In my last year, it felt as though all my uncle’s dreams had come true. He was finally the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher and Professor Slughorn had been brought in as Potions Master. As usual we sat through the sorting ceremony, this year seated right at the end of the table. I was trying to keep a low profile, however this year I was being mentioned as “Head Girl”. This didn’t mean anything in particular other than the fact that I had an “honourable student” and as someone pointed out, when your uncle is a teacher it is a lot easier to do. I also pointed out that every house has a Head Boy, Girl and Prefect. For the Gryffindors we gave a welcome speech in the common room. Cormac McLaggen, me and Leanne Storm.

It all started when Professor Dumbledore asked me to deliver a peculiar set of books to Professor Snape. I was walking down the corridor and stumbled into some first-year that obviously hadn’t found their way around yet, luckily, they were heading to the same classroom as me. I knocked on the classroom door and the others hurried in. I waited whilst he complained about tardiness in his classroom. When he finally turned round, I was more-or less hidden by the books and he ordered me to put them in a cabinet that had been especially marked out for priority N.E.W.T.s

I don’t know why but after I had arranged the books properly, he brought me to the front of the class where I had to introduce myself as “Louisa Snape, Assistant to Professor Snape”. I found this to be particularly annoying because not only did I now have to perform “Head Girl” duties but I also had to assist various Professors with responsibilities such as helping people in my house, answering any questions they may have. Being responsible, etc… I was thankful for the speech that we had given to the Gryffindors and just adapted it slightly. I think I said something along the lines of:

“First-years, Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Louisa Snape, Head Girl and Assistant to Professor Snape, your Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. In this class you will learn about how to defend yourselves against the worst, most heinous magic there is. Dark Magic. Jinxes, Hexes, Curses.”
I watched as some of them grinned, they always do, we did. It’s the most exciting, sparks curiosity in everyone.

“Why aren’t you writing it down?” Snapped Snape,

I assumed I was doing a good job and smiled to myself. Everyone at the time knew that Voldemort was again at large but most didn’t want to admit it to themselves. Having a former death eater as a professor was surely the best way to teach these students. I continued:

“I will not give you the answers to your tests, I will not show you how to win favour and I will most certainly not favour my own house. I am available for anyone to talk to if you need it”.

I was unaware but this wasn’t far off what Professor Snape had said before I had entered which was why I was getting one or two curious looks from some Ravenclaws, also I noticed our posture is remarkably similar. We both stand with our arms folded in a way that indicates that you shouldn’t try and take us on, we both use our eyes a lot, we must have looked like bats in a cauldron.