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

Chapter Eight: Curses, Questions, And Very Few Answers

October 1996 - Hogwarts

For weeks, Harry carried his book around. He had kind of a strange obsession with it. He never let it out of his sight. I wouldn't have given it to him if I knew he was going to be so weird about it. Even when the four of us went into Hogsmeade, he brought it with him. We didn't go on any dates, but if we had, I'm sure the book would have made me the third wheel. And he didn't care to know who the half-blood prince was.

"I didn't say I wasn't curious," Harry told us as we made our way to Hogsmeade. "And I don't sleep with it."

"Well, I guess that's one more thing the book and I have in common," I muttered. Harry rolled his eyes.

"It's true," Ron said. "I like a nice chat before I go to bed. All you do is read that bloody book. It's like being with Hermione." Hermione and I exchanged annoyed looks at Ron's comment.

"Well I was curious," she said. "So I went to-"

"The library," we all finished.

"And?" I asked. Hermione was annoyed but continued on.

"And nothing," she said. "Not a single reference to a half-blood prince."

"There we go. That settles it, then," Harry said, trying to get off the subject.

"Grace?" Hermione asked.

"I got nothing," I confessed. Ahead of us, we saw Professor Flitwick leaving as Slughorn approached him.

"Ah, Filius," Slughorn said. "I was hoping to find you in the three broomsticks."

"Uh, no," Flitwick said. "Emergency...choir practice I'm afraid." As we watched Slughorn carry on and Flitwick walk right past us, Harry muttered something I knew was coming.

"Anyone fancy a butterbeer?"

When we got in the three broomsticks, Harry was very particular about where we sat. Harry and I sat across from each other. Hermione was next to me, and Ron was across from Hermione. As we took our seats and placed our orders, I saw Draco walk in and immediately go for the stairs. I tried to catch his eye, but it wasn't working. Then I tried to catch my boyfriend's eye, and that wasn't working either. He was a little too preoccupied with watching Ginny cozying up to Dean in the corner. I wanted to be mad, but could I be?

"Oh, bloody hell," Ron said.

"Honestly, Ronald," Hermione said. "They're only holding hands." When we all glanced back again, they were doing a little more than just holding hands. "And snogging..."

"I'd like to leave," Ron declared.

"You can't be serious," Hermione said.

"That happens to be my sister," Ron said.

"So?" Hermione asked. "What if she looked over here and saw you snogging me? Would you expect her to get up and leave?" I tried to get Harry's attention back on me.

"Harry," I said. No response. He was still staring off. "Harry," I said stronger.

"What?" he asked harshly.

"Seriously?" I asked. Harry managed to get Slughorn's attention.

"Harry, my boy!" Slughorn said as he walked over.

"Hello, sir," Harry said back. "Wonderful to see you. So what brings you here?"

"Oh, me and the three broomsticks go back farther than I care to admit," he said. He had obviously had a few drinks. "I can remember when it was one broomstick," he slurred, spilling some of his drink on my shoulder. "Oh- all hands on deck, Snape. Listen, my boy. In the old days, I used to throw together the occasional supper party. For the select student or two. Would you be game?"