Dearest Harry ,
She frowned, quill pausing above the words. Was it too familiar, too intimate? It had only been one date after all, and even then, it was under the guise of a bet. Yes, it was too much. She didn't want to freak him out by coming on too strong, something that felt more like what Bliss would do. Just Harry then, after making the correction she continued writing.
I cannot stop thinking about our night together.
Nope, bad wording, she quickly erased the words before shaking her head. Lighter, she needed a lighter introduction not something an obsessed stalker would send to someone.
I hope you had as good of a time as I did on our outing. Although it was short it remains one of my more pleasant memories thus far in the year.
Yes, that was good, a little playful but still bordering complimentary.
As memory serves, you often attend a holiday gathering under escort. Perhaps we could meet and continue our conversations there?
Good so far, nothing concrete, leave him a way out if uncomfortable.
Would you agree to further writing beforehand? I often find myself with unused time during the break and I would enjoy a letter or two between us.
Too much? Damnit, she didn't know how to do this sort of thing! What did boys like when it came to receiving messages?
Poetry was often talked about, but she hadn't heard of anyone writing such things in decades.
This wasn't her parents' generation, after all.
Cleopatra was deep enough in thought that she didn't even notice the presence behind her until it was too late.
"You're writing to Harry."
Practically falling from her chair, the younger Malfoy quickly staggered to her feet at the cold, almost emotionless tone which startled her.
Reorienting herself, she almost wished she hadn't, it was her older sister, with a deadly serious expression on her face.
"I-I uhm…"
"It wasn't a question."
Cleo winced, backing up even as her sibling stalked forward. "I… yes I just… wanted to thank him, for the date." She tried to bite back the words but wasn't fast enough, anxiety getting the better of her and loosening her lips.
It was undoubtedly the wrong thing to say.
"Yes, quite a lovely evening the two of you had hm? A romantic dinner, a nighttime stroll…"
The younger witch's eyes widened, "You followed us?"
Eyes narrowed and if it were possible, the gaze would have impaled her where she stood. "Do you truly believe I wouldn't ensure his virtue was safe from a teenager who cannot keep her legs together?"
Cleopatra's jaw dropped at the Muggle-like terms being used by her noble sister and the meaning of them. "I-I would never!"
"Yes," she corrected easily, "you would, and you did. I could see it in your eyes, in your body language, in the way you drifted closer to him, in your gaze that could not stay in the appropriate place and off my betrothed. Then I watched your pathetic attempts at physical pleasure, throwing yourself at him in desperation, hoping for a quick shag just to satisfy your hormones."
She wasn't quite sure what to say. If she hadn't been caught writing him a letter, or been caught that very night then maybe, there might be a chance at denial.
Now there was none.
"I would never jeopardize…"
The laugh in response chilled her to the bone, "You act as though it is in your power to do so, as if your pitiful attempts at flirtation are worth his time. He didn't cum you know. Your first, and only, time together and he will remember it with disappointment as you failed even the basics of sexual etiquette."
It was a slap in the face, and it took quite a bit of willpower, and remembering the situation, to keep her silence.
She's been backed into a corner, literally and figuratively.
"Consider your actions carefully sister. Remember that we are related to the Black family as well, and blood only runs so deep." With that Pandora turns to leave, pausing only for a moment to glance down at the letter before letting out a slight laugh of mockery.
Cleopatra watches her go, still trembling and contemplating her choices.
****
"Harry, stay behind after class."
It was weird. Even after two and a half years of not being the only Potter at school, of realizing that Snape couldn't just use his last name as the previous one had for all interactions, it was still completely bizarre to have her using his first name while addressing him.
Had he messed up during class? No, he couldn't recall anything going wrong,
Still, as the other students departed, he remained in his seat, even as far as giving his sisters a smile and nod when they lingered at the door before departing as well. It shut behind them, leaving the two alone.
"There were no bodies."
He blinked in confusion, trying to figure out what she was talking about, "Excuse me?"
The uncaring expression melted away into something fiercer, " Bodies of the Lycans. They didn't find any."
"Because there weren't any…" he answered slowly, unsure if the woman was having some sort of mental breakdown or was utterly confused for some reason.
Instead, she almost growled, "Why not."
"I don't understand…"
"Why didn't you use lethal force!?"
In that moment he understood, and his own expression shifted into something cold and Slytherin-like. "Because I don't like killing, especially people. Uncaring, unfeeling monsters like the Basilisk are one thing but these are people."
"No," Snape instantly corrected, "They are monstrous beasts who want to rip you limb from limb. They do not deserve your sympathy or your compassion and allowing yourself to hold back will only make things worse."
Harry crossed his arms in defiance, "Really? Because I had to hold back more this last time than on the Express and if memory serves, I am much better off now than I was at the start of school. Seems like I'm doing just fine without leaving scorched bodies everywhere and traumatizing any children."
"It is naïve ignorance to think you will never need to take a life in self-defense, especially acting the way you do."
Lips twitched and the boy forced himself not to respond too harshly. Deep down he knew she was only concerned after all. "No one should kill without exhausting every other option."
"And when your enemies realize this? When they take advantage of your kindness?"
"I'm not saying I wouldn't go that far. I'm saying I won't turn into a bloodthirsty monster who blows any threat away into bloody chunks."
Snape's expression finally broke into a patented sneer, "If you had fought back correctly on the train there is a good chance they would not have attempted another attack. For all we know they could be planning a third strike as we speak."
It was frustrating, because he knew she had a point, knew that he was taking a risk by not finishing any of them off, but also knew that if he started to kill it would change him forever.
He couldn't bear it if his friends and family started looking at him like he was a killer.
"Then teach me something I can use. Something I can protect myself and others with but isn't going to turn me into a murderer!"
Serena stared back in surprise for a moment, before slowly nodding her head, "Elemental magic is useful, but there are just as many other spells which can be used for protection as well. I'm sure you know of a good deal, but I have created a few myself in my spare time. One of these is Sectumsempra."
****
The atmosphere was tense as the students began to board the Hogwarts Express, this time with the platform under heavy Auror guard and several of the professors present as well. The wards had been improved upon and many of the students had simply been taken home through direct Floo rather than using the train.
More than once, Harry caught sight of a panicking student, clearly caught between wanting to go home to visit family and avoiding a trip which would bring back horrible memories. He certainly didn't blame any who couldn't do it, with his parents offering to take all three of their children back directly but the boy-who-lived opting to use the train instead. It wasn't as if he were expecting an attack, far from it, but just being present on the train would calm some of the other children.
Even with the extra adult presence, and the guarantees that there would be officers on the train as well, the air was tense with concern.
Most loaded on with soft mutters, eying each other warily and more than a few paused at the entrance before finding their courage and stepping on.
The passageways on the Express itself were nearly empty, most quickly rushing to their carriages before locking themselves inside.
Harry himself was mostly unconcerned, picking an empty one with his siblings, Hermione, Luna, and Ginny as last time. Even with them though he could notice the difference.
His sisters sat just a bit closer, both to each other and him. The younger redhead would occasionally eye both the door and window wearily, Hermione looked as if she were barely able to concentrate on her book, and even Luna seemed to have lost her normal excitement.
The trip passed in silence and Harry had never been so happy when they reached their destination.
____________________
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