AN: sorry for the update delay!!!! To make it up to you, I've written an extra long chapter. Enjoy and review, pretty please.
Chapter eighteen: Injustice.
" Kyra! If you're not out here in one minute we're leaving without you. My stomach's practically digesting itself!" Screamed a starved John Reid.
" Johnny, that is impossible," retorted Kyra silkily, appearing from inside her room, wearing her school uniform and an indulgent smile on her lips.
" Very witty, princess. Now can we please leave? I swear it takes you longer each day to get ready."
" Well, it's April," she stated. " In spring, baby boy, we girls like to look our best."
" You always do," was his soft compliment.
Kyra let out a short laugh. " That's not what Pomroy Parkinson and the rest of his cronies think."
" All those dolts can kiss my... wand," he concluded after Kyra shot him a warning glance.
With that, they entered the Great Hall and located Marianne and Hélène and the four of them sat at the Gryffindor Table. Eating together was their Sunday routine. Kyra hurried through her usual orange juice and half a toast before darting out towards the library; she needed to get started with her Potions homework.
As she left the Great Hall, Dumbledore rose from his chair and followed her, the twinkle in his eyes replaced by a disturbed look.
" Miss Gardner?" He called out for her.
She turned around and faced the aged wizard. " Oh, good morning Headmaster. What can I do for you?" She asked, in that fresh and carefree voice.
Dumbledore hated being the one who would change that. " Hogwarts' Board of Governors is having an extraordinary meeting and they have requested your presence," he informed her.
Kyra was surprised. " Me? What for?"
" That I cannot tell you, dear," he said, and looked down.
Noticing that there was something deeply troubling Dumbledore and, not wanting to add another burden to him, she nodded obediently. " I'll go, Sir."
" Good. Follow me." He seemed relieved, but he walked before her with slumped shoulders and Kyra wondered what could be happening.
' I hope it's nothing serious…' she thought.
Some moments later, they reached an impressive mahogany door, which's threshold Kyra had never crossed before. Dumbledore opened it and she faced a large table; the Governors, most of whom she didn't know, were sitting on one side, while on the other one there was a single chair. Something told her it was meant for her.
" Be strong, child," she heard the Headmaster whisper before the heavy door closed behind her.
After leaving her, Albus hurried towards Severus' office, where he found him, sitting behind his desk, grading papers with a tired expression on his face.
" Severus," he greeted him and went on talking before the other man had the chance to reply. " I should have warned you before. Now it's too late," he mysteriously stated.
Snape sighed, exasperated and looked up. " Do try to be a bit more clear, Albus."
" Do you know what the Board is doing as we speak?" Asked the older wizard.
" I really haven't got a clue. So, if you'd please stop beating around the bush like you seem to be so fond of doing, and tell me..."
" This… relationship you have with Miss Gardner, well, the Board of Governors is aware of it and... they think it goes beyond friendship."
It took a while before Severus was able to process Dumbledore's words. " That is ludicrous! She is my student, for crying out loud!" He exploded once he did.
Albus shook his head slowly. " Still, the Board thinks…"
Snape's glance was frigid. " I have yet to recall a moment when I actually cared what someone thought of my actions, Albus. I can assure you I won't start now."
" They have met to discuss the issue and now they are talking to Kyra," was all Dumbledore said.
" She will tell them the truth: that there is nothing going on between us!"
The Headmaster started pacing around the room. " They think she would lie to protect you."
" Again, what they think is of no consequence, the truth..."
" It is not just what they think. They are taking actions right now," interrupted Albus.
Severus' brows furrowed. " Actions? Of what kind?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
" A decision has already been taken. She will be presented with two options: whether she leaves Hogwarts immediately, and never practices magic again or you leave Hogwarts and they prevent the two of you from any further contact with a spell."
Staring at Albus, it took him a very long while to react. Severus couldn't believe what he was hearing; it just couldn't be for real. " No… no… y-your not serious… are you?" He stuttered.
" I'm afraid I am."
" But that… that is STUPID!!!!!! I have never heard anything so ludicrous in my entire life!!!!!!!! Haven't they thought how this will affect K... Miss Gardner? How dare they be so condemning without proofs!" Ranted Snape, slamming his fist against his desk.
Dumbledore sigh tiredly. " I agree with you, and I've told them so... I really tried, I offered them every proof of trust, presented each option that came to my mind... but it was to no avail."
" I'm going to go in there right now and give them a piece of my mind…" Said the Potions Master resolutely, getting up and striding towards the door.
The Headmaster moved to intercept him and placed a soothing hand on his shoulder. " Severus, while that would be a relief to you, it would only make matters worse. Something tells me we are not only dealing with the Governors on this and we need to remain calm, allow them to think we are defeated and only then, take matters in our own hands."
" But, in the meantime, whether it is Miss Gardner or me, someone will suffer the consequences of this calumny."
" We both know, Severus, what her choice will be. She is too altruistic as to let you deal with this burden... she will leave," stated Dumbledore.
That did little to comfort Snape; the entire opposite, just the thought of Kyra leaving, of Kyra being forced to endure such a disgraceful situation caused his throat to get tight and his eyes to feel the prickle of impotence tears. He turned his back on Albus, but the aged wizard seemed to be able to read his emotions.
" It is the only way, son," he continued. " She will be crushed, and possibly resented against all of us, but I cannot think of any other way to deal with this issue for the time being. Once we solve this matter, we will bring her back and make things up for her, we will find a way," he reassured him.
But for Severus, each word Albus was saying sounded like another nail in his coffin. Like another gunshot into his heart. Severus turned to him, all of the anger and bitterness gone from his face; instead, traces of defeat and sadness were all that remained.
" I understand," he said, in what was barely above a whisper. The slumped shoulders and pained look on Severus' face told Albus how much this was truly hurting the man before him.
***
Kyra left the room the meeting had taken place in very pale and nauseated. How could that be happening to her? And most important, why? What had he done to deserve such treatment? She had only befriended the most unlikely person and now everyone thought they were...
" I didn't agree with the board, Miss Gardner," came a soft whisper from behind her.
She swirled around to find Lucius Malfoy looking at her with a pained look. (One hell of an actor, isn't he?) But Kyra didn't know his true intentions that and his words lit a twinkle of hope in her heart. Someone believed her.
" Why?" She asked, on what seemed more like a sob.
" Because I know Severus and he wouldn't do anything inappropriate, even if that restraint ended up killing him," he stated. Kyra smiled, knowing that Malfoy was utterly correct. " And I also know you are a young lady of high morals, who would never consent to such a degrading relationship as a secret affair with a professor is," he concluded.
Kyra looked at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. " You, and probably the Headmaster, are the only ones who think that way."
" That is because we see the true you. For example, the choice you made, it was very brave from you..."
" Leaving was the only option, I'd never be so selfish as to get Professor Snape fired. I don't know what I'm going to do not, though," she said, trying to fight back the bitter tears that flooded her expressive eyes.
Lucius stepped closer to her. " You know I'm no longer a Governor, Miss Gardner. However, I still do have some influences and I was informed this morning of these... developments that would take place. I procured this for you... in case you needed it. Now, I'm glad I did," he said, handing a Kyra a large piece of paper, elegantly typed and very official-looking.
Her eyes widened once she realized it was a certificate of having finished Highschool in a very renowned Enligsh school. " Oh my God, Mr. Malfoy...this is... how can I repay you?"
He made a dismissing sign with his hand and stepped even closer to her. " There is nothing to thank. However, I hope this isn't the end, Miss Gardner, and that we can keep in touch. I seem to have grown rather fond of your companionship."
Kyra was lost in his gray eyes. " It won't be. After this you have done for me... how could I ever forget?"
Lucius sensed someone coming and chose to take off before anyone suspected anything. " Then I will keep in touch, Kyra," he said, taking her hand and kissing it, before
Kyra felt rooted to the spot. A shiver was sent down her spine as she thought about that voice, the way it had said her name. And those lips, pressing against her hand's soft skin...
Before she was out of her trance, a robed figure, wearing half moon spectacles stood in front of her. " Miss Gardner…" Dumbledore noticed she looked weary and a lot older than her real age at that time.
" Please, Headmaster, don't tell me you believe in this… nonsense as well," she pleaded.
Placing a soothing hand on her shaky shoulders, he led her into his office. There, Fawkes greeted her by flying to perch on a chair next to her and nuzzling himself against her. He had always been very demonstrative towards Kyra, it was as if they shared a profound, intense bond. It had surprised her and Dumbledore at first; Fawkes was always kind to Dumbledore's guests, but he had never showed such an open liking for anyone but his owner.
This time, the smart bird must have sensed there was something wrong with Kyra, because it looked straight into her eyes, as if searching for something deep in her soul and then let out a soft murmur. It sounded strangely sad, but it comforted the heartbroken girl, even if she didn't know why or how.
" Take a seat, Miss Gardner," offered Dumbledore without taking his eyes off the couple she and the Phoenix formed. They looked… good together, as if they complemented each other, as if they were one.
" Lemon drop?" He asked, presenting a plate full of the candies.
Kyra looked up at him with her eyebrows arched and the plate disappeared. Despite the awful situation that had brought her to his office, he couldn't less but smile inwardly at her glare.
' It's obvious she's been learning from the master,' he thought a bit amused, before turning his attention back to the grave problem the girl was facing. He hated himself for what he was about to do: he had to let her go, without even trying to retain her at the school.
" This is most unfortunate, my dear," he declared.
Kyra's eyes filled with tears once again. " We never did anything inappropriate, Headmaster! We were just friends!" She protested.
Dumbledore nodded. " I know, Severus himself told me that. But this is unprecedented. I don't recognize the Board anymore..."
" Then this is it?" She asked in disbelief. She had expected her Headmaster to come out with a miraculous solution.
" I'm so sorry, child, but there is nothing I can do against the Board's decision," he said firmly, his voice never betraying how much the situation was hurting him.
" It's OK," she whispered after a long pause.
" Such a pity you have to leave like this," he allowed himself to whisper. " Is there anything you might need? I can get you documents, whatever you might need to build a life back in the muggle world," he offered.
" No, thank you. I've already taken care of that."
A lonely, quiet tear fell across her pale cheek and it tore Dumbledore's heart. He didn't know what to do, how to comfort her; apparently, Fawkes did, because he snuggled closer to her and wiped the tear away with its golden feathers. Kyra stroked him gratefully and stood up.
" I'll pack my things and leave tomorrow morning."
He cleared his throat. " Yes, I believe all the arrangements have been made."
Kyra nodded and offered him a shaky hand. " Thank you… for everything, Headmaster," she managed to say, looking into his eyes.
He took her delicate hand, and put every ounce of affection and warmth in the firm shake he gave her.
" Good luck, Kyra, I know you will excel in everything you set out to accomplish," he said, almost with fatherly pride.
She nodded and gave him a faint smile. " Bye, Fawkes," she told the phoenix. It emitted another mellifluous hum and then flew back to his perch. She could have sworn there were tears in its eyes.
' His tears can heal many wounds, but not mine,' she reflected goomily.
Looking at Dumbledore one more time, she realized the old man looked very much like his bird. Warmth spread towards her as she ran and embraced him.
" Goodbye, Sir," she whispered, disentangling herself from his arms and darting out of the office.
For over thirty minutes from that moment, Headmaster Dumbledore would remain standing there in complete silence, tears of grief and impotence running down his wrinkled cheeks.
***
As soon as door closed behind her, Kyra steadied herself against a wall before running to the Gryffindor Tower. There, she stood in front of the Fat Lady portrait and threatened to curse her if she didn't let her through. Fortunately, there was no need for such drastic measures, since John was coming out, Transfigurations book in hand and whistling cheerfully.
" Ky, love, what is it?" He asked, upon noticing she was on the verge of tears.
" Go find Marianne and Hélène, then meet me at the Astronomy Tower," she commanded, not even meeting his eyes. After casting her a worried glance, he complied and hurried inside.
Ten minutes later, the Ravenclaw and the two Gryffindors were there, looking as if they had endured a twenty-mile marathon. The three of them were very worried; what could have upset their friend so much?
" Kyra?" Called out John.
" Over here," she answered.
The guys run to where her voice was coming from and found her. Kyra was sitting down on the dusty floor, leaning against a wall, while watching the quiet scenery of the lake and forest. She had brought her knees up and was hugging them with both arms.
In a split-second, John had kneeled next to her, followed by Marianne and Hélène.
" Ky, love, tell us... What is it?"
She raised a tear-stained face to look at him. " I'm leaving," she said simply.