The Serpent's Daughter

Chapter 4: A Dangerous Encounter

Four years had passed since Lily had arrived at Hogwarts, and she had become more accustomed to the world of magic. She was now nine years old, and though she was still too young to officially start as a student, her magic had progressed rapidly under the guidance of Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, and her three Weasley friends.

On this particular summer evening, Lily found herself wandering the Forbidden Forest. She often came here when she needed to clear her head or practice her spells in solitude. The forest was dangerous, she knew, but she had always felt an odd sense of comfort in its shadows. Tonight, the air was thick with the scent of pine and moss, and the setting sun cast an eerie glow through the trees.

Lily hummed quietly to herself, twirling a small ball of fire between her fingers. It flickered and danced, a familiar warmth that made her feel in control. Over the years, her magic had become less volatile—thanks to endless practice and support from her friends—but she was still cautious, aware of its dangerous potential.

Suddenly, a cold wind rustled through the trees, extinguishing the flame in her hand. Lily froze. The forest had fallen eerily silent, and a strange, unsettling feeling washed over her. Something wasn’t right.

“Hello, Lily.”

The voice that spoke was soft, but it sent a chill down her spine. She turned slowly, her heart pounding, and there, emerging from the shadows, was a figure that barely resembled a man. His body was frail, almost skeletal, his skin a sickly pale, and his eyes—red and burning—seemed to pierce right through her.

She didn’t recognize him, but something about him felt… familiar. Like a long-buried memory scratching at the surface of her mind.

“Who… who are you?” she asked, her voice trembling.

The figure chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. “Don’t you remember me, my dear? You’ve heard my voice before. I am your father.”

Lily’s breath caught in her throat. “What…?”

Voldemort—or what was left of him—stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, as though even walking took immense effort. “Yes, Lilyanala. It’s me, Tom Riddle. Your father. I’ve been watching you… waiting for the right time to speak to you again.”

Lily backed up a step, her mind racing. “But you’re… you’re gone. You’re supposed to be—”

“Destroyed?” Voldemort interrupted, his lip curling into a twisted smile. “I may not have a body, but I am far from gone, my daughter. I’ve been hiding, weakened, but not without power. And now, I’ve come to you.”

Lily’s heart pounded in her chest. Dumbledore had warned her about Voldemort—about how he had tried to kill her brother, about the terrible things he had done. But this was her father, wasn’t it? The same man who had left her at the orphanage to protect her. She didn’t know what to think.

“I… I don’t understand,” she whispered. “Why are you here?”

Voldemort’s eyes softened, or at least, they seemed to. “Lily, I need your help. I’ve been… damaged. Severely. And only you can help restore me to my full strength.”

Lily took another step back, shaking her head. “But… but I don’t know how. I’m not strong enough to—”

“You are more powerful than you realize,” Voldemort said, his voice smooth and persuasive. “You’ve been practicing, haven’t you? I’ve seen it. Your magic is unlike any other, Lily. It is a gift, passed down to you by me.”

Lily faltered, doubt creeping in. She *was* powerful, more so than many of the older students at Hogwarts. But still, she had heard so many stories about the evil things her father had done. She had to be careful.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Voldemort’s smile widened. “It’s simple, really. There is a man—Quirinus Quirrell—who is seeking knowledge of the Dark Arts. He is weak, but he is eager. I need you to guide him to me, Lily. He will become the vessel I need to regain my strength.”

Lily’s stomach churned. “You want me to help him so you can… what? Take over his body?”

“Only for a time,” Voldemort said smoothly. “It is the only way I can survive. And once I am whole again, I can protect you. Together, we will be unstoppable.”

Lily’s head swam with confusion. Protect her? Was that really what he wanted? Or was he using her like everyone had warned her he might? But then again, hadn’t he left her to protect her in the first place? Her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. She had always wanted to know more about her father, to understand why he had done the things he had. And now, here he was, asking for her help.

“You say you want to protect me,” she said slowly, searching his face for any hint of deception. “But why should I trust you? You… you killed my mother. You tried to kill Harry.”

Voldemort’s expression darkened, but he quickly masked it with a look of regret. “I made mistakes, Lily. But I did what I had to in order to protect you. Your mother… she was a threat to you. She would have turned you against me.”

Lily swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure if she believed him, but part of her wanted to. “And Harry?”

Voldemort’s voice softened again. “I never meant for him to become my enemy. But Dumbledore… he twisted things. He made sure that Harry would be raised to oppose me, to see me as a monster. I wanted us to be a family, Lily.”

A part of her longed for that—to have a father, a real family. But the warnings Dumbledore and Severus had given her echoed in her mind. She knew this was dangerous.

Still, Voldemort’s words tugged at her heart. Maybe if she helped him, she could finally have the answers she had been seeking for so long.

“Alright,” she said quietly. “I’ll help you.”

Voldemort’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Good, my dear. Very good. Quirrell is weak, but with your guidance, he will be the key to my return.”

Lily nodded, feeling a strange mixture of fear and determination. “Where do I find him?”

“He is already close by,” Voldemort said, his voice low and conspiratorial. “He’s a professor here at Hogwarts now. Dumbledore trusts him. All you need to do is… point him in the right direction.”

Lily’s heart sank. A professor? Someone Dumbledore trusted? She was about to betray him. But then again, hadn’t Dumbledore kept secrets from her too?

“I’ll do it,” she whispered, more to herself than to Voldemort. “I’ll help you.”

Voldemort’s smile widened, a dark, twisted thing. “Excellent, Lily. Soon, we will be reunited, and you will see the true power of our bloodline.”

As he disappeared back into the shadows, leaving her alone in the dark forest, Lily felt a knot of dread form in her stomach. She had made her choice, but the consequences were already weighing heavy on her shoulders.

For better or worse, she had taken the first step toward a path she could never return from.