Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chapter 94 - Voldemort's Truth

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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Only somewhat confident in the newfound ability Tom had spent the majority of the last week imparting upon her, Harriet finally reunited with her family the instant she walked into Malfoy Manor's parlor Thursday evening and found them waiting there for her.

"Oh, sweetheart!" Lily cried as she rushed forward and threw her arms around her daughter.

"Sissy!" Ellery shrieked as he leapt from his seat and hurried over to join the hug.

Severus remained stoically silent, although as Harriet greeted her mother and brother, she felt his black eyes boring into her.

Once their fond exchange finally ended, she stepped back and gave Severus a tired smile as she whispered, "Hey, Dad."

"It fills me with relief.....knowing you've managed to stay safe this far." Severus told Harriet in his low drawl.

His aversion to overly emotional displays did not stop him from placing a hand on her shoulder in silent, reluctant acceptance of the hug she gave him.

Severus and Ellery wore bittersweet smiles as Harriet released Severus and nodded, "I'm glad all of you are still safe too, at least for now. It's been a difficult summer."

"Indeed........though I'm afraid the night ahead will hold its own perils." Severus frowned warningly.

"He wants to see me," Harriet shrugged, "That's all I know, Dad. What does he really want? How is this going to work?"

"Draco informed me that the separate.....perhaps smaller......portion of the Dark Lord has in fact, taught you Occlumency." Severus remarked.

"That's right." She nodded, "Tom's shown me all he can in a week's time. I dunno how well it'll have paid off. What if he sees through me, Dad? Isn't he supposed to be the greatest mind reader......or something? The greatest Legilimens?"

Harriet frowned as Draco suddenly appeared in the parlor's entryway and stepped into the room.

"What's rarely realized about Occlumency is that one's ability to conceal their true thoughts and fears are often strengthened if they have a distraction from their emotions." Severus explained while Draco came to stand beside him.

"......What does that have to do with Malfoy?" Harriet asked suspiciously as her eyes darted between her fiancé and her father.

Lily grinned.

Ellery smirked in silent amusement.

"Nothing will please the Dark Lord more than seeing you obey his will......and his wishes." Severus spoke as he focused his black stare on Harriet, "He has commanded a union between you both and to allay...." He spoke a bit louder as Harriet's eyes widened while her mouth dropped open, "........Any suspicions that may linger in his brilliantly sinister mind, you both will pretend to accept that match tonight, both eager to fulfill the purpose he's assigned to each of you.........Do you understand?"

Draco tried not to sigh in elation.

His newest assignment was an easy one, he could just be himself around Harriet for once, with no need to hide his true feelings.

Harriet's emerald eyes narrowed as incredulous rage flowed through her veins.

"You expect me to pretend that I actually.....like.....Malfoy?!" She hissed.

"From what your mother's told me, you've already impersonated Gringotts employees and Ministry workers." Severus scowled, "Surely feigning simple infatuation shouldn't be too insurmountable a task, should it?"