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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Rumors of Sirius Black sightings plagued Britain's wizarding world as Harriet's third year at Hogwarts continued.

She paid little mind to the news and instead focused her attention on keeping a look out for the evil boy who sought to destroy everyone she held dear.

At school, Harriet allowed the adults' promise that the castle remained the safest place to permeate her thoughts and dictate her actions.

Weeks melted into a month.

A month turned into two.

During that time, Harriet spent her nights writing to Tom Riddle and her afternoons feeding Anuman after Quidditch practice, usually with Ron and Hermione somewhere nearby.

Ellery settled in as best he could, though he was fairly lonely for the majority of his Hogwarts days.

Between the issue of the diary, Sirius Black's escape, and his son's social awkwardness, Severus's nerves remained painfully on edge.

While he watched the students closely during mealtimes in the Great Hall, many whispered to one another about how much more severe Professor Snape's scowl had recently become.

The tasks of protecting Lily and fighting the war seemed almost comforting to Severus.

He had never known the meaning of the word "stress" until he had become a parent.

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Hogwarts' winter break was welcomed by all of its students, most who eagerly returned home.

Much to Harriet's displeasure, her family was once again invited to the Malfoys' annual holiday party.

Harriet viewed their attendance as a bitter necessity and nothing more, although she proudly wore the red, velvet dress to the party that Lily had purchased for her.

Ellery stuck closely to her side as they walked into the Malfoy dining room that night and took their seats.

Voldemort watched the party from the head of the table.

The Malfoys had been seated parallel to the Snapes.

Harriet heaved a great sigh as she found herself staring at Draco, who frowned in his chair directly across from her.

While the adults engaged in deep conversations, Harriet stared down at her plate as Ellery popped quiet bites of food into his mouth.

Draco took full advantage of his opportunity.

With Harriet's eyes turned away, his grey gaze flickered over her.

Silently, he delighted in how shiny her dark hair seemed in the glow of the candlelight, how supple her shoulders looked, and the scooped neckline of her……

A harsh voice snapped him out of his reverie, "What are you staring at, Malfoy?"

He became transfixed by Harriet's burning, emerald gaze as she glared at him.

"I…..I just can't get over how dowdy your dress looks, Snape…..My grandmother wouldn't have worn something that hideous." Draco snapped with a sneer so hateful it could have wilted flowers.

"I think my sister's dress is nice." Ellery frowned as he courageously defended Harriet, "She and Mum spent all day shopping in Hogsmeade. It made them very happy when they found it."

"If that's true…..." Draco smirked at Ellery before he turned his malicious, grey gaze onto Harriet, "...Then she must have left her glasses at home."

Ellery frowned as he tried to think up a witty retort in his sister's defence.

Draco failed to realize he had pushed Harriet past the point of simple mortification.

Too bold to be made self-conscious, Harriet held onto her pride about her new dress and unintentionally used that emotion as a weapon against Draco.

She glared at him until the bowl that held his soup began to shake.

The adults continued their chats without noticing as Harriet pressed a hand down on the table while the bowl's motions became more violent.

Draco's grey eyes widened as Harriet let out a breath while her blood boiled in anger.

"...Sissy?" Ellery asked sheepishly.

Before anything else could be said or done, Harriet's rage culminated in an unintentional peak.

CRACK!

"AAAAGGGHHH!"

Draco's soup bowl exploded, sending chunks of porcelain and bits of food flying everywhere.

He screamed as the jagged pieces whizzed past him, but thankfully incurred no injuries, beyond the flush on his pale cheeks caused by the splatter of hot soup.

The adults all looked over in surprise at the sudden commotion.

Draco fell backwards, whining and flailing, as if the flesh had been seared from his face while Narcissa leapt from her chair and rushed to her precious boy's aid.

"What have you done?!" Severus thundered at Harriet as Lily threw her a scathing scowl of disapproval.

"Sorry!" Harriet said quickly as she glanced around at her parents, the Malfoys, and Voldemort, "It….It was an accident! I didn't mean to!"

"Of course you did, little one." Voldemort said with an evil grin. His eerie eyes flickered over to Draco for a second before he glanced back at Harriet as a wicked smile curled his lips, "I heard what young Draco said, don't ever apologize for striking those who hurt you……Mercy will not get you far in this world."

The adults all listened to Voldemort's unsettling lesson as Harriet frowned over at Draco, who continued to whimper and sniffle while his mother waved her wand over his heated face as she murmurred a cooling spell.

"But, I…..I really didn't want to hurt him." Harriet frowned.

Voldemort turned to look at Lucius with an amused smile on his face, as if the thought that Draco had experienced pain brought him joy, "You should teach your son better manners, my friend! A gentleman should not insult a lady, lest he find himself on the receiving end of a curse one day!"

"Yes, my lord." Lucius nodded as he bowed his head, nearly embarrassed to tears that his only son had been caught shamefully misbehaving. Under the table, he kicked Draco as he added, "My heir meant no true offense….We humbly beg Severus and his family for their forgiveness."

Severus, Lily, Ellery, and Harriet all murmured polite responses but Voldemort silenced them as he raised his hand while he laughed at Lucius, "Perhaps if you and Narcissa are incapable of educating young Draco about chivalry, my friend, our precious Harriet can do the job for you both!"

Few others besides Voldemort saw the situation as humorous.

Regardless, as the Dark Lord threw his head back and laughed, everyone forced themselves to echo his grim vocalization.

Draco scowled at Harriet, his fragile ego damaged beyond measure.

While laughter rang out around the Malfoys' elegant dining table, Harriet failed to partake, to smile, or to smirk.

Draco irritated her, angered her, and his mere existence made her want to scream, but Harriet Snape had no intention or interest in harming others.

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After the party concluded and the guests left Malfoy Manor, Harriet sat in her bed with a frown as her parents bid her goodnight.

"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Lily asked while she mirrored her daughter's melancholic expression.

"You two haven't given me a punishment yet." Harriet mentioned.

Severus and Lily exchanged glances before they looked back at Harriet.

"Why would we punish you for tonight, love?" Lily pressed.

"Because I broke the bowl!" Harriet replied as she furrowed her brow, "Malfoy was annoying me, just like he does at school. He taunted Ellery and I…..I got angry, I got so angry, but I didn't do it on purpose! I promise!"

Severus frowned as Lily walked over and took Harriet's hand while she said, "Oh, sweetheart, it's alright. You're still very young, love…..That's why your father and I aren't going to punish you, don't you see? We understand it was an accident. We both had several of our own when we were your age!"

Harriet glanced between her mother and father as she asked, "Do you think I should write an apology letter?...I didn't want him to get hurt, but I really can't bring myself to-"

"-Accidents happen." Severus interrupted Harriet in his low drawl.

Harriet and Lily blinked as they glanced over while he went on, "Every young witch or wizard experiences instances where they lose control of their magic…..Your mother and I spoke with Narcissa and Lucius about the incident before we left this evening……all is well…..don't fret."

Harriet's frown fell a bit as she listened to her father speak while she looked down at the sheets on her bed.

When Lily noticed the forlorn expression that lingered on their daughter's face, she squeezed her hand and said, "Sweetheart, if you're truly sorry about what happened, sometimes an apology is best given in person."

Harriet blinked as she glanced up at her mother and asked, "Are you…..suggesting that I walk up to Malfoy and…...talk to him, Mum?...Once school starts back?"

"It's up to you, love." Lily shrugged, "Sometimes though, a meaningful statement like that is best received face to face, not on a piece of parchment."

Severus and Lily grew nervous as they watched Harriet fail to smile.

While their daughter held Lily's hand, they both could sense something still bothered her.

Severus prepared to use his Legilimency talents and discover the truth before Harriet glanced at each of them and asked, "Mum?...Dad?"

He stared at Harriet silently as he let Lily answer, "Yes, sweetheart?"

"...Do you think I'm a bad person?" Harriet frowned.

The declaration of her own goodness she had made to Anuman weighed on her mind.

Severus scowled as Lily gasped and exclaimed, "Oh, darling! No! Of course not!"

She hurriedly embraced Harriet while Severus sat down on their daughter's bed.

He took Harriet's free hand and gazed at her with his brow furrowed while he spoke, "A single mistake……accident……or poor decision….does not define a person's character. You'll learn more about that as you grow older."

Lily rocked Harriet gently, kissed her cheek, and whispered, "You're not a bad person at all, sweetheart! You're our little girl and you always will be, alright? Don't ever forget that!"

"Alright, Mum…..Thanks." Harriet said as she closed her eyes and welcomed Lily's embrace.

Severus became so caught up in watching his beloved flower mother their daughter that he didn't notice Harriet's eyes soon popped open.

His dark gaze met her emerald stare as she whispered to him over Lily's shoulder, "...Thanks, Dad."

Severus's jaw clenched as he bristled under his daughter's kind words while Harriet squeezed his hand.

Lily pulled him forward to share in their hug for a brief moment before they let Harriet lay down to sleep.

As Severus and Lily left and turned out the lights, Harriet closed her eyes to drift off.

Despite Severus and Lily's loving reassurance, a frown still formed on their daughter's lips as her thoughts lingered on the events of the evening.

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Severus and Lily held hands while they walked down the hallway together.

They exchanged gentle kisses as they bathed and dressed for bed, but their minds were too preoccupied to go any further physically.

Once they laid down, Lily settled herself on Severus's shoulder as he put out the candles that burned in their room.

He lay back with a sigh as he listened to the silence that settled in their bedchamber.

Lily's voice cut through the stillness like a knife as she asked, "...Sev? Do you think we…..Do you think we gave her wrong advice?"

"No." Severus replied without hesitation, "I've never sensed darkness in the child…..that fact remained true this evening. It was an accident, Lily, nothing more."

Lily furrowed her brow as she closed her eyes and pressed her face against Severus's chest.

In the quiet privacy of their bed, she admitted a truth Severus already knew, "...I hate her relationship with him…..and the bond they share."

His face tensed as if he were in great pain once he heard her confession.

Severus's grip on Lily tightened as he clutched her in his protective embrace.

He bent down and kissed her forehead as he whispered in the darkness, "As do I, my love…….As do I."

Severus and Lily clung to each other as they lamented their lack of choice in the matter.

Until his eventual defeat, they saw no plausible way to separate Harriet from the one who could very well become her best friend of all…….Voldemort himself.