CHAPTER NINE

Hey, guys. Still on major writer's block. You will not believe the number of times I rewrote this chapter.

Updates might be a bit slower, since I'm suffering the worst disease a fanfic writer dreads, but to all the reviewers who gave me tips and plots, I will totally keep them in mind!

I don't own. If I did, Harry Potter series would suck. Rowling respectively owns all, except my OC Cecelia, but she still does tons better.

Celia's POV

For the next few days, Draco got yanked to his feet every time I tried to sit with him, and Pansy would drag him off, all giggly. So I sat with the trio and listened to their rants and fights. Soon, I got used to all the dirty talk about my dad, even. I guess I should be mad, but he was being a little ruthless.

"So then Neville-awesome spell there-yelled the spell and Snape was forced into his grandmother's clothes! Strange taste, his grandma. Vulture hat, red handbag, large green dress; though I rather enjoyed it. Loved it, actually." Ron grinned and stuffed Yorkshire pudding into his mouth(AN: If you ever blank on food in Hogwarts, go to HPO the first book pg123)

I smiled and nodded as Harry laughed, relishing the moment. Then suddenly an idea struck me. I turned to Harry, just as he was telling us, or rather, telling me and reminding Ron and Hermione, about Professor Lupin's class with the nasty Red Caps. I tried to be patient as he ranted on and on about how they had repelled the goblin-like creatures, but I was practically jumping in my seat.

"Harry, Hermione, Ron," I said breathlessly. "Do you think…you could take me to see Buckbeak? Before something…happens?" We all exchanged a look. These were some times when I really got annoyed at Draco. The trio had long told me about Draco's mockery at the hippogriff, and his tiny injury.

Hermione hesitated. "Maybe after you start classes and settle down." She said gently. I nodded, disappointed,

"Yeah, maybe." I said hopefully. Today I started classes. Today, maybe people would see me as Celia, not Snape girl.

Hermione and I watched in amusement as the boys hungrily finished off the last platters of food. The school seemed extra happy, or at least the third years seemed to be.

Harry had been extra sweaty yesterday, since he had quidditch practice. I didn't even own a broom, and never tried flying before. The thought of trying made me tingle all over with giddiness. I had always wanted to fly.

I fumbled with my robes and got up. "See you guys tonight." Hermione pouted a little. "I nearly forgot that you were in Slytherin. There's always Hogsmeade, though." She said gloomily, and I offered a shrug and a smile before leaving.

Class wasn't that great. I had to go through the "creepy new kid" phase again, like I had to so many times in muggle schools since weird things, magical things, happened and made me move( AN: Percy Jackson, anyone? J)

Apparently nobody knew me, so I was dubbed as "Snape's kid" and "don't mess with her, stay away". Only Draco and his two cronies, who I later learned that they were Gregory Goyle, and of course, the one and only Pureblood Vincent Crabbe, actually dared to talk to me. Just my luck. Oh, and the ever so pleasant Pansy. Her conversations mainly involved the words, "Draco" and "perfect match".

Draco was especially cheerful because I couldn't call him Bathrobe Boy anymore, since I myself was dressed in robes. He kept making some snotty comment and shot me a glance, daring me to call him that…which of course I couldn't, unless I wanted one more nickname as Bathrobe Girl.

I almost felt glad when Pansy tugged him away to try and snog. Still, I felt bad for him, but threw him a smirk anyways as Pansy dragged him off. At least I got my revenge. Sort of.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I entered Professor Mcgonagall's class. The trio was sitting there, and Hermione waved me over. More than a few students gave me odd looks when I sat down next to Hermione.

"How's class?" Hermione muttered as Professor Mcgonagall turned to help Professor Flitwick with something.

"Terrible. Nobody will go within twenty-inch radius of me, except for Draco and his gang, and of course Pansy, who drags Draco off every few seconds to kiss him, or try to." I complained under my breath, flipping to the textbook page written on the board. Hermione giggled quietly.

Suddenly a cat strode in and leapt onto the teacher's table, sitting straight. It was a gray tabby, who fixed the class with a stern gaze. I whipped my head around to see Harry and Ron's reactions. Ron grinned impishly at me, like he knew something I didn't, and Harry smiled, gesturing for me to watch. I frowned as I turned around; I realized Harry seemed a bit glum. His smile was weak and he seemed to slouch like a little, like a little boy deprived of candy.

The tabby gazed at us with one more familiar stern look, before leaping off the desk. Midair, the tabby swerved into a woman…Professor Mcgonagall. I gasped in delight and clapped earnestly along with the rest of the class. Professor Mcgonagall seemed unfazed, but she did smile. Of course! I should have been expecting it. This was Transfiguration class! I resisted the urge to slap my forehead.

(AN: Yes, I know, in the book it's only Gryffindors, but think of it this way: Celia entered Hogwarts a bit late, so her schedule will be muddled up!) At the end of class I was beaming, because I had managed to answer the questions fired at me from Professor Mcgonagall, earning Slytherin twenty points in all. I got a couple of dirty looks, but Hermione told me not to worry about it.

The bell rang, and I stood to leave, but Professor Mcgonagall called out," Miss S-Celia? Would you stay behind?" Frowning, I nodded and checked my schedule. Hermione did, too. We had managed to highlight all our classes together, and Hermione finally looked up. "See you tonight, Celia." We didn't have any more classes together for the day. I waved as she left, pointedly ignoring Ron, who sullenly left. Strangely, Harry didn't, but I approached Professor Mcgonagall anyways.

"Miss Celia? I hope you are aware that we will be visiting Hogsmeade. Your father is the Head of the Slytherin House, so make sure he is aware. I understand he can be quite…distant." Professor Mcgonagall gazed at me will a look of slight sympathy. I nodded. "He is aware, I'm sure, Professor. You need not worry about that, he isn't as distant as some may think." Then I grinned. "But he isn't exactly the cuddly, open, type either."

Professor Mcgonagall chuckled and dismissed me. I waited outside the hallway, a bit embarrassed that a teacher was discussing parent issues with me.

Being a prankster means staying alert at everything that happens. My ears, luckily, are very keen, and some of my old, muggle friends used say I was part fox. So you can understand that I didn't mean to eavesdrop on the conversation Harry was having with the teach-I mean, Professor.

When Harry came out, I felt a pang of pity for him. He wasn't going to Hogsmeade because his uncle didn't sign it. Figures. I put my arm around him as we walked out. "Hey, don't worry. Your uncle was a pig, remember? I bet he was too stupid to sign his name anyways. And your aunt? That stick of a hand she had would probably break under the weight of the pen."

He laughed, but it didn't cheer him up enough. I checked the time. Three minutes until the next class. I cleared my throat and examined him. He really looked put down.

"Hey," I said softly. "You know what? I bet Hogsmeade is nothing. I'm not even going." I declared. Harry looked up in surprise. "No! You should go, I don't want me to be the reason-"

I shook my head. "No, really. Hogsmeade sounds so bland and boring. I'd rather stay here. We can hang out, you know? If you want, that is."

Harry brightened. "I still can't believe you're a Snape. Thanks, Celia." He gave me one last smile before sprinting off. I waved and left for class.

HHHPPPOOOO

"Please?" Pansy clutched my arm like it was the end of the world. I dragged my feet and groaned. "No."

Pansy looked like she was going to drown. She pouted. "But I just know Draco likes me! He's just really noble and too shy to say anything! Set me up with him! He hangs out with you, like, all the time!" Noble, my left nostril. The day Draco became noble was the day Voldemort would put on a tutu and dance the Harlem Shake.

I glared at her, frustrated. "Let go, Pansy. I need to go eat dinner." We were already at the door, but I didn't want to embarrass her. She glowered back, mouth set into a vicious smile. "I'll let go when you say yes."

I huffed. "Fine, be like that. My answer's still no." With my free hand, I yanked the door open. Students streamed in, and I strode over to the Gryffindor table. Draco smirked at me when he saw who I was dragging with me, and I frowned at him.

Hermione looked up. "Hey, Celia-oh. Hello, Pansy." Her smile faltered. Harry shot me a curious look. I didn't bother hiding my distaste.

"Now will you let go so I can eat my food in peace?!" I sat down, and Pansy, STILL clutching me, ignored everyone else and squeezed in next to me. "Please, Celia?" She pouted again.

I ignored her and reached for a piece of bread. "So. What's up?" I turned to the trio, who was still staring at Pansy. Ron gaped at me. "What do you mean? Why is Parkinson, the Slytherin who hates Gryffindors, sitting here? What could Parkinson possibly want from you?" Pansy hissed insults at them.

I rolled my eyes. "I think you know. Who's the guy she's been chasing after?" Ron frowned, dumbfounded. "Um…"

Hermione rolled her eyes, too. "Malfoy, isn't it?" When she said Draco's name, Pansy let out a little squeal. I turned around to realize that Draco was right behind me, eyebrows furrowed. "Did someone just call my name?"

I shoved Pansy at Draco, who stumbled back. "There! Go eat his face, Pansy! Bye!" Both of them gave me dirty looks; Draco for being thrown with Pansy, and Pansy for that "eat his face" comment. I shrugged and smiled sweetly.

As soon as Pansy pulled a protesting Draco away, Ron guffawed on his casserole. "Did you really just tell Parkinson to eat Draco's face?" I shrugged and tackled my food. "Kiss his face, eat his face; with Pansy, is there really a difference?"

Harry smiled, but still a bit sadly. "Still upset about Hogsmeade?" He shrugged. Always the modest one. Cute. Wait, what?

"Harry said you weren't going either. And that your dad never said you couldn't go." Ron eyed me with some kind of suspicion.

I put on a solemn face. "Yes. Under Voldemort's orders, I will deprive myself of Zonko's and kill Harry inside Hogwarts, right in front of the Headmaster and other students. And then, miraculously, I will get away with it, and everyone will totally still love me."

Ron flinched when I said the word Voldemort, but he stopped bothering me after that. Hermione just shook her head and concentrated on a piece of meat.

" 'Deprive yourself of Zonko's' ?" Harry looked amused. Ron cast an angry glare at Hermione, who furiously returned it. I sighed.

"Come on, Ron, Crookshanks was just being Crookshanks. He's a cat." I twirled my fork absentmindedly. Ron shoved food in his mouth and spewed some bits out as he talked. "THAT CAT'S GOT IT FOR SCABBERS!" It was a loud roar, but the louder hum of the room drowned it out.

Hermione slammed her knife down and stood. "Would you just drop it, Ron?!" Like that, she was gone. Ron huffed and furiously ate more, while Harry and I exchanged an uneasy look.

I could feel a glare penetrating my skull, so I turned and saw Dad glaring. He glowered at Harry, then shot me a look, too. I furrowed my eyebrows. What did I do wrong?

"Uh…Harry? Why is my dad-I mean, Professor Snape looking at you like that?" I jabbed Harry gently. Harry shuddered. "Your dad doesn't like me very much. Let's just put it at that." Gee, thanks, Harry. You shared that information when we went ice skating. No need to repeat it.

I nodded and wiped my mouth with the napkin. "See you tomorrow." Harry waved and I exited the room, standing in the hallway. As chatting students passed me, I tucked my hands behind my back and leaned against the wall, wondering.

Why did my dad seem so angry whenever I sat around Harry? Why did he hate Harry? Did Harry do something unforgiveable to him? That didn't sound like him at all. I frowned.

A large figure- I don't mean Hagrid-large, just tall-swept around the corner, hook-nosed and irritated. I smiled.

"Hi." We started towards his office, sullenly, silently.

He opened the door and walked in, or, stormed in. I shut the door quietly and he sat down, fixed on the parchment. I sat down on the side of his bed. "Alright, what did I do now?"

"Nothing." His tone was sharp and said, 'End of discussion'. Dad didn't even bother turning around. I sighed. And just as we were starting to be friendly. This was frustrating.

I threw my hands in the air. "Stop sulking! Who's the hormonal teenager here, you or me?"

He whirled around wearily. "I'm not sulking."

"No, of course not. You're prancing around and smiling at everybody who passes." I replied sarcastically. He stared for a minute.

"You know I don't normally do that either." He fumed and checked off something on a piece of parchment.

3rd POV

Professor Snape stared at his daughter, who couldn't possibly be stared down. He could understand the most complicated potions, but defiant little girls? He had no clue.

Instead of talking, he marked off another mistake on the parchment, aiming his anger on the paper: Weasley! A fistful of ice blade grass from Oldric the Oddball's cave does not need to be chopped and added in a Freezing Potion! Where was your mind the past few days?

And then, suddenly, the parchment was ripped out of his hands, and shoved out of sight. He looked up to see Celia, annoyed, holding the parchment out of reach. Not only was she defiant and stubborn, she was disrespectful.

Her eyes burned like dancing flames. He glowered back, not believing anyone could be so…insufferable!

"You will give that back, or you are not going to Hogsmeade."

Unfortunately, she was unfazed. "Okay. I was going to tell you anyways. I'm going to stay with Harry." Potter?

"No. You will be-" Professor Snape wracked his brain for something-"-confined to this office for the day. You may not, under any circumstances, go to Potter's common room, nor anywhere else. I advise you not to be friends with him, or any of his insufferable friends."

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head, the curly ponytail slapping her cheeks. "What? You can't! You can't cut off our friendship like that."

"I can, and I will. I'm telling you, not asking you. If you disobey that order, I will…think of something else." Standing, he took the moment of silence to snatch the parchment out of her momentarily numb hands, and slapped it down on the table, heading towards the bathroom.

Celia tucked up her knees. Fire blazed in her eyes again, angrily. "This is so unfair!" She shouted.

She was met by a simple, even: "Life isn't fair."

Hm. More tension. This chapter was more like a first regular day of school for Celia, so I tried to make the bland plot as interesting as possible, despite the small row between the Snapes. Well, see you guys next time, hopefully soon!