Snivellus

29

Cokeworth. So worthless and drained.

Darah had never liked it here but you get used to it, no matter how bad the smells or the dim lighting, home was home.

This time, as Darah arrived at the house, Snape was stood waiting, solemnly, at the door step.

'What took you so long!' He whispered sternly. He was wearing a great, big, black cloak, the hood covering his face making him almost anonymous.

'I was saying bye to my friends, if that's a problem.' She retaliated back.

Snape said nothing more and unlocked the door, allowing them to enter their home.

'I don't know why you still wear that cloak, father; everyone who lives here knows who you are.'

Darah began to put her stuff down in the kitchen hallway when a loud crack applauded.

'Pooky!' Darah exclaimed happily.

'Master.' The house elf bowed down to the two of them.

'Pooky, we will be needing lunch ASAP, now move along and stop distracting Darah; she needs to put her things away and not dump them in the hall.' He eyed Darah who huffed but picked up her things.

She gave Pooky a sympathetic look and trailed upstairs with all of her many bags muttering, 'I hate this part.'

***

A couple weeks of summer had passed and Darah had finished all of her homework, curtesy of Snape's enforcement.

Darah spends most of her time in her room playing chess with Pooky. There's not much to do in Cokeworth, there are no friends around and rarely anyone steps outside of their houses.

There's a tap at Darah's window as she is sat on her bed with Pooky briskly cleaning her room.

The both of them look over to see an owl perched on the windowsill. She gets up and opens the window, allowing the owl to step inside.

It's a letter.

'Curious.' Pooky says inspecting the letter. There was a black wax stamp with a green snake on the back.

Darah opens it gently and pulls out the letter inside and begins to read it in her head.

To Darah,

I hope this letter reaches you as I don't know where you live, hopefully that scrawny owl is smart enough to find you.

I'm having a party on Saturday the 8th of August.
It's being held at Malfoy Manor.
Everyone'll be there.

P.S. bring a potion ;)

Draco.

Darah looked at the letter in her hands and re-read it again and again until Pooky interrupted her asking who it was from.

'Draco.' She breathed.

'You must write back to him.' Pooky clapped joyfully.

'I- Er.' Darah flailed around trying to gather up her writing materials.

She sat at her desk and picked up a quill staring down at the blank paper.

'What do I write?' She exclaimed, stressed.

Pooky hopped over to her. 'Well I would start with dear Draco.'

'Oh yes, right.' She looked at Pooky and patted him on his almost bald head. 'What would I do without you.'

Dear Draco,

She paused. 'Am I going or not?!' She buried her head in her hands. 'Yes. No? Ugh! Dad will never approve of it.' She face planted the table, groaning.

I accept the invitation to your party, although I'm not sure my father does so I would appreciate-

She ripped up the parchment.

Dear Draco,

I'll be there. Any preferences on your potion choice? I have a fair few ;)

Darah.

She looked at what she had written and sighed. 'It'll have to do.' She picked up the letter about to put it in the envelope when she hesitated. 'Proof read it for me.' She pleaded to Pooky who generously took it out of her hand and and skimmed through.

He handed it back to her. 'Miss Darah, you threat about nothing. Although I feel I may have to alert Master Snape...' he trailed off.

'No!' She exclaimed, pointing a finger in his face warningly. 'Do not tell my father.' She paused for a minute. 'In fact, I would like you to find an excuse for him not to be home that day. Oh and you're taking me.' She smiled somewhat maliciously.

'But Miss Darah, if Master Snape finds out-'

'-he won't.'

Pooky sighed, having to obey his Master's daughter.

Darah got up and held out the letter to the owl still perched up on her windowsill.

'Give this to Draco Malfoy.' She smiled and the owl took it in its beak and flew off into the foggy distance.