Ok, so I'm really working on being faster. I'm keeping it in 1st person cuz I like it (and many of my friends do to)! Thanx for the reviews.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything, except Dani, Taylor, and the plot

Chapter 7: Truths…

Dani's POV:

I sat by the lake trying to read a book but my thoughts kept drifting. It was the last week of October; the second quidditch match would be taking place the first weekend of November—quidditch turned out to be kind of cool, actually, and it helped that Gryffindor had beat Slytherin. There would also be a trip to Hogsmeade on Halloween. This is why my thoughts kept drifting. I'd heard a lot about Hogsmeade –but I didn't care whether I went or didn't. The thing was that even though Snape had signed Taylor's slip he hadn't signed mine. Which I thought was a little odd. I mean, why didn't he want me to go? Did he know something? I had thought about asking him—but the problem was that he didn't seem to want to talk to me. Which—again—struck me as odd; wasn't he our godfather? Wasn't that part of the job—actually talking to your godchildren? And how did he know my mother anyway? He never actually had told me—or Taylor—anything about himself.

I set the book down next to me and looked at the lake. The surface was calm and glass looking, the only time it broke was when the wind blew across it or the giant squid broke the surface. I shivered; I was wearing jeans, a long, navy blue shirt and a light jean jacket. I really should wear a warmer jacket, it's not like it is summer anymore. I laid my head on my knees and closed my eyes. Despite the cold it was still peaceful to sit by the lake—and actually get some solitude. If I wasn't ignoring the Slytherins, I was usually answering questions about Taylor. Good lord, I thought, they act like they've never seen a guy before! Even though Taylor was in a different house you would've thought I'd still be able to talk to him about stuff, right? Wrong. I was so very, very wrong. Between our conflicting schedules and him being surrounded by girls I barely saw him let alone talk to him. And now that he had a girlfriend, Leah Smith who was a Ravenclaw fifth year, I never even got to talk to him. You'd have thought that with all the other girls gone because he had a girlfriend it would be easier to talk to him, right? Wrong. It turns out Leah doesn't like me very much. I don't know why—and I'm not sure she does either—but she doesn't.

I sighed and opened my eyes. I saw Hermione sitting next to me, she looked like she was doing some work but I knew something else was wrong.

"Are you and Ron still fighting?" I don't know why, I knew the answer, but I did.

"We are not fighting. He is allowed to do whatever he feels he needs to do" she said.

"So that means it doesn't bother you one bit that he is constantly kissing Lavender? Even though it you seem to like him more than in the friend way?" I asked.

I was not going to let up on her either, I thought that if she could admit her feelings out loud first then—just maybe—she could tell Ron how she felt.

"How did you know? Did you read my mind or something?" she asked incredulously.

I laughed, I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't help it. You have to admit it's kind of funny.

"No, Hermione. I didn't read your mind," I said, "I try really hard not to use that power if I don't have to. There are somethings that I shouldn't and don't want to know."

She looked relieved when I said this. I couldn't blame her, really. Even to me it would be a little odd knowing someone who could hear your thoughts if they felt like it—but I try really hard not to. There are just somethings people need to keep private.

"You could tell by how acted that night, couldn't you?" she asked—she actually looked nervous when she asked it.

I nodded, "No offense to Harry or Ron, but I think girls usually have more of an idea of what's going on with people than they do. Maybe it's all that quidditch?"

She laughed at that and said, "Promise not to tell anyone?"

"Promise. I won't be the one to tell him. You will when you are ready?"

"Did you see that in one of your visions, too?" she asked jokingly.

"No," I said holding my head with mock pride, "that is pure instinct."

We both started laughing—hard to it was probably the first time I'd laughed in days.

When we finally stopped Hermione asked, "So are you going to Hogsmeade this tomorrow?"

I shifted uncomfortably, I knew how Hermione, Ron and Harry felt about Snape, but Hermione didn't seem to hate him as much as the other two.

"Um, no, I can't." I said quietly.

"Why not?"

"Well, um, Sever—I mean Snape—didn't sign the permission form."

"Do you know why?"

I shook my head. Wherever Snape was concerned I usually didn't know the reasoning behind it.

"So what do you plan to do?"

"I don't know probably just hang out, maybe I can annoy Draco some more. I don't know what I'm doing but whatever it is, it's really starting to annoy him." I said curiously. I really didn't know, I should have, but I didn't. Hermione just laughed.

"What?" What was she laughing at? What's so funny?

"You really don't know why Malfoy's annoyed with you?" she asked, trying to restrain her laughter. When I shook my head no she sighed.

"He's annoyed because," she paused as she searched for the right words, "well, he's mad because most of his friends, well, like you." Not able to restrain her laughter, she started to laugh.

"What!" I shouted in disbelief. Ok, I was not only shocked but appalled, which I know sounds mean, but Draco's friends are pure evil to just about anyone not in the Slytherin house.

"You didn't notice did you?" Hermione asked, recovering from laughing.

"No, I didn't. Now I'm going to have nightmares."

Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "Now you're being dramatic."

"So? I have every right to be, don't I?"

Hermione didn't say anything; we just sat there in silence for a few minutes.

"So are you going to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" I asked breaking the silence.

"Yeah, with Ginny. You don't mind, do you? I mean you'll be here by yourself?" she asked, she looked a little concerned when she said it too.

"I'll be fine." I said, "Actually I need to talk to Snape about a few things…." My trailed and I noticed Hermione's concern deepen.

"You sure?" she asked.

"Positive." I heard thunder over head and looked up. The clouds were a dark gray and the trees were swaying violently.

"Let's get inside before it starts to rain." I said.

We gathered up our things and headed toward the school. We spent most of our time in the common room and only left for dinner. When we got back I saw Ron and Lavender were at it again. Hermione and I said goodnight to Harry and headed upstairs to bed. I would have stayed but I was already tempted to shout PDA, so I went to bed. When I crawled into bed I thought about what I would say to Severus tomorrow. It wasn't easy to talk to him, he was kind of intimidating. I soon drifted to sleep without a clue of what I was going to say.

I got up late the next morning. It was almost nine thirty. I got dressed in a dark red T-shirt, jeans and grabbed my black, sweat jacket. I also applied a light layer of black eyeliner and some other makeup. I usually don't wear makeup but I felt like I should put some on today. For once, it looked nice. I guess I should listen to Taylor when he says I over due the black sometimes. I stopped in the Great Hall for a small breakfast. My breakfast consisted of fruit and toast with jam. Very blah but I wasn't that hungry. After I finished I made my way done to the dungeons to Snape's office. When I got there I knocked on the door.

"Enter," said a cold voice.

I opened the door timidly. Yeah, alright, I was a little scared. I mean, I know he is a Death Eater. Was. He was Death Eater. Watch what you say, I told myself.

"You wanted to see me?" I asked, despite my nervousness my voice was, surprisingly, steady.

"Ah, yes," he said, his voice—I noticed—had lost most of the coldness, "I suppose you are wondering why I permitted Taylor to go to Hogsmeade and not you, aren't you?"

"Um, yes, sir." I was taken aback by his question. I mean, everyone at Hogwarts hated Severus, and how he behaved in class I couldn't blame them. But, here he was, he almost seemed normal…until his response.

"The Dark Lord, you father, wanted you to be allowed in Hogwarts; for reasons he did not reveal to me. However, Dumbledore felt that if you were allowed into Hogwarts the Dark Lord would most likely try to kidnap you." Snape paused, he looked, well, uncomfortable, "I, agreed with Dumbledore and convinced the Dark Lord that I would be able to watch you more closely if you stayed at Hogwarts instead of going to Hogsmeade."

"What about Taylor? Aren't you worried about him?" I asked. I was confused, why only worry about me? Wasn't Taylor in as much trouble as I was?

Snape sighed and started fiddling with something.

"The Dark Lord believes that you are more of an-an asset to him because of your abilities. Since he has no use for invisibility and that he himself is a Parselmouth." Snape said.

Suddenly legs felt really weak and I had to sit down in a chair in front of his desk. The only thing I managed to say was, "Oh." Well, I thought, you kind of already suspected this. It's just hitting you full force now that you know it's true. Don't let this run your life. I smiled, the last thought sounded like Taylor.

"How did you know my mother?" I asked.

Snape was startled by my impromptu question, but answered it anyways.

"Our mothers were friends."

"Really? Were you and my mother friends?"

"Yes."

For some reason I felt there was more behind that "yes" I didn't want to push that my luck; but curiosity got the best of me.

"Were you ever more than friends?" I asked timidly.

Snape sighed and put down quill to look at me.

"How old are you?" he asked me.

I thought this was odd but I answered anyhow, "Sixteen."

He sighed again, and for the first time looked me in the eyes, "Yes, at one point we were more than friends." He paused and said, "Now I think you should go and…enjoy your day."

I got up to leave and reached the door when he said something else. It was very quiet but I heard it anyhow; "Dani, you may look like your father but you are so much like your mother."

That's what he said. I don't know why I was so happy maybe it was because he'd called me Dani (he usually insisted on calling me Danielle) or maybe it was because he said I was like my mother. Whatever it was it didn't help when I ran into someone.

"Oh, sorry—Harry what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I didn't feel like going to Hogsmeade." He said I couldn't help notice that he was a little red.

"I'm going down to Hagrid's; did you want to go with me?" he asked.

"Sure."

It was a nice day outside. Yesterday's rain had cleared. The sun might have been out but it was still a little windy. Good thing I grabbed my jacked this morning.

"So why didn't you go to Hogsmeade?" I asked.

"Because it was either go with Ron, who is always snogging with Lavender, or Hermione, and I'm not sure I'm the first on her list for company."

I laughed, I must be out of it or something but I couldn't help it.

"What?"

"I'm sorry, it's not funny, it's just that I'm still getting used to English terms and, well, the word snogging sounds funny when you're still getting used to." I said with an apologetic smile.

"Oh," he said and laughed. "Why aren't you in Hogsmeade though?"

"Snape doesn't want me in Hogsmeade without supervision because of my dad."

"Too dangerous?" Harry asked.

"Something like that," I said. At the same time a strong wind came and blew my hair in my face. I had to stop so I wouldn't trip and get my hair out of my face. Harry seemed to find this funny, since he trying hard not to laugh and when I told him to shut up, it actually ended up making him laugh. When we got to Hagrid's we had to turn back because he was out.

"I wonder where he is." Harry said. I shrugged and we turned back to head up to the castle.

"Why were you coming out of the dungeons, earlier?" Harry asked after a few minutes of walking in silence.

"He had to talk to me about…stuff." I said. For some reason I felt really uncomfortable talking about it.

We walked in silence for a few minutes and then Harry asked, "Did you want to learn how to fly?"

I stopped and looked at him. Was he insane? "Did you not know that I'm terrified of flying?"

"Yes, but," he said, "I thought that maybe after seeing a quidditch match you'd change your mind."

"My brother put you up to this, didn't he?"

"Maybe." We stared each other for a few minutes and then Harry said, "Actually, he said

that you might enjoy flying if you gave it a chance."

I don't know why I did what I did next, I can't tell you. But the next thing that came out of my mouth was "Ok." And I'll have to admit that when I got the hang of it, it wasn't that bad. We spent most of the day outside. When the sun started to set we went inside and had an earlier dinner. Hermione and Ron were back from Hogsmeade but Hermione had gone to bed early and Ron and Lavender were oblivious to rest of the world. Harry and I went to the library; I had to get a book for a DADA essay. When ended up staying there for awhile (it was better then to go back to the common room and try and stomach what Ron and Lavender were doing).

We were just talking. I swear. Yes, sitting next to each other, but just talking. But the next thing I knew was that I was, well, kissing Harry. I won't lie, it wasn't bad. It wasn't like it was my first kiss; I've had boyfriends so the kissing thing did not throw me. It was nothing like Ron and Lavender had been up to, so I didn't think I'd be embarrassed if someone saw. Then I heard a book drop. We pulled apart and I wasn't embarrassed, oh no, I was scared. Why was I scared? Because the person who had dropped the book was Draco.

"You are so dead." was all he said as he turned and left the library. I'm not sure if he meant me or Harry, but whoever he meant he was right. This thing was not going to blow over easy. Oh, no, I already knew some people who'd be furious with what just happened, and I knew it was those people who Draco was running off to tell.

Ok what do you think? I would really like more than just one review on this chapter. I know it's really long but the chapters are probably gonna get longer. Ok now go the review button and hit go! Please! More reviews mean I update faster!