CHAPTER SEVEN: PRIDE

Harry glared at her from across the table

"I really don't get why you don't just talk to Fred and George about it," Ron said thickly through a mouthful of kipper.

"That girl has been driving you mad since the first day of school."

"Yeah," Hermione added, "Or you can just confront this Brooks girl yourself so we can get on with our lives!"

Their conversation was halted by a chortling in the distance.

"Well, well, well," came Malfoy's drawling voice, "It seems as though Potter's found love. What's it like crushing on a first year?"

"You're disgusting," Hermione hissed.

"Shut up, Granger."

Lizzie Brooks turned around quickly, "You do know I can hear you all from here, right?" she shouted at them.

"Aw, look, it's your little girlfriend." Malfoy shouted.

"Will both of you shut you traps for a second? I know why Potter 'ent confronted me yet. He's too proud. The 'famous Harry Potter' has to figure it out on his own, so he'll get all the credit!"

"Apparently someone's been listening to Snape," Ron said.

"Yes I have. You should try it sometime, and maybe you'll stop failing Potions along with every other subject known to man."

"And how do you know that?" Harry said defensively.

"Let me teach you a little lesson, Potter. Sometimes, the good guys don't always win. Some of us 'ent showered with praise every step we take. Sometimes we end up saving the universes a million times until we end up living on the street, twitching every time we hear words that remind us of the past. Some of us are living on the run, just waiting for the bad guys to catch us. Then, just maybe, you'd have the right to dignity!" Lyra shouted proudly.

A round of applause from Fred and George silenced Ron's next retort.

"That was beautiful," Fred said, pretending to wipe away tears.

"Yes," replied George, "That will go down in the insult hall of fame! Sorry, Harry, but she deserved that one."

"You showed him," said Malfoy.

"Shut up you little snot- nosed urchin," Lyra said cheerfully, " 'Cause I've got another speech prepared especially for you."

This gained another ovation from the twins.

They were all so enraged that they hadn't noticed Dumbledore standing behind them.

"Miss Brooks, may I see you in my office?" he said calmly.

"Oooh! Little Miss Spastic got busted!" said Malfoy.

"Shut up," said a voice that seemed to come from nowhere.

"What was that?" Ron said nervously.

"Ah, probably Peeves up to no good. Lizzie, please come with me."

"Nice move, Pan. Now we're really in for it."

'Well, sorry! I was just sticking up for us."

"Sorry isn't good enough. Now what are we going to do. This guys gonna land us right where we started. What'll we do now, GO HOME?"

"Shh! He'll hear us!"

"Cockroach clusters." said Dumbledore as the gargoyle in front of his office door sprang out of the way.

"Do NOT flinch, do NOT flinch" Lyra whispered to herself.

"It's all right, you can flinch. Everyone does."

"Of course, because YOU have to know EVERYTHING."

As long as she was doomed anyway, she might as well have a little fun, right?

"I see your daemon has settled, quite unusual for a first year, eh?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

Lyra froze in her tracks, "H- how do you know about..."

"Well, I have to know EVERYTHING, don't I."

Lyra knew that no amount of lying would fix this. "Please, sir. I ent goin' back there. They'll eat me alive, I swear!"

"I have a feeling you'll be needed here quite soon, Lyra."

"You ent going to tell no one, are you?" she said defensively.

"There are many secrets in the wizarding world..."

She held her breath.

"But there's always room for more."

end of chapter seven