It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 43

"VERY!  Oh, and I'm assuming the 'Silencing Spell' is still working, if you're this chatty,"  Emma said, fighting to not smile or move her head, as much as she really wanted to look up and see the laughter in his eyes.

"Perfectly.  Ooooo, I just had a wickedly Slytherin thought; what do you say, Emma, my love, to giving them their money's worth.  It'll be a good payback for snooping on us!"

"If it involves you kissing me good morning, then I'm all for it," Emma whispered.

"It does indeed . . . very Slytherin answer, by the way.  Now, here's what we'll do. "

* * *

Remus and Sirius had been silenced, with Tonks and George's hands over their mouths, while the whole incident was whispered in their ears, their eyes flying wide.  They looked over the balcony and then at the others, who were nodding and putting their fingers to their lips, to tell them to be quiet!

"Look!" Neville hissed, pointing.

As one, the crowd focused their attention downward and watched as Draco moved slowly, trying to stretch without waking Emma, but despite his careful movements, Emma squirmed, stretched and then, opening her eyes, smiled at him.

They were talking, but no-one could hear what was being said.

" 'Silencing Spell'?" Fred whispered to George, eyebrow raised.

"That's what I'd do," George answered back, winking.

A sudden intake of breath by several in the group turned the twins attention once more to the couple below, who were snogging quite passionately.  When Draco stopped kissing Emma and said something to her, she nodded and then hugged him, which put her in a position to be looking up at the stairway.  As one, the watchers ducked down, so as not to be seen.  Luna, being in a better position, near the corner, took a peek.

"They're getting up off of the sofa, hugging, kissing again . . . they're coming toward the stairs!"

With much scrambling, ducking, shoving and smothered giggles, everyone scattered back to their dorm rooms as Draco and Emma approached the staircase, arms around each other's waist.  They could hear the retreating footsteps, so they stopped at the base of the stairs and burst into peals of laughter.  When they calmed down, sufficiently, Draco removed the 'Silencing Spell' as they walked up the stone steps, hand in hand, parted with a kiss and went to have some more fun at their friends' expense.

* * *

"Good morning!"  Emma said, smiling as she entered the dorm room wrapped in a Hogwarts bathrobe, pjs over her arm, toweling her hair dry.  She tossed the pjs onto her bed and covering her head with the towel, proceeded to rub her hair vigorously.

"Ah, we do have drying spells for your hair, Emma,"  Ginny ventured, as Hermione transfigured Emma's pjs back into her clothes and did a refreshing spell for good measure.

"Oh, thanks anyway, Ginny, but my hair's short enough that this will do just fine." Whipping off the towel, she ran her fingers through her curls.  "Ta-Da!  Why, thank you, Hermione!  You all are already dressed . . . don't wait for me, I'll be right down."

"Okay . . . right . . . ladies, shall we?"  Tonks jerked her head toward the door.

"We'll see you downstairs," Luna said, as she followed the others out.

"You already have," Emma snickered, after they left the room, as she put her blouse on and buttoned it.