The Serpent's Daughter

Chapter Two: Cracks in the Foundation

The days at Hogwarts passed in a blur for Lilyanala Riddle. She had settled into her second year with a strange sense of both anticipation and dread. While she kept a wary eye on Harry and the whispers from her father still haunted her at times, there was one constant that seemed to make everything more bearable — Draco Malfoy.

Ever since their first year, there had been a growing bond between them. Despite Draco’s usual arrogance and pureblood superiority, there was a softer side of him that only Lily got to see. This year, the bond had only deepened.

It started with simple moments. Catching each other’s eyes across the Great Hall, stolen smiles during classes, and quiet conversations in hidden corners of the castle. They were always careful, always secretive. Draco didn’t like to advertise his feelings, especially with his reputation in Slytherin, and Lily had her own reasons for keeping their relationship low-key. But in those quiet moments, they found something real, something that grounded them in a world full of chaos.

One Saturday, as the autumn leaves started to fall, Draco took Lily on their first official date, though neither of them called it that. They walked through the Forbidden Forest, an area that usually kept students away, but Draco didn’t care about the rules. With his usual cocky smile, he led her through the trees to a clearing by the Black Lake. The air was crisp, the water reflecting the cloudy sky, and for a moment, it felt like the world beyond Hogwarts didn’t exist.

“I think this is the best hiding spot in all of Hogwarts,” Draco said, sitting down on a fallen log, his eyes glinting with mischief. “No one ever comes here. Just you and me.”

Lily sat beside him, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. Despite all her fears, despite the shadows that still loomed over her, Draco made her feel…safe. Or at least, less alone.

“I didn’t know you had a romantic side, Draco,” she teased, nudging him gently with her shoulder.

He rolled his eyes, though there was a smile tugging at his lips. “I’m full of surprises, Riddle.”

Lily winced at the sound of her last name, but Draco didn’t know the weight it carried. To him, it was just a name, not a legacy of darkness and fear. She forced a smile, pushing the thought away.

They spent hours by the lake, talking about anything and everything — the pressure Draco felt from his father, Lily’s struggles with balancing her magic, and their shared frustrations with the world around them. Draco could be harsh and proud, but with Lily, he was different. He listened. He cared.

As the sun began to set, Draco turned to her, his silver eyes serious. “You know…I don’t say this often, but I like spending time with you, Lily.”

Lily felt her heart flutter. Draco’s words, though simple, held a weight to them. She wasn’t used to being cared for like this, not by someone who wasn’t Albus or Severus. She leaned in closer, resting her head on his shoulder, feeling his arm wrap around her waist.

“I like spending time with you too,” she whispered, closing her eyes. For once, she allowed herself to relax, to forget about the darkness that always seemed to follow her.

But as perfect as the moment felt, it didn’t last.

---

A few weeks later, everything changed.

Lily had been walking down the hallways, her mind preoccupied with the usual swirl of thoughts. She had noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione whispering about something, but she hadn’t paid much attention to it. It wasn’t until she turned the corner and saw the writing on the wall that her blood turned cold.

*The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware.*

It was scrawled in dark red letters, dripping down the stone wall like blood. Lily froze, her heart pounding in her chest. The Chamber of Secrets. She had heard the whispers, but she never thought they were true. She never thought it would happen while she was at Hogwarts.

Suddenly, everything felt too familiar — the whispers in her mind, the voice of her father urging her toward Slytherin’s legacy. Was this because of her? Was Voldemort trying to use her again?

She didn’t have long to think. The news of the writing spread quickly through the school, and panic set in. Whispers filled the hallways, students talked in hushed tones, and everyone seemed on edge. But the worst part came later that night.

Lily was sitting by the fireplace in the Slytherin common room when Draco stormed in, his face pale and his expression tight. He glanced around the room, his eyes landing on her. Without a word, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a quiet corner, away from prying eyes.

“Draco, what—” she began, but he cut her off.

“Did you see it?” he asked, his voice low but urgent. “The writing? The Chamber of Secrets?”

Lily nodded, confused by his sudden intensity. “Yes, but I don’t know what—”

“People are saying it’s you, Lily,” Draco hissed, his grip tightening on her wrist. “They’re saying you’re the Heir of Slytherin. That you’re behind this.”

Lily’s heart sank. She had feared this might happen. Her connection to Voldemort, to Slytherin’s legacy, had always been a secret she kept from most, but now it seemed like it was catching up to her.

“Draco, you know I’m not,” she said, her voice pleading. “I didn’t do this. I would never—”

“I don’t know what to believe,” Draco interrupted, his eyes searching hers. “You’ve always been…different, Lily. Powerful. And your last name…”

Lily pulled her wrist from his grip, feeling a lump form in her throat. She could see the doubt in his eyes, the fear. Draco didn’t know the full truth, but even with what little he did know, it was enough to make him question her.

“Draco, please,” she whispered. “You know me.”

Draco looked away, running a hand through his platinum blond hair. “I thought I did. But with all this happening…I can’t risk it.”

Lily felt her heart shatter at his words. “What are you saying?”

Draco’s face hardened, and when he looked at her again, the coldness in his eyes was unmistakable. “We can’t be together, Lily. Not with this going on. Not with people thinking you’re…you’re like him.”

Lily stepped back, the pain in her chest overwhelming. She had never imagined Draco would turn on her like this, that he would let fear and doubt drive a wedge between them. But here it was, happening right before her eyes.

Without another word, Draco turned and walked away, leaving Lily standing alone in the dark corner of the common room, her world crumbling around her.

She had always known her connection to Voldemort would come back to haunt her. She just hadn’t expected it to hurt this much.