Snivellus

28

The end of year banquet was by far the best meal Darah had eaten yet. She sat with her friends talking about what they were all planning on doing for the holidays.

Pansy kept flirting with Draco and he kept on giving her fake nods and smiles but when he turned to the others he gave them a look that said 'what is she on about?'

Darah gazed over at the gryffindor table and saw Ron, Harry, and now Hermione, all enjoying each other's company before they had to split and head home.

After Darah, Harry and Ron's adventure down to the chamber of secrets, they were awarded for their bravery. Harry told them all about what had happened with Tom Riddle and the basilisk, Darah remembered clapping Harry on the back and saying 'way to go!' which was a little unenthusiastic considering what he had done and she regretted it after, having to laugh it off.

As Darah returned up to the grounds of Hogwarts, from the chamber, Snape was waiting along with McGonagall and surprisingly Dumbledore.

McGonagall was about to give her a piece of her mind, saying how much danger she had put herself in but Dumbledore reassured her and calmed her down.

'Serverus, as Miss Lucie is in your house, I feel it is wise for you to be the one to talk to her.'

He gave him a warm smile to which Snape replied with, 'certainly.' and whisked Darah off as Harry and Ron headed to Dumbledore's office, McGonagall shortly behind them, telling them how much damage they could have caused to themselves.

Snape took Darah to his potions storage room and closed the door behind them. He looked at her sternly in the eyes and Darah gulped.

But, unexpectedly, he embraced Darah into a tight hug. She hugged him back and whispered in his ear, 'I'm sorry Dad, I just couldn't leave them.'

Snape broke away from the hug and bent down to her level. 'You know when I said about not befriending Potter?'

She nodded.

'He is a danger to you.' He paused. 'But I guess I can no longer separate you anymore.'

Darah looked at him quizzically.

'Look, Darah. There will come a time where you will find out more than you should know which can put you in danger.' Snape sighed and rubbed his forehead. 'You are all I have left of her.' He said quietly.

'Left of who? My mother?' Darah tugged at Snape who refused to answer.

'Time for bed now, Darah.' And he left the room, walking to his classroom, down the dark, empty hallways.
'And I must protect you with everything.'

***

Darah got up from the Slytherin table once she had finished her meal and headed towards the Gryffindors.

'Where are you going?' Draco called after her. Then he realised. 'Oh your new Gryffindor friends.' He scoffed.

Darah started to reason with him but decided she didn't need to explain herself.

Approaching Harry, Ron and Hermione, she smiled warmly.

'Hey.' She sat down next to Hermione who smiled back at her.
'So what'd Dumbledore say?' She asked the boys.

'Nothing much.' Ron said with a mouthful of food. 'But we found out who gave Ginny the diary.'

'Really! Who?' Darah asked excitedly.

Harry smiled mischievously. 'Lucius Malfoy.'

'You're joking!' Darah's eyes widened, almost unable to believe it. 'But why?'

Harry shrugged his shoulders. 'Dunno.'

Then two boys, with the same hair as Ron, sat not far down the table from them pipped into the conversation. 'As if.' One of them scoffed.

'Yeah. Lucius Malfoy is one of them.' The other said solemnly.

'You mean a supporter of you know who?'

The boys nodded with raised eyebrows.

'Do you think Draco knows?' Darah asked them all.

'Either he has no clue or he's also one of them too.' Ron shrugged.

Darah felt her heart lurch. She turned around and looked at Draco sat at the Slytherin table, with his permanent disgusted expression on his face, she sighed.

***

'Darah!' Hermione shouted at Darah, just before she was about to leave platform 9 3/4.

Darah turned around to face her and smiled.

When Hermione reached her she went in for a generous hug. 'I just want to say thank you for helping Ron in the chamber.'

Darah blushed. 'He talked about you down there, you know.'

'He did?' Hermione said taken aback.

Darah nodded. 'Yeah. Talked about how brilliant you were for figuring it out.'

Now it was Hermione who blushed and giggled. 'Have a nice summer, Darah.' She smiled at her.

'You too.' And Hermione left to meet her parents.

Darah was about to walk out of the station when she heard another person call her name.
This time it was Draco.

He scratched the back of his neck. 'I- have a nice summer.' He finished. 'Er.' Draco held his hand out in front of him.

'Yeah. You too.' She smiled and shook his hand awkwardly, his grip was firm and unsurprisingly not sweaty. She let go and began to walk away.

'Wait, Lucie.' He called after her.

She swung her head around, somewhat majestically. 'Yeah?'

'Why did you do it?'

She tilted her head at him questioningly.

He walked over to her and whispered, 'Why did you go into the chamber?'

'I- I don't know. Harry and Ron were down there and Ron's sister and I couldn't just leave them and wait to find out if they come out alive or not.' She flailed.

Draco looked at her. 'So you're friends with the Gryffindors?'

'I mean...' she started.

Draco flung his arms in the air and swore.

She reached out to him and calmed him down. 'Draco, they're not how you think they are. They're... nice and I don't know.' She couldn't find the right words.

'What and I'm not?' Draco said angrily and offended.

'That's not what I mean-'

'You know what, it doesn't matter.' Draco stopped. 'Have a nice summer.' He repeated and walked away back to his trolly.