Snape's Niece

The next morning Draco roused himself earlier than usual, dressed, and went to get Emma. He knocked on her door, once, twice, thrice. "Damn," he said, frustrated. He pointed his wand at the lock. "Alohomora," he whispered to the door. He turned the handle and the door swung open. Emma was already dressed. Her long, silky black hair hung down her back, and she was wearing a pair of Old Navy ultra-low waist black jeans that fit her extremely well. Her shirt was a black tank top, and she wore a knee-length, long-sleeved Marino wool sweater, that was, coincidentally, black. Also, she was wearing a pair of combat boots that looked slightly worn. "Interesting getup. Does it mean you are in mourning?" he asked, leaning up against the doorjam.

"No, actually. I always wear black. I'm very fond of it. Uncle Sev introduced me to the wonders of wearing black to freak your parents out," Emma said as she grinned, looking less like Snape than ever. "My mom thought I'd become a Goth or something. She didn't have to worry. I wear black to get attention. Oh, my head." She pulled out her wand and muttered a spell. Music spilled into the air:

"I like your pants around your feet

And I like the dirt that's on your knees

And I like the way you still say please

While you're looking up at me

You're like my favorite damn disease

And I love the places that we go

And I love the people you know

And I love the way you can't say 'No'

Too many long lines in a row

I love the powder on your nose

And now I know who you are

It wasn't that hard

Just to figure you out

Now I did, you wonder why

I like the freckles on your chest

And I like the way you like me best

And I like the way you're not impressed

While you put me to the test

I like the white stains on your dress

I love the way you pass the check

And I love good times you wreck

And I love your lack of self-respect

While you're passed out on the deck

I love my hands around your neck

And now I know who you are

It wasn't that hard

Just to figure you out

Now I did, you wonder why

And now I know who you are

It wasn't that hard

Just to figure you out

Now I did, you wonder why

Why not before, you never tried

Gone for good, and this is it

I like your pants around your feet

And I like the dirt that's on your knees

And I like the way you still say please

While you're looking up at me

You're like my favorite damn disease

And I hate the places that we go

And I hate the people that you know

And I hate the way you can't say 'No'

Too many long lines in a row

I hate the powder on your nose

And now I know who you are

It wasn't that hard

Just to figure you out

Now I did, you wonder why

And now I know who you are

It wasn't that hard

Just to figure you out

Now I did, you wonder why

Why not before, you never tried

Gone for good, and this is it"

"I love this band," she said dreamily. "Oh, it's Nickelback, from their album 'The Long Road', it's a great album, they're a Muggle band from Canada. I'll play the whole thing for you someday." She explained who this band was when she saw his confused look. "Now which class do we go to first?" Emma asked as she looked up at him expectantly.

"None. First we go get some food, then I'll show you the school. Professor Snape, your uncle, has informed me that the Headmaster has given me the day off to show you around the school," Draco replied.

They walked down the eight staircases, and out of the Slytherin common room. As they entered the Great Hall, Emma gasped. Draco saw her expression and grinned. Emma saw the grin, and thought: He's so sexy when he grins, and the grin is because of me! She felt giddy, joyful, which was something new, something she hadn't felt for what felt like ages, but was only three weeks. They went over to the Slytherin table and sat down.

Emma stared in wonder at all the food that was laid out on the table before her. "Am I supposed to eat a bit of everything?" she asked Draco, who laughed. "I barely eat anything at breakfast, just some fruit and toast, but I could eat more if I have to."

"No, no. You don't have to eat anything you don't want to. But try to eat something, this castle's huge." He turned away from her and piled his plate with all sorts of things. A few of which were toast, biscuits, bacon, sausage, three kippers, scrambled eggs, and a kiwi.

Emma wrinkled her nose, and put two pieces of toast, and half of an apple on her plate and commenced with eating them. She spread the toast with creamy peanut butter, and sliced the apple, and the toast into bite sized pieces. "Mmm, breakfast at its best!" she said, smiling. Draco grinned again and shook his head, his plate was half empty. Already.

"I'd wither away on meals like that," he said playfully. "I'd be a living skeleton, but then I could piss off Potter and his gang like that easily."

"Why don't you like Harry Potter?" Emma asked, levitating a bite-sized piece of toast into her mouth. She chewed, and swallowed. "I mean, he's supposed to be really nice, isn't he?"

"Not to me," Draco said cryptically. Emma raised an eyebrow as if commenting on something, but she just went back to levitating toast and apple bites.

"Family rivalries suck, don't they? My brother has--had--a blood feud with the guy across the street. The guy took his Mr. Robot toy when he was eight. It's too bad. The guy ended up being super-hot, and he liked me, too, but wouldn't say anything because of Issac," Emma finished, and wrinkled her little nose. "Anyway, it's not like Issac would let just anyone date his little sister. I've gone out with five guys in the past four years. Only five. My brother drives--drove--me crazy." She finished her breakfast, and watched everyone else eat. She looked over at the Gryffindor table. Harry Potter and his 'gang' were laughing, chucking food at a red-haired girl who threw jelly at them. The red-haired boy (What was his name? Ron? That's what that bushy-haired girl had called him) saw her staring and poked and whispered something to Harry Potter.

*******

"Look, mate, it's Snape's niece, she's staring at you," Ron whispered to Harry.

Harry looked up and saw the black-haired, green-eyed girl staring back at him. It was an unnerving stare. He lifted a hand and waved at her. Her eyebrows lifted and she glanced at the young man sitting beside her. He was eating. Still. She waved back and pointed at Draco, rolling her eyes.

"What do you think you are doing, Potter?" hissed a voice. Harry jumped, it was Snape. "You are to leave my niece alone, you hear? I don't want you to socialize with her; your foul ways would corrupt her. She is too delicate for someone of your reputation." Snape disappeared as soon as he had appeared. True, Harry had a reputation. First there was Cho, then Lavender Brown, Padma Patil, Hannah Abbott and more besides. At this time he wasn't dating anyone, and certainly didn't want to date Snape's niece. Besides, she looked like she was enjoying Malfoy's company. He had just said something and she burst into laughter.

"Excuse me, students," said a quiet voice that was coming from the teacher's table. It was Dumbledore. "You may have noticed a new student. Her name is Emma Snape; she is Professor Snape's niece, and will be staying here for an indefinable period of time. Don't worry, students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. She will naturally be staying with her uncle in Slytherin. That is all. You can go back to your breakfasts now."