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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Severus remained on high alert as classes began the next day.

After he made his introductory remarks, while his new group of first year students began to work on their very first Potions assignment, he walked the room and glanced at every one of his young pupils.

Severus had learned over the years to perform accurate assessments on Hogwarts' incoming students in an effort to understand what he would face as their teacher.

He could discover who feared him, who daydreamed during his instructions, and who had a real desire to learn the art that he taught.

As Severus passed by his son that day, he frowned as he watched Ellery diligently finish his work.

In his thoughts, Severus could sense…..nothing, only a scrambled mess of static and incoherent signals.

Once the period ended, he walked up and laid a hand on his son's shoulder as Ellery packed his bag.

"I must beg you not to block me from your mind." Severus drawled as he gazed down at his little boy, "If anyone's given you grief already, I can help you…..If you'll allow me."

Severus had laid awake all night worrying that Draco would target Harriet's younger brother out of cruel spite.

"Last night was lonely, but not bad." Ellery said truthfully as he stood to his feet and shrugged, "Sorry, Dad……I wasn't trying to block you, I don't really know what you're talking about, but thanks for…um, being there."

As Ellery turned and headed to his next class, Severus wore a frown on his pale face as he thought.

While he hadn't been able to read his son's mind, he had seen in his eyes that he had spoken truthfully.

Severus turned around and waved his wand to prepare his classroom for the next group of students, but all the while, he couldn't stop himself from wondering……how had Ellery managed to block his Legilimency skills without making a conscious effort?

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Harriet sighed as she walked down the hallway towards McGongagall's office at the end of that first week.

She genuinely hoped that her Head of House would listen to her proposal for a new Quidditch schedule.

It would require McGonagall's assistance to secure a bit of extra practice time on the field, but Harriet clutched her plan firmly under her arm with determination on her face.

She could be persistent.

She could be-

She stopped as she stood outside the door and listened to the hushed whisperings that came from inside.

"Please, McGonagall! Dumbledore won' let another 'n loose in the Forest! I've tried the other Heads of Houses, can' you help me at all?!"

"A snake is hardly a matter for Gryffindor or myself to sort, Hagrid!"

"He's Gryffindor-coloured!"

"A snake, Hagrid! A snake!"

"But he's just a baby, don' ya see? He can' hurt nobody right now!"

Harriet slowly raised her hand and knocked on McGonagall's door.

Immediately afterwards, a shrill cry rang out, "Come in!"

Hopelessly curious, Harriet opened the door and stepped into McGongagall's office.

Her eyes widened at what she saw.

McGongagall stood in front of her desk, with Hagrid crouched on the floor a short distance away.

In between them sat a small cage, with a smaller red and yellow snake lying listlessly inside.

"Harriet!" Hagrid cheerfully greeted her as a bright smile spread across his bearded face.

"Miss Snape." McGonagall nodded, "I'm terribly sorry, but something's come up….I'm afraid I'll have to meet with you tomorrow evening."

"Don' forget to feed him a rat or two in the morning, Professor." Hagrid nodded at McGonagall before he stood and quickly tried to rush out of her office.

"HAGRID!" McGonagall shouted.

Harriet watched as Hagrid halted abruptly and frowned in defeat.

"You are Hogwarts' gamekeeper! The care of magical creatures is not my area of expertise, nor is it my wish to be directly involved in such matters!" She nodded at the snake's cage as she said, "So then, if you please…."

"Professor, I already told ya, that ain't no magical creature! It's a regular ol' blood python who needs a bit o' kindness, that's all!" Hagrid exclaimed as he threw up his large hands in frustration.

While the two adults argued, Harriet stepped closer to the snake's cage and peered down at the animal.

She frowned as she looked at the end of its broken tail and its unnatural, jagged posture.

The words left her mouth in Parseltongue before she thought as she asked the snake, "What happened to you?"

In its weakened state, the small snake still managed to hiss, "An evil man chased my family through my homeland……My mother fell under his weapon first, then my father….I was captured and sold to a man, sold to another, and then I was brought here."

Harriet frowned in sympathy for the injured animal.

She hadn't noticed that Hagrid and McGonagall had stopped their conversation to stare at her as she displayed her rare talent.

"I'm sorry." Harriet hissed in Parseltongue, "I can't imagine losing my family."

"Now there are people arguing over who will help me live." The snake hissed sadly, "...I'm not even certain that I want to."

"Don't say that." Harriet answered, "There's plenty of things to live for…..and there are good people in the world too, not all of us are bad."

The small python's tongue flickered as his cold eyes gazed up at Harriet.

Silence fell in the room for a moment while Hagrid and McGonagall exchanged glances.

McGonagall furrowed her brow but Hagrid threw her a happy grin.

Locked in their conversation, the snake asked Harriet, "...Are you a good person or a bad person?"

"My name is Harriet Snape." Harriet hissed back, "I'm a very good person, actually."

Before the snake could reply, Hagrid walked over and clapped Harriet on the back.

"Harriet!" He bellowed with a happy smile, "Maybe you'd like to help me out with a little project, eh? If Professor McGonagall agrees, o' course!"

Harriet blinked up at Hagrid as a horrible frown twisted McGonagall's lips.

"What sort of project, Hagrid?" Harriet asked as her heart accelerated.

She silently hoped that Hagrid was about to ask what she thought he was about to ask…….

"Why, helpin' me look after this little fellow, o' course!" Hagrid smiled as he laid one of his huge hands on top of the snake's cage, "We jus' need to tend him a bit, ya know, get his hurts cleared up, then maybe I can convince Dumbledore to take him back to his home an' set him free."

McGonagall scowled.

Harriet looked at the snake and sighed as a grimace crossed her face.

"...Harriet?" Hagrid frowned, "What's the matter? If ya don' want to, then I-"

"-No, Hagrid, it's not that." Harriet cut in as she stared up at him with a decided scowl, "My Mum and Dad……I don't think they like the idea of me being around snakes."

"Well, ya don' have ta take him home!" Hagrid chortled, "I'll keep him in my hut, where he's safe, if ya can jus' pop by and tend him in the afternoons…..How's that?"

McGonagall looked on in horror as she snapped, "Hagrid!"

"What, Professor?!" He exclaimed, "I need help with Anuman! If Harriet agrees, she agrees!"

"I hope you both realize that I'll have to tell Severus about this?!" McGonagall snapped.

Despite McGonagall's ominous warning, a bright grin slowly spread across Harriet's face as she looked up and readily agreed, "Alright, Hagrid!"

McGonagall and Hagrid instantly embarked on a heated journey of differing opinions about the matter.

Harriet didn't really care what the adults said though, she was too focused on starting another conversation with Anuman.

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"Sorry……." Lily frowned later that night as she sighed, "What did you say, Sev?"

Lily had heard her husband clearly, but as she lay flat on her stomach in bed, it was difficult for her to concentrate with Severus's skillful hands kneading the tension from her bare back.

As his fingers slid over his wife's supple skin, he himself found it difficult to remember the words he had just spoken.

His dark gaze kept flickering down to Lily's rounded bottom as he fantasized about letting his hands slip past the small of her back to squeeze the plump flesh of her cheeks while he-

"McGonagall mentioned…..today," Severus whispered in his low drawl, "That Hagrid has found a blood python…..A young, injured blood python, apparently…..and he's asked Harriet to assist him with its care…..each day…..after school….Until it heals enough that it may be returned to its original home."

Silence settled before Severus explained, "Minerva said she had no preconceived notion that Hagrid would bring the creature to her…..or that he would make such an offer to Harriet….Lily, I can put an end to this immediately…..However, I watched Harriet closely as she left class this afternoon….She did look…..remarkably…..happy."

Lily sighed again, but more from the blissful feeling Severus's hands brought her than from frustration.

"What shall we do, my love?" Severus asked as his hands dipped dangerously low, just above the curve that would have led him to his wife's pert bottom.

"Sev…….." Lily whispered in a breathy sigh that made his blood start to heat with lust, "I think for now…..we should let her….let her help Hagrid…..Why not?"

Severus abruptly stopped his motions.

Lily turned her head to stare at him as she nodded and repeated, "…..I really think we should, Sev. I trust Hagrid, he'll look after Harriet…..and it's just for a short time anyway. She's always wanted a snake, perhaps if she has to care for one, she'll find out how much work goes into tending an animal."

"She already has an owl." Severus quipped.

"...That largely looks after itself." Lily refuted as she turned around and laid her head down on her crossed arms again.

As Lily closed her eyes, Severus finally took his opportunity.

He leaned down and pressed his lips against the nape of Lily's neck before he began to press wet, sucking kisses over her flesh.

Lily groaned as his hands moved down at last to squeeze the softness of her bottom and knead it in his palms.

As her groans turned to soft cries, Severus's mouth left her to neck to kiss his way down her spine while he deftly slipped one hand underneath her and began to test the readiness of her waiting center.

He growled when his fingertips discovered the wetness that signaled her eagerness.

Severus slipped his trousers off as Lily pushed herself up onto all fours.

She glanced over her shoulder and let her long, red hair fall in a crimson cascade as he bent down to kiss her in a feverishly passionate gesture.

As Lily's naked bottom collided with his arousal, their kiss ended once they both assumed their positions.

Lily closed her eyes and let a wanton wail bubble from her chest as her husband filled her.

Severus grit his teeth as he sank into the tight, all-consuming warmth of his wife.

He held Lily's hips in his hands as they began to make love.

For that moment, Severus's thoughts had been temporarily called away from Harriet and Ellery.

Lily, his Lily, be with Lily, consume Lily, love Lily……….those were the only directives Severus could comprehend.