A/N: Sorry for the late update. Back to school blues I suppose D: Anyway, this is the last of the Minis Era, so enjoy little Scorpius and Lyra while you can!
TB

Spiralling
Chapter Seven
Only Scratched the Surface

Dear Lyra,

How are you? I hope you're actually getting this letter, it's the first one I've sent with Eugene. The owl that's delivering this to you is my early Christmas present: Eugene McEdgars. Hugo named him while I was away and unfortunately, he won't answer to anything else.

Mum and Dad and Uncle Harry and Aunty Ginny and Uncle George and, well, pretty much all of my family saw your display with the scarf and James overheard what Scorpius was saying. Albus thought it was dead funny even though your grandparents are jerks. No offense.

Just writing to keep in contact really. Everyone's really busy which is why Al and I hightailed it out of there the second Nanna Weasley asked for help in the kitchen. Uh-huh. It starts in the kitchen. And then before you know it you're deGnoming the garden around the Burrow. We've all relocated to the Burrow for the holidays. Nanna wouldn't hear of anything less and she's frightening when angry. You think my temper's bad...

Mum wants to know who I'm writing to but she gets a little stiff whenever I mention you guys. She's not as bad as Dad who freaked out when I told him. He's being a jerk because he's realised he doesn't control my every action at Hogwarts and it's driving him crazy.

I hope you're okay. I'm only sending one letter so share this with Scorpius alright? I'm sure Al will send two though. He's going crazy, trying to dodge questions from Lily and fend off James so he'll be claiming as much time for writing letters as he possibly can. I feel sorry for him really but all I have is Hugo- who thinks you're both really cool- and he's nine and tiny. Relatively easy to scare away.

Anyway, I guess that's it. Write to me soon!

Rose

-''-''-''-

Dear Lyra,

It's getting crazy out here. I'm seriously considering becoming a sardine Lyra, that's how crazy. Sardines have the life made for them right? I mean, they swim, they eat, they swim, they sleep, they swim. No bloody cousins or brothers or sisters or aunts or uncles or parents to worry about.

See? I'm writing to you about sardines. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse right? Anyway, I'm hiding out in my room right now, trying to block out Lily's whining and James' chattering and my parents...well, just my parents really.

Rose's probably already told you but we're all at the Burrow for Christmas. I used to love coming here for Christmas and asking my cousins all about Hogwarts. But now? I'm being asked (mainly by Lily, Hugo and Louis) about things that I've never bothered to look at and my little sister sounds like she swallowed Hogwarts: A History whole.

I'm worried.

But I guess I just wanted to write, say 'ello. How're things going at the Crypt of Evil? Have they tried to suck your blood? Eat your brains? Feast on your flesh? Considering I don't think your grandparents are vampires, zombies or ghouls, you don't have to answer that.

Write back kay? Or else...I don't know...I'll sic Hamster on you.

(That's our bird by the way. Don't judge, I named him when I was three)

Albus

-''-''-''-

Dear Lyra,

Merry Christmas! I haven't gotten a response yet Ly, I'm starting to get concerned. And I can hear you rolling your eyes at me Missy, don't try it. And I heard that 'Yes Mum' comment. Guess what? Albus got a broom for Christmas! He's lucky but I don't feel too envious despite what he's bragging- I take after my mum with the whole two feet on the ground thing.

I got all kinds of stuff from my family but someone must've told them (coughALBUScough) that I like reading because the majority were books and spell texts. I've found out so much stuff Ly! I'll show you when we get back I guess. Send me something soon okay? If your owl is busy, just send something back with Eugene.

Rose

-''-''-''-

Dear Lyra,

I GOT A BROOM! Tell Scorpius his wish went screwy because it obviously worked for me instead. Sybil is perfect. It's a DragonFly 77, modelled off the old Firebolt, which was my Dad's broom. Remember that stupid toothpick-dragon that bit me? That's where her name was inspired off, although Lily insists Princess Eleanora Presley would've been better. Right, because the word of a nine year old is definitely something to listen to.

James went all gooey eyed over it and I'm pretty sure he's going to be stealing it for weeks to come. Rose is jealous too even though she won't admit it. I mean, all she got was books. Of course she'd be envious of Sybil.

I won't bore you with the statistics of Sybil (mahogany wood with a hollow spine, internal magic charmed chamber with a Level Nine potency, bristles combed to perfection with careful Precision and Safe-guard spells, silver metal attachments) and if you really do want to listen to my rambling, go look at Scorp's letter.

Haven't heard from either of you yet. Everything okay over there? Write back soon.

Albus

P.S. I GOT A BROOM!

-''-''-''-

Dear Lyra,

It's New Years Eve Lyra Malfoy and if I don't receive something from you first thing in the year, I will kick your arse from here to Timbuktu! Scorpius and you haven't written a word! Am I getting the address wrong? Is Eugene an idiot?

(Okay, stupid question, he's had to deal with my brother for most of his time with me and his name is Eugene.)

Seriously Lyra, I'm kinda scared. Send something or else I'll think you've died.

And if you have, come haunt me, I want to freak out Hugo!

Love,

Rose

I crumpled up the last note, tears forming in my eyes.

Almost immediately after we'd arrived home, Narcissa had made it very clear that we were not to socialise with the Potters. She'd cottoned on to the fact that we were friends and was trying her damndest to encourage total isolation of Albus and Rose.

Our Proper Etiquette Training began immediately.

I hadn't touched my books since I'd gotten home. Instead, my shelves had been filled up with How to be a Lady, Proper Manners for Young Purebloods, Pureblood Genealogy. It was nauseating. My scarf had only just been saved- I'd tucked under my pillow and Narcissa hadn't bothered to ask after it.

I had to wear dresses everyday- no more jeans or shirts. It was uncomfortable to say the least, especially when we were demanded to wear formal dress to dinner every night.

Scorpius had to attend several of Lucius' meetings and I sat at too many luncheons and parties to be healthy. Christmas was held at the Greengrass' and basically consisted of the adults standing around and pointedly not mentioning the fact that their daughter Astoria had disappeared with her husband.

New Years was much of the same but the one thing that absolutely killed me was Secilia.

Narcissa had her wings clipped and she was stuck in her cage, her food brought to her by house elves every night.

As much as I hated to, Scorp and I denied our relations with the Weasleys, saying we were just vague friends. But Rose's first letter was intercepted by Lucius who read it mockingly to my face over breakfast and crumpled it before throwing it in the fireplace. So we didn't deny it and told them we were best mates and proud of it.

Scorp and I got locked in our rooms without any food for the next two days.

Since then, Narcissa placed wards around the Manor- mail sent by Hamster or Eugene was automatically sent to our respective rooms so we could read the letters. But the owls couldn't come inside. And Secilia couldn't fly with clipped wings.

I read every single, increasingly panicked letter and I could send nothing back. It was infuriating and more than once I'd broken my furniture trying to break the window open. I wanted Hogwarts, my friends, my freedom. I barely even saw Scorpius and it depressed me that this was what things had come to.

Once or twice I'd taken out my scarf, wondering if Narcissa would explode if I wore it out in public but then decided not to take the chance of having it taken from me.

The days passed too slowly for me. The night before we were due to go to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, I was practically vibrating with excitement. I tried not to let my grandmother see but she was uncanny at that sort of thing.

I came down to dinner in one of the plain grey dresses I had in my closet and sat beside Scorpius on one side, facing my parents' empty chairs. Lucius took one head and Narcissa the other but the table was so long that no one spoke without yelling. Which was far too unrefined for us.

I bit my lip as the House Elves appeared, quickly setting bowls of pea soup in front of us, bread to one side, gleaming silverware to the other. One of the elves was trembling as she came near me, her eyes wide and terrified. I offered a small smile which seemed to spook her and she accidentally sloshed some of the steaming soup on her arms.

I didn't even think about my actions. I just grabbed the tray she was holding (which was far too big for her) to steady it as she reflexively drew her arms to her chest.

The quiet noise of spoons touching china ceased in a second. My eyes closed and I sighed, knowing I'd just done something incredibly stupid even though it was the right thing. I carefully helped the House Elf regain her hold on the tray which she took, expression completely petrified as she glanced at her Masters. I just nodded to her and she took it as a dismissal, scurrying away.

"Lyra." I locked eyes with Scorpius first, who looked warily at Narcissa. Then I moved to catch Nana Evil's eye and she raised a perfectly groomed, blonde eyebrow. She didn't say anything else but the message was clear: What do you think you're doing?

I locked my jaw and nodded, curtly, saying I'd understood the message even if I thought it was horrific before returning to the meal at hand.

After the meal, Scorpius and I were sent back to our rooms but I hadn't gotten to the Main Corridor before Grandmother called me back, quietly. Lucius strode past, looking smugly at me and gestured for Scorpius to follow.

He looked reluctant, casting a cautionary glance at me as if to say: Dear Godric Lyra, don't do anything stupid. I nodded at him, exhaling as he followed after our Grandfather.

"Lyra, dear?" Narcissa called again.

"Yes Grandmother?" I replied, entering the Dining Room slowly. She indicated for me to come closer and every step I took felt like I was going to the gallows. "Yes?"

"Lyra, House Elves are our slaves. It is proper to treat them as such." She stated, her blue eyes darting over my face. She slowly stood and I realised Narcissa Malfoy must've been beautiful when she was younger. But it was a spoiled kind of beauty: now that she was older, the refined aristocratic features reflected the luxuries she'd been treated to and turned her harsh and cold. It was face that had probably never shown warmth before.

"She was going to drop the soup," I defended, stupidly. "I thought-"

Smack!

White hot stinging pain went flying across my right cheek. For a second, I wondered if someone had snuck in and cast a Stinging Jinx but no. I realised it was Narcissa's own hand which suddenly grabbed my chin, jerking it up so fast I had whiplash.

She slapped me. "That is the first thing to learn girl: You do not think. You remember your place and you act accordingly." She hissed, eyes icy as they loomed over me.

My face pulsed with pain. She had slapped me.

"Understood?"

I barely nodded through her iron grip. "Yes."

She gripped my neck so hard I thought her nails were going to puncture the skin but she let go abruptly and tapped her wand once, hard, against my face. "That should cover up any marks. Now leave and heed my words Lyra. I will not be so kind next time."

I stumbled back, still a little shocked as I nodded and turned away to the Main Corridor, on my way to my bedroom. At first I went to Scorpius' room, on the other side of the hall but I hesitated. Scorp would throw a fit if he found out. And he'd get hurt too.

So I just stopped, moving quietly back into my own room and locking the door.

"What are you doing Lyra?" I murmured to myself, gently brushing my cheek and wincing. The Cover-Up Charm never took away any of the pain and I could tell Narcissa had put a lot of power behind her blow.

I caught a glimpse of Hamster peeking in through the window and not for the first time, I yanked on the window's handles, trying to open it. But they were sealed firmly shut and the tawny owl's letter appeared on my desk.

Dear Lyra,

I'm worried. There, you happy? You've made the wonderful, calm, totally laidback Albus Potter, worried. Congrats.

Really Lyra, I'm sending one of these to Scorpius too. I'll see you tomorrow won't I? If you aren't there, I'll sic an army of Sybils on you. Seriously Ly, come on, answer just one.

Reply or Floo or stick your head in the flames or, hell, use the telephone.

I don't care. I just need to know you're okay.

Albus

That night I broke my chair, lamp and bed-side stand trying to break through the window.

But nothing worked.

-''-''-''-

"We expect nothing but the best from you two. Any owls to the Manor will be consequential," Lucius lectured. I looked furiously at the ground and Scorpius held back a yawn.

"Behave or else." Narcissa summed up nicely. She raised her velvet gloved hand and ran it gently down my cheek so it ached just a tiny little bit. I tried not to flinch. She cast me a knowing glance and I barely refrained from hitting her.

"Whatever," I mumbled as they turned and walked through the Magical Barrier. Scorpius held my elbow before I could go running off.

"What happened?" he demanded and normally his expression would make me recant everything. But I held my ground, chin up and shook my head.

"You don't want to know." I muttered, heading off to toss my trunk on the pile. Quickly, I took my red scarf out of my pocket and slipped it around my neck, furious with the nutcase jerk-offs that were my guardians.

I jerked my head to Scorpius, telling him I was getting on the train and took off before he could respond. I fingered my wand, wondering if it was still a bad idea to curse Antoine. It would certainly help with my anger.

I found Albus almost immediately, sitting in a compartment with his brother and cousin Molly. "We're just saying maybe they're not as nice as you thought they were..." Molly was saying soothingly. I frowned, pausing before I opened the door.

"Mols, they wouldn't just not answer without a good reason." Albus argued back. "They're my friends!"

"They're Malfoys!" James shot back. I winced. They were talking about us. "Maybe they got brainwashed over the break!"

"For Merlin's sake James, would you give it a rest? I'm so sick of you badmouthing Scorp and Lyra! They're good people and you're just too stuck up to realise it!" Albus roared, angrily.

"Good people? Do you know what their folks did to Aunt Hermione? What their grandfather has tried to do to Dad? They're murderers! They live in the place Voldemort stayed in!"

"So? It's their house!"

"It's creepy!"

"That's what you're basing it on? It's creepy?"

"They're parents skipped out of the country for a reason Albus! You think they're going on vacation?" James yelled. I bristled, suddenly furious with this prat who had been making life difficult since I stepped foot in the castle.

I opened the door before Albus responded and glared at his stupid thirteen year old git of a brother.

"Actually, they got sick of their own reputations. It's people like you that made them leave even though it's their own fault for being so self centred. They left behind the Malfoy name which included their children and parents and creepy house." I seethed, scathingly. "We weren't brainwashed- my grandparents are insane and they don't like the fact that I'm friends with a Potter. So I got every single one of their letters and my owl's wings were clipped."

"So if you want to badmouth my family, please, by all means, they probably deserve it. But get your fucking facts right before you make stupid accusations without any back up!" I snapped, slamming the door shut and moving straight on to the Girl's Bathrooms.

"Thanks, James." Albus spat from inside before I reached the Bathrooms.

I closed the door and groaned, suddenly realising I'd just yelled at the prank extraordinaire of the school and was going to suffer badly for it when I got to Hogwarts. But I couldn't make myself regret it. I was glad the room was empty so I just sat on top of the counter in between two basins and leaned my head back against the mirrors, wondering when life took this sudden nosedive.

"Lyra? You in here?" Albus' voice asked, nervously from the outside.

I considered not answering him but I knew I wasn't angry with Al. Just his stupid brother. "Yeah." I sighed.

"Can I come in?...I look a little strange standing outside the Girls Bathroom..." he asked, embarrassed. Despite myself, I laughed.

"Sure Al." The door slid open and there he was, one my best friends, looking sheepish.

"Look, I'm sorry about James...he's just...he's trying to be a good brother in some weird twisted way." He stumbled over the explanation.

I exhaled noisily. "It's fine, really. I'm sorry I yelled." But we both knew I wasn't.

"So how was break?" he asked, sliding up onto the counter beside me, one foot jamming the door shut with his sneaker so no one could get in. I shrugged, moodily.

"Apart from the fact I spent most of it receiving a proper pureblood education? Just peachy." I replied, sarcastically.

Al winced. "Ouch. So they really clipped Secilia's wings?"

I nodded. "Yep and put spells so Hamster and Eugene couldn't get in. Congrats about the broom by the way." I offered, half-heartedly.

"Thanks. James wanted to borrow it but now I think I'll-" Suddenly, Albus narrowed his eyes, looking hard at my face. "Lyra, what's that on your cheek?" he asked, quietly.

I lifted my hand, turning to see what he was talking about in the mirror. The Cover Up Charm was wearing off and a faded version of the bruise left from last night was appearing on my face. I covered it immediately with my hand. "Nothing."

"Lyra, nothing doesn't look like it has five fingers." He growled and I watched as five long streaks of red began to appear.

"You can't tell Scorpius." I immediately pleaded. Albus looked angry.

"So it's not nothing? Who was it Ly?" he demanded, getting red like Rose usually did. Albus had a better temper but it was formidable when it came out.

"My grandma. Narcissa. I helped a House Elf and she got angry with me. You can't tell Scorpius." I repeated, hurriedly. Al looked like he wanted to protest or punch somebody so I grabbed his hand before it reached my face. "Seriously Albus, he'll get mad and try to take on my grandparents. And unfortunately, your brother was right, they are murderers. I can't see Scorp get hurt because he decided to be stupid because of me."

Albus looked unconvinced but conceded. "Okay. But you need to get it fixed Lyra, Cover-Up Charms don't work forever and that looks like it hurts." I tried to play off the pain but it was aching from where my hand had covered it.

"S'not so bad..." I mumbled.

"Ly, come on. Victoire will help and she can keep a secret. She's studying to be a Healer when she leaves Hogwarts anyway." He jumped off the counter and pulled on my hand. "Come on."

I followed Al, keeping my head down in case Scorpius popped up. But he didn't and Albus knocked on the Head's Compartment Door. The door slid open after a moment and a tall boy with a Hufflepuff tie I recognised as Mark Bryant, Head Boy emerged. "Oh, hey Albus. Victoire!" he called around the corner, immediately.

The beautiful Gryffindor looked surprised to see Al and even doubly surprised to see me. "What's wrong Al?" she asked immediately.

I bit my lip and looked down. I wasn't going to tell her. Albus just sighed at my silence. "Lyra needs some help." He recounted a story of how I'd fallen over and ended up hitting my head against one of the compartment doors.

Her face went a little sceptical but she ushered us in and asked Mark for a second of privacy which he seemed more than happy to comply with. But then most boys would be happy to comply with anything Victoire said. She looked over my cheek and murmured a few spells beneath her breath. "Okay, you should be fine." She diagnosed after a few minutes and I smiled at her, shyly.

"Thanks Vicky!" Albus said as a goodbye and I caught a glimpse of her face going stormy before Al grabbed my hand and hightailed it out of there.

"LYRA!" a flurry of frizzy red hair came straight at me and Rose gave me bone-crushing hug that practically collapsed a lung.

"Hey...Rosie...can't...breathe..." I wheezed and she released me, surveying me, sceptically.

"Are you okay? Why didn't you write? Did you get the letters? What happened?" she fired off the volley of questions and I smiled. I had my friends back. Rose lead us to where Scorpius had found an empty compartment and was waiting, impatiently to see his best mate.

"You okay Ly? We heard you kind of verbally destroyed a certain Potter." He said, slyly. I blinked.

"I didn't do anything to Al." I replied, dodging the question.

Albus ran a hand through his already messy hair. "Yeah she ranted at James for being a jerk. Fantastic considering he bloody well deserved it." He muttered darkly.

I felt bad for the first time. "I'm sorry about that Al. I didn't mean to-"

"S'okay Lyra, James likes to think he's right about first impressions and unfortunately his first impression was your last name." Rose cut in, looking angry. "Tell me more about what happened though. Secilia hasn't died yet has she? Is that why you couldn't answer?"

"Oh I wish," Scorpius grumbled.

"Just because she doesn't like you Scor, doesn't mean you need to wish her death," I replied, sarcastically.

"Bloody bird hates me!" he exclaimed. "She doesn't like anyone but Ly!"

We talked as the train sped by the countryside, with Albus and Rose getting madder and madder by the second as we dictated our holiday. But they began to see an almost impossible funny side to it after a while. "They tried to get you to read the Good Witch Guide?" Rose cried, with tears in her eyes. "Make sure to greet your wizard when he arrives home with a nice brandy. Don't question him about his day, it is not your place!" she quoted, pretentiously but ruined it with her giggling.

Albus howled with laughter and I scowled, trying to hide a smile. "It was awful! Before your wizard sees you, touch up your robes, make up and jewellery. Put a little something extra into your appearance to show him you care. I mean, really?"

"Do you have any of the other books here?" Rose asked, looking mischievous. I looked thoughtfully at my bag.

"Lucius might've slipped Pureblood Genealogy in there somewhere." Scorpius piped up, fishing around in his travel bag. He pulled out a green covered book with spindly silver writing on the front that did indeed say Pureblood Genealogy: The Ancestry of the Pure Wizarding Lines.

Rose opened it up and immediately cracked up. "Oh Godric look, the Zabinis are in here: The Gaye and Profitable House of Zabini."

I just about died of laughter, thinking of the sour Slytherin Zabini brothers. Albus grabbed the book, scanning the page. "The surname Zabini is Italian, suggesting that the family is of at least partly Italian descent. It bears similarity to the name of a custard-like tart Italian dessert, Zabaione."

"The Gaye House...a tart like dessert...you don't think they're trying to tell us something do you?" I snickered.

"Flints: House of the Stone." Scorpius narrated, drawling in a perfect imitation of Lucius. "Flint is a stone used to create fire in old times. Is that calling them cavemen?" he wondered out loud, thinking of Natasa Flint, the gap toothed Slytherin with enough muscles to crush a tree branch.

"The Ghastlie House of Goyle: derived from their attachments with Gargoyles. Yeah, if you count a thick skull!" Rose crowed, before her eyes lit up. "The Most Prolificke House of Weasley! Ha, we made the book Al!"

"What an accomplishment," Albus drawled, sarcastically.

"Derived from their association with plentiful amounts of children and tendency for the red haired gene." Rose read out. "The Loyale and Most Ancient House of Potter: Potter tends to be associated with creation of pottery, inferring the resourcefulness of the family. Old Wizarding Family linked back to the Peverells."

"Good Godric, you actually have to read this stuff?" Albus muttered, flipping through the old parchment. I snorted.

"No way. Usually we just pretend to and then try not to get caught burning the pages." I replied.

Rose's eyes gleamed. "Remember how I got all those spell books for Christmas?"

"When what you really wanted was a broom like Sybil." Albus interrupted, slyly. Rose rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. I don't want your stupid broom Al-"

"She's so much more than a broom!"

"Don't care. Anyway, I learned the Incendio charm, want to test it out?" Rose snapped, turning to me. I thought about it and shook my head.

"No. We'll do it at Hogwarts, just so we don't end up blowing the carriage up." I replied.

"-wanted one of those Kingfishers but he didn't get one. So now he keeps looking at mine and asking if he can borrow it for the Quidditch season-" Albus was busily recounting to Scorpius when the door suddenly slid open.

I practically growled. "Oh what do you want now?"

James Potter stood in the doorframe, one hand messing up his hair the other clutching the sliding door and he looked uncomfortable. Good. I thought. He bloody deserved it.

"I just- c'mon Al, don't look at me like that," James said, noting Albus' infuriated stare.

"Go away James." Rose bristled.

"Don't be like that. I- Iwanapawlegeyeze." He mumbled.

"What?" Albus snapped, angrily.

James coughed and looked at me. I kept my face composed. "I wanted to apologize." He stated, clearly. "I shouldn't have said all that stuff and you've both been...good friends to Al and Rose and all the crap I've been doing...Freddy, seriously?" he whined to the outside of the door.

Surprisingly, Fred Weasley poked his head in, sternly. "Yes James. You're a prat and it's time to accept that." He winked at us all.

I coughed to hide a smile as James sighed, noisily. "Okay fine. I'm sorry for being a prat to you both because you're Malfoys, especially when I hate people judging me from my surname."

Albus eyed him, suspiciously. "No more jokes?"

"No more jokes."

"No more remarks? Comments?"

"Nope." James sighed, seeming kind of relieved. I felt kind of sorry for him because as much of a git as I thought he was, I knew he was probably missing his little brother and cousin. "No more pranks either, I guess," he added in for good luck.

I exchanged a glance with Scorpius. "Well..." I wheedled. "If you did need an outlet for pranking..."

"Lyra, it'll get back to them," Scorp warned, as always on the same wavelength as me but he seemed excited.

I shrugged in an 'it's-gonna-happen-one-day' fashion. "So? They'll find something to get upset over." I pointed out.

Scorpius nodded, immediately and eyed James. "If you did for any particular reason need some subjects for pranking...I have a feeling Antoine Goyle would be most willing to participate."

James brightened. "Seriously? I can get Goyle? Finally! I've been holding off for weeks!" he cried, happily.

Albus rolled his eyes. "We knew he was sort of your friend so we told James to back off or we'd get Mum into it." He explained to me and I grinned.

"Well, it's officially Open Season on him now." I declared.

James grinned and it felt so strange to see him smiling at me not because of me in one of his jokes. "I think this is the start of a magnificent friendship," he stated, mock-sobbing. Fred caught sight of the book in Al's hands.

"What's with the Genealogy book?"

The rest of the trip was pretty relaxed: somehow, I'd managed to make friends with arch enemies, declared open season on old friends and diverted Scorpius' attention from last night.

But beware the rest of this story- this is only the beginning and I've barely scratched the surface. Because Malfoys attract trouble like a moth to a flame and Potters are almost as bad. Nothing's ever really set in stone. You can't ever know something wholeheartedly. You can only be sure of this:

There is always more to come.

Reviews would be much appreciated. Thanks!