"A Flicker of Uncertainty"

Octavia Snape stepped out of the shadows, her bright pink sneakers a stark contrast to the dark, foreboding corridors of Hogwarts Castle. As the only child of Severus Snape, she had inherited her father's intelligence and sharp wit, but not his confidence. In fact, Octavia was the complete opposite of her father - bubbly, friendly, and hopelessly optimistic. As she made her way to her first class of the year, Octavia's stomach twisted into knots. Fourth year was going to be a big one - she had heard rumors of a mysterious tournament that would be taking place, and she was both excited and terrified at the prospect of competing. But for now, she just had to focus on getting to class without drawing attention to herself. Octavia's fluffy, curly hair bounced with each step as she hurried down the corridor. She was wearing a bright yellow sundress with white flowers, and her pink sneakers made her look more like a doll than a student. She felt a surge of self-consciousness as she passed by a group of older students, who couldn't help but stare at her. "Is that...?" one of them whispered, and Octavia quickly looked down, her cheeks flushing. She quickened her pace, anxious to escape the attention. As she turned a corner, she almost collided with a tall, dark-haired figure. "Ah, sorry!" Octavia exclaimed, her eyes widening as she took in the familiar face. Severus Snape, her father, gazed down at her with an expression that could freeze blood. "Octavia, what are you doing out of class?" he asked, his voice like ice. Octavia swallowed hard, feeling a familiar sense of dread wash over her. She hated it when her father was in one of his moods. "I-I was just on my way to Transfiguration, Father," she stuttered. Severus's gaze lingered on her face, his eyes narrowing as he took in her bright, cheerful outfit. "You look...unusual," he said finally, his tone disapproving. Octavia felt a pang of defensiveness, but she bit back a retort. She knew better than to argue with her father when he was in a bad mood. Instead, she simply nodded and scurried past him, anxious to escape. As she made her way to class, Octavia couldn't shake the feeling that her father was watching her. She glanced back over her shoulder, and sure enough, Severus was standing in the corridor, his eyes fixed intently on her. Octavia felt a shiver run down her spine. She loved her father dearly, but sometimes she felt like he was more of a stranger than a parent. And as she took her seat in Transfiguration class, she couldn't help but wonder what the year ahead would bring. The classroom was filled with the murmur of students chatting and the sound of parchment rustling as they prepared for the lesson. Octavia's eyes wandered around the room, taking in the familiar faces of her classmates. And then, her gaze landed on a messy-haired boy with bright green eyes, who was grinning at her from across the room. Harry Potter. Octavia's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and for a moment, she forgot all about her father's disapproving gaze. She felt a flutter in her chest, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing. Little did she know, this was just the beginning of a year that would change her life forever.