Author's Note: This isn't a new chapter. I'm very sorry, but this is a farewell. I've been struggling to find muse to continue this story for years at this point, and I think it's time to admit I won't ever finish it. It got away from me, out of my hands, bigger than I could manage, and after the death of my mother I haven't been able to find the strength to renew old projects.

So, in order to give some closure, I've decided to post some of my notes and a rough outline of that I would have liked to post if I'd been able to work on this story the way it deserves to be done. If anybody out there wants to take it upon themselves to finish what I started, I give my full consent and support. I'd love to get links to see what you do with it.

For those of you who want to know where I would have taken it, please keep reading. For those of you who'd like to wait and see if someone else takes up the mantle, you should probably stop reading after the next paragraph.

Thank you for taking this journey with me. I'm sorry I abandoned it. I really am. I wish I had the strength to finish it properly. My OUAT phase has ended. I don't hear the characters whispering stories anymore. I won't try to force it. So, I'm letting them go. Thank you for your time reading my words and responding to them. Your feedback kept me going through rough times. Thank you. Love, Tam.

—

Killian and Emma's relationship grew rocky as the Tri-Wizard Tournament unfolded. The Hufflepuff boy grew sullen and withdrawn, and Emma likewise pulled away, feeling yet again rejected. She tried to do as Killian had asked and seek out Neal, but it proved excruciatingly difficult. She managed with some success, but Neal, too, seemed withdrawn and moody. What scraps of information Emma learned from him were vague and confusing.

The first Challenge for the Tournament involved scaling an enormous beanstalk and retrieving a magic compass. The four Champions were sent in pairs, with the two Hogwarts Champions sent together after the Beaubatons Headmistress shrieked and complained that it was the only fair way, since any other set of pairs could result on an all-Hogwarts win. So, Emma and Killian climbed the stalk together.

During the Challenge, Killian seemed oddly at ease and flirty, and the sudden shift from his normally brooding demeanor confused and upset Emma. At the end of the Challenge, she refused his offer to try to claim a joint victory and descend the beanstalk together. She left him behind and took the compass, winning the first round.

Neal clinched the win between himself and Tamara, but the details of their voyage were never revealed. His time is better than Emma's, putting her in second place after the first round.

In preparations for the Yule Ball, Jefferson's claim to be Emma's date makes her life difficult, and he keeps showing up before and after her classes, bothering her. She has mixed feelings when Neal and Tamara start being more than a little friendly and reveal they are going to the Ball together. Emma somewhat reluctantly asks Killian to be her escort, but he unexpectedly reveals he already has a date. Jilted again, Emma goes to Jefferson and agrees to let him escort her.

At the Ball, Killian's mystery date is revealed to be one of his fellow Hufflepuffs, Bella Tinker. Emma tries to leave the Ball, and her own date is surprisingly cordial and supportive, if a little disappointed in her decision. Killian sees the pair sneaking out together and leaves his date behind to pursue. He finds Emma and Jefferson in a darkened corner, Jefferson touching Emma's cheek and her leaning into him. Killian tears the Slytherin boy away from Emma and punches him in the throat.

Emma, shocked by Killian's sudden rage and overstepping, chews him out for interloping, for ignoring her for months, for punching her date, and for anything else she can think of. She speaks a little too loudly and not quite vaguely enough, and Neal overhears just enough to learn that Emma and Killian are working together to try to stop his father. Emma realizes she's said too much and worries what Neal will do with what she's said. She and Killian have a semi-tense reconciliation and decide they'll weather the fallout of the Ball together.

Back on friendly terms, the pair amp up their investigation as the second challenge is announced. The second challenge is individual, and each of the four champions is forced to descend into a subterranean cavern to retrieve a potion. The dragon is a surprise, but Emma manages to complete the task. Killian posts the best time, and the scores ultimately show a neck-and-neck (and neck) point spread between the two Hogwarts Champions and Neal, with Tamara lagging behind.

Bella Tinker helps Killian and Emma discover The Dark One's taboo, but they cannot speak the oath "I am Rumpelstiltskin" (an anagram of the Dark One's childhood name: Tim Maikull Spinster) until they find his horcrux, which they believe to take the form of a dagger.

For the third challenge, the four Champions are individually dropped into a seemingly never-ending jungle, each given only a black map. Emma unlocks the secret of her map and follows it. She finds Tamara just as the girl is sucked into a clump of bushes in the maze-like greenery. Emma laments her inability to help Tamara, and then she literally runs into Killian, who had hear the other girl scream and come to investigate. Shaken, the pair work together to head toward the middle of the jungle-maze and finally come to a small cave, inside, they find the TriWizard cup and Neal. They tensely decide to claim it together, but the cup proves to be a portkey, and they unexpectedly arrive at the trap set for them by the Dark One himself.

((I've had this bit written forever:))

"Ah, excellent work, Baelfire," the Dark One said, striding forward with a sickening twist of his lips. "You've brought me the boy… But who is the blonde interloper?"

"She isn't a part of this," Killian growled, trying to step in front of Emma.

"Oh, I think he cares for her," the Dark One says with obvious glee.

He flicks his wand at Killian and Emma.

"Petrificus totalus," says the Dark One, and the two Hogwarts students go stiff.

"Perhaps I'll cut out her heart and crush it in front of you," the Dark One says, stalking forward, his eyes on Killian's face. "That would serve you well, don't you think?"

Killian struggles vainly against his invisible bonds, his face contorting in rage and fear.

Neal watches from the side, twitching, uncertain and clearly upset.

"If she's not a part of it, why kill her?" Neal says, trying to keep his voice gruff and cool.

"She has seen too much," the Dark One replies, his eyes flicking briefly to Neal. "Don't tell me that you're getting squeamish now, son."

"No," Neal says quickly. He looks around, trying to find something to say. "It's just… She's…. pretty."

"There are lots of pretty girls, Bae," the Dark One says. "I'm sure we can find you another. One who is more… pliant than this one."

Neal swallows hard and steps closer to Emma and Killian, putting himself slightly in front of them so Emma can watch as he stealthily draws his wand from his pocket.

"Well, there's no reason to torture them, Papa," he says quietly. "Just get it over with."

"Maybe her," the Dark One says, metallic skin glittering eerily in the moonlight. "But I have good reason to prolong his suffering."

The Dark One raises his wand and levels it at Emma.

"Are you watching, Killian Jones?" the Dark One taunts. "I want to make sure you remember this moment for the rest of your short, painful life."

"Avada-" the Dark one begins.

"Finite Incantatem," Neal says as she leaps in front of Emma. He looks desperately at Killian for a moment. "Run!"

Emma and Killian sag as the body-bind curse on them is broken.

"-Kedavra!" the Dark One finishes, his eyes going wide as he sees that Neal has thrown himself in the way of the spell.

Emma screams as Neal slumps to the floor, his eyes still open, but now empty.

"No," the Dark One says quietly. Then louder: "No!"

He drops to his knees, reaching out to grab his son's body. Then his eyes lift to the two Hogwarts students.

"You," he says, filling the word with hate and rage.

"Time to go," Killian says, grabbing Emma's arm and dragging her away from the scene, diving for the fallen portkey.

Their fingers close around it just as the Dark One begins casting another killing curse.

((Back to synopsis/narration:))

The pair arrive at Hogwarts to cheers and confetti, but they are clearly not celebrating. The aftermath is much like that of the book.

The school year ends, and Emma follows Killian to his family home. They plot their next move and then seek the Dark One's dagger so that they can lift the taboo and destroy the horcrux, avenge Neal, and end Tim Spinster's reign of terror over wizard kind.

((At this point, the outline for the story becomes further fragmented, and while I know Killian and Emma are eventually successful and "all is well," I'm not sure how they get there. Again, if anyone wants to take this over, they have my full blessing. Thank you so much for reading this. Thank you for your patience and support.))