Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chapter 63 - Helpful Friends

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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Once Severus woke in the morning, he frowned as he glanced down and noticed Lily still lay on his shoulder.

Her knuckles had whitened as she gripped him tightly in her sleep, as if holding onto him stopped her from rolling towards unimaginable doom.

In the early light, Severus closed his eyes as he held his darling flower close and nuzzled her gently.

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Severus's usually surly expression became a frown of nervous tension over the next few weeks.

As soon as Lily overheard an interesting bit of conversation between Hagrid and Madame Maxime one morning at the High Table, she relayed the information to Severus before they both warned their daughter about the first task she would have to face.

"A dragon! How am I supposed to fight a dragon?!" Harriet hissed to Ron and Hermione at dinner that evening.

"Harriet!" Hermione shushed her in a warning whisper as several students looked in her direction.

"Sorry...." Harriet whispered as Ron widened his eyes, "Really, though.....this should be illegal."

"Dumbledore did say it would be dangerous." Ron shrugged as he frowned. He furrowed his brow while he thought out loud, "I didn't think it'd be this dangerous, though.....Dragons kill loads of people every year!"

"Thanks, Ron." Harriet huffed.

"Listen, Harriet," Hermione reassured her, "We're going to find a way for you to make it through this, alright? I'll read every book I can. I'll ask Professor McGonagall, maybe there's a spell that could be helpful!"

"Thanks, Hermione." Harriet nodded with genuine sincerity.

Despite Hermione's kindness, Harriet couldn't rid herself of the dread that churned her stomach as she ate her meal.

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After dinner concluded, Harriet took her worries to the one who could always relax her troubled mind, no matter great her problems seemed.

A glowing candle flickered on the nightstand beside her as she sat on her bed and scribbled onto the blank page of Tom Riddle's diary with her quill clutched firmly in her hand.

She sighed as she watched her inky words disappear:

Can you believe they're really going to make me fight a dragon? I don't know how to even begin planning.....I can see the fear in my parents' faces. They're as worried as I am.

Slowly, a moment after her words faded away, Tom Riddle's elegant handwriting appeared on the page:

It pains me to know that a talented witch like yourself continues to doubt her own abilities. Harriet Snape, don't you realize? You're already more than equipped. I hardly think you'll have to do more than open your mouth.

Harriet narrowed her eyes incredulously as she wrote back:

My mouth?

Tom's words came across the page a moment later in a single question:

You can speak to snakes, can't you?

Harriet proudly grinned as she answered:

Yes, I can. Everyone's always told me it's a rare talent. I only know one other person who's able. Well, one other besides you.