"Well I expected you years ago Miss. Potter. I suppose it's Miss Snape now though."
Haley jumped a fair bit off the stool before exclaiming softly to the now silent great hall, "Oh My!" A nervous giggle erupted as she heard other students laughing at her reaction before she spoke to the sorting hat in her own mind. "No one told me you would be able to speak to me inside my mind. They just warned me to have my mental shields down and that you would shout out where I should go."
"Well they told you more than the average person is then aware of. You must have pretty impressive shields though since they had to tell you to keep them lowered. Very few can keep me out of their minds. Now let us get to your sorting. You've got an astounding mind. Though you're extremely intelligent and you do love learning you don't live for it. There is bravery and loyalty in abundance but I have a feeling you would want to stay close to your father. You've enough cunning to make it in Slytherin. Hmm, where shall I place you?"
"Well if it's all the same to you either Slytherin or Gryffindor please. As much as I love Filius I don't want to be in Ravenclaw and I don't know Hufflepuff's head of house very well."
"That makes it easier for me. I know someone who has been waiting to meet you and this will provide an excellent opportunity. Plus it will irritate a certain someone that I take great delight in aggravating."
Just before she had time to ask what his cryptic message meant she heard the hat shout, "BETTER BE SLYTHERIN!" She turned towards the head table and gave her father and Uncle Lupin a beaming smile. As she faced the students once more she noticed that no one was clapping they all were stunned. With a bright red blush creeping upon her soft cheeks she silently made her way over to the Slytherin Table to sit with the rest of the sixth years. Despite being embarrassed by the absolute silence deafening the hall she refused to bow her head. To distract herself she looked up at the head table once more to get a good look at Dumbledore's face and it did not disappoint. He was barely containing his rage. He sat there seething. Once again a nervous giggle erupted from her rosy lips and that seemed to break the spell the great hall was under. Slytherin was clapping extremely loudly followed by Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Only the Gryffindor table remained silent. This behavior seemed to really upset her Aunt Minnie and in that moment she took it upon herself to stand and clap for her child.
Haley was just turning her attention back to the table when she felt a tap upon her left shoulder. Slowly with a graceful turn she looked up to see a golden Adonis standing before her. Her mouth went suddenly dry and it was only the manners that had been drilled into her since living with her father that allowed her to maintain her posture and composure. She gently placed her hand into his and allowed the brief kiss to the back of her hand. Then a deep smooth rich voice caressed her ears, "I'm Draco. Uncle Severus mentioned you would be attending this year. I've been eager to introduce myself."
The smile that lit her face brought a genuine smile to Draco's. He wasn't sure what to expect. He had heard so many different opinions of the "girl who lived" he didn't know what to believe. He looked up to his Godfather Severus and now he could understand why he had defended her through the years. He had raised her. When her sweet bell like voice rang out he knew then he would have to visit with her between her classes. Her voice was angelic and extremely soothing to his entire being. He didn't quite understand the reaction he was having but he and Sev would have time to discuss it later that night.
"I'm Haley but I suppose you know that. Father has mentioned you several times. I had always wished we could have met sooner. It would have been nice to have someone close to my age around." It was left unsaid that his father was the reason they could not have met before and that Draco couldn't even know that she was living with him.
The students around them silently moved so that Draco could join them. Haley was 16 and Draco only 17 but like Haley he graduated early. He had no desire to stick around Hogwarts or his home for two more years. Getting to apprentice under Severus allowed him the freedom to move around and to leave the school when he wasn't working with Sev. Nodding his head in agreement she took the now open seat before resuming the conversation. "Yes, it would have been extremely nice. I had a few friends growing up but usually just the children of my father's business partners."
They slipped into an easy companionship and completely ignored Dumbledore. Haley was just barely aware that the food for the feast appeared and she mechanically filled her plate with some of her favorite foods. "Father mentioned you loved potions and were extremely intelligent but he talked of little else. I know much and very little about you." Haley shy smile seemed to draw him in even more. Normally idle chit chat irritated him as you could give too much information away but he couldn't help but want to keep her talking.
"At least you know some about me. Uncle Severus never mentioned you unless he was defending you from the opinions of others. I never understood why he was so passionate about not forming an opinion of someone especially you until I met them. Now I know." The blush upon Haley's cheeks deepened and she glanced at her father to give him a glare. The smirk she received in return only made her roll her eyes knowing that it would irritate him slightly. Then she smile in triumph when she saw his smirk fall.
"Yes, well father has always been a bit protective of me. It's why I've never been allowed to any of the major Magical places unless it was on the continent or overseas. He's taught me that as well though and I've enjoyed meeting many unique people and creatures throughout the years that prove his words true." Haley's small speech seemed to stun a few of the older students that never looked past their Professor's rough exterior. They always found him indifferent or bored with those around him. To learn this about him was an eye opener. It made his defense of those in his house more believable, where once the students felt he only defended them because he had too they were quickly realizing that he did so because he truly cared. This would be the start of a major shift in the Slytherin house, a shift that would have a major impact on all their lives.
Their conversation was interrupted by Dumbledore's announcements and the signal that it was time for bed. Being the pureblood gentleman he was raised to be Draco stood and offered his arm to Haley, which she took with barely a blush showing. He led her to the Slytherin Common Room before excusing himself to his own quarters where he would be waiting for Severus to show so they could have a very in depth discussion.