The Serpent's Daughter

Chapter Three: Seeking Comfort

Lily ran. She didn’t know where she was going, didn’t care. Tears blurred her vision as she rushed down the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, the weight of Draco’s words crushing her from the inside out.

*We can’t be together, Lily.*

The words kept replaying in her mind, stabbing her with every beat. She had known people would judge her if the truth of her heritage ever came out, but she never thought Draco—of all people—would be the one to abandon her. The person she had trusted most, the one who made her feel like she wasn’t a monster, had turned his back on her.

Finally, she couldn’t run any longer. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled to the cold stone floor in an empty corridor. She buried her face in her hands, her body shaking with sobs. For a while, she let the weight of everything crash over her—the Chamber of Secrets, the accusations, and the devastating betrayal.

*How could Draco leave me like that?* she thought, her mind spinning with confusion and anger.

After what felt like hours, Lily slowly lifted her head, wiping her tear-streaked face with her sleeve. She couldn’t go back to the Slytherin common room. She couldn’t face the whispers, the judgment. Instead, she found herself moving again, though this time her steps were slower, more hesitant. She wasn’t sure where she was going, but a small part of her knew who she needed right now.

Her feet carried her down to the dungeons, the familiar chill in the air becoming oddly comforting. Soon, she found herself in front of a large, heavy door, one that she had knocked on countless times over the years. But tonight, her heart was heavier than ever before.

Lily raised her hand, hesitating for a brief moment before knocking softly.

A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal Severus Snape, her adoptive father. He was dressed in his usual black robes, his dark eyes sharp as they scanned her face. The moment he saw the tears glistening on her cheeks, his expression softened, though his tone remained cool.

“Lily,” he said, his voice low but gentle, “what’s happened?”

Lily tried to speak, but the lump in her throat made it difficult. She took a step toward him, her lower lip trembling as fresh tears filled her eyes. “It’s Draco…he…he…”

Before she could finish, Severus pulled her inside, closing the door behind them. He led her over to one of the high-backed chairs near his fireplace, guiding her to sit. The warmth from the fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the room.

Severus knelt beside her, his usual detached demeanor replaced with concern as he studied her tear-stained face. “Take your time, Lily,” he said softly. “Tell me what happened.”

For a moment, Lily just sat there, staring at the flames, trying to piece together the words. She had always felt safe with Severus. He wasn’t the warmest person, but he had always been there for her since Albus Dumbledore had taken her in. He had been her guardian, her protector. The one person who always seemed to understand the darkness she carried.

Finally, she found her voice, though it was small and broken. “He thinks I’m behind the Chamber of Secrets being opened,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Draco…he thinks I’m like…him.”

Severus’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Draco Malfoy?”

Lily nodded, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. “He broke up with me. He said he couldn’t risk it. That people think I’m like Voldemort…and he…he just left me.”

Severus didn’t speak for a long moment. His jaw clenched, and Lily could see the flicker of anger in his eyes, though it wasn’t directed at her. He had always been protective of her, especially when it came to her connection to Voldemort. The idea that someone would judge her for something so out of her control clearly enraged him.

“I see,” Severus said quietly. He rose from his kneeling position and sat down beside her, his long black robes brushing against the floor. His posture was rigid, as always, but his voice was softer now. “You are *nothing* like him, Lilyanala. And anyone who believes otherwise is a fool.”

Lily looked down at her hands, her fingers trembling slightly. “But what if they’re right, Severus? What if I *am* like him? I can feel it sometimes, the darkness inside me. What if it’s only a matter of time before I become—”

“No,” Severus interrupted, his voice firm. He placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. “You are not him. You are not Voldemort. You’ve had the chance to walk his path, to follow in his footsteps, but you haven’t. You’ve chosen your own way.”

Lily sniffled, wiping her eyes. “But Draco…he couldn’t even look at me.”

Severus’s expression softened again. He let out a quiet sigh, his hand still resting on her shoulder. “Malfoy is young. Fear drives people to make poor decisions, especially when they don’t understand the full truth. He may care for you, but that doesn’t mean he understands what you carry.”

Lily looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for reassurance. “Do you think he’ll ever change his mind?”

Severus’s face was hard to read, but there was a flicker of something—perhaps sympathy—in his dark eyes. “Perhaps,” he said, though there was a hint of doubt in his tone. “But you should not base your worth on whether or not he accepts you, Lily. You are stronger than that.”

Lily took a deep, shaky breath, letting his words sink in. She knew Severus was right, but it didn’t make the pain any easier. Draco had been her first real connection outside of the people who had raised her. Losing him felt like losing a part of herself.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice hoarse.

Severus nodded. “You are not alone, Lily. You have me. You have Albus. And if anyone dares question your loyalty or character, they will answer to us.”

Lily managed a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You always know what to say.”

Severus gave a faint, rare smile, standing up. “Rest, Lily. You’ll see things more clearly in the morning.”

Lily nodded, the exhaustion finally catching up to her. As Severus walked her to the door, she felt a little lighter, knowing that she had someone who believed in her—someone who wouldn’t abandon her no matter what.

Before she left, she turned back to him. “Severus?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you…for everything.”

Severus nodded once. “Always.”

As Lily stepped out of his office and into the quiet corridor, she felt the faintest glimmer of hope. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep her going, enough to remind her that no matter what happened, she wasn’t alone. And that, for now, was all she needed.