Chapter 4 - Snape and Dumbledore
The first week of the term passed by relatively quick, nothing of interest happening besides the fact that Professor Kettleburn had somehow managed to set his hair on fire during Care of Magical Creatures class. Again. But he was saved from another trip to the infirmary by Frank Longbottom, who had cast a freeze-flaming charm. (Upon hearing this, Sirius had laughed for a good five minutes, "Why do they even still have him teaching that class? I'd go bonkers." he had said.)
Sirius was still trying to convince Lyra to sit with him during meals, and James Potter had returned to trying to win the affections of the red-haired Gryffindor muggleborn witch by the name of Lily Evans. Lyra could definitely see the appeal, she was in Year Four- the same year as Remus- top of her classes, polite, and appeared to have a good sense of humor. Though James had seemed to be head-over-heels for her since her first year, she didn't seem enamored by his constant persistence. Which probably had to do with the fact that him and Sirius were right prats to her best friend, Severus Snape.
Severus was a Slytherin, in the same year as Lily and Remus, and had almost immediately become a target to James and Sirius pranks. He had been humiliated by the two of them on multiple occasions since his first year.
Their third year, Lyra had asked Sirius why he and James treated Severus so inhumanly. The only answer he could provide her with was that it was because he was ignorant, greasy, and trying to get with James' girl. She hadn't known, nor cared, who that was at the time, but now it's become apparent that he meant Lily.
By the time the second week of the semester rolled around, Lyra wasn't at all surprised to find Severus dangling upside down with his robes surrounding his face, students gathered around chanting 'Snivellus! Snivellus!' in the Middle Courtyard. It was Monday afternoon, Study of Ancient Ruins had just ended, and she was on her way too Defence Against the Dark Arts. Sirius had been absent last period, and now it had became clear why that was.
Sirius was stood off to the side leaning on a tree, laughing and cheering James on like all the other students. Peter was stood next to him, nervously glancing side to side, likely standing guard for any teachers.
James was laughing, his wand pointed at Severus. "Hey! Who wants to see me take off Snivellus' trousers?" He taunted, watching as Severus wiggled and yelled to be put down, his face turning redder by the second. Lyra honestly wasn't sure if it was from anger, or all the blood no doubt rushing into his head.
For a minute she stood there, silently watching as the students around her laughed and jeered at the boy being humiliated. No one interrupted James, or asked him to stop. Neither did Lyra.
What she did do though, was make her way over to Sirius. He was still leaning against the tree, and he was gleefully watching as James taunted Severus more with a smirk upon his lips, his grey eyes alight. Plucking the sleeve of his robe, she dragged him away from the scene, his laughter stopping as he narrowly missed tripping once his weight came off the tree. Ignoring his protests, Lyra continued roughly pulling him along until they had reached their next class. She might not have been able to stop James' torment on the Slytherin boy, but she could make sure her brother went to his next class instead of joining in on the torment.
"Lyra! Bloody hell- let me go!" Sirius hissed.
Finally releasing his robes, Lyra continued walking in the direction of Class 31, trying to refrain from outright snapping at Sirius. She could hear him a step behind her, and was glad he kept walking with her instead of going back to join James.
Lyra liked James, she really did, but what he was doing was wrong. She could understand that Snape wasn't the best in the world to deal with, sometimes he was outright disrespectful, but he most likely wouldn't feel the need to act that way towards them if they didn't treat him as badly as they did. But Lyra also knew there was no point bringing this up to the two of them, because they would continue no matter what she said. They had no reason to listen to her, after all.
Class ended in no time, Lyra not making an effort to speak to her brother and he doing the same. Sirius sat behind her quietly all of DADA, despite James not turning up to class. Not wanting to linger awkwardly, Lyra escaped the class as soon as the Professor had provided that night's homework. Professor Dumbledore had called on her to meet him in his office, due to the impending full moon. His office was in the Headmaster's Tower, accessed through the Gargoyle Corridor. The tower was guarded by a gargoyle, which hopped to the side obediently when told the password, allowing Lyra to swiftly make her way up the circular moving staircase. Dumbledore had given her the password to the tower her first year, and she had known all passwords since then. Which was usually always a variation of some sweet Muggle treat.
Lyra was vaguely surprised that Dumbledore had even waited so long to meet with her, he usually saw her the first day of classes to ensure everything was alright and still going to plan. He seemed to have waited an extra week this time around, which was quite unusual for him.
Knocking hesitantly on the wooden door to the Headmaster's office, she relaxed some when Dumbledore's cheerful voice invited her to enter. His eyes twinkled jovially behind his half moon glasses, as if he knew she had some worries about their meeting.
"Come on in, Ms Black," he invited warmly, "Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, I know this is later than we usually see each other."
Dumbledore's office was the most interesting in all of Hogwarts to Lyra, by far. It was a large and beautiful circular room filled with funny little noises, and a number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. Dozens of portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses lined the walls, most of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, was a shabby, tainted wizard's hat - the Sorting Hat.
Taking a seat in the chair opposite Dumbledore's desk, Lyra's nerves suddenly flared up again.
"There's nothing to be worried about," He attempted to reassure her, "I was wondering if you were aware of this particular month's moon phase?"
Lyra hadn't known anything other than that it was happening Wednesday night, and her face seemed to give away her confusion.
"Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night there will be a full moon," he informed her gently, "Though I do have reason to believe your Lycanthropy will only cause you trouble for Wednesday and Thursday night, due to lunar visibility. Perhaps a few days afterwards."
This had only happened twice before, once in first year, and once in fourth year. Both times Lyra was required to stay in the hospital wing for a week, five days more than her usual monthly stay, much to her own chagrin. Even thinking of having to go through that again made her want to crawl underground, as if the moon couldn't affect her when she couldn't see it. Sadly, that wasn't how it worked.
Hands trembling, Lyra folded them neatly in her lap, trying to rationally think over her options, and what to say. What could she even say to that?
"Professor," Lyra said finally, trying to keep her lip from quivering too noticeably, "I can't- I can't go through that again."
Dumbledore's eyes were sad now, no doubt feeling bad for having to deliver Lyra this news, "I'm sorry my dear, but this is something we simply cannot control."
The rest of their meeting passed by quickly, and soon enough Lyra was making her way to the Great Hall for dinner, and when Sirius tried waving her over to him and the rest of his friends at their side of the Gryffindor table, Lyra bypassed him completely.
Hey guys! I've been on hiatus lately, kind of. Been very busy with school and work, and have only just started getting inspiration to write again. Will definitely be back with more! I have some great plans for where this is headed.
- Ary-Gryphyn
