Lyra is awake...This would be much more effective if I left CH 11 on a cliffhanger for several days :D But I can't be bothered, and I don't want to make you guys wait that long, I want you guys to have it! So here it is. :D

Two boys and an unlikely friendship...

Draco's head jerked upward. He stared.

A pair of molten silver eyes stared back.

"You're awake," he croaked.

"Who are you?" repeated the girl, her voice getting louder.

Draco blinked. "Lyra?"

"What are you doing in my room? Where am I? How did you get in?" the girl's eyes were becoming fearful.

"Ginny let me in," stammered Draco, confusion rising up inside him. The girl stared back, her own confusion not fading.

"But I don't know you!" The last word was a shout.

Draco felt like he'd been punched by Granger again, this time in the stomach. "Lyra," he whispered, reaching for her hand, praying.

The girl jerked away with a scream, and fell out of the bed. Instantly, she scrambled into the furthest corner from Draco. "Don't touch me!"

There was pounding footsteps, followed by the door flying open. "What's going on?"

The girl gasped, "Ginny! Hermione!"

"Lyra!" exclaimed Hermione, relief showing on her features. "You're awake!"

Ginny glanced from the girl in the corner, to Draco with his hand outstretched. It was only then that Draco realised he'd risen to his feet, his chair knocked over. His hand began to shake.

"What happened?" Ginny asked.

"Ginny. He says you let him in," gasped the white-blonde girl.

"Of course," replied Ginny, her brow furrowing. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because I don't know who he is!"

Ginny's eyes widened. "What?"

Hermione stared, first at Lyra, then Draco, then back again. Lyra ignored their shock, looking back up at Draco. "Who are you?" she repeated, her voice becoming shriller.

Draco couldn't look away. He'd hoped for weeks she'd wake up. But, as usual, fate had fooled him. He wasn't meant to be here.

Ginny spoke up. "Lyra. Um…he's…"

"Nobody." The word came out before Draco could stop it.

"Malfoy," began Hermione, but it was too late. Lyra was gone. Draco knew he never really had her in the first place. "I'm nobody. This is just a big mistake. I'm sorry, for scaring you." The last words came out in a whisper.

"Malfoy!" Hermione's shout rose behind him, chasing him out the door.

Draco ran. All the flying and Quidditch practices made him rather good at it. He dashed down the hallway, getting a glimpse of startled faces as he past the Weasleys and Harry Potter. He didn't notice. All he wanted was to get out of-

WHAM.

Hands caught him before he bounced into the wall. "Whoa there," someone said with a laugh. "Where's the fire?"

Draco looked, for the second time, into the eyes of George Weasley.

"Get out of my way," he managed to say. It would've sounded better if he hadn't been panting.

"Not until you tell me what's so urgent that you would leave during your hour with Lyra," replied George. "Everyone knows you wouldn't leave unless Voldy himself was there."

Draco winced at the name. George didn't notice. Instead he peered into Draco's face, searching.

Suddenly, understanding bloomed. "Lyra's awake, isn't she?"

"Yes." Then, "No." A harsh laugh. "I don't know."

George's brows shot up. "You better tell me."

"Get off me."

"I don't think so," replied George smoothly. "What made you leave like you were being chased by a Hippogriff?"

"Why do you care?" The words were bitter. "It doesn't matter."

"I think it does to you."

"How dare- Do you think- What makes you think I would tell you?" The words rose in a pain filled shout. "You wouldn't understand!"

Draco had been expecting George to give up, shrug, and walk away. He even expected the boy to punch him. What he did not expect was George Weasley to look him straight in the face and say, "Try me."

Draco was silenced by those two words. George looked at the blond boy, and dropped his shields completely, letting Draco see the grief, loneliness, and pain he'd been living with ever since Fred's death. "Try me," he repeated.

Draco stared at the other boy. George, conniving trickster he was, had truly hidden himself from everybody again. The blond boy felt anguish building up in him. He dropped to his knees, burying his face in his hands. "She doesn't know who I am." The words and voice was muffled, but the pain was evident. "She woke up, but she doesn't recognise me. She screamed when I tried to take her hand." A sob escaped him.

George sat down next to Draco. "Well, that's better than me," he remarked, "but not by much."

Draco looked up, letting George see the tear tracks on his cheeks. "What do I do?" he demanded.

George snorted. "That's easy." When Draco stared at him, he sighed. "Lyra doesn't know who you are," he said patiently, getting to his feet. "Teach her."

Draco stared for a moment, then was paralysed by terror. "I can't," he croaked. "I'm not like her. I don't wanna go near her. I'm not a Gryffindor, I don't have the courage!" His voice rose as everything spilled out of him.

George snorted again. "It takes a certain kind of bravery for you to cry in front of a Weasley, especially this one, and to admit how scared you are."

Draco shook his head stubbornly. George scowled. "Listen, Malfoy, I may not like you very much, but you're Lyra's brother, and I care about her. Normally I wouldn't give a rat's ass, but I won't let you leave. She'll forgive you for abandoning her in her first year, but she'll never forgive you if you do it again. Come on." He took the boy's arm, hauling him upwards.

Draco leaned against him. "I don't know if I can," he whispered.

"I know that," replied George. "Which is why I'll be coming with you."

What did you think?

Love MagicalLeaves