Disclaimer: I do not own rights to the Harry Potter franchise. All rights go to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Hello everyone! I'm so sorry for just getting around to writing this. I completed my first semester of graduate studies, which I ended up getting all A's in (that has never happened before), and I have battled not only my mental health but my stress from this pandemic. It's been tough, but I am happy to be back! Here is Chapter 15!

Chapter 15: The End of Year One

Sienna stood in front of the desk of the Headmaster, waiting for him to arrive. Harry stood to her left, covered in dirt and grime, twisting his hands together in an anxious mess. Ron stood to her right, scratching his head and wondering what was to come. Sienna took in the scenery around her, noticing all the paintings around and all the artifacts that sat mere feet from her. Some paintings were shaking their heads, disappointed that students were in the office of Dumbledore for breaking the rules. Others were smirking, anticipating the punishment that was going to be bestowed upon them. Faux sat on its perch next to Dumbledore's desk, eyeing the group. Sienna couldn't help but feel as if she was being watched by someone, or something, that wasn't the paintings or the Phoenix.

The sound of footsteps coming from behind her snapped her out of her thoughts. Light footsteps walked past Ron, and Sienna noticed the elegant robes of Headmaster Dumbledore. His face read no emotions, his beard tidied and long. He sat down at his desk, while Sienna, Ron, and Harry continued to stand. Dumbledore thought for a moment before he began to speak.

"Mr. Potter," he motioned his head towards Harry, "Mr. Weasley," he nodded towards Ron, "and Ms. Snape." and then towards Sienna. "You all realize of course, within the past few hours, you have broken, perhaps, a dozen school rules!"

Harry, Ron, and Sienna's heads hung low to the ground. "Yes, sir." They said in unison.

"There is sufficient evidence to have you three expelled!"

"Yes, sir."

Dumbledore folded his hands together, sitting forward and leaning on his desk. "Therefore, it is only fitting that you all receive...special awards for services to the school."

Sienna, Ron, and Harry's head snapped up, eyes wide and jaws hanging, amazed at the words that were just spoken. Dumbledore's cheeks rose, smiling at the students. The friends' heads looked at one another, a sigh of relief exerting from their bodies. They refocused their attention back to the Headmaster. "Thank you, sir!" Sienna exclaimed. Dumbledore continued to smile, "Now, Mr. Weasley," he says as he stands up from his seat and walks around his desk, "if you would have an owl deliver these release papers to Azkaban. I believe we want our gamekeeper back." Ron grinned at the Headmaster, nodding and walking off down the staircase. Sienna looked at Harry with a questionable look on her face. Harry mouthed "later" to her, and focused back on Dumbledore. Sienna nodded once and once again listened to the Headmaster.

Dumbledore turned around, "Harry, Sienna." They turned around. "First, I want to thank you both. You must've shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could've called Faux to you." Dumbledore took a few steps to stand next to the pair. "And second, I sense that something is troubling the both of you. Am I right?" He inquired.

Harry and Sienna looked at each other, Sienna urging Harry to tell the Headmaster what they both encountered. Harry gulped, "It's just-" he looked at Sienna, who nodded at him reassuring that it was okay, "-you see, sir, I couldn't but notice certain things… certain… certain similarities between Tom Riddle and me." Dumbledore nodded.

"I see. Well, you can speak parseltongue, Harry. And you too, Sienna. Why?"

Sienna jumped at the statement.

With no answer given, Dumbledore continued. "Because Lord Voldemort can speak parseltongue. If I'm not mistaken, he transferred some of his powers to you the night he gave you that scar, Harry. And Sienna, he transferred some of his powers to you when you took his diary."

Harry's eyes widened, as well as Sienna's. Harry spoke first. "V-Voldemort transferred s-some of his powers to me?" Sienna's breathing sped up, her heart sank to her stomach. She was like him? Why did Voldemort choose her, and Harry?

Dumbledore shook his head, "Well, not intentionally, but yes." He walked back to his desk and sat down. Harry spun around, Sienna glued to the ground underneath her. Harry spoke again. "Sir, the sorting hat was right! I should be in Slytherin!" Dumbledore nodded.

"It's true, Harry. You possess many of the qualities Lord Voldemort himself prizes: determination, resourcefulness, and if I may say so, a little disregard for the rules." Sienna turned her head towards the Headmaster. "Why then did the sorting hat place you in Gryffindor?" He inquired.

Sienna looked at Harry, suddenly wondering herself. Harry looked at the raggedy hat, "Because I asked it to."

"Exactly, Harry, exactly! Which makes you different from Voldemort. It is not our abilities that show who we truly are, it is our choices."

Dumbledore sat back in his chair and looked at Sienna. "Ms. Snape." Sienna turned her body to him, giving him her full attention. "The same goes for you. Why did the sorting hat place you in Slytherin?"

Sienna was taken aback by the question. "I, uh-" she stuttered, not knowing what to say. She gulped. "I-I wanted to get to know my father." Dumbledore grinned at her, nodding once. "Correct. You used your determination to meet him, and the Sorting Hat knew that." Sienna exerted another death breath, a weight lifting off her shoulders. She wasn't like him, she wasn't like Tom Riddle.

Harry, although satisfied with his answer, still felt uncertain. Dumbledore spoke to him again. "Harry, if you want proof why you belong in Gryffindor," he reached forward, "then I suggest you look more closely at this" He picked up the sword that killed the basilisk. Harry and Sienna stepped closer to it, examining it. Harry grabbed the sword from Dumbeldore's hand, gripped the top of the blade. Sienna watched him closely, wondering what was on it. As a Slytherin, she would not be able to see what the sword read. Harry was silent for a few seconds, before breathing, "Godric Gryffindor."

Sienna's eyes widened to the size of plates. Harry was holding the sword of one of the Founding Wizards of Hogwarts. Dumbledore nodded again. "It would take a true Gryffindor to pull that out of the hat." Harry looked up at Dumbledore again, his shoulders a bit lighter. He nodded, smiling a bit. Sienna couldn't help but smile too.

Suddenly, the loud croak of a door opened and stepped in none other than a taller, older figure of the boy she grew close to. Her breath hitched. Harry's head whipped around, noticing the man with long, platinum blonde hair and black, silk robes shinier than Sienna's dreams. He stared at the three, his platinum grey eyes piercing into their thoughts. Sienna came to realize this was the father of the boy she had learned to care for in a year's time - this was the man that scared the Draco Malfoy. Behind him popped out an elf, looking guilty and frightened. Harry's eyes popped up to it. "Dobby!" he exclaimed.

Sienna looked back between the elf and the man. This must've been their house elf. Although Sienna never had one, she knew that most wealthy families in the wizarding world owned one for chores. Draco had mentioned one a few times to her, but she never knew the name or what they looked like. Harry, however, was surprised.

"So this is your master!" he exclaimed. "The family you serve is the Malfoy's!"

The creature, Dobby, cowered in fear behind Draco's father.

"I'll deal with you later." Mr. Malfoy said, threateningly. His eyes shifted to Dumbledore as Dobby continued to cower beneath him. Mr. Malfoy picked up his cane and walked towards them all, Dobby following shortly behind. Sienna looked worriedly at Harry, scared of what was to happen next. Mr. Malfoy took his cane and pushed Harry aside. "Out of my way, Potter." He sneered. Sienna's eyebrow hitched up, a look of disgust apparent on her face. The man then looked at Sienna and glared at her. Sienna stood her ground, her face still holding strong. She continued to eye the man. Mr. Malfoy looked her up and down. "Ah, Snape's little girl. How lovely. At least you're in the right house and not the one your mother was in."

Sienna rolled her eyes. Oh please shut up.

Mr. Malfoy turned back to the Headmaster. "So, it's true. You have returned."

Dumbledore spoke. "When the governor's learned that Arthur Weasley's daughter was taken into the Chamber, they suddenly decided to summon me back."

"Ridiculous." Mr. Malfoy spat.

"Curiously, Lucius, several of them were under the impression that you would curse their families if they did not agree to suspend me in the first place."

Mr. Malfoy's face then paled, and he looked nervous. "How dare you."

"I beg your pardon?"

"My sole concern has always been and will always be the welfare of this school and, of course, its students." He looked between Harry and Sienna. He smirked at the girl, whose eyebrow once again hitched up. He then resorted his eyes to Harry, and glared. However, Harry did not hinder his position. Mr. Malfoy looked back at the Headmaster. He breathed in slightly. "The culprit has been identified I presume?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Oh yes."

"And who was it?"

Dumbledore's eyes shifted to Sienna, who smirked at her. Sienna couldn't help but smirk back, just like her father. Dumbledore shifted his eyes back to Lucius. "Voldemort."

Mr. Malfoy stiffened, "Ah."

"Only this time, he chose to act through somebody else by the means of this." Dumbledore held up the now black stained diary with multiple tears, rips, and holes in it.

Mr. Malfoy's eyebrow now hitched. "I see."

Sienna saw movement next to Harry and noticed that Dobby had stood by his side. The elf tugged at Harry's sleeve and motioned towards Mr. Malfoy, whimpering. Harry caught on what he was saying.

"Fortunately," Dumbeldore spoke, "our young Ms. Snape and Mr. Potter discovered it, with hopes that no more of Voldemort's old school things would find their way into an innocent's hands. The consequences for one responsible will be severe." Sienna couldn't help but feel that Dumbledore was warning the man. She gulped, her gaze now laying on Mr. Malfoy. He wouldn't have given the journal to Ginny, would he?

Mr. Malfoy sneered again. "Well, let us hope that Ms. Snape and Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day." He stared intently at Harry, Sienna starting to tremble a bit. Harry however kept his gaze firm and unwithering.

"Don't worry, we will be." Harry spoke. The hairs on Sienna's neck stood up, a chill running down her spine. Harry just stood up to the man who undoubtedly scared her, someone who could hurt them. She sucked in a breath, amazed by his courage. Mr. Malfoy's mouth closed as he straightened up. Dumbeldore smiled at the boy, proudly looking at him. He shifted his attention back to Draco's father, whom nodded, "Dumbledore" in a subtle farewell. Dumbledore merely nodded, as Mr. Malfoy whipped his robe behind him. "Come, Dobby. We're leaving."

Dobby did not hesitate to answer to his master, walking in front of the man. He turned his back to continue, but Lucius kicked the elf three feet forward. Sienna gasped, and began to go help the elf, but Harry put a hand on her shoulder signaling her to wait. Sienna's eyes brimmed with tears. Dobby began to cry, in pain, but stood up. Then, Lucius hit him in the head with his cane. Sienna felt a few tears fall. Dobby whimpered as the two walked out of the Headmaster's office. Harry watched them, as well as Sienna, when Harry suddenly whipped back around to Dumbeldore. He placed the Sword of Gryffindor on his desk.

"Sir, I wonder if I could have that." His head motioning towards the diary. Sienna looked at him bewildered. What is he thinking?

Harry grabbed the diary, turning to Sienna. "C'mon." He said to her. She looked at Dumbledore, who smiled at her and nodded her on. She smiled back, following the boy out of the Headmaster's chamber. They walked down the staircase and it spun to open itself up to the corridor in front of them. "Mr. Malfoy! Mr. Malfoy!" Harry exclaimed, running to the man. Sienna was close behind. Mr. Malfoy turned around, facing the pair. Harry begun, "I have something of yours."

Harry shoved Tom's diary into Lucius' hands. Lucius looked at the boy, "Mine? I don't know what you're talking about."

Sienna watched nervously at the interaction. Harry spoke again. "Oh, I think you do, sir. I think you slipped the diary into Ginny Weasley's cauldron that day in Diagon Alley." Sienna's eyes widened.

Lucius continued to play dumb. "You do, do you?" He handed the diary to Dobby to carry. He stepped towards Harry, leaning down a bit. Sienna stood closer to him as well, making sure to be ready if he were to hurt Harry. "Why don't you prove it?" He spat, then smirking at him. Sienna's eyes turned murderous, ready to hex the man. Lucius stood up straight, looking back to the elf. "Come, Dobby." He sneered. Sienna looked at the elf who seemed to be holding something in his hands.

Lucius strutted away from the group, while Dobby remained still and looked at the item in awe. "Dobby!" Lucius shouted. Dobby began to speak, Sienna's smile not faltering. "Master has given Dobby a sock!" Lucius spun around, "What? I didn't gi-" he stopped short in his words, his eyes widening at the sight of Dobby holding a black sock with the diary. "Master has presented Dobby with clothes! Dobby is free!" Sienna couldn't help but look at Harry lovingly. What an amazing thing he did.

Dobby could not stop shaking with happiness. Lucius, confused, watched as Harry lifted up his pant leg to show that he was not wearing his sock on his right foot. Lucius' face turned murderous.

"You lost me my SERVANT!" he shouted. Sienna gasped, Harry drawing his wand. Lucius whipped his wand out from his cane and slowly advanced toward the two, wand pointed straight for them. Sienna grabbed Harry's arm, her wand in her left hand. Dobby stood in front of the pair, defending them. "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"

Lucius stood his ground and raised his wand above his head. "Avada-!"

With a burst of light and gust, Dobby produced a hex that caused Mr. Malfoy to fly back ten feet from the group. Sienna sighed with relief, releasing her grip from Harry's arm. Dobby stood up straight and crossed his arms. Lucius stood up, glaring at Harry. "Your parents were meddlesome fools too. So was your mother, Snape." He pointed at the pair. "Mark my words, Potter, one day soon, you are going to meet the same, sticky end." He threatened. Sienna was gripping her wand so hard, her knuckles were turning white. Harry did not seem phased by his words, and watched as the man walked away, his long blonde hair bouncing in the wind.

Once he was gone, Dobby turned around and faced the boy. "Harry Potter freed Dobby! How can Dobby ever repay him?" Sienna smiled at the interaction. Harry looked at him with a pointed face, "Just promise me something."

"Anything!"

"Never try to save my life again."

Sienna laughed at the two, rolling her eyes at her friend. Dobby giggled and tilted his head with embarrassment. Harry shifted his gaze to Sienna, who also looked at him. Suddenly, he embraced the girl, who was taken aback. "Thank you, Sienna."

She hesitantly returned the hug. "Sure, Harry. Anytime." They both pulled away, Sienna noticing Harry's cheeks turning a rosey red under the dirt on his face. She blushed as well.

Sienna walked back to the Slytherin common room by herself. She took in the day, wondering how her friend Ginny was feeling. After finally being able to bring down her adrenaline and reconcile what the events took place today, she began to realize what really mattered to her. It wasn't getting good grades and proving herself to her parents - it was to find herself and do what she needed to do in order to be the best person she needed to be. Her fate wasn't determined by her parents, but herself. She was going to do whatever possible to achieve her goals.

She slowly realized that she had made it to her father's classroom. She stopped, nervous to face him, as if it was her first day of meeting him again. She gulped, and paced to the front door. She knocked, hearing a subtle "come in". She opened up the door to find her father sitting at one of the black tables, writing down on a piece of parchment with his brown and white quill. The man looked up, and relief suddenly washed over him. His shoulders fell slightly, relaxed by the sight of her.

"Sienna." he breathed. He stood up and walked to the girl, who then had tears running down her face. She met him halfway and fell into his chest. "Dad." She croaked. He held her tight, not letting her escape him again. She suddenly felt a rush of sadness fall on her, and she sobbed. She sobbed until her throat was sore. She sobbed until her head hurt. She sobbed until there were no more tears left to fall. Her father cradled her head and rested his chin on it. "You're safe now." He soothed. Her body wracked with sobs, her chest beginning to hurt. Snape held her tighter, and stroked her hair. "It's alright. No one can hurt you."

They stayed like that for about five more minutes once Sienna started to hush her cries and wipe her tears. Snape pulled back and walked Sienna over to a seat to sit down. "I think you should write to your mum, dear." Sienna nodded, agreeing. Snape handed her his parchment and quill, and Sienna began to write. She told her mother everything in that letter. She told her about Ginny, she told her about her experience in the Chamber, and she told her that she missed her. She was ready to come home and be with her for the summer.

After she wrote her letter and gave it to her father to send out, Sienna bid him farewell and headed back to the common room. She quietly made her way in, to see none other than Draco sitting on the big leather couch, reading a book. At the close of the door, Draco's face turned towards the sound to find Sienna standing there, dirt and grime clinging to her face, uniform, and hair. Her hands were stained with Harry's blood from his wound, and her socks soaked from splashing throughout the chamber. Her once neat and tidied braid was now messy and loose hairs were hanging next to her face. Draco's once intimidating face dropped into a fit of concern, closing the book and standing up.

"Sienna? What hap-" He wasn't able to finish his sentence, for Sienna ran to him and clung herself to his chest. However, Draco did not hesitate (which surprised the young man) and wrapped his arms around the girl. He felt his heart get stuck in his throat, as if something inside of him just moved. His cheeks blushed, which was unusual as well. Although he has hugged Sienna Snape many times in the past, this time it felt different - it felt as if this was the most important hug that Sienna has given him yet. He did not hear any cries, or felt any tears on his dress shirt, but he did feel her tense body begin to deflate with comfort. Sienna and Draco stood there for a moment, just holding one another, no words being passed. Sienna sighed, and leaned back from the embrace. "Thank you." She whispered. Draco looked at her stunned, "Are you alright?" He asked her, their faces merely inches away from each other. She nodded, "It was scary down there, Draco."

"Is Ginny alive?"

"Yes, we just got there in time."

Draco nodded, understanding. Although he could not give any more of a damn about Ginny Weasley, he knew that Sienna would not be herself without her best friend. "You're a brave one, Snape." He said. Sienna chuckled lightly, avoiding eye contact and smiling. She closed her eyes momentarily and just breathed. She felt safe again, she didn't feel as if anyone was watching her, or trying to get inside of her mind again. The only nagging feeling she could identify was the burning questions - what does Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin boy, mean to her?

She looked up at him again and smiled softly. Draco stood there and did the same. The boy could not understand why he felt warmth flowing through his extremities, nor why he felt as if Sienna was grounding him to his very spot in that moment. Sienna looked away again, striding over to the leather couches in the middle of the common room.

"I met your father." She stated flatly, no emotions attached to her words.

Draco's eyes grew to the size of plates. "You did? My father's here?"

She nodded. "He's quite… delightful."

Draco snorted, trying to surpass his laugh. "Yeah, that's not exactly the word I would describe Lucius Malfoy as." He walked over to the couch and sat down next to the girl, leaning back into the couch pillows. Sienna chuckled again. "I know, I was being polite."

Draco was silent after that. No matter how much Sienna wanted to ask him about the boy's experience with his father, she couldn't get him to tell, and she oddly was okay with that. She knew one day he would express all of his feelings. "I should go shower, considering I smell like an old sewer." She stated, standing up. Draco grimaced, jokingly. "You certainly do." The girl rolled her eyes.

She began to strut towards the staircase to her dormitory, when she heard Draco speak once more.

"Hey, Sienna?" he said, turning in his seat.

She turned around, one leg on the first step and the other still on the ground. "Yes, Draco?"

He looked away, and blushed again. "I'm glad you're okay."

She smiled at him, her stomach starting to flutter. She nodded at him, "Thanks."

He nodded back at her, turning around on the couch again so he sat forward. Sienna smiled to herself, and with one last look at the back of the blonde boy's head, she headed to the bathroom to shower herself.

What a day, and a year.

A/N: End of year 1 for Sienna Snape! I am going to skip a few years ahead in the next chapter. Although Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book, I believe the story of Sienna will be more interesting as a teenager.