Regina pokes a bear, Emma prods a young maid into action, and Mr. Gold comes for a favor. Henry just wants to spend some time with his blood family, is that too much to ask for?

***

"So, at school, do you have any really close friends?" Henry asked Harry from where he was walking back from the counter with their hot chocolates.

Harry's face lit up in a grin. "Okay, so, my very best friend, his name is Draco. He was my first friend, besides Aunt Tina and Mum when we first met months before she adopted me, and he's protective, but only when he needs to be. He knows when I need a hug, and he knows exactly when he needs to leave me be. He helped me overcome some big challenges at school with my other best friend Mia, or Hermione, which is her actual name. Mia is a bookworm, simple as that. Draco and I don't like reading much so she kept us on track with schoolwork, and being on time, and basically she kept us from failing our first year. She utilizes the knowledge she receives from everyone (but mostly books) and makes sure everyone knows something they might not. It really depends. If she's in a bad mood, she'll snap and walk away, but if she's happy, she's happy. She always knows when something is wrong, and she takes care of us. She makes sure we eat all three meals, she makes sure we get sleep. She keeps us in line, and it makes her even more endearing. Last, but definitely not least, is Neville. Nev is very shy with new people, and very self-conscious. But he's brave. Now that he has Dray, Mia and I he's brave enough, most of the time at least, to stand up to the school bully. He's funny, and he definitely doesn't like it when people fight. Between the four of us, we each have our strengths. I'm our ambition and cunning, Draco is our bravery and chivalry, Mia is our reasoning and logic, and Neville is our kindness and honesty. They all live in the U.K., but the people at school are from all over the United Kingdom. But my birth parents went there, so I am, too."

Harry took a deep breath because he'd spoken with almost no breaks, and Henry smiled at him. "Sounds like you have a good support system then," he remarked.

Harry beamed. "I really do," he nodded.

"So, you said Hermione makes sure you eat all three meals, right?" he asked, realizing that that couldn't be right, unless it was a boarding school of some kind. "How's that possible? Don't you live in New York and then in the U.K.?"

"We go to school together in Scotland, up in the highlands. It's a boarding school for gifted kids called Hogwarts, and it's in a gigantic castle. That's where we live for, like . . . ten months, from September 1st until the first week of June! We obviously get to come home for Christmas and the Easter holidays, though. To get there, we ride a big train called The Hogwarts Express that takes us through the highlands. We get on the train and it leaves at exactly eleven am on the first of September, we get there about seven hours later, then we have dinner and the Sorting, and then it's time for bed!" Harry grinned at Henry's awed face.

"That's so cool!" He gushed. "Tell me more! You said something about a Sorting? What's that?"

Harry smirked at him. "Well, there's Houses that you can get sorted into. That's the place that'll become like family to you. You get Sorted into one of four your first year, and that's where you stay. That's where the common rooms are, that's where dorms are too. But we all eat each meal together in the Great Hall, where all important ceremonies take place. The houses are: Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. Each House represents something different and each has an element, animal and two different colors. Slytherin, Draco's House, represents cunningness, ambition, heritage, resourcefulness, self preservation, talent, and pride. Their element is water, their animal is a serpent, and their colors are jade green or emerald green, depending on how you see it. The rest of us are in Gryffindor, where we value bravery, chivalry, and daringness, and determination. Our animal is a Griffin, part lion, part eagle. Our element is fire and our colors are maroon and gold. Hufflepuff House represents loyalty, honesty, justice, humility, hard work, and patience. Their element is earth, their animal is a badger and their color is sun yellow and black. Ravenclaws value wisdom, intelligence, wit, originality, learning and creativity. Their element is air, their animal is an eagle, and their colors are bronze and navy blue. Neville, Draco, Hermione, and I are suited to our Houses, but we each fit better in another house. Draco fits in Gryffindor, I fit in Slytherin, Mia can fit in all four, and Neville fits in at Hufflepuff. We haven't - "

"Wait, hold on," Henry butted in. "Ravenclaws are named after ravens, but their mascot is an eagle? How does that make any sense?"

Harry shrugged. "Dunno, it's always been like that. We don't question it anymore," he said. "Anyway, we haven't exactly found our Ravenclaw yet, but we know when we do they will fit perfectly in Ravenclaw to finish our group," he finished happily.

"That sounds so cool!" Henry grinned.

"Yeah! It's actually really cool - " Harry was interrupted again, but this time by Emma, who sat next to him on his side of the booth.

"What's really cool?" his mother asked, taking Harry's hot cocoa and taking a sip of it. Harry squawked in fake outrage, narrowing his eyes at his mum.

"Harry was just telling me about Hogwarts and how it's a special school for gifted kids!" Henry told her, getting up to grab his backpack as he glanced at the time.

Emma hummed, ruffling Harry's hair as she stood back up, Harry following immediately after. "Hogwarts wasn't where I wanted Harry to go, but he loves it there, and that's where his birth parents went, so . . . who was I to stop him when he wanted? So, that's where he goes. Anyway, how about we walk you to the bus, kid?" Emma asked Henry, who nodded and grinned.

Harry immediately stepped into place next to Henry, and Emma followed them both from behind as they made their way out of the diner door, and Henry frowned as they hit the street. "Are you sure we can be seen out in the open?"

Emma shrugged carelessly. "Enough sneaking around. If your mom has a problem with me walking you to a school bus, I am more than happy to have that chat."

Henry snorted. "You're brave. You'll need that for Operation Cobra. Speaking of, do you think we need code names?"

Emma frowned as Harry looked at him. "Isn't 'Cobra' our code name?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

Henry shook his head. "That's the mission. I mean us. I need something to call you both," he told them.

Emma nodded in understanding. "You can just call me "Emma" for now. We can think of something different later," she told him.

Henry turned to Harry, nodding. "How about you?" he nudged him, Harry responding in kind.

"Umm," Harry dragged. "Call me Little Lion!" he grinned, and Henry nodded in approval.

"Okay, well I'll see you later, Emma, Little Lion," Henry nodded at them with a cheeky grin, tipping an imaginary hat. He took off at a run towards the bus rounding the corner.

Harry smiled and turned toward Emma as they turned to walk back the way they came. "Please tell me I can tell him about my magic soon!"

Emma sighed. "Maybe, Harry. You know how dangerous that could be," she told him as she wrapped her arm around his shoulders. Just before they reached the diner again, Sheriff Graham pulled in front of her in a police car blaring the siren obnoxiously. "What's with the siren?" she asked quizzically when he got out of the car, leaning against it.

Graham threw his hands up. "It's so hard to get your attention!"

Emma frowned at him. "Alright, well you got it," she snarked. "Are you arresting me again?"

"Please, no!" Harry cried, latching onto Emma's waist with his arms.

Graham shook his head, a small grin on his face as he raised his hands. "No, Harry. I'm thanking you, Emma," he sighed. "For your help finding that coma patient. We all owe you a debt of gratitude."

Emma shrugged. "Well, what do I get? A commendation? Key to the city?"

Graham smirked. "How about a job? I could use a deputy."

Emma shook her head, thinking of the bakery. "Thank you, but I have a job."

Graham raised his eyebrows. "As a bail bondsperson? There's not much of that going on here."

Emma narrowed her eyes. "I'm not just a bail bondswoman. I also work in a bakery," she tilted her head. "But I don't see a lot of sheriffing going on around here either."

Graham grinned like a predator who was watching its prey. "Well, here's your chance to see it up close. There's dental. Why don't you think about it and stay awhile?"

Emma hummed thoughtfully. "We'll see," She told Graham who nodded and smiled as he got back into the cruiser.

"That's all I ask," he told her before he drove away, leaving Harry and Emma alone again.

"Are you going to take it?" he asked her as they walked into the diner, spotting Newt and Queenie in the booth the boys had previously been sitting at.

"I don't know, kiddo. We aren't supposed to stay here for much longer," Emma told him with a shrug.

Harry pouted and sulked as he reached the table, climbing in next to Queenie who frowned at them. "What's going on, hon?" she asked.

Emma sighed as she sat next to Newt, who let her lean against him, wrapping an arm around her. "I got asked by the sheriff if I wanted to be a deputy for him," she mumbled into Newt's shoulder.

Harry crossed his arms. "And it seemed like he was flirting with you too," he added petulantly.

Queenie covered a snort with her hand at Harry's words, and kissed his head. "Well, I'm sure he meant it, so . . . why don't we look for a house here too so we're not staying in a hotel the whole time? It's not like we can't afford it, and it'll give Harry and Henry more bonding time. That'll give us time to really find out what's going on with this curse, and with the people on your inheritance test. And it's not like Newt won't be able to take care of his animals, he has a case that's adapted for them. So what d'ya say?"

Emma sighed. "I guess we can try. But I don't know if I want to be a deputy," she said, smiling when Ruby came over with their drinks and a newspaper. Ruby must've known that Harry and Emma would be back, so she grabbed them their usual.

"Thank you, Ruby," Newt smiled at her.

"Of course. Let me know if you need anything," she nodded and walked off.

The small family looked up instinctually as the bell rang over the door, signaling a patron coming inside. Said patron happened to be one Regina Mills. Regina walked over to them, pulling a chair from the nearest table and sitting on it, right next to Emma, causing Harry to scooch closer to Queenie, who narrowed her eyes. "How was your walk with Henry?" she asked with a saccharine smile, and Emma raised an eyebrow. "That's right. I know everything. But relax, I don't mind."

Emma blinked slowly, staring at Regina in disbelief. "You don't?"

Regina shook her head, a blood red smirk on her lips. "No, I don't. Because you no longer worry me, Ms. Swan. You see, I did a little digging into who you are, and what I found out was quite soothing. It all comes down to the number seven."

Emma pursed her lips. "Seven?"

Regina nodded. "It's the number of addresses you've had in the past twelve years. Your longest stint anywhere has been New York," she stated.

Emma looked at Queenie, seeing her nod. "If you were wondering, we're looking for a place here in town."

Regina frowned. "And how long is your lease? Oh, wait . . . you don't have one."

"How can we have a lease if we don't even have a house yet?" Harry whispered to Queenie.

The blonde tittered into her hand, and Newt covered his smirk with his hand. Regina's smile tightened, but she kept the polite look on her face as she looked at Emma. "You see my point? See, in order for something to grow Ms. Swan, it needs roots, and you don't have any. People don't change, they only fool themselves into believing they can."

"You don't know me," Emma snarled angrily, starting to rise from her seat. Newt grabbed her hand, attempting to latch his calm magic onto her own rapidly rising anger fueled magic.

The motion stopped her in her tracks, and Regina's cold smirk returned at Emma's viciousness. "No, I think I do. All I ask as you carry on raising your son, you think about Henry and what's best for him. Perhaps consider a clean break. It's going to happen anyway. Enjoy your cocoa!" She got up, patted Emma's hand as she did so, and left the diner all together.

Emma moved to follow her, but she accidentally knocked her cocoa all over her shirt, yelling at how hot it was still. "Ugh, really?"

Ruby rushed over with a towel as Queenie tried to help Emma dry it as much as she could without magic. Ruby took a look at her and grimaced as she extended the towel. "Eesh."

Emma sighed, shaking her head. "Do you have a laundry room I can use?"

"Mhm!" Ruby nodded and pointed down one of the halls. "Right through there!"

Queenie stood and brushed off her skirt, smoothing it down as Harry got up to help Ruby clean the mess. "I'll go get you another shirt, hon," she told Emma, who nodded at her thankfully.

Emma walked to the back of the diner, going through a set of double doors to the laundry room where a blonde woman in blue and white was folding laundry. Emma put her shirt in the washer, even though she didn't really need to because of her magic, and she relaxed against the washer as she watched the woman across from her struggle with some sheets. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no!" she cried.

"You okay?" Emma asked with a wince.

The woman shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "The sheets, they're pink!" she wailed.

Emma raised her eyebrows at the barely pinkish color. "You try bleach?" The woman sighed, bringing the sheet down in a huff. "Oh . . . " Emma paused, seeing the young woman was heavily pregnant. "How far along are you?"

"39 weeks! Last night I felt contractions, and the doctor said that the baby could come any day now." The other woman smiled at the thought, but then frowned again. "My name's Ashley, by the way."

Emma nodded, holding her hand out for Ashley to shake it. "Emma, nice to meet you. And that's great!"

Ashley sighed, tilting her head sadly. "It's just that, um, when the . . . when the baby comes . . . I have to give them up. No one thinks I can do this. No one thinks I can do anything. Maybe they're right."

Emma narrowed her eyes at Ashley's confession. "Screw them."

Ashley looked up at her, startled. "What?"

"Screw them," Emma repeated. "How old are you?"

"19," she sighed.

Emma breathed out slowly. "I was 17, almost 18. And 23 when I adopted my second child. I had to give my first son away because I was in jail when I had him."

Ashley took a breath and let it back out. "You have kids?"

Emma nodded. "Yeah, so I know what it's like. Everyone loves to tell you what you can and can't do, especially with a kid, but ultimately whatever you're considering doing . . . or giving up . . . the choice is yours."

"It's not exactly what you might think it is," Ashley told her, shaking her head.

Emma smiled when Queenie came into the room, holding a Slytherin green shirt with a silver tie. "It never is. People are going to tell you who you are your whole life. You just gotta punch back and say, "No, this is who I am." You want people to look at you differently? Make them. You want to change things? You are going to have to go out there and change them yourself because there are no Fairy Godmothers in this world."

Queenie smiled at her, having heard almost the entire conversation from the doors and waited until she felt it was the right moment.

***

Henry huffed as he watched his mother get ready for her meeting. She stood in front of a mirror, applying blood red lipstick to her lips, which made her look even more evil than he knew she was. Regina sighed, turning to face him. "I know you think otherwise, but I don't enjoy these Saturday city council meetings. Sometimes they're just unavoidable. Now, you know the rules?"

Henry crossed his arms. "Yes on homework, no on TV, and stay inside."

Regina nodded, pleased. "Good boy. Under no circumstance do you leave this house."

Henry glared. "You mean don't see my mom or brother," he snarked.

Regina scowled, grabbing her bag from the table next to her. "She's not your mother, and he's not your brother. They're just passing through. Now do as I say or there will be consequences. I'll be back at 5:00 sharp."

She walked out of the house, slamming the door. He watched from the windows as she drove off, and as soon as she disappeared from view, Henry grabbed his backpack and left the house, despite being told not to.

***

"Well," Emma stepped back into the room and twirled on her heel, holding out her arms expectantly. "What do you think?"

Harry giggled. "You look like you could be Cissa's sister!"

"Or Lucius's," Newt added from where he poked his head out of his suitcase.

Queenie smiled, seeing Emma in Slytherin green and silver, complete with an emerald silk blouse and silver-trimmed black jeans tucked into boots, her blonde hair woven into a map of infinity braids down her back. "Mayor Mills would be seething," she declared.

"Oh, yes," Emma rolled her eyes, but her smug look showed she approved of the compliment. "Because I definitely want to one-up her every chance I get."

"I'll keep score!" Harry threw his hand up in the air.

Emma smiled fondly, then a knock sounded at the door. All heads swiveled to the door, then Newt climbed out of his suitcase with a frown. "Were we expecting anyone?"

"I wasn't," Emma shook her head with a frown, moving to stand in front of Harry.

Queenie opened the door, and she blinked when she saw the slim, graying-haired man standing outside with a cane in his hand. "Yes?" she asked.

"Ms. Goldstein, yes?" the man tilted his head. "I thought this was Ms. Swan's room."

"I'm right here," Emma stepped forward, arms folded.

"Ah," the man nodded in satisfaction and held out his hand to her. "Excellent. I'm Mr. Gold. We met briefly on your arrival."

"I remember," Emma nodded curtly and shook his hand in return.

"Good," Mr. Gold smiled, and Queenie opened the door wider for him to enter. Newt quickly slid his suitcase under Harry's bed and joined his nephew on the mattress, letting Harry scoot closer as Mr. Gold made his way to Emma. "I have a proposition for you, Ms. Swan. I need your help. I'm looking for someone."

"Really?" Emma's eyebrows rose. "Well . . . "

She looked pointedly at Harry, and Queenie coughed. "How about I take Harry downstairs, and we'll see if those sugar cookies I saw are as good as the ones we sell back in Manhattan?"

"Really?" Harry's green eyes brightened.

"Go on, kid," Emma nodded encouragingly, and Harry took off like a rocket past Mr. Gold. Queenie giggled as she followed, and Emma turned back to Mr. Gold as Newt rose to his feet. "Who are you looking for?"

"I have a photo," Mr. Gold answered, handing her a picture printed from a surveillance camera. Emma recognized the woman from Granny's immediately. "Her name is Ashley Boyd, and she's taken something quite valuable of mine."

Emma tilted her head and handed the photo to Newt, allowing him to look at the young woman. "So why don't you just call the police?"

"Because," Mr. Gold slowly made his way to the dresser and leaned against it, watching Newt examine the photo. "She's a confused young woman. She's pregnant, alone, and scared. I don't want to ruin this young girl's life, but I just want my property returned."

"What's the property?" Newt scratched his head, not seeing anything in Ashley's hands.

"Well," Mr. Gold tilted his head side to side. "One of the advantages of you not being the police is discretion. Let's just say it's a precious object and leave it at that."

Newt leaned in close to Emma and whispered, "So no guarantee Ted and Teenie can help here."

Emma snorted quietly. "Like they would anyway," she whispered in return, making Newt snort and cough into his arm. Emma cleared her throat to stop her laughter, and she turned back to Mr. Gold. "When did you see her last?"

"Last night," Mr. Gold answered. "That's how I got this." He brushed his hair to the side, showing them a gash next to his eyebrow. "It's so unlike her," he continued. "She was quite wound up, rambling on and on about 'changing her life.' I have no idea what got into her." Emma looked down at Ashley's picture, frowning when she heard her words parroted back to her. "Ms. Swan, please, just help me find her. Since Mr. Scamander is here, he can help as well. My only other choice is the police, and I don't think anyone wants to see that baby born in jail, now, do they?"

"No," Emma shook her head instantly, biting into her lip as she thought about Henry's birth. "Of course not."

"So you'll help me, then?" Mr. Gold asked expectantly.

Emma folded her arms. "Newt and I will help her," she told him. "Queenie, too. Another woman would probably be helpful."

Mr. Gold smiled in satisfaction. "Grand."

The door burst open behind them, and Emma turned to see Henry barrel through. "Hey, Emma!" he said happily. "I was thinking we - "

He cut off when he saw Mr. Gold, and the pawnshop owner smiled at him. "Hey, Henry! How are you?"

Henry hesitated before he answered. "OK."

"Good," Mr. Gold nodded, moving towards the door. "Give my regards to your mother. And . . . " He turned around and regarded Emma and Newt with intelligent eyes. "Good luck, Ms. Swan, Mr. Scamander."

He departed out the door, and Newt turned to Emma with a grimace. "Why does he remind me of Dumbledore?"

"Oh, God," Emma shuddered. "The last thing I need is another Dumbledore in this town."

"Who's Dumbledore?" Henry blinked.

"I really hope you never find out, God forbid meet him," Emma said darkly. "You mind telling Queenie what we're doing, Newt?"

"Sure," Newt nodded, patting Henry on the shoulder as he headed out the door. "Good to see you, Henry!"

"You, too!" Henry waved, then turned to Emma. "Do you know who that is?"

"Newt?" Emma blinked.

"No," Henry huffed. "Mr. Gold!"

"Oh," Emma chuckled as she searched through her jackets, trying to find one to match her outfit. "Yeah, of course I do."

"Really?" Henry brightened. "I'm still trying to figure it out."

"Oh," Emma sighed as she pulled one of her favorites off of a hanger. "I meant in reality."

"Whoa!" Henry peered into her closet with wide eyes. "You have better choices than my mom!"

"That's a popular thought, apparently," Emma grinned as she slung on the silver jacket with crystalline tassels. "What are you doing here, Henry?"

"My mom's gone till 5," Henry answered, following her out the door. "I thought we could hang out."

Emma sighed sadly as she locked her room behind her. "Kid, I wish I could . . . but there's something I gotta do." Henry followed her down the stairs and into the diner, where Newt and Queenie were speaking quietly together while Harry watched and gnawed on a sugar cookie. Based on his thoughtful expression, Emma realized he preferred Queenie's cookies over Granny's. No surprise there, she thought in amusement. "Did Newt tell you what's going on?" she asked as she joined them.

"He did," Queenie nodded, concern on her face. "It's the young woman from the laundry room, yes?"

"Ashley Boyd," Emma confirmed. "She's missing."

"Missing?" Harry's eyes widened.

"But she's pregnant!" Henry gasped.

"I know," Emma nodded. "Which is why Newt, Queenie, and I need to find her as soon as possible . . . preferably before Mr. Gold does."

"What about us?" Harry frowned.

"Yeah, what about us?" Henry repeated, running after the adults as they left the diner, Harry abandoning his unfinished cookie to follow him. "Please, let us help!"

"No," Emma shook her head. "No, it could be dangerous."

Henry scoffed at the thought. "The pregnant maid is dangerous?"

"She hurt Mr. Gold," Newt told him.

Henry grinned. "Cool!"

"Not cool," Harry shook his head with a frown. "I guess depending on the context . . . "

"Exactly," Queenie agreed. "We only know Mr. Gold's side of the story. Depending on Ashley's . . . "

"She's desperate, I know that much," Emma sighed as she reached her bug.

"Well, then, let's find her!" Henry nodded decisively.

"Oh, no, no, no, no!" Emma scoffed. "There is no 'let's.' You cannot come with me!"

Henry frowned, then he smirked. "Then Harry and I will look for her ourselves."

"We will?" Harry blinked. Henry gave him an impatient look, and Harry cleared his throat and nodded. "Yeah, we will."

"Then I'll find you and I'll bring you back," Emma countered.

"Then you wouldn't be helping the maid," Henry retorted.

Newt turned his head to avoid Emma seeing and hearing him snicker. "I am just trying to be responsible here!" Emma huffed.

"And I'm just trying to spend time with you and my brother!" Henry argued, opening the passenger door and crawling into the back of Emma's bug.

Emma blinked once, then twice as Harry followed Henry, then she groaned. "Oh . . . that is really not fair!" she complained.

Newt laughed as he wedged his way into the back as well. "They're your sons, Emma!"

"Yeah," Emma grumbled as she sat in the driver's seat, Queenie taking the passenger side. "No kidding."

"So, the maid," Henry leaned forward conspiratorially. "What's her story?"

***

Emma's the regent of three powerful houses in the Wizarding World. I think she can splurge on her wardrobe a little . . . so sorry, Regina, you have fashion competition XD I just felt the need to do that.

So, finally a full family adventure from the start! The Three Musketeers and H Squared (aha, H squared. That made my night ~ Miss Singer) are off to find Ashley . . . and throw a wrench or two in Gold's plan. Just what this family does best, right? ;)

Part two of "The Price of Gold" is coming soon!

~ Miss Moffat