Snivellus

51

'What is the number one rule?' Snape tugged at Darah's sleeve as he walked her to his office.

Darah tried to push him off but his grip was too tight. 'No talking to Potter.' She said through clenched teeth.

'Darah, do you not see that I am trying to protect you?'

'From what, Father? A boy?' She said sarcastically.

'I can send you home if you like?' He raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips, looking at his daughter.

'I think I'm just fine here.' She answered back, scowling.

'That's what I thought.' He dragged her into the office and sat down on his chair, letting Darah sit in front of him.

She scowled in silence, avoiding eye contact with her arms crossed.

'I know our relationship is messy, Darah.' Snape started, easing off on her a little. 'But you have to know I'm doing this for the best.'

'For who's best? Hm? Mine or yours?' She huffed at him.

'For both of us Darah. I only have you left.' He spaced off as he said that last sentence.

'Then you can start by telling me about my mother.' She pleaded quietly.

Snape looked away. 'Another time.'

'It's always another time with you, Dad. Why not now?' Her eyes bulged with tears a little.

'You're not ready.'

'Really? I'm not ready? Or is it you that isn't ready to look back on her story?' She looked at him with genuine, pleading eyes. 'Open the book and find her page.'

Snape stood up. 'Darah...' his voice faded away.

'If not today then when?' She became agitated again.

'One day.'

***

Darah moped around the Slytherin common room for a while after her talk with Snape. Everyone had gone to their dorms, leaving Darah wondering alone.

'D?'

Darah turned around to see Draco hovering on the staircase, blurry-eyed and messy hair.

He walked over to her, she was stood staring endlessly into the fire place.

'What are you doing down here? Did you meet Granger?' He placed his cold hand on her shoulder.

She shrugged back emotionlessly and uncaring.

'Talk to me.' He comforted her with his words.

Darah let out a reluctant sigh. 'Do you ever feel like your whole life is a lie?'

'No.' He said flatly but instantly elaborated once he saw Darah's sad and grumpy face. 'But there are parts of my life that I wish didn't have to happen. Stuff I'd do anything to change.' He trailed off at the end, his eyes catching sight of the twinkling fire.

She went to go sit down on the sofa and Draco joined her. 'You know when we first met?'

He nodded.

'And I told you I didn't really know my mother? I just want to at least know her name, if not see a photo of her.' She sighed, her voice breaking in the middle of her sentence.

Draco put his arm around her. She looked up into his eyes, thankful for him and giving a weary smile. 'At least you've got me.' He whispered and lent into her face. They kissed. Darah pushed Draco over, who smirked at her, she cupped his face, smiling at him and kissed all the way down his neck. She was glad she had Draco, without him, maybe the jump off the astronomy tower would have been a little more painful.

***

'So you're set to come home with me, Loony?' Draco asked Darah. It was the last day of Hogwarts and Draco had offered to have Darah stay at Malfoy Manor with him over the summer break. She agreed and planned to tell Snape at the very last second so there would be no denying it... at least, that's what she hoped.

She had also, finally, been caught up, by Hermione, about the final events of the night when she had seen Lupin transform and Sirius fight him off. She was relieved to hear Sirius was free and Lupin was ok, although sad when she also heard he was resigning as she really enjoyed his lessons and learnt so much, that she probably wouldn't normally have had, during the private tutoring.

Darah picked up her trunk of things and smiled. 'Got everything.'

'Cool. So I suppose you'll be saying a farewell to your Gryffindork friends now?' He joked but she could also sense the snark in his voice.

Darah shrugged. 'I can always say bye to them on the train?' And she leant up to kiss him.

'Oi! Get a room!' Everyone in the common room shouted dramatically as Darah and Draco pulled away smirking, only wanting to make them kiss more.

'Sorry? What was that?' She looked around the room and turned to Draco. 'Did you hear something?'

He looked around dramatically, cupping his ear. 'Don't recon I did?' And he picked her up, under the arms and lifted her as she clung onto him, wrapping her arms and legs around him like some kind of koala. She kissed him so passionately, he fell back a little but pushed her onto the back of the sofa where she fell off him and flopped down, giggling as he smirked at her. She lifted her hand and brushed the flopping, blonde hair out of his eyes and kissed him once more as if they were the only two in the room.

***

'Nice performance earlier.' Pansy had appeared by Darah's side as she was brushing her teeth in the bathroom.

Darah didn't know whether this was sarcasm or she was actually being serious so she just returned her with a half smile.

'You know, I thought you were actually gonna do it.' She continued. 'You make a cute couple.'

'Thanks, Pansy.' She said reluctantly, still unsure of where this conversation was going.

'I um. I kinda miss being friends with you.' She muffled her sentence so Darah couldn't quite understand what she said.

'Sorry?'

'Um. I said I miss being friends.' She repeated again, her voice still quiet.

'Oh.' Darah was taken aback.

'Yeah. You're pretty badass.' She smiled at her. 'Even though you are friends with those Gryffindors, I think I can look past it.' She shrugged.

Darah laughed, it was a laugh of relief. 'Ever since I swore at you, I regretted it, you know... sorry.' She gave a sympathetic smile.

Pansy shrugged. 'You were kinda boring until then. It made you more fun.' And then she stuck her middle finger up at her.

Darah put her hand to her heart dramatically. 'Oh my Merlin! How will I ever live.' Then she smiled, thankful the end of the school year had tied all her loose ends.