Of Wings And Warriors | Harry x Hermione x Draco

Chapter 2 | Clandestine Meetings

Previously on Of Wings And Warriors - 
With a focused thought, she Apparated back to her cottage. The familiar surroundings greeted her, but she felt different—lighter, somehow. She drank a hangover potion and then slipped under the covers. As she settled into bed, a sense of peace washed over her, the night had been a small but important victory.

For the first time in a long while, Lily felt a flicker of hope before she surrendered to sleep.

The second time Lily sneaked out, she felt a new sense of purpose. She wasn't looking for the temporary comfort of a pub. Instead, she wanted to explore and rediscover the world she had come to love since her time at Hogwarts. Despite her years in the wizarding world, there were still many places she hadn't seen, many experiences she hadn't had. Today, she decided, was the day to satisfy her curiosity about one of those places: Knockturn Alley.

James had always warned her about Knockturn Alley. He had told her it was dangerous, especially for someone like her—a Muggle-born who wasn't versed in the intricate and often dark customs of traditional pureblood society. He mentioned that many of the shop owners were involved in Dark Arts and weren't particularly welcoming to those they deemed outsiders. But Lily was tired of living in fear and restriction. She wanted to see this forbidden place for herself, to understand why it was shrouded in such mystery and caution.

She used a simple Glamour Charm to blend into the crowd as she walked through Diagon Alley, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The air seemed to change, growing thicker and colder, as if it held the weight of countless secrets.

The first thing she noticed was the stark contrast in the atmosphere. Knockturn Alley was dimly lit, the shops casting long shadows across the cobblestones. The storefronts were less inviting, with signs that advertised services and goods of a more sinister nature.

Lily kept her head down and continued walking, her senses on high alert. Despite the foreboding atmosphere, there was something undeniably fascinating about Knockturn Alley. It was a place full of history and secrets. She found herself drawn to the shop windows, each one offering a glimpse into a different aspect of dark magic.

One shop in particular caught her eye: an apothecary that specialized in rare and unusual potion ingredients. The window display was filled with jars of peculiar substances, some of which she had never seen before. The air around the store was thick with the scent of herbs and potions, and the shelves were lined with ingredients that seemed to pulse with their own dark energy.

Lily was deeply interested in potions, a subject she had always excelled in during her time at Hogwarts. Though she wasn't as naturally gifted as Severus Snape, she had a genuine passion for the art of potion-making. As she stood there, her mind drifted to memories of her school days, of long hours spent in the dungeons, carefully measuring and stirring under Professor Slughorn's watchful eye. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed that she had come to a stop right outside the door.

The Dark Lord had only just stepped out of Baldwin's Magical Potions store, his wallet considerably lighter, when he bumped into a foolish girl who had decided it was a good idea to stand in the middle of a pathway. The collision was sudden, and Lily stumbled, catching herself against the doorframe.

"Watch where you're going," the Dark Lord hissed, his voice cold and menacing. He stepped back, his red eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of the witch who had bumped into him. Her brown hair and blue eyes were unremarkable at first glance, but something about her seemed off. His curiosity was piqued when he realized she was wearing a glamour. This was Knockturn Alley, where the darkest of dark witches and wizards roamed free. No one here judged anyone, so why was this little witch wearing a disguise?