The Father's Journal

Part 12 - Basilisk

Once they arrive at the manor, Serenity parts away from Snape but before she could take the first sip of her drink at her tiny corner, the ministry of magic and his wife arrive, along with other important people from the Ministry of magic.

Serenity continue to look until she saw a signal from Snape, telling her to come to him. Serenity takes a sip and walks to her father.

"Oh! How lovely! Is this her? Serenity" says Mrs Fugde sweetly as she look at Serenity with a wide smile.

Now everyone is looking at Serenity. She felt awkward and heat rises on her face. Spontaneously, but slowly she moves back and almost hides at the back of Snape's legs.

"Oh! Look at that!" laugh Fudge and his wife.

Snape put his hand gently on Serenity's head and the girl grabs hold of her father's cloth.

"Severus! Tell your child to act more refined! She is in front of the guess of honour here!" press Lucius sternly.

"All is well Lucius! We must have scared her for swarming her like this" laughed Fudge.

"Serenity my dear, can I request a song that feeds for a dance? It has been too long since my husband was able to go out for a party like this?" asked Mrs Fudge gently.

Serenity looks up to Snape. Snape node his head.

"Of course, Madam" answered Serenity politely.

Snape pushes Serenity to walk forward to the piano. As she walks, she has already decided what to play a piece from Dimitri Shostakovich-The Second Waltz, piano version.

Once Serenity hit the key and plays the song, both Minister and his wife smiled wide. Everyone makes room for the couple to dance. Wide smiles spare on their lips. Seeing that, Narcissa turns to her husband and bows slight, as a gesture to ask him to dance with her. Lucius maintains a look of oblivious but his eyes are amused by his wife's invitation. He takes his wife's hand and leads her to the dance area.

Along with the Fudges, the Malfoys dance gracefully. Seeing that, more and more couples join in to dance. Serenity was shocked at how everyone is dancing, even Draco is dancing as well with Pansy as his partner. She role her eyes. Of course, Draco and Pansy know how to dance. Even she knows how to dance since Snape has taught her. Even so, Serenity cannot help but feel eerie with the whole situation.

But never the less, Serenity is happy seeing how her father, Snape looks so proud of her. The party has become livelier than before because of her. She smiles throughout while playing the song. When the song is finished, everyone claps their hand.

"Bravo!"

"Bravo!"

"Bravo!"

Serenity smiled shyly and bowed. Lucius with his ever stern look, clapped his hand, trying not to look impressed like others. But most importantly, Snape is clapping his hand hard, looking so proud at Serenity. Smiling, Serenity makes way for her father. Snape cares about his daughter's cheek gently, with a soft smile.

**********

"Dobby!" call out Serenity happily as soon as she gets into the kitchen.

"Hello, miss" answered Dobby with a weak smile.

Serenity was shocked when she saw both of Dobby's hands is warped with gauge.

"What happens to your hand Dobby?!" ask Serenity, kneeling in front of the house elf and taking both of its hands in hers.

"Dobby has defied Dobby's master, so Dobby must be punished," say Dobby sadly and fake a smile.

"Did Lucius Malfoy do this to you?" ask Serenity angrily.