Emma had been curled up in an easy chair by the fire a soft woolen shawl pulled up around her arm and shoulder. On arm supported a book on the arm of the chair, flipping the paper by awkwardly maneuvering her thumb, the other stroked the cat curled up in her lap. It wasn’t hers, just one of her housemates who had mooched up next to the second year to share body heat and proximity to the fireplace. When someone shouted for a game of chess, ’Oh I do!’ Emma called before anyone else could answer.

Scrambling to her feet and joining her year mate sent the cat running, giving a disgruntled meow as it was forced to adjust it’s position. Dustin was a nice boy, some people had been odd with him, and his family thanks to their heritage – but Emma found it all the more fascinating but trying to get to know him, while being subtle about it had not been easy - not many people could accuse her of subtlty

’Black or White?’ she asked and took the seat opposite him, curling her legs up under her, just as she had been sitting by the fire. Some of the students were repelled from him, just as they were repelled by his sister, his half vampire status frightening or repulsing them, but Emma was secretly, or not so secretly fascinated.

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