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

Chapter Five: My Copy Of Advanced Potion Making

September 1996 - Hogwarts

On the first day of classes, I was looking forward to enjoying my free first period. You would think that because I missed three years of school I would be fighting to get all my classes in before graduation. But thanks to my father letting me take summer classes and Dumbledore excusing me from other classes, I was right on track. I was even at the top of my class right below Hermione. I was walking around before class started when Professor Slughorn approached me.

"Excuse me, young lady," he said, stopping me in the hallway. He had a consistent look of confusion on his face. "Snape?"

"Grace," I said. "Yes. Professor Snape is my father."

"And you're Harry's girlfriend?" I sighed.

"Yes. That too."

"Why, you're the whole package," he chuckled.

"You could say that," I said with an awkward smile. What made me the whole package? Did it have anything to do with me? Or was it all about who I was associated with?

"Well, I know you're at the top of your class. And given your heritage, I trust you have quite the knack for potions. I was wondering if you'd like to be a professor's aid for me during the first period. I've taken it up with Dumbledore already. You'd get extra credit of course. What do you say?"

"Well I had a free period," I explained. "I was really looking forward to using it as a study hall."

"Oh, not to worry," he said. "I'd be happy to let you use first period as a study hall whenever you may need it. I just thought it might be useful for my students to have another student be there to help them. Especially when the knack for potions runs in your blood." Does it, though? But what harm could it do?

"Okay," I said. "Sure. I'll do it."

"Wonderful," he said with a smile. "Right then. Go get all your potions books and be in my class before the bell rings. I think today's assignment will be particularly difficult for your classmates." I went back to my room to grab a couple of my potions books, among them, was my dad's old torn-up copy of Advanced Potion Making. I wasn't sure if I was really qualified to be doing what he was asking of me. But I couldn't turn down extra credit. I walked into his class to see Hermione, eager to start her sixth year.

"Oh, hey," she said. "I thought you were done with potions."

"I am," I assured her. "Slughorn asked me to be a professor's aid."

"A what?"

"Just like a helper. I think he assumes that the former potions master's daughter would be a potions genius."

"Oh," she laughed.

"Ah, there you are Miss Snape," Slughorn said. "I was beginning to think you'd abandon me. Go on and have a seat. You can sit at my desk for now. I'll get you a special one, eventually."

"Hey, look at that," I said to Hermione under my breath. "I'm the favorite student already." I took a seat at Slughorn's desk and watched as the students came in one by one. First Neville, then Lavender. Then Romilda. Then Blaise and Jane. Then Crabbe and Goyle. Then Pansy...then Draco. They came in and stood awfully close to each other. We used to lock eyes before awkwardly looking away. Now he didn't even bother to look at me. And why would he? But I looked at him. And I didn't even try to hide it. Eventually, the bell rang and Slughorn began going over the basics of the class.

"Alright, everyone. Gather around. Welcome to Potions Six. You all have your copy of Advanced Potion Making? Good, good. So in this level of potions, we will be expanding on the details of what you already know about potions by examining potions that are notoriously difficult to make. Attention to detail in the preparation is the prerequisite of all planning." In the middle of his lecture, Harry and Ron arrived late to class.