Prologue
December 1990
Only two minutes until the bell rang. Though when one had to sit through History of Magic, every minute felt like an hour.
As her watch ticked another three seconds away, Lyssa Morrigan sighed and turned to look out the window. The young Hufflepuff had gotten lucky that day and gotten the last window seat, nearly pushing Sarah McMillan out of the way. Usually looking out the window provided some alleviation from the boredom, as it looked over where Care of Magical Creatures was held. But due to the recent snowfall, the class had been held indoors. The boredom was also due to her best friend being gone. Like several other students, Liza Holiday had been allowed to leave early. Her parents had decided to go to France for the holiday and had only been able to get a flight before the holidays began. Being Muggles, they were unable to use the near instant methods of transportation, so Liza had been allowed to leave early and had left Lyssa listening to Binns drone on and on about something that happened in the Eastern part of the continent years before Dumbledore was born. Not paying attention wouldn't be an issue, as everything they needed to know was in the textbook.
Soon, the snow became dull and Lyssa turned away from the window. She wished that they shared this class with another House besides Ravenclaw, preferably the Gryffindors. The Weasley twins were very good at keeping boredom at bay, though it was usually as someone's expense. The damage was usually confined to them or an inanimate object, though others got caught in the crossfire. Last year, Lyssa had lost an eyebrow during Charms and it had grown back thinner and shorter than it had been before.
The bell finally rang.
Lyssa breathed a sigh of relief and all but ran for the door. Her mind began to clear almost immediately. She joined the mass of students in the corridor, straining her head to see over the seventh years that had just come out of Arithmancy. She made it to the other side of the hall and scrambled to get on top of a bench. It gave her just enough advantage to see the person she was looking for.
"Angelina!"
The dark haired Gryffindor looked up at the sound of her name and smiled when she saw who was calling her. "Hey Lyssa."
"How was Potions?'
"The same. Lee singed a dreadlock and one of the twins made Snape take five points away."
"So the same as always?"
"Yes."
The girls laughed. The year before, Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs had shared both Charms and Potions, so Lyssa knew exactly what went on. The pair began to head for the Great Hall. It served as a social and study area between classes, if you wanted to mix with people from other houses.
"Wait for me!" Alicia Spinnet called from down the hall, waving her arm as she struggled to keep her slipping bag on her shoulder. The pair paused to let her catch up. "That stupid Montague spilled what was left in our cauldron and Snape made me clean it up."
"Did he call you a dunderhead?" Lyssa asked.
"No. He just glared at me and told me to clean it up."
"I always get called a dunderhead when I mess up. That or told I'm mediocre. When he pays attention." Lyssa wrinkled her nose.
"Hufflepuffs get off light compared to us," Angelia stated.
"He does seem to really hate Gryffindors," Lyssa remarked.
"He hates everyone," Alicia snorted. "He just hates his own house a little less."
"A person can't hate everyone," Lyssa said softly as they sat down. She reached into her bag for her copy of 1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi. "Merlin! I think I left my book in the greenhouse."
"You can borrow mine," Alicia offered. Lyssa shook her head and stood up, letting out a long sigh.
"My notes for Herbology and Transfiguration are in there. I need them for the bloody homework." Lyssa puffed a chunk of her hair from her face and put on her cloak. "I'll be back soon."
It was cold outside. Lyssa hugged herself, feeling the wind whip at her ears. Her hat was up in her dorm. She had put it there after lunch, thinking that she wouldn't be going outside again. The fur lined cap had been a gift from her brother, purchased in Romania and sent to her only a week ago. Daniel worked down there, studying dragons. He had sent a letter with the hat, making vague mentions of visiting during the holidays.
The snow crunched under her worn boots and the crystallized flakes glittered in the weak sun. It was a short trek to the greenhouse where lessons had been held and for that, Lyssa was grateful. She hoped that Professor Sprout was still in there, though it wouldn't be the end of the world. After all, she was her head of house and could just give her the book later. Though she would prefer to study with her friends now instead of having to do it on her own at home. In between her father's drunken renditions of both Muggle and Wizarding Christmas songs, and her mother forcing to Lyssa to be taste tester, studying would be difficult.
Lucky for Lyssa, Professor Sprout was still in the greenhouse and had her book on a table right by the door. Nothing had been disturbed, not even her notes. They were still stuck behind the cover, sticking out at random angles. As her head of house was absorbed in grading papers, Lyssa merely thanked her and wished her a happy holiday before heading back into the snow.
"Damn," she muttered when her boot sunk into a deep pocket of snow halfway to the castle. She swore again, this time more strongly when she couldn't get her foot out. A wind kicked up, stinging her ears. "Merlin's balls!"
"You alright?"
Lyssa turned and blushed at the sight of Charlie Weasley standing by her, trying very hard not to look amused.
"I'm stuck," she muttered and attempted to pull her leg out again to prove it.
"Just hold on."
Before she could even blink, Charlie had both hands under her armpits and was hauling her up. "There." he announced.
"Thank you," Lyssa said, her cheeks flushing a light pink.
"No problem," he said and grinned. "See you." he added before heading to the Qudditch pitch.
"Uh-huh."
Lyssa dashed back as fast as she to the castle, her cheeks burning. She didn't really know him very well, as he was five years ahead of her. All she knew was that he was one of many children and that he spent most of his time outside. He probably didn't even know her name, which wasn't offensive. After all, she was a second year and not even in his house. It was understandable.
"Why are you so red?" Alicia asked when Lyssa returned.
"I got stuck in the snow," Lyssa muttered, flipping her book open.
Xxx
Note: I'll be putting the next chapter later today or tomorrow morning, depending if I have to work overtime today or not. I just wanted the reader to see Lyssa before she lost her mind in a non flashback context.
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