Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chapter 114 - Escape

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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Although the battle raged on outside, Harriet was in no condition to join it.

Weak and depleted from birth and blood loss, Severus and Lily worked together to place her into a much needed, deep sleep for the last hours of that long night while they held hands and each pointed their wands at her, murmuring a strong healing spell for all that time.

Hermione cuddled the new baby and held her close to ward off the threatening chill that lingered in the moist air.

Ron had never felt more out of place in his life, but Draco watched the entire scene with a mournful frown.

"Do you think this will work?" Ron whispered to Hermione at last,

"It'll have to, won't it?" Hermione asked as she turned to face him with a melancholy frown.

Just before the sun rose outside, the glowing trails of magic that came from Severus and Lily's wands slowly dimmed and faded.

Harriet opened her eyes to the promise of a bright, new day as she blinked around the boathouse.

"Mum? Dad?" She asked groggily, before her eyes traveled to the baby, "Is she-"

"-She's perfectly fine, love," Lily smiled as she carefully took the baby from Hermione and gently placed the small newborn back into Harriet's arms.

Severus's heart broke while he watched a wry smile of pure joy dance across his daughter's face, still seemingly exhausted, even after their best efforts at magical assistance.

"Yeah, she is." Harriet chuckled softly, "She's beautiful."

A booming explosion from the castle sent all present looking in its direction, except the baby, who merely gave a fearful whimper at the noise.

Harriet's weary heat grew heavier as she understood what had to be done next.

"Take her." She nodded at Severus, then at Lily.

Lily glanced over at Severus before Harriet nodded again and ordered, "Dad, he thinks you're dead, he doesn't......Voldemort doesn't even know she's alive, please! You and Mum take her and keep....keep her safe until all this is done."

"Sweetheart-" Lily began but Severus stepped forward and silently did as Harriet asked while he took the baby from his daughter's arms.

"Take care of her, Dad." Harriet begged with a sad smile.

"Sev!" Lily scowled.

"It is the only way, my love." Severus nodded as he turned to face his wife, "It is the only way to protect the babe. Who else will she be with now?"

After a tense pause, a frown of disapproval marred her face as Lily kissed her daughter on the head and reluctantly let Severus lead her away, with their newborn granddaughter tucked safely into her grasp,

To everyone's surprise, as soon as Severus and Lily had left the boathouse, Harriet burst into a fit of uncharacteristic sobs.

Ron and Hermione frowned, but Draco moved forward.

He didn't pause to contemplate the idea that Harriet would still be under the influence of the confusing hormones of immediate postpartum, he just pulled her close and held her while she cried into his shoulder.

"I didn't......" Harriet sighed as she took a gasping breath between sobs, "I didn't even get to name her."

"Come on, Snape." Draco whispered as he gave the side of Harriet's head a gentle nudge, "Forget naming her, all we have to do is this last bit, eh? Just this last bit and then you can raise her, forget naming her, you can raise her in peace once he's been defeated and the war is won."

"You two go after the snake." He nodded quickly as he turned to look at Ron and Hermione, "I'll-"

"-Harriet has to be the one to finish it!" Hermione interrupted.

"Yes, Granger, I know that." Draco snapped, "She's still tired, in case you haven't noticed. You two kill the snake and I'll take her to.....him."

"Where's Riddle in all this?" Ron frowned, "Wasn't he supposed to get the Basilisk?"

"Never mind him, Weasley." Draco scoffed.

Ron and Hermione exchanged quick nods of mutual understanding before they set off.

Draco expected to receive a rebuttal from Harriet, considering how stubborn she could be, but to his surprise, she merely sought his assistance.

"Can you help me stand, Malfoy?" She asked quietly.

A concerned frown formed on Draco's face as he carefully lifted Harriet to her feet, with her arms securely around his shoulders.

Together, they shuffled towards the door of the boathouse and began the long journey towards  the unending battle that raged high above them.

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Severus walked with his arm protectively around Lily's shoulders as they escaped into the last vanishing shadows of the quickly evaporating darkness.

"It doesn't feel right to leave, Sev." Lily whispered as they walked along, "I know he thinks you're dead and that.....I know, but her heart is broken! I should go back! I should be beside her, I should-"

"-You should look after the child for the time being." Severus commanded, "Allowing harm to befall the babe would be a far greater insult to our daughter then leaving her side now."

Severus grimaced at his own selfishness, easily realizing that he could care for the newborn by himself and send Lily back into the fray.

Instead of making such a suggestion, he slyly kept his darling in his protective grasp, unwilling to sacrifice her in the battle, confident Harriet would win.

Unable to apparate with a newborn in tow, the sun had risen fully by the time Severus and Lily arrived back at their humble cottage.

"Oh, Sev! We can't be here! We have to go back!" Lily wailed.

At her cry, the baby in her arms let out a groaning whimper, as if she wanted to add to her grandmother's lament.

"Hush, my love," Severus chided, his velvet voice a deep purr as he unlocked the door and helped Lily into the house, "The battle will be over soon.....and the world will be better for it once that times come,"

As the baby's whimpers continued, Lily wiped a stray tear from her eye before she sniffed and glanced down at the little girl.

"I think she's hungry, Sev." Lily declared with a mirthless chuckle, "Poor Harriet....."

"The babe may be hungry, but you need to rest, my love.........Sit down and I'll brew a batch of Infant's Elixir." Severus vowed as he led Lily over to the comfortable chair by the hearth in the living room and guided her to sit.

Lily gently rocked the baby while Severus glided into the kitchen, gathered his cauldron, retrieved the necessary ingredients, and began his work.

His wife's green eyes followed him before an anxious coo from her granddaughter demanded her attention.

Lily blinked as she looked into the baby's large eyes.

A smile danced across her lips as she admired the newborn.

Regardless of the girl's paternity, Lily could see  from the baby's bright, curious eyes that Harriet's child was just that.....a child, born as innocent as any other.