It was September 1rst and Lyra and her parents walked towards the Hogwarts platform at King's Cross station. They had decided to take her themselves this year so she walked along with them, arriving much earlier than the Malfoy's so they were not seen together, as per Draco's request. They arrived on platform 9 ¾ and she hugged and kissed them goodbye and then bent down to say goodbye to Simon. He was crying but she hugged him.

"I will write to you every week. Alright?" She said holding him tight. He sniffed and nodded. She left them and waved goodbye from the platform. Then she went and found an empty compartment.

She was sitting there no more than five minutes when the door slid open. In walked Pansy Parkinson. She sneered at Lyra.

"Where is Draco?"

"Not here is he?" Lyra retorted.

"Finally gave you up as a bad joke did he? I knew you wouldn't last you are just a filthy little mudbl-"

"Now now Pansy, that's not how we talk to people is it?" Said Fred appearing out of nowhere.

"Yeah," said George appearing next to his twin. "We wouldn't want to have to curse you before the train even starts to move."

Pansy glared at Lyra. "You got lucky this time."

"Shove off" Lyra replied not caring. Once Pansy left the twins sat down.

"So how was your break? Your letters weren't very informative." Fred teased.

"Well I don't do much do I? My family are muggles and my younger brother is sick a lot so we don't go anywhere."

"Well I for one wanted to hear ALL about dear Draco." Fred and George snickered.

"Don't be prats." Lyra said simply. The twins laughed even harder. She rolled her eyes and ignored them.

"Seriously, Lyra, what do you see in him? He and his family hate your kind?" Lyra turned on Fred.

"MY kind? Excuse me but no one knows what my parents were."

"Exactly, no one knows, which to them means about the same thing." George interjected.

"Draco isn't like that. He is my friend." Lyra argued.

"Oh come on, Lyra, we both know what he is like. Besides you are way too smart to not notice." George countered.

"I'm not that smart."

"Please, after all the time we spent in the library with you last year? You would give Hermione a run for her money." Fred said. Lyra just sat there. Slightly pleased but also confused. Draco wasn't like that really was he? His father maybe, but Draco? True he had avoided being with her around his friends but…..Lyra didn't know. She didn't have much time to dwell on the matter though because just then Hannah Abbott appeared at the door.

"Lyra, there you are. C'mon, Cedric and I a compartment and we were looking for you."

"Alright, I'm coming." She got up to leave but Fred said.

"You can stay here with us you know. We won't bite."

Lyra giggled. "I know that. But Cedric probably wants to talk Quidditch tactics and since you will be our opponents I don't want to give away any secrets," She said winking at him and chuckling at the grin that spread across Fred's face. "I will catch up with you guys later." Then she followed Hannah into the corridor. Not missing the disappointed look on Fred's face she stopped.

"Fred, watch my owl for me while I am gone?" She said pointing to the upper rack where her tawny owl Athena slept. She had been a birthday present from Draco this summer. Fred grinned and nodded. Lyra and Hannah then took off down the corridor.

"He fancies you."

"Who?"

"Fred."

"Don't be ridiculous, Hannah. We are just friends."

"Just like you and Draco and you and Cedric are just friends?"

"Yes, what are you on about?"

"Nothing." She said innocently. "You'll figure it out soon enough."

Lyra shook her head. No way, Fred, Cedric, and Draco? Hannah was crazy. They reached the compartment and Cedric beamed at her and moved over, indicating that she should sit next to him. Lyra glanced at Hannah who gave her an 'I told you so' look. Lyra rolled her eyes and sat. They all began to chat about their summers. Lyra was laughing particularly hard at a story of Cedric's when the compartment door slid open. She looked to see Draco and immediately scooted away from Cedric.

"Draco. There you are." She said as the rest of the compartment sobered. There wasn't tension since Hufflepuffs generally got on well with Slytherin but a hush of interruption came over all of them.

"Hello, Malfoy." Cedric said politely.

"Diggory" Malfoy said cooly before looking back to Lyra. "Lyra, come with me please."

Lyra nodded and stood up. "I will see you later guys." Then she followed Draco out of the compartment. They walked down to the end of the train and found the last compartment he grabbed her wrist and led her inside. closing and locking it behind them.

"What's up, Draco?"

"Why were you not waiting for me?"

"Uh, I didn't know I was supposed to. Besides it's not like it would be hard to find me."

"You need to stick close to me this year."

"What?"

"I want you with me during all your free time. I have to keep you safe."

"Are you talking about what your father mentioned? Draco, what could possibly happen at Hogwarts? And besides, all my free time is a bit-"

"Promise me. Please." Lyra was taken aback, Draco sounded worried, and anxious. She sighed.

"Yeah fine, I promise." Draco visibly relaxed. Lyra turned to leave but Draco still had a grasp on her wrist and when she moved he tightened it.

"What?"

"I just told you."

"Draco, I have to go get my owl and I will be back. Five minutes."

"Alright." He said grudgingly and released her. She left the compartment wondering what Draco knew that he wasn't telling her. She was so confused. If he hated muggleborns why was he trying so hard to protect her? She entered the compartment that she had left Fred and George in, but now there was also Neville, Ginny, Hermione, and Lee Jordan. Fred's face brightened when she walked in.

"Hey Lyra, decided to come back?"

"Sorry Fred, I only came to get my owl. Draco wants me."

"Oh, of course he does." George said sarcastically. Lyra rolled her eyes.

"Listen, Fred. Let's get together for a quidditch match or something. Thanks for watching my owl." Then she kissed him on the cheek and left. Behind her Fred had turned bright red.

She returned to the compartment Draco was in and placed Athena on the rack and sat next to him. About five minutes later she was asleep on his shoulder. Being the first time in days she felt really relaxed. Because she did trust Draco, and she felt safe with him. Not long after Lyra, Draco nodded off as well, holding her hand.

They were almost to Hogsmeade when the compartment door flew open with a crash and Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle, came in. Draco and Lyra jerked awake, and Draco quickly let go of her hand.

"What the hell are you doing?" Pansy nearly screamed. Lyra, annoyed at her presence and being woken up glared at her.

"What does it look like? Go away."

"How dare you, you filthy little-"

"Pansy." Draco interrupted. "Go, I will find you later." With a huff all three of them turned and left. Draco stood up.

"Come on. We are about there anyways." They left their compartment and sure enough the train started to slow. They got off the train and into the horseless carriages. Unfortunately Crabbe and Goyle joined them, but at least it wasn't Pansy.

After getting to the castle and entering the great hall Draco and Lyra separated to go to their respective tables. Draco hesitated slightly but Lyra quickly whispered, "I will be fine, Draco." Then went off to join Cedric, Hannah, and Ernie. Lyra, looking around saw Hermione sitting with Fred and George but there was no sign of Harry or Ron. Curious she scanned the rest of the Gryffindor table. Then she noticed professor Snape was also missing. Odd, she thought, but then the plates filled and she forgot all about it.