The Serpent's Daughter

Chapter Nine: Here's Hoping

Lilyanala Riddle stood at the grand entrance of Malfoy Manor, her heart racing as she approached the imposing iron gates. The sprawling estate loomed above her, its stone walls cold and forbidding, but inside, she hoped to find warmth—especially from the person she missed the most: Draco.

After the tumultuous events of the school year, Lily had spent the majority of her time thinking about Draco, their budding relationship, and the unfortunate end that had come with it. She had tried to shake off the hurt from being dumped, but every time she closed her eyes, memories of their shared laughter and whispered secrets would flood back. She needed to see him, to show him that she was still the same girl he had started to care about before everything had spiraled out of control.

Taking a deep breath, Lily knocked firmly on the door. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for someone to answer. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing a stoic house-elf, who eyed her curiously.

“Miss Riddle?” the elf asked, a mixture of surprise and apprehension in its voice.

“Yes, it’s me. Is Draco home?” she replied, forcing her voice to stay steady despite the flutter of anxiety in her stomach.

“Master Draco is inside,” the elf said, glancing back toward the expansive entryway. “But I must warn you, Miss Riddle, Master Lucius is not pleased about your visit.”

Lily’s heart sank at the mention of Lucius Malfoy. After the incident at Dobby’s freedom, she knew there would be repercussions, but she hoped Draco would stand by her. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I just want to see him.”

The elf hesitated but ultimately nodded. “Very well. Follow me.”

As they walked through the opulent halls of Malfoy Manor, Lily’s mind raced with thoughts of what she would say to Draco. She wanted to apologize for how everything had ended, to explain that she had acted out of anger and fear, and that she wasn’t a threat to him or his family.

They reached a set of double doors that opened into a lavish sitting room. Draco was seated on a plush sofa, a book resting in his lap, but he looked up the moment he heard the door creak open. His expression shifted from surprise to delight as his gray eyes locked onto hers.

“Lily!” he exclaimed, rising from the couch. But as he took a step forward, the joy in his eyes faltered, replaced by uncertainty. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you,” she said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. “I know things ended badly between us, and I wanted to explain. I miss you, Draco.”

He glanced toward the doorway, his brow furrowing in concern. “You shouldn’t have come here. My father—”

“Your father is not going to hurt me,” Lily insisted, her voice firm. “I came because I wanted to spend the summer with you. I don’t want to be alone.”

Draco’s expression softened momentarily, but he quickly masked it with a look of conflict. “Lily, you know my parents don’t like you. They think—”

“They think I’m Voldemort’s daughter,” she interrupted, her voice low. “I can’t change who my father is, but I’m not him. I’m not a Death Eater. I just want to be with you.”

His eyes widened, and for a moment, she could see the internal struggle in his gaze. “You don’t understand. My father is furious about what you did to him. He thinks you’re a danger to our family.”

“And what about you, Draco?” she asked, taking a step closer. “What do you think? Am I a danger to you?”

“I—I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice wavering. “I want to be with you, but my parents… they won’t allow it.”

“Then let’s show them we can be together despite what they think. You know me. You know I’m not like them,” she urged, desperation creeping into her voice.

Draco ran a hand through his blonde hair, frustration evident on his face. “It’s not that simple, Lily. My parents expect me to follow their path, and if I stand up for you, they’ll—”

“Draco, please,” she pleaded, her heart aching. “I need you to trust me. I’m not going to hurt you or your family. I just want to spend time with you. Don’t you want that too?”

He hesitated, and she could see the conflict warring within him. His gaze flickered toward the door, and she knew he was weighing the risks of what it meant to have her in his life.

Just then, the door swung open, and Lucius Malfoy strode into the room, his demeanor cold and commanding. The air thickened with tension as his eyes fell on Lily, and a scowl twisted his features.

“What is she doing here?” Lucius demanded, his voice icy. “I thought I made it clear that your association with her was unacceptable, Draco.”

Lily squared her shoulders, refusing to back down. “I came to see Draco. I want to spend the summer with him, and I don’t care what you think.”

“Silence!” Lucius barked, advancing toward her. “You have no right to intrude on my family. You’re nothing but a remnant of your father’s legacy, and I won’t allow you to tarnish the Malfoy name.”

Draco stepped between them, his voice rising. “Father, she’s not a danger to us. She’s my friend, and I want to be with her.”

“A friend?” Lucius spat, his face reddening with rage. “You would choose her over your own blood? Over your family’s legacy? You are a Malfoy, Draco, and you will act like one.”

Lily felt the weight of Lucius's contempt pressing down on her, but she refused to let him see her fear. “I’m not like Voldemort. I won’t hurt anyone, and I’m not a threat to your family.”

Lucius laughed derisively, his eyes narrowing. “You have no idea what you are, girl. You think your father’s blood does not run in your veins? You’re a Riddle, and that means you are dangerous.”

Draco turned to his father, his voice trembling with frustration. “Father, stop! Lily is not him! She’s my friend, and I care about her!”

Lucius’s face twisted in anger, but he took a step back, reassessing his son. “You will regret this decision, Draco. Mark my words.”

With that, Lucius turned on his heel and strode out of the room, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

Lily’s heart sank as the door clicked shut behind him. She turned to Draco, her eyes searching his face for any sign of what he was feeling. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

Draco ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his posture. “You don’t understand how dangerous this is. My father won’t stop until he gets what he wants. And right now, that’s to keep you away from me.”

“I just want to be with you,” Lily whispered, stepping closer. “I thought you wanted that too.”

He sighed, his expression softening. “I do want to be with you, but… it’s complicated. My family has expectations, and I don’t know if I can fight against them.”

Lily felt a lump form in her throat. “I don’t want to be a burden, Draco. I just thought—”

“Don’t say that,” he interrupted gently, his voice low. “You’re not a burden. I just need time to figure this out. I care about you, but I can’t go against my family, not yet.”

“Here’s hoping,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, knowing deep down that it wouldn’t be easy, but still holding onto the hope that their bond could survive even Lucius Malfoy’s wrath.

“Just… promise me you’ll be careful,” Draco replied, his expression serious. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I promise,” Lily said, her heart swelling at his concern. As she looked into his eyes, she felt a flicker of hope. Maybe they could navigate this storm together—if only they were given the chance.