Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chapter 52 - Old Enemies

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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Winter break soon concluded, but as Harriet returned to Hogwarts, she continued to wrestle
with guilt.

Her nights had again been invaded by bad dreams and her days left a heavy weight resting on her heart.

She desired to stay in Voldemort's favour, eager to please her lifelong friend.

Regardless, it upset Harriet greatly to think she could have really injured someone, intentionally or not.

Despite her deep dislike of Draco, as she replayed the Malfoys' holiday party over and over in her mind, the realization that the bowl's broken pieces could have cut his throat or landed in his eyes horrified her.

The first week back in class passed by as an anxious torture for Harriet.

She noticed that Draco glanced over at her throughout each day, although she failed to understand he had kept that silent habit for years.

Saturday, while Hermione busied herself tutoring Ron on their most recent Transfiguration unit, Harriet stalked through the castle.

She spent a good two hours wandering around, checking here and looking there for Draco.

Eventually, she concluded he must have gone home for the weekend as she headed towards the library to join her friends.

Harriet quietly walked through the rows of bookshelves as she kept a careful eye out for Ron and Hermione, not entirely sure of where they had chosen to sit.

Once she rounded the last corner on the left, her eyes widened.

Draco stood by the window with an open book in his hands.

He furrowed his brow in concentration as he stared down at the text, his school robe discarded, and the sleeves of his uniform shirt unbuttoned, pushed up close to his elbows.

Harriet shifted on her feet as she dared notice the elegant lines of his pale wrists and forearms for the first time.

Without anyone else around to see or hear, she decided to free herself from her burden as she walked towards him and called out softly, "Malfoy......?"

As Draco looked up from his book, he failed to conceal the blatant expression of gladness that passed across his features for a split second.

Harriet noticed the look of happy recognition in his grey eyes before he forced a scowl on his handsome face and hissed, "What do you want, Snape?"

Harriet stopped once she was close enough they could speak in whispers while she frowned and explained, "I....I want to apologize for what happened at your parents' party."

"Oh? You mean when you tried to slit my throat?" Draco snapped.

"No." Harriet said as her frown deepened, "When the bowl exploded.....I....I didn't mean for that to happen, Malfoy. It really was an accident."

As they stood with their chests practically touching, they both realized Draco had grown taller than Harriet.

While he stared down into her sad, emerald eyes, he actively ignored the burning temptation to pull her close and press his lips against hers.

Too proud to admit his feelings and still nursing his injured pride, which Harriet had badly wounded in front of his parents, her parents, and Voldemort, Draco decided to be as abrasive as possible.

"Snape...." He sneered, "I should apologize to you.......Everyone knows how volatile you can be. If I had only asked my father to throw you and your disturbed baby brother into the dungeons below our mansion, I would have been able to enjoy my meal in peace."