Armilla

Chapter 52

All was quiet the next morning as I prepared to leave for the Great Hall for breakfast. Morag had decided to sleep in (she was an unusual owl in other ways too - she would sleep at any time of the day in any place) and Judith, Matilda's owl, had already left. Usually when I woke, I would hear Snape moving around either in his office or in the sitting room. He always rose early and sometimes I thought he was loud on purpose in an effort to wake me up.

But he wasn't in his office or in the sitting room. I knew better than to think that Snape had accidentally slept in. I was still worried that I had offended him the night before when he had asked if I wanted to talk about something. For now, I was happy to bury any thoughts of being dark and pretend they weren't there. There was no use in worrying about it now. If the other students in the DA wanted to think I was dark then so be it. Snape would have probably told me to ignore them anyway.

I walked out into the sitting room as I pulled on my school robe over my uniform. The book I had given Snape had moved from its place on the coffee table over to the dining table, next to a stack of marked essays. I smiled. Maybe Snape had allowed himself to read one page of insults for every three essays he marked. Or maybe he had used the book for inspiration when writing harsh comments on the papers worthy of Ps, Ds and Ts. I could just imagine a student receiving a Dreadful in red ink, followed by: This essay shows you to be a modest little person, with much to be modest about. I laughed to myself. I didn't care that Mother was displeased about the book. Snape wouldn't really use it on students...I hoped.

Snape returned as I was picking up my bag. He looked rather pleased about something and I wondered what could have possibly happened to have him looking the slightest bit happy at this time of the morning.

"Good Morning," he said, sounding as if he really meant it. He walked over to the table and picked up the stack of essays.

I stared at him, wondering if the Gryffindors were alright. Snape would have only said good morning and meant it if something miraculous (in his eyes at least) had happened. Maybe the Weasley twins had gone too far and had blown up Gryffindor Tower overnight.

"What happened?" I asked, as Snape returned his insult book to the coffee table.

He straightened up. "Whatever do you mean?" he said, still looking pleased.

"I've never seen you look this happy on a school day," I said, watching him closely. "You must have a reason for looking so happy."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Can't I look happy at any time without a reason?" he said.

I shook my head. "Not really," I said, smiling.

He glared at me, but failed to look intimidating because he was evidently in a good mood.

"Very well," he said. "You will find out soon enough. There is a new decree in place."

I groaned. "Not another one. What could be more ridiculous than the ones already in place?"

Snape smirked. "This one," he said. "I happen to find it very entertaining and bordering between the ridiculous and the just downright ludicrous." He shook his head derisively. "I sincerely believe the ministry has stooped to new lows."

"Well what is it?" I asked,

He shook his head. "I'm not going to spoil the thrill of seeing it for yourself. Come. Let's go."

"I would have thought you'd find a new decree more annoying than entertaining," I said, as I opened the door.

"Oh, it's annoying, certainly," Snape acknowledged, "but it is so outlandish that people won't be able to help thinking that the ministry is concealing information. Even those fervently loyal to Fudge will hopefully begin to doubt their trust. That's why I'm pleased."

I was glad Snape was in a good mood. It must have meant that he wasn't too offended about me not talking to him the night before.

"Why were you out so early?" I asked.

"I was straightening things out with Dumbledore in regards to this Umbridge business," Snape said quietly. "You are free to come down here at any time, unless it is after curfew, in which case you would contact me first and I would meet you outside Ravenclaw Tower."

"Won't Umbridge protest to that?" I whispered.

"Umbridge can go-" Snape stopped. "No, she won't mind at all."

I looked up at him suspiciously, but he offered no more information.

"So why did Matilda suddenly send you an old photo?" he asked, as we walked along a deserted dungeon corridor.

I shrugged. "She was just writing to say thankyou for her Christmas present and she mentioned Merle not having copy of the photo."

"Where are all Merle's photos and valuables?" he asked.

"In my vault at Gringott's," I answered. "I didn't want Shar getting anywhere near them."

"Oh, he won't be," Snape said curtly. He looked over at me, his face serious. "The Merrigan Estate is your home too. If you wanted to move Merle's things from your vault to home I wouldn't mind."

"Alright," I said, nodding. "There's not a lot there, just heirlooms and photos and stuff. I didn't keep everything."

"That's fine," he said, as he opened his classroom door. He strode in and dropped the essays on his desk. "We'll go and get them the next time we are in London," he went on, as he magically sealed the classroom door again, "and don't worry about any harm coming to them. Mother became so obsessed about Father destroying her possessions that in the end she placed heavy wards on the house that would protect any valuables within owned by a family member."

"That was wise," I said, as we walked towards the stairs leading up to the noisy Entrance Hall.

"And that includes us, you know," he said.

I smiled. "We're Mother's valuables?"

Snape inclined his head. "Priceless possessions it would seem."

Students were crowded around the notice board in the Entrance Hall and I saw Lisa and Terry near it, waiting for me.

"I'll see you in Potions this afternoon," Snape muttered, before sweeping off to the Great Hall, his black robes billowing out behind him. Many of the younger students darted out of his path, their eyes wide. Poor kids.

"Snape told me I've got to view this decree for myself," I muttered to my friends as I joined the crowd. I wasn't tall enough to read it from the back, so I ducked through gaps until I could get close enough.

BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS

Teachers are hereby banned from giving students any information that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree

Number Twenty-six

Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor

I read it through twice, not entirely sure I had interpreted it correctly the first time. Had the ministry relocated it quarters to the closed ward at St Mungo's? Snape was right - it was ludicrous! Banning teachers from giving students information was the same as admitting that the ministry was concealing information and were afraid the wizarding population would find out.

"I bet some students are going to have some fun with this," said Terry as I made my way out of the crowd. We started to walk towards the Great Hall. "Being caught out after curfew is not related to any subjects the teachers are paid to teach. It's an opportunity for the more daring to twist it in their direction."

"If you're mad," I said. "I reckon Umbridge would still be using the same technique during her detentions." I shuddered, thinking about the evil quill that drew your own blood when you wrote with it. "I wouldn't want to be caught out by her."

"It's a bit insulting to the other teachers, isn't it?" said Lisa, as we sat down at the Ravenclaw table. "I mean, it would make their jobs very lonely, wouldn't it? Many of them talk socially to students who share the same interests and stuff, whether it's related to their subject or not."

"Umbridge will probably be watching you, Mill," said Terry, spooning scrambled eggs onto his plate. "She knows that Snape would talk to you about more than Potions. And you would then talk to other students, possibly revealing information."

"Ah," I said, thinking back to the day before. "That explains why she didn't want me going down to see Snape yesterday."

"She doesn't want you seeing Snape?" asked Lisa, pouring pumpkin juice for the three of us.

"She told me that this is a school, not a family home. She doesn't think I should have the privilege of seeing a family member socially if the other students can't."

"But really, she doesn't want Snape giving you any information," said Terry, now unrolling his Daily Prophet.

"Exactly," I said.

"So how did you end up staying down in the dungeons last night then?" Lisa asked.

"Snape said he sorted it out with Dumbledore," I replied. "I don't know how they convinced Umbridge, or even if they have convinced Umbridge yet."

"It's good to have connections," said Terry, grinning. "Say, when are we going to see your new owl?"

"I don't know," I said. "I'm not supposed to keep her in the owlery or Ravenclaw Tower." I couldn't imagine bringing my friends down to the dungeons to see Morag. I wasn't sure if Snape would appreciate me bringing my friends there. "If Umbridge doesn't like me going down to our rooms there, I doubt she would be happy about me taking other students down there."

"I wouldn't think Snape would be very welcoming if he found us in his rooms," said Terry.

"I've never discussed it with him," I said. "I doubt teachers would be allowed to let students into their rooms anyway."

Lisa nodded. "I wouldn't think so."

I glanced up at the staff table. Umbridge was wearing her usual fluffy pink cardigan and black Alice band, looking terribly pleased with herself. As usual, no other staff member was paying her any notice, but they weren't talking to each other as much as they normally did. Perhaps Umbridge had told them that they were only allowed to discuss school matters with each other and nothing else. Most of the teachers were reading newspapers with grim expressions or were scowling down at their breakfast.

"Teachers don't go to the staffroom so much anymore," Lisa whispered, following my gaze.

I looked back at her. "Afraid of being overheard discussing forbidden topics?"

She nodded. "I saw Sinistra, Flitwick and Vector coming down from the Astronomy Tower after morning break yesterday. They were talking in hushed voices. Maybe they know that Umbridge never goes up there."

o o o o o o o o o o o o

The next couple of days went by without any dramas. Lisa and Terry went to a DA meeting on Thursday evening and came back looking very pleased with themselves, chatting away in our quiet corner of the common room about what they had been practising. I was easily able to join in the conversation, having already covered with Snape everything they were learning.

I was glad that even though I wasn't in the DA, I could discuss what they were learning with them. They always came back looking so happy and I knew this was because they were learning new skills without Umbridge being any the wiser. I was convinced though, that my decision not to join them was the right one. It would have been nice to learn with my friends, but I knew I had the better teacher and I was better off not risking expulsion.

I hadn't seen Snape socially since Wednesday morning. He had had Harry Potter's Occlumency lesson on Wednesday evening and I had decided to stay in the Tower on Wednesday and Thursday evening to do my homework and study.

When I went to bed on Thursday night, I noticed that the wizard on my chocolate frog card was waving to me. Drawing the curtains around my bed and lighting my wand, I activated the card to reveal the message.

If Umbridge asks, we don't discuss news in the Daily Prophet or any other non-school related issues when you stay in the dungeons.

I frowned. I didn't think Umbridge would buy that.

You already told her that?

Yes.

And it didn't take much convincing?

...No...not really

I smiled. Snape wasn't the Head of Slytherin for nothing.

What sort of magic did you use?

There was a longer pause before I received a reply.

Who said anything about using magic?

I smiled as I concentrated on my answer.

Umbridge is paranoid. She wouldn't have so readily accepted that we don't discuss forbidden issues. Using magic to convince her without her knowing would have been the only option.

Another long pause.

I'm not sure whether to praise your Ravenclaw brain for being clever or ask you if you're sure the Sorting Hat never considered putting you in Slytherin.

Ah, so he did wonder about that. I was thankful that I was a Ravenclaw. If I was a Slytherin, I would have had no chance at convincing the other students that I was not dark. And that would have meant seeing a lot more of Malfoy, Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, Millicent and all the other Slytherins. Yuck.

It never mentioned Slytherin.

Grateful, are you?

Answer carefully, Armilla, I thought. As Snape had pointed out before, Slytherins weren't all tarred with the one brush.

I just wouldn't want to see more of Malfoy and Pansy than I already do.

I think you're better suited to Ravenclaw anyway.

I frowned again. That could be taken two ways.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing to you?

A good thing, I suppose. One of us had to continue Mother's Ravenclaw line.

So what magic did you use?

You're persistent, Armilla. I used a non-verbal charm that made her mind justify things more easily than it should have. It wasn't difficult at all.

Did she approach you to ask what we talk about?

She cornered me in the staffroom when no one else was there. I must remember not to go in there anymore unless I have to.

Won't it look suspicious when no teachers use it anymore? Umbridge will go looking for them.

How did you know teachers are using it less?

Students do notice things. We see teachers talking in small groups in odd places when they know Umbridge is on the opposite side of the castle.

I see. We don't have much choice. Some teachers need to be more careful though. Umbridge has eyes and ears everywhere. Remember that when you're talking to your friends. Not everyone around you is trustworthy.

Alright.

And make sure you don't get involved in little groups who wander into empty classrooms to have secret conversations about the ministry and perform their own magic.

My eyes widened. Did Snape know something?

I don't do that.

Good. I've caught two groups of students from different years and Houses doing that over the past two days. They should have been more careful.

That was strange. Snape wasn't saying that they shouldn't have done it at all. He was practically saying that the students had needed better tactics at concealing themselves.

What were they doing?

Ever inquisitive, Armilla. The first group were just talking about the Dark Lord and the ministry, and the second group were a few seventh years practising Defence shields.

Did you give them detention?

Of course I did. They should have known better. So easily caught. If Umbridge had caught them, they would all be currently packing their belongings.

So you're not condemning what they were doing, just that they weren't clever enough to hide themselves properly?

Not necessarily. Don't you get any ideas. It's enough that I give you information and extra lessons without Umbridge knowing. There's no reason for you to make the same mistake as these students.

I stared at the card incredulously. I couldn't tell if Snape knew something. If he had caught students secretly meeting in the castle, then he would suspect that there were other groups who were concealing themselves properly. Like the DA. Snape didn't condemn other students discussing forbidden issues or teaching themselves forbidden magic in secret as long as they concealed it properly. He didn't blame them for taking a secret stand against the Ministry. He just didn't want me doing the same thing. He felt there was no reason for me to. And I agreed - which was why I hadn't joined the DA.

o o o o o o o o o o o o

All morning on Friday, whenever I saw Harry, Ron and a few of the other DA Gryffindors, I noticed that they weren't looking at me as suspiciously as they had been a few days ago. They didn't look completely happy, but I noticed that Ron didn't go out of his way to glare at me.

On our way to Charms after lunch, my friends and I passed the Weasley twins in the Entrance Hall and they both winked at me. Lisa and Terry both laughed as they passed.

"What's all that about?" I asked. "Why did they both wink at me? Have they played a prank on me or something?"

"No. Well, we're quite thankful to them really," said Lisa, still smiling.

"Why?"

Terry grinned. "Well, you obviously know all about some of the DA members not really trusting you because you're Snape's sister and all-"

"Yeah, the ones who lack good judgment skills," I said icily.

"Yeah, well...Zacharias Smith was really the ringleader it turns out," Terry went on. "He was the one who concluded originally that you not joining meant that you were dark like Snape."

"Smarmy git," I muttered.

"And last night, he went on again about you not being there and the fact that you were probably off telling Snape all about it," said Lisa, her eyes shining. "Ron and Harry and a few others didn't think you'd go that far, but they weren't sure that any relative of Snape's was entirely trustworthy...and you know Harry's history with Snape...he's not at all inclined to think Snape might have a good side-"

"But the Weasley twins actually spoke up over Smith and declared that as far as they were concerned, you were trustworthy and no-hopers like Smith would do well to remember it!" Terry finished.

I stared at him. "But why would the Weasley twins stick up for me?" I asked. "I barely know them...they barely know me."

Terry shrugged. "The Weasley twins are held in high esteem by most of Gryffindor House and I reckon they can be pretty influential when they want to be. They've decided you're good and that's the way it's going to be."

"That's great," I said softly, "but I still don't understand why they would say so." I was really grateful to the twins. If anyone could put other people in their place and demand attention it was Fred and George Weasley.

"Then Hermione and Ginny agreed with them and most of the Ravenclaws said that they had always trusted you-" said Lisa.

"- Actually, I think Luna's words were She's so pretty for someone who carries the genes for Ferninkle Syndrome," said Terry, laughing.

"Ferninkle Syndrome?" I repeated. "What on earth is that? Why would I carry the gene for it?"

Terry laughed harder. "According to Luna, it is a well known syndrome, and people who have hooked noses have been affected by a dominant Ferninkle gene."

"Ah," I said, also laughing. "I don't think I'll mention that to Snape."

"Yeah," said Lisa, chortling. "You'd better not mention either that you're thrilled you didn't inherit a dominant Ferninkle gene."

"No, I don't think that would go down well," I agreed.

"Well on the bright side," Lisa continued, "some more people are willing to see you in a better light since the twins openly declared your goodness."

"And that's a start," said Terry. He scowled suddenly as he looked up ahead. "Oh, look out, here comes trouble."

I glanced down the end of the corridor and saw Malfoy, his cronies, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode coming in our direction. They weren't coming from the direction of the dungeons and I wondered where they had been.

"Hello!" Draco called.

"Sod off," Terry muttered.

"Keep up appearances," I muttered back through clenched teeth.

"Fine, I can't tell you how pleased I am to be in your company at present, Draco," he said quietly, as we drew closer to the Slytherins.

"Better," I muttered.

"How's it going Armilla?" said Malfoy. Pansy stopped next to him, looking sulkily at him. Blaise Zabini stopped on Malfoy's other side and looked Lisa up and down before looking back to me. Terry glared at him and stepped closer to Lisa. Crabbe, Goyle and Millicent stood behind the others, doing what they did best: looking like great lumps.

"Fine," I replied. "And you?"

"Oh, wonderful," he said. "Did you see the new notice earlier?"

"I did," I answered. I wasn't about to break into a lengthy discussion with Malfoy about our opinions on the latest decree.

Malfoy gave a small smile. "So did you notice what day it's on?"

I frowned. "What day what's on?"

Malfoy laughed. "The Hogsmeade trip of course! A notice was put up just before lunch."

"Oh," I said. "Is that all?"

"It's on Valentine's Day, Armilla," he said, still smiling.

"Is it?" I said, airily, ignoring the glare being cast in my direction from Pansy.

"Certainly is," he said. He smirked at Terry. "Does that mean you'll be wanting some alone time with your girlfriend, Boot?"

Terry was still glaring at Zabini. He abruptly turned to face Malfoy and glared at him instead.

"No," he said, quite politely. "The three of us always go to Hogsmeade together." Lisa nodded in agreement.

"How touching," Malfoy drawled. He turned back to me. 'But perhaps you should let the lovebirds have some time together, Armilla. Spend some time in someone else's company." He gave me a significant look. "It is Valentine's Day after all. Think about it."

With that, he moved passed me, a haughty expression on his face, and his friends hurried after in his wake.

I looked behind me, but none of them had turned around. I quickly took out my wand, careful to conceal it from view of the Slytherins in case they turned around, and performed a quick non-verbal charm.

"What-" Terry began, but he stopped as I shook my head at him.

We began to walk in the opposite direction of the Slytherins towards the Charms classroom. A moment later I heard a high-pitched scream.

"Don't turn around," I whispered, as both my friends stopped abruptly. "Keep walking. You saw and heard nothing."

They complied and before long we were on another floor, far away from Pansy Parkinson.

We joined the end of the noisy line outside the classroom.

"Care to explain?" Terry whispered.

"She might be a Slytherin, but she's living proof that you can be sly, but not clever," I whispered back.

Lisa stared at me. "What did you do?" she whispered.

"A shield charm," I muttered. "I predicted that she would hang back and attempt to do the same sort of thing like last time she attacked me in the corridor. I created an invisible bubble around me that would reverse any hex thrown at me back onto the attacker."

They both looked impressed.

"Whatever Pansy is suffering from right now is what would have happened to me," I whispered.

Terry smiled. "Did a loving relative teach you that?"

I grinned. "Yep."

Lisa's eyes were shining. "But she doesn't know what you did. For all she knows, she could think that she cast it incorrectly and it backfired. She can't report you for it."

"I know," I said, smiling. "It worked out perfectly."

Terry shook his head. "Clever, aren't you? A bit sly too, I might add. Are you sure the Sorting Hat didn't consider Slytherin?"

I sighed. "Yes, I'm perfectly sure."

o o o o o o o o o o o

When classes finished that afternoon, my friends and I headed back to Ravenclaw Tower. I was going to spend half an hour with my friends before going down to the dungeons for the night. Very unexpectedly though, we rounded a corner and nearly bumped into Snape.

I was surprised to see him in this part of the castle. I had expected him to be in his office.

"Ah," he said, "just the person I wanted to see." He wasn't smiling. "Come with me, Armilla."

He started to walk in the direction of the dungeons. I muttered a quick goodbye to my friends, who both looked worried, and moved to catch up with him. I looked up at him expectantly.

"Not now," he said quietly.

I nodded and we walked in silence all the way down to our quarters in the dungeons.

Once inside, Snape gestured for me to sit down at the table and he conjured up some tea.

"Didn't feel like coffee," he grunted, as he sat down. I tried not to smile, thinking of the birthday messages on his foam from Dumbledore the day before.

"Now," he said, adopting his professor-lecturing tone as he poured me a cup of tea. "I am exceedingly interested to know why Miss Parkinson is currently sporting a rather hideous flipper instead of a right arm." He placed the cup in front of me and raised an eyebrow.

"What makes you think I had anything to do with it?" I asked. "I mean, a flipper instead of an arm? I don't know the charm to make that happen...and if I was going to hex her, I would go for something much classier."

Snape smirked. "Oh, I agree. Flippers aren't your style." He sipped his tea. "But," he went on, placing his cup back on its saucer, "I do believe there was some involvement on your part."

"Why?" I asked.

Snape gave me a dour look. "Because, after much tedious lecturing on my part while conversing with Miss Parkinson in the hospital wing just now, I learned that she had just been in your company when she grew the flipper." He gave me a puzzled look. "Curious, isn't it?"

"Very," I agreed.

Snape leaned back in his chair. "Alright then, enough with all this. Miss Parkinson wasn't very helpful in giving me information. It seems she doesn't really know what happened." He narrowed his eyes at me. "But, I know you do. Explain."

I sighed. "We ran into Malfoy, Pansy and a few other Slytherins on the way to Charms. Pansy gets jealous every time Malfoy talks to me and I thought she might try something like she did last time. So when they left, I created that bubble shield you taught me in case she tried anything...and she did. And if she hadn't...-"

"-You would currently have the flipper," Snape finished, inclining his head.

"Better her than me," I muttered.

"Indeed," he said. "So Miss Parkinson has no idea why her charm backfired then...that's why she couldn't explain the situation to me. It would have meant admitting to me that she tried to hex you again."

I nodded.

"Well, I can only punish her for trying to hex someone or something in the halls," Snape went on, his brow furrowed. "As I see it, apparently you had no idea that she had been hexed."

I nodded. "That's how I planned it."

Snape considered me for a moment. "Sneaky," he said softly.

I knew he was thinking about me being a potential Slytherin again.

"Your tea's getting cold," he said, nodding at the cup in front of me.

We both drank in silence for a few moments, each of us lost in thought.

"Well," Snape said, placing his cup back on its saucer, "I believe I must say well done. You handled the situation remarkably well, though you had to use magic in the corridor."

I smiled. "Will Pansy get more than points docked then?"

Snape folded his arms. "Should I let you decide on her punishment then? I cannot be inconsistent with my punishments for students hexing others in the hallways."

"Oh," I said. Damn. I wanted to her to duel with the Giant Squid.

Snape smirked. "Well then, cleaning desks, scrubbing cauldrons or gutting toads?"

"All three," I said, smiling.

Snape smiled. "Done," he said. "And people think I'm harsh. You're a hard woman, Armilla."

"Thankyou," I said.

Snape shook his head. "I think I'm rubbing off on you. So what did Mr. Malfoy have to say to you this time?" he said, sneering.

"To remind me about the next Hogsmeade trip," I said casually. "He thinks the fact that it falls on Valentine's Day is significant."

Snape looked sharply at me. "Does he?" he said harshly.

"He didn't directly ask me," I said quietly. "He just implied that my friends should want Valentine's Day for themselves and that I would only be a third wheel."

"Do your friends feel that way?" he asked, looking annoyed.

"No," I said simply. "Terry told Malfoy that they weren't planning things that way at all. But Malfoy told me to think about spending the day in someone else's company anyway...I think that was when Pansy secretly organised her plan to hex me."

Snape pursed his lips. "You will not be going to Hogsmeade with that boy," he said in a hard voice.

"I know," I said. "I wouldn't want to. I don't like him."

Snape sighed, rubbing his right temple. "Hopefully he won't ask you," he said.

"And if he does?" I asked.

"Politely decline," he replied. "And if he insists you can tell him honestly that I do not approve."

"He'll love that," I muttered.

"He can deal with it," he said, sneering, "As can Father if it gets back to him. I've told him how I feel about all this. You're fifteen for goodness sake." He stood up and moved over to the sofa.

"I need to ask you something," I said quickly, as he reached for the newspaper on the coffee table.

Snape paused, looking suspicious. "Go on," he said.

"Did the Sorting Hat ever consider more than one house for you?" I asked. I knew it was a personal question, but I really wanted to know. Besides, Snape didn't have to answer if he didn't want to.

Snape regarded me, curiously. "You ask the Head of Slytherin that?"

I nodded.

Snape sighed, gesturing for me to join him on the sofa.

"Yes," he said simply, when I had sat down next to him.

"It did?" I said incredulously. Snape had been suited for more than one House?

Snape nodded. "Just one other House. You can guess which." He paused and glared at me. "But if you guess Hufflepuff or Gryffindor you'll do the same detention as Miss Parkinson."

"Ravenclaw it is," I said.

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Surprised?"

I looked thoughtfully at him for a moment. "No," I said finally.

Snape was watching me closely. "Why did you want to know that?" he asked.

I shrugged. "You asked me the same question...I was just as curious about you."

He nodded, but I didn't think he was entirely convinced.

"Let me ask you another question then," he said softly.

I nodded.

"I want an honest answer, no matter how you feel," he said, looking serious.

"Alright," I said.

"Let me use a case scenario," he said, leaning forward. "A new student...let's call her Morag..." he smiled derisively as I shook my head at him, "...comes to Hogwarts. Her unfortunate father was a Gryffindor and her hapless mother was a Hufflepuff. Having inevitably received the genes of both her parents, as that is nature, Morag does not know which House she is suited for. She possesses the idiotic bravado of her father and the sickening sentimentality of her mother. But when she puts on the Sorting Hat, it doesn't hesitate to put her in Hufflepuff." Snape paused, his black eyes glittering as he looked at me. "Now, this is where I want your opinion, Armilla. The Sorting Hat didn't hesitate to put Morag in Hufflepuff, so does that mean she can rule out having the qualities prized by Gryffindor?"

I shook my head. "No, she still has them."

"Even though the Sorting Hat didn't even consider Gryffindor?"

I nodded. "The Hufflepuff qualities must have a stronger impact than the Gryffindor qualities. But they'd still have to be there...that's nature because her father was a Gryffindor." I knew where Snape was leading to with this.

Snape nodded. "We're in agreement then. Now, let's apply Morag's situation to us. You and I share the same blood, the same mother and father, but we didn't have equal opportunity to enter the same House."

I looked up at him curiously.

"We both possess Slytherin and Ravenclaw qualities due to our bloodlines," he continued, "but these were also influenced by the environments in which we were brought up. I was raised in an environment dominated by a ruthless Slytherin and you were brought up by a Ravenclaw." Snape looked down at me, his expression unfathomable. "It doesn't surprise me where we each ended up."

I said nothing, waiting for him to go on.

"But then you were thrown into a completely different environment," he said. "You went from having a mother-like elderly Ravenclaw for family to having two Slytherin wizards. Suddenly you are exposed to their views on the world and how to deal with situations and they may seem very different to the old environment."

I nodded. That was exactly right. Living with my Father and Snape was very different to living with Merle...but then, living with Father was very different to living with Snape. Snape wasn't as cold.

"This new environment has the potential to awaken qualities that you've always had, but may not have been aware of," said Snape, shifting slightly. "Using cunning plans to save yourself from being attacked is not something you would have normally done before, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah," I said softly.

"It doesn't mean it is wrong though," he went on, watching me closely. "You'd never been in an environment that commanded you to use your Slytherin qualities before you lived with me. You do have Slytherin qualities, Armilla. That is nature, just like the Sorting Hat knew I had Ravenclaw qualities."

"But...I..." I had decided to bury my thoughts about being dark...but it suddenly felt right to talk to him about it.

Snape sighed. "Yes?"

I paused. I had no idea how to word what I wanted to say. "I...I know not all Slytherins are bad...I don't know how to explain it without offending you..."

He smiled. "Don't worry about that. I'll know in advance that you don't mean it. Now...where were we? Ah, yes, not all Slytherins are bad. Having being the one who told you that, I won't disagree. I will say that it is unfortunate that you have met a lot of...bad Slytherins."

"If I spend a lot of time with Slytherins, won't I develop a lot of the Slytherins traits that I've always had, but never really used?"

Snape inclined his head. "I think you already have."

"But like you said, I've met a lot of bad Slytherins," I said quietly. "If I spend a lot of time with them, will I be able to help picking up their ways?"

Snape considered me for a moment, his eyes glittering. "You mean, become dark like them?"

Slowly, I nodded.

We were silent for a moment.

"You've been worried about this ever since you received that letter from Father and you were too horrified to say that you wished he didn't exist," said Snape quietly.

I nodded again.

"You were worried when Mother and I were talking about being rid of Father," he went on, barely moving his lips. "You agreed with everything we said, but you were afraid of coming over to the dark side if you said so openly."

I stared at him. "How could you possibly know all that?"

Snape narrowed his eyes. "Just when you think you can hide your worries from me, you discover that I know you better than you think."

"I thought you might know..." I admitted, "but I didn't know what to say...how to explain it."

"Do you think Harry Potter's dark?" he asked suddenly.

"No," I said. "Of course not."

"Why not?"

"Because he's...-"

"-Supposedly the Saviour of the wizarding world?" he offered.

"Yes. How could he be dark then?"

"He's not," said Snape simply. "But I can tell you that he does have dark thoughts. What about Longbottom?"

"Neville?" I said. "Of course he's not dark."

"I know," said Snape smoothly, "but again, I can tell you that he has dark thoughts. I can say the same for many other people, Armilla."

"But they don't wish death on their own fathers, do they?" I said.

Snape looked thoughtful. "Some of them might. I believe your reasons for wishing Father's death to be similar to mine and Mother's. Therefore, I would not conclude that you want Father gone to create evil in the world."

"No, of course not."

"I'm not saying that wishing Father's death is a good thing," Snape went on, "but we find comfort in thinking about it because of all the evil he has inflicted." He looked down at me closely. "You don't really think you're dark, do you?"

"I...-" The truth was, I didn't know what to think anymore. Snape always put things in a different perspective.

Snape sighed as he pulled me into his arms. "If you're dark Armilla, there will need to be a whole new word for me."

"But...I've got the potential to be dark...like Father," I whispered.

"We all have the potential to be dark, no matter who we are," said Snape firmly. "Even the bloody Boy Who Lived has the potential. It's like Dumbledore says, it's our decisions who define who we are, not our heritage. You think dark thoughts about Father because it brings you comfort. But your everyday actions don't demonstrate a desire to be dark."

"But what about you?" I whispered. "People think I might go dark because I'm related to you."

Snape was silent for a moment. "I got in too far," he whispered. "I made bad choices because I wanted revenge. I realised too late that being in the Dark Lord's service wasn't what I desired. I made the decision to join the Light side...I made it very late, but all the same I made it. Students think I'm dark, but I've got to keep up appearances to be of any use to the Light. Your dark thoughts would be nothing to mine, I assure you. Sometimes I still feel that I'm involved in the Dark side to deeply...and I only draw strength from the fact that I did make the decision to support the Light side. No matter how dark my past is, my future is about working for the Light." He moved an arm to squeeze my hand. "As for other students thinking you might go dark, that's their problem and I'd advise you to ignore them...empty-headed twits."

I gave a small smile. That was exactly what I predicted he would say.

"You've developed some Slytherin traits, certainly." Snape paused as he looked down and met my gaze. "But you're different from the bad Slytherins because you use them for good." He pulled me closer and kissed the side of my head. "And that, you silly girl, proves that you're no darker than the most optimistic Hufflepuff."