Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chapter 40 - Winter's Night

Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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"You're really not angry that the Hat placed me into Gryffindor?" Harriet asked Voldemort one early January evening.

The snow flurried down outside as she sat on the floor with a book open in front of herself while she looked up at her eerie friend.

The Dark Lord sat in the best armchair of the Snapes' cottage while Severus and Lily watched nervously from the sofa.

Upstairs, Ellery slept peacefully as he laid in his bed.

"And why would I be angry with you, little one?" Voldemort asked with a wicked smirk, "That old hat's mistake is no fault of yours, though I will admit that Slytherin is worse off without you in its noble house."

Severus and Lily glanced at each other for a moment as Harriet shrugged, "Draco's there......I suppose it's just as well that I'm not."

"An interesting topic for those older than you." Voldemort said as he gazed down at Harriet, "Leave your parents and I to discuss such matters. In the meantime, perhaps you can use this unfortunate error to a great advantage."

"What do you mean?" Harriet asked with a frown, "I've already made several friends in Gryffindor......Is that the advantage?"

A grin of pure malice cracked across Voldemort's pale lips as a noise between a chuckle and a hiss came from his throat, half from amusement, half from irritation at his favourite child's youthful naivety.

"I hardly think so, little one." Voldemort laughed ominously, "I will only reveal to you this...There is someone who seeks to destroy me, your mother, your father, your brother.....you.....and everything we hold dear....."

Harriet's eyes widened in shock as she listened to Voldemort.

On the sofa, Lily squeezed Severus's hand.

".......W-Who?!" Harriet gasped incredulously.

"The son of a man named James Potter." Voldemort snarled as he coldly sneered at Harriet, "You two share a birth year....I had expected the boy would show himself at the castle with your incoming class. However, thus far, my assumption has been frustratingly incorrect."

"B-But....W-Why would he....Why would anyone want to hurt you?" Harriet frowned innocently at Voldemort.

Lily bit her lip.

Severus let a breathless sigh of agitation escape as he contemplated the veiled innocence of his young daughter.

"That is not for you to understand yet." Voldemort told Harriet with an eerie grin, "Know only that I fully believe our enemy will enter into the wretched house of Godric Gryffindor, when and if he shows his face at Hogwarts.......Don't you see, my dear, sweet Harriet? With you in your current position, you will have a prime opportunity to tell me all about the boy and his doings."

"You......You'd count on me for that?!" Harriet asked as a smile brightened her face.

Lily squeezed Severus's hand as he concentrated on shielding their thoughts from Voldemort's prying mind while the Dark Lord grinned at Harriet and laughed, "Well, of course, I would! You are the most promising witch of your age. I would trust no other besides you with such a monumental task."

Honoured beyond comprehension that her esteemed friend would grant her such a privilege, Harriet leapt to her feet and threw her arms around Voldemort in a grateful hug.

Lily covered her mouth with her free hand as a gasp left her throat.

Severus's dark eyes widened.

Voldemort himself looked taken aback for a moment, but he stiffly accepted his young follower's affectionate show of loyalty as he raised one of his pale hands and patted Harriet's shoulder.