For as long as Lyra could remember, she had always thought of her mother as being one of those fearless, powerful witches who was on top-secret missions saving the wizarding world from anything and everything. That's why, she deduced, she was forced to live her life without her. Lyra had given up hope of seeing her mother when she was eleven, when she first started school. Not regular school, but school for witches and wizards. Lyra was a bit shocked when she received the news, but was not surprised. Since Lyra was little, she could make all sorts of odd things happen.
When Lyra was ten, she endured the most pain imaginable. It was an awkward stage for her. She went to school wearing hand-me-down clothes and things given to her by charity. All the girls at school made fun of her for her looks. On one particular day, Lyra was feeling particularly mean. After being called all sorts of awful names, the group of girls who teased her suddenly found themselves without hair. Lyra was immediately questioned by the people in charge, and in a fit of tears, cried she never did anything wrong.
Today was going to be different for Lyra. She was going to Hogwarts, a place she had heard so much about. Her long-lost cousin Malfoy filled her in on all the right things, who to associate with, which teachers were worth getting on the right side of- "Professor Snape, he's one of the best at Hogwarts. He'll teach you and tell you everything there is to know," Draco told her. Promising herself to become acquainted with Severus Snape, Lyra got on the Hogwarts Express with Draco, full of fear and anticipation.
Draco led her to a compartment near the front of the train, which was already full of Draco's friends. "These are my friends, Lyra. I think you'll find them quite…enjoyable," Draco said, smirking. His smirking was really getting on Lyra's nerves. And so she was introduced to Crabbe and Goyle, who appeared to be Draco's best friends. Lyra was then introduced to Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, and Pansy Parkinson, but Lyra couldn't exactly make out what Pansy was to Draco. The ride to Hogwarts was completely uneventful, Lyra spent it listening quietly to Draco's stories.
"Is that git Potter coming back?" Draco asked, peering out his compartment window.
Potter, Potter. Where had Lyra heard that name before? Potter. H- something. Harold? Henry? Harry. Yes, that was it. Harry Potter. She heard Narcissa and Draco discussing him quietly over the summer, and from what Lyra could deduce, he was responsible for putting Lucius in Azkaban. Lyra didn't like him already, he seemed like a troublemaker, a bad guy. She was going to steer clear of him.
As the train rolled into Hogsmeade Station, Lyra could feel her heart thumping inside her chest. No, it was in her throat now. As long as Lyra could remember, she had never felt this nervous before in her life. When she stepped off the train onto the hard wooden planks, Lyra searched for Malfoy. He was nowhere in sight. Lyra felt herself being pushed around by the throngs of students who had gotten off the train after her. She searched frantically with no avail.
"Are you lost?" came a voice behind her. Lyra turned around to see a tall boy with flaming red hair and freckles. Next to him was another boy who was a bit shorter than he was, with dark hair and glasses.
"I'm just…looking for someone," Lyra replied nervously, twirling her dark hair in her hands.
"Who are you looking for?" the dark-haired boy asked, eyeing Lyra.
"Draco, he's supposed to be showing me where to go, but I don't know where he went," Lyra replied. She hoped these boys knew Draco. They obviously must have, because the red-haired boy sniggered when she said Draco.
"You're friends with that stupid-"
"-Watch your mouth, Weasel," came Draco's reply. He walked up to the three very casually. He put his hand on Lyra's shoulder.
"These aren't people you want to associate with, Lyra. Like I told you on the train. Come on, let's go," Draco said, shooting evil glances at the two boys. He led her over to horseless carriages, and they began their ascent up to Hogwarts.
"Who were those people, Draco?" Lyra asked.
"Nobody important. Don't associate with them, if you know what's good for you. I don't think Mother would be very taken to the idea of you hanging out with them," Draco said with a menacing glance.
"Don't threaten me, Draco. I don't like it and you're bad at it," Lyra replied. She crossed her arms and sat back in her seat. She didn't like this ride up to the castle, it was bumpy and harsh, and Lyra was sure she was going to get sick. But within minutes, the carriage stopped, and Draco helped Lyra down from the high riding carriage. The two made their way into the Great Hall, which was lit by hundreds of candles fifteen feet from the ground.
"Here, sit here. Mother's already made arrangements with the Headmaster. You'll be in Slytherin, which I'm sure will make Professor Snape happy," Draco said, pointing to a seat. The table was at one end of the hall, and Lyra's seat was the one closest to the High Table. Scanning her surrounds, Lyra decided this was much better than her old school.
"Shut up, Goyle, the Sorting's about to begin," Lyra heard Draco say.
"The what?" Lyra asked.
Draco pointed to the doors, and a stern looking witch wearing wire-rimmed glasses and emerald robes emerged, a trail of scared looking 11 year olds following behind her. This witch, which Draco told Lyra was Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher, placed an old stool on the ground, and placed an old hat upon it.
What in the world is this? Lyra thought, watching as these 1st years put the Hat on their head, which then sorted them into their respective houses. An odd sort of tradition. I've never seen anything like this. After the line had thinned, and "Zeniph, Canis" was sorted into Slytherin, food of all sorts suddenly appeared on the tables. The food at the Malfoy Manor was exquisite, they employed some of the best house elves in all of Great Britain, but this…this was truly magical.
Lyra scanned the High Table, taking note of the staff. Sitting on the right, next to the wizard with a long, flowing white beard and half moon spectacles was the Sorting witch, Professor McGonagall. On the left of this wizard, was someone Lyra had sworn she had seen before. She stared at him for a long time, and after a while, Lyra noticed he was making eye contact too.
At this point in time, Severus Snape could not believe what he was looking at. Sitting at the Slytherin table, his table. It couldn't be her, could it? A spitting image of someone he had no wish to see again. No, his mind must be playing tricks on him. Narcissa Malfoy had contacted him about the daughter of Lucius's cousin coming to Hogwarts, and the Headmaster had informed him of this new sixth year, but it could not be…her.
After the Welcoming Feast, instead of taking Lyra to the Common Room, he took her straight to the High Table. As the teachers were eager to sleep before the upcoming start of classes, Draco stopped Professor Snape.
"Professor, there's someone I want to introduce you to," Draco said. He pushed Lyra in front of him, so she was standing in front of the man who had stared at her during dinner. "This is Lyra Malfoy. Lyra, this is Professor Snape, the one I told you about on the train."
Lyra felt his dark, cold stare on her as she slowly extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor Snape. Draco's told me so much about you," she said quietly.
"I'm sure he has," Professor Snape replied, grasping Lyra's hand tightly. His voice was like his glare, cold and icy.
"Come on, Lyra. I'll show you to the Common Room. I'll see you tomorrow in class, Professor," Draco said, and turned to follow the stragglers into the Slytherin Common Room.
And as Lyra went to bed that night, she couldn't stop thinking about the Potions Master who watched her carefully throughout dinner.
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