A.N. Sorry about the short chapter. My muse left me a while ago, and I couldn't do anything. Managed to finish it at least. hopefully next time will be better.
"Well that's complete rubbish! I mean really, Em. Your father wouldn't do that, would he?" Draco's voice was hushed as he spoke to me. While his posture revealed a nonchalance about the predicament his eyes showed his concern. I shrugged and glanced up at the table the Professors sat at. My father wasn't up there, and I knew exactly where he was.
"He would, Draco. You know that. The only way to prevent him from shipping me off to Durmstrang was my arguing that I'd be safer closer to him. But he's sure that could be a bad thing, and still wants to next year if the situation grows worse."
"But he's a member of the big guy's inner circle, he shouldn't have anything to worry about!"
"Honestly Draco, think about it. Being in the inner circle is one of the most dangerous places to be. You do one thing wrong and he will be giving you an example of what he'll do if you do it again. Father doesn't want me to be involved. You of all people know the dangers."
Draco's eyes darkened and he looked away from me. I had spent a lot of time at the Malfoy Manor over the holidays, and one evening when my father had come to pick me up Draco's father had entered the room, bruised and filthy at that point I realized he had displeased the Dark Lord in some way. The way Lucius Malfoy had looked at his son at that point, even if he showed the same nonchalance that Draco had been showing, he was terrified, which was something very rare within that household. Malfoy was almost Voldemort's right hand man, so him being in trouble meant trouble for all of us.
"I'm going to go talk to the newbies." Draco muttered, standing up and walking down the length of the table to the new Slytherins we had acquired through the sorting. Leaning back I watched as they noticed him approaching them, and how they seemed to grow stiff. First years were amusing enough, scared of everything, and even the ones in our house were the same. With a small sigh I glanced over at Blaise, who immediately looked away from me. I wish we could just go back to the way we were, it was easier, before we dated, when we were friends. But that wouldn't happen.
"Hey, Snape! Get over here!" I heard Draco's call from down the table and I slid out of my chair, waltzing down the aisle with as influential a look on my face as I could muster. When the first years saw me they seemed slightly more relieved. I guess my appearance made it easier on them, looking so close to their age I could relate a little better.
"Hey guys. Settling in okay?" They nodded and I smiled as warmly as I could before looking to Draco. Who was scowling. I presumed he was still irritated about my reminding him of what had happened with his father, "Draco, go eat. I'll take care of these guys, alright?"
He nodded briskly, and turning on his heel and headed back to his seat. I sighed and squeezed in between the first years, smiling as nicely as I could.
"So, I'm Emilie Snape." I nodded as several of the students glanced toward my father's empty chair and back to me before I continued. "As this is your first year you will be studying a multitude of things, but as long as you have your wands and determination I'm pretty sure you can get through it as easily as your predecessors. When the meal is over come to me and I will lead you to your new common room, and your dormitories."
Nods all around, these kids were so eager to learn something it was a wonder they weren't wetting themselves in excitement. I forced the smile to remain on my face as I helped myself to a pudding, listening to them jabber on about the families they came from. Most of them were from overly privileged families, parents worked in the ministry or had no need to work. It was no wonder they were sorted into Slytherin. Sometimes being around people like this smothered me. Sometimes I almost wished Father had sent me off to Durmstrang like he had threatened during my 'brief' rebellious streak in my third year, where I spent most of the year trying to find the best way to irritate the Gryffindors. I'd managed to make a girl's clothes completely transparent, set someone on fire (in a way that wouldn't actually hurt them … much) and accidentally got another student put in St. Mungos psychiatric ward for a month due to a practical joke gone bad. I was amazed I wasn't expelled, really. But I guess my father has more standing amongst the school board then he likes to let on.
"So, what Quiddich teams are you guys into?"
One kid, mouth full of Yorkshire Pudding piped up, food dribbling down his chin. Disgusting. "Hollyhead Harpies, can't get enough of that lead Chaser. I mean the cans on her they're just-"
"Right...Anyone else?"
"-a bit like yours actually, perfect size and-"
"Do you want to keep your tongue, because I could easily remove it for you."
The kid averted his eyes, going back to his food. Every few moments i'd notice his eyes move up to catch a glance. With a sigh I reached down and withdrew my wand from my pocket, putting it on the table next to my plate. I rose an eyebrow at him.
"Do you really want to risk it?"
"You know, if you do anything to hurt me, my father will have you put in Azkaban."
"You know if I say a few words to my father you'll be expelled, and then your father will kill you."
Again the kid looked away, defeated. Smirking I went back to my pudding. Would this dinner ever end?
