𝙁𝘼𝙏𝙀'𝙎 𝘼𝙇𝘾𝙃𝙀𝙈𝙔 (𝙰 𝚂𝙽𝙰𝙿𝙴'𝚂 𝙳𝙰𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈)

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 4

It was the last week of July, and it was raining more than ever. Sushila sat in Snape's office, her nose pressed against the window, watching the raindrops trickle down the glass panel.

"What are you doing?" Snape asked, entering the office.

"Watching the rain," Sushila said, turning to him. "I had nothing better to do."

"Well, I don't have any shortage of work," Her father teased with a smirk. "Come, help me make a batch of Blood Replenishing Potion."

"Dad," Sushila whined, her lower lip sticking out in a pout. "Can we do it later?"

"It's not like you're doing something important," Snape said, beckoning her to the station. "Now don't make that face and set up the cauldron. Come on."

Sushila sighed, accepting her fate. She knew her father was keeping her busy, but right now, the raindrop race on the panels looked more appealing.

The father-daughter duo spent the afternoon making the batch of the required potion, after which they decided to take a break.

They settled into the living room, with Snape sipping a glass of firewhiskey and Sushila munching on a chocolate frog. They sat in comfortable silence, the only sound in the room the pitter-patter of the monsoon rain.

"Dad," Sushila began, breaking the silence. "What house do you think I'll be in?"

"Hmm," Her father mused, leaning back into his armchair. "I'd say Ravenclaw, considering how clever you are, but Slytherin stands out more, don't you think?"

"Maybe," The girl said, chewing the last of her sweet. "But what if I'm sorted into Gryffindor?"

"If you do, then I suppose it shouldn't make much of a difference," Snape said, a small smile forming on his lips. "You'd still be my daughter."

Sushila gave him a smile of her own. "Thanks Dad, means a lot."

"But if you do end up in Gryffindor," Snape added with a glint in his eye. "Don't go getting into trouble like your namesake, alright?"

Sushila giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But what's the fun in not causing trouble?"

"I'd rather not have to bail you out of the Headmaster's office every other day," He said, though the slight smirk on his face told her that he was just playing along.

August passed in a blur of helping the other professors with their inventories, forest trips with Hagrid (Snape was not pleased), and helping Hooch arrange the broomshed.

September first came, and Sushila was on the verge of bursting with excitement. She was babbling about the train ride the whole time Snape prepared his wake-up coffee, his thoughts a jumble of anxiety and nerves.

"Do you ever shut up?" He grumbled, stirring his coffee.

"I do shut up, as a matter of fact," Sushila said, holding up a finger. "But only when I'm asleep."

Snape couldn't help but chuckle at her retort. "Indeed," he said, handing her a cup of cocoa. "And today is a very special day, so you should save some energy for the train ride."

After a few hours, Sushila was all set to go; her trunk was packed, with a small duffle bag perched on the trunk, and her wand was in her pocket.

"I see you're all prepared," Her father said, entering her room.

"Yep," The girl nodded. "I've kept everything I need."

"Then I suggest you change out of your nightclothes, unless you're planning to scare people there?" Snape said, raising an eyebrow.