Snivellus

25

'Who's Myrtle?' Darah asked them.

'Moaning Myrtle. She lives in the girls bathroom.' Ron explained.

'So let's go speak to her!' Darah told them.

'No. You're not involved in this.' Ron said defensively.

'What! Why not?' Darah exclaimed in annoyance.

'Because you're a Slytherin and you'll probably go tell Malfoy everything you've seen tonight.'

Darah scoffed. 'I would not!'

'And how can we know that for sure?' Ron asked her, crossing his arms.

'You don't. But I promise you, I won't.' Darah said feeling slightly hurt now.

'Ron, you're being insensitive.' Harry told him.

'Me!' He retaliated. 'You're the one who hates Malfoy! I don't trust her.'

'Gee, thanks.' Darah said coldly. 'You know what, maybe I won't save your life next time! Now I see why Draco thinks you're worthless.' She throws the invisibility cloak off herself and leaves the boys, striding up to the castle angrily.

'Wait, Darah! I didn't mean that!' Ron shouted back at her, pleading.

'Way to go, Ronald.' Harry slapped him ok the arm.

Darah walked lifelessly through the castle, not even sure of where she was heading, for all she knew she could be wondering around in circles.

'Darah.' A low voice called her name from within the darkness.

Her head jerked to the direction of the call and Snape walked out of the shadows. She stood stationary for a long minute in the silence, looking at her father, whom she had been avoiding as best she can, even skipping the odd potions class every so often.

'Darah.' Snape took a step towards her, holding out his hand.

Darah stepped back, folding her arms around herself and frowned to the floor. 'I'm not in the mood.'

'Please, Darah.'

She looked at Snape directly in the eyes for a second before waking away towards the Slytherin common room.

Snape didn't bother to follow her. All Darah could think about was how angry she was at her father for no reason. She kicked the statue that stood outside of the common room door and cursed loudly.

'Miss Lucie.' Darah swung around rapidly to the old, wizened voice that came from behind her, making her skin jump out of her body.

'Professor Dumbledore!' She gasped, surprised to see him. What was he still doing here? Wasn't he meant to be removed from Hogwarts by Lucius Malfoy?

Dumbledore smiled at her kindly. 'How about you come and have a chat to me in my office?'

Darah looked down, ashamed. 'Sorry sir, I didn't mean to swear.'

'That is quite alright Miss Lucie. In fact, I would like to talk to you for a different reason entirely.'

Dumbledore started walking towards his office and Darah followed along side him.

'Do you know what time it is, professor?' Darah asked him, looking at her wrist to find no watch.

'Past your curfew, I suppose.' Dumbledore replied simply.
'Sherbet lemon.'

The two of them walked up the stone steps and into Dumbledore's office. He gestured at Darah to sit down on the chair in front of his desk.

'Toffee?' He offered Darah a tray of sweets and chocolates.

'Sure.' Darah kindly took one and began to unwrap it as Dumbledore spoke to her.

'I've sensed with you, Miss Lucie, that you are feeling a little down.'

Darah looked at Dumbledore with a face as if to say 'you're damn right!'
'How'd you possibly know?' Darah said a little sarcastically, digging into her chocolate.

'Would you like to tell me why you're upset, Miss Lucie? Of course, you don't have to if you are not comfortable.' He smiled kindly at her.

'Sir, don't you think it'd be best if you used my real name?' Darah looked at him. She hoped and guessed Dumbledore knew even though he hadn't fully said it to her face.

'How would you presume I know your real name?'

'I feel it's something a headmaster would know.' She shrugged.

'And what would happen if I didn't?'

Darah looked at Dumbledore, stupidly. 'Sir, no offence but I'm really too tired to be thinking about your deep questions right now.'

Dumbledore chuckled at that. 'Alright Miss Snape. What's been on your mind?'

Darah sat back in her chair. It felt good to be addressed as her actual real name. Finally with Dumbledore she knew she could tell him almost anything.
'I suppose you noticed me and my father haven't been talking much lately.' She sighed.

Dumbledore simply nodded at her. 'And how does that make you feel?'

She shrugged. 'Sad, angry, I don't know. Maybe even a little more free.'

'Free?'

'Yeah. Like I don't want to have this false identity anymore. I don't want my Dad to tell me what I can and can't do. I'm thirteen and I feel like I should be able to make my own decisions.'

Dumbledore nodded. 'I know how you feel.'

'You do?' Darah asked surprised, her voice going high pitched at the end.

'Oh yes. When I was younger, my mother used to tell me to do this, do that. I had no free time to myself anymore.'

'And what'd you do?'

'I rebelled.' He grinned at her.

Darah laughed a little maliciously.

'Although I don't recommend it, now that I'm old, and hopefully more wiser.' He winked. 'I'd like to tell my younger self not to go against his parents wishes.'

'But sir, how am I meant to have fun with so many stupid rules?' She exclaimed.

'Miss Snape, those rules your father has made have been put in place for a reason.'

'Yeah, his pleasure to see me suffer.' She sits back in her chair again, folding her arms.

'Your father does not want to see you suffer, Miss Snape.'

'And how would you know that?'

'Because he told me so.'

Darah's eyes widened at this and she lent forwards again. 'He told you that?'

Dumbledore nodded and smiled. 'In fact, I think he feels very strongly for you, Miss Snape. And I think he needs some time alone with his daughter.'

Darah looked plainly at Dumbledore, unsure of what to say next without her starting to cry.

'Now I think it's time you make your way to bed.' Dumbledore got up from his desk. He held out the tray of sweets again. 'One for professor Snape?'

Darah smiled at him and took a sweetie for Snape. 'Thank you, Professor.'