Flashback

"How was your day?" Snape asked, his back to me, as always as he wrote on the chalkboard in Potions class after school.

I raised my eyebrows, chuckling. "So you have to ask now?"

"Seeing as we have practiced Occulmency for almost the past three years, you should be skilled in it by now."

I smiled down at my cauldron, as I was testing myself on my latest batch of Draught of Living Dead.

"And in potions as well." Snape glanced over his shoulder at me.

"And Defense Against the Dark Arts." I emphasized. "Or so, Professor Lupin says. Speaking of which, you mightn't have any idea as to why he wasn't with us in class today?"

Snape remained silent. The chalk against the blackboard was the only sound in the room, well, along with my potion bubbling.

"I mean, seeing as you filled in for him, I figured you would have some idea."

Silence.

"Severus Snape." I slammed my fist down on the table. "Page Three-hundred and ninety-four? How obvious could you be?"

"Not even the smartest in the class discovered the hint."

"I am skilled in what I do." I re-emphasized.

Right as I started getting defensive, the door to the Potions classroom flew open.

"It's finished. Now, I have an A, right? I've done enough of this extra credit hogwash, I must." Draco Malfoy uttered all this in one breath. He was facing Snape, not even realizing I was in the classroom.

I smirked. So extra credit was the only thing keeping Draco on the top of the class. Figures.

At the sound of my smirk, Draco turned around, shocked to see me at my desk with my cauldron steaming in front of me.

He smirked. "Got enough practice to get it right? As much as you're here, you should at least have a passing grade. I'm not surprised if you don't, though."

"Draco," Snape interrupted him, almost defensively on my part.

Draco was standing at the other side of my desk by now, close enough to inhale the steam from my potion.

"Draught of the Living Dead. Wouldn't care a sip, would you?" I asked, lifting a wooden spoonful of it up towards him.

"Enough." Snape shouted.

Draco had the biggest scowl on his face I had seen him wear up to this point. Without another word, Draco stormed out of the classroom.

"Extra credit? And only to Draco? What's the point of that?" I asked my father, a bit annoyed that out of all the students who could use the extra credit, the only one he offered it to was Draco Malfoy.

"What difference would it make to you? You're the top of the class, and just because—" Snape stopped before finished his sentence.

"Just because, what? I am smart? Because you're my teacher? Or what, because I'm your daughter?" At this point, I was beyond angry. It was almost as if Snape assumed my intelligence was because of him. I would've been just as good on my own.

I stood up. "I think it's mastered," I gestured to my Draught of Living Dead. "How about I try not to slip some to Draco Malfoy, and you understand that I learned this out of my own will. I didn't have to learn how to use occulmency, or defense against the dark arts, or any of this. I don't even have to be here. But it's by my choice."

I headed to the door.

"I have my intentions." Severus said.

"We all do."

Present

"I wouldn't drink that if I were you," I whispered to Draco who was sitting behind my seat in the Great Hall. Usually, we sat back-to-back. And today it was of great use, as we had just got finished hearing about the Draught of Living Dead in Potions class.

Before I caught his facial expression, I took my seat in between Fred and and Seamus.

"Pudding?" Fred sat a bowl of pudding down in front of me.

I chuckled. "Thanks?"

"So, we're starting a club, want to be in it?" Fred turned to me.

"Gosh, Fred," Seamus cut in. "It's supposed to be a secret."

"Well, you obviously know about it, and no one else is listening, so I suspect it is still a secret."

"Plus," I said, "It's not like Umbridge can read minds."

Seamus shook his head, like he disagreed with that assumption.

"We were going to invite you to our first meeting, but I couldn't find you in this whole Godforsaken school." Fred turned to eat his pudding.

"Umbridge gave me detention with Snape all week." I started on the pudding Fred saved for me.

"Better than detention with her, from what I hear."

"Yeah," I delved into my thoughts of how much worse detention would be with Umbridge. I was so thankful that she thought she was torturing me by giving me detention with Snape.

"But yeah, the club, called the DA," Fred lowered his voice, "which stands for Dumbledore's Army, we're planning to meet once a week. Our fearless leader is going to teach us Defense Against the Dark Arts, the real world version, if you know what I mean."

"And by fearless leader, you mean, Harry?"

"Correct! So you in? Of course, you're in— I'll be there!"

I smirked. "Actually, I'll have to see. I have alot to do— detention, feed Hagrid's creatures, help McGonagall grade first year paper—"

"I see, you're too important to spend time with us. I see, I see." Fred said.

"I'm sure if you asked her to go to Hogsmeade, you both would get more time together and save us the burden of watching the two of you flirt." I hadn't even realized Seamus was still sitting next to me.

"No, I could never ask Everly Smith out. She's too good for this ole fart." Fred waved his hand.

"Two years. You're two years older than me, Fred." I looked up to Fred, who was currently getting out of his seat.

"We'll talk when you catch up." He said, heading out of the Great Hall.

I glared at Seamus who was watching my expressions.

"Not flirting." Was all I said, before leaving to go to detention with Snape.

I guess if there's any guy I could see myself with it would be Fred. But, with the secret and everything, I didn't think it would be the right time to have any kind of relationship. I guess if I were to have a relationship, it would be with someone who would ultimately understand my situation. How would Fred react to finding out I'm Snape's daughter?

I sat down at my desk in the Potions classroom and pulled out my Potions book to study, not even caring to acknowledge my father since he never does when he's deep in thoughts.

A few pages in, I finally heard Snape talk. "Harry Potter is restarting a Dumbledore's Army, I've heard."

I sighed. "How did you hear about that?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I suppose you won't be joining them."

"Well, I was going to get your opinion on it, but I'm kind of picking up on it already."

"I do not think it would be wise."

I rolled my eyes. "So, I figured."

"But—"

I cocked an eyebrow.

"It would not be foolish."

I chuckled. "You hate Umbridge that much?"

"Detest, yes."

I turned my attention back to my book.

"And she is planning on starting an Inquisitorial squad, to implement her rules."

"Boy, you're quite chatty today," I said, packing my book up. "So, let me guess who's going to be the head of that.. Hmm.. Draco Malfoy? Seeing as he likes getting extra credit."

"There is more to Draco than meets the eye."

"His fake bleached hair is no secret, Dad."

Snape just stared at me, obviously not amused by my sarcasm.

"I'm going home for the holiday. Will you be joining me?"

I seriously could not follow my father's train of thought today. And I'm pretty sure he's spoken to me more today than he has so far this school year. I wasn't necessarily complaining though. Plus, going home with him would be more eventful than staying at Hogwarts with barely anyone throughout the whole holiday. I don't think he's ever formally invited me home either, so this was quite a change.

"If you'll have me."