"Temporary bliss."

Emmaline was blindsided by how quickly the Hogwarts train had arrived at the station and definitely did not see coming how excited the rest of her friends were ready to get off as she was left alone in the compartment.

Regulus hesitated as he saw Emmaline take her time with gathering her personal items she had traveled with.

"You can go ahead without me," Emmaline spoke up. Regulus glanced back at her and raised an eyebrow, as if asking if she was sure. Emmaline nodded her head, giving him a shy smile for confirmation.

Regulus chuckled and grinned, leaning in to press a quick kiss on her lips and left the train to find Henry and Perseus.

Finally able to get her things in order, she made her way to the exit. The platform was crowded with students and their families, creating a chaotic yet joyous atmosphere. Emmaline scanned the crowd and found Regulus's dark hair alongside his parents but before she could call out to him, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her back onto the train.

"What the–"

"Emmaline, we need to talk," Remus said, his voice low and urgent. He pulled her into the closest cabin, his grip on her arm leading her in first, him following right behind and closing the door behind him.

"Talk about what?" she asked, her confusion evident. She's spoken to him perhaps twice since their first year of Hogwarts. There should be no reason he is seeking her out. Emmaline glanced behind her through the window that displayed the platform, hoping Regulus hadn't seen her yet.

"About what happened at Black Lake," Remus replied, his grip tightening slightly on her arm.

After Severus had spoken to Lily Evans and called her a Mudblood during the fiasco of Black Lake, she had hoped to put it behind her and enjoy the start of the summer, but it seemed Remus had other plans.

"Why does it matter?" she asked, frustration creeping into her voice. She yanked her arm out of his grip at the same time, shooting him daggers through her stare. "It's over now."

"Because we're friends," Remus said quietly, his expression softening. "Or at least, I thought we were."

Emmaline felt a rush of emotions consuming her briefly. She had always admired her first year of Hogwarts as that was the truest she had been before her mother came into the picture to punish her. She had admired the group of Gryffindors throughout the years as they were smart and kind to her. But at the end of the day, it was her mother and father that had the final say in her life and they would never approve of a friendship with a Gryffindor, especially one so closely tied to Sirius Black.

"We're not friends, Lupin." she said firmly, though her voice wavered.

"Oh."

Before Emmaline could respond, she spotted Regulus behind the glass door of the cabin, his expression darkening as he took in the scene.

"Emmaline," said Regulus as he opened the door. "Come on," his voice cold as he glared at Remus. "Let's go."

Emmaline didn't say anything, nor did she spare a second glance to Remus Lupin as she got her belongings and followed after Regulus. As they reached the platform, Regulus stopped causing her to run into his back.

"Dude–" Emmaline sputtered and was cut off when Regulus pulled her into a passionate kiss, a public display that left her breathless and on cloud nine. His lips and hers molded perfectly. She felt the intensity of his affection and for a moment, everything else faded away.

Regulus finally released her, a satisfied smile on his lips. "Mm. Let's go." he said, taking her hand in his.

She followed him to their friends where Perseus and Henry were giving her a shit eating grin, jumping up and down enthusiastically. Which to her, felt odd to have her younger brother happy to see such display of public affection with her.

"Where is Evelyn?" She asked Henry.

"Her parents already came and got her." Henry confirmed.

Emmaline nodded and glanced around to find her parents, but spotted Remus standing at the exit of the train, watching her with a look she couldn't quite make out. She couldn't think about it too long as her brother, Malcom came into view when she continued to look onto the platform.

He stood alongside his wife, Cassandra and their son, Finnian. Alongside them stood Walburga Black and her husband Orion Black who were speaking with Cassandra. Only Malcom kept her stare which reminded her all too well of their mothers.

"We'll see each other soon, promise. I gotta run!" Henry called out as he hugged Perseus and Regulus goodbye. Emmaline turned her attention back to him and plastered a fake smile, giving him a brief hug as well before he waved enthusiastically and ran off towards the direction of his parents.

Emmaline, Perseus and Regulus began making their way to their families. As they approached, Regulus's parents were deep in conversation with Cassandra who stood holding Finnian on her hip. Malcoms eyes shifted to Emmaline and Perseus, his expression unreadable but intense.

Emmaline wished she could go back to the time on the train, enjoying the presence of Evelyn and her brother. Severus had decided to not sit with them on the train ride back to the platform. He said he wanted time to be by himself where he can think about his next steps for the school year after the summer. She tried arguing with him, trying to keep them all together but Henry and Regulus were quick to agree with him, sending him on his way to another part of the train.

"Well, I guess this is it," Regulus said, his voice low. He looked at Emmaline, his eyes searching hers for a moment longer than necessary. "I'll see you soon, alright?"

Emmaline nodded, her smile faltering slightly, "yeah, see you soon." She squeezed his hand one last time before reluctantly letting go.

"Take care Perseus," he added with a nod towards his best friend. Perseus grinned and nodded back.

Once the Black family said their goodbyes, Emmaline felt a sense of relief for a second before remembering her brother was there instead of their parents.

Instead of questioning it, she welcomed Cassandra and gave her a tight hug in which she welcomed and hugged her young sister-in-law tightly.

"I've missed you Emmy," Cassandra said, squeezing her extra tight, smushing her with Finnian, Emmaline's nephew.

"Oh, how I have missed you guys too." Emmaline confessed.

The young boy giggled, swatting his hand in his aunt's face, getting a laugh out of Emmaline, her fake smile replaced by the joy her nephew brought her.

"So, what am I? Chopped liver?" Perseus teased.

Cassandra laughed and pulled Emmaline out of her hug and replaced the space with the youngest Selwyn brother. Perseus laughed as Finnian repeated the swatting, getting the group to laugh together.

Malcom greeted his younger siblings as he usually did, with a curtly nod before he glanced over at his wife. "Let's get going."

Cassandra sighed and motioned for Emmaline to move towards her. She did so while Perseus moved to their brother.

"Hold on tight." Cassandra instructed. Emmaline took a deep breath, feeling the familiar sensation of Cassandra's magic enveloping them as they prepared to apparate.

With a sharp crack, the bustling platform of 9 and ¾ vanished and was replaced with the quiet, familiar surroundings of the home of Malcom and Cassandra. Emmaline blinked, adjusting to the sudden change and released the breath she had not realized she was holding.

Neither Perseus nor Emmaline bothered asking why they did not land at Selwyn Manor. Despite the distance between Emmaline and her eldest brother, she welcomed the peacefulness.

"Welcome home," Cassandra said softly, giving them an encouraging smile. Perseus immediately took off, dashing to the doors of his brother's home.

Emmaline smiled back, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thank you," she replied.

Malcom strolled past them, not paying his wife, child or sister any mind. Cassandra placed a reassuring hand on Emmaline's shoulder, pulling her attention off of Malcom and to her.

"It will be alright. I'll talk to you later," she said gently. "Just take it one step at a time."

Emmaline nodded, appreciating the support Cassandra could offer.

"Let me take a hold of my Finney!" Emmaline spoke, babying her voice at the end to draw her nephew's attention. The little boy giggled, throwing his hands up in the air towards his aunt, his small hands grabbing at the air, begging to be held by her.

Cassandra laughed and Emmaline took hold of him. The baby squealed and jumped up in her arms, getting Emmaline to laugh as well.

The rest of the family followed after Malcom, Finnian's laughter surrounding them all.

–

Emmaline sat cross-legged on the bed in the guest room that had been prepared for her, a thick book propped up in her lap. The room was cozy, with soft, cream-colored walls and dark oak furniture that gave it a timeless elegance. A simple lamp on the bedside table cast a warm, golden glow over the room, highlighting the words of the book she read.

Dinner had been a quiet affair, with Malcom stern and silent, in all the ways he could be resembling their mother, and Cassandra was the opposite. Her joyful personality making polite conversation with the youngest Selwyn siblings. Though, she attended to Finnian throughout the dinner as he was a young boy eager to join in on the conversation the 'adults' were having.

Perseus had chatted animatedly about all the things he couldn't write about in his letters home. Emmaline, on the other hand, felt uneasy with all the change that happened without her knowledge.

Her parents aren't affectionate people. That much was shown in the personalities of Malcom and Arthur Selwyn. However, they sent their monthly check in letters to both siblings. The first of the month of every month since they began Hogwarts. None of them received a letter more than the other. The sudden change in their summer plans had left her with many questions. Though, none of which she felt comfortable asking at the dinner table.

A soft knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. "Come in," she called, marking her place in the book and setting it aside.

The door creaked open, and Cassandra stepped inside, her presence bringing a sense of relief over Emmaline that she didn't know she needed.

Cassandra Yaxley, now Selwyn, was a classic housewife of pureblood society. Many have said she is the image of what each family wanted their daughters to be.

Despite the weight that was on her shoulders, Cassandra never had a hair out of place. Her golden hair was always in loose waves over her shoulder, always catching in the light and shimmering like a halo. Her eyes were a piercing shade of blue and her smile was inviting. The kind that could light up a room and make everyone feel at ease.

"Hey, sweetheart," Cassandra said, closing the door gently behind her. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all," Emmaline replied, smiling as she watched her cross the room and sit on the edge of the bed. "I was just reading."

Cassandra nodded, glancing at the book with mild interest before turning her full attention to her sister-in-law. "I know you may have questions about why you and your brother are staying here with us for the summer instead of going to Selwyn Manor."

"I have," Emmaline admitted, shifting slightly and sitting up straighter. "Is there something wrong back home?"

The word home was a word she used lightly. The direct definition of the word is a place where one lives permanently. But lately with the things that had happened, calling Selwyn Manor home felt off. As if the word had lost meaning when comparing it to the house she grew up in.

Cassandra shook her head, "Nothing's wrong, exactly," she said slowly. Her eyes were searching hers, wondering things that neither one of them knew how to put into words.

"But your parents are hosting a special guest this summer. And you know how your parents can be. They just want to make a good impression."

"I'm sure I could have made a good impression on their guest. Who is it?" Emmaline questioned. Before Cassandra could respond, Emmaline fired back another comment, "I'm familiar with all the families in the sacred twenty-eight. So, it must be someone higher up. But then again–"

Cassandra cut off the young girl. "It is someone important." Her gaze flickered from the door back to Emmaline. "But I'm not sure if I should–"

Before she could finish, Malcoms voice rang out from downstairs. "Cassandra, could you come here for a moment?"

Cassandra sighed softly, her expression apologetic. She leaned forward, attempting to press a quick affectionate kiss to Emmaline's forehead. Emmaline flinched at first as Cassandra made the motion and both women hesitated before Cassandra finished the action, being gentler to the girl.

"We'll talk more about this later, I promise," she said, standing up. "Try not to stay up too late, alright?"

Emmaline nodded in agreement, watching as she made her way to the door. "Goodnight Cassandra," she said softly.

"Goodnight Emmaline," Cassandra replied with a warm smile before slipping out the room, leaving Emmaline alone with her thoughts.

She leaned back against the headboard, her mind racing with thousands of different thoughts and questions. A special guest at her house, special and important enough to warrant Perseus and herself being sent away for the summer. The ideas kept running through her mind as she picked up her book again. However, the words on the page blurred as she kept replaying the conversation in her mind. Especially Cassandra's hesitation and Malcoms interruption. Everything seemed to hint at something she was not yet meant to know about.

With a sigh, she closed the book and set it aside once more.