First: I don't own the Harry Potter universe or characters, I do own however any OC's.

Sorry for the delay. And sorry it's short :(

Life wasn't created to be easy

Chapter: Kisses

25th December 1993

Lyrisadora's heart raced as she curled her fingers deep into the fabric of her skirt, as she sat in her father's office, facing his empty chair behind the desk, waiting for him to return. Lyrisadora bit her tongue as her mind raced.

An hour ago everything had been normal, the Malfoy family had just finished unwrapping the presents under the Christmas tree, behaving and reacting as they usually did when receiving and giving presents. So everything was how it should have been, but that instantly changed when a fearful house elf entered the room, claiming that Miss Lyrisadora had received a letter. Lyrisadora's head had shot up instantly and had made to grab the letter, but the house elf had handed the letter to the master of the house, her father, who swiftly flicked it open, pulling out a traditional Christmas card with a moving portrait of a slay and reindeer.

Lyrisadora had stopped instantly, standing frozen on the spot as she watched her father read the card's contents. Her mother had stood up as well, reading the card from behind her father's shoulder, her mother's face turning confused, as her father frowned as his jaw stiffened.

"Lyrisadora," he had said stiffly, his sharp eyes boring into her, before continuing. "Who is Cedric?" he had questioned coldly, the name causing her mouth to go dry as her heart missed a beat.

And that is what had led to her current situation, when she had gone silent and avoided her father's question, his frustration had grown, sending her to sit and wait in his study until he returned. Lyrisadora closed her eyes as tried to control herself, if she was going to lie to her father, she needed to be convincing. She reviewed what was the best rout to take. If she told her father Cedric was her friend, a close acquaintance, then he might only simply lecture her and tell her to revaluate her friendships, another rout was the truth, which would get her in serious trouble, her parents would not allow her to date a half-blood, under any circumstances, especially a Hufflepuff, and if they found out about the Weasley twins after all this time….

Lyrisadora stroked her wrists as she shivered, they'd brand her a blood traitor, punish her severely. She looked around the cold room and hugged herself, she'd have to lie and say her and Cedric were just friends, that was the safest option , hopefully her father wouldn't be too angry. Her back stiffened once heard deep footsteps nearing towards the room. She lowered her eyes and clenched her fists as the door opened and her father stepped in.

Lucius shut the door and walked over to his desk, Lyrisadora could feel his eyes on her as she stared at the desk edge. There was a tense silence, before her father cleared his throat, pulling the Christmas card from his pocket.

"Do you know who this card is from?" he question, holding the letter up to view, Lyrisadora raised eyes and stared at the piece of paper in his hand.

"Yes, Cedric, Cedric Diggory," she answered quietly. Lucius took out the card, sliding it towards her.

"An who is he to you?" he inquired icily. Lyrisadora looked down at the card in front of her.

To Lyra

Hope you're having a merry Christmas, mines been pretty cool so far, grandma's human gain, dad ended up turning her back, she had a real go at him for it. It was really hilarious.
I know you told me not to send you a card, but I didn't really seem the harm in it. Anyway hope you're fine, can't wait to see you back at Hogwarts.

Love from Cedric xxx

Lyrisadora finished reading the card, her mouth dry as one soul thought lingered in her mind. She was going to murder Cedric, she was going to hit him with a book until he was crying out in pain. What a moron, she couldn't believe him, of all the stupid things to do. Lyrisadora was at least grateful he didn't mention their romantic life or refer to her as his girlfriend, maybe not all hope was lost. Lyrisadora glanced up at her father, who was staring at her expectantly, rattling her brain she tried to think her way out of this.

"Oh, well you see," Lyrisadora began, forcing her body to relax. "He's just a friend," she supplied, Lucius looked sceptical.

"A male friend? Who puts 'love' and kisses in his letters to you," he sneered, his yes narrowing slightly. "I'm not stupid Lyrisadora, or do I look stupid to you?" he snarled. Lyrisaodora hastily shook her head.

"But we're just friends father, honest!" she pleaded. Lucius looked at her intently.

"Then tell me, what is his blood status?" he questioned. Lyrisadora decided to mix the truth and lie together.

"Half-blood," she responded, Lucius sneered.

"House?" he inquired. Lyrisadora looked hesitant.

"Hufflepuff," she answered.

"Hufflepuff, " he spat. "Didn't I tell you not to consort with those lower to your status," he hissed.

"I know father-" Lyrisadora tried to protest.

"Yet you disobeyed me and decided to befriend an idiot of lower blood status, who is in a weak blood traitor house," Lucius interrupted.

"We're just friends father, honestly-and I know I shouldn't have befriended him, but he was kind, I couldn't help but like him, even though I tried," Lyrisadora reasoned firmly, forcing her voice to stay steady. Her father seemed to contemplate her point for a moment.

"Perhaps," he began slowly, dragging the word out. "You have a point. However when you associate with the weak, you yourself become weak, you become infected by their ideals," he stated. "I will not allow you to become weak Lyrisadora," her father announced coldly, his tone making her shiver. "However, my concern does not rest on that, it rests on if your friendship is more than a friendship," he added tonelessly. Lyrisadora looked alert.

"What do you mean father?" she implored.

"What I mean, are you dating this boy?" he questioned venomously, hating the sentence he had uttered. Lyrisadora struggled to keep her body from reacting, instead forcing her face to look taken aback.

"Of course not father, I would never," she argued, Lucius looked doubtful.

"What male friend puts kisses at the end of a letter," he sneered, holding the card up to view. Lyrisadora thought quickly, then an idea struck her, it was risky, but it would provide her with an emergency exit.

"Well you see father," she began, sighing sadly in fake defeat. "I didn't want to tell you but, Cedric is gay," she said, keeping her voice at a believable tone. Lucius looked taken aback. She hoped her father wasn't a homophobe…then again…

"What?" he spluttered. Lyrisadora sighed.

"That's why he acts so feminine, I know his condition, is worrying, it's really quite sad father," she continued, hating the way she sounded. "He pretends to fit in, but really...well he's gay. I found out by accident, stumbling upon him while he was...admiring some rather vulgar imagery of men, he begged me not to tell, and I taking pity on him,agreed," Lyrisadora continued, thinking up the story from the top of her head. "Eventually he confided in me his worries, the strain of his secrecy, I felt drawn to his weak state. Honestly father it's hard to explain, but we became friends, never truly close, however he feels as though he can be his true self around me, which is why he acts most feminine towards me," she finished. A rusty silence issued as Lyrisadora and Lucius stared at each other for a while. Lyrisadora sitting perfectly still as her heart thumped loudly, she hoped her father couldn't hear it, giving away her fear.

"Huh…I see," he said, slight awe, looking a tad puzzled. "Strange, I must say," he muttered, before clearing his throat and straitening up, placing the card back on his desk. "But I still do not approve of your friendship with him," he added. Lyrisadora's heartbeat slowed slightly as she calmed.

"I understand father," she said, nodding curtly, looking at him expectantly.

"I don't want you friends with him anymore, stay away from him," he ordered smoothly.

"Of course father, as you wish ," Lyrisadora concurred seriously.

"Good. Oh and if he continues to bother you, blackmail should do the trick," her father advised, Lyrisadora nodded.

"I shall note that father," she stated.

"Good, then I suppose this matter is done," he announced, Lyrisadora gave him a small smile, hiding an even larger one in satisfaction, the lie had worked perfectly, all was well again. "Oh and another thing," Lucius added, causing her to freeze.

"Yes father?" she inquired.

"This certain sympathy you show to the weak, that needs to stop," he drawled, Lyrisadora looked affronted.

"I don't understand," she said truthfully.

"Lyrisadora, to put it bluntly, you're soft, far too soft, I understand you're a lady, so certain graces, submission and politeness are acceptable. However, your compassion for the pathetic is not acceptable. You're a Malfoy and are better than them," he drawled, looking at her calculatedly. "Do understand what I'm saying?" he questioned, analysing her response. Lyrisadora jaw stiffened.

"Yes father, I shall try to improve," she replied plainly, he smirked slightly as he considered her for a moment before nodding.

"Good," he said simply before scrunching the card up in his hand, smoothly pulling out his wand and burning the card. Lyrisadora noted her father had a fascination with burning her things. She watched as the scrunched up card turned to ash, keeping her face passive. "That's all, you may go," he said coolly, pushing the ash onto the floor for the house elf to pick up. Lyrisadora nodded and stood, breathing a sigh of relief once she was outside the room and the door shut firmly behind her.

She started to walk towards her room. Her father had an amazing ability to make her feel worse about herself, he was like a pessimistic stamp on her soul. Lyrisadora shook her head in exasperation, that had been a close call, all because Cedric had been an idiot, Lyrisadora groaned, oh she was going to hurt him. Maybe then she'd be able to put some sense into that adorable cute idiotic head of his.

5th January 1994

"You're an idiot!" Lyrisadora yelled, her voice echoing throughout the empty abandoned art classroom.

"I was only trying to be thoughtful!" Cedric countered.

"I had to lie that you were gay!" She yelled.

"Wait what!" he shouted in confusion.

"It doesn't matter. Cedric, my father came this-this!-close to nearly finding out about you being my boyfriend, do you have any idea how much trouble I would have gotten in?" Lyrisadora spat.

"I'm sorry okay!" Cedric yelled, running a hand through his hair. "I'm just not used to all these secrets ok," he protested, sighing as he sat on a classroom table. Lyrisadora felt guilt fill her as she folded her arms, calming down.

"Well I'm sorry, ok I just….it's hard with my parent's views and everything," she began, sitting next to him. "I mean, no matter what I do, it's never enough, there's always something wrong with me in their eyes,I'll never be perfect," she muttered. Cedric sighed as he looked at her.

"Well they're idiots so who cares what they think," he pointed out.

"I care, I can't help it. You don't understand Cedric because your parents love you just the way you are," Lyrisadora said. "For me, I was raised to want their approval, I can't really explain it, I just always knew that I needed it. I suppose I just wanted to make them happy, still do," she explained.

"Yeah well, you can't spend your whole life wanting to make them happy," Cedric stated bluntly.

"I know," Lyrisadora muttered.

"I don't Lyra,I mean lately all you care about is them, everything's about them," he said bitterly, Lyrisadora looked at him in concern. "We shouldn't have to hide, we should just tell them," he said boldly. Her eyes widened.

"What?" she questioned warily.

"We should tell your parent's we're together, I mean your brother's kinda cool with it," Cedric said more confidently, standing up. "Come on, we can tell them during easter break," he added. Lyrisadora stood and shook her head in horror, causing his face to fall.

"Cedric, I can't," she exclaimed, stepping back.

"Why? I mean we've been together for three years," he argued, looking bewildered.

"I know, but right now isn't the best time, maybe when we're olde-"

"Older! Lyra we have two years left before we leave school for good, no more secrets, everything out in the open," he protested. Lyrisadora looked down.

"They'd disown me," she muttered.

"So what! You could stay with me, my mum and dad wouldn't mind," he suggested. Lyrisadora looked at him, her eyes sorrowful.

"I can't leave them-they're my family-and I know they don't really show it often, but they do love me, they really do," she claimed, her tone slightly desperate.

"If they really loved you then they'd understand and let you be happy," Cedric countered.

"It isn't that simple, my parents are complicated," she sighed.

"But I love you, isn't that enough?" he questioned. Lyrisadora looked at him regrettable.

"I love you too Cedric, but my family…they. You have too understand, that it's complicated," she exclaimed. Cedric looked at her for a moment.

"Right, complicated," he confessed dully, shaking his head. "I gotta go help Cho with her Herbology homework," he announced , before kissing her on the cheek and walking out of the room. Lyrisadora sighed deeply as she stood in the empty room, man she sucked at relationships.

Urk so short. sorry for the shortness, but my mind went blank after the last sentence. I tried to think of what else to say, reviewing how I was going to bridge the next few chapter to the chapter I want it to lead up to, but I just ended up getting frustrated, so I decided to post this, instead of keeping you waiting. :p

Also the whole 'he puts kisses and love on a letter and he's a boy so he must be gay' thing was not menat to be offensive, Lyra just needed an excuse, and Lucius is ignorant enough to believe it.

Oh well, hope you guys liked it, things are a lil busy I''m afraid, especially since I have to start applying to Universities, fill out the application and look at student finances. Growing up sucks -_-

Lyrisadora will grow lady balls! But like all good things, sometime syou have to keep on trailing through a pile of dung before you reach the pavement.

Anyway Review please!