Thank you all for reviewing. I hope the wait didn't kill you but this chapter was giving me some serious problems, haha. And as for the cliffhanger, you should know I'm kind of evil, I was going to wait a couple more days to post but my best friend persuaded me to post early. So you have her to thank, haha!
Now as for Lyra being human..thats just the way I write. I've giving Lyra a life, and I'm human. It's what I know and I do best with writing what I know, and finding out how good I am at writing what I don't!
And as for her being emotionally unstable...I'd be unstable too faced with Fred and George...
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I do however own Lyra and any craziness thats not a part of the Potter-verse, haha! Yeah big claim, and what? (No really, you can tell what I do and don't own)
To be a Gryffindor
The world had, officially, stopped spinning. It was cliché, melodramatic ('Dramatics, Lyra.' Her conscious chided somewhere beyond the haze of her mind) and the thought itself made her feel like a hyperactive fan-girl (which she was not!) but there was really nothing else that fit so completely.
Though she couldn't exactly say how she felt about the memory or the rotation of earth. Because for the hybrid the world had stopped spinning for this moment stretched into the dark forever of eternity. Air meant nothing; thoughts didn't surface, form or break. Her twilight eyes didn't slide open and shut in a half second blink. She was nothing and everything all at once. Lyra MacKade was frozen, which was probably for the best, considering.
'Easy, little one. Breathe…'
Staring dazed, toward the polished floor of the Room of Requirement Lyra couldn't help but notice the world slowed down around her. For as long as this moment seemed to last, she was a fixed point. Was this how her father felt? Groggy and energized, unable to move yet wanting to run so badly? Wanting to burst into tears and laugh all at the same time? It was exhilarating as it was exhausting.
Someone touched her arm, and the world snapped back into motion and Lyra no longer held the place of center of time. She breathed in deep, her small body trembling as she choked, her fearful eyes snapped up to meet Lee (who'd brushed her arm), Fred and George's gazes as they all crowded together trying to get her attention.
They had it. Oh believe me, they had it.
Her lips moved, but they still felt frozen (an after effect of being frozen in time for a second or eternity, which had it been again?) and her tongue snatched up all because of that cheeky proverbial cat who wanted a plaything in the worst moment. All because Fred and George had kissed her.
Merlin, they'd kissed her, however brief, they'd kissed her. Good Godric! Their lips had met, and Lyra definitely counted that as a kiss no matter how brief or innocent it had been.
"Lyra, stop thinking…" 'Is that possible?'
She had remembered, somewhere in the back of her hazy subconscious, remembered the brush of their lips against hers. But it had been a dream (and she'd often dreamed of stolen kisses, she was a romantic who could blame her?) only a dream that had lifted her spirits. Her mind simply wasn't working fast enough to assimilate this clearly.
Why had they kissed her?
In the jumbled tangle of twine, which she'd thought she'd happily unraveled, as her thought process the first coherent thing she could think was that both Fred and George had kissed her goodnight. The second was a fearful hiccup that they did know she absolutely adored them.
No…she didn't simply adore them. Lyra had gone way past adore some time ago. She was in love with them. And they knew. How long, Lyra was afraid to ask; possibly why it made the memory cruelly bittersweet.
Fred and George Weasley kissed her. One pair of lips after the other, in her bedroom at night right before they disappeared and she knew the old man was involved somehow because they wouldn't have been able to leave without someone with them.
"They're not trying to hurt you, love."
Love? Oh, right. That's why it sounded so familiar the other night when the creepy voice was cooing it, Fred and George already said it.
Her third and last thought before her tongue returned, thoroughly worked over by the proverbial cats paws, and was that they most certainly did not think of her as a sister.
'Come back to the real world, love, let the earth start spinning again…'
"I remember now…." Lyra rasped wondering if her tongue had always felt so heavy and dry. It was bad when she couldn't even work up the red that usually flooded her cheeks. Her eyes didn't even sting. "You kissed me. You both kissed me. Why would you kiss me?" She had to grab her forehead. Did she sound hysterical? She might be. Because if she wasn't, then her mind wouldn't feel as if it would explode all over the wall and as much as Umbridge would happily scrape her off the wall, brain juice and all, Lyra wasn't willing to give her the satisfaction.
Not when she justified in having a breakdown when she was supposed to find out what her patronus is. Because simple fact was, your twin crushes did not just suddenly both decide to kiss you. Sad, but true the fact two perfectly hot, creative, powerful, intelligent, funny, wonderful, sarcastic, trouble-making, bad-tempered, lazy, perfect wizards who were way past what a dangerous creäture such as herself deserved did not simply kiss the girl.
Fairytales didn't go this far. And life surely laughed like a bitch at any and all who dared to even entertain the notion that could be reality.
"They did what?" Lee demanded rounding on his two guilty looking friends. Oh, they so knew she didn't remember! Why hadn't they mentioned it!? Lyra snapped back to the present wishing she could just…disappear, run away.
"Rabbit…" They called cautiously in unison almost setting off the hysterics she was desperately trying to keep a lid on. Lyra didn't want to be near them. Well that was a lie, and all this lying (no matter how bad she was at it) was surely picking her a nice spot in Voldemort's court or hell because she really hadn't had a chance to think about which one would be worse.
It wasn't that she wasn't ecstatic by the prospect of them returning her affections, or even them acknowledging them in a gentle way (which would be more from George's end because Fred would be hopeless) a small part of …no actually she was terrified.
"Dobby." Harry said in surprise somewhere behind them, but Lyra continued to take a step back anytime Fred or George stepped toward her hands out like she was a wounded animal ready to bolt.
In way, she acknowledged airily, she was.
"It wasn't so horrible, was it?" George soothed his eyes keeping hers captive. She didn't have an answer, it hadn't been horrible, she just….she just didn't know why. Her mind wasn't wrapping around the idea very well. And being sick and scattered wasn't helping her any.
'Harry Potter, sir…" The elf wheezed catching his breath, eyes wide. 'Dobby's…Dobby's comes to warn you sir…She comes sir..' "Who is she, Dobby?"
Fred frowned slightly, looking unsure something that didn't seem to fit with either of them. "And you like us…you do like us, don't you Lyra?"
"Umbridge? Dobby,is it Umbridge!?"
Well…she certainly didn't need to answer that one, not when they both knew how she felt. Was that why? Was it like another Christmas present? Lifting her chin a fraction in the age-old sign of defiance she pressed her lips firmly together. Was this a joke then? Give the poor girl what she wants since she's so infatuated with us?
"And we wanted too." George continued softly reaching out only to flinch as she stepped back with a wounded look. It didn't make sense for them to want to. Lyra shook her head fervently in denial.
The elf wailed and Harry continued. "She's coming now?"
"Really, really wanted to…we could just never decide…" Fred began but Harry interrupted.
"What are you all waiting for!? RUN!"
Run…Run…RUN.
That seemed like a damn good idea. Turning she joined the cache of students spilling from the door into the hall.
"Rabbit, don't!"
"Lyra!"
"Lee!" "Alicia." He grabbed his girlfriend's hand and quickly pulled her after Fred and George, who seemed determined to catch Lyra before she was caught. "Let's go." Lee said frowning as they scrambled after Lyra who was panting loudly, obviously her sickness was kicking in once again.
"Rabbit!" "Come back here-" " Please!" "We should be-"
But Lyra was pushing herself too hard to hear them. She didn't want to hear them. Umbridge had banned all flying aside from regular Quidditch practices so stealing a broom was out. Running, running, running, she never felt like less of a Gryffindor. Weren't they all about running head first into danger with all that blazing courage? Not her. Never her.
This wasn't the way she'd pictured things going if she'd ever gathered the courage to tell them. Actually, this had never been part of her silly day dreams. Because they were silly, weren't they? She'd agonized over keeping it from them when they already knew! But…had she ever kept it a secret? If she was normal maybe she could stay and talk, but she wasn't. Never would be.
Fred and George were in full agreement as they raced after their scared rabbit, they had to catch her before she disappeared down the rabbit hole and hid so well the only way they'd be able to find her ever again was if they cornered her with her own gift, or the marauders' map (because they fully believed Lyra created away around her own gift the affectionately annoying bird).
"Rabbit!" George tried again and Fred joined in as they watched her stumble but caught herself fleeing further away from them. George shot Fred a concerned look and Fred nodded grimly, he understood perfectly. She was sick but damn she was fast. "Lyra!" Fred pleaded but she seemed determined to get away from them as quick as possible.
Withdrawing their wands as she rounded the corner, they were unfortunately headed off by Malfoy and his two goons wearing those ridiculous badges for Umbridge's precious inquisition squad.
They skidded to a halt, Alicia and Lee not far behind, and glowered dangerously at the three. "Malfoy" Fred growled gripping his wand tightly. "If you know what's good for you-" "You'll get the fuck-" out of our fucking way." George finished narrowing his eyes dangerously as he raised his own wand not believing they'd get past the goon squad before them without a bit of magic. Literally.
Malfoy sniffed from his delicate nose, giving the red heads a sneer as Crabbe and Goyle raised their own wands with twisted smirks on their fat faces. "How vulgar. Though I expect nothing less than you two blood traitors…" Eyeing them he drawled. "Apparently they come in packs now…Gryffs and blood traitors. You're certainly not a lucky bunch…" With that infuriating smirk still on his face he nodded to Crabbe and Goyle.
"You're one to talk. I don't think either of these prats have brains, shoved so far up your arse." Lee growled making Sure Alicia was still beside him. Malfoy looked appalled and Goyle murderous, Crabbe leered eerily at Alicia.
"As much fun as this is" "We don't have time for this..." Fred and George spat pushing past them. Obviously the Slytherins were counting on it since they were already to release spells. Though really, between the DA and the four they were facing down being seventh years Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle hardly stood a chance.
"Stop…" The voice was soft and smooth as it was always was, a heated night under the stars, as Lyra peeked her head around the corner and they were all powerless against the minstrels call as wands lowered. "Rabbit…" They whispered in relief. Her cheeks were pale as she stepped out and as Fred glanced at George he nodded, Lyra was leaning heavily on the wall as if hoping that would keep her upright. That certainly wasn't good.
Malfoy turned around and opened his mouth but Lyra waved her hand. "Go now. All the way back to the dungeons…you're finished here…" Lyra whispered the magic of her voice only lessened slightly from the soft rasp that accompanied it. That dreamy look, the one that had appeared on Lee's face that one time she used it on him, worked over Malfoy's face and they had to admit it was more disturbing than funny actually. Fred shifted with a frown as Crabbe and Goyle frowned in confusion most likely about why their leader would follow the word of a Gryffindor girl who looked ready to keel over. Wordlessly they followed after him, jogging slightly to keep up with the dazed fifth year.
"And good riddance." Lee muttered hugging Alicia closer his hand rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.
Lyra breathed a sigh of relief as they walked away and then looked at them with those large eyes as they both took a step. "Why…?" Fred asked and Lyra gave him a weak smile pushing off the wall and taking a shaky step, neither of the boys missing how her knees gave out before she righted herself but sharing a glance, they both realized they were both too nervous (something neither of them were accustomed to feeling) to take a step without her beckoning them. She would probably bolt otherwise.
"He told me you all had been caught because you kept chasing me. Had to come back…" She panted her eyes glazed over, glistening in the firelight from the sweat appearing on her forehead and the bridge of her nose and cheeks. "Couldn't let you have detention because of me again…"
"Who told you?" George asked softly taking a small step forward and Merlin they were thankful Lee and Alicia were keeping quiet.
'Lee, what's wrong with her eyes?' "Not now, love. Please..' Or…mostly quiet.
Lyra gave him that bittersweet smile , the one that liked to knot up and clench at their twin hearts, the violet in her eyes all but disappearing as the silver dulled to milky white. "Geo…Freddie..." "Yes, love/rabbit?"
"Catch me?" She questioned though it sounded slow as if she wasn't sure if the syllables she was using sounded right. "Catch-hell!" Her eyes rolled up to solve the mystery of what lied in the back of her skull as they lunged to catch her.
George got their first, fisting the material of her sweater, barely able to stop from smacking her head against the stone floor. Alicia and Lee hovered over her as Fred kneeled watching as George slowly lowered her to the ground as she twisted and gasped unresponsive to them all the same.
"We need to take her to Poppy." Fred said gently touching her forehead, wincing at the heat and layer of sweat. There was definitely something wrong. For all Lyra's evasive skills (which considering she was a terrible liar, were amazing) not even she could deny how sick she was. "She's been like this for days…." "She shouldn't have used it." George said pinching the bridge of his nose, referring to Lyra using her voice against Malfoy. "She's weaker when she uses magic these days." Fred nodded in agreement.
"Used what? And what's wrong with her eyes!" Alicia demanded and Lee tugged her elbow gently. "'Licia, please. Ignore it. " She scowled, biting her lip obviously not wanting to leave it but nodded reluctantly wearily eyeing Lyra. Obviously there was more to the small fifth year than meets the eye. And she really wasn't comfortable with her boyfriend knowing what was going on while she was clueless. "Are her…ears pointed?" Alicia gaped and Lee sighed rubbing his forehead. He liked Alicia, he really did, but he wasn't sure about letting her in on Lyra's secret. It was after all Lyra's secret to share.
"Come on then." George sighed, ignoring the exchange between his friends as Fred nodded picking her up, allowing George to hold her legs. They didn't exactly need to both carry the girl, she was light even without a feather-light charm, but the need of contact was overwhelming. Like something was pushing them to stay close. "I don't think anyone else will be lurking, but I think we should use the passageways." Fred muttered as his brother nodded in agreement.
Lee hesitated as Alicia gripped his arm muttering something about it looking suspicious for all of them to walk in with an unconscious girl. He gripped his necklace frowning deeply. He glanced at the girl held in their arms and noticed how restless George and Fred were at the moment like something was urging them on. But he didn't want to leave her. He liked to think they were close friends (Lyra had said as much when she gave him this gift, hadn't she?) and he didn't want to leave her. Especially if his idiot best friends were going to make a mess of things (he fully intended to speak to them about kissing the poor bird who was so..later, later). "Lee." Alicia murmured tugging him.
"Go." "We'll let you know what's going on." Reluctantly, with one last look he nodded allowing his girlfriend to pull him back to the Gryffindor Common room.
Walking, they tried to not jostle her too much both glanced down at her wearily hoping she'd be alright.
Until the screaming started, her eyes snapping open as her lips parting to release a horrifying scream even a banshee would cower from. George let go of her legs as Fred shifted his hold on her, both wincing before they made a mad dash for the medical wing not bothering with any of the secret passages.
"POPPY!"
The matron rushed out a hand to her chest watching as Fred gingerly laid the girl on the bed that thrashed and screamed arching up twisting in agony her eyes wide and unseeing. The twins looked petrified, a look she'd never seen on their matching faces before. And it was slightly disturbing, when she'd always faced their sparkling eyes and cheeky smiles. "What is going on!?" She demanded rushing over to check her new patient, the one who'd been in here some time before break when the twins demanded she 'make her better'.
"She's been sick for days-" Lyra screamed again, clawing at the bedding beneath her hands her nails sparkling silver. "Do something!" The boys demanded frantically, George stroking one arm as Fred stroked the other both of the teens edgy and irritated, mostly because the Weasley twins did not do edgy and frantic.
"I.." The matron looked at them worried, fingertips pressing to her lips as she whirled to the potions cabinet using her wand to unlock it and search for something. Technically she'd been ordered not to give the Mackade girl any medicine what so ever, a decree from both the girl's grandfather and Dumbledore. But… Poppy squeezed her eyes shut. She'd never heard such screams….grabbing the small black bottle she turned around. "Boys, hold her down."
George didn't like that idea. Neither did Fred. Even if Lyra looked pained, it seemed touch made it worse. "Now!" Poppy demanded as Lyra whimpered and twisted, and reluctantly staring at each other the twins reluctantly followed the matrons orders pressing one hand to her arm the other around her waist as Poppy force-fed Lyra the thick black liquid. Lyra spit up most of it, her mouth staining black, but on the second attempted she drank it before going limp, her eyes shut as she lay motionless.
A collective sigh rang from the room but Fred winced, causing George to stare at their friend. She looked…dead. Pale still, still covered in sweat, but dead. "What did you give her…?" "Draught of the living dead…" Poppy said quietly casting a cleaning charm on the girls black stained mouth. "We'll wake her up tomorrow…I must seek out Dumbledore. You both may stay and watch her for the moment, though it is unlikely anything will happen…" But Poppy could admit she wasn't exactly sure that was true. The order for not giving Lyra a potion was there for a reason. Before either could question it, she swept out of the room maroon skirts swishing away hurriedly.
The large door clicked shut. And dead silence greeted them. Probably not the best thing to describe it as seeing as with the potion Lyra was sleeping like the dead, but the screaming had stopped and hopefully whatever pain she'd been feeling had been stopped as well.
Slowly they pulled over stools to the opposite sides of her bed, each grabbing a hand to hold despite the face she probably couldn't feel them.
Stroking her hand, George paused and looked down and frowned. "Fred." He called in concern to his twin, who looked up grimly. "Look." He held up her small wrist, showing off the chain and charm still wound delicately around her hand. "Bloody hell…I thought that was there to stop her from using her powers." He muttered and George nodded stroking the ocarina charm on the end of the chain. 'So did I." He muttered in agreement, putting her wrist back down wincing at how heavy and lifeless her limbs were. "What's going on, George? I feel like…" "You know something's wrong and can't leave until she'd better?" He supplied nodding as he paused for a minute rubbing his chest absently as Fred nodded in agreement. "I don't think poppy should have used that po-"
A strangled noise alerted them to Lyra waking. Which was not possible. Not under the effects of the living dead draught. Things like that didn't happen, minstrel or not, that potion worked. She'd been down for the count. Crowding her, they leaned over her face, the top of their carrot heads pressed together as they eyed her anxiously.
But she opened her eyes and laid there for a few minutes, the three of them staring at each other. She giggled and their lips quirked up into identical grins. "You look the same!" She squealed bringing her hands up to try (and fail) to stifle her giggles.
Blinking in surprise they jerked back, sitting on the stools they'd pulled over. "We're twins, Lyra…" George said slowly giving a concerned look to Fred who read it loud and clear. Something was still wrong. And that wasn't exactly their first clue. "No." She protested sitting up shaking her head frantically, sending her hair bouncing in all directions before she stopped, giggling and grabbing her head. "Not Lyra, don' wanna be Lyra. She's no fun. Can I be rabbit?" She asked staring at George expectantly bouncing up and down as if trying to contain herself but unable to help moving around. "Rabbit, then." Fred declared, his lips twitching. She was adorable as she squealed and clapped only to let her head lull down.
"Oh…rabbit's sick." She muttered to herself falling back on the bed. "Yes, rest." George cooed stroking her still drenched hair. But it seemed as soon as his hand made contact with her forehead she was up, launching herself into his arms. "Honey!" Lyra squealed her eyes dilating, the silver flexing across her eyes. "Honey, honey, honey. Didja see me, honey? I missed you." She cooed her eyes sparking and twisting, the silver twisting to mix with the violet and then slowly thinning out until violet remained as the thin slit of her reptilian eyes, and despite how mesmerizing the display was, George nervously glanced at Fred who'd shoved his fist in his mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. "Missed you lots, and lots, an, an, an…oh." She paused cocking her head to the side her brows furrowing as she tried to recall what exactly the point of her sentence was. "Forgot. But I missed you." Throwing her arms around his neck she purred and hummed snuggling close. But the throbbing in her head intensified and she whimpered rubbing her forehead across his shoulder to ease the ache. "My head hurts…does yours? Hm…look like a carrot, I like carrots, Imma rabbit so I eats them allll the time." She babbled, twisting sideways in his lap to kick her legs out happily; until Fred lost it, laughing hysterically at George's disgruntled look, his poor twin looking stuck between amusement and concern over the girl perched into his lap.
But the laughter caught her attention. "Pumpkin!Oh, Pumpkin!" Lyra bounced in George's lap twin, causing the teen to squeeze his eyes shut. "Rab-" But he didn't have to warn her about to effects of a pretty witch bouncing in his lap, since she launched herself over the bed latching on a surprised Fred who grunted from impact of her unprepared weight, tumbled to the floor with the drugged up hybrid on top of him. George scrambled to stand, leaning over the bed snickering as Lyra rubbed her cheek across Fred's shoulder and neck as the downed twin winced from the pain shooting up his back. "Pumpkins…in the autumn time.." She sang sitting up to straddle the poor boy with her fangs glinting in the fire light. "Pumpkins are the same color as carrots but I don't want to eat'em." Lyra informed him tugging playfully at his hair ignoring his wince as she tugged a little to hard. "I like pumpkin and honey, didja know?" She asked childishly and Fred grinned raising a brow at their position. "I can agree. Why am I a pumpkin, again?"
Laughing, Lyra jumped up and took to spinning around the room her arms securely around her stomach. "You smell like a pumpkin patch! Pumpkin patch! The great pumpkin! Pumpkin king! Oh, oh, an, a pumpkin pie!" Lyra, who was reminding them of a hyperactive Looney Lovegood, declared dancing over to Fred to peck his cheek and then climbing on the bed to kiss George's cheek. "And you smell like honey, honey. I like it! It goes good with tea! " She giggled again and pinched his cheek causing him to wince and rub it as he glanced at Fred who was getting to his feet. "What's wrong with her?" "Hell if I know. She's gone barmy." They eyed her as she sat on the bed, fluffing a pillow before giggling and kicking it off the bed. "It's like…she's calling us by our scents..." George predicted and Fred nodded. "I remember. She must have picked the ones she liked the most….a pumpkin though? We'll have words later. Why not cinnamon? At least I would feel…" He shrugged ignoring his twins bemused expression. "Spicy, at least."
George stared at him. "Did Poppy give you a faulty potion too?" Fred grinned and shrugged "Jealous cause I'm spicy." "And I'm liquid gold, beat that." George taunted, before Fred let out an 'oof' as Lyra's sweater wrapped around his head cutting off any reply. 'The hell!?" Ripping it from his face, Looking towards the bed where Lyra was humming and bobbing her head no longer paying much attention to them, loosening her tie. "It's hot, are you hot? It's hot in here. The sun's hot. And you two…yeah, you're hot. Dream about hotness sometimes, mhm.."
Lyra would be mortified when she found out she was spewing all of this, but they couldn't help the mischievous grins they got at her confessions. "So you dream about us, love?" Fred asked slyly tossing her sweater over to an empty bed as Lyra bobbed her head. "Uh-huh, need lots and lots of…sleepy-sleep. Love to sleep. Get to have you to myself in the dreams…because you're hot and naughty. Not like the sun though…" She fell back on the bed, her head upside down as she stared them blinking slowly. "Don't be the sun. I don't like burns. They hurt." She informed them rolling on her stomach, reaching behind her to pull off one of her knee socks.
They stared silently as she removed the garment easily, then the other. And all she did was bend a little back sp her arm could grab the toe of her sock and pull it off still lying on her stomach. Fred loosened his tie, as George gulped softly. They hadn't realized she was so…so…bendy. Sweet Merlin, maybe it was for the best they never noticed. "I think it is hot in here." George muttered closing his eyes reaching out to punch Fred in the shoulder trying to block out some of the images he was getting for how he could test how flexible she really was. "Ow! What?" George peaked his eyes open and from the smirk Fred still had even as he rubbed his injured arm, George could tell his twins thoughts had been going a similar direction. "I needed a distraction." Lyra giggled, loosening and flinging her tie away but when she reached for the buttons on her blouse, George dived for her while Fred got that slow wicked smile at her attempt, catching the tie she'd flung at him. "Hm…didn't know our rabbit could be a tease…"
"How about you leave this one on?" George coaxed motioning to her shirt and skirt. Merlin above she was killing them. Giggling she pecked his nose. "Okay, Honey. " Grinning drowsily she leaned down, dragging the tip of her tongue along the line of his jaw causing him to freeze and hold his breath. She pulled away enough so he could see her tongue slide on her bottom lip before she drew lip and tongue in her mouth with a thoughtful expression. "Honey! You lick honey you know! You don't taste like honey, but that's ok." Lyra comforted wrapping her arm around his neck patting his back. "Still taste good." She murmured in his ear in that slow tone she was pretty much the master of and George shuddered backing away staring at her wide-eyed as Fred stared, his jaw dropped.
"Did she just-" "Yes, yes she did." "Something's really wrong?" "Oh, yeah." "She's going to be blushing for weeks.." "I'm thinking years cause, Freddie; she looks ready to eat you…" Fred regarded his twin seriously, his eyes twinkling. "I'll take one for the team." George rolled his eyes. "Prat." "What? You got a treat…" Fred muttered as Lyra jumped him again, but he was ready for it, wrapping an arm around her waist one hand grasping her thigh which he was trying very hard not to think about.
"Easy, rabbit." He chided but it went unheard as she purred and drew back considering him. "You lick pumpkins too?" He asked playfully, carrying her back to the bed as George hovered ready to catch Lyra (or Fred if he fainted from shock at what their insane rabbit would do).
"No silly." Lyra chided her head lulling back to see the bed just before he set her down. She gripped his tie before he could pull away. And pulled her head up, her lips brushed his ear as she drawled. "We bite pumpkins…" Now it was Fred's turn to freeze as she nipped his ear and Fred was helpless against the low, tortured whimper that sounded somewhere in the back of his throat. If she wasn't sick and was confident enough to do this without some weird reaction to a potion…. "Cause the only way to eat them is if they're in a pie!" She continued airily nipping at his neck before George pulled him by his collar away, Fred pressing the side of his fist to his chest in order to stop the rapid beat of his heart, breathing ragged and his eyes wide.
"This is way to dangerous for us to be alone with her…" Fred squeaked, and George nodded in agreement rubbing his face tiredly. Sick rabbit or not, neither he nor Fred could help their reactions to Lyra's touches, they were still teenaged males and they were extremely fond of the usually reserved girl. But damnit if she wasn't so good at those playful innocent touches. George sighed heavily again. Where was Poppy? The old matron would be a damn good buffer right now.
As if hearing his silent question, the doors opened and they turned only for Lyra to rush past them and tackle the guest to the ground. She straddled them, leaning down until their foreheads were touching. 'Coconut!"she squealed. "Lyra? What the hell have they been doing to you!?" Lee demanded from his place under her, carefully nudging her forehead so she would sit up and give him some breathing room. She looked a mess, tie, socks, shoes and sweater gone her hair wild and her cheeks flushed as her eyes flickered; the violet and silver warring with one another.
"Coconut, coconut…" Lyra sang, sitting up bouncing her head from side to side as she stared down at Lee with a brilliant smile. He smiled back hesitantly as he looked at the twins who were holding each other trying not to laugh at their friends predicament. "Coconut, don't look so glum." Lyra demanded smacking his chest and he winced at the slight pain, glaring at Fred's loud snort as George started coughing. "I have a barmy bird on top of me, who looked like she was dying a while ago and now I find her locked in a room with two nutters." Lee sighed dryly, raising a limp hand as Lyra went back to chanting 'coconut'. "Someone want to help me?"
Fred scooped her up one arm around her waist letting her legs flail out nearly kicking Lee in the face. "Sleepy time for the pretty rabbit!" He said cheerfully ignoring her struggles as he swung her up to carry her bridal style. "Don' wanna sleep, pumpkin. Why." She groaned drawing out the 'y' as George offered a hand to help Lee up.
Righting himself Lee winced rubbing the his stomach with a soft pain-filled groan. 'She's tiny but damn…" The twin closets to him, George, nodded in sympathy. "I thought you went back to the common room." "Yeah, I did." Lee said grimly shutting the doors.
"Everyone made it back, Harry was caught by Filch. No word aside from there is a snitch in the group. Apparently Granger's taken care of it."
Fred and George paused staring in disbelief, though slightly impressed, Lee held up his hands with a shrug. "I know, I thought the same thing. Apparently even our perfect prefect doesn't take kindly to snitches. Who would have thought…" He trailed off walking closer. "I would ask how our lady's doing but I can clearly see she's bonkers." The twins nodded. 'Poppy gave her some living dead. " 'Living dead!? She should be sleeping." Lee snapped incredulously.
"There was no way. No one wakes from that, you sleep like the dead. Thus the name!" He gazed at Lyra in disbelief as she tried to jump off the bed. George caught her and set her back down. "Can I hug coconut?" She implored, pouting as she reached for Lee, who scowled. "What's all this coconut business!? Is it because I'm black!?" Fred rolled his eyes reaching over to cuff the back of his head. "No. It's part of her senses. To our pretty minstrel we smell like certain things.." "You my friend smell like coconut." "We think she can't remember our names, but knows our scents well enough…" They trailed off staring at Lee who paled. "A m-minstrel? She's a minstrel? Like control with a pretty voice…"
Lyra huffed and crawled to the end of the small bed wrapping her arms around his neck, not happy with the lack of attention from her second favorite fruit, laying her head on his shoulder instead. "Coconut, no fear." She declared petting his head gently with a dreamy smile. "No one will crack you open while I'm protecting you, nope. Nope. Cause I like you. You talk to me. Didn' wanna keep a secret. So shh! Can't know I'm a singey singer! I wrote you a pretty song, an, an…yup! Sent you to sleepy-sleep once…" She babbled on and on while Lee tried to even out his breathing and stared down at her. Lyra looked up with a slow smile, her eyes seemingly larger as He smiled back.
Minstrel or not, this was Lyra. She could barely talk to someone without squeak and stuttering. Powerful creäture or not, she wouldn't be hurting him in any way. Despite the slight dazed look in her eyes he could clearly read the affection she had for him.
"You did send me to sleep, pretty girl. Best sleep of my life, yea?" Pleased he was normal she gave him a loud smacking kiss on his cheek before finally releasing him sitting back on the bed. "Love you, mean it!" She told him ducking her head childishly. Lee chuckled kissing the top of her head giving her guard dogs a sheepish smile as he rubbed the back of his neck trying to shrink away from their glares. "Um…" "Say you love me too." Lyra encouraged, eagerly, bouncing in place again. "Love you too." "No, no, no! Mean it! Mean it!" She chanted her fingers twisting in her skirt, giving him another bright smile as he rolled his eyes affectionately. "Love you, mean it." Laughing she laid back down rolling around as much as the bed would allow her, so it was really her rocking back and forth occasionally kicking her legs out.
"Faulty potion?" Lee tried, snickering slightly at her amazed expression as she caught sight of the ceiling. "Maybe it wasn't living dead…" George shrugged, Fred only grinned. "She's going to be red for years…"
Lee and George laughed in agreement until they noticed the bed stopped rocking. It was empty."Shit!" "Where did she go!?"
"Look at me, look at me!" Lyra sang twirling in the middle of the room her wand out. But she couldn't seem to hold it straight, her arm shaking. "Where did she get that!?" Lee yelped ducking as she swung it their direction, his friends quickly following his example diving out-of-the-way.
"Expecto…." Lyra began breaking off into peals of laughter as she stumbled, the three boys advancing ducking out-of-the-way as she narrowed her eyes determinedly. "Wanna see the silver 'manial. Supposed to protect us from Malfoy.." "Malfoy?" The three echoed bemused slowly straightening from their crouch as Lyra stopped hugging her wand to her chest with a solemn look her eyes almost completely silver as the slit in the middle expanded wiping out the violet and black. "Malfoy's part dementor. He has a cape an, an, an, gloves, and a hood. Ohhh the hood! It hides him…" She stumbled falling on a bed much to their relief only for her to shakily climb up to stand on the bed. "Can't kiss his wife. So no kisses there! Cause he'd suck the life out of her!"
"Accurate description I think." George said with a wink to his friends, as Lyra nodded in the background. "You've thought this through, rabbit." Fred said with a wide smile as Lee moved forward to coax her to get down.
"Pumpkin! Honey!" She sang sweetly, bending slightly to blow them a kiss as Lee chuckled his arms out waiting for her to fall, the twins ears tipping red. "I guess I know what you guys smell like…" Lee smirked promising retribution if they even dared take the mickey out of him for smelling like coconut.
"Silver animal, manial? Manimal! Silver, silver, pretty silver!" She sang raising her wand and casting 'Expecto Patronum!" She yelped her foot twisting in the blankets spread across the mattress; luckily Lee was there to catch her. Giving him another loud smacking kiss on the cheek in thanks she patted his shoulder. "This is why we saved you from the coconut tree. Nope, nope. Honey and Pumpkin were way too far out' tha' way…" Before Lee could even think of a reply to that he came face to face with a silvery….squirrel? He laughed heartily, nearly dropping the barmy bird in his arms that was wiggling to get free. Setting her down he joined Fred and George sitting on the bed watching her speak to her patronus as they all shared a hearty laugh.
"It's so cute! Big eyes! I have big eyes! You have big eyes!" She told her patronus making it run in a circle around her head as she spun with it. Her patronus was actually a Harris's antelope squirrel with its small body and skinny, yet furry tail, along sweet black eyes. Somehow it seemed to suit Lyra.
It chattered soundlessly possibly giving the trills that most called their 'song' and Lyra bobbed her head along with it as if she could understand everything it was saying, her mouth open in a wide 'o' as she did so. The boys sat on the bed watching her direct her patronus, even chasing the small squirrel about the room chattering at a thousand miles an hour at the silvery blue protector. "I don't think I've ever heard her talk that much…" Lee mused and George nodded. 'Non-stop gob..." "Never see this again…" Fred finished with another nod.
Lyra stopped yawning wide enough to crack her jaw, blinking sluggishly. Scowling she fiercely shook her head, shaking her body as if to wake it up. "No! No sleep! I don' wanna sleep. Bed I go…." Pausing in confusion at her jumbled sentence she looked up at the three boys as if she'd only just noticed them. "Oh! OH!" Clapping, adding a few hops in that was both adorably fitting for her nickname and slightly worrisome as she tripped over her feet again almost knocking her head into metal tray. "When I go to sleepy-sleep, the voice, the pervy one talks to me. Don wanna listen tonight. My head hurts and I'm hot and…an, and, an…" Lyra informed them, yawning sleepily again. George smiled softly standing up to lead her to a bed, disarming her (dispelling the trilling squirrel) subtly passing Lee Lyra's wand, Lee gave Fred a worried look as he clung to her wand. That was the second time Lyra made a weird note to someone else, could she really be hearing a voice or was it all the sickness? Fred nodded in understanding as he stood to help George, he was worried too. Even in the wizarding world it wasn't normal to have voices in your head. So what could Lyra mean? "Honey…don't want to." She protested spinning to run only for Fred to catch her, wrapping her up in a comforting hug. "Be a good girl and go to bed." He chided pressing his lips to her temple giving her to George who gently pushed her to the bed after giving her a gentle kiss on her cheek. "'Kay, pumpkin.."
She climbed reluctantly on the bed sitting there, staring at the guys. They stared back expectantly as she cocked her head to the side eyes darting between Fred and George. Her eyes, which instead of fully silver shifted back to the thin sliver surrounded by violet, turned beseeching. Her lips pursing before she said "I'm a good girl, see? Kiss now?" She pouted leaning forward on her hands her hair spilling off her shoulders.
Lee backed up his hands in the air. "This is all on you two. I'm not even touching that one." They glared at Lee. "Not helping." George muttered ignoring how his ears were burning. And the Weasley blush strikes again...
"Hey you two already kissed the bird, without her remembering. Shouldn't be to hard this time." Lee sneered. "By rights I should thrash you both." He liked his best friends, but how they were going about letting Lyra know they fancied her was leaving a lot to be desired. And Lee was taking it upon himself to stick up for Lyra, knowing she'd probably be to nervous to say anything that might anger them. Fred scoffed his cheeks red, but as Lee's eyes blazed in warning he looked chastised ducking his head. "She's my best friend, same as you two." Lee said quietly, his explanation as they nodded in understanding. "Look we know that but she was just…laying there." Fred muttered kicking at the floor. "Relaxed, not worrying that we were near her she's on constant caution, even with us, it was nice to see her that way…." George finished, shoving his hands in his pockets glancing off to the side. "Pumpkin, honey..." Lyra called impatiently her eyes still pleading with them.
Fred hesitantly reached out touching her cheek, smiling as she leaned into the palm nuzzling him affectionately. "Pumpkin..." She whispered softly a daring compulsion. He leaned in; only to pause and withdraw breaking the hold she had on him. "When you're better, we'll kiss you when you want, wherever you want. All you have to do..." He winked with a sly smile. "Is call us pumpkin and honey." That was completely unlikely that she'd ever use the names again but it was his way of letting her know the offer was open, the decision hers. Lyra grinned, obviously happy with the arrangement. "Promise!?"
"Promise." George chimed in leaning over to plant a swift kiss on her cheek. She nodded and withdrew looking at them with a mysterious smile that was both sexy and dangerous all at one. "Hands?" Lyra held her hands out palms up waiting for George to lay one of his hands in hers, Fred following suit. She brought their hands up and before they could stop her she leaned forward, biting down hard. They hissed in pain as her fangs pierced their middle fingers. Blood stained her lips. "What the hell-" "Was that!?" They demanded, pulling their hands away but not before she licked the cuts at least once. "Mine."
"Yours." They echoed in confusion, but the word seemed to delight the crazed hybrid as she clapped licking her lips clearing off the mixed blood with a groan that had all three of the boys blushing brightly from the sound. "Lethal…" Fred murmured around the injured finger he pressed to his tongue his eyes trained on the girl perched on the flimsy hospital bed. "Absolutely…" George muttered following his brother's example and popped his finger in his mouth to get the rest of the blood.
Looking over to see how Lee was faring, which from the dazed look on his face wasn't well, George rolled his eyes bumping his shoulder with Fred who looked up curiously only for George to flick his eyes in Lee's direction. Fred rolled his eyes and nodded, both reaching out to smack him up side his head. "Ow! Bloody hell you two…" "You were staring." "And muttering Alicia's name." George finished in amusement. Lee blushed rubbing his hands over his face. "Prats..." "Oi!" Fred cried indignantly around the finger he still had pressed to his tongue.
"Ohh! I know that one! The one that was all over coconut! Strawberry shortcake. I like strawberry shortcake, but not the food 'cause the red fruit is evil. Except apples! Oh I love apples, red and shiny and my ghostie brings me one allll the time cause he knows I love them..." Lyra began her babble her speech slow and drowsy as yawns interrupted her now and then.
"Bed now." Fred and George directed firmly both pointing toward the mattress. Maybe she would sleep off whatever was going on with her.
"Bed now." Her echo prompted them to nod murmuring 'goodnights' situating themselves in chairs to keep watch.
She stared but it looked like they hadn't seem to understand her words since they were sitting around her. Oh no, that wasn't how this was to go, her arms crossed stubbornly. "Get on the bed!" "Who?" Lee said staring at her in disbelief. Whatever Poppy did to her, Lee was making sure she never got any of that ever again. Ever again if she turned insane, this was too much for even him. Lee didn't know how to feel about it. One minute she'd coming onto them, next she'd childish and playful, then she's demanding.." I have a headache…" He moaned pitifully massaging his temples.
"All of you!" Lyra said impatiently curling up and closing her eyes, obviously she expected them to follow her command. "We wouldn't fit…." George sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. This Lyra was adorable but exhausting all the same. "Can't it get bigger?" Lyra whined, sitting up back to pout at them as if that would get her way.
"That's what she said…" Lee muttered under his breath, looking off to the side his lips twitched unable to help himself. Fred snickered at the joke and Lyra giggled bobbing her head. "Yeah, after a disappointing night…" Bursting into giggles she clasped her hands over her mouth as thee sound echoed off the walls. Fred smirked at Lee who was staring with his jaw dropped, obviously he hadn't expected such a comeback. "You have to admit that was a good one…and no, rabbit. That's it." Fred said gesturing to the single bed. "Fix it!" Lyra whimpered but they hesitated.
"Please?" Lyra whispered her lips red and full as she purred the word, her eyes heating up as she seduced them with the sound and they were unable to deny her as George withdrew his wand almost absently muttering. "Engorgio"
She laughed in delight as the bed grew enough to fit all of them and bounced on the mattress as the metal work broke apart allowing the mattress to fall on the floor. "C'mon! It'll just be like…like…um..the day of joy!" "I think she means the way we slept after the fight…" Fred muttered crawling on to the bed taking up one side. George, nodding, followed his example crawling up on the other side of Lyra who grinned. "I think we were just played…." George said and Fred grinned roguishly. "Worth it." He pipped up flopping onto his back, George rolled his eyes but nodded curling up on his side as Lyra side happily curling into a ball between them.
Lee shook his head. "Obviously I missed a lot over the holidays. Fights, sleeping, kisses, presents. You're tellin' me the story soon as our girl's ok." Lee muttered lying across the bottom part of the mattress smacking their feet until they moved away. "Our girl?" Fred drawled the side of his lips lifting up slightly. "Well…I obviously have a claim. She loves me and means it." Lee snickered wincing as George accidentally kicked him.
"Oh right!" Lyra announced sitting up and leaned over kissing George's cheek. "Love you, honey, mean it." Before rolling over to repeat the process on Fred. "Love you, pumpkin, mean it." She told them sweetly and shifted around, tossing her legs over George her head nuzzling into Fred's stomach. She stiffened before relaxing finally back asleep.
Fred and George shared a look. "We need to figure this out." Fred said quietly, thankful Lee didn't offer any comments, as he stroked Lyra's hair. George nodded, stroking the smooth skin of her thighs, carefully fixing her skirt as it slid down a few strategic inches he didn't want to acknowledge. "Soon…" He agreed quietly shutting his eyes tightly.
"Oi, save your drama for tomorrow. I'm tired and I want to sleep before Poppy gets back and kicks us out." Lee grumbled shaking his head pushing the dreds from his face with a glare at his friends. "How did I even get involved?" Lee muttered back to rubbing his temples to ease the headache he seemed to have more often than not these days.
"You want the short version?" "Or the complex novel?" They drawled and Lee flipped them off. "Prats."
"Go to sleep!" Lyra snarled causing them to shiver in fear. "Yes, ma'am.." They muttered, cowering into the mattress.