A Potter Secret

Better Impressions

          Isabella wakes a few hours later and wanders around the quarters. When she reaches the potions lab, she finds Severus and Draco making potions together. "Good morning Papa," Isabella smiles. "Good morning Draco."

"Hello, Isabella. Feeling better?" Severus asks as he adds ingredients to the potion.

"Much," Isabella replies. "What potion are you making?"

"A sleeping draught," Draco explains, hopping off his stool. "I wanted to apologize for my previous behavior. I should not have been so rude."

"That's alright, Draco. Want any help with your potion?" Isabella asks.

Draco shakes his head. "I think we can handle it. Thanks anyway," Draco replies.

Isabella nods and turns towards her nook in the corner of the room. Severus had made an area where Isabella wouldn't have to stretch to reach what she needed. He still kept the more dangerous ingredients but the simpler ones she had full access to. "Papa, have you started the potions for the hospital wing yet?"

"I've gotten through the pepper-up potions thus far. Perhaps you could prepare the skele-gro?" Severus inquires.

Isabella starts gathering the ingredients and preparing them. "Uncle, isnt' Isabella a little young to be making potions?"

"I assure you, I would not let her make potions unsupervised if I did not have full confidence in her," Severus reminds. "She knows the rules of using the potions lab. That reminds me, Isabella those papers that were delivered were from the professors. Full marks on everything; congratulations."

Isabella smiles and looks into her potion. "Thank you, Papa. Though I believe it is the professors who should be congratulated. They're all wonderful teachers." Severus nods, turning back towards his potion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Draco, wake up, wake up, wake up!" Isabella cheers. "Come on! Let's play!"

Draco sits up slowly as Isabella climbs off of him. "Isabella, it's too early to play."

"It's almost noon!" Isabella counters. "Come on, let's go to the pitch! We can hunt the Snitch."

Draco climbs out and follows Isabella after changing. "Isabella, slow down." She runs back out of her room with her broom in hand. "You have a Nimbus 2000?"

Isabella nods. "I saw the Nimbus 2001 but it didn't feel right. I think a broom should be more natural, not overly ornate. Anyway, it's not the broom's speed that wins a game, it the rider's ability. Come on!"

Draco smiles and runs after her, laughing. After a few hours of riding, Severus comes out and watches them. Draco's ability has improved a great deal but he's still nowhere near Isabella's level. "Isabella, Draco!" He calls out. They turn and fly over, hovering just in front of him. "It's time to come in, it's almost time for dinner."

"Dinner? But I haven't even had breakfast," Draco cries.

Smirking, Severus leads them in. "That's what happens when you wake up late and play for a few hours. Wake up earlier and you might eat more than once if it's too much of a dilemma. Your father flooed earlier, Draco. You're going back just after dinner."

Draco groans. "But Uncle, I want to stay here! Why do I have to go back?"

"Because that's your home, Draco, with your family," Severus reminds. "Your father would miss you if you stayed here forever."

"Isabella stays here forever," Draco reminds.

"Call me Izzy," Isabella throws in. "And I don't have parents, Draco. They're dead. I know I miss them, even though I know so little about them. Your parents would want to see you."