So hey, closer and closer we get to finding out what Lyra is! I can make you a promise here, which you'll be pleased to know, that when they get to the Department of Mysteries, at the end of that chapter we'll know for sure what she is. Though next chapter I'll give another vague cue about what she is, yah?
Zesty- Whaaaaa! I knew I forgot something! Thanks for pointing that out! The first pronunciation of the nickname was correct; in my head I pronounce it Gee-oh. I like how it sounds haha. And you have suspicions!? Good! I loves suspicions! Hope you enjoy the updates!
Purplepenguin12- Intense was it? Haha, And thank you. I'm always eager to read your next review! And as long as my writing style is working I'm glad. I'm trying everything I don't normally write about! And as for what she is you'll have to wait a couple more chapters!
Now onwards!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I do however solemnly swear I am up to no good and will find a way!
To be a Gryffindor
Lyra sat high in the stands of the Quidditch pitch watching the Gryffindor team practice under Angelina's sharp instruction. The twins had spoken quick and smooth somehow gotten Angelina to allow Lyra to sit in the stands during the closed practice.
She'd been laughing with Peeves, casting a compressed bombardo into the fabric of the juggling ball when the twins appeared demanding her presence at their practice. She'd argued of course, she was with Peeves and had spent a lot of time with the twins after class and even during the DA meetings (where they somehow worked out an odd partner system between them and Lee so Lyra was always paired with one of the three) And as weak as she was, they flashed those gorgeously lethal eyes and here she was staying once they'd hopped on their brooms to go beat a bludger about.
And that sounded so wrong in her head.
And she was so weak for staying after they left her in the stands (on the Gryffindor side of course).
But she knew it wasn't just the twins that kept her sitting here. It was a secret of hers that she loved flying. Absolutely loved it, the freeing feeling she got high in the air. The power behind it, being so high up, flowing with the wind the change of speed the control and just the fun it was to do. It was one of the things she was brilliant at, one of four things Lyra could confidently say she was unequaled in. Flying, dodging spells, dancing and singing. Not exactly in that order but those are the best.
So she was greatly entertained by the dives and spins Harry was making as he went for the snitch. And Fred and George would yell for her attention making exaggerated waved and winks rolling their wrists to wave around the beaters bats they held until Angelina ordered them to get back to work. She studied them intently not even noticing the giggles behind her until Lavender Brown and Parvati Patilsat down on either side of her, close as if they'd always been best friends.
Lyra graced them both with a shy smile and said. "I'm sorry, but Angelina wanted this to be a close-"
"You're Lyra, right?" Lavender caught her off with a sharp flick of her hair over her shoulders. Blinking owlishly she opened her mouth to answer but Parvati caught her off. "Lavender." The girl giggled fiddling with the skirt of her uniform. "You know who she is….she's the only one here."
Well Lyra didn't bother to mention the Gryffindor Quidditch team flying on the pitch that spread out before them. If they couldn't see the bodies flying about draped in red and gold, she wasn't going to point them out…
"Yes, I'm Lyra." She confirmed softly, her neck aching already from looking back and forth between the girls. What was up with this? All five years and never once had they never sought her out. Being highly suspicious Lyra decided caution was the best way to approach the new attention. Because chatty girls like Lavender did not seek you out unless they have a reason.
"You know it's funny. I just realized you're in all my classes but we've never talked." And Lyra cringed. How was that funny again? Lavender just had to remind her how isolated she'd been, didn't she? Why didn't the girl stab her in the gut while she was at it? She was sure that would be fun too.
The bright smile Lavender used did nothing to calm her down, but she returned it with a cautious one of her own. "No…I guess we haven't." What did you even say to that? Honestly what was Lavender hoping from her? "And I think we should see as we're both with Weasley's."
Lyra suddenly had that bad feeling you get when a conversation automatically turns in an unexpected direction and your mind just screams out 'Danger, danger back away immediately! '
With a Weasley? What in Merlin's great name was Lavender talking about. With a Weasley? She didn't know whether to laugh or suddenly back away in terror as her face ashen, her eyes wide. Trying to swallow and work up the nerve to ask what the other girl was talking about (which was rather difficult when the proverbial cat had snatched up her tongue, batting it around like it was the greatest piece of tassel in the world) she managed to fumble with a few sounds that eventually sounded like: "We are?"
Faint…she felt faint.
Lavender nodded with a casual smile examining her nails, frowning at the chipped pinkish color on them. "Well me with my Won-Won…" Oh Godric. Lyra winced. Lavender Brown had done it. She'd finally found an even worse nick name than Georgie. Won-Won? Lyra wondered how Ron could even stand being called that! Unamaused by the pet (baby! It was completely a baby name and Lyra speculated even the ever somber Severus Snape would winced at that!) Lyra stared at her.
"And you with the twins…"
"With the twins!" Lyra gaped, her voice rising in pitch by the end of her exclamation. But no one was going to give her any explanations as Parvati eagerly joined the conversation leaning forward, invading her space. "So how were they?" She asked with a giggle. Lyra leaned back in response to the invasion, really why everyone always thought that was the only way to talk to her…
Alright, alright, so it was just the twins. Still at least they were cute and she liked them. Lavender and Parvati kind of reminded her of two hens strutting about.
"How are they? Fine, I guess…" Lyra said slowly taking a moment for a cautious glance toward the pitch. George waved enthusiastically this time and she sent him a grimace in return to which he frowned eyeing the two girls beside rabbit. "Noo…" Lavender said drawing out the vowel as she laughed, she and Parvati shared a knowing.
"The twins, how are they? Ron is pretty good at snogging so I can only imagine how good they are."
"W-what?" Snogging? How would she know how good they were at snogging!? They'd never done more than place a different array of kisses on her cheeks (from the loud smacking 'mwahs' to soft brushes which she absolutely died for) and Lyra was content with their friendship.
Besides…how could she ever decide which one to snog first?
Her voice was still doing that squeaky thing and Lyra briefly marveled, wondering if anyone else had ever hit that note…
Lavender playfully pushed her shoulder. "Oh don't be coy-" "A lot of people saw you drag them off behind Honeydukes last Hogsmeade trip. And you're always with them! Even in the DA they never let you out of their sight!" Parvati cut off her best friend excitedly, her eyes glinting as she shared her evidence.
"A couple of people thought you dragged them off for a quick snog. But I say it's better with two, and no women in her right mind would pass up being shagged by that lot so I know they shagged you rotten. We just wanted confirmation…what with all the rumors and it took us so long to fi-"
Lyra felt faint again. Lavender's voice was something of the distant past as it drifted off down the long tunnel Lyra had been thrust into. In the tunnel almost everything was garbled except the part where Lavender so pleasantly reminded her more than likely half of Hogwarts thought she shagged the twins rotten, or did they shag her rotten? Did it matter? She was just so use to not being noticed, it hadn't occurred to her how it would look to drag off two well-known pranksters, who had plenty of friends and were used to being noticed, off behind Honeydukes.
Shagged her….behind Honeydukes? Behind Honeydukes!? They made her sound like a lady of the night! How could she even look Fred and George in the eyes now!?
"Hey…" Angelina called their attention as the Gryffindor team sat on their brooms before them, Fred and George noticing Lyra's pale look and her glazed over eyes.
"This is a closed practice" She apparently shagged the twins behind Honeydukes and Angelina was telling them this was a closed practice? If her voice box hadn't stopped working that might even be comical. "Alright so…is she alright?" Angelina asked in concern, just noticing her demeanor, as Fred hopped into the stands walking over slowly. "Rabbit?" He called softly and Lyra looked up, meeting his eyes before her own rolled to the back of her head, intent on viewing the inside of her skull before she slumped over in a dead faint.
How embarrassing…..
She was dreading opening her eyes, coming too Lyra could tell they'd brought her to the hospital wing and Fred and George were waiting patiently by her sides for her to wake up. Patiently, ha! She could feel Fred shifting restlessly beside her his fingers drumming on the soft mattress making soft pattering noises. Lyra was only waiting until Poppy made them scram before she resurrected and went to hide. She knew Peeves would help her hide, especially if it caused the twins some annoyance.
Stifling a groan she shifted trying to keep her eyes shut and her body relaxed. Did anyone really know how they looked when they were asleep? She certainly didn't but brownie points to her for trying.
Merlin…was she born this pathetic or did it just come naturally? Lyra thought sourly. But she couldn't face the guys!
So here she was lying down, embarrassed, faking unconsciousness, apparently deflowered by two of the hottest guys in school (according to Lavender, apparently more than just Lyra shared that thought) in a murky ally, and waiting for said hot guys to vamoose so she could wake up and hide from them until the rumors died.
Salazar's goat someone honestly believed she shagged the twins behind Honeydukes! Obviously rumor and imagination were better than reality because sadly she had never (and would never) shag the twins behind Honeydukes. Honestly, behind Honeydukes? Was that a sick joke? Why…how…that didn't even make sense! And truthfully that's the part that bothered her. Besides that it was winter, bloody cold, and no one wanted to undress (even with only removing the necessary pieces) behind a candy shop, did they really believe Lyra would shag them in a cold alley way? She was all for being adventurous but that wasn't exactly what popped into her head when she thought of the word…It was also slightly disrespectful to the twins. They weren't just heartless playboys and Lyra honestly shuddered to think of the howler Molly Weasley would send if she ever heard that particular rumor.
'Leave, leave, leave, leave…' Lyra chanted in her head mentally pleading with the twins to get the hell out when a shadow passed over her, her lids darkening for a few seconds. She could feel George shift on her left, his lips grazing her ear as he spoke. "We know you're awake, rabbit." He whispered playfully. Knowing for sure they knew she was awake, her lips twitch to keep from grinning or laughing aloud. Damn it why did everything have to sound hilarious when you were trying to pretend to sleep?
He chuckled right by her ear and she shuddered before feeling him straighten out. "C'mon rabbit, wakey, wakey…" Fred sang teasingly, running a slim finger down the bridge of her nose.
Lyra stubbornly kept her eyes closed. "Oi, Forge….I think we'll have to use that method Granger was explaining the other day!" Fred said with a mischievous grin that Lyra couldn't see but could clearly picture behind the shield of her eye lids. "Agreed Gred. I think that might do the trick."
"One-"
"Two-"
"Three!" They said in unison, the counting more for her benefit as she tensed waiting for whatever they were doing. She gasped in surprise at the two loud smacking kisses to her cheeks (which was really the side of her mouth, she thought faintly, willing herself not to faint again embarrassing herself for the second time that day) as they pulled away to flash wide toothy grins.
"She lives!" Fred joked moving to help her sit up and George winked to his twin. "Sleeping beauty method works." He confirmed. Lyra flushed recognizing the name of the muggle fairy tale. "You know the story?" She mumbled shaking her head a bit to dispel the lingering dizziness she was feeling.
She'd never fainted before, and from the dull ache between her temples she couldn't see herself doing so again.
"Granger was explaining it to Ginny the other day. We got the basics." George elaborated and Lyra nodded her head, keeping her eyes firmly in her lap. Though a quick glance told her they were still dressed for practice. Cursing herself for ruining the time she knew they looked forward to she murmured out a soft 'What are you doing here?"
Nope still couldn't look them in the eye. The embarrassment was too great. "Scared the hell out of us just fainting like that. You should have told us you didn't feel well." George sighed reaching out to brush her hair over her shoulder. Her gaze shifted to his pale hand wondering how in such a short amount of time it was so casual and second nature for them to touch her. Friendships didn't move that fast….did they?
It was a genuine question and Lyra wondered. Her only friend had been her imaginary one at age 5, and then that was it. Not many children were known to stroll on Mackade land so she pretty much had her grandfather and Wicky, her father was sort of out of commission…had been for the last decade or so.
"I'll go get Poppy." George announced pushing off the stool to stalk into the Mediwitch's office leaving her and Fred alone.
She allowed herself to flick her eyes up, lip level. Only to spot that damn fond smile Fred was always giving her. It was hard to tell if he did it because he thought she was cute in the way puppies looked as they napped, or if it was because he thought her as the younger sister he needed to protect. She hoped it was the first one because the day Frederick Gideon Weasley or George Fabian Weasley told her he thought of her as a sister she was sure she would die of heartbreak.
Being a friend she could handle. Being viewed as a little sister was not something she ever wanted.
"You scared the hell out of me, rabbit." He admitted quietly his fingers splaying across her jaw tilting her head. "Just took one look at me and fainted. " He must be worried if he didn't add a cheesy line after that.
A quick glance assured her they were alone. "Freddie…" She said softly her fingers curling around his wrist as she raised her eyes to stare at his forehead. The pale patch of skin, wrinkled in worry she could stare at, those bright baby blue? Not just yet. "I'm ok… " Then tension in his arm relaxed and he chuckled softly as if just realizing something before he leaned in giving her one of those soft feather light kisses to the side of her mouth and Lyra breathed slowly closing her eyes with a soft hum her fingers slowly falling from his wrist unlatching one at a time. "Yeah rabbit, I can tell." He murmured but backed away all the same.
"Ah, Miss Mackade you're up."
Madame Pomfrey walked in briskly her maroon skirt flying out behind her at the pace as George strolled in behind her raising a brow at Fred. The Matron stopped before her eyeing the girl perched on her bed. Pomfrey glanced to see Fred and George standing slightly behind her as she sat on the bed both looking ready to lunge to grab her at a moment's notice and the old women recalled their panicked eyes as Fred bardged in crying out sharply for the nurse demanding to 'make her better' like some petulant child. It had been cute, especially when his twin nodded his agreement.
But Pomfrey also noticed the girl was still slightly pale and the faded rings under her eyes. "You're free to go, it was a short fainting spell no magic or potions required. Though I would reconsider any late night studying habits…" Turning in a whirl of maroon and white she headed back to her office with a small smile. "Thanks Poppy!" The boys chimed no doubt with those charming grins and she laughed. "Save your charms for another, boys." But a woman was never too old to appreciate the charms the younger generation displayed.
"Well c'mon rabbit." George said and both boys grabbed her hand, causing her to squeal in surprise as they tugged her off the bed. Catching herself easily (an ability she prided herself on, she always landed on her feet) they tugged her into the hallway.
"So…" George continued casually his arm over her shoulders. "Are you going to tell us why you can't look us in the eye?" The way he said that was so casually playful, Lyra almost missed the underlying hurt there. Wincing, she stopped short as did the boys staring at her intently. She kept her head down. "Am I that obvious?" Fred snorted hooking his fingers under her chin, the twins preferred method of getting her attention, meeting his eyes, Lavender's voice echoed in her head and she turned a shade of red that matched their hair.
They both grinned, but it was Fred that spoke. "Out with it rabbit."
Shifting, clearly uncomfortably she started. "Lavender…" "You mean Lav-Lav?" George mocked imitating his brother's baby voice. Lyra squeezed her eyes shut and winced, with a small growl she glared. "Geo (A/N: In my head its pronounced Gee-oh), not funny. I think they both have the title of worst nicknames ever. Its way worse than Georgie ever was." The twins whistled. "That bad?" He murmured teasingly and she nodded gravely. "You have no idea."
"No changing the subject!" Fred sang leaning in to nuzzle their noses together and Lyra noted he'd been doing that a lot lately, even since she told him his scent. Just as George had taken to brushing his fingers on the inside of her wrist as she'd done to him when he'd fixed her hand. Both gestures made her heart beat a little quicker and wonder if perhaps there was a small chance….
"Lavender and Parvati were enlightening me over the latest-" "I didn't know you were friends." "Geo, Freddie, now's the time to listen." She said with a small grin and continued. "They were telling me the latest rumor."
"Ooohh! Gossip!" Fred cackled rubbing his hands together, his eyes brightening as he leaned in eagerly to hear her better. "What did they say?" Both Lyra and George stared at Fred blankly.
"He's a bird." George sighed shaking his head as Lyra burst into giggles. "I swear to Merlin…I now have two baby sisters." Fred scowled and tried to land a hit only for George to smoothly put Lyra between them.
"Prat! I'm not a bird! I just like hearing the good stuff!" "Two baby sisters." George replied and Fred pouted. "Rabbit!" He whined and Lyra shook her head. "Leave me out of this one Freddie."
"Don't you mean Fredericka?" George cooed and Lyra was smart enough to get the hell out-of-the-way as Fred growled (playfully) and lunged at his twin when the coast was clear. The rolled and wrestled laughing at each other and Lyra rolled her eyes smiling as they helped each other up.
"So really rabbit, tell me." Fred said pushing his hair from his eyes. "Bird…" "Prat. Shut up, I want to know."
But George seemed interested as well as they stared at her. If it made her faint, it had to be good.
Wondering if this was one of those rare moments where she could call Peeves to the rescue she sighed, resigned. They would catch her anyways despite Peeves dying to use his presents again.
Fight…flight….fight…flight…
Lyra groaned and squeezed her eyes shut. "It was about…you and Geo…" "Those are the best ones." George chirped brushing his fingers against the inside of her wrist, reassurance she desperately needed. "And me…and I apparently….tookyoubothbehindHoneydukesforaquicksh ag!" She squeaked flinching back a step. There she said it! She couldn't believe she'd gotten it all out, but she said it! Oh Merlin…it was as mortifying to say out loud as it was to think about it earlier.
George steadied her. "Try again." He laughed softly in her ear and she sighed leaning into his chest a bit trying to control herself already feeling the familiar shaking. "Yeah, rabbit, squeak is not our second language-""We took sarcasm instead." George finished with a cheeky smile once she opened her eyes.
"Th-they think…When we…they think when we went behind Honeydukes…that you both…shagged me rotten." Taking deep lungfuls of air certainly helped her get the words out and clearly her mind as her vision swam once again. Silence dominated their stretched of hallway a couple of people who'd been in the hall had vacated it chatting oblivious to the three.
George broke the silence, coughing into a fist. "So…were we any good?" "Geo!" Lyra stuttered her eyes wide in panicked embarrassment as Fred burst into that merry laughter the twins always seemed to have even with Umbridge's dark reign over the school.
"What? Seems only fair to ask. We seemed to have blacked out when you hexed us into oblivion for being bloody awful-" "Or blacked out because we shagged you bloody rotten…" Fred pitched in his brows doing an entirely too suggestive dance for her poor heart to take.
She ready to stomp off in a huff (which unfortunately would have been, in reality, a squeak and her scurrying away) Fred wound his arm securely around her waist. "Easy rabbit…""Hm…Guess that name has a double meaning now…" George said thoughtfully as Fred gave her that wicked smile of his. "Yeah, seeing as we fucked like rabbits.."
"Freddie!" She screeched in humiliation, she was practically purple now...and there was just one thing to say; Ron Weasley eat your heart out. Because Lyra knew even he'd be jealous of this shade. Groaning she covered her face and moved to flee far far away from the hyena's that had suddenly appeared in the hallway.
George was the one to tug her hands from her face giving her a loud smacking kiss before Lyra whimpered and scurried off. The twins allowed it for the moment, using the moment to laugh insanely before the hurried after her their arms circling her in that usual protective embrace. "It's not so bad-" "We know the truth, rabbit."
Lyra sighed shaking her head. Here is where she knew the boys couldn't understand. They both came from that large loving family, and here at school they reveled in the attention they garnered for themselves. Not to sound as if this were her own pity party but the boys could only get an idea of where she was coming from.
A vulnerable look took over her face, twisting her features and the boys frowned in confusion. "I…I don't like all the attention these rumors imply. I'm not use to the spot light. I can't have the spot light. If anyone becomes more interested in me…you both are completely insane when it comes to wanting to know what I am…others don't like different, they don't like me. But I would love to have others…" she trailed off her head bowed. "I just…" Gnawing on her lip she sighed breaking away from the protective cocoon of their arms.
Turning back to them, she could see the mirrored concern and the fight to understand her. "I'm still…learning about this whole friendship thing." She admitted cautiously. "But I know I don't want friends simply because they think…" Her cheeks pinked and she realized saying it to the boys was a one time deal, thankfully because she thought she might be ready to faint again.
"Hey, hey…" George said softly reaching out to pull her close to his chest; Fred hovering nearby grateful George had taken over. He was more suited for emotional out bursts anyways. "Relax rabbit, so people will talk. They always will. Ignore them. And if anyone gets a little too close for comfort, find us."
She wouldn't. Lyra knew she would never call on the twins, just like she almost never called on Peeves. Only in certain situations would Lyra even consider calling on the two who had become her best living friends. But Lyra knew that offer wasn't given lightly either, and she promised to herself to respect the power. Though the Mackade heiress was firmly aware that she would always fight or flight, she would always do it by herself. Because while it was good to have allies and friends, you had to take care of yourself and know your own strengths before reaching to others.
"And just because we really, really want to find out what you are…doesn't mean we won't help keep your secret. No one will know. " Fred assured her bouncing forward on his feet to press a kiss to her hair even if she was still in his brothers arms.
Her eyes burned again, they were being incredibly sweet to her for two famous pranksters. Even for one with a notorious cruel streak. She didn't know whether to thank them or promptly burst into tears. She did neither, only smiled and nodded her head. "Really, really want to know? Despite all my warnings I'm dangerous…" She gave a mocking long-suffering sigh, extracting herself reluctantly from George's earthy scent which even with her charmed necklace was strong to scent being so close to him.
"Dangerous? How would we know." George teased stepping back. "Wait a second! She's changing the subject again! Sneaky rabbit." Fred playfully abolished her wagging a finger in her face as he gently flicked her nose.
And that wicked smile was back, Lyra thought to herself dryly seeing his wide lips doing that deadly curve into the slow wickedness. Unconsciously she took a step closer, which none of them seemed to notice. "Change the subject?" She questioned instead drawing all her will power not to step closer and 'accidentally' drop her necklace (which was always wrapped around her wrist) to have a reason to move even closer.
But Lyra wasn't strong enough to start such lavish displays of affection. Or any at all really…it was always the twins, aside from when they wanted to know what their scent was.
"Yeah you never told us how good we were when we shagged you rotten." Lyra scowled and turned around. "Don't forget Freddie, just the thought sent her into a faint."
"You're right. She did faint…why did she faint?" Fred asked curiously after a grave nod. 'Rabbit, why did you faint?" Their expression shifted from playful to genuine confusion and Lyra gaped at them.
Did they not see it? How wrong the place of the supposed shag had taken place? In a cold alley way when there was snow on the ground! Granted three bodies would have generated enough heat…
She was going to need a large dosage of dreamless sleep potion again….
In an Ally way! "they thought we shagged behind Honeydukes! That we did the nasty " "The nasty?" The bit their lips trying to hold back their laughter and they almost succeeded too. " In a dank ally way!"
"Oh I see…" George purred slyly and Lyra stiffened up instantly. It was one thing when Fred used that sly tone, but it meant something entirely different and dangerous when George employed it. "So it wasn't that we shagged her, Freddie, it was that we did it behind Honeydukes."
"Yes!" Lyra exclaimed in agreement, pausing as she stared at them in horror. Oh Merlin's knickers, why didn't she just blurt out her feelings while she was at it! Maybe she needed another round with the window because apparently instead of knocking some sense into her she turned into an idiot.
"No! No, wait, no!" Lyra squeaked shaking her hands wildly. Oh this was so not good. Now Fred was sporting that damn same, equally lethal, sly smile. "Nu-uh, we know the truth. Next time we'll get a room. Mother taught us better than that.."
"She'd be appalled by our behavior. Taking a lady behind Honeydukes for a shag." George agreed with a dramatic sigh and winked at his brother who took over. "We'll get old Abby for a room next time." Fred said ignoring Lyra's squeaks and gestures to grin mischievously at George. He was of course referring to Aberforth who owned and ran the Hogs Head. "Can't have our lady displeased by the location-"
"Not to mention our bedroom prowess-" "or would that be ally prowess?"
Distraught by their banter and that fact that her cheeks had not turned back to the original pale since she'd left the hospital wing, found her rare temper ticking. Oh it was so damn funny for them, wasn't it?! But she was the one that was cornered by Lavender Brown for Godric's sake! A rare wish to take them down a few pegs appeared and she, unfortunately, blurted out the first bit of acid that popped up, allowing it to drip off her tongue.
"What makes you think it was good?" Snapping her lips together, her hands clamping over her mouth she stared groaning quietly as she wondered by the universe was against her so. The boys stared at her with their jaws dropped (and despite how good that felt Lyra still winced, she had insulted the male ego…there was no way this would end well)
"Well done!" They praised in unison and she relaxed instantly feeling so much better. "And we know it was good." George winked. "You would have never fainted otherwise…in fact Forge…I'm thinking we should add to the rumors!" Fred said gleefully, looking every bit as excited as Parvati had getting in her face earlier. There was a glint in Fred's eyes though that just screamed 'evil, back away slowly lyra!'
And Lyra knew to listen to that little voice, and not the one that like to wake her up at 3 a.m. She jumped and made a break for it but George caught her. 'Geo! Freddie!" She pleaded hoping their pet names would help but they cackled madly and suddenly she was laughing as Fred tickled her mercilessly grabbing her tie and loosening the red and gold striped cloth. George with his free hand, tugged her white shirt from where it was tucked into her skirt, causing her skirt to be tugged up a few centimeters as well, and Fred moved his hands tangling his fingers in her brown waves musing them up even move.
And Lyra tied not to faint as it finally registered in her head Fred and George were musing her enough to look as though she'd been thoroughly snogged. It wasn't until Fred's fingers unbuttoned the top two of her shirt did she gasp at his roughish wink and George chuckle darkly in her ear.
Oh Merlin forgive her for the X-rated images that had just danced through her mind. Despite the fact they had been every bit as delicious as the twins….
Too far, Lyra, too far. She warned herself as she playfully pushed away from them pouting as she cocked her head to the side. Immediately she noticed how intensely they were staring at her and her fingers nervously curled around the charm of her necklace as she sunk her teeth into the soft skin of her bottom lip. George in turn closed his eyes, and Fred's only seemed to dark to that sharp navy blue. "Geo…Freddie?" She murmured because they were still alone, and suddenly this whole situation felt tense and intimate, but Lyra couldn't get over that she was completely missing something.
So she took a step only for both of them to hold up a hand stopping her. "Guys?" She tried again her free hand winding around one of the sides of her untied neckpiece. They opened their mouths, but a word flew out that was definitely not the unified drawl she was use too.
"Detention."
Fred and George turned around as if You-know-who had just been summoned back before them, only to stare at someone who was probably old Voldy's cousin; The resident prim and proper, I follow all Ministry rules and regulations, boring as hell defense against the dark arts librarian (because honestly that's all they did was read the text-book) Dolores Umbridge.
"Did you just give us Detention for standing in the hallway?" Fred barked out incredulously. She eyed them coolly and Lyra took a step forward, there was no way in hell Umbridge was giving the twins detention for nothing! Not while Lyra was here and sure as hell not when Umbridge was still using that damn pen!
The movement seemed to draw Umbridges gaze back to her (fortunately or unfortunately Lyra still couldn't decide), giving that ridiculous sickly sweet smile to the twin who'd spoken. "Of course not Mr. Weasley, Ms. Mackade however, is currently violating the dress code." The boys turned to her, eyeing her mused uniform and paled realizing they had been the ones to do it.
"But that was our-" George began but Umbridge ignored him smiling at Lyra who decided that it had been an unfortunate move after all to draw her attentions away from the boys seeing as she was the only one in danger. "Detention, I think, tonight after dinner."
"No wait just a-" Lyra stepped up next to Fred, wrapping her arms around him doing a quick nonverbal 'silencio' quieting Fred's ranting, so he wouldn't get in trouble. "I'll be there." Lyra said lifting her chin defiantly even as Fred glared down at her furiously. "See that you are…Have a good day." She hummed clasping her hands as her heels delicately clicked away.
Removing the spell as she stepped back Lyra quickly put her head down submissively. "Did you just magic me!?" Fred asked, rage, hot and dangerous filling his voice. "Fred…" George cautioned, but he too was frowning at the development.
"Yes..." She whimpered backing away cringing into herself. Hadn't it been the right thing to do? She'd silenced him before Umbridge could hand out another detention. She'd stopped him from having to have some awful little message cut into his skin. "Why would you do that!? I was going to tell her it was our fault!" Fred scowled trying to calm down, even though it wasn't working, her large eyes locked in a staring contest with the floor looking every inch the kicked rabbit when she should be raging at them because she would have to write with the quill again. Tonight she would have more than 'I must not tell lies' etched on her hand. More than that, this would be the second detention because of them.
He clenched his fists, rolling his shoulder as George rest one of his hand calmly on it no doubt trying to reel him back.
It wasn't working.
"Then you would have had to write with the quill." Lyra said simply. Because to her it was just that simple. She hadn't known there were rules about dress, and neither had the twins. She couldn't fault them when they hadn't known about it. She would go to detention and get it over with, spend the hour with Umbridge avoid drinking the drugged tea and get on with life.
But Lyra couldn't deny that she was already shaking with fear of the pain that awaited her, only to mentally chide herself, she needed strength not to give into Umbridge. She could do this, just like last time, she had too. For Fred and George. "So what?" Fred practically snarled, feeling all tied up in knots as she winced taking another step back.
"You've already done it! I can't believe this." Fred murmured shaking his head. "Then putting a silencing on me-" "She would have given you detention…" Lyra said unsure if she'd done the right thing anymore. "Then let me get detention! It will only be another of the thousands I've already attended!" He cried out and she shook her head, suddenly stubborn. "Not like this one…"
He stared at her and grunted spinning on his heel. "I need a shower." He growled moving back down the hall, probably to change out of his Quidditch gear anger practically vibrating from him as she watched the flicker of flame cackle in a dangerous dance.
George sighed shaking his head. "I'll go." He said finding no argument from Lyra who looked hurt by his twins handling of the situation. So he pressed one last kiss to her cheek, allowing his lips to linger in a silent motion that he didn't blame her before rushing off after his twin, calling out.
Lyra watched them go anxiously, and her eyes dropped to the floor again. She'd only been trying to protect them. Isn't that what friends did? They kept each other safe and out of pain as well as they could. Smoothing out her hair, retying her tie and tucking the button down back in her skirt she frowned her eyes watering with tears she wouldn't allow to fall, confused and hurt. What had she done that was so wrong? Shaking herself she turned in the opposite direction.
"Peeves….I….I need you." She called softly, taking out her wand to tap the wall.
A familiar cackle and the jingle of a bell made her smile sadly as the poltergeist winked and tossed her an apple.
