Chapter 2: Mudbloods and Questions

The shock of being at Hogwarts for the first time had worn off, and by now roaming the castle had become old news to Lyra. She had all her classes with her cousin, but as time wore on she began making her own friends, too. Lyra was naturally a studious person, and spent a good amount of her free time in the library. And there was only one other person who spent as much time in the library as Lyra did.

"Excuse me, could I ask you a question?" Lyra approached the girl who she'd seen in the library so many times before. She seemed nice enough, Lyra had seen her around, and maybe even one or two of her classes. The girl looked quizzically at Lyra, but Lyra went on with her question. "I need help with Professor Snape's essay on the Magical Properties of Dragon's Tounge and it's Ten Uses in Potions Making. He mentioned something about a book-"

The girl heaved a very heavy and old looking book into Lyra's hands. "It isn't any use, I can't make out anything the book says," she sighed.

Lyra gave her an apologetic smile. "Sit down, I can help you with it, if you'd like," the girl offered. "I'm Hermione Granger by the way. Who are you?"

"Lyra Malfoy."

"Are you-?"

"Draco's something like my second cousin. My mum was his dad's cousin. But she's passed on now, and the Malfoys are all I have left," Lyra explained.

Hiding her suspicions and tongue, Lyra and Hermione worked for hours, until Lyra's essay was successfully completed. Exhausted, yet proud of herself, Lyra thanked Hermione.

"I've never been one at Potions. Defense Against the Dark Arts is what I'm really good at," Lyra said, pushing in her chair. "The curriculum here is so much less than it was at my old school. Which is great, really, I was beginning to get worn out…"

"LYRA!" came a loud voice behind her. "What are you doing?" It was Draco, in all his protectiveness.

"Finishing up my Potions essay, why does it matter to you?" Lyra sneered, noting Draco's sudden change in demeanor. She'd never seen him this disgusted, unless he was talking about Harry Potter.

"Associating with mudbloods? After all my family's done for you?" Draco asked.

Lyra rolled her eyes. "I can associate with whomever I want to, Draco. Hermione was so kindly helping me on my Potions essay, which you know is one of my worst subjects."

"You're a Pureblood, Lyra. Start acting like one," Draco sneered, eyeing Hermione, who looked as if she was about to burst into tears.

"And how exactly are Purebloods supposed to act, Draco? Not like you, I hope?" Lyra asked. Draco stood up unnecessarily straighter as he pulled out his wand. Lyra eyed his wand, though not in a nervous sort of way. She smirked just like her long-lost cousin, and pulled out her own.

"Don't tempt me, Draco. I know how you duel, you're no good at it. Lower your wand," Lyra said menacingly. Lyra took a few steps towards Draco, who didn't back down.

"Oh Lyra, put away your wand, you're going to get in trouble!" Hermione pleaded. She held her books tightly to her chest.

"Don't worry, Hermione. I've got it all covered. You should probably get going back to Gryffindor Tower. I don't want you in trouble, it's getting late," Lyra observed. Hermione nodded, and quickly walked up the corridor. Her footsteps echoed in the marble stone walls.

"How dare you point your wand at me, Lyra. You should know better I'm not one to cross. If my father hears of this, do you know what he'll do to you?" Draco threatened.

Lucius Malfoy wouldn't do a thing to me, Lyra mused. He'd probably do something to you, since you're the one letting me associate with Mudbloods. Draco lowered his wand as footsteps became louder and louder.

"Draco! Lyra! What are you doing?" Lyra turned around to see Professor Snape in all his black cape glory billowing towards the two. "Why are your wands drawn?"

Even Lyra couldn't lie herself out of this one. She tried explaining, but all that came out was a bunch of garbled words.

"Please don't tell me you've had a Babbling Beverage," Snape said harshly.

"Er- no, Professor," Lyra finally managed to say.

"Both of you to my office. Now."

Knowing better than to defy him, Lyra and Draco made their way to his office. It was filled with glass jars with oddities even the darkest of wizards wouldn't want to know about. Old potions books with fading scripts littered dusty shelves in front of his desk. Snape pointed at the two old, rickety chairs in front of his desk, and Draco and Lyra sat in them.

"Now," Professor Snape said calmly, even though inside he was boiling in anger, "care to explain why your wands were drawn? Do not sugar coat it, Draco."

"I was simply showing her how purebloods act, Professor," Draco said, casting a menacing look in Lyra's direction. Rolling her eyes, she sat back in her seat.

"Like pompous fools? That type of behavior gets you in trouble with the wrong sort, Draco, and you know who I mean," Professor Snape replied. As much as Lyra wanted to question him, she felt it was best to keep quiet.

Lyra noticed there was something in the way Professor Snape held himself whenever she was around. She felt as if he was holding back something that should have been out in the open since she first met him. The way his eyes somehow managed to follow her everywhere, looking for some sign of something…Lyra had to figure out what that something was.

"Do not let me catch you in that position, Draco, do you understand me?" Professor Snape said.

"Of course, sir," Draco said. Lyra could tell he was annoyed at Professor Snape in the tone of his voice. Obviously Professor Snape sensed this too.

"Watch your tone, Draco."

The silence in the room was deafening. Lyra really wanted to figure out why Professor Snape acted like the way he did around her- guarded and watchful.

"May we go now, sir?" Lyra asked finally, not daring to look the Potions Master in the eye.

"Yes. But be warned- I am watching you."

Lyra and Draco nodded, and headed back to the Slytherin Common Room, which wasn't far away. Lyra spent the rest of the night, nestled up in her four poster bed, struggling to understand Severus Snape. But Lyra didn't have to be a mind-reader to realize she was fighting a loosing battle. But over the summer, Draco was always bragging about how Professor Snape let him get away with everything. But tonight, he seemed as if he was talking to two…Gryffindors when he approached Draco and Lyra in the hallway. Professor Snape hated Gryffindors, and that was an understatement. It was too late to question his motives…no…Lyra would do that in the morning…she had Potions right off the bat.

Yes…yes that's exactly what I'll do, Lyra thought. I'll question Professor Snape on his motives, right after he bites my head off and questions me. With that, Lyra rolled over and went to sleep.

(Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! Someone commented about Lyra not being in Gryffindor. If you keep reading, you'll find out in some later chapters)