Where Loyalties Lie

Chapter 1 - A Mishap On The Train

6 years later, start of Weasley Twins & Lyra's Seventh year, set during Order of the Phoenix - Hogwarts Express

Lyra Narcissa Malfoy was a good liar; a superb one, in fact. That was a good thing, considering the life she'd been born into. One where she was to lie through her teeth when the manor was raided and searched by certain persistent ministry officials, to smile pretty and act chummy with figures of high social standings, and now... Now, a new lie - a much, much bigger one.

Her throbbing forehead rested against the cold glass window; feet tucked under her seat on board the scarlet train taking young witches and wizards back to Hogwarts for another year of magical learning. Draco was sitting on the seat next to her - or rather, he was sprawled across the seat with his head in Pansy Parkinson's lap, with Crabbe and Goyle seated across from him. Lyra was quite certain if she had to listen to another minute of Goyle sniggering like a fool at something entirely not funny, or Parkinson flirting relentlessly with her brother, she'd crack and hex them all, Draco included.

Draco - still the same bratty little brother he'd always been, but there was a difference between them now. There hadn't been a pinky promise made between them since that final one at the train station her first year. That was when they'd grown apart. They still represented the perfect pureblood family, of course, but things were cold, now. Before, there had been a quiet sort of bond between them. Now, they were formal and stiff in their interactions, with no real affection involved in it. That resilient warmth they'd had as kids had shriveled up, leaving them as the cold, cunning Slytherins they were now. Or, as they were usually called by Gryffindors and others who disliked them - the git and the bitch... Among other things.

"Oh, for the love of Merlin, would you please just shut up!" Lyra snapped. Parkinson recoiled, the simpering smile that had been on her face as she spoke to Draco fading. Every head in the compartment was turned Lyra's way, staring at her.

"I'm sorry, Pansy, I just have the most horrid headache.. I think I'll go get some air for a bit, maybe hex a few mudbloods to vent," She gave a sickly sweet smile as she left, receiving yet another nauseating smile from Parkinson. In all honesty, she wasn't planning on cursing anyone, but the lewd stares she received as she passed her brother's cronies almost changed that fact.

Further down the corridor, raised voices caught her attention, and her feet sped up of their own accord. Seconds later, she was knocked back against the wall as the bulky frame of Graham Montague raced past and down the corridor - well, as fast as he could go, anyway. She stepped away from the wall, looking at his retreating form. She curiously poked her head inside the compartment he'd left, and her eyes had just enough time to register the wand in her face and someone muttering something before her body seized up.

The next moment, Lyra was falling, stiff as a board, into the compartment. She landed face-first, with an excruciating jolt of pain going through her face; she was positive her nose was broken. Laughter rang out in the compartment, lasting for several minutes. By the time it finally quieted, Lyra was quite ready to scream with frustration - if only she could move.

An unknown person finally decided to release her, she heard them say something under their breath, and then the invisible binds holding her released. She sat up immediately, hands flying to her nose. Blood was smeared down her face, now on her hands as well, and it was down the front of her jumper - she was still in her muggle clothing, not having changed from passing through the train station yet. There was a small crimson pool on the floor where she'd been laying.

She didn't bother to look at her attackers, but instead lunged for the wand laying underneath a seat, which she recognized as her own yew-and-dragon-heartstring wand. Having the familiar feeling of the wand in her hand brought a comforting feeling to her as she sat back and glared at the three forms standing before her.

Lyra knew them, alright - Fred & George Weasley, pranksters extraordinaire, and their sidekick Lee Jordan. The laughter had died off of their faces, they were all watching her warily, and one of the twins was was still holding the wand that had cursed her.

"Episkey," She muttered, flinching as her nose popped back into place.

She then stood up slowly, siphoning the blood off of her blouse with her wand as she did so.

"So," She started lightly, but her voice grew harsh after the first word. "What the bloody hell did I do to you?"

"Well, we thought you were Montague, back for another round - " Started the twin with the wand.

" - but if you'd really like to know why it - "

" - doesn't bother us to have gotten you instead - "

"- one, you're a Malfoy - "

" - two, you're a Slytherin - "

" - three, you're a pureblooded bigot - "

" - shall we go on?"

Lyra rolled her eyes, but for the sake of the mission issued to her - which she'd yet to scheme up a plan for, didn't retaliate.

"What did that fool Montague do, this time?" She asked, hands on her hips. The twins still had smirks on their faces, but their friend latched onto what she'd said.

"You don't like Montague?" Jordan sounded skeptical.

"The imbecile is as unintelligent as a troll, who would?"

All three Gryffindor boys sniggered, even Lyra allowed herself a small smile. In fact, she didn't like Montague, or many of her fellow Slytherins, but it wouldn't be good if that got out. She turned towards the door, but paused on the way out.

"You'd better clean that up," She said, waving her hand at the spot of red on the floor.

Then she was out in the corridor once more, heading off down the train.

Bleh - kind of a filler chapter. But, the twins have made an appearance, so rejoice! Lol. Annnnd, maybe Lyra's starting to get a plan together for that mysterious task, which you people don't know yet. I'm evil that way - not telling you in this chapter. So, I just realized this is vaguely similar of the Draco-Harry interaction on the train in HBP. X_X I didn't even think of that at all until reading back through this before posting... Ah, well. _ Anyway - reviews loved - thanks to those that reviewed the prologue, critiques are welcome, and flames will be used to chase their authors out! ;D

**EDITED same day as posting, to add in the note about '6 years later', which I forgot to mention originally. This chapter takes place at the start of 6th year.**