I don't own. R&R!

Chapter Eight-Diagon Alley

Wednesday morning I woke up early and took my finished essay for the three chapters I was supposed to do today. Snape never bothered me on assignment days; he left me in my room the whole time.

I placed a note under my essay. Just in case he came and found me gone, I'd written a note for him telling him I was completely safe and that I'd be back by today.

I'd also taken the precaution of knowing what to buy; I'd asked Snape out of "curiosity" and found out that he'd already ordered all my supplies that first years regularly needed. I'd asked him a lot of things out of curiosity, including random questions unrelated to Diagon Alley so he wouldn't get suspicious.

"Minky!" I called out at 7:50.

There was a brief pause and then Minky popped into my room, bowing. "Is Miss Rowan wanting her breakfast now?

I shook my head slightly and put my finger to my lips to indicate she needed to be quiet. "Actually, I just wanted to know if I can get out of here."

"Oh!" Minkie looked shocked, then frightened, and finally settled down. "Is Miss wanting to visit kitchens?"

"Er-no, actually. I need to...uh...Floo?"

Minkie's eyes widened. "Minkie is not sure Miss Rowan should do that, Miss. Minkie can be asking Professor Snape sir if-"

"No!" I exclaimed, and lowered my voice. "Uh-he doesn't know."

Minkie bit her lip. "But-"

"Please, Minkie?" I pleaded. "I'll be safe."

Minkie hesitated. "Alright," she said reluctantly. "Miss is holding onto my arm."

"Yes!" I thanked her profusely and snatched my bookbag to hold my money and school supplies. My wand was stashed in my jean pocket.

Taking Minkie's arm, she disappeared with a pop, and so did I. I waited for a nauseating feeling to pass, and then she led me to a fireplace.

She handed me a bowl with green powder. "You is throwing powder into fire, and stepping inside and saying the destination."

"Thank you so much, Minkie." I smiled at her and she smiled bashfully, eyes wide. I eyed the blazing hot fire nervously. "Any tips on the Floo?"

"Take a breath before you step in so you have air to speak," Minkie said after some thought. "Miss Rowan is might swallowing smoke if she is not doing so."

I nodded, still nervous. I was going to willingly step into fire.

Just do it. I took a deep breath and held it, throwing green powder into the fire and handing the bowl back to Minkie. The fire blazed green, and I nearly gasped before remembering to hold my breath. I stepped into the fire, the warmth not overwhelming, and called, "The Burrow!"

The last thing I saw before green flames engulfed me was Minkie's satisfied nod.

O-O

The fire spit me out, literally. I shot off my feet, unbalanced, and sprawled onto the ground. Heaving and gasping loud breaths, I tried to control my breathing and get up.

"Snapey!" A cheerful voice exclaimed, and I felt Fred and George help me up.

I frowned. "What did you just call me?"

"Do you like it?" George grinned. His hair curled on his forehead, unlike Fred's who curled to the sides of his face, so I could-thankfully-tell them apart at least when their hair was like this.

"Um, no." I smiled at Mrs. Weasley, who had just come in. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley."

Mrs Weasley embraced me and I hugged her back. "How has Severus been treating you?" she demanded. "Did he come to see you off?"

"He's been okay. But no, I Floo'd here myself."

Mrs. Weasley frowned disapprovingly but said nothing. Behind her, Mr. Weasley and Ginny came up.

"Rowan!" Ginny smiled. I grinned back.

"Hey Ginny!" I sidled up to her. "Any luck with Harry?" I asked, voice quieter.

Ginny blushed and nudged me. "It's only been a week-but no."

"Oh," I pretended to be disappointed. "But I'd already organized your wedding-it's tomorrow!"

"Oh, shut it," Ginny hissed, face flaming, but she giggled.

"Who's here, Mum?" I turned to see Ron and Harry. Ron glared. "Oh. You."

"Me," I said happily. This past week I'd been stuck being bored, and even Ron couldn't bring down my happiness at seeing my friends. "Hey, Harry."

Harry grinned, incredulous. "Snape actually let you come?"

"Oh-"I flustered. "Well, I-er-"

But I was saved by Mrs. Weasley, who came from the kitchen and handed me a bacon sandwich, insisting I eat it. I stuffed my face quickly so I didn't have to answer Harry's question. But I didn't miss Fred and George's exchanged glances, or Harry's look of concerned suspicion.

I noticed Harry and I were the only ones wearing muggle clothes. I bet I would feel odd wearing jeans and a red shirt while other wizards and witches wore their robes.

As soon as the adult Weasleys left, Fred grabbed my shoulders and sat me down on the couch. Everyone sat. "Okay," he declared. "What's the story?"

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Something's off," Harry agreed. Ron raised his eyebrows and leaned back on the couch.

"You didn't tell Snape you were coming, did you?" Ginny asked softly. Harry looked at her and she blushed.

I groaned. "Did I really hide it that horribly?"

"When you avoided Harry's question, yes." George grinned. "So-how'd you do it?"

So I explained how he made me stay in my room on assignment days, and how I'd asked him questions to make sure how to get money, and how I'd found out through the questions that Snape had a vault in the wizarding bank. And then I explained about Minkie and the Floo. Harry, who had never heard of the Floo, was as bewildered at the idea of it as I had been.

"Blimey," Ron spoke first. His eyes were narrowed, but glimmered slightly to show he was grudgingly impressed. "He's going to be furious when he finds out."

I sat up. "Finds out?" I asked worriedly.

"It's Snape," Fred informed me. "He'll know."

I moaned and collapsed on the couch. "But I was so careful…"

"Fred's right, dear." Mrs. Weasley said from the doorway. All of us jumped to our feet. "Severus will be bound to know. What will he do when he joins you for lunch?"

I shifted guiltily, unnerved she'd heard us. "He doesn't join me for anything," I said. "I'm only allowed out of my bedroom for the bathroom or classes."

"WHAT?!"

"You're not going to make me go back without shopping, are you?" I asked fervently. "I'd really like to stay just to shop. I've been terribly bored-"

"Well, of course you have!" Mrs. Weasley lunged at me and hugged me fiercely for the second time of the day, until Mr. Weasley, who'd been behind her, commented on my choking. "How dare Severus!" she smiled suddenly. "I hope your disappearance gives him quite the scare. Maybe it'll show him what kind of father he needs to be."

Pause.

"Father?" Fred, George, Mr. Weasley, Ron, and Ginny all exclaimed at once. I winced.

"Molly?" Mr. Weasley exclaimed.

Mrs. Weasley blushed. "Yes," she confessed. "When I took Rowan to see Albus, Severus said it."

"Harry?" Ron turned to Harry, who shrugged sheepishly.

"She told me," he said. He looked at me, then, and I was watching everyone closely, to see if they had changed because they knew I was the daughter of Snape. A week in, and I already knew he wasn't a likable professor, or person. "But-I mean-it doesn't matter much, does it?"

Ron stared incredulously. "Harry, she's the daughter of the greasy-"

"No, of course not," Ginny cut in.

I smiled at her gently. "Thank you," I said, relieved.

"Yeah," Fred shrugged. "But if you had his nose, it would be a different story."

"It's funny," George agreed. "You have his features, but not enough that you're an exact replica. I would've thought he was your uncle or something."

"Probably my mum's doing, then." I said shortly, not wanting to get into relations.

Sensing my sudden change in mood, Mrs. Weasley cut in. "Arthur, are you ready? We should head out now. And where is Percy?"

Mr. Weasley nodded, and everyone headed for the fireplace. Percy emerged from upstairs and pulled on a coat pompously. Harry followed behind me, shuffling his feet unsurely.

"You'll be fine," I assured him. "Suck in your breath before you go in the fireplace."

Harry nodded, and Mrs. Weasley offered him the flowerpot. Harry hesitated. "Er-if you don't mind, I'd like to see how it's done first."

"Of course!" Mrs. Weasley offered the flowerpot to Mr. Weasley, who Floo'd flawlessly away.

"I'll go next," I volunteered. Mrs. Weasley gave me some powder, and I tossed it into the now-green flames. I stepped inside, and caught a glimpse of Harry's nervous face.

"Don't worry!" I called, and he nodded. I sucked in a breath, but soot went up my nose and I coughed. I'd forgotten to suck in my breath. "D-Dia-gon Alley," I said, coughing and trying to be clear. The flames engulfed me.

I reached up to wipe my nose from soot, but my elbow caught against something hard and I flew out of the fireplace, landing on my knees. I picked myself up, looking around. There was a broken mirror, and I wiped off soot from my face so I didn't look like I'd lived on the streets. Was this Diagon Alley? I was in a shop of some sort.

Maybe I could ask for help. I headed for the door, lost, but before I could, two people walked in. It was a blonde man with a stiff face and his son.

They stopped at the sight of me. The man frowned. "Lost your way, girl?"

"Uh-" I smiled sheepishly. "Actually, yes. I was wondering if you knew how to get to Diagon Alley? I must have done something wrong in the Floo."

The man looked like he had smelled something foul, and my smile faltered. "What's your name?"

"Rowan," I said quickly. "Sir. Rowan Snape."

"Snape?" The man frowned. "Severus didn't mention any relatives, and none so young. You seem to be the same age as Draco here." I didn't like his greedy, scheming look. "What relation?"

"I don't know the details; I just met him." I said smoothly, thinking quickly. "You can ask him, though. Or Draco can-are you going to Hogwarts?"

"Are you?" Draco returned, gray eyes sizing me up. I'd met these types of people before during deal-making with the Masons. Many rich companies' agents had children like this.

"Yes," I said evenly. "But it's only my first year-somehow I missed my letter at the age of eleven, and so I'll be in second year."

"Excuse me for a moment," Draco's father took hold of Draco's arm and guided him aside to speak. I caught little snippets of their conversation.

"-do well to be in Severus's good graces-"

"-be nice to her?-"

"-relative of Severus's, Draco! You-"

"-not in Slytherin?-"

"-doesn't matter, she may prove to be-"

Abruptly, they stopped speaking, and Draco turned to me reluctantly. "I can take you to Diagon Alley."

"Draco."

Draco sighed through his nose slightly, and inclined his head at me, slightly less reluctantly. "Come on, Rowan."

O-O

"Wow," I breathed, staring at a necklace of pure diamonds as we crossed the street. "That's pretty."

"Don't touch anything," Draco said sharply. "Might be cursed."

"Oh." I passed a giant with a scruffy beard. "Woah, that guy's huge."

Draco snorted a laugh before he tried to cover it up. "That's Hagrid, the oaf of Hogwarts."

I frowned at him. "What did he do to you?"

"Nothing, he's just an idiot."

I shrugged. "How do you know?"

"He just is," Draco rolled his silvery eyes and smoothed back his golden hair.

We walked in silence until we reached light that finally ended the narrow, dark streets.

"Diagon Alley," Draco said, annoyed. He sighed. "Father said I should stay with you until you find your guardians."

"Thank you," I said sincerely, smiling at him. He looked surprised for a moment, before nodding curtly. I pulled out a parchment I'd put in my bag. "Oh-do you know where, uh, Gringotts is?"

Draco nodded. "I suppose you want me to take you?"

"Please?" I grinned. Draco smirked a little and nodded, replying, "I've got nothing better to do anyway."

He turned abruptly, and I tripped over my shoes to follow him.

"So what's your last name?" I asked, hurrying alongside him.

Draco shook his head, amused but trying not to show it. "How does Snape deal with you?"

"Hey!" I exclaimed, affronted. "I'm a very deal...able person!"

"Malfoy," Draco extended a hand to me, still walking. "Draco Malfoy."

I shook it awkwardly as I walked. "And you know my name already."

"There," Draco pointed. I looked up to see a large white building with white steps. He made a sudden face of disgust. "Oh, it's the mudblood."

"The what?"

I never had the chance to find out what a mudblood was, because the bushy haired girl turned and glared at Draco.

"Granger, begging for money outside a bank?" Draco sneered. We climbed up the steps.

Granger, the bushy-haired girl, crossed her arms. "I am not!" she retorted, furious.

"Move, Granger."

"Why're you so mean to her?" I frowned at Draco.

"Because she's the sort you don't want to mix with!" he exclaimed in defense.

I gave the girl an apologetic look, who smiled a little in response. Opening the door, I slipped inside the bank.

Woah. it looked even bigger on the inside. I took a step, but noticed the people behind the desks weren't people at all.

They looked like wrinklier house-elves, with pointier noses and ears. I took a step back, suddenly apprehensive. I yanked open the door. "Draco, you coming?"

Draco stiffened and turned to me, relaxing when he saw who it was. "Oh-yes. Anything to get away from them."

"Who?" I stepped out fully, and gasped. "Harry!"

Harry, flanked by the Weasleys and the Granger girl, frowned. "Rowan?"

"What are you doing with-him?" Ron demanded. "See, Harry, I knew-"

"I got lost in the Floo, and Draco was helping me get back to Diagon Alley." I motioned behind me, but Draco wasn't there. "Draco?"

He was staring, his mouth gaping open. "You're with them?"

"Is there a problem with that?" Ron asked, snarling a little.

"Wait, wait-" I put my hands out in confusion. "What's wrong with that?"

"You're related to Snape, and you-does he know about this?" Draco exclaimed, taking two big steps and towering over me. He was only a few inches taller, but in his anger he seemed to grow.

"Leave her alone, Malfoy," Harry spoke up.

"Does he?" Draco demanded, his face inches from mine.

I put my hands on his shoulders and pushed him back slightly. "That-no."

"Yes, because he doesn't want you hanging out with these people!" Draco insisted.

"What are 'these people'?"

"Mudbloods and blood-traitors!"

"Say that again, Malfoy," Fred said threateningly, drawing his wand as Mrs. Weasley gasped.

"What the hell is a-"

"I just don't think he'd be very happy you're with these people, Rowan." Draco said stiffly. "I know my father wouldn't."

"Okay," I said slowly, confused. We were getting along just fine, and suddenly he became all touchy and upset. "Well-thanks for helping me."

"You're welcome," he replied, turning and going down the steps. I watched him leave, disappearing around a corner.

Touchy. I shrugged and turned to the girl. "Sorry about him before. I don't know what's wrong with him-I've only known him for ten minutes. Rowan Snape."

The girl smiled. "It's okay, he's always like that. Hermione Granger. Ron and Harry have told me a lot about you. Except Ronald has a very different opinion."

"I bet he does," I sent a pointed look at Ron.

"Oh, I was so worried, dear!" Mrs. Weasley brushed off soot from my hair worriedly. "You could have been anywhere!"

Harry grinned at me. "You'll be fine," he mimicked.

I shoved him, laughing. "Shut up."

I made a quick stop at Gringotts with the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione. The goblin at the head desk regarded me, and I blinked.

"Key?" he drawled.

"Right," I said quickly, faltering. "I don't have that. But I have my wand." I handed it to him, and he inspected it before nodding.

"I believe this is the backup wand Mr. Snape stored for emergencies," he approved, and led us to carts. I breathed a sigh of relief.

The Snape Vault was fairly big. It wasn't the biggest thing I'd seen, but the gold coins (Galleons, I assumed) filled up most of it.

"A teacher gets such a big amount?" Ron asked, eyes wide.

"Maybe he also sells potions," Hermione said, inspecting the vault as I gathered some coins.

"Even Snape's got more money than us, Mum," Fred said.

"Fred!" Mrs. Weasley sounded incredibly chagrined, and flustered about. My eyes widened and I clutched the gold coins as I placed them in my bag.

It hadn't occurred to me the Weasleys were on the poorer side of money. But as I thought about it...little snippets of conversation I overheard over mealtimes or such came back to me, and those odd offhanded sentences made sense suddenly.

"Well, Snape only has to care for himself," I reminded Fred, trying to sound like it was nothing out of the ordinary. Mrs. Weasley and Ron's ears were red and flaming. "Maybe I can empty some of his pockets while I'm here."

I closed the vault, stacks of gold coins still left inside. We headed for the Weasley vault, and I felt horrible when there were only silver coins and one gold one. Mrs. Weasley checked her bag before taking it all.

And then there was Harry's vault.

You could walk inside and lie in the piles of gold. I'd never seen so much.

"When you die," I informed him. "I demand to be part of your will."

Harry laughed slightly. "I'll leave you a sickle," he promised.

"No way," I told him. "I want at least half of all of this, you filthy rich person."

"Snape is going to murder you for this trip, you know that?" Harry told me as we left Gringotts.

I watched Hermione tell Ron about her new homework planner calmly. "Will you come to my funeral?"

"Snape wouldn't let me come three hundred meters within your grave."

"True. What's with his hate for you?"

Harry shrugged. "I wish I knew."

"Harry, save me," Ron moaned. "Hermione's talking about homework already."

Harry snickered and went over to Ron and Hermione, while Hermione smacked Ron with her planner.

"They're a tight bunch, aren't they?" I asked George, who was right behind me.

"They are," George agreed. He watched me carefully. "Want to come shop with us?"

I was so relieved he'd asked. I wouldn't have anyone to shop with, but asking to join someone went against my stupid pride. I rubbed the back of my neck. "Sure."

Mrs. Weasley instructed us to all go off and then meet up to get schoolbooks. I watched Percy run off, and turned to George. "Where to?"

"Oi, George, is that Lee Jordan?" Fred bounded over excitedly, pointing to a boy in the distance.

"It is!" George exclaimed happily. "We can stock up on prank supplies with him!"

"On second thought," I said abruptly. "I think I'll go with Ginny and Mrs. Weasley."

I didn't understand why I felt so out of place suddenly. But it was as if I was a character in a story book that didn't belong. Harry had his two friends and they were three peas in a pod, and so did Fred and George.

Stop it, I scolded myself. I went off with Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, cutting off my thoughts.

"Excited for Hogwarts?" I asked Ginny.

Ginny beamed. "Yes! Ron and Fred and George and Percy all wrote letters to me at home talking about how great Hogwarts was-I can't wait!"

"It'll be my first year, too," I laughed. "Except I'm skipping my first year. Hey, what's that?"

"That's the ice cream shop," Ginny told me.

"Want to go?" I asked her. Ginny's face brightened.

Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Well, you girls enjoy yourselves, and come to the secondhand robes shop when you're done."

We went to the ice cream shop, and I bought the two of us the second-to-biggest ice creams there were. We walked to the robe shop on the way, licking our ice creams.

"What House do you want to get into?" Ginny asked me as we entered.

I shrugged. "Is there a huge difference?"

"Yes," Ginny said. "Gryffindor is-"

"I know already," I cut in. "But it doesn't really matter in the end, does it?"

"Not if you're a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw." Ginny shook her head. "But my brothers all tell me that Slytherin and Gryffindor have a huge and old rivalry. The Weasleys and Harry and Hermione are all Gryffindors."

I remembered how Ron had talked about Slytherin: as if it was a dirty house. "What do Gryffs have against Slytherins?"

Ginny hesitated. "I don't want to offend you..."

"Why would it offend me?"

"Your father is the Head of Slytherin House."

"Oh." I shrugged. "Who cares about him? Tell me."

"Slytherin usually has people who grow up to be dark wizards and follow You-Know-Who."

"Who?"

"No-not Who. You-Know-Who."

"...who?"

"Ginny, try these on!" Mrs. Weasley hurried forward and seized Ginny before she could reply. She helped Ginny pull on some robes.

Ginny frowned. "Mum-this one has a tear, right here."

"Oh-" Mrs. Weasley clucked her tongue. "Well, I suppose I can mend it when we get home."

"Can't we get new robes, Mum? Ron did."

"But you're getting a new wand, and Ron got an old one!"

Ginny turned to me. "Did you get a new wand?"

"Oh, Ginny, you know we can't afford-" Mrs. Weasley sighed.

I shook my head. "I got an old one. So you're lucky." I reached into my bag and pulled out my wand.

"Have you cast anything?" GInny asked me, eyes wide as I handed over my wand so she could see.

I nodded. "Snape's been teaching me; I've been trying to catch up on everything in first year so I can take second year." Ginny gave my wand a few swishes and handed it back.

O-O

I realized, when we met up with everyone to go to Flourish and Blotts, that I didn't know what schoolbooks to get. I looked at Hermione's list.

SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk

Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart

Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart

Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart

Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart

Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart

Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart

Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart

I smirked. "Why did you put little hearts around Gilderoy Lockhart's name?"

Hermione flushed pink. "I just like his books, is all. Anyway, are you done with the list?"

I blinked. "That's it? That's the whole list?"

"I know," Hermione sighed. "There are so many interesting books we could get, but that's all."

"Can we get extra?" I asked her.

Hermione nodded enthusiastically, smiling at me in a friendlier way. "The boys don't understand why we would ever want to, but I'm glad you do."

Harry shook his head next to me. "Hermione, you've found your new best friend."

"Extra?" Ron said in horror. "You want extra?"

"Of course," I gave Ron an odd look. "I'm a year behind from magic already, and there's probably a spell and potion for everything-I've got to get my hands on anything I can get."

"Sounds like a Slytherin," Ron muttered.

Hermione shrugged. "I'm thinking Ravenclaw, honestly."

"She broke into my house with a rope," Harry pointed out. "That could be Gryffindor."

"But didn't she also steal your money, Harry?" Ron asked, eyes narrowing.

"I didn't!" I said, frustrated. "I swear, I gave Harry back his money."

"She did, mate. Let it go." Harry gave Ron a slight shove, and they were soon pushing each other and laughing as we finally saw Flourish and Blotts.

I stared, my eyes wide. "Long line."

It was true. There was a line that went all the way outside the store. Everyone was clutching books.

"Merlin!" Hermione squealed and clutched my arm. "Look!"

I looked up to see a huge banner that read, in loud curly letters, "GILDEROY LOCKHART will be signing copies of his autobiography MAGICAL ME today 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M."

"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed excitedly.

I smiled at her happiness. "That's pretty awesome. Let's get our books and get in line."

We had to push our way in, and I started grabbing books off the shelves, checking the prices constantly to make sure I had enough money. "Er-how much is a sickle worth again?"

Harry shouted the answer back at me as witches on line squealed. Hermione grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 off the shelf for me, and I yelled in thanks. We squeezed in line with the Weasleys and the Grangers, until finally-

"Look!" Hermione screamed over another squeal. I turned obediently.

It was Gilderoy Lockhart, who came closer as we got in the front of the line. He was at a big black table, surrounded by photographers with odd cameras that puffed colored smoke as they flashed. Photos of him winked, and I laughed as one of them smiled flirtatiously at a nearby witch. The real Lockhart stood, wearing bright blue robes, a tilted large hat, and wavy blonde hair.

Ron stared. "That's Lockhart?"

"Out of the way," a photographer snarled at Ron, shoving him. He crashed into me and fell to the floor, rubbing his arm.

"Big deal," he said to the photographer sullenly.

Lockhart must have heard, because he looked up. Harry helped Ron up, and I picked up his book, which had fallen on my toe. Lockhart's blue eyes bugged out, and he gasped. "HARRY POTTER!"

"My ears," I said weakly to Ron. "are screaming in pain."

Harry was dragged to the front for pictures, and he flushed red as people clapped. Lockhart cleared his throat and spoke loudly, and it became quiet quickly.

"When young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography – which I shall be happy to present him now, free of charge -" The crowd applauded again. "He had no idea ," Lockhart continued, giving Harry a little shake, "that he would shortly be getting much, much more than my book, Magical Me . He and his schoolmates will, in fact, be getting the real magical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

Everyone cheered. Hermione screamed in excitement and clapped wildly. I clapped with her, excited that a famous expert would be teaching us.

"Why's Harry famous too?" I shouted, but Hermione couldn't hear me over the cheers.

Harry staggered back towards us as he was presented with the books for free, and I stepped up next. He signed my book, winked at me, and I got off line, too.

Harry was standing next to Ginny, who had her new cauldron. He tipped his books into her cauldron, and muttered, "You can have these, I'll get my own." Ginny blushed a bright red, but thanked him quietly.

I walked up to them and set down my books, winking at Ginny. She flushed and sent me a clear look that read shut up!

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" We all looked up. It was Draco. "Famous Harry Potter, who can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."

"Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!" Ginny said fiercely.

I stared at Draco. "Why're you so upset? And why is Harry so famous?"

Draco ignored me. "Potter, you've got a girlfriend!"

Ginny went scarlet as Ron and Hermione fought their way over, both clutching stacks of Lockhart's books.

"Oh, it's you," said Ron, looking at Draco distastefully. "Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?"

"Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley," Draco snapped. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those."

I squeezed past a passing woman as Harry and Hermione grabbed Ron, who had dropped his books too and had his fists clenched. "What's up with you?" I demanded quietly.

Draco glared at me. "You shouldn't mix with these people."

"What do you mean? Mix with these people?" Calm down, I told myself.

"Blood traitors and such," he motioned towards them. "Unpure wizards and witches that blend with muggles."

"Muggles," I said coldly. "I see."

"Ron!" said Mr. Weasley, struggling over with Fred and George. "What are you doing? It's too crowded in here, let's go outside."

"Well, well, well - Arthur Weasley." Draco and I looked up at the same time.

"Mr. Malfoy," I greeted.

"Lucius," said Mr. Weasley, nodding coldly.

"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear," said Mr. Malfoy. "All those raids... I hope they're paying you overtime?"

He reached into Ginny's cauldron and extracted a glossy Lockhart book. "Where did you get this, girl? You couldn't have bought them yourself, you're too poor."

"Harry gave them to me," Ginny squeaked, ears red and her face defiant. I admired her spirit, I really did, but Mr. Malfoy was not someone to be messed with.

"Obviously not, then," Mr. Malfoy said, talking to Mr. Weasley again. "Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"

Mr. Weasley flushed darker than either Ron or Ginny.

"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy," he said.

Mr. Malfoy turned to me. "Miss Snape."

"Sir," I said uncertainly. Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys all watched carefully.

"Does Severus know you are here?" He placed a hand on my shoulder, and Mr. Weasley put a hand on his wand.

I froze. "Um-well-"

"I thought so." he said smoothly, removing his hand. "The company you keep, Weasley... and I thought your family could sink no lower. But to taint those who have good connections..." he gestured to me.

Mr. Weasley knocked over the cauldron as he lunged for Mr. Malfoy. He almost hit me, but I felt a hand yank me back against the bookshelf.

The two grown men were punching and brawling on the ground, and I stared in shock as Fred and George cheered. I'd never seen a real fight like this before. Mrs. Weasley was shrieking furiously.

"You're just going to stand here and let your dad get beaten up?" I asked him.

Draco rolled his eyes. "He's not losing."

"But he isn't winning. And...about what you said before...I really don't know. Harry, Hermione, the Weasleys, they're all awfully nice."

"That," Draco shook his head slowly. "Is not the point. They're...below us."

Hagrid had appeared out of thin year to pulled the two of them apart, and Draco straightened as Mr. Malfoy's cutting gray eyes swept across the room. He was still holding Ginny's book. He tossed it to the ground at her, and I hurried over.

"Our books are all mixed up," Ginny said quietly.

"Did you write your name in any of them?" I asked. She shook her head, and I shrugged. "Then it doesn't really matter; we all need Lockhart's book, anyway." I took a random set of books, grabbed my The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 and helped Ginny. Ron picked his own books up, and we straightened the cauldron.

Mr. Malfoy yanked himself out of Hagrid's grip and snapped, "Draco, here." Instantly, Draco was by his side, and they were leaving. Draco looked back quickly at me.

"Um-bye," I called uncertainly. He gave a short nod of his head and then they were gone.

"Being all chummy with him, are you?" Ron snorted. "Can't wait to be his Housemate? Snuggle up at night-"

"I was saying goodbye!" I snapped back at him. "Just because you hate my father does not mean you have to hate me!"

We squeezed out of the still crowded store, and I was relieved when Mrs. Weasley handed me some floo powder. Ron was really getting to me, and if he didn't stop with the offhanded remarks I might just punch him in the face.

And then the Weasleys and Harry and Hermione will hate you, I told myself fiercely. And you'll go to Hogwarts friendless. Do you want that?

You'd still have Draco, the annoying voice in my head said snootily. And Merlin, why did it have to sound like Ron? Though I reckon he won't want to befriend you if it spoils his reputation, which, if you've been dumped by his enemies because even they didn't want to deal with you, it will definitely do.

For my sake, I decided the voice was much too smart to be Ron, no matter how sneering-ish and alike the voice was.

I stepped through the fireplace, relieved when it spit me out in the right place. Mrs. Weasley helped me up, tutting as I sneezed ash.

"You just stay here, dear," she said as I sat down on the couch with Ron and Harry. The rest of the Weasleys had gone to their room to study (Percy), run away because Harry was in the room (Ginny), or prepare a prank for dinner (Fred and George even though they insisted they wanted to play chess). "Severus should be here soon, and I'll floo you back personally if he doesn't come in an hour."

I sulked. "But couldn't I just go back? I never intended for him to know."

Mrs. Weasley frowned in disapproval, but I thought she smiled for the slightest second. "He will find out anyway, Rowan. And I believe he's been scared enough."

I snorted. "Him? Scared for me? I bet he's celebrating that I'm gone."

"I'm sure that's not the case," Mr. Weasley said gently as he entered the room. I smiled gratefully at him, but I didn't really believe him. "I'm sure you just have to give things time. Severus may not be the most open person, but he is your father."

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," I said quietly, suddenly subdued. He patted my knee and Mrs. Weasley set down a platter of cookies before they left.

"Will Snape let you take the train to Hogwarts?" Harry asked me as the three of us nibbled on a cookie, though Ron nearly inhaled his.

"I 'out i'," Ron chomped, halfway through his third cookie. He swallowed and bit down again, this time a smaller bite. "I mean, I doubt it. After you sneaking out today?"

"That's true," I said. I hesitated. "Ron...if I wasn't Snape's daughter, would you hate me?"

Ron looked reluctant to answer, and he swallowed two cookies before he did. "Maybe," he said. "And how could you not be? You're basically Snape. But you snuck out to shop with us today. That was pretty wicked," he admitted grudgingly.

It was a miracle. I supposed even after all his excitement with Harry and Hermione shopping, he was tired from the day too. He was also eating, which according to Harry today, was the quickest way to make him happy and calm. I would savor this moment of brief peace before he went all prejudiced again.

"So, what's with the Malfoy rivalry?" I asked suddenly.

Harry's emerald eyes darkened and he turned his head to look at me. "He's rude and prejudiced against non-purebloods, that's what."

"Oh." I turned my head to look at him and burst out laughing.

"What?" Ron and Harry said at the same time, bewildered.

I grinned. "You have cookie in your hair."

Harry narrowed his eyes at Ron, who was trying to look innocent. "Well," he said lightly. "We'll have to fix that." He crushed a portion of his cookie and dribbled it onto Ron's red curls.

"Very nice," I approved, mouth twitching. "Cookie goes very nicely with your hair, Ron."

Ron leaned over Harry's lap. "Well, I don't want to leave you out, Rowan." He tossed a handful at my hair, and I reared back, shaking my head to get crumbs out while crushing my own cookie. I used Harry's shoulder to prop myself up and threw the crumbs at Ron.

"Hey!" Harry laughed as he was jostled, stuck in between the two of us who were battling for more cookie ammo now.

The fireplace blazed green, and we all froze in position as Snape strode out, looking livid. His face screwed up dangerously as his eyes swooped over to me, sitting on the couch, one hand on Harry's face in a playful attempt to shove him out of the way, and the other with a cookie in my hand, ready to smash onto Ron's hair.

Instantly, Harry and Ron leapt to the left side of the couch, and I jerked to my right, dropping cookie all over the ground.

The clock in the room ticked to the next hour, as if to say, "Time's up!"

Yay!

Christineoftheopera-ew school. Anyway, thanks!

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