Chapter 2: Realization
After wolfing down my dinner, I went up to the dormitory. Jason and Morgan shared a concerned look. I rushed off before they could ask me anything.
I stared at the ceiling while lying down on my four-poster bed, the same thing that bothered me for the past few days occupied my thoughts again. Lyra's going to be a werewolf, and there's nothing you can do about it. Not matter how much I thought about it, I still couldn't believe it.
Not long after, the dormitory door opened with a creak. I looked up to see Jason stepping in. He shot me a worried look. Then I looked up and proceeded to stare at the ceiling.
'Ced, honestly, you've refused to discuss or even tell us about what's bothering you,' Jason said. I couldn't see him, but I heard his four-poster bed creak, which probably meant he sat down on his bed. I decided to ignore him.
'Look, whatever that's bothering you, you don't have to keep it bottled up like that,' He continued when he noticed I didn't answer.
'I don't know how to tell you,' I groaned.
'I'm your best mate,' he pointed out. I groaned some more. Finally, I turned in my bed to face him.
'It's Lyra,' said.
'She's in the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey can do wonders. She'll be fine,' Jason said. Behind his sandy brown hair, his brown eyes, lighter than Lyra's, gleamed with no hint of doubt, like he really believed Lyra would be fine.
'I hope so,' I sighed. If only I could be as certain as Jason. Lyra looked fine when the last time I saw her, if you didn't count the werewolf bite. She's going to be a werewolf, and there's nothing you can do about it I told myself over and over and finally decided to push the thought to the back of my mind.
'You'll see,' he said. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth like he wanted to say more but was interrupted by an owl flying into the dormitory, followed by Morgan and Ian who looked like they wanted to strangle to owl on the spot.
'I think it's for you,' Morgan said, brushing an owl's feather off his hair before shooting a glare at the owl. The owl ignored it and proceeded to peck me on the shoulder.
'Ouch, stop it you little- Wait, you're Lyra's aren't you?' I realized, looking at it more closely. It gave an annoyed hoot and stuck out its foot. I saw a note attached to it and tried to get it off the owl. 'Just stay still,' I muttered, biting my lip in frustration.
Finally, the note was free and the owl shot out of the dormitory. I scanned the note and said out loud, happier than I've been in days, 'Yep, it's definitely Lyra's owl.'
'It's a good thing we didn't strangle it then,' Ian said, lowering the book he was reading.
'Though strangling it was completely Ian idea if you were wondering,' Morgan added quickly. Ian shot him a look that said 'Shut up'.
I rolled my eyes, and then I told them I had to go somewhere. Morgan protested that it was already night time, and that I was not on prefect duty. I ignored him and dashed to the Common Room exit. When I reached the circular door, I found Lyra's owl scratching on it with its claws. I heaved a loud sigh and turned the doorknob. The owl flew out before I could even step out.
X
I saw Lyra sitting down on the grass, dipping her legs into the Black Lake. She was staring at the scenery, probably thinking about something. I approached her and sat down beside her.
'You're okay?' I said, breaking the silence. She turned to look at me, it was dark but her chocolate brown eyes were sparkling.
'You could say that,' she sighed. I lifted her right arm. The gashes had healed into three long white scars.
'Werewolf scratches or bites will always leave a scar,' she explained.
'What's going to happen to you?' I asked in a voice barely above a whisper. I dreaded the answer I knew I was going to receive but somehow I felt I had to hear it from her so it could really sink it.
'I'll become a werewolf,' She answered, her voice started to crack. I put one arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. She buried her face in my shirt.
After a while, Lyra's head was still resting on my chest, 'Cedric?' she said softly.
'Hmm?'
She slowly broke free of my arms. 'I'm a werewolf,' she started. After a moment's hesitation, I nodded sadly. 'I'm going to be dangerous,' she continued.
'Look, Lyra, I don't care what you are-' I began.
'I do. I could hurt you, Cedric,' she said, cutting me off. I didn't listen.
'I love you, Lyra, even if you're going to have a monthly tail,' I said firmly. Lyra looked up, her brown eyes met mine.
'I know,' she sighed. 'I love you to, Ced,' she continued. She looked like every word stabbed her, hard. Surprisingly, her eyes were still locked on mine. She was trying very hard to blink back tears. 'That's why I don't want you to get hurt.'
'But there's Wolfsbane potion,' I started protesting.
'What if I forget to take it? Like Lupin did? I could kill you,' she said. Her voice was strong at first but slowly started trailing off.
I opened my mouth to protest some more, but Lyra seemed to know what I was going to suggest, 'It's not worth the risk, Ced.' Then she stood up and headed back to the Gryffindor dormitory, leaving me at the lake alone.
I stared down at the lake, trying to process what just happened. I groaned, why did Lyra have to go out that night?
Gryffindors and their personalities, but that's what you like most about her, a small voice in my head told me. Her selflessness, her slight disregard for the rules, I couldn't help but agree with the voice.
I walked back to the Hufflepuff dormitory. My insides felt like someone stuck a sword into me. For once, Lyra being a werewolf actually seemed real to me.