I sat on a balcony ledge, looking over the grounds of Hogwarts. "He was really going to kill me, wasn't he?" I asked. I looked over my shoulder at Snape. "If Bellatrix and Fenrir couldn't do it, he was going to," I said. "I know you know." "Yes," he said. I looked back at the outside. "Was he going to kill Draco?" I asked. "No," he said. "While he has no objections to killing one of his own followers, he does not want you to welcome death." "You had a slightly frightened look yourself," I said. "Concerned for one of your students?" I looked at him and smiled. "That is why you stayed, isn't it? To watch over me?" Snape said nothing.
"Why?" I asked. "Miss Potter, from when you were first sorted into Slytherin, I knew that you would need protection," he said.
*Flashback*
"Emily Potter!" Professor McGonagall called out. Everyone was quiet. "There's another Potter?" I heard someone whisper as I walked to the front. When I sat down, I looked at Harry, who had just sorted into Gryffindor. The Sorting hat was placed on my head. I kept my eyes to the ground, trying to ignore the whispers. "Just like your brother," he said. "Very difficult." My hands balled into fists on my lap. "Ah, I see," he said. "I know the perfect place for you." I took a deep breath. "Slytherin!" he called up. My eyes snapped up to see shocked looks from just about everyone. Once the hat was taken off my head, I started walking to the Slytherin table. "Maybe she's not really his sister," I heard someone whispering. "They don't even look alike." It was a boy sitting at the Gryffindor table. "I've never heard of her," someone whispered back. As I passed them, a twinge of anger went through my head. The two fell out of their seats, landing hard on the floor. Students laughed. An older Slytherin girl moved so I could sit next to her. I sat down and looked back at Harry. He gave me a small smile. "It's okay," the girl said. "You'll make a lot of new friends." I looked at her and smiled a bit. "Thanks," I said. I looked back at the front, other students being sorted, and saw a teacher with black hair staring at me. "Who is that?" I asked the girl. "That's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions," she said. "And he's Head of the House."
*End*
"So I did make those two fall over," I said. "Yes. Even in your first year you showed great potential," he said. "More so than any other first year." "Well, all I did was study and practice. I didn't have many friends," I said. "Maybe if you hadn't picked fights," he said. I smiled. "You should be proud. I took down a third year as a first year," I said. "He knew what bothered me and he pushed my buttons. It was his fault."
*Flashback*
"Five points from Gryffindor," a boy from Slytherin said, walking to the front of the class with a piece of parchment in his hand. "Sounds like I came at the right time." I looked at him. "Nice going, Potter," he said with a smirk. "Do you need something?" I said. Snape looked up from his desk and the boy looked at me. "I'm sorry," he said. "Who are you?" He came to my desk and bent down. "A first year Slytherin," he said. "A nobody." "Everte Statum!" I yelled, pointing my wand. The boy flew back and hit the front wall of the classroom. Everyone was silent and Snape stood up from his desk. I lowered my wand. I could feel eyes on me, making me feel uncomfortable. I grabbed my things and ran out of the classroom. "Miss Potter," Snape called after me, following me out of the room. "I'm sorry, Professor. I really am," I said, stopping and turning to him. "I didn't mean to. I just...I don't know what happened." "As impressed as I am, Miss Potter, I still have to give you detention," he said. "Yes, Professor," I said. "Where did you learn that spell?" he asked. "I did a lot of reading last night," I said. "I practiced it on my pillow in the common room while the others were sleeping." I looked at my wand. "I never knew about magic," I said. "Now I just want to learn." "You are dismissed," he said. "You'll have detention with me tonight." I nodded.
*End*
"All you had me do was clean cauldrons and help organize your ingredients," I said. "Admit it, Snape. You have a soft spot for me." He just looked at me. "Merry Christmas," he said before leaving. A small box laid on the ground. I got up and picked it up, immediately opening it. It was a green bracelet with animal charms. I looked at the silver charms. There was a snake, two stags, a doe, and a dog. I smiled. "Merry Christmas."