Sorry about the long time between updates.


Chpt. 23- Headlines

It was almost noon when Lyric awoke. When she opened her eyes, she felt the warm body next to her hoping for just a minute that it was someone else. However, the prying eyes of Tristan's roommates affirmed the previous night. Keith and Peyton snickered quietly, making a rather lewd sexual gesture towards Tristan's bed.

Lyric pried herself away from the still unconscious Tristan. Shamefully, she ran out of the room and hurried to the girls' wing. As soon as she entered her room, Amarantha gave a little gasp.

"What?"

"Where have you been all morning?" Iona yelled at her from across the room.

"Sleeping," Lyric answered cautiously.

"With who exactly?" Griselda called from across the room.

"What do you mean?"

"So, I see you haven't gotten this morning's copy of the Wart Report," Griselda said with a smile as she waved a green piece of paper in front of Lyric's face.

Lyric's face twisted as she read the headline:

Lyric Dumbledore Covers for Secret Lover

Sources inform reporters that delinquent student Lyric Dumbledore, who is best known for her heinous prank against Professor Snape was not entirely the guilty party. The perpetrator was in fact known trickster Tristan Merton. Merton and Dumbledore conspired in secret to get revenge on the newest Potion's professor, after Merton ran into trouble with the no nonsense attitude of Professor Snape. Merton has been under Snape's radar since his traditional "Embarrass the First Years" prank at the beginning of this year, and was eager to get back at the Professor while simultaneously framing innocent reporter Rita Skeeter for the incident. Merton, fearing being found out, then convinced long-time lover Lyric Dumbledore to take the blame, knowing she was likely to avoid expulsion given her familial relationship with the Headmaster. Lyric Dumbledore has since been serving detention with the Potion's master, and still continues with a contemptuous attitude. No word on whether the actual guilty party will come forward. Needless to say, this reporter will not rest until justice is brought, and both students are expelled for their behavior.

Lyric stared open-mouthed at the article, trying to take it all in. "Does anyone believe this?" Lyric asked her friends.

"Well…" Amarantha trailed off.

Griselda giggled slightly, "At first everyone questioned Rita's report, but seeing as how you and Tristan were the only students in Hogwarts not present at breakfast this morning, they all became very suspicious. But it wasn't until Peyton and Keith told the entire school that you spent the night in his bed that we all knew it really was true. Rita's pretty proud of herself for this one."

"Shut it, you evil snake," Iona growled.

"Listen, you miserable little mudblood," Griselda hissed back.

Before she could continue, Iona and Amarantha had grabbed their wands and pointed them dangerously at Griselda. "Leave now," Amarantha yelled, "this is none of your concern."

"You can't make me leave," Griselda whined, eyeing the wand she had left in her nightstand.

"Oh, I can," Iona chimed in, "if you won't leave on your own, I'll hex you into next week."

"If you use magic against me, you'll be expelled," Griselda plead.

"It'll be worth it," Iona countered, raising her wands above her head. "Leave."

"I will not take orders from a mud-"

"Finish that sentence, Griselda. I dare you," Amarantha steadied to wand closer to Griselda.

Griselda surveyed the room for a minute before turning around quietly. "This isn't over, you filth. Believe me." Griselda ran from the room.

When she was gone, Lyric collapsed on the bed. Her eyes stung as she fought back tears, she was tired of crying. "It's just one thing after another, isn't it?" Her friends put their arms around her, but Lyric barely felt it.

"Is it true?" Iona asked meekly.

"Is what true?" Lyric responded.

"You and Tristan?"

"No!" Lyric said offended.

"So, where were you last night?" Amarantha asked. "Were Keith and Peyton lying?"

"I spent the night with Tristan, but I didn't have sex with him."

The room was quiet for a moment. "You can tell us," Iona finally said.

Lyric was angry that Iona didn't believe her. "I didn't sleep with him! And if the two of you are going to start believing Skeeter, I think we're done," Lyric shouted.

Skipping down the stairs and quickly out of the Gryffindor common room, Lyric wasn't quite sure where to go. When she took a familiar turn into the dungeons, she knew exactly where she was going.

"Professor," she breathed into the room.

Snape glared at her from his desk, but didn't say a word. Lyric proceeded cautiously into the room. She stood before his desk waiting for him to speak. Looking down at his desk, she could see a bright green piece of paper poking out menacingly from below a stack of parchment. The silence grew in the cold room till it nearly pounded in Lyric's ears.

Finally, he spoke. "Miss Dumbledore, I have work to do. So either speak up or get out," he said, devoid of emotion.

"Sir, Skeeter is a liar," Lyric began, trying to hold back everything else she wanted to say.

"That's just not true, is it?" Snape asked unconvinced. "I have it on good authority that Mr. Merton was also involved in the prank, am I wrong?"

"Well no…but she's lying about everything else. Tristan and I are not involved, nor have we ever-"

"Miss Dumbledore, your consorted love-life is no concern of mine," he snapped.

"Now that's just not true, is it?" Lyric mimicked. "It was a sincere concern of yours last night, wasn't it?"

"I've no idea what you are talking about,"

"Bullocks!" she shouted at him. Snape peered to the hallway to see if anyone had heard her outburst. Lyric lowered her voice to a whisper, "Don't pretend it didn't happen," she hissed.

"As far as I'm concerned, it didn't. Now please leave me, I've work to finish," he said plainly.

"Fine," Lyric said backing away from his desk, "but just so you know, it was me in your room that night. I was my idea, my plan. Tristan was just along for the ride, and I'm not, not will I ever be his lover." Lyric stomped out of the office.

"Lyric," Snape called before she got to the door. Her heart gave a flutter to hear her name from his mouth again. But then he paused, groping for words.

"What?" she asked.

"You've detention on Tuesday, eigh-"

"Eight o'clock sharp, I know Professor," Lyric was disheartened that he hadn't said anything else.

Making her way back to Gryffindor, she caught sight of a flash of blonde hair in front of her. "Rita!" she yelled and she began taking long strides to catch up with her.

Rita turned around slowly, her eyes wide with fear. She took in a breath of air to gain some bravery. "If it isn't my favorite headline," she said coolly, but slowly backing away from Lyric.

"Keep up the good work," Lyric said evilly, staring Rita down.

"What do you mean by that?" Rita asked suspiciously.

Lyric spoke ominously in the manner of Professor Trelawney. "Keep. It. Up." And with that, Lyric whipped past Rita leaving her in the hallway, utterly confused.

I promise more soon. Thanks for the reviews.