My Father's Only Rule {DRACO MALFOY X SNAPE'S DAUGHTER}

Chapter One: Letters And New Friends

September 1995 - Spinner's End, Cokeworth

How do I even begin to describe my summer? Jane and I wrote to each other every week. She even got to stay with me for a few days. Dad put me through an intense summer course, per my request. I only wanted to show up Granger when I came back from school. And now that my dad was my dad and not my teacher, we got along quite well again. I didn't write to Draco. I couldn't. He wrote to me, though. Not so much to where I was overwhelmed. I guess he was still trying to respect that we were on a break. And I wanted to write to him because I missed him, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. There was too much unresolved trauma surrounding him that I needed to recover from.

I did, however, write to Harry. Quite a lot actually. More than I wrote to Jane. I was surprised that he wrote to me first less than a week into the summer.

Dear Grace,

How is your summer going? I hope things are well. I am doing alright. I'll be staying with Ron all of next month, so I'll be rid of the Dursleys for a little while.

I know this may seem a bit forward, but there's just something I wanted to clear up, and then hopefully, we can move on. At the beginning of the year, I saw you on the train and I just thought you were so beautiful and I spent the rest of the ride trying to figure out why I didn't recognize you. I was surprised to learn you were a Snape. I would have talked to you sooner, but you were sorted into Slytherin and quickly became friends with Malfoy. I just thought I shouldn't bother because pretty much everyone in Slytherin hates me. I wanted to ask you to the ball, but I thought you were still with Cedric. But as the year went on, I noticed you were a little bit different than the other Slytherins. Anyways, sorry if that was a lot for you. But I had to get it off my chest.

I'm glad you decided to talk to me that day at school. I would never have realized that we were going through similar things if you hadn't pointed it out, nor would I have worked up the courage to talk to you. You're surprisingly easy to talk to. I still haven't quite gotten over Cedric. Every time I think of it, it's like a dark cloud settles over me. But it certainly makes me happy that you understand better than anyone, and I don't have to go through it alone. The moment you said hi to me, I felt like we were going to be friends. I really do hope that this is the start of something between us.

Love,

Harry

When I read this letter, the butterflies flew around inside of me. And that's where it started.

Dear Harry,

My summer is going wonderfully now that I've heard from you. And thanks for telling me that. I always thought you were cute, but Cedric made his move so quickly that I didn't really get the chance to give anyone else a chance. If it makes you feel better, I would have gone to the ball with you.

But there's no use dwelling on the past. Now that we're friends, I think we have plenty of time to make up for not giving each other the chance. I'm still getting over Cedric too. But I'm glad I have you to help me through it. But I just have to ask you one thing. Does Ron hate me? I feel like ever since I sent George to the hospital wing, Ron's had it out for me. Hermione doesn't seem like she likes me much either. But I suppose they may just have a default opinion of me as a Slytherin.

I can't wait to see you again when school starts and hear all about your summer. It'll be nice to be able to have real friends in other houses. My friends in Slytherin are wonderful, but I don't want to be another Slytherin who is only friends with other Slytherins. And I agree. I think this is the start of something between us.