Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chaoter 79 - Intruders

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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Harriet had been in her room all morning.

Lily had taken extra care to prepare a large breakfast for the family, hoping to lift her daughter's spirits while giving Ellery the response letter that had arrived from the Delacours before sunrise.

Severus quietly ate the delicious food his beloved flower had cooked while she smiled across the table at their son, "Where's your sister, sweetheart?"

Ellery shrugged, "I knocked on her door, but she didn't come out. She said she was going back to sleep."

Severus scowled.

"I see......." Lily nodded as her smile faded for a brief second.

Ellery had barely frowned at his mother before she forced herself to brighten quickly as she handed the sealed envelope across the table, "This came a short while ago from the Delacours! Why don't you open it, love?"

Ellery's black eyes widened as he snatched the letter and exclaimed, "They wrote back this quickly?!"

Severus kept his scowl as he and Lily exchanged a knowing glance while Ellery nearly shredded the envelope in his haste.

"I imagine Gabrielle was going to ask her parents something similar to what you requested from us, dear." Lily said to Ellery while she gazed at Severus.

The dismayed gasp that left their son's lips caused Lily and Severus to snap their heads towards him.

Severus's scowl slipped into a morose frown as he recognized the blatant look of disappointment on his son's pale face.

"Sweetheart?......." Lily asked tensely as she leaned towards Ellery, ".......What's the matter? What does it say?"

Ellery glanced up at his mother with a pitiful pout of wounded rejection before he let the parchment slip from his hands.

"Ellery?......." Lily asked as he silently stood, pushed his chair under the table, turned, and stomped up the stairs.

"ELLERY!" She called.

Severus kept his miserable expression while he reached across the table, took the letter, and began to read its lines out loud in his languid voice:

To the Snape Family,

We thank you very much for extending such a kind invitation. Unfortunately, we must humbly decline. Our daughters are pursuing extra curricular training this season and as a result, our family will be unable to attend any social gatherings.

Regards,

Monsieur and Apolline Delacour

Lily let out an anguished breath as Severus finished and glanced up at her.

"I'll talk to him." She nodded as she rose from her seat.

"Shall I come with you?" He asked.

"If you like, Sev," Lily shrugged, "I was just going to tell him-"

Knock, knock, knock!

"Oh, who could that be?!" She huffed in irritation at the downwardly-spiraling morning which she had hoped would be pleasant instead.

"I'll answer the door, my love." Severus nodded, "Go and tend our son. Perhaps his mother would be the best comfort for him now."

"I think another woman in particular might better fit that role, actually!" Lily chuckled as she walked out of the cottage's dining area and up the stairs towards Ellery's room.