The Serpent's Daughter

Chapter Four: A Risky Rebound

The days that followed Draco's rejection were some of the hardest Lily had ever faced. Hogwarts buzzed with whispers and rumors, all circulating around the reemergence of the Chamber of Secrets and the Heir of Slytherin. Everywhere she went, she could feel eyes on her, judging, questioning. The weight of it pressed down on her, but nothing stung more than seeing Draco pretend she no longer existed.

He avoided her in the corridors, never meeting her gaze, and whenever their paths crossed, he made sure to be with his usual entourage, laughing loudly as if nothing had happened. The more she saw him, the angrier she became. She was hurt, yes, but also furious that Draco had left her just because of the rumors.

*He thinks I’m like Voldemort,* she thought bitterly. *Well, maybe I can show him how wrong he is.*

It wasn’t a well-thought-out plan. In fact, it wasn’t much of a plan at all. But the pain and betrayal had festered inside her, pushing her to make an impulsive decision. If Draco thought she was so dangerous, then maybe he should see her with someone else—someone who wasn’t afraid of her. Maybe that would make him realize what he'd lost.

The opportunity came one afternoon, just after Transfiguration. Lily had been heading out of class when she saw Cedric Diggory, a popular Hufflepuff student a few years older than her, standing by the entrance, talking to his friends. He was tall, handsome, and known for being kind to everyone. She’d noticed the way he looked at her sometimes—curious, perhaps a bit concerned.

Without thinking, Lily marched over to him, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know exactly what she was going to say, but she needed to do something.

"Cedric," she said, her voice firm as she approached.

He turned toward her, a bit surprised but polite as always. “Lily,” he greeted with a warm smile. “How are you?”

She took a deep breath. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”

Cedric’s brow furrowed, clearly sensing the seriousness in her tone. He glanced at his friends and nodded before stepping away with Lily to a quieter corner of the hall. Once they were alone, he gave her his full attention, his expression concerned.

“What’s going on?” he asked gently.

Lily hesitated for a moment. She had never done anything like this before, but her emotions were running high, and she couldn’t back down now. “I…I need a favor,” she began, her voice softer now. “I need…someone to be with. Someone who isn’t afraid of me.”

Cedric’s eyes widened slightly, and Lily could see the thoughts swirling behind them. He had clearly heard the rumors about her—about her being connected to Voldemort and the Chamber of Secrets. And yet, there wasn’t an ounce of fear or hesitation in his eyes. Just kindness.

“You want me to…what, be with you?” Cedric asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

Lily nodded, feeling her face flush. “It doesn’t have to be serious. Just…you know…be seen with me. Draco—” she paused, her throat tightening at the mention of his name. “Draco thinks I’m dangerous. I want to show him that not everyone believes that.”

Cedric was quiet for a moment, clearly processing her words. His gaze softened, and Lily could see the Hufflepuff loyalty and kindness radiating from him. Finally, he nodded, giving her a small smile. “Alright,” he said simply. “I’ll help you.”

Lily blinked, surprised by how easily he had agreed. “Really?”

Cedric chuckled softly. “Of course. I don’t believe the rumors, Lily. I know you’re not like…him.” He hesitated for a second before adding, “Besides, if this is about proving something to Draco, then maybe I can help you do that.”

A wave of relief washed over Lily, but at the same time, a small part of her felt guilty. Cedric didn’t deserve to be dragged into her mess, but the need to make Draco see what he’d given up was stronger than her guilt.

“Thank you, Cedric,” she said softly. “I really appreciate it.”

Over the next few days, word spread quickly. Lily and Cedric were often seen together, walking to classes or sitting together at meals. Cedric, true to his word, stayed by her side, his presence a comforting shield against the whispers and stares. He even made a point of standing up for her when people dared to speak ill of her.

And it didn’t take long for Draco to notice.

One afternoon, as Lily and Cedric sat in the courtyard, laughing at something Cedric had said, Lily could feel a familiar pair of eyes watching them. She glanced up and saw Draco standing with Pansy Parkinson and a few other Slytherins. He was glaring at them, his fists clenched at his sides.

Lily felt a rush of satisfaction. It was working.

But as the days went on, something else started to happen—something Lily hadn’t expected. Cedric’s kindness began to affect her in ways she hadn’t planned for. He wasn’t just a tool to make Draco jealous anymore. He genuinely cared about her, and as much as she had tried to convince herself this was just a rebound, she found herself enjoying his company more and more.

He wasn’t like Draco. Cedric didn’t care about her family history or the rumors swirling around her. He treated her like any other student, like a normal girl, and that was something Lily hadn’t experienced in a long time.

One evening, after a particularly fun day of exploring the castle together, Cedric walked her back to the Slytherin common room. They stopped just outside the entrance, and Cedric turned to her, his smile warm and genuine.

“I had a great time today,” he said softly.

Lily smiled back, though a part of her still felt conflicted. “Me too,” she admitted. “Thank you for everything, Cedric. You didn’t have to do all of this.”

Cedric shrugged lightly. “I wanted to. You deserve someone who’s not afraid of you, Lily. Don’t let people like Draco make you doubt that.”

Lily’s heart ached at his words. Cedric was so good, so kind, and yet she still couldn’t shake the feeling that she was using him. But before she could say anything else, Cedric leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.

“Goodnight, Lily,” he whispered before turning and walking away, leaving Lily standing there, her heart conflicted.

As she watched him disappear down the corridor, Lily realized that maybe she had made a bigger mistake than she thought. This wasn’t just about making Draco jealous anymore. Cedric had become something more, something real, and now she had no idea what to do about it.