"I thought you said you were going to protect me!" Harry complained as we walked to Hagrid's. "He took five points from Gryffindor after you helped Neville! And you showed off when he was interrogating me!"

I wrapped my arms around myself. I had known Snape was an ass, but… I thought as his daughter he'd have high expectations but still be at least somewhat softer than he would others. I wasn't emotionally nor mentally prepared for that. At least now I know for next time.

Ron frowned, "Mate, I don't think she really had choice there. It seems like he loathes her almost as much as you."

Harry paused before looking at me curiously, "Did he hate your dad too?"

Had it been any other day, I would have snorted. "In a way, yes, probably." I said as we approached Hagrid's hut.

When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from in- side and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang – back.

Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open.

"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang."

He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.

"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked.

"Hagrid! This is Ron and Aurelia," Harry introduced us with a small smile.

"Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid, glancing at Ron's freckles. "I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."

I snickered and poked Ron's cheek, "You've nothing to worry about. Ron's a Slytherin. We don't get caught."

"Aurelia!" Ron exclaimed, face going red. He turned to look at Hagrid, "I've got nothin' planned!"

Hagrid barked out a laugh, "Aurelia, eh? Yer Snape's little lass, aren't ye? Funny to see yer with Harry."

The boys whipped around in shock and in that moment I could have killed Hagrid and felt no remorse. It was my turn to blush and I buried my head in my hands, "Oh, no."

"You're Snape's kid?!"

"When the bloody hell were you gonna tell us that bit?!"

Hagrid suddenly looked very guilty, realizing I had wanted to keep it a secret. He ushered us to the table and proclaimed he had made rock cakes.

"Please say anything about it. I really don't want anyone to know. Although, I think Draco's got it figured out."

Harry looked at me in an accusatory manner, "Did you know he was going to do that today?"

Technically yes, but not because Snape gave me a heads up.

"No," I lied, like I do, "I didn't even know he'd be asking me after you. He… I just met him a few months ago, at the beginning of summer. He sort of… crashed my mom's funeral and snatched me back to England with him. We don't get along very well. I'm pretty sure he went after me to punish me for sassing him all summer, as well as 'cause I'm friends with you."

Ron suddenly looked very angry, "What an absolute—" Ron let out a string of curses that got him chastised by Hagrid.

"Sorry, it's just… she's his daughter, and he treated her like that in front of everyone? Not even Mum would—"

"Oh hey, look! Someone broke in to Gringotts!" I pointed to the recent issue of the Daily Prophet on the table.

It was honestly really relieving and sweet to know that the boys didn't care about my unfortunate parentage, but I wanted this conversation over ASAP.

"Hagrid!" said Harry, "that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might have been happening while we were there!"

Hagrid refused to meet Harry's eyes. He gave us each another rock cake that we promptly stuffed in to our pockets the moment he liked away.

"I'll forgive you for putting me in extreme emotional distress over your pettiness if you excuse me from flying lessons," I said as I burst in to Snape's office.

Snape gave a smile that made me want to light his socks on fire. "Whatever do you mean, Miss Prince ?"

My eye twitched at the emphasis on my new surname. Forget just his socks. Just burn the whole man. "You know good and well what I mean! You didn't think I would know the answers, so you asked me after Harry. When you realized I would know them, you switched gears."

" 'Switched gears' ? How very muggle of you. As your loving father, I'd suggest watching your language in Slytherin house. For your safety, that is." He said muggle like it was a dirty word.

This son of a—

"Whatever vulgar insult you intend to throw at me, I'd suggest you keep it yourself. You will show respect to your Head of House, professor, and father," he sneered.

How typical of him.

"Respect is earned and goes both ways."

There was a fire in Snape's eyes as he once again gave me that awful grin, "Do have fun in flying lessons tomorrow."

That's it! My move now.

"I cannot believe you broke your own leg just to get out flying lessons! It was amazing! Malfoy stole Neville's Remembrall and—"

"Ron, I know what happened. It's all over school. And I did not purposely break my leg to get out lessons. I just coincidentally happened to trip down a flight of stairs the night before said lessons. Pure chance, really."

It wasn't. It was fully calculated on my end. I hated heights, and I wasn't about to embarrass myself by crying in front of my housemates AND the Gryffindors. The other Slytherins would have eaten me alive.

A small part of me that I was rather ashamed that I partially did it to get back at Snape. I didn't think he'd feel bad, not by any means. But I hoped somewhere in there, somewhere deep down in his blackened heart, that he'd feel guilty about his treatment of me. After all, if I was willing to break my own leg (not that anyone could prove it was on purpose), what else was I willing to do to get what I wanted? Or maybe he'd be embarrassed of my own actions in a more Tywin Lannister kinda way. Whatever. I just hope it pained him in some capacity.

What was it with Harry giving me accusatory looks? "How would you know? You've been in the hospital wing since last night. When are you getting out, by the way?"

I didn't have to energy to come up with a lie.

"Harry, the hospital wing is still part of the school. And I'll be out before supper. My bones have been healed for hours now. It's just a matter of rest. Anyway, how did Mcgnagall react to the whole thing? Last I heard, you didn't even get detention."

"Don't tell anyone— Wood wants it secret— but I made it on the Gryffindor quidditch team! I'm the new seeker!"

"Oh wow, congratulations! You're the youngest seeker in, what, a decade?" Sometimes it was hard to pretend I didn't know anything, other times it was absolutely worth it.

Harry's chest puffed up with pride, "In a century! McGonagall said my father played when he was in school too! He was a chaser, though. But she said he'd be really proud!"

It was nice to see Harry so cheery and animated. Most of the time, he either looked confused or exhausted. I couldn't blame him, honestly. But something else came to mind. Something important that happened originally that hadn't been mentioned.

"By any chance, Harry, did you agree to a wizard's duel with Draco?"

Both boys looked extremely taken aback, "Malfoy just challenged me before we came here! How could you possibly have known?"

My black-brown eyes narrowed, "Harry James Potter—"

Ron interrupted my threat just as Harry asked how I knew his middle name, "He said no, don't worry. I want to win the house cup as much as any other Slytherin, but not at the expense of Harry. It was obviously a trap."

Wow. A few weeks in Slytherin and he was already picking up schemes. I felt so proud. I knew the midnight duel trap was how they discovered Fluffy and the trap door, but after some deliberation I had no intent of letting them go after the stone to "protect" it. They could bond over their hatred of Snape or love of Quidditch like all the other kids. I wasn't about to let a group of eleven-year-olds face Voldemort.

That would just be irresponsible.

Harry side-eyed Ron, "You told me you overheard Malfoy plotting in—."

The ginger boy went pink, "Harry!"

I sighed and sat up, "Alright, clearly I've missed too much. Take me to supper with y'all."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "It's still lunch?"

"Oh," I flopped back down and covered my eyes with my arm, "Fetch me later then. Thanks, babes." I finger-gunned them with my free hand.

The boys groaned in unison.

The Slytherin common room was severely underrated, if you asked me. Everything about it was so… elegant. The soft leather sofas, the way green glow of the lake illuminated the room, the grand fireplace, the portraits of notable alumni… It was spacious, but not in a way that made you feel insignificant. Being in the common room made me feel powerful . Its scent of pine and juniper berries seemed to set my soul at ease. I could easily see how it would be suffocating to a non-Slytherin, but for me this was where I belonged. I felt like this was one of the few places I could relax.

So when I saw Ron sulking by alone by the fireplace, I knew I had to do whatever I needed to make it to where he felt the same way I did.

"What's shakin', bacon?"

The red-headed boy jumped slightly when he noticed me, but still sent me a small smile, "Hullo."

I plopped down next to him, bringing my knees to my chest just like his, "You doing okay?"

Ron shrugged before looking back at the fire, "Can't sleep, s'all."

"Draco being a prick again?"

Normally when I swore or insulted Draco, Ron would laugh. But not tonight it would seem.

Instead, he sighed. "My whole bed's covered in strawberry jam."

My eyebrows shot up in confusion, "Jam? Did your brothers sneak in and prank you?"

"Never thought I'd ever say this, but I wish. It was Malfoy and his cronies."

My brows began to furrow, "Why jam?"

"My guess is they couldn't get blood, so they went with the next best thing."

I reflexively sucked air through my teeth. "Oh."

"Yeah." He looked down at the trim of his vest. "I had to ask Gemma Farley had to charm this green for me. Mum and dad sent me with my brothers' old stuff. They didn't even consider I might've been anywhere but Gryffindor."

My grimace morphed in to a frown, "I thought you said they were being really supportive. Your grandmother even sent some of her Slytherin gear."

Poor Ron looked as though his eyes he wanted to cry, "Aurelia, I didn't even consider I'd end up anywhere else. There hasn't been a born Weasley in Slytherin in over three centuries. We've had a few Hufflepuffs, but it's almost always Gryffindor. The hat was even about to put me there until it changed its mind at the last moment. Said things would be better if I were here instead. But I don't know why!" It was no longer simple mist. Hot tears poured down his freckled face. "I don't care what Malfoy or his goons think. I just want to punch his stupid pointy face in! If I were just some Gryffindor that belted Malfoy, it would be one thing. But I'm in Slytherin. Slytherin! If I got back at him, the whole house would turn against me!"

I threw my arm across him and pulled his face in to my chest as he cried. The guilt was suffocating. I knew had I not been in this world, Ron wouldn't be here crying his heart out. He would be playing chess with Harry and his brothers in Gryffindor common room.

"I would never turn against you. Harry might be in another house, but we would both stand by your side no matter what. Just like what I know you would do for us."

"I" hic "thought you and Malfoy were" hic "friends?" He choked out between sobs.

"Why? Because I call him by his given name? Ron, sweetie, I do that with almost everyone. I'm American. If you think so because I always tell y'all to leave him alone, you're also wrong. I just don't want you to get in trouble. Because I care about you and Harry. You two are my friends, and I promised myself I'd look after you. As far as I'm concerned, Draco can take his ego and go shove it up—"

This time Ron did let out a small laugh at my vulgarity, but I could tell he was still severely distressed. I tightened my hold on him and used my free arm to gently run his fingers through his hair.

"De la Sierra Morena, Cielito lindo, vienen bajando," I began softly. My voice wasn't nearly as angelic as Mom's, but I wasn't sure what else to do. " Un par de ojitos negros, Cielito lindo, de contrabando ."

Ron started to relax a bit, "What is that? Is that Latin?"

Bemused, I shook my head, "Close. It's Spanish. It's a song that's important in my culture. We sing it at soccer games a lot. My… my mom used to sing it to me all the time."

"I don't know your family was from Spain."

"I'm Mexican, Ronald." I corrected.

"I thought you were American?"

I let out a laugh. This exchange was entertaining, but whoever was in charge of his schooling before Hogwarts needed to be shot.

"I know Snape's a real toddler, but… what was your mum like?" He changed the subject.

I took a deep breath, still gently messaging Ron's scalp, "She was nothing like Snape. Mom was… you would have liked her. Everyone always did. She was really smart and knew just what to say to make you laugh. She always cooked the best and loved to share her food with everyone. She was really pretty too. I don't look a lot like her, unfortunately. I inherited some skin pigment from her, but she was a lot tanner than me. Her eyes were this really warm hazel color, and they always seemed like they were welcoming you. She loved to play the guitar at family gatherings, and she had the voice of a siren. She was…" a single tear fell from my eye, "She was…" I swallowed, "Ron, never take your mother for granted. Promise me."

"…I promise. Could… could you keep singing? Mum sometimes sings for us…. Though it's usually Celestina Warbeck."

I raised an eyebrow, "You want me to sing ' A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love ' instead?"

He gave me a look, but I noted he was finally properly relaxed. Guess that was a no.

"Ay, ay, ay, ay, Canta y no llores, Porque cantando se alegran, cielito lindo, los corazones.

Pájaro que abandona, cielito lindo, su primer nido, Si lo encuentra ocupado, cielito lindo, bien merecido…"

My birthday passed by without any notice, as I had not mentioned the date to the boys. Snape did technically give me a present before breakfast: one Dragot and one Sprink— the wizarding currency of America— as well as a torn off piece of parchment saying "You're welcome for being born."

Tch. Typical.

Harry received his broomstick from McGonagall and with that September died and October was now on hospice. It was Halloween— the day of the troll, the tenth anniversary of the Potters' murder, and two days until Dia de los Muertos.

" Two months at Hogwarts and you can't even swish and flick, eh, Weasley, " I mimicked Snape. Ron gave me a death glare.

It was after Transfiguration for us, Charms for Harry, and we were all hanging out in the courtyard. Ron, upon hearing what the Gryffindors had done on class, decided to get a head start on the levitation charm in hopes of earning Slytherin some house points.

Harry's nose seemed to scrunch up on its own and he shuddered at my accuracy, "Please don't ever do that again. That was too close for comfort."

"You've got to admit it's impressive."

"That's certainly one way of putting it…"

Ron gave another glare. Harry made a point of showing his lips closing as I did the zipper motion.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" He tried again. Nothing happened.

"You're saying it wrong," said Hermione, who came absolutely out of nowhere, " It's Wing-gar-drum Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."

"You do it then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled.

Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand, and said "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The quill we were using for practice lifted gracefully and Hermione was looking very pleased with herself. Professor Sprout, who happened to be walking by, noticed and awarded three points to Gryffindor before continuing on her way.

I face-palmed as I knew exactly what was coming next. It would seem some things just couldn't be avoided. Goddamn stations of canon.

Ron turned bright red, his nostrils flaring in a way that reminded me of my Snape impression, "It's no wonder no one can stand you," he hissed out at her, "You're an utter nightmare, Granger."

Hermione's proud grin vanished as she stood frozen in shock before tears began to spill from her brown, baby-doe eyes, "I… I…"

Ron, realizing what he'd done, suddenly looked very ashamed of himself, "Hermione—" but before he could get another word out, Hermione ran past us. Still sobbing.

Harry glared at his best friend, "To her face, Ron? Really?"

I rubbed my temples and harshly flicked Ron's forehead, "She was only trying to help. Think about what you say before you just go spewing stuff out. That kind of thing is exactly something someone like Draco would say to her. A pureblood Slytherin boy picking on a muggleborn girl is not a good look."

Ron's face got paler and paler.

I stood up and stretched slight befitting turning back to the boys, "As a fellow girl, I'm obligated to go after her. Harry, make Ronald feel worse for me. Later, losers."

I gave a lazy two-finger salute and followed Hermione.