Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 48: An Unlikely Conversation
Harry Potter had taken perhaps twenty steps towards Gryffindor Tower when he stopped. He stood at the foot of the staircase, one hand resting on the banister, staring at nothing in particular. Something was bothering him. Not Victoria and Georgina’s disastrous attempt at spying. That was ridiculous, certainly, but ultimately harmless. They’d been caught, punished, and had agreed to apologise to Draconia.
Nor was it Draconia’s Muggle boyfriend that troubled Harry. He was pleased for her. It was the fact that Snape knew. Harry frowned, recalling the professor’s temper and prejudices.
But he also knew something about Snape that he rarely admitted, even to himself. The man was not stupid. And whatever else might be said about him, he understood the Malfoy family. Perhaps better than anyone else at Hogwarts. Harry looked back towards the dungeons. He could simply go upstairs, find Ron, and spend the evening doing something enjoyable. Tomorrow, Victoria and Georgina would tell Draconia what had happened, and the whole matter would become her problem. Except it wasn’t quite that simple.
Draconia was Victoria’s best friend, and Harry knew too well what it felt like to have adults control his life. He couldn’t imagine Lucius Malfoy reacting well to his daughter dating a Muggle. Harry sighed.
“Oh, bloody hell.”
He turned around. And headed back towards the dungeons. Finding Professor Snape was not difficult. Harry knew where his office was. Unfortunately, he also knew that approaching it voluntarily was generally considered a sign of either extraordinary courage or severe mental impairment. He stopped outside the heavy wooden door. For a moment, he considered leaving. This is ridiculous. He’ll probably take points off Gryffindor just for knocking. Harry raised his hand. Hesitated. Then knocked.
“Enter.”
The voice was unmistakable. Harry opened the door. Snape was sitting behind his desk, examining a stack of parchment. Several bottles of unpleasant-looking substances stood on the shelves behind him, and the familiar smell of potion ingredients filled the room. Snape did not look up.
“Unless someone is dying, this had better be important.”
Harry swallowed.
“Professor?”
Snape’s quill stopped moving. Slowly, he raised his head. His expression changed from irritation to genuine surprise.
“Potter.”
“Good evening, sir.”
Snape stared at him. For several seconds, neither spoke. Then Snape set down his quill.
“Have you lost your way?”
“No, sir.”
“Then I assume you are here to confess some particularly egregious violation of school regulations.”
“No, sir.”
“How disappointing.”
Harry resisted the urge to answer. Snape leaned back.
“Well? What do you want?”
Harry took a breath.
“I’d like to speak with you, Professor.”
Snape raised an eyebrow.
“That much is evident.”
“Privately.”
Snape glanced around his empty office.
“Do you see anyone else here, Potter?”
Harry closed his eyes briefly. This was a mistake. But he had come this far.
“It’s about Draconia Malfoy.”
Snape’s expression changed. Only slightly. But Harry noticed.
“I see.”
He gestured towards the chair opposite his desk.
“Sit down.”
Harry did. Snape folded his hands.
“Well?”
Harry considered his words carefully.
“I understand that you found out about her date this afternoon.”
Snape’s expression remained unreadable.
“Indeed.”
“And that the boy is a Muggle.”
“Your powers of deduction continue to astonish me.”
Harry ignored the remark.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
“How refreshing.”
Harry looked directly at him.
“Are you going to tell her father?”
Silence. Snape stared at him. Then he leaned back in his chair.
“An interesting question.”
Harry waited.
“And why, precisely, would that concern you?”
Harry took a breath.
“Because I know what Mr Malfoy is like.”
Snape’s eyes narrowed.
“Do you?”
“I’ve met him.”
“On several occasions, I believe.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And from those encounters, you consider yourself qualified to judge his relationship with his daughter?”
Harry hesitated.
“No. Not entirely.”
Snape looked faintly surprised. Harry continued.
“But I know he doesn’t like Muggles. And I know he expects Draconia to marry someone from a pure-blood family.”
Snape said nothing.
“And if he finds out she’s dating a Muggle boy, I don’t think he’ll be pleased.”
Snape’s mouth tightened.
“An astonishing understatement.”
Harry leaned forward.
“Professor, she’s happy.”
Snape regarded him coldly.
“How touching.”
“I mean it.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“Victoria told me about the date. Draco had a wonderful time. Apparently, this Alex fellow is a decent boy.”
Snape’s eyes narrowed.
“Apparently.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you have met him?”
“No.”
“Then you know nothing about him.”
Harry nodded.
“That’s true.”
Snape looked momentarily disconcerted by the admission. Harry continued.
“But Victoria and Georgina saw them together. They said he was kind to her, treated her well, and made her happy.”
Snape folded his arms.
“Miss Crabbe and Miss Goyle are hardly reliable observers, given their spectacular failure to remain unnoticed.”
Harry almost smiled.
“Fair point.”
Snape’s eyebrow rose.
“But they know Draco,” Harry continued. “They’ve known her all their lives. And they said they’d never seen her like that before.”
Snape looked down at his desk. For a moment, he said nothing. Then he spoke quietly.
“Miss Malfoy’s happiness is not your responsibility, Potter.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
Harry hesitated. Then answered honestly.
“Because she’s Victoria’s best friend.”
Snape looked up.
“And?”
“And Victoria loves her. Georgina does too. They’re worried about what might happen if her father finds out.”
Snape regarded him. Harry continued.
“And because I don’t think someone should get into trouble just for liking another person.”
Snape’s expression darkened.
“Life is considerably more complicated than that.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Harry met his gaze.
“Yes, Professor. I do.”
Neither spoke. Snape rose from his chair and walked towards the shelves. He stood with his back to Harry, examining a row of potion bottles.
“Lucius Malfoy,” he said at last, “is a man with very definite expectations.”
Harry remained silent.
“His family has maintained its position in wizarding society for generations. Its traditions are not merely customs to him. They are the foundation upon which he believes his entire world rests.”
Snape turned.
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