The Serpent's Daughter

Chapter 10: Secrets and Shadows

Hogwarts had become home for Lily, a place where she could blend into the background when needed, yet still be part of the world she was learning to embrace. Despite her unusual sorting, life settled into a routine—classes, homework, and exploring the magical castle with her friends. But her days always seemed to revolve around two people: Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.

Draco had grown to be her closest companion. He was charming, though arrogant at times, and fiercely protective of her. Over the months, their bond deepened, evolving from simple friendship into something more complicated.

The two of them often spent time together after classes, wandering the grounds or hiding away in the Slytherin common room, where Draco would boast about his family’s wealth and the glory of Slytherin. Though his obsession with pureblood superiority bothered Lily at times, she never argued with him directly. It was easier to keep him as an ally than to risk losing the one person who made her feel truly accepted.

But while Draco’s presence was comforting, her thoughts often drifted to Harry.

Her half-brother had no idea who she truly was. To him, she was just another student, someone he passed in the halls. Their interactions were rare and fleeting, but Lily couldn’t help but feel the pull of their shared blood. She had grown up with the knowledge that she and Harry shared the same mother, but she had also been taught to keep that a secret—a secret she wasn’t ready to reveal, not yet.

Instead, she watched over him from a distance, always keeping an eye on him as he navigated the dangers of Hogwarts. Harry’s first year had been anything but ordinary. From trolls in the dungeons to mysterious happenings surrounding the Philosopher’s Stone, it seemed as though trouble followed him everywhere.

And Lily, though hidden in the shadows, was always nearby.

---

One chilly autumn evening, Lily found herself in the library, perched in a window seat with a book open on her lap. The soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the glass, casting long shadows across the shelves. She wasn’t really reading—her mind was elsewhere, focused on Harry.

She had followed him earlier, watching from the shadows as he and his friends, Ron and Hermione, discussed something about a forbidden corridor. Harry always seemed to be in the thick of things, and it worried her. She had taken it upon herself to protect him, whether he knew it or not.

“Lily?”

She looked up, startled to see Draco standing beside her. He wore his usual smirk, but there was something softer in his eyes. He had noticed that she often disappeared for long stretches of time, and though he didn’t press her for answers, his curiosity was growing.

“What are you doing all the way up here?” he asked, sitting down beside her without waiting for an invitation.

“Just… thinking,” she replied, closing the book and turning to face him. “What about you?”

Draco shrugged, leaning back against the window. “I was looking for you. You’ve been acting strange lately, disappearing and sneaking off. What’s going on?”

Lily tensed slightly. She couldn’t tell Draco the truth, not about Harry. Not when Draco and Harry were enemies. They had clashed almost immediately upon arriving at Hogwarts, Draco’s disdain for Harry’s fame and Gryffindor bravado making them natural rivals.

“I’ve just been busy,” Lily said, trying to sound casual. “You know, classes, studying… Hogwarts is a big place.”

Draco narrowed his eyes slightly, not quite believing her. “You’ve been keeping something from me.”

Her stomach twisted. She hated lying to Draco. Despite his arrogance and cold demeanor toward others, he had a soft spot for her, and she had grown to care about him too. But the truth about her connection to Harry could ruin everything.

“I’m not keeping anything from you, Draco,” she said softly, hoping to steer the conversation away from dangerous territory.

He studied her for a moment before sighing. “Fine, keep your secrets.” His voice was light, but Lily could sense the hint of frustration underneath. He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. “But if you need to talk to someone, I’m here. You know that, right?”

Lily nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She had grown used to Draco’s protectiveness, but moments like this, when his guard was down, made her realize how much she truly meant to him.

“I know,” she whispered.

Draco lingered a moment longer before pulling away, his smirk returning. “Good. Now, what do you say we go back to the common room? I’ve got some new stories about my father’s dealings with the Ministry.”

Lily smiled weakly and agreed, though her thoughts were still on Harry.

---

Later that night, after Draco had fallen asleep in the common room, Lily slipped out quietly. She couldn’t stop thinking about what she had overheard earlier. Harry and his friends were planning something dangerous. Something about the third-floor corridor and a stone.

She made her way through the dimly lit halls, her steps light as a feather. She had become quite skilled at sneaking around, and no one ever questioned her when she was out late at night. It was one of the perks of being so close to both Severus and Albus. They trusted her, even if they didn’t know what she was up to.

Eventually, she found herself outside the Gryffindor common room. She didn’t dare enter—there was too much risk of being caught—but she knew Harry was in there. She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes and focusing on the protective magic she had learned to use. It was subtle, but powerful enough to shield Harry from harm, at least temporarily.

As she focused on her spell, she heard footsteps behind her.

“Lily?”

Her heart skipped a beat. She turned to see Percy Weasley standing there, his prefect badge gleaming in the dim light.

“Percy,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Percy replied, his voice firm but not unkind. “Are you spying on Harry again?”

Lily hesitated, guilt washing over her. Percy had known her since she was a child, and he was one of the few people at Hogwarts who knew the truth about her lineage. He had always kept her secret, but that didn’t mean he approved of her spying on Harry.

“I’m just trying to protect him,” she admitted softly.

Percy sighed, his expression softening. “I know you are. But you can’t keep doing this, Lily. It’s dangerous—for both of you.”

“I can’t help it,” she whispered. “He’s my brother, Percy. I have to watch over him.”

Percy placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “You don’t have to do this alone, you know. There are other people who care about Harry too. You’re not the only one looking out for him.”

Lily nodded, though the weight of her responsibility still pressed heavily on her shoulders. She couldn’t stop, not until Harry was safe.

“Come on,” Percy said gently. “Let’s get you back to the Slytherin common room before someone notices you’re gone.”

Lily followed him, her heart heavy with the burden of her secrets. She glanced back once at the Gryffindor common room, her thoughts lingering on Harry.

He didn’t know who she was. But that didn’t mean she would stop protecting him—not now, not ever.