Secrets of a Slytherin Princess

Nearly a month went by with Apollonia living at the Burrow. During that time, Arthur had taken Apollonia to take her apparation test—which she passed—so the Slytherin went to visit her cousin every so often. Doing so helped Apollonia through the month; despite her being a witch, Dudley always seemed willing to trust her. Even after how he treated Harry over the years because he was a wizard, Dudley was kind to her. And, that fact helped Apollonia since the Order seemed unwilling to trust her after Draco pulled her away from the battle. It didn’t matter that she was safe, just that she was captured by a Death Eater, no matter what the reason.

Fortunately for her, Dora was one of the few to trust Apollonia above reproach; yes, it was her Death Eater cousin who pulled her away, but Dora was still the only one to know that Lily Potter was the Slytherin’s mother. Apollonia could have told everyone within the Order that she was Harry’s half-sister and garnered the respect she deserved, but she still maintained that Harry had to hear of the secret first. Though, there were definitely times where Apollonia considered telling Ginny; if Ginny loved Harry as much as Apollonia suspected she did, then telling the sole Weasley girl might not be a bad thing. But, she never did. Secrecy was maintained and Apollonia suffered because of that fact.

During the middle of August, Apollonia’s Hogwarts letter arrived, only for the Slytherin to learn of the measures her father took in order to protect her. Thanks to Hermione’s decision to accompany Harry and Ron in their search for the horcruxes—whatever they were—Apollonia received the Head Girl title. Hermione is going to kill me for taking this from her. But, it wasn’t like Apollonia had a choice; it was an order from her father.

Dear Ms. Snape,
I am pleased to inform you have been given the honor of Head Girl. Being Head Girl, especially in the midst of a war, will put a tremendous pressure on you. However, I am certain that you will rise to the challenge and help maintain a state of peace within the school.

Deputy Headmistress

Minerva McGonagall

When she received the letter, Apollonia had to reread the closing. Professor McGonagall remained the Deputy Headmistress. Meaning, who was the head of the school? As she clasped the Head Girl badge, Apollonia shared a glance with Ginny, who seemed just as confused by what was going on as the new Head Girl was. “Professor McGonagall is still teaching,” Ginny noted to the Slytherin and her parents when they each received their letters.

The Slytherin nodded. “It’s highly suspicious, wouldn’t you agree?” she asked. She had her suspicions about who was currently running the school, based simply on the fact that she was currently Head Girl. Only one person could have made such a recommendation; of course, that fact could get Apollonia in even more trouble with the Order. So, she kept her mouth shut, hiding her suspicions from everyone. It would be announced in time.

Whereas last year was spent at Malfoy Manor, Apollonia spent the days prior to her seventh year at the Burrow getting ready with Ginny. It was odd being around the younger girl; apparently Harry broke up with her at the end of the previous year. And, while Apollonia understood her brother’s reasoning, that he didn’t want Ginny involved in the war, the Slytherin sympathized with the younger Gryffindor. This next year would be as hard on her as it would on Apollonia; they could, if need be, comfort each other over their loss. “Ginny,” Apollonia asked on August 31st, the night before heading back to Hogwarts, “are you sure you’re okay?” She could hear crying coming from Ginny’s room and wondered what was wrong.

“Yeah,” the younger girl called. “I’m fine.”

Apollonia really didn’t believe that the Weasley girl was okay. During the four days in which the Slytherin watched the interaction between the couple, she could see how much Ginny’s eyes lit up when she caught sight of Harry. That sheen seemed to dull now that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were gone; separation anxiety was taking its toll on Ginny. The Slytherin would have to watch Ginny carefully throughout the year. She seemed to be in a downward spiral since Harry left; if the youngest Weasley continued on this path, there would be trouble.

Upon giving herself a reminder to watch out for Ginny, Apollonia returned to what she was doing. Come tomorrow, she would be on her way to Hogwarts. It was going to be a very trying year, what with Voldemort trying to take over the school and Harry trying to destroy him. Apollonia really had not idea as to what to expect. “Apollonia!” someone called. The Slytherin turned to find Tonks at her side, hair colored green at the time. “It’s been nice having to you around here this past month,” the older woman replied.

She nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Remember to stay in contact,” Dora said.

“Yeah, not like those eleven years we didn’t,” Apollonia laughed, hugging the older woman goodbye. Being around Tonks often reminded the Slytherin of Draco; they were cousins, after all. It was the closest Apollonia got to Draco this past month. “This time, I will definitely make sure to keep in touch with you. You’re the only one that’s continued to trust me after what happened.”

“Good,” Dora smiled.

Apollonia went to finish packing and wondered if she was at all capable of doing everything that was required of her. Thanks to her father, the Slytherin was Head Girl. Then, in addition to that, she had to keep an eye on the Dursleys for the Order, watch over Ginny, keep in contact with Tonks—and Hermione when she could—and do schoolwork. At one point, the strain would get to her; and Apollonia wondered when that would be.

Since she spent much of her night thinking about what could happen over the course of the year, Apollonia was dead weight by morning. She could barely think straight. Apollonia was rather surprised that she made it to King’s Cross without falling asleep standing up. The Slytherin was glad she didn’t though; it seemed as there were Death Eaters at the Station, trying to determine the blood-status of all those attending school this year. Though, as Apollonia took great care to notice, some students were pulled from attending this year. There were definitely less students. Once she was allowed to pass, Apollonia bid goodbye to Ginny and went to the Head compartment. As her letter never stated who the Head Boy was, she wondered who it might be. It didn’t take long to figure out who it was; the second she entered the Head compartment, she was enveloped into a hug. She laughed. “Hello, Draco. So, another one of my father’s conspiracies?”

“It was the best way to protect you,” Draco insisted.

“Of course it is,” Apollonia muttered. “The meeting with the prefects; how long is that going to take? I haven’t exactly slept all that much. Too busy worrying about this year.”

“Ah!” Draco realized. “I doubt it will be very long.”

Apollonia slumped down into a seat. “Good.” The Slytherin did not elaborate any further, merely settled down to wait for the twenty-four students that were prefects to enter. She and Draco had to go over everything with the group. Apollonia was rather pleased to see that Ginny was a prefect—she didn’t tell Apollonia about that—but not that Pansy was here.

“What are you doing here?” Pansy screamed.

“I’m Head Girl,” Apollonia informed her.

“But, you’re a nobody!” she yelled.

Apollonia glared at Pansy. She was about to yell at the pug-faced girl when Draco stepped in to her defense. “Pansy, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You claim she’s a nobody when in fact; she’s really the most important person here. You’d do well to remember that. And, you also happen to be disrespecting authority by calling her out in such a way. Would you like to lose your badge for that, Parkinson?” He glared at Pansy. “If you refuse to respect Apollonia’s authority, I’ll have to recommend that your badge be revoked.”

“No!” Pansy cried.

“Then respect her,” Draco insisted.

There were no other outbursts from any of the other prefects—not from Pansy or anyone else—and the meeting went smoothly. Once everyone was gone, Apollonia slumped against the seat and fell asleep. It was sunset when the Slytherin woke up, her head resting against Draco’s shoulder. “How long was I asleep?” Apollonia asked with a yawn.

“Six hours,” he informed her.

“And, how long until we reach Hogwarts?” she asked. Apollonia wondered when she would get the chance to speak with her father. If Voldemort was trying to take over the school, her father would not be leaving. He might still be there. She really didn’t know.

“Not too long,” he assured her.

Draco spoke true, for the train pulled into Hogsmeade station not too long afterwards. Since her father gave the order for her to remain at Draco’s side, the pair emerged from the train together and claimed a carriage. When Pansy attempted to come near their carriage, Apollonia smirked and closed it off from her. “Not happening,” the Slytherin informed the pug-faced girl. “You treat me like crap and you’ll soon see that you made a mistake.” After all that Pansy did to her over the years, Apollonia was not about to let get her way. It was not about to happen. “You tortured me all last year; well, this is my payback.”

“But…” Pansy objected.

Apollonia and Draco didn’t hear the rest of Pansy’s statement; their carriage started off towards the school. “When you spoke to my father last, what did he say?” the Slytherin questioned.

“You’ll find out,” he replied.

They arrived at the castle and headed over to the Slytherin table. As the Head Boy and Head Girl took their seats, Apollonia caught a glimpse of her father up at the staff table, seated where Dumbledore previously sat. “My father’s the Headmaster this year?” she questioned.

“It’s why you’re Head Girl,” Draco replied.

“I guess that explains it,” the Slytherin understood. The only reason this was done was because her father became the Headmaster after Dumbledore’s death. It made sense. How else would she have been protected if her father wasn’t here at the school? “I’ll have to talk to him.”

“He wants to see us anyway,” he informed her.

Most students were rather surprised to see that Severus Snape was the new Headmaster. Though it seemed to have been mentioned in the Daily Prophet, all students second year onward were shocked to see who Dumbledore’s replacement was. As Professor McGonagall led the small pack of first years in for the Sorting, Apollonia caught her father’s gaze. His piercing obsidian gaze was unnerving to say the least and his daughter couldn’t help but wonder why that was. “Welcome to a new year,” her father said in a tone that seemed much different to the one that Dumbledore used in years previous. “Despite all that goes on within the Wizarding World, your education must move forward. It is for that reason that the Dark Lord agreed to open the school, to make the shift in power as seamless as possible for all those involved.” He nodded to Professor McGonagall, who stood with the small pack of students. “Now, without any further ado, let us hold the Sorting.”

Because of Voldemort’s rise in power and eventual takeover, this year’s class of first years only consisted of about twenty kids, compared to the normal forty. Only four of the group got sorted into Slytherin. As she was watching the Sorting, Apollonia’s gaze drifted up to the staff table where two people—a man and a woman—that she had never seen before sat gleefully talking. “Draco, who are they?” Apollonia questioned, motioning to the pair.

“Amycus and Alecto Carrow,” he informed her. “Beware of them. They’re the Death Eaters I warned you about. Amycus will be teaching Dark Arts; and that’s not Defense against, but the real thing. As for Alecto; well, something happened to Charity Burbage this past summer and Alecto will be taking over Muggle Studies. It’s compulsory for all students now, and nothing like what you knew it was. They’re about as crazy and unhinged as my aunt.”

“No,” she whispered.

“Afraid so,” Draco told her. “Apolla, you’re in danger here. Muffliato. Okay, now we can talk without anyone overhearing us. It was never discussed, but I became a Death Eater to protect you. The Dark Lord wanted to use you in a part of his plans, a plan I snuffed before it got into the planning stage. I became a Death Eater, not only to protect my family, but to protect you as well. Otherwise, you’d have this on your arm.” He showed her the Dark Mark. “I’m the reason you aren’t serving the Dark Lord; both me and your father.”

“Why me?” the Slytherin questioned.

“Not a damn clue,” he shrugged. “It was never explained. But, I wasn’t about to let you become a part of this. Stay away from the Carrows; they’ll try to pull you into this, no matter whether you are Snape’s daughter. Incidentally, it was one of the Carrows coming after you last month. Had I not pulled you away to speak with your father, you might have the Dark Mark.”

Apollonia gasped. Was Voldemort aware of Apollonia’s connection to Harry? Had her father been too late in giving his daughter the Occulemency lessons she needed to protect the secret? Unfortunately, it was unclear as to what Voldemort wanted of her since Draco interceded; Apollonia never thought that such a thing would happen; that the only reason Draco became a Death Eater was to help her escape becoming a Death Eater herself. “Wow. I don’t know how to thank you, Draco. Had I been a Death Eater, my brother would kill me.”

“Again with the mysterious brother, huh?” Draco asked in annoyance. “Seriously, Apolla. What’s the deal with that? How is it that you have a brother I know nothing about?”

“You don’t want to know, Draco,” she assured.

He shrugged. “Whatever; I’ll figure it out one day. As for what I did, the best way for you to thank me is to stay safe. Should anything happen to you over the course of the year, all my efforts will have been in vain. Snape will destroy me if anything does occur; you simply can’t be a part of the war. Neither your father nor I will ever let you become a part of this.”

She nodded. “Got it.”

Draco canceled the spell and they heard the imposing voice of Professor Severus Snape hit their ears once more. “There will be a few staffing changes for this year. First, we have Amycus Carrow teaching the Dark Arts. Meanwhile, his sister, Alecto, will be teaching Muggle Studies. One final change is that Professor Horace Slughorn has agreed to be Slytherin’s Head of House this year with my promotion to Headmaster. Finally, I would like to point out this year’s Head Boy and Head Girl, for those who don’t know.” Apollonia glared at her father. What was he doing? In previous years, Dumbledore never announced the Head Boy and Girl for the upcoming year. So, why was her father? “The Head Boy is Mr. Draco Malfoy and our Head Girl is my very own daughter, Ms. Apollonia Snape.”

A round of rousing applause filled the Great Hall as Draco and Apollonia stood up to make themselves known. Only one person however, seemed perturbed by the announcement: Pansy Parkinson. “His daughter!” she screeched. “Professor Snape has a daughter?”

The Great Hall fell silent at Pansy’s outburst. The Headmaster—it felt weird referring to her father as the headmaster—strode over to Pansy, plucking Apollonia and Draco from their seats. Apollonia smirked; Pansy would get what was coming to her. “Of course I have a daughter, Ms. Parkinson,” her father said lightly, his coal-colored eyes boring into the pug-faced seventh year Slytherin prefect. “A daughter, mind you, that you have continually harassed during the past year. You call her a nobody, if I recall. You and your gaggle of giggling girls harassed my daughter for much of last year; and, it is that, Ms. Parkinson, that lost you the title of Head Girl, for I had considered you for the position. You lost that chance though, when you decided to harass my daughter simply because you didn’t like her. Keep that in mind, Ms. Parkinson, the next time you decide to call someone you meet a nobody; they could turn out to be the most important person in the world.”

The Headmaster turned away and it was Draco’s turn to speak. “I warned you, Pansy,” Draco muttered. “I knew precisely who Apolla was and you continually ignored me in favor your own opinion.”

Finally, it was Apollonia’s turn to shove this news down the pug-faced girl’s throat. “I always told you, Pansy, that my father could destroy you for what you did to me. You never listened. Get it now. I’m the Headmaster’s daughter; Slytherin’s former Head of House’s daughter. It never seemed to make much of a difference to you. You, Millicent, Daphne, sometimes even Tracey; it never occurred to you as to what you were doing. I hope the loss of Head Girl teaches you something; to treat people the way you want to be treated.” Apollonia stormed away and went to join Draco and her father at the dais.

“How long before she tries to retaliate?” Draco wondered.

“A day,” Apollonia suspected.

“She will do no such thing,” her father assured her. “It’s not normally done, but, in this case, I will make an exception. Neither one of you will be housed in the dungeon. You will be housed in a dorm by my office, a place where I can keep an eye on you and make certain that Ms. Parkinson does not retaliate. For if she does, and I will know, all privileges will be revoked.” He led his daughter and Draco away from the Great Hall and up towards his office. His ebony wand was removed, tapping a panel beside the gargoyle that guarded his office. “This is where the two of you will reside for the upcoming year. Unlike all other restricted area, a simple tap of the wand will allow entrance. Only myself, Professor McGonagall, Professor Slughorn, and the two of you will have access to this room; only our wands have been keyed to allow passage into the rooms.” The panel slid to the side, allowing the Heads to enter the room just behind the new Headmaster.

Apollonia elbowed Draco. “Did you know about this too?” From what the Slytherin could deduce about what was going on, her father and Draco were conspiring to protect her. This might be yet another way to protect Apollonia from the Death Eaters they warned her about.

“I had no idea,” he replied. “Seems Pansy’s barb at you caused Snape to take drastic action. Since it will keep you away from the Carrows, I really don’t care. The Carrows are vicious, about as bad as my aunt; there’s no need to subject you to something like that. The less amount of time you spend around them, the better off you’ll be.”

Apollonia shrugged and entered the secret room. “Still sounds like you and my father conspiring to keep me safe this coming year.” If their last meeting had been any indication, all this had to do with her protection, the one thing that Draco and her father seemed to collaborate on. They each seemed to have their own reasons for it, but the only thing that mattered was that they were trying to keep her safe during wartimes. Pansy’s barb might have instigated this, but it was not the only reason they were to be housed near her father’s new office. There were Death Eaters in the castle thanks to Voldemort’s uprising; only her father and Draco could ever be trusted to help her. And, she knew that. They were the only ones she could ever trust while she was growing and the only ones she could trust now.

Both Slytherins slumped down into chairs before looking up at the Headmaster. The passage was closed and he turned to face the pair. “I gave this order a month ago; so I will repeat it: Apollonia, you are not to go anywhere without Mr. Malfoy at your side. You are currently under my protection, but that might not be enough. And, Mr. Malfoy, no pushing my daughter away as you did last year. Now that the Dark Lord is in control, my daughter’s life is in danger. You would do well to remember that. Should you leave her alone, the Carrows may come after my daughter. Her safety is paramount; and you know that.”

Draco nodded. “Yes, sir.”

As her father turned to exit the room, Apollonia hurried over. She needed to ask him about something, something that Draco was not allowed to know about. “Dad, is this about Mum?”

“You know it is,” her father said.

The Slytherin glared at her father. “And, if this is about Mum as you so claim, why are you not doing what you can to help the cause?” she yelled at her father. She had to be careful about what was revealed; Draco knew nothing of her mother—though Merlin knows he tried—so Apollonia could not speak of Harry in front of him. “Dad, you know how I feel about this! I’m not a Death Eater, nor am I even a supporter of his crap. Why would you kill Dumbledore and turn your back on me and what I want? You may be doing this in order to protect me, but I simply can’t condone you joining back up with Volde-”

“Don’t say that name!” Draco yelled.

“Why not?” Apollonia questioned.

“Would you like for the Death Eater to come after you?” Draco asked, coming towards where she and her father stood. “That’s exactly what will happen if you say that name. And, there’s no way that your father or I can protect you if that word is ever uttered.”

Apollonia groused for a moment or two about the taboo on Voldemort’s name before storming away to her bedroom. She needed to think about all of this. Under her father’s order, Apollonia was not to go anywhere without Draco at her side; it would not bode well for her when she tried to go help protect the school. She really didn’t have much of a choice either; due to the fact that she was the Dursleys’ secret-keeper, Apollonia couldn’t just stand at the sidelines of battle as her father wanted. With the friendship she forged with Dudley—on her father’s orders—there was no way that the young Snape could simply hang them out to dry; she could do no such thing, especially after all the progress Dudley made in befriending Harry after years of bullying his weaker cousin.

The Slytherin locked herself in her bedroom and lay on her bed to think. If there was any chance for the younger Snape to redeem her name within the Order after everything that happened these past few months, Apollonia had to attempt it. So long as there was a chance for Apollonia to renew the faith the Order had in the Snape name, she had to try. And, in essence, that meant disobeying her father’s—and Draco’s—orders to stay out of danger. It simply wasn’t possible, not anymore. If Severus Snape did not wish for his daughter to get involved in all of this, he should have been more careful in what he was doing; perhaps not asking that Apollonia spend time at Number 4 Privet Drive, for it was that Christmas she spent there that forced Apollonia Lily Evans Snape to become involved in this.