The Serpent's Daughter

Chapter 7: The Journey to Hogwarts

Lily’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood at Platform 9¾, her hand clutching the handle of her trolley. She glanced around at the bustling crowd of students, parents, and magical creatures, all moving with excitement as they prepared for the start of the school year. The Hogwarts Express, with its gleaming red engine, billowed steam as the doors were flung open, inviting the students aboard.

Dumbledore had dropped her off at the station earlier, giving her a brief but reassuring smile before disappearing. Now, she was on her own.

Lily took a deep breath and followed the stream of students heading toward the train. Her new black Hogwarts robes were slightly too long, brushing against the ground as she walked, and she found herself nervously adjusting them, still unused to wearing something so different from her usual clothes.

She had barely stepped onto the train when she collided with someone, nearly knocking her backwards.

“Oi! Watch it!” came an irritated voice.

Lily looked up and saw a freckle-faced boy with red hair glaring at her. His expression softened when he noticed how small she was, probably realizing she was a first-year like him.

“Oh, sorry,” he muttered, his tone less harsh. “I’m Ron. Ron Weasley.”

Lily tilted her head slightly, remembering the Weasley name from her encounters with Bill, Percy, and Charlie. She gave Ron a small smile. “I’m Lily. Sorry about that. I didn’t see you.”

Ron scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “S’okay. First time, huh?”

She nodded, feeling a little shy. “Yeah, it’s a bit overwhelming.”

“Tell me about it,” Ron grumbled, though his face brightened when he saw someone approaching. A tall boy with messy black hair and round glasses was walking toward them, dragging his own trolley along.

“Harry!” Ron called out, waving him over.

Lily’s heart skipped a beat when she heard the name. She had heard so much about him—her half-brother, though she had never dared to tell anyone the truth. Their lives were so different, and she wasn’t sure what she felt about him. Curious, yes. But there was also a small twinge of jealousy that crept up whenever she thought about how Harry had been raised with love, while she had been hidden away in an orphanage.

Harry smiled as he joined them. “Hey, Ron,” he said, and then noticed Lily standing there. “Hi.”

“I’m Lily,” she said, her voice soft but steady. She forced herself to meet his gaze, trying to hide the swirling emotions in her chest. She wondered if he could sense anything strange about her—something that connected them. But Harry seemed completely unaware, offering her a friendly smile.

“Nice to meet you,” Harry said, and then turned back to Ron. “Let’s find a compartment before they all fill up.”

Lily nodded in agreement, but just as she was about to follow them, a drawling voice interrupted.

“Well, well. Potter and Weasley, isn’t it?”

Lily turned to see Draco Malfoy standing nearby, flanked by two large boys she recognized as Crabbe and Goyle. Draco’s smirk was unmistakable as he glanced between Harry and Ron. His eyes then flickered to Lily, softening slightly.

“Lily,” Draco said, his voice much warmer as he spoke to her. “You shouldn’t be wasting your time with this lot.”

Ron scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Draco ignored him, stepping closer to Lily. “Come on, you don’t want to get stuck in a compartment with *them*. Sit with me.”

Lily hesitated, her eyes darting between Draco and Harry. She could feel the tension in the air—Draco’s disdain for Harry was palpable, and she didn’t want to make things worse. But at the same time, Draco was her friend, or at least as close to a friend as she had. He had been kind to her in Diagon Alley, and there was a sense of security she felt when she was around him, something she didn’t quite understand.

“Uh, maybe I’ll—”

“Don’t worry, Lily,” Draco said smoothly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Come on.”

Lily felt the pressure of his hand, and her decision was made. She gave a small nod and followed Draco, casting one last glance at Harry and Ron. Harry seemed confused, while Ron muttered something under his breath about “bloody Slytherins.”

Draco led Lily down the corridor of the train until they found an empty compartment near the back. Crabbe and Goyle lumbered in behind them, but they took seats on the opposite side, leaving Draco and Lily to sit together.

As soon as the door was closed, Draco’s entire demeanor relaxed. “You don’t need to waste time with people like them, Lily,” he said, leaning back in his seat. “Trust me, they’re not worth it.”

Lily gave him a half-smile, unsure of how to respond. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but a part of her was still thinking about Harry—about the strange connection she felt toward him, even though he had no idea who she really was.

“Maybe they’re not so bad,” she murmured, more to herself than to Draco.

Draco scoffed. “You’ll see soon enough. Stick with me, and you won’t have to deal with any of them. We’re going to be in Slytherin anyway.”

Lily nodded absentmindedly. She wasn’t sure what house she would be sorted into, but Draco’s confidence was contagious. She leaned back in her seat, the rhythm of the train’s movement starting to make her feel drowsy.

As they sped through the countryside, the conversation in the compartment began to die down. Crabbe and Goyle were too preoccupied with their snacks, and Draco had started flipping through a book about Quidditch, leaving Lily to stare out the window. The rolling green hills blurred by, and the soft hum of the train became a lullaby in her ears.

Before long, Lily’s eyelids grew heavy. She tried to stay awake, but the exhaustion of the day—meeting so many new people, the excitement of the train—was starting to catch up with her. She blinked slowly, her head dipping slightly as she fought to stay conscious.

Without thinking, she shifted closer to Draco, her body naturally seeking warmth and comfort. Draco glanced at her, surprised, but didn’t say anything. He simply shifted slightly to give her more space.

Lily’s head rested gently on Draco’s shoulder as she finally allowed herself to drift off. She didn’t see the slight smirk that crossed his face as he watched her fall asleep, her small frame curled up next to him.

As the train continued its journey toward Hogwarts, Lily’s mind drifted into a dreamless sleep, the faint hum of the train the only sound in the quiet compartment.