Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chapter 80 - Truths and Whispers

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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Sirius and Severus glared at Harriet.

Anger at his daughter's unexpected interruption welled in Severus's heart, which quickly became shadowed by fear.

Remus sought to mediate as he nodded at Harriet and replied, "Remember whom you're speaking to, Harriet. We've just come to chat with your father, that's all. There's no need to hurl unfounded accusations at him."

"Remus!" Sirius snapped.

Remus cast his friend a pleading look as Severus lifted his chin and commanded Harriet, "Return to your room.......Now."

"No!" She scowled.

Severus furrowed his brow at her blatant defiance.

Harriet's daring spirit was well-known, although she rarely defied her father.

In response, Severus couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened.

"You and Mum have been keeping secrets behind my back! I know you have been! It's the only thought that's kept me sane over these last weeks!" Harriet cried.

Severus fell into a contemplative silence while her eyes darted from him to Remus, then to Sirius, "I don't know what Professor Lupin has to do with any of it.....And I'm not quite sure who that is, but I've seen him before." She nodded at Sirius.

Sirius drew in a deep breath as Severus turned his fitting glare onto him.

"........But I want to know!" Harriet demanded as she turned to look back at Severus, "Two more years and I'm of age! Am I not old enough to be trusted?......What are you and Mum hiding?! How could you possibly-"

"-Enough!" Severus snapped.

His scathing tone caused Harriet's eyes to widen in surprise as she silenced herself.

Her father often spoke to his misbehaving students that way, but never to her.

"Your room." He commanded as his black eyes flickered over her, "Don't.....force me to ask again."

In a subtle across of angsty teenage rebellion, Harriet huffed as she stared into Severus's cold eyes.

The rage in her expression broke his heart as she turned on her heel and stomped up the stairs.

Severus should have taken her obedience as a compliment.

Her reluctance would have escalated into a full blown refusal if anyone else had so commanded her.

Remus and Sirius stared at Severus as he looked over at them.

Sirius opened his mouth, but Remus grabbed him roughly by the shoulder and spoke, "Sorry to bother you, Severus. We......We'll revisit the topic another time."

Before Severus could say a word, Remus yanked Sirius out of the Snapes' cottage.

"What are you doing?!" Sirius snarled once they were outside, "You're spoiling everything, Remus! We were this close to-"

"-To telling Harriet the truth about her paternity, yes, I know." Remus sighed, "Which consequently means we were this close to signing her death warrant, weren't we?"

Sirius finally shook himself free of Remus's grasp as the two men faced each other.

"What are you talking about?!" Sirius spat, "It's been fifteen long years! Fifteen years!....It's time she knew the truth!"