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

Chapter Four: One Last Time At Platform 9 3/4

September 1997 - King's Cross

I've never been happier to see her face. Especially having not communicated with her all summer. It made me realize just how much I love her. We are platonic soulmates. Draco loaded our trunks on the train and I waited in anticipation to see her at King's Cross for the last time. I scoured the station, and then our eyes met. Out tear-filled eyes, I should add. After that, I have no memory of how many people I potentially ran into while I was running to her.

"Grace," she said after a long emotional hug with Blaise staring at us from a distance. "Next time we're here in September, we'll be dropping off our kids."

"Oh my god, don't say that," I said. "I'm emotional enough as it is. Come on, let's get a compartment."

Draco and I had loosened up by the time we got on the train with Blaise and Jane. Jane and I had talked Draco and Blaise's ears off. We finally got settled in our compartment, just the four of us. I was so happy to be back with her, but then I realized that my deal with Voldemort could put my friends at risk. I wasn't worried about Blaise. Or Crabbe and Goyle, for that matter, although I'm not sure they were considered friends anymore. But Jane was different. And she deserved to know before we got too far in. I pulled her out in the hallway after we left King's Cross for the last time.

"I have to show you something," I said. "And Draco would be mad if I said anything about it."

"Oh my god," she said, her eyes widening. "Are you pregnant?"

"What?" I said. "No. Jane, what the hell? Just promise you won't say anything, ok?"

"Sure, I won't tell anyone that you're pregnant."

"I am not pregnant," I groaned before regaining myself. "I'm serious. This is serious. Promise?"

"Ok, sure," she said. "What is it?" I took a deep breath, looked around to make sure nobody was watching, and pulled up my sleeve. Her happy face dropped and her eyes widened.

"Grace..."

"It's not what you think," I said, quickly hiding my arm. "Listen, I'm not really with him. And Draco isn't either. Draco's father is obsessed with image and he's been expected to serve Voldemort or die for the past couple of years. So me being engag- with...Draco, and the daughter of his right-hand man, I knew I was his ultimate face. So the deal was that I just...do that, I guess. Be a face for the students at Hogwarts. But I have no intention of doing it. It's my way of getting him to not pay attention to Draco because he is furious with the Malfoys right now."

"Why?" Jane asked.

"Dumbledore," I said. "That was Draco's mission. Voldemort was clear that Draco was supposed to kill him. But he couldn't do it. So the Malfoys are on thin ice. I needed to get Voldemort to think about someone else. This was the only way I could do it. Draco is furious but the important thing is that now Voldemort isn't thinking about him. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you because you're my best friend and you deserve to be in the know. But if I'm being completely honest, it may not be safe for you to hang around us anymore. But I wanted to leave that up to you."

"Are you serious?" she said. "Grace, you're my best friend. There's nothing you could do that would make me abandon you."

"I'm just warning you," I told her. "This year is going to be weird. Voldemort assured me he won't interfere with our school year, but it's all going to come to an end eventually."

"And when it does," she said, "I'll still be there." I was relieved to hear it all.

"Oh," I said as we headed back to our compartment. I handed her my copy of Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone. "Do you mind reading this? Since we've got a long journey ahead. You may get through it."

"Sure," she said, taking it from my hand. When we got back in the compartment I took a deep breath and relaxed. It was my last train ride into Hogwarts, and just when I thought I could let go for a little bit, something else happened.

About halfway in, the train came to a stop. I could sense something was wrong. I got up and walked around the train to figure out what it was. But I came face to face with someone who was clearly with Voldemort.

"My father will hear about this," Cormac told him as he boarded the train. I rolled my eyes. He kept walking through the hallway, and before I could say something, Neville did.

"Hey, losers," Neville said, standing up. "He isn't here." Oh, Harry, He was looking for Harry.

"I'll be the judge of that," the man gruffed. He attempted to walk through the door, but I stopped him.

"No, I think I will," I said loudly so that everyone could hear.

"Now's not the time to be the hero, sweetheart," he said in an unsettling way. I discreetly flashed him my dark mark, careful so that nobody else in the compartment saw.

"Now's not the time to make a fool of yourself," I told him. "And it's Miss Snape, for your information. So I'd get off the train if I were you or I will be taking it up with my father." I leaned in close to whisper in his ear. "And we both know who he answers to."

The man straightened his coat and apparated off the train, along with his buddies who were following behind him. I sighed a breath of relief.

"Is everyone alright?" I asked the compartment.

"We will be as soon as you're gone," one boy said.

"Do you have a problem? Because I just saved your ass from a death eater."

"My only problem is you," he said. "He was looking for Harry and I reckon you know where he is."

"I don't know where Harry is," I said. "And if I did I wouldn't tell him."

"You're with them," he said. "You want him dead."

"In case you forgot, I dated Harry for well over a year."

"Yeah," Cormac said, standing up. "But now you're dating Malfoy, aren't you?"

"Why?" I asked him. "Are you still interested?" His face went red as I heard just a handful of snickers.

"We all know what his family does for you-know-who. And what your dad does, for that matter," Cormac said.

"I am not like my dad," I said. "Alright, this was clearly a mistake. Next time I'll leave you to the mercy of the death eaters." I started to walk away but someone grabbed my arm.

"Don't worry about them, Grace," Luna said with kind eyes. "They just need someone to be angry at."

"Thanks, Luna," I said. "How have you all been?"

"Not terrible, given the circumstances," Neville said.

"Has anyone heard from Harry?" I asked.

"I have," Ginny said. "He was just at my house. He's alright, but, you know, just a bit preoccupied."

"Oh, I know," I said. "You think it's likely that any of them would write?"

"No," Ginny said. "They'll be moving a lot this year. And it'd be far too dangerous to write to someone here."

"Right," I said. "Well, I just wanted to tell you guys...yes, I'm dating Draco. And yes, my father killed Dumbledore. And yes, he is a death eater. But I wanted to tell you that I have nothing to do with that. I just have to keep a certain...cover."

"You don't have to explain yourself to us," Ginny said. "We know you. Let's just try to enjoy this year, OK? To the best of our ability."

"Right," I said. "And if you guys need anything, I'll help in any way I can."

"Same for you," Neville said.

I returned to my compartment to find Jane halfway through my book, completely tuned out of the real world.

"What's going on?" Blaise asked.

"Oh, it's nothing," I said. "Just some...mechanical issues." Draco raised an eyebrow at me as if to say "Really? That was the best you could come up with?" I shrugged.

Yes. Yes, it was.