Lyra awoke the next morning to Katie's alarm going off. She heard groans from the other girls as they were all roused by the noise. Lyra started to dose off again when she suddenly remembered that today were classes. She jumped out of bed, and began to rummage through her trunk for a fresh set of robes. Her aunt had put an undetectable expansion charm on it so she could fit all of her things. Once she was dressed and had brushed her hair and teeth, Lyra snatched up her wand and made for the door.
"Lyra, over here!" George called as she entered the common room. The boys were already there lounging in the chairs in front of the fire. Lee was talking with a second year boy about quidditch while Fred looked ready to fall asleep again.
"Moooorning," Lyra yawned as she sat on the arm rest of George's chair. "Ready for classes?"
"No, but let's get this over with," Fred groaned pulling himself up from the chair and slouching over to portrait hole. Lee followed and Lyra stood and waited for George to grab his school bag.
"What do you think they'll have for breakfast?" Lee mumbled as the smells of food hit their noses. The descended the marble staircase and entered the Great Hall. The house tables were laden down with every type of breakfast food imginable. There were mountains of bacon and piles of sausgaue. The stacks of toast were innumerable, and the amount of pancakes and waffles made her mouth water. Lyra counted at least four different types of eggs.
"Merlin, I think I'm in heaven," groaned Fred as he made a beeline for a rather large helping of bacon and eggs. George rolled his eyes and sat next to his twin as Lyra took her seat opposite them. Lee sat to her left, already digging into a bowl of porridge.
"I like the streaks in your hair, Lyra, great colors," George smirked. Lyra grinned twisting a piece of her hair around her finger.
"I figured I'd show a little house spirit," she smiled. She had done away with her normally silver violet locks and had instead done inky black tresses with scarlet and gold streaks running through them. Her eyes were hazel and her complexion light. She looked every bit a Gryffindor.
McGonagall came around and handed out their schedules. They finished their breakfasts and started to make their way to Herbology. They were joined by the first year Hufflepuffs at Greenhouse One. Professor Sprout came puffing up the hill from the forest, her arms full of leafy plants.
"G'morning, class! Welcome to Herbology. We'll be learning the basic traits of venomous, poisonous, and harmful plants and how to counteract their toxins. Everyone into the greenhouse now, c'mon then!" Sprout smiled at them all as she deposited her load of leaves into a burlap sack. "Now, who can tell me what Aconitum genus is?"
The hours passed by quickly. Leaving Herbology, they found their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts class which was taught by a rather old professor named Hughes. And even though he seemed time worn, Hughes was very energetic in his teaching. Then it was lunch.
"Pass the pumpkin juice, Lyra," George mumbled around his mouthful of scalloped potatoes. She grimaced in disgust but then passed the pitcher. She turned back to her letter to her Aunt and Uncle explaining to them what house she had been sorted into. She sighed, rubbing her forehead. She knew that being in Gryffindor was going to cause issues at home and she would have to tell them sooner or later. She just dreaded the awful comments and snide remarks that they would surely make when she visited for Christmas.
"Lyra, your nails are grey. What's up?" George inquired setting down his fork for the first time.
"Oh, nothing. Just family things," she smiled and gave him a casual shrug.
"If you don't mind me asking... who is your family?" he hesitated, remembering how sensitive the subject had been when they had met on the train.
"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy are my aunt and uncle. And they are my legal guardians," she whispered. George's eyes widened slightly.
"Guardians? But what about your parents?"
Lyra's fingernails turned stark white and her eyes became a vibrant red. George jumped back slightly.
"I never knew my parents. They left me with my aunt and uncle as a child. Please do not mention them again," she spoke in a monotone, like all emotion had been sucked from her body. But George saw the residual fear and anger in her eyes even after changing them back to their warm hazel.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. You had no idea," Lyra smiled weakly at him before resuming her letter.
After lunch, they were joined in the dungeons by the Slytherins for potions.
"Aw, how sweet," one sneered, a petite brunette girl near the front of the bunch. "The little lion cubs all huddled together. Hope you're not scared."
Lyra scoffed at her weak attempt at mocking them. The girl's eyes narrowed at her.
"Got somethin to say to me, Gryffindor Princess?" the girl hissed. Lyra raised her eyebrow, her expression calm. She turned to Fred who stood on her left, George on her right.
"I kinda like that title. 'Gryffindor Princess'... I think it suits me, don't you, Fred?" she glanced at the one twin who was smirking at the Slytherins.
"Oh yeah, deffinitely."
"George?"
"Of course, your Highness," he mock bowed to her. Lyra grinned turning back to the girl who was scowling at them.
"Sweetie, if you keep that look on your face, it's going to freeze like that," Lyra spoke in a sickly sweet voice and a huge fake smile plastered on her ruby lips. The dungeon doors opened before the girl could respond and Lyra purposefully knocked into her as she strode into the room, head held high. The boys snickered at the affronted look on her face.
"That was brilliant," a voice spoke up behind them. They turned to see Katie Bell grinning from ear to ear. Lyra smiled at her.
"Want to join our table?" George asked. Katie nodded, setting her stuff down next to Lyra's. They all took their seats as Snape entered the room, his black robes billowing out behind him, giving the impression of a rather large bat on legs. The thought made Lyra giggle. Snape's black eyes glinted at her.
"Ah... Miss Black... so... nice to see you... again," his deep baritone voice sounded off the stone walls making it seem as if the voice was coming from the walls themselves. Lyra held his gaze without flinching. She had met him at a few of Uncle Lucius's parties when she was a child. She had caught him watching her on a few occasions, which greatly freaked her out. She'd grown to despise his mere presence.
"Snape, ol' buddy, how you been?" she grinned up at him, kicking back in her chair and propping her feet on the desk. Snape scowled down his abnormally large nose at her while snickers and gasps fluttered through out the dungeon.
"One more insolent comment out of you and it's detention. Five points from Gryffindor for your disrespect."
Lyra stuck her tongue out at his back as he turned to the black board to begin his lecture. This was going to be the worst class ever.
As soon as the bell for next period rang, Lyra was out the doors before anyone had time to blink. She hated Snape. At first it was dislike, then caution, then despising him, now pure hatred. She had sneezed when a cloud of dust had erupted from the storage cupboard and he had docked points for being a "disruption to the learning of others." She stalked down the corridor toward her next class, History of Magic with Binns.
"Lyra!"
"Lyra, wait up!
"Merlin, Black! Slow down!"
She slowed her angry steps until her three companions caught up to her.
"Snape is an arse," Katie spoke up the minute they started walking again.
"You can say that again," huffed Lyra.
"Snape is an arse," the twins spoke in unison. Lyra couldn't help it. She grinned at them.
"C'mon. We'll be late for class," she jerked her head down the corridor to the stairs. They resumed bashing Snape until they reached their destination, by which time Lyra felt much better.
Binns was the most boring professor ever to live... or die, rather. The ghost of the professor droned on and on about ancient things that no one cared about. Halfway through the lesson, George leaned over to whisper in her ear.
"Bet you wish you could have had double potions with Snape now, huh?"
Lyra grinned.