Michael led the girls home in silence. "Dad.." Perry began quietly.

"At home Perry." Michael said firmly. They walked in silence, Emma and Perry looking at each other nervously. Michael led them to the kitchen and pointed to a seat. "Sit. Spill."

"It was magic dad!" Perry said quickly, "I don't know what happened or what they wanted. We were watching a movie and they just burst in curses were flying everywhere!"

"I pulled Perry out to the woods and we ran." Emma supplied for them. "I don't know what they wanted one of them chased us he grabbed Perry so i stupefied him."

Michael paced rubbing his temples. "Did anyone see you do this?" He asked worriedly.

"No we were alone." Perry said. "I told them he fell and knocked himself out."

Michael sighed and nodded. "Good that's good" he ran his hand through his hair. "What do you think Rose?"

Rose sat calmly watching the girls. "What did your friends think of all this?"

Emma and Perry looked to each other. "We don't know..?" Emma said puzzled.

"Yeah they didn't really...didn't react at all?" Perry agreed looking confused. "But that's so strange anyone who doesn't know magic should have been in a panic after that attack!?"

Emma nodded agreeing, "they're not stupid they wouldn't just ignore it." Emma said thoughtfully. "How did they survive? We came back and they were fine! A little disheveled and the house was a wreck but they were fine!"

Rose nodded thoughtfully, " I'd venture to guess your new friends weren't anymore surprised by the existence of magic than you were."

They all looked at each other in shock. "You mean..?" Perry began.

"You think they're witches and wizards?" Emma finished for her.

"It would make the most sense." Rose agreed. "The question is why are they here and was the attack aimed towards you two or them?"

"So what now?" Perry asked sitting back in her seat. "I don't want to run daddy." Emma nodded agreement.

Michael sighed "Perry..." he began but was cut off by Rose.

"I think the girls are right dear."

"You can't be serious?!" Michael looked at the women incredulous. "I'm not leaving this family in danger!" He shouted frustrated.

Rose went to him. "We don't even know who it is or why. There's no guarantee they were even after our girls."

"There's no guarantee they weren't either!" He shouted in exasperation.

"It's not the same as before Mike." Rose told him quietly. "They aren't little girls anymore. They aren't defenseless!"

"But Rose...."

"We'll be fine uncle Mike." Emma said quietly taking her uncles hand. "We don't want to run this time."

Michael looked around in exasperation at the girls in his life. Nothing was more important to him. He momentarily considered trying to physically force them all to run to hide and not look back. He looked at Emma so like her mother spunky and strong. He didn't think he'd survive finding her laying in rubble like Maddy had been. Finally he sighed in defeat and hung his head. "I'm not going to win this am I?"

Perry and Emma rushed to hug him. "You two better stay safe or I swear I'll do something drastic!" He told them hugging them close.

.............................................................

Mrs McGonagall had come the next morning to learn exactly what had gone on. No one could give her very many answers just that they'd been attacked by some robed figures who had fled. After warning them to be vigilant and careful Minerva had gone to the ministry to meet with Kingsley.

On Monday Draco and the others had all gone to get Perry and Emma. They were walking quietly to school now. It wasn't the comfortable silence they were used to.

Not that it was ever very silent around Emma and Perry but when there had been silences in the past it had been more comfortable. This silence was fraught with unasked questions.

Draco had defended the girls to Hermione and the others but now he couldn't help but wonder, 'were they hiding something? How did they get away unscathed?' He trudged along next to Emma glancing at her ever so often. She looked....guilty? Why did she look guilty?! Draco knew she wasn't guilty. She just couldn't be! She.... couldn't. He looked at her again she glanced up and gave him a tentative smile. No whatever she was hiding she wasn't doing it to hurt anyone he was going to trust her.

Draco smiled gently at her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Have you heard anything from the officer who took that man?" Emma asked him.

Draco stiffened slightly 'why did she want to know? Was she afraid he'd tell what truly happened in the woods?'. Draco's thoughts ran wild and he scowled at himself 'shut up! You just decided you'd trust her regardless remember?!'

Emma watched Draco's expression he scowled thoughtfully and seemed to be struggling with something. 'He knows!' She thought to herself. 'He knows it was a lie. He won't trust you now! You should just tell him the truth.' Emma hung her head guiltily her own thoughts condemning her. 'I can't uncle Mike said not to tell anyone!'

"Never mind."
"We haven't heard anything yet."

Draco and Emma talked over each other. "Oh" they said together and looked away.

The day was unbearable for Emma. She and Draco barely spoke now. Usually they would share the equipment in class but now everything was tense and awkward. When they'd reached for the same beaker in chemistry they had each flinched away spilling the contents in the process.

The following two days were the same. They tried to talk but conversations were halting and tense each internally reaching out for the other but unable to say what they wanted.

Draco missed his friend he missed her chatter and her smiles. He missed being able to ask about muggle sports and sayings. Perry still talked to him from time to time but it wasn't the same.

Thursday was the worst Emma was gone when they'd shown up to walk with them to school. Perry said she'd said something about needing to finish a project and had left early. She had sat on her own throughout the day avoiding the others. By the end of the day Draco couldn't stand it anymore.

Emma packed her bag to head home and took it to her last class with her. She couldn't bare the silence between her and Draco any longer it hurt too badly. He had become very important to her not talking to him now was torture. She'd found herself thinking 'oh I'll have to tell Draco that' with random little things throughout the day. Only to remember they weren't speaking.

The moment the bell rang she dashed out the door. She headed down a side road today not wanting to take the same road she was used to walking with him on.

Draco saw Emma hurrying out the door and rushed to catch her. He threw his things into his bag and ran out the door. At first he thought he'd missed her already but then he caught a glimpse of her on another road. He ran after her.

"Emma, Emma wait!" Draco called desperately.

"Draco please just leave me alone!" Emma said her voice breaking.

Draco reached her and turned her to him. "Emma please?" He said quietly as he tilted her face up to look at him. Her cheeks were streaked with tears her lip trembled. "Em..." Draco sighed as he wiped her tears away gently. "Don't cry Emma please don't cry."

Emma sniffled and tried to lower her head again but Draco wouldn't let go. "I'm sorry Draco." She whispered sadly.

"No I don't care. I don't care if that moron didn't knock himself out. I don't care if you haven't told me everything! I don't care! None of that matters!" Draco said desperately. "It doesn't matter Em I just...i just miss you." Draco sighed and leaned his forehead against Emma's. "I miss you Emmy, so much it hurts" he pulled her hand up to his chest. "Please say something, anything, please?"

"Thank you Draco" Emma said before wrapping her arms around him.

Draco held her tightly before holding her away from him. He couldn't stand this. He couldn't take it anymore. If it meant he'd get Emma back Draco would be rash...he'd tell her himself. "Emma I have to tell you" he paused unsure if she had just gotten lucky if she was a muggle this could get him into so much trouble. Exposing magic to a muggle was a very big offense. He studied cupping her cheek gently with his hand. "Emma I'm a wizard. those men who attacked us were wizards. Those explosions were magic. they were curses Emmy."

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Yay more book chapters :) I've found I love writing almost as much as I love reading so fun I'm loving "discovering" this story as I write it. Ok so now we all know Emma and Perry and their family have never been muggles they were magic all along! Were you thrown by this? Did I surprise anyone? I certainly hope I did and if so I hope you like it. There will be a further explanation when Draco learns the truth until then you're free to theorize. ☺️ on another note everyone in my house (aside from hubby lucky guy) has come down with something whoopie right? Right now we're snuggling so you get another chapter at any moment the winds could change though ultimately I'm saying you may get more quickly you may have to wait we shall see. Anywho laters you beautiful people you