His Daughter.

Chapter 10.

The next day, the previous conversation weighs heavy on my mind. The main thought of this, how will my school life change, when the truth is out. Will I be accepted to Slytherin? Will I get shunned by Gryffindor? Will I be treated differently as a professor's child? So many of these thoughts swirl around in my mind. I decide I need to speak with Theo, before the yule ball. I get dressed, and prepared to go with the whole school, to Hogsmeade. We all walk along the path together. I walk by Ginny, she's unusually quiet. "Hey, Ginny, I'm sorry I was rude the other day" I apologise. She smiles, accepting the apology. "Hey everything is going to change soon, but you're my best friend okay?" I confide to her worried, as we enter Hogsmeade. She hugs me. "I do know, you seem to have been stressed recently with the OWL's" She says, thinking it's just the exam stress that's been making me irritable lately. "Let's go dress shopping" she adds while smiling, as we walk to the formal dress store, the boys and girls seperate.

While we're inside the store, we try on a few dresses magically. All the garments look phenomenal. I help the girls pick their dresses, in an attempt to distract myself. The whole time, I'm thinking about what I should wear, and how would the secret come out. I decide I need to give Theo the heads up. and after a while, I buy my dress, having it magically sent to my dorm room chest. "Hey Ginny, I'll meet you at the fountain before we go back in an hour okay?" I ask, Ginny smiles, "Going to see your date?" She teases back. I smile, as I walk out the shop. I walk along the cobbled streets, looking out for Theo, among the groups of students. Knowing he will likely be with Draco, I start to keep an eye out for his overly gelled blonde hair. After a few minutes, I see the boys over outside their shop. I take a deep breath and confidently walk up to them.

Draco laughs, "Not got any teachers to see?" He teases and taunts. I ignore him, and have my eyes set on Theo. "Can we speak in private, Theo?" I ask, he smiles, and dismisses Draco, as we walk over to a dimly lit alleyway. Draco watches us with a hint of jealousy, showing on his face. We kiss, as we enter the alley. I smile, "We need to talk" I break the kiss. Theo looks concerned. "About the dance?" He asks unsure. I nod my head, "The secret will come out, Will you stay by my side?" I ask, confiding in him. There's a moment of silence. Theo contemplates the consequences of being with the potions professor's daughter. He takes my hand. "I'm not going anywhere" The response makes my heart skip a beat, as I sigh with relief. We hear the professors who chaperoned us, call out, for us all to gather by the fountain. We walk there together, instinctively holding hands under our cloaks. We stand there amongst all the students, and I see Ginny and Hermione looking over at us stood by each other. As we all walk back to Hogwarts, I lean to Theo, "Before the dance meet me at the lake" He nods, confirming he heard me, and we seperate, as I walk back over towards the girls, on our way back. While back at hogwarts, the day is rather different. All lessons were cancelled, so the professors could prepare for the yule ball dance, that will happen tomorrow. This makes the great hall out of bounds to all students.

The rest of the day was rather quite unremarkable. I was still worrying, anxious from not knowing how the secret will be shared. There must be some ulterior motive, but I don't understand why. I have a nap, I take the potions book, and read it while sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard. Hermione walks by and sits beside me. After a moment of silence, "Seraphina? Be careful" she warns, just like Ginny did. I look up from my book, "Speaking from experience?" I chime back, with a bit of sass. I close my book, and I get up. "Who I see is nobody's business?" I storm off annoyed, down the stone hallways. Angrily marching along the corridors, I keep going until I get to the empty potions classroom. I walk up to his desk, and place the book on it. Just as I turn to walk out, I look over at his cauldron which is brewing. Severus walks into his classroom, closing the door behind him with magic. "I was just returning the book" I say, as I sit at his desk. "What are you brewing?" I take an interest in his cauldron. "Seraphina, You was always so curious" Severus remarks proudly, showing me the ingredients and the process. Brewing a poison remedy. It's just like the old times, from my childhood. The warm memory fills me with joy. "Do you remember all the spells I taught you, for protection" He asks bluntly. I nod, taking my wand out, and demonstrating them on a training dummy in the corner of the room. Showing my competance, I look at him. "I've fallen for a boy" I blurt out to him nervously. Severus pauses, unsure as to how to handle this, his daughter is in love. "He is my date to the yule ball" I assure, "Please don't scare him off" I ask, well plead with my dad, knowing he'll be protective, since mum passed away when I was 8. "How's school going?" Severus asks, trying to pretend like he doesn't know my progress from fellow professors. "Well... I saw the thestrals again, that was comforting, herbology is hard, and trying not to be top of potions is also harder" I share. "Anxious about the dance, but I am excited too! I finish with glee, as I go to leave the classroom and walk back towards the gryffindor common room, for a before dance pamper night.