Disclaimer: I don't own it.

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Chapter Six: Shopping and Threats

Harry awoke late the next day and made his way downstairs. He noticed Hope was already downstairs with Draco and Severus.

"Somebody could have woke me," Harry said, as he collapsed into a chair.

Draco laughed. "After the potion you took, I'm surprised you're awake now."

"Hope's awake also. Maybe the potion wasn't made right."

"I didn't take the potion," Hope said without looking up from her book.

"Why not?"

"Because all of Severus' potions make you sleep, and that one was designed to make you sleep without waking up to any noise around you. That's something I really didn't want to do."

Harry looked at her awhile before shrugging. "So, what are we doing today?"

Severus spoke up for the first time since Harry had come downstairs. "I was thinking we could go to Diagon Alley. You're letters arrived earlier.

Harry jumped up off the couch and went to the kitchen to grab his letter. Tearing it open, he quickly scanned the list of books he would need.

"Can we go shopping in muggle London as well, Severus? I need some new clothes before winter, and with it being my last year, we probably won't have much time to slip away during school and shop."

Severus seemed to seriously think about that for awhile before answering. "If you hurry and get ready; I want to return home before dark."

Hope jumped up and rushed upstairs, causing Harry and Draco to laugh as they also got up to get ready.

Draco and Harry groaned as Hope went into yet another clothing store. They glanced up at Severus and saw, as usual, a stoic expression that did not give anything away.

"Dad!" Draco complained. "Can't you tell her not to shop anymore?"

"Sure, same time I tell you not to play Quidditch anymore."

Draco muttered something under his breath. Severus shot his son a glare before returning his attention to his daughter.

"Hope, how about we call it a day so we can get your school supplies and still get home before it gets dark? I will bring you up here with Miss Granger when you get the final list of items needed for the ball."

Hope looked sad for a moment before shrugging, and turned to follow everyone else back to Diagon Alley.

Hope wandered away from Severus to look around as the group entered the bookstore. She looked around for them, and saw Harry a shelf down from her. She smiled at him before continuing her quest for books.

She piled each one she needed on top of each other and turned around when someone ran into her. She fell backwards and hit the bookshelf behind her, causing all the books to tumble down on top of her.

"Oww…," she muttered. "Is there a thing with me and shelves this summer?"

"Poor ickle Hope," the harsh voice in front of her said sarcastically. "Having a hard day to match your terrifying night?"

Hope looked up in shock. She hadn't heard that voice since she and Harry had been kidnapped. "What do you want, Lucius?"

"Oh, only to give you a reminder about who is still waiting for you."

"Oh, and who would that be?" Hope asked, looking around for Harry, Draco, and Severus.

Lucius bent down close to her ear. "You know very well who that is. Just think about how easily it would have been to take you or Harry to him today while you shopped in London ."

Hope looked alarmed. "You were following me?"

Lucius laughed. "Oh, Hope, you are so naïve. Anytime you leave Snape's land, we are watching you for my Lord."

Hope's face paled. "So then, why haven't you already taken me to him?"

"Because Hope, his purpose isn't to just kill you anymore. No, he wants to kill everyone that you care about. Then torture you to death."

"I don't believe you," she spat at him.

"Really? How about I prove it to you. Potter really had a blast at his party at the Weasley's. Probably didn't even notice how you went outside and cried," he whispered maliciously in her ear.

"You bastard!" Hope yelled, trying to stand up. Lucius just pushed her back down, causing her to hit her head again, leaving a cut above her eye.

"Such foul language from such a pretty girl."

"I suggest you step away from my daughter this instant, Lucius."

Lucius conspicuously placed a note into Hope's hand before raising to face Severus.

"Hello, Severus. It's been awhile, my friend."

Severus glared at the man. "I am no friend of yours, Lucius. Kindly keep away from my children and their friends."

"I have done nothing to your children. But, if I were you, I would keep a better eye on them. You never know who could be watching."

Lucius turned and walked out of the store. Severus watched him before turning to scan the other faces for threats. Spotting no one else, he turned to his very pale and shaking daughter, who was being helped up by Harry and Draco.

"Hope?" Harry asked quietly as Draco backed off to give her some space. Hope looked up at him before gingerly touching her head.

"Sorry. I guess I ruined another day, huh?"

Severus watched as Harry put a protective arm around the girl's waist. "You didn't ruin anything, Hope."

Hope didn't answer, instead choosing to glance fearfully at Severus. "Are you mad?"

Severus shook his head. "We'll talk when we get home. Let's quickly finish shopping."

Hope leaned warily against Harry as they continued shopping. She didn't say much after the encounter, which did not go unnoticed by anyone.

The four quickly finished their shopping before heading back to Snape Manor. Once there, they put away their stuff and gathered in the sitting room.

Hope was thinking over everything that had been said between her and Lucius. She was extremely worried, but should she be? Pansy had made the same threat before, and nobody had died. Voldemort himself had even said that he would murder everyone, but nobody had been hurt.

"Hope!" Draco yelled, getting the girl's attention.

"Huh? Sorry," Hope muttered, looking at her brother.

"What did Malfoy say to you that has you so upset, Hope?" Harry asked her gently.

Hope scanned her mind for a plausible lie before just deciding to trust the ones she loved with the truth. "He said a lot. First he told me we were being watched each time we left the manor. Secondly, he felt fit to tell me that Voldemort's newest task is to kill everyone I care about."

Severus winced, as did Harry and Draco. "He won't succeed, Lea. Everyone is capable of taking care of themselves."

Hope nodded. "I know – it just makes me worry is all."

"Well don't, little sis. Everyone will be fine." Draco added in.

Hope nodded, pulling the note he gave her out of her pocket. "He also gave this to me." She unfolded it to read the block letters written across the white parchment.

TOMMOROW SHOULD BE A BIG DAY.
THE DARK LORD IS READY FOR A BLOOD BATH.
YOU WERE WARNED.

Hope dropped the note to the floor. Severus reached over and took it before rushing up to his office.

"Hope, what did it say that has even Dad worried?" Draco wondered, watching his pale sister.

Hope repeated the message to the other two and watched their expressions change.

"Who is going to be attacked tomorrow?"

"I don't know, Draco. But it's not going to be good."

"They'll figure it out, Hope. Calm down."

"I'm fine. I'm going to go to my room though," she said, standing up.

Both boys shared a look before watching Hope disappear up the stairs.

Harry was sitting in his bed with Hope's journal propped on his lap. The more he read, the more upset he became. He was toward the end of August. Voldemort killed a muggle family in front of her, causing her to blame it on herself. He reread the entry he was on.

August 29, 1996

I can't believe it! I just killed a family. A baby. He killed them because of me. What am I supposed to do? He's going to keep doing it unless I join him. He tortured them. I could've stopped it. All I had to do was say I would join him. But I couldn't do that to Harry and now they are dead. All because of me.
Where is Severus!!! I need him so badly right now. He tortured a baby. A eight month old baby. She was too young to know what was wrong. What is wrong with me?

Harry had to wonder once again why she ended up saying no to him continuously when she had no clue what awaited her on the light side. Getting up from his bed, he went to Hope's room and stood in the doorway, watching her write. Eventually, she looked up and smiled weakly at him.

"Hey, what's up?" She asked, seeing the book in his hand.

Harry walked into the room and sat on the end of her bed. "I wanted to ask a question." He showed her the page he was reading so she knew how far he was.

Hope's face fell a little, but she nodded anyway.

"Hope, so much happened to you, and I'm not even to September yet. I was wondering why you were so firm in fighting for the light when you didn't even know what the war was about? You felt so guilty, and even I was tempted in my first year when Voldemort offered me to switch sides. I'd had a year to accept it, you were just thrown into it. Why didn't you conform to his wishes?"

Hope marked her page and set the journal aside before looking right into Harry's curious emerald eyes.

"Harry, there were so many reasons. I had Severus with me, always helping me. While others were so firm and hard, he was gently and kind. If that's what awaited me on the light side, I knew I had to be on that side. The tortures only helped me be convinced of the light. Yes, at first I blamed myself, but I realized I wasn't the one holding the wand at them. I wasn't able to do anything to stop it. If I conformed to their ways, then they would just torture muggles for the fun of it, and expect me to do the same. But Harry, the main reason was you. I saw you fight those wizards that night. I knew you had lost your parents, a friend, and your godfather. It didn't take long for me to put together that somehow they were connecting to those people. But even before that, he wanted me to help kill you, and he couldn't do it without me. I used the idea that you'd be waiting to welcome me to the light to keep me firm in my decision not to join them."

Harry's mouth dropped open. "Wow, Hope. Severus told me that your answer would surprise me, but I wasn't expecting that, even with that warning."

Hope laughed. "I surprised him as well when he asked."

Harry stood up, covering a yawn. "I think I'm going to go ahead and go to bed. You going to be okay tonight after what happened at Flourish and Blotts?"

Hope nodded. "I'm going to finish writing in my journal and then read some more. Maybe if I get tired enough I won't have nightmares."
Harry looked at her. "Do you want me to stay?"

Hope did, but she didn't want to impose on Harry's sleep. She reluctantly shook her head.

"Are you sure, Hope? I really don't mind, and it'd give Severus and chance to sleep through the night without checking on your constantly."

Hope sighed. "Harry, I know you want to protect me, but I don't want to force you to sleep on the couch in here."

Harry smiled. "Then scoot your little self over and share your bed. Let me go and get changed, put some stuff away, and then I'll be back."

Hope went to argue, but Harry had left the room before she could. Sighing, she went back to writing. She had just finished as Severus entered the room.

"Hope, do you mind going to the Weasley's tomorrow? They invited us over, and I think it would be a good chance to relax. We need to take some new security measures for them."

Hope nodded. "It'll be fun. I've been wanting to work with Hermione more on the plans for the ball anyway."

Severus nodded. "Do you want a potion to sleep tonight?"

Hope smiled and shook her head as she saw Harry reenter the room. She scooted over and watched Severus' expression as he slid in next to her.

"No, I think I'll be okay." Suddenly, she was worried that he wouldn't approve of this. "Severus, you are okay with this right? Because if not, then I'll sleep on the couch or something. You know I don't like waking up alone, and well, he offered and…"

"Quiet, child. It's fine, I was just surprised to see you two together after a couple days ago. If it will help you sleep peacefully, then it's fine."

Hope smiled. "Okay, night Severus."

Severus nodded and left the room. Hope curled up and listened as Harry fell asleep before doing the same herself.

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A/N: Hey Everyone. Hope everyone's doing great. Guess what, THE COLTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!! YIPEE!! Make me even happier and leave a review please???