Chapter 4: The Hospital Wing

The conversation Lyra overhead between Lucius and Professor Snape constantly replayed in her mind. Lucius Malfoy obviously knew who she was. Did he dislike her parents so much that he sent her away when she was too small to understand? Lyra's mind was constantly gripped by questions like these. She spent most of her time pondering them, even letting her schoolwork slip as though it were nothing.

Her teachers began to notice this sudden change in behavior, but refrained from asking too many questions. Lyra apologized profusely, citing a lack of sleep, and promised she would up her grades. But Lyra did not do as she promised, and soon found herself falling asleep in the back of Charms.

"What's up with you, Lyra? Malfoy's aren't supposed to fall asleep in class," Draco pointed out one day.

Lyra rubbed her tired eyes before answering. "I know, I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind."

Draco frowned. "Maybe you should go to Madam Pomfrey and get something to help you sleep."

Lyra shook her head. "I'm fine! Don't worry about me, Draco. You never have before." Lyra pushed her way through Draco and Crabbe and walked ahead of them.

For some reason, Lyra's little outburst unnerved Draco. Sure, he and Lyra constantly had little arguments, but something about Lyra was off. She hardly slept anymore, her grades were dropping at a rapid rate, and she was constantly loosing points for Slytherin for various reasons. Draco had never won the House Cup in his years at Hogwarts, and he was working his hardest to take away the reigns from Gryffindor.

Before heading to lunch, Draco took a detour to Professor Snape's office. Maybe he would be able to help Lyra. Though Draco would never admit it, he came to care for this long-lost relative. He enjoyed their combative nature, and Draco always thought of Lyra as the sister he never had. When she wasn't so occupied, Lyra was a real help when it came to schoolwork. She had even more knowledge of the Dark Arts than Draco did, and that was saying a lot.

He found Professor Snape's office door already open. Knocking slightly, he didn't even wait for an answer when he walked in. He found Professor Snape at his desk, grading what looked like fifth year Potions essays.

"Draco, what can I do for you?" Professor Snape asked, setting down his quill. He moved the parchments aside hastily.

"Well, it isn't about me, sir. It's about Lyra," Draco said tentatively. He set his books down on the floor before taking a seat.

Professor Snape frowned. "What's wrong with her?"

"She isn't sleeping, sir. She looks like a zombie. And she hasn't been doing her schoolwork, sir. That combined with her failure to execute even the simplest spells has been costing Slytherin quite a few House points. I don't want to loose to Gryffindor again, sir," Draco said. "So you see my reason for coming to you."

Professor Snape nodded. Maybe Lyra wasn't so much like her mother as he thought. Professor Snape knew Lyra was certainly not Bellatrix Lestrange, but her behavior so far in the year made her certainly seem much like her. Except the Bellatrix Lestrange Professor Snape knew wouldn't let her focus waver from the task at hand. Lyra's task, to Professor Snape, seemed to be doing well at her education. But even Professor Snape was wrong a time or two.

"Very well, Draco. I'll keep an eye on her. You keep up on your schoolwork, I don't want you falling behind, and I'm sure your father doesn't either." Draco nodded.

"Thank you, sir," Draco said, and stood up. He threw his schoolbag over his shoulder, and left Professor Snape's office.

Draco's appearance in his office slightly bothered Professor Snape. Perhaps Lyra had overhead his conversation with Lucius Malfoy several weeks ago. He had caught in her in the corridor snogging with Evan Yaley after the Quidditch match. And Lyra was the type of person to approach someone after hearing a conversation like that…wasn't she? Professor Snape couldn't let Lyra find out her true heritage. It would cause too many headaches for the Dark Lord and for Bellatrix Lestrange. Snape remembered so many years ago when Bellatrix announced she was with child, and how displeased the Dark Lord was. Bellatrix was naturally overjoyed…but for several months she was of no use to the Dark Lord. And even after Lyra was born, Bellatrix wasn't the same, not really.

If Bellatrix found out about Lyra now…Lyra would obviously be scarred for life. Bellatrix would want to reconnect with her daughter, wouldn't she? But that would mean being out of service for the Dark Lord, something Severus knew the Dark Lord would not like. Bellatrix would be tortured, that much he was sure of. Lyra would be punished too, for the Dark Lord was merciless. And if Severus was the one to break the news to Bellatrix, he would be punished too. That would be a great blow to the Order, because the Dark Lord knew nothing of Severus's spying ability.

No, Severus would let Lyra be for now.

That night, Lyra somehow managed to fall asleep. In utter exhaustion, her body forced her eyes to close, but Lyra's sleep was plagued with horrible dreams. Lyra was being taunted by Lucius Malfoy…he had something she wanted, something she needed. He laughed, except it wasn't a normal laugh. It was high pitched and made Lyra's body tingle. And then Lucius turned into someone Lyra didn't want to see.

She couldn't see his face, but she knew who he was. His eyes pierced her body, like a sword piercing the hardest of armor. He taunted Lyra, made fun of her, and called her worthless. Lyra was defenseless, she could do nothing but let tears of fear fall down her face.

"You've disgraced me Lyra," the voice said. "Everything I've done for you and you repay me like this? No wonder your mother didn't want you. You shame the wizarding world."

"No!" Lyra cried, shaking in fear. "You're lying! My mother did want me! She did!"

"Then where is she now? Why isn't she here with her precious baby girl? That's what I thought, Lyra. You are worthless!"

"NO!" Lyra cried. "NO! QUIT LYING TO ME!"

The man laughed. "You think I would lie to you? How dare you accuse me of that, Lyra! CRUCIO!"

"Lyra? Lyra? Wake up!"

Lyra awoke with a start to find Pansy Parkinson huddling over her bed. Lyra rubbed her eyes, trying to remember what happened. Oh yeah, the dream…

"You were shaking. What happened?" Pansy asked.

Lyra shook her head. "Just a nightmare. I've been getting those more and more now."

"You were thrashing everywhere. I thought you were going to fall out of your bed," Pansy said. "Maybe you'd better see Madam Pomfrey."

"Madam Pomfrey…right. Yes, I'll go see her," Lyra said absently. She grabbed her robes and draped them over her shoulders. She slowly got out of bed, and left the dungeons. She walked along the corridors of the school, thinking of her dream.

Why had did he have to come back to haunt her? He was dead now, murdered. Not that he didn't deserve it, because he did. He was a coward, he deserved everything that he got. But he was gone, there was no more use for fear now, was there?

Lyra sighed, and pulled herself up to a deep windowsill. She sat, with her back against the wall, and looked out onto the school grounds. The moonlight bounced off the lake in such a way Lyra thought she was looking at a beautiful painting. Lyra liked the peacefulness of the school at night. When everything was quiet, after everyone had gone to bed.

"Out of bed, Miss Malfoy?"

Lyra turned her head quickly to see Professor Snape standing a few feet away from the windowsill. The expression on his face made Lyra think he wasn't too happy.

"I couldn't sleep, Professor," Lyra replied.

"You are not permitted outside the dormitories after eleven-thirty, Miss Malfoy. Or perhaps you failed to listen, something you have been doing frequently, I might add."

"I'm sorry, sir. I've had a lot on my mind lately," Lyra said.

"Come with me, Miss Malfoy. My office is only a short distance away," Professor Snape said. Lyra nodded, and followed him down the darkened hallway into his office. She took a seat, and suddenly became aware of the fatigue roaming throughout her body.

"Your behavior as of late is disturbing, Miss Malfoy. I cannot speak for your other classes, but your Potions skills are certainly lacking," Professor Snape said. Lyra rubbed her eyes.

"I know, sir, I know!" Lyra cried. "I'm trying, but I can't…there's nothing I can do…"

Professor Snape suddenly became concerned. He was sure Lyra overheard his conversation with Lucius, he was absolutely positive. It would explain her behavior and lack of regard for everything. Had their conversation forced this poor girl to exhaustion? Had it really been eating away at her?

"Perhaps we should see Madam Pomfrey. You look as though you could use some Dreamless Sleeping Potion," Professor Snape offered, rising out his chair.

"No! I'm fine!" Lyra snapped. "I need answers, Professor. Now."

He knew this was coming, but what could he tell her? Her mother was a Death Eater, she'd rather go to Azkaban than raise you? No, Lyra was not in any condition to hear that right now.

"Now is not the time, Lyra," he said quietly. "Come, we must visit Madam Pomfrey."

"Don't order me around," Lyra said. Professor Snape really hoped this was the exhaustion talking, he hated taking away points from his own house.

"Miss Malfoy, you're in no state to name your demands. We can discuss anything you want after we visit the hospital wing," he said, taking ahold of her arm. Lyra ripped it away from his grip, and pulled out her wand.

"Don't touch me," she growled. Professor Snape retrieved his own wand from his pocket.

"Lyra, hand me your wand," he warned. He extended his arm for her, hoping she would somehow comply with his rules. "That was not a request."

"I won't. I won't let you be like him!" Lyra cried.

"Who are you talking about, Miss Malfoy?"

But before Lyra could answer, she fell to the ground in a fit of darkness.

Voices. That's all Lyra could make out. There were two, no, three. Yes, three voices. And they were talking about her. Lyra stirred in her warm, cozy bed. Where was she? She certainly wasn't in the dungeons, there was too much light in here for her to be there. Lyra's eyes came into focus, and all she saw was white.

"Miss Malfoy, I'm so glad you're awake," came a voice. She turned to see Madam Pomfrey scurrying over to her carrying a tray. "Here, take this." Madam Pomfrey took a bottle and poured it into a glass. She shoved it into Lyra's hands, and Lyra obediently drank it.

"Miss Malfoy, glad you could join us again," came Professor Snape's voice. He was sitting to Lyra's right, and he looked as if he had been up for a very long time. Dark circles were under his eyes.

"What happened?" Lyra managed to say. She lay back in her bed, her body to weak to sit up an longer.

"You don't remember?" Professor Snape asked. Lyra shook her head. "You fainted in my office and you haven't woken up since."

"How long was I asleep?" Lyra asked. She figured it had happened last night, judging my the amount of light it was around one or two in the afternoon.

"Three days." Professor Snape sounded amused.

Lyra shot up in bed. "THREE DAYS? You let me sleep for three days? Do you realize how much work I have to do?" Lyra began to get out of bed but Madam Pomfrey promptly shoved her back down.

"You will not be going anywhere for a while, Miss Malfoy. Your undernourished and exhausted. Your body needs time to heal," Madam Pomfrey said.

Lyra suddenly became aware she had a pouding headache. Groaning, she rubbed her temples. They let me sleep for three days! Lyra thought to herself.

"I've arranged for Mr. Malfoy to bring you your books and homework. I daresay you'll be incapacitated for a while, so I suggest you use your time wisely and catch up on your work," Professor Snape said. The tone in his voice said the topic was a demand, not an option.

"I'll leave you to tend her, Poppy. I have a class soon," Professor Snape said. He turned on his heel and strode out of the room.

"Drink this, I'll be back in a while," Madam Pomfrey said, and shoved another glass in Lyra's hands. Lyra drank it and put it back on the tray.

"You were certainly out for a while," a voice said. She turned to her left to see Neville Longbottom, his face bruised and bloodied.

"Neville…what are you doing here?" Lyra asked.

"I got in a fight," he said proudly.

"With who?"

"Those two idiots, Crabbe and Goyle," he said.

Lyra laughed. "You got in a fight with them? Why?"

Neville hesitated. He wasn't sure if he wanted to explain their flippant remarks about St. Mungo's. Lyra was a Malfoy…but she was different than Draco.

"They said something about my Gran," Neville lied. Yes, that sounded believable.

"Oh? And are you close with your Gran?" Lyra asked. Neville nodded.

"Well, at least you have one, at any rate," Lyra sighed.

"What do you mean?" Neville asked.

"I don't even know if I have grandparents. I've never met my mum or dad. I lived in an orphanage until I was eleven, and even then I had to go back during summer term," Lyra explained. She wasn't very comfortable giving out this information to him. But Neville seemed like a nice enough person, he had always been so helpful during Herbology class. He was extremely knowledgeable in the subject, and Lyra liked questioning him over some of the more dangerous plants they studied.

"Well I've never met my mum or dad either. Well, not really…" Neville's face fell.

"What do you mean, not really?" Lyra questioned.

Neville stopped as if he had suddenly said too much. He shook his head, and suddenly became aware he was in a hospital bed.

"Don't worry, you don't have to tell me, Neville. It's alright," Lyra said quietly.

"It isn't that," Neville said. "It's just…"

"Just what?"

Neville took a deep breath. "My parents…they were Aurors. Pretty good ones too. Well they made loads of enemies when You-Know-Who came into power. And after he was defeated, they were tortured by some of You-Know-Who's followers."

Lyra wasn't sure quite what to say, this was not what she was expecting to hear. "I'm sorry to hear that, Neville. But you should be proud of them. I know if they were my parents, I would be."

Neville swelled with pride. "I am proud of them. They weren't tortured by the Cruciatus Curse for nothing. They helped put loads of people in Azkaban."

Lyra's brain suddenly went into overdrive. She remembered Lucius Malfoy's conversation with Professor Snape. He said something about her mother being put into Azkaban for using the Cruciatus Curse. Could there be a connection?

"Say, Neville, I don't want to be too personal or anything…but who did you say tortured your parents?"

Neville seemed slightly taken aback by this question. "I didn't. Why?" He suddenly seemed suspicious.

"I was just wondering. No reason," Lyra replied casually.

"Oh, well, it was the Lestranges, I'm pretty sure. Yeah, yeah I think so. Bellatrix and Rudolphus Lestrange."

And standing in the doorway, with a horrified expression on his face, was Professor Snape.

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And now time to answer some questions...

Bella and Lyra WILL meet in later chapters, but it won't be how you'll expect. Lyra reveals some things you would have never thought of.

And yes, Bella is out of Azkaban. And why she hasn't come to find her daughter will be answered soon.