Whoa, so sorry about the wait. My internet crashed and then suddenly the library was like 'hey…We're going to be un-expectantly closed today and then have off the holiday tomorrow! Yay!' Well that was all well and good, but I wanted to update!

So…yeah.

To be a Gryffindor

Lyra awoke as soon as someone laid their delicate hand on her shoulder. She sat up, wand pointed at the would-be assailant only to meet with Ginny Weasley's curiously surprised eyes. "I'm sorry." The fourth year apologized quickly, glancing at the wand in her face.

Cheeks heated embarrassed by her knee-jerk reaction and she slowly lowered her weapon, stowing it back under her pillow. "No, I'm sorry. Did you need something?" Lyra asked politely, pushing her covers to the end of the bed.

Ginny Weasley; pretty as a fire sprite and just a volatile. Lyra had saw the way the angry red-head whipped out her wand and sent a bat-boogey hex quick enough to make your head spin. Shyly smiling at Ginny, Lyra had to admit that the younger girl was a true Gryffindor. Better than one Lyra would ever be.

Even after the Chamber of Secrets incident (and Lyra was only privy to that information by accident. It helped her grandfather was friends with Arthur Weasley) Ginny had fought tooth and nail with those memories refusing to let them beat her. The fire in her hadn't allowed itself to be tamed by the memory of Voldemort, and no darkness seemed to have ever touched her. Lyra could see it in the song that surrounded Ginny, in notes of glittering gold and red hues.

Ginny rolled her eyes playfully. "My brothers said they're waiting for you to head to breakfast." Ginny must have noticed the blank expression because the girl elaborated slowly; suddenly unsure with the task her brothers had given her. "Fred and George asked me to come upstairs and get you. I'm sorry I just assumed…" Trailing off shifting uneasily Ginny allowed a finger to play with a strand of fire silk.

It occurred to her that her eyes might be making Ginny nervous, so she dropped them to her lap. "Oh…Oh! Right. Fred and George." What the hell is going on? Fred and George were waiting for her downstairs to head to breakfast? Ok, something was up! "Would you mind telling them I'll meet them later?" There was no way in hell she was going down to breakfast with them. It was a new day, her hand healed, and they knew how to find her. Yeah…not walking with them to breakfast, they had something planned and Lyra would not be a willing participant.

Ginny nodded slowly giving one last friendly smile before turning down the stairs to go speak with her brothers.

Silently Lyra slipped from her bed, creeping toward the door opening it a crack to listen to the conversation downstairs.

"She comin' Gin?" George's voice danced up the stairs and Lyra hid further behind the door as if he could see her.

"No. She told me to tell you she'd meet up with you guys later. I doubt it. The poor girl looked terrified." Ginny retorted and Lyra could picture her putting her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed suspiciously at her twin brothers.

Lyra blushed guiltily, had she'd been so transparent?

"Terrified? Gin, I think you misunderstood her expression. We have the Weasley charm on our side." Fred purred playfully at his baby sister. Ginny huffed, obviously annoyed. "Just go down without her, and leave her alone. Obviously she wants no part of you two."

"She said she'd meet us later." The twins chirped merrily before they disappeared presumably off to breakfast.

Lyra shut the door with a quiet click, pressing her back against it for a few moments pushing off the wood to pad back toward her bed. Utterly confused she pulled out her trunk to dig through for a fresh uniform.

They had actually sounded as if they wanted her to go with them to breakfast. But that idea was completely unfathomable. She simply couldn't wrap her head around the idea. Essentially the twins had sent their sister up to fetch her, so they could walk, sit together and eat at breakfast.

What?

It was highly suspicious to her paranoid mind, Lyra concluded as she buttoned up a fresh shirt, but had they actually wanted to walk with her or lie in wait for the opportune moment?

But that didn't make sense either. Lyra was so preoccupied by thinking they wanted to prank her in return. She'd been building them up so much in her mind as vicious pranksters (when she knew very well that was not the case) and had ignored the possibility that the boys just wanted to check on her because of the injury she received at the point of the blood ink quill. Knotting her tie, Lyra frowned biting her lip. It was unnecessary. The wound was healing, the detention served. So what else could they want?

Nodding to herself she absently followed another Gryffindor silently toward the Great Hall. She quietly assured herself that she could duck in, eat, and leave without the twins' knowledge. Fred and George both had enough friends to keep them more than occupied to add some substance to her hopeful plan. There was just one tiny detail Lyra forgot to factor in about the twins; something that made them completely dangerous wild cards; their unpredictability.

Entering the hall Lyra almost paused in embarrassment as the chorus calls of 'Angel, over here!' reached out to her. She glanced over to see Fred grinning widely and waving his arm as if he were trying to land a muggle plane, with George sipping from a goblet and expectant look on his face.

Damnit she wished she could stop the blush that was sure enough heating up her face completely. Luckily she'd entered with that other Gryffindor, and to avoid the curious looks sat at the end of the table ducking her head, groaning. 'Why, why, why?' Glancing at the polished wood of the table she considered banging her forehead against it a few times, just on the off chance this was an absolutely horrid nightmare.

'Do not look over there.' Coaching herself, she shakily reached for the pitcher of orange juice. 'Do not look away from your plate. Do not look up.' And maybe if she were lucky (Lyra almost laughed hysterically, she couldn't tell if she was lucky or not yet) and pretended she didn't exist, pretended they didn't sit at the table (because they existed alright, like she could forget it!) then there was no reason to notice them or get caught up in playful smiles and tones.

But let's be honest here, when did the twins ever do anything someone wanted them to, unless they deemed it worth it? "Angel!" they greeted sliding in on either side of her. Fred, slightly more impatient, started a frown etched on his face. "Didn't you-" "Hear us call you over?" George inquired cutting off Fred's sentence, the latter looking expectantly. "Lyra, my name is Lyra." She said softly curling into herself wrapping her arms protectively around her middle, bewildered.

Ignoring her correction, Fred reached out snagging a grape from her plate popping it in his mouth, as George reached for a biscuit from the platter in front of them. "Well? Did you?" Fred sighed.

Lyra nodded slowly. "Yeah..." "Yeah…well, why didn't you come over?" George questioned casually.

"I didn't think there was any room…" Lyra said softly, mentally berating herself for the white lie. If they believed her or not they didn't say.

"Saved you a seat." Fred said dismissively waving his hand as he snatched up another grape since she didn't protest. He winked playfully. "Try again." Ok so they didn't believe her. But they weren't giving up either.

Lovely.

"I don't know any of your friends." Ok, that reason was true. No lie there. Better! Lyra thought brightening up. They couldn't deny she didn't know any of their friends. Happily she spread jam over the butter on her toast.

"Introductions are easy enough." George said with a shrug, his lips twitching at the corners. "Next." Fred snickered as Lyra frowned, setting down the toast motioning for him to pass the platter of biscuits.

"I didn't want to." Lyra finally sighed setting two biscuits on her plate and setting the platter back down gently. There, she said it.

"Why not?" Fred asked, frowning as if the idea she wouldn't want to never occurred to him. And it shouldn't have because she desperately wanted to sit with them and perhaps even be friends.

But friends led to being closer, and closer meant curiosity and questions she couldn't answer. Her secret was meant to be kept. George raised a brow in question as she deliberated. "I…well…"

Damn, she didn't have a good reason. There was no way she could redirect their attention either, and couldn't be rude. Worst part was, if their smirks were anything to go by, they knew she didn't have a good enough reason either! "No reason?" George supplied watching in amusement as her shoulders slumped shaking her head pitifully. "No reason." She sighed in agreement.

"Great! Come on!" Fred said gathering up her plate, George gently wrapping his hand around her upper arm to keep her from bolting. A few Gryffindor's looked up at the spectacle, obviously surprised and bewildered at Lyra's appearance. She unconsciously huddled closer to George, trying to hide within his larger presence, not catching the flicker of his eyes as they warmed briefly before turning his eyes to the front.

Setting her plate down between two full ones, her lips curled into an amused smile as she sat snugly between their larger frames. The Weasley appetite was legendary.

Across the table, Fred and George mutual best friend, Lee Jordan sat with a scowl. "Oi, where did you lot get to?" And once his dark eyes locked on Lyra he tilted his head, thrusting one calloused finger in her direction. "And who's the bird." She flushed, annoyingly she noted this was becoming a habit, ducking her head wondering if Fred would mind if she tried to hide in his side.

"Lee, Angel. Angel, Lee." Lyra scowled as Fred made a hasty introduction between bites. She tugged on his sleeve to his amusement. "Fred!" She hissed. "Lyra, my name is Lyra." Lee chuckled in response, hiding behind his goblet as she did this cute glare/pout at the red-head.

"Yeah." George started fondly patting her head. "This is the bloody mental bird who took detention with Umbridge." He explained grinning as Lyra pushed his hand away from her head, briefly eyeing the appendage wondering if it was too childish to bite his hand for touching her head. But Lee began choking catching her attention.

Worriedly she leaned across the table. "Are you going to be alright?" But it looked as if his choking was no concern as Fred and George continued shoving food in their mouths. Did they even stop to chew? Lyra watched in disgusted amazement as Lee finally caught his breath leaning toward her in awe. "You took a detention for these two pranksters?" The red heads paused, wondering if they were insulted.

Idly Lyra snatched up a grape, giving Lee wry smile. "I'm sure it would have been three if you hadn't been busy." Freezing she panicked, oh sometimes her mouth just ran away from her! Opening her mouth to frantically begin a wealth of apologies she stopped as all three burst out laughing. Now it was her turn to stare in awe at the elder boys. Had she done that?

Lee composed himself quicker than his usual accomplishes, smiling sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head over his dread locks. "Heh, too right. It's hard to resist when it will annoy the toad. Worse than Snape, that one." He muttered gravely giving an in conspicuous nod where Umbridge sat with the rest of the professors.

The boys shuddered in unison as her beady eyes scanned the great hall. Lyra ignored her and shifted uncomfortably her hands beginning to shake as reality set in. She was sitting between Fred and George Weasley. At breakfast. And they didn't even seem to mind! Though of course that was just the guys really, they were just so comfortable around people where Lyra was not.

And it was more that she was completely surrounded by people who were making her nervous. She never sat with people at breakfast. She always squeezed on the end, ate something and rushed off to find Peeves. It made her edgy and paranoid that she was about to give something away. Shakily she spoke. "W-well this was nice, but I've-" Standing she whimpered as the twins lazily reached out each putting a hand on her shoulder and carefully pushing her back down in her seat while Lee watched in amusement.

"Classes won't even start for another twenty minutes." George murmured after swallowing, he glanced at her curiously his eyes zero-ing in on her shaking hands.

"And you haven't eaten anything." Fred said waving his fork toward her plate. Lyra closed her eyes briefly, feeling overwhelmed as the noise in the Great Hall seemed too drowned out everything but her frantic heartbeat. George accidentally brushed his arm against hers reaching for his goblet, but the simple touch was enough to ground her as she reached out to her plate picking up the apple with shaky fingers taking a large bite out of it dropping it noisily on her plate as she grabbed a biscuit scrambling off the bunch and hurriedly out of the hall with a quick. "Ok, I'm done."

Leaning against the wall of the hall way she took deep calming breaths getting her heartbeat back down in her chest and not in her throat. That had been too much for her all at once. For the recluse it was too much, too many people, the noise, the paranoia. Lyra bit her lip straightening out it was no one's fault but her own, she knew, there had been the possibility that Fred and George would want to talk to her after she'd helped them out (she refused to think of it as 'saving' them) but it was something Lyra had convinced herself wouldn't happen.

"Good, you waited!" Fred said cheerfully tossing an arm over her shoulders with a grin. George nodded grinning before stuffing the biscuit he had in his hand in his mouth. "Waited?" Lyra parroted, bewildered as she ducked out of his arm to stand in front of them putting up her hands as they took a step forward. "Why would I be waiting?" She asked slowly, genuinely confused.

Fred, who didn't seem bothered she'd ducked out of his arm, allowed his arm to drop as he smirked impishly. "So we could walk you to class." He said as if this were an everyday tradition.

"Walk me to class?" Lyra repeated in a high-pitched voice. They wanted to walk her to class!? Her mind was a pile of mush. The squealing girl in her mind was practically giddy as she squeaked out 'yes, yes,yes,yes walk with me!' while the more practical Lyra was silent because she was completely dumbfounded.

"Yeah." George said cheekily. "It's when our legs move with yours as we all walk toward your class room. And then." He paused dramatically. "You will be in your learning environment and we'll skivv-off."

They grinned obviously waiting for her to laugh at their genius. It wasn't going to happen, but they both looked cute awaiting her reaction so eagerly. "But…your both seventh years, I'm a fifth year." Fred nodded bemused. "Yes, thanks for clearing that up. There goes my confusion…" Ignoring him she continued. "There is no reason for you to walk with me to class." She finished helplessly.

George smiled turning her around, with a hand on the small of her back so they could resume walking. "Listen rabbit-" "Rabbit!? George! Honestly!" Lyra complained and tried to ignore the warmth of his hand on her back. She envied they could give away touches so freely.

"Careful rabbit." Fred crowed gently pinching her cheek. "You sound suspiciously like Granger-" "And no one wants that." George agreed with a playful horrified shudder.

"Well…" Fred trailed off, blue eyes twinkling merrily. "Except our Ronniekins. He seems to get off on Grangers orders…" Blushing furiously Lyra squeaked and darted off toward her class, the twins following as they laughed heartily at her reaction.

"Run rabbit, run rabbit, run.." Fred sang his tune only half mocking as they dropped her off at her class.

Alright, so her morning was beyond weird. Lyra admitted that as she sat hiding out in the bathroom playing with the necklace she usually wore wrapped twice around her wrist like a bracelet. She'd sat with Fred and George at breakfast and their partner in crime, Lee Jordan. Even still, she'd made them laugh! Score one point for the black sheep Gryffindor! Breakfast had been pleasant enough until she'd become overwhelmed and rushed out.

Not to mention she was kind of put out that neither of them would actually call her by her name, but the two seemed especially fond of calling her 'rabbit' more so than Angel. Which she was slightly thankful for. Angel seemed a bit too much for her; Lyra decided biting into the apple Peeves had given her.

They were just so…intense. True to their word, Fred and George had walked her to class, and shown up after almost every class of hers even if it was just to call out and wave to her as she ducked past. Luckily, before lunch, Ron had gotten tired of seeing his twin brothers and promptly blew a gasket allowing Lyra the chance to duck into the second floor girls bathroom pale and panting because she'd run like hell indirectly living up to her new nickname. But she'd had a quiet lunch (as quiet as it could be with Peeves, Wicky and Myrtle all in the same room) and time to sort out her thoughts.

They were driving her completely mental. Showing up with their playful smiles and greetings, actually talking to her, making jokes (Fred telling a few raunchy ones, Lyra suspected, just to see her turn into a tomato). So caught up in it all she was at the point of reveling in it all or ripping her brown waves out by her paranoid roots and laughing hysterically. As she sat their wide-eyed in awe watching them conduct themselves around her as if they'd always been friends. Why did they have to affect her so?

And why did she want to keep them knowing it would be impossible if they ever discovered her?

The nagging, logical side, she let out only once in a while just didn't stop though. They wanted something. There was a price, their just had to.

So instead of prolonging the torture of not knowing, Lyra tried to steal herself to question their motives and not to feel too miserably heartbroken when her suspicions proven correct.

As the twins found her just before heading down to dinner (she'd managed to avoid them after lunch with the help of Wicky and Peeves) they grinned. "Rabbit! You disappeared on us." George said teasingly though his eyes were curiously observing. "Yeah, we saved you a spot at lunch. But you never showed up!" Fred accused putting his hands on his hips reminiscent of the place Ginny had taken earlier that day.

She blinked owlishly, before hugging her wrist closer to her chest nervously stroking the charm on the chain wound about her wrist. "What…what do you want from me?" She asked softly stopping short in the hall way. The twins shared a confused look meeting her gaze. "Rabbit-" "Lyra." She corrected in frustration. "We don't want anything from you." George reassured her gently.

Snorting she shook her head. "No. I know you two. You wouldn't hang out with just anyone…so you must want something, or you want to prank me." She said quickly taking a half step back glancing behind her to see if the hall was clear.

Seeing how distraught the girl before them was, Fred motioned for George to continue. He was the one that usually dealt with an emotional crisis, and Fred was slightly nervous he'd say something to cause the girl to bolt.

She really did look like a scared rabbit just then, he mused to himself quietly, and he could practically picture a set of long flurry ears perched on her head. The brunette ears would probably flop over to cover her face now.

"If you want to prank me, or hex me for the body bind I won't stop you." She trembled but lifted her chin, squeezing her eyes tightly waiting for some kind of magic to rattle her.

Fred stared at her in astonishment. And she would just let them? Stand there and take it?

George reached out, brushing his fingers across her cheek, frowning slightly as she flinched but opened her eyes showing off the extra sheen they'd taken. "And you'd let us?" George asked her softly watching her nod unsure. "Its…it's only fair." She conceded biting her lip. "I did hex you-"

"And took the fall for us, letting Umbridge use that quill on you." Fred argued, no longer able to keep silent. George sent him a look that clearly said 'go easy' and Fred nodded his head slightly to show he understood. Reluctantly she agreed and Fred continued.

"The way we see it, we owe you one." He declared as she blinked, and Fred shot George a questioning look as the girl looked almost devastated as he said the words. What was she part house elf? Had she not wanted any thanks for the deed? Fred's hands twitched for his wand in case he had to stop her from punishing herself…

"We've also been trying to figure out how you can tell us a part." George supplied slowly, with a sheepish grin even though Fred could see he was slightly nervous about her reaction as well. Looks like Fred wasn't the only one stuck on the part house elf theory…

She whirled away from them, not running (for once) only turned her back and she seemed, defeated almost. Turning again she seemed to have a new resolve. "You owe me one, right?"

They nodded, sharing a cautious look. There was so much…hurt in her eyes, which confused them. Hurt and acceptance flickered in her dark eyes. As if she'd expected it which left Fred slightly ticked off. Why had she expected hurt?

"Good, give me two canary crèmes." She said hand on her hip, one palm out waiting for the candy. "What?"

"You owe me. That means, you pay me back and the time I ask and fulfill that debt to the best of your ability. Two canary crèmes, hand'em over." She demanded then paused hesitating as she squeaked out a soft 'please'.

"That doesn't count!" George protested and Fred shook his head. "Anything you could ask for, and you ask for candy?"

"No, I asked for brilliantly invented canary crèmes that turn people into canaries when you eat them." She said softly, with a sweet sad smile nodding her head after a moment when they didn't move. "Yes, that's what I want…."

George looked over at Fred with a pained look. Merlin's soggy shorts she was killing them with sadness. Forget kindness, she was simply drowning them completely with large watery eyes and a soft sweet smile. Fred roughly carded his fingers through his hair nodding to George who reluctantly dropped two brightly wrapped pieces of candy in her open palm.

"And now you don't owe me anything…" She whispered putting them in her pocket, patting it fondly as she turned around. Looking over her shoulder she continued. 'As for telling you apart…I just can." And she just walked away muttering something about not being hungry and a big lunch leaving two thunder-stuck gingers behind.

'Georgie…" "Yeah Freddie?" "Were we just brushed off…?" Fred asked looking at his twin, who mirrored his gob smacked look perfectly. "Think so mate…" George agreed, nodding grimly.

Breaking out into two wide grins they looked back down the hall where Lyra was still walking, Peeves joining her trek presumably back to the dorms. "Guess we'll have to try harder?" George said crossing his arms over his chest with that special smirk the twins used when they had a new project. "Brother'o'mine….I think we're onto something here." Fred agreed with an impish grin turning to head into the Great Hall for dinner.

But not before they both turned, looking over their shoulders one last time. Yeah, the girl was certainly a mystery. Only thing was….what could she be hiding?

Haha poor Lyra! If it's one thing the twins hate its being brushed off. Now they'll just keep badgering her until they figure it out? Will they?

Probably not! But they will corner Lyra into being attached to them! Want to see how? Good, next chapter then!