another Dungbomb. And when Filch wasn’t looking, Fred rummaged through the drawer and found the map.”

“And so starts our mischief and sneaky ways,” finished Fred with a grin.

“Once again, thank you,” said George.

Sirius snickered at the twins and Emily joined in. “Well, you are very welcome. I’m glad our legacy lives on.”

Sirius watched his daughter play with the cat with a new lightness in his heart. He was hoping he would have seen her at the Quidditch game that he had gone to. He watched Harry and occasionally would glance at all of the women, trying to find one that may look like him or Amelia. He didn’t remember seeing the girl that was sitting in front of him.

“What are you staring at?” Emily asked, glancing behind her.

“The beautiful person my daughter had grown to be not thanks to me, unfortunately. I’ll have to thank Moony later for that,” Sirius sighed.

Emily blushed as she twirled a strand of her hair behind her ears. George glanced at her and blushed slightly too.

“So, which one of you has stolen my daughter’s heart?” Sirius asked lightly. Emily and George tensed slightly, looking down.

“Er...that would be George,” Fred laughed. He stopped immediately when he noticed the death glare George was giving him.

“Fred!” Emily exclaimed. “We are ALL just friends, Dad.”

“What? I was just trying to tell the truth, Ems. Don’t blow a gasket,” Fred said seriously, but then cracked a smile.

“Just shut up, okay?” Emily said angrily.

“Why should he?” George started saying. “He’s telling the truth. I know you love me too, yet you won’t go out with me? How does that even make sense?”

“George, please. This isn’t the time or place.”

“When is the time or place, Ems? When you’re snogging Malfoy or crying over some stupid boggart? This is getting ridiculous. Why don’t we just not talk about it ever again. Forget what I ever told you, Emily. I take it back.”

“Wait! George, don’t go. Don’t do this!” Emily yelled. George jumped up from the bed and started walking out the door. Emily noticed how everyone seemed to always leave her. She jumped off the bed too, going after him.

“George, please,” Emily cried.

George hesitated in the hallway. He glanced back at her; he looked depressed, upset, and angry all in one. “What is it you want me to say? We can go back to the way things were? We can pretend we’re not in love with each other because you’re scared? It’s not that simple, Ems,” George said.

“What do you want me to do?” Emily asked. Evidently, that was the wrong question.

“What do I want you to do? I want you to admit what you’re feeling. I want you to stop being ridiculous and come to your senses.”

“But, but, George. I just, I just can’t,” Emily whispered.

George walked over to her and cupped his hand around her cheek. He threaded his other hand through her hair and pushed her head back slightly so their heads were closer. “Just say what you’re feeling, Ems. It’s not that hard,” he whispered.

Emily looked deep into his brown eyes. She melted in them, drowned in them. She let her head lean into his hand and blinked once to let her tears fall.

“I’m in love with you, George Weasley. I know I can’t deny it or hide it, but I can’t pursue it. I’m so in love with you, and you might be my soul mate, but I can’t take the chance of losing you. You mean too much to me.”

Emily took a half step and laid her head upon his chest. She hugged him tightly and he reciprocated. She finally let go and looked at him. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Whatever choices you make, you should never be sorry about them, unless you think you made a mistake,” said George.

“I’m sorry,” Emily repeated. George couldn’t take it anymore and turned around again to leave.

Emily watched as another person walked out of her life. She thought of her mom and her dad. Sirius had walked right back into her life; maybe George could do the same.

Emily wiped her eyes before she turned back around. She walked in and looked at Fred disgustedly.

“What is your problem? Why did you have to bring that up? Are you mental?” she spat.

“I don’t think I’m mental. Come on, it can’t be that bad,” replied Fred half-heartedly.

“It is that bad. He’ll never speak to me again after this. Gah! I feel horrible.”

“What is it exactly you feel horrible about, Ems?” Fred asked. “That you had to let him down? That you had to break his heart? That you had to break your heart? Why are you so afraid of what’s meant to be?”

“All of the above, Fred. How do you know it’s meant to be?” she asked him.

“Because I know you two. I just know, and so do you,” stated Fred wisely.

“But—”

“But nothing. Listen to your heart. What does it tell you?” he asked.

Emily placed her hand over her heart and closed her eyes. It was an idiotic process; she already knew what she had to do. Emily’s thoughts drifted to the first day she met the twins. The first time they really hung out. She remembered the first time they all shared a laugh. She thought of their tree and their trips to Hogsmeade. She thought of their broom rides and long talks. She thought of their dance and the feelings she felt. She thought of their first kiss and how it made her feel. She smiled as she remembered the way he looked at her. She frowned at how she had shattered his heart twice. Her eyes slowly opened as she looked at his twin.

“I have to go find him. I need to go find him,” Emily stated.

“It’s about time you came to your senses,” Fred smiled.

“Yeah, yeah, can we have the little lesson thing later?” Emily asked sarcastically. She glanced at her father.

“I’m sorry, but I really need to go after him. I’ll come see you again and I’ll smuggle some food too,” Emily promised.

Sirius nodded. “I understand completely. I love you,” he said.

Emily hugged him and said goodbye. She didn't want to leave the father she just met, but something in her heart was telling her she had to go see George. Her and Fred took off through the Shrieking Shack.

Emily’s heart pounded violently against her chest. She grinned as she thought of how she would run into his arms and kiss him. She thought of how she would tell him that she was wrong and he was right, that he was always right. She imagined how she would hold onto him and never let go.

Before she knew it, she was in front of the Fat Lady. “Are you ready?” asked Fred.

“I’m ready,” Emily nodded.


*dun, dun, dun... Muahahahahaha. I'm evil! You shall have to wait to see what happens