Alright, couple of things loves. First off, I think there is a miscommunication going on here….Lyra ends up with both the twins. If you're not comfortable with this kind of relationship I would suggest you stop reading, or keep reading until I get to that aspect then forget this story exists.
Second- I specifically chose this relationship type for a couple of reasons. I believe it's a hard balance especially with all three of them having different personalities, so I'm enjoying writing it because I get bored very, very, easily unfortunately and I truly do not want to get bored with this story. Third, Fred and George are not immediately going to be like 'well you can have both of us'. It doesn't work that way, another problem I'm going to have tons of fun working on. Fourth; please be patience with me. If the chapters are a little jumbled or confusing it's either because a., I wanted it to be that way, or b. I ran out of time to edit and make sure everything flows smoothly. I am on a bit of a time limit to type of these chapters. But I do try to go back and make sure everything is easily understood! Also I have no beta, the closest thing I have is my best friend and she doesn't actually read the chapters before I post them, just the bits and pieces I'm not sure of.
Finally;So, so sorry for the wait…this chapter was giving me some major problems so if the flow is off, I apologize.
Introducing: The Draught of Living Death is an extremely powerful sleeping draught, sending the drinker into a death-like slumber, similar to suspended animation. The potion is extremely difficult to concoct. Known ingredients are: Water, Powdered root of asphodel, Infusion of Wormwood, Valerian root, A Sophophorous Bean, A Sloth brain. The Wiggenweld Potion is capable of reversing the effects of the Draught.(Taken from Harry Potter -wiki)
**However I did take my right to be creative with this potion because this is a fanfiction.
Also, this chapter is huge on explanations. I tried to make this as clear as possible, so if it's still confusing I apologize. Point it out, and I'll try to smooth it out. I purposefully left out why Lyra's seal was breaking down to begin with...
Now! Let's find out what happen to my poor Lyra, shall we!?
To be a Gryffindor
On this lovely morning (forget the fact it was raining like the world was thirstin' for a drink) Daniel MacKade could say two things for certain:
One: No one listened. Young, old, muggle, wizard, the occasional animal. No one listened to direction.
And Two: Umbridge clearly hated him for trying to help out the students of Hogwarts. Something all the professors there should be doing (aside from Snape, there had to be at least one professor there to give'em hell)
It was disgraceful. Really, the old house cat expecting him to walk from Hogsmeade all the way to Hogwarts like some young thing up a winding hill through some trees. He could be hurt! Or meet some of the kinds of wizards, you know those unfriendly types, you did not want to meet in a set of dark trees (forget the fact he was an experienced hybrid wizard and could probably kick their asses first but, you know, complaining is half the fun). It would take him hours. Well it wasn't going to happen so forget the letter 'Bridgy sent him.
It had been late last night when he'd received three letters. One from Poppy, telling him Lyra was severely sick and she'd apologetically gone against both his and Dumbledore's wishes by giving her a Living dead draught to stop her horrifying screams (He'd be having a word or three with the Matron, he'd specified not giving his granddaughter potions for a reason). Another from McGonagall letting him know about Umbridge's reign of terror and how her and Fudge had just kicked Dumbledore out of office (which was a right pain in the arse for him to deal with). The last letter was from the old man himself, Dumbledore, requesting him to bring a bag of lemon drops to said office he'd been kicked out of (which probably meant the old coot was hiding out and Bridgy was furious the headmasters office wouldn't accept her which was absolutely hilarious to him).
It was going to be one of those day, he could tell.
Daniel rubbed his wrinkled hands together gleefully, he couldn't wait. He was going to have so much fun….after he healed his precious granddaughter.
Cackling as he apparated into Hogsmeade, hurriedly made his way into Honeydukes snickering as he disappeared into the cellar, where there just so happen to hide the secret entrance to the secret passage he knew would take him into Hogwarts.
"Gimme, gimme, gimme!" Lyra chanted as she chased Wicky around the hospital wing her hands out in front of her, fingers flexing excitedly, her eyes wide and still not dark brown as she squealed and tried to pounce on her house elf who held the prize.
Wicky, for his part, was completely terrified as he dodged his mistress once more. Above his head, clutched in his grubby hands was a scared ball of red fluff that was squealing, its fluffy body shuddering in fear as the girl he'd been given to licked her lips hungrily. Mac squeaked again, urging Wicky onwards as Lyra dashed after them again. "Looks like an apple, want it, want it!" Lyra demanded chasing Wicky about. Her thoughts clearly focusing on the delicious looking red thing he was holding. Wicky skid along the floor, nearly tripping and dropping his fuzzy charge, as he cried out in alarm as Lyra drew closer. "No, Lie, no!" Wicky screeched diving behind another bed.
"And that's enough, rabbit." George told her as he scooped up Lyra with a wide grin, still slightly breathless from laughing to hard watching Lyra try to eat Mac like an apple. "But honey." Lyra sighed heavily, giving up squirming when he didn't let her go instead obediently curling her arms around his neck, staring up at him solemnly. "It looks like an apple." She told him with a pout; as if that was the only explanation he needed to let her go after the delicious looking ball.
He tried not to smile at that, truly, but he could feel his lips twitching at how adorable she was. She was still drugged up, because no sane person would try to eat a pigmy puff, but she stared up at him trustingly at ease in his arms as she snuggled closer to his chest despite her arms being locked around his neck. He closed his eyes wondering why Lyra was never comfortable enough to do this on her own without something else influencing her too. He smiled as she beamed up at him and leaned down allowing his lips to linger on her cheek. In time maybe…after he and Fred figured out this situation they didn't have a label for.
"I know, love. But I promise it won't taste like one and you'll feel guilty for trying to eat Mac when you're better." George told her gently as he dropped her on the bed with Fred who was still asleep and Lee, who was busy eating the breakfast Wicky had brought them. Wicky caught his breath letting out a moan as both he and the puff he was protecting collapsed in exhaustion.
"Thanks for the help, prat." George muttered running a hand through his hair trying to smooth the strands that were sticky up everywhere from sleep.
"You need the morning exercise." Lee mumbled sleepily reaching for a goblet of orange juice (he wasn't comfortable reaching for the pumpkin juice if Lyra was going to keep calling Fred pumpkin). There was something about sleeping in a hospital that had you waking up every so often to make sure nothing was happening to your person while you slept. Though if the deadly snarl Lyra let out when Poppy did get back last night was any indication, Lee could say he was pretty safe with the still barmy bird.
"Git! I'm not fat. "George mumbled as he sat cross-legged on the mattress one hand grabbing the back of Lyra's shirt as she tried to crawl away, the other piling a small hill of eggs and bacon on his plate. Lee raised a brow at the plate and George scowled the fork halfway to his open mouth. Lee said nothing, only raised a brow and took a sip from his goblet, hiding his smirk behind the cup. "Shut it, Jordan, Weasley's don't get fat." George muttered angrily shoving the fork in his mouth, wincing as he jabbed his tongue. Lee snickered.
"Honey, honey, honey…" She sang, the tip of her nose scrunching up slightly as she shook her head, bouncing forward on her knees to kiss his cheek. Chewing and swallowing he turned to his companion who turned to look at him with a giggle. "Can I have an apple?" He smiled fondly, dropping his fork to rub his hand over her hair, chuckling when she gave a delighted purr pushing her head against his hand encouragingly, like a kitten searching out affection. She'd calmed down slightly since waking up, not randomly jumping up and spinning around, though she was still out of it considering she wouldn't use their names. Looking down into her slightly hazed eyes she smiled slowly.
"Oi, what about me? Where's my love? " Lee jokingly called, arching a brow as he set his goblet down. Lyra beamed, scrambling over to Lee and hugging him tightly, laying her head on his shoulder like a small child. Lee chuckled and mimicked George's action rubbing his hand over her soft hair. "Coconut. Friend." She said cooed nuzzling his shoulder affectionately and he rolled his eyes playfully as George grinned, going back to stuffing his face.
"Let's try my name." Lee said adjusting her so he could look her in the eyes. "Lee." He said slowly as if introducing himself to a small child for the first time. Lyra blinked slowly, leaning in to make sure he understood what she was saying, pressing their noses together. "Coconut. Apple now?"
George burst out laughing, nearly choking on the mouthful of half chewed food, as Lee scowled. "Oh come on, Lee has less syllables than coconut. It isn't that hard." Lyra cocked her head to the side reaching out to pat his shoulder. "Coconut, don't look so glum!" She protested and George had to pound on his chest as he swallowed reaching for his half-filled goblet still chortling. "Yeah Coconut…stop killing the party." George teased once he got himself to rights. Lee shot him a glare before stubbornly turning back to Lyra. "Lee!"
"Coconut!"
"L-e-e, Lee."
"Coconut."
Lee scowled, clicking his tongue. "There is no winning with this bird." "Bird!? I like birds, they fly an, an, an, an….go tweet. But I don't like the blue ones. Blue ones bad." Lyra shuddered releasing Lee to cuddle into herself as the boys nodded their agreement. When she started ranting about whatever popped into her head it was best to just smile and nod. She was still missing the brain/mouth filter which they were all kind of enjoying despite how crazy she sounded. It was cute; George decided knowing Fred and Lee thought the same despite playing up the exasperation they felt. Speaking of Fred…
George glanced down at his twin suspiciously. Fred was a light sleeper, sort of, but with all this noise so close to his sleeping twin should have woken him up. So why was he still asleep? As if hearing him, Fred slid one eye open winking conspiratorially before shutting it again. George rolled his eyes, of course, the prat.
"Rabbit, why don't you wake Freddie up?" George drawled glancing at his brother, if he didn't already have his Lyra-style wakeup call he might even be a bit jealous. Lyra looked at George with a bright smile. "'Kay Honey, apple after?" She bargained as he and Lee chuckled nodding their ascent.
Lyra grinned flinging herself at Fred, obviously believing he was still asleep, as she cried out: "Pumpkin!" But Fred was quicker, sitting up in an instant, catching her around her waist and trapping her underneath him smacking a loud kiss to her cheek as she squeaked. "Morning, Rabbit!" He said cheekily with a wink. "Pumpkin! I missed you." She said giggling and wrapping her arms around his neck tugging him down some. "Did you, now?" He drawled leaning down to press his nose to hers rubbing them together gently causing her to giggle. "Mhm. Apple now?" She pushed him away from her ignoring his huff as Lee howled with laughter.
"You were just passed off for an apple!" Fred growled playfully snagging a slice of bacon from Lee's plate. "Hey! Get your own food you damn carrot." Lee growled back, narrowing his eyes playfully as he pulled his plate huddling around it protectively. "Coconut.." Fred sang mockingly. "Don't you hear? I'm a pumpkin. A delicious smelling pumpkin." Biting into the bacon with a smirk as Lee flipped him off returning to his plate.
"Carrots?" Lyra blinked pausing in her attempt to bite the apple George had handed over moments before. George grinned rolling his eyes fondly knowing they were in for another speech. "Eat your apple, rabbit." He reminded, pointing his fork at the apple she was clutching to her chest.
"I like carrots." Lyra hummed, eyeing Fred and George lazily before dragging the tip of her tongue up the skin of the apple with a dreamy smile. "Cause I'mma rabbit. And I told ya' we eats them like num, num, num…or crunch crunch? Dunno…" She trailed off. The move was innocent really, absently done to get the taste of the crimson fruit but it was done with a slow deliberate lick that it could almost be viewed with seductive undertones. Fred stared, eyeing the motion appreciatively before shaking his head. "It's too early to be seduced…" He muttered lamely and George made a noise of agreement as they let Lyra continue with her rant. "They're good. Crunchy though, and you gots to dig'em up an…an…" She looked at them with a giggle biting into the apple. "Forgot."
They all ate quietly, the three elder wizards watching Lyra as she finished her apple and purred, rubbing the side of her right hand across her face like a grooming tabby-cat as she purred and giggled. Lee set down his fork, eyeing her again worriedly. The potion usually lasted indefinitely until a counter potion was given but Lyra was having a very different reaction than usual, it was worrisome to say the least.
"How much of the potion did Poppy give her?" Lee questioned as the girl rolled on her back, pawing at the air like there was a large piece of string there for her amusement.
George sighed and shook his head, but Fred answered. "We're not sure. Poppy didn't exactly measure it. We just kind of held her down and Poppy fed her. She spit it out the first time-" "But the second? I don't know, more than a couple drops. " George finished giving Lyra small smile as she glanced over at them.
"I doubt it was faulty…Living dead, Poppy wouldn't just have a faulty mix lying around." Lee pointed out.
Daniel nodded his head in agreement as he completed the semi-circle sitting down and crossing his legs, laying his cane out beside the mattress. "Aye, yer right lad. It wasn't so much the potion as what's in the potion, Daniel MacKade nice to meet you…oi, don't be greedy. Pass the biscuits." The old man pointed with a wrinkled finger, as the three jumped and gaped at him.
"Where the hell did you come from!?" "Who the hell are you!?" "How did you get in!?"
The three boys sputtered as Lyra sat up and squealed. "Sage!" She cried out, diving over the tray that separated her from her grandfather as he caught her in his large arms.
"Lyra-Love." His voice boomed as he caught her in a bear hug, chuckling as she rubbed her head affectionately on his shoulder. "Been a good girl?" He asked as his large hand soothed up and down her back, ignoring the younger wizards who were gaping at him in a mix of confusion and disbelief. "Uh-huh. The best, been with Honey, Pumpkin and Coconut cause they protects me, and I protects them. Cause Coconut…" Lyra said wiggling between her grandfather and Lee as she held up her fingers counting them off. "Is my friend and they wanted to crack him open but I said nopes not going to happen! An…an…an…" Her head lulled forward before she straightened and beamed leaning up on her knees to hug her grandfather around his neck as she nodded to Fred and George looking at them adoringly. "I made them mine." She said simply.
Daniel's periwinkle eyes gleamed at the new information, noticing how both red-haired boys fidgeted under his scrutiny, rubbing their hands across their slacks as if their palms itched. "Did you now, love? I think we should celebrate." Daniel said with a sly grin, pulling out a small turquoise bottle from his pocket, George who was on his other side eyed the bottle nudging Fred who mimicked his twins frown.
"Celebrate! Oh! Party! I love parties, and I sing and dance and I love to dance. Dance, dance, dance…" Lyra repeated as her grandfather uncorked the bottle a little awkwardly with one hand, handing it to Lyra. "Drink now." Daniel ordered and obediently Lyra took it and downed the liquid in the small vile.
For George and Fred it was kind of like de ja vu as Lyra froze, the silver of her eyes expanding before her whole eye went black and she pitched forward slumping against her grandfather: unconscious. Daniel swept her up in his arms carrying her to another empty bed laying her out gently as he pressed a kiss to her hair.
Moving back to the bed he sat down cross-legged between Lee and George once again. "Now, biscuits?" Facing off with their blank expressions Daniel frowned stroking his white beard. "No biscuits then…." Sighing he eyed the plate and considered levitating it to him. They did look especially delicious and he had a certain weakness for the damn things even though Mira liked to hide them all from him. Not to mention Lyra fed the two insatiable Weasley's his stash of biscuits he had managed to hide on Christmas, vengeful sprite that she was.
"What did you just give her?" George asked calmly, dragging Daniel's focus away from the small plate of biscuits, probing Fred's shoulder with a thin finger until Fred shot him a look and passed over the biscuits to the old man who cradled the plate greedily with a large grin.
Daniel's eyes sparkled in mischief, looking decidedly more violet than blue in that moment. "A tonic." He answered simply picking up a biscuit before setting it down, searching lazily though the pile for one of his favorites. The three boys shared an exasperated look; obviously he was going to 'one-word' them on until they exploded.
"So you know what was wrong with her?" Fred asked slowly. "Aye." Daniel nodded biting into a chocolate covered biscuit happily. Lee groaned in exasperation slapping his forehead. "Wait a minute, how did you even get in?" He demanded, that was on his mind. He did not like to be snuck up on. The door had been locked –from the inside- and obviously they hadn't heard the heavy fortress like doors slam or creek open.
Daniel grinned. "Entered in through a passageway." He pointed to a part of the wall. "It's not used, most of its collapsed, but it works. Speaking of being here….I don't see the lovely matron about?" Daniel trailed off, his eyes scanning the room suspiciously as the three boys shifted uneasily. "Lyra wouldn't stop growling at Poppy when she asked us to leave. She might have freaked Poppy a bit 'cause she went to get us out of classes for the day." George explained as his twin smirked slightly nodding his head. "Apparently we're all heavily contagious. " Fred drawled raising his goblet in a salute before sipping it.
"It happens." Daniel agreed popping another biscuit in his mouth. "Now then, tell me what's been going on with Lyra." He said seriously crossing his arms, raising a fuzzy brow in patience. "She's been sick for a while. It gets worse-" "And then she just gets better." Lee interrupted George with a deep frown. "Like she was never sick to begin with…" Lee muttered poking a small piece of egg with his fork that was left on his plate. Fred nodded gravely. "She gets pale and then dizzy, she even confused us once or twice. Lyra never gets us confused." Fred said adamantly shaking his head worriedly. Lyra was the only one (besides Ginny and even then she still mixed them up once in a blue moon) who could get them right every time.
"And then last night…she used her voice on Malfoy and kind of just collapsed afterwards. "George muttered absently as Fred shuddered, both reliving the night before. Not pleasant in the least. For either of them. "And then the screaming started…" Fred finished quietly, staring into the dark liquid of his goblet.
"So you took her here and Poppy used Living Dead on her. Which had her acting….unusual?" The three boys nodded in agreement as Daniel stroked his beard thinking it over. "Hm…what Poppy did was very dangerous." He told them seriously his eyes scrutinizing each of them. "Lyra is not to ingest any potions, with one or two exceptions, the consequences of it can throw her off-balance so to speak."
"Merlin, you're saying we made her worse?" Fred gaped, suddenly feeling sick. George was offering the same pale look and even Lee kept glancing nervously toward the bed Lyra now occupied. They would have let her scream herself hoarse in pain if that had been the better option, none of them would have wished it on her and they would have been possible wrecks over the situation but they hadn't meant to take her and make her worse. It was after all what they'd been taught; sick or in pain, go find a mediwitch.
"In a way." Daniel conceded reaching for Lyra's full goblet that was still untouched lifting it to his lips. "Why was she sick to begin with? Is it because she's minstrel?" Lee asked frowning as he worriedly glanced at Lyra who was still out and hadn't moved. Humming he set the goblet down frowning slightly. "Is that what they told you?" Daniel asked glancing at Fred and George who looked equally confused.
"She's not?" Lee asked in surprise glancing at his friends in confusion. "But it makes sense, I mean…" Daniel waved him off. "Lyra is half Minstrel. Though her powers are strong enough where she suffers no limitations, she has the power as if she were born pure-blooded minstrel. "He tilted his head regarding them cautiously; he would have to be very careful with his wording if he wanted Lyra's other half to stay a kept secret for the moment.
"It was her other half that was making her sick." "Other half?" They echoed in confusion and Daniel nodded slowly reaching for another biscuit holding it up, switching it around so the three boys could see one side dipped in chocolate, the other plain.
"Like this." Daniel demonstrated, tugging the two pieces apart to show them. "Her minstrel half." He gestured to the plain side he held in his right hand and wiggled the left to get their attention. "Her other half, it's a secret so don't go asking me. We don't want to put her in even more danger do we?" They solemnly shook their heads and he nodded in approval as they gestured for him to continue. "Very well. Now…the reason she was so sick was simply the fact her seal was breaking down. Her other half has its own magical influence in Lyra; her body would be in a constant state of war with the powers of her minstrel half and other half because she's a hybrid. The seal she wears allows small amounts of magic from her other half to merge itself into her already powerful supply of magic. It also has the added effect of stopping her from using her powers when she wears it as well as hiding her scent from nosey magical creatures with damn good noses."
"You couldn't have just-" "Fixed her seal?" Fred and George inquired seriously and Daniel smirked in approval. If his granddaughter had chosen them, he was glad they weren't idiots. They seemed genuinely concerned and were asking all the right questions, which was partly why they had gained his approval so quickly.
"No. Lyra's ocarina was not originally hers. It was made thousands of years ago for the first MacKade, Twilia, it's a familiar heirloom in a way designated for the female heir. It has some of the most complex charms and potion remnants of very old magic that has been lost to us." Daniel explained with a small shrug. "If I attempted to place a seal on top of the ones that are slowly breaking down, I could kill my granddaughter. I'd prefer not to do that." He said mildly biting into the chocolate half of the biscuit, watching as they flinched from the thought.
"But if the seal is so powerful, and it's been around so bloody long, why is it choosing to break down now?" Lee demanded shaking his head in disbelief. Magic was endless wasn't it? It didn't just wear off, or did it? Some spells certainly had time limits but for the most part once it was done unless there was a counter spell or potion it couldn't come undone by itself.
"Lyra's powers started flickering over break." George said suddenly, remembering when Lyra first arrived at Grimmauld place. Her powers had started flickering then too. "The seal wasn't working then, that's how Ol' Remus knew what she was." Fred agreed clenching his fist tightly as he remembered the scene.
"But that doesn't explain why the seal stopped working yesterday." Lee pointed out with a small frown. "Because I remember her wearing it when she told Malfoy to go away so obviously it wasn't working properly." It seemed logical, after all. If the seal keeps her other half calm enough so it wouldn't over-whelm Lyra and she only collapsed into a screaming fit last night after using her powers then it had to of stopped working yesterday.
Daniel rubbed his fingers over his lips trying to stop from grinning as he again wondered how much he should show; it would certainly make Arthur's boys maybe just a bit awkward for his entertainment. "I suspect the seal finally stopped working last night because Lyra didn't have a dose of a familiar magical energy to sustain it as she had in the past. Or should I say a dose of magic from two familiar magical energies…?" Daniel said with a pointed look at Fred and George.
They could do nothing but gape at the old man in disbelief. Daniel almost cackled madly at their reaction. It did his heart good to know he could still throw off the younger generation as quick as he liked.
Lee was just plain confused. Now that made no damn sense to him at all. Ever the impatient one he spoke up as the old man happily ate the two sides of the biscuit he pulled a part, apparently trying not to laugh at the stunned looks George and Fred were sporting. "That makes no sense."
"Course it does." Daniel rolled his eyes waving away the boy only to turn and finally get a good look at him. "No it doesn't." Lee protested shaking his head. "How did they give her a dose of their magic? Is that even possible?"
Daniel frowned, both brows shooting up to his hairline. "What the devil do they teach you in this place?" He muttered. He was having a word with the old coot once he got to his office. Grumbling as the twins finally came back to the land of the living, taking deep breaths they managed to wheeze out "Explain."
"Alright, hand me a piece of bacon." The old man demanded and Lee sighed. "What is your obsession with using food in your explanations?" Lee complained, forking over the requested piece of bacon. Daniel scowled biting into the bacon smartly. "Man's got to eat." Daniel shrugged. Was it his fault in his worry for his dearest granddaughter he forgot breakfast? Or the fact Mira refused to make him bacon because it had something to do with his health? "I can't think on an empty stomach. It's too much work and…" He cuffed Lee on the back of his head. "Ow!" "Respect your elders.."
"Old man." The twins barked impatiently as Daniel waved his hand in the air. "You're all disrespectful." He sighed mournfully and continued, his eyes sparking in amusement. "Right, dose of magic. You two." Pointing a wrinkled finger at Fred and George he scowled. "Take such liberties with me' little gel." He muttered narrowing his eyes. "Kissing'er when you feel like, don't deny! I've watched 'ya do it. My eyes are old, but I'm not blind." He declared, cackling as they sputtered and blushed heavily. Oh yes, such was entertainment.
"It happens in a kiss, dontcha know?" Daniel said switching up his accent once again, realizing he hadn't been doing so since he arrived. "You've both been keeping Lyra's seal from completely breaking down all at once. Because the moment you touch her, the seal siphons off small amounts of both your magic. You both sensed something wrong with me Lyra-love correct?" Hesitantly, both nodded. They had felt something was wrong, like they couldn't leave until it was fixed. But neither had felt the small drain of their magic as most did when it was unwillingly siphoned off.
"But…we didn't feel it?" George said slowly his fingers tugging at the golden watch on his wrist, glancing at Fred for confirmation (though he really didn't need too), Fred nodded in agreement. "It was an unconscious decision on your part. You were both there almost every time she felt sick right?" Daniel hummed happily munching on another biscuit. What Mira didn't know wouldn't hurt her, after all.
"You were." Lee said in amazement nearly slapping himself as Fred and George looked confused. "You both just uh…" It was kind of awkward to point this out to another bloke; Lee realized rubbing the back of his neck. Sighing he knew he was going to sound just like a bird. "Remember?" He asked impatiently. "In the room of requirement when we came back from Holiday? She was sick then too. She was all huffy and didn't want to come see Poppy, what did you do?" Lee asked willing them to just know so he didn't sound as if he memorized the moment or something.
Fred rubbing his forehead trying to remember, shaking his head. "How am I supposed to remember? I can't even remember what I did last week!" Lee looked hopefully at George who only stared blankly with another helpless shrug.
"Arg! George kissed her, but she didn't snap out of it until Fred did as well. She never feels better until you both kiss her….wow. That's like some muggle fairytale thing, kind of cool if you think about it. And I sound like a bird…a bird, wonderful." Lee mumbled to himself reaching for his near empty goblet. He needed something stronger but since he doubted the old man would allow it he finished off the small sip that was left.
Daniel's booming laugh echoed across the room as the twins shifted uncomfortably. It was one thing for Lee to blurt a realization out like that when they were alone and another thing entirely for Lyra's grandfather to hear it. "B-but we don't do that all the time…" George muttered as Fred rubbed his own red face willing the flush to go away. He was gratefully successful as Daniel finally finished laughing, setting down an empty plate of biscuits.
"You don't need to. That's the quickest way. If you've both given her small doses of magic before, just being near her would be enough…" "But you weren't near Lyra last night, after she ran. It probably broke down after she used it on Malfoy and since neither of you were close enough it probably finished deteriorating…why are you both looking at me like that!?" Lee demanded as Fred and George looked so surprised. "Easy, Lad. I'm sure their impressed with your observation…" Daniel said comfortingly as he patted the boy's shoulder.
"Yeah." Fred snorted with a devilish smile. "I didn't know you were so smart…they grow up so fast." He playfully wailed leaning against George for support, who was equally mock wailing. Lee scowled crossing his arms. "You two can be such prats sometimes." Lee muttered only half glaring at them. Fred shrugged carding his fingers through his hair and striking a pose. "I can only be who I was born to be…"
"A prat?" Lee raised a brow and Fred chuckled shrugging. "Alright, not the best line to go there…" He looked expectantly at George who rolled his eyes and held up his hands. "Hey, I didn't say I was a prat. That was all you Freddie." Fred rolled his eyes. "Git." "That's good, Freddie, use your words." George cooed before his twin shoved him.
"While they're trying to make light of the situation….that leaves out three things. One, why Fred and George? I've been around Lyra a lot too. I have magic, but you didn't say anything about me. And why did that potion affect her so much? And last…why the hell are you explaining all this?" Lee asked rubbing his forehead. All this explanation was giving him a headache. And as much as he cared about Lyra, there was something about her grandfather that made him nervous. Daniel was obviously giving them this information on purpose. Aside from telling them he couldn't say what Lyra (and Lee suspected, Daniel's, other half) was the old man was still a plethora of information. He seemed….eager almost to give Fred and George this information.
Daniel grinned. "Aye, smart lad. Always question why. It'll do you good. She's lucky to have such a friend…" Lee shifted uncomfortable at the praise and shrugged. Alright so maybe the old man had plans for him as well.
"Magical twins…" Daniel said appraising Fred and George who shifted uncomfortably under the sudden intense periwinkle eyes. "Are one of the most powerful and most mysterious wizarding pairs in our society. There aren't many out an' about." He mused signaling Wicky who clamored over, well rested with Mac perched on his head, and cleaned up their breakfast dishes.
"Magic comes more easily to them, ever notice? Especially when they're together. They're already in balance, in sync. You know what the other is going to do before they do it. I can tell the bond you have is deep as well…" Daniel muttered thoughtfully, and Fred snapped back. "Yeah, what of it?" Even George was on edge. Daniel chuckled and waved away. "You're uncles were exactly the same, right terrors they were." Settling back, always willing to hear of their Prewett uncles they'd never gotten the chance to know.
"Now. Balanced magic is hard to come by especially for intricate seals; it usually takes a group of very talented wizards to keep up concentration and a lot of discipline…which is why I never take part." Daniel said cheerfully waving to Wicky as the house elf disappeared. "Basically their magic over-powered Lyra's, beat it down until it was balanced on its own curing her until Lyra's magic ate through it until she was given the next dose."
"You just made your granddaughter sound like addict." George pointed out sourly but Fred grinned roughishly. "Addicted to us though, Georgie, can't be that bad…" Daniel promptly reached out and cuffed him. "Ow! Damnit old man!" "That's my granddaughter you rouge." "You said it!" "You twisted it, disrespectful chit!" "You-"
"And the potion?" George, having mercy on his idiot of a twin, spoke up. "What's in the living dead draught?" Daniel countered, settling back though still eyeing Fred in annoyance. But dusting off his rumpled shirt, Fred answered with a sniff. "Water, Powdered root of asphodel, Infusion of Wormwood, Valerian root, A Sophophorous Bean, and a Sloth brain." He wasn't brilliant at potions for nothing after all. Lee blinked in surprise but George didn't look shaken by the show of his brothers intelligence in the least.
"Right." Daniel agreed. "At least you're not an idiot." Fred gave him a rude gesture as George rolled his eyes and did the honors, cuffing his twin upside his head. "Cool it Freddie." He muttered as Daniel went on with his lesson. Looks like they were having classes today after all, it was inescapable apparently.
"Now, aside from her magic, Lyra's body was trying to urge the changes of her other side quickly which was why it was so painful. If something else was introduced during this time, her magic would focus on breaking it down. Which was essentially why Lyra was acting…out of character. That and the draught is usually for humans." Daniel chuckle shaking his head as he went back to stroking his beard at the thought, he could only imagine the shock these three had gone through. "She broke the potion down naturally, regressing the ingredients back at least their effects." He held up his hands to stop any of them from diving in and questioning him. "Meaning she went through the stages of each, and allowed the ingrediants to effect her in their natural states."
"The water is neutralized first, obviously, then the infusion of wormwood is usually just used for taste anyways so that would leave her unaffected. Being that, the Valerian root is used as a sedative. I'm assuming before she went…mad." He paused to rub his hand over his mouth lest he start laughing. "She was out like a candle flame." Fred and George nodded because, unlikely Lee, they had been present when Poppy gave her the potion. "Right, now the Sophophorous Bean is a natural hallucinogenic, or this type is in any case, but hallucinogens don't affect Lyra's other half. They do and can however affect Minstrels but the results would be different which you saw I'm sure." Again, nods of agreement. "Asphodel it would make her sleep eventually, I'm positive. And the sloths brain…well….I'm not sure. " Daniel shrugged, her other half had probably appreciated the essences seeing as it their other half was a bit of a carnivore.
Daniel looked up for a moment grinning merrily as the three boys contemplated his words carefully. It was time for the grand finale, and if he was correct then it would be a wonderful show. He wished he had some of that muggle popcorn…
"As for why I'm telling you all of this…well, the answer to that is on your hands. Literally." Daniel chuckled nodding to Fred and George's confusion.
They both glanced at each other, shrugged flipping their hands over. And nearly fainted as their jaws dropped in surprise. Had those always been there? Surely not. They definitely would have remembered something like this. "What the hell is that!?" They exclaimed holding up their hands so Daniel could get a closer look. Lee frowned and shifted his head. 'What, what is it? Oh Merlin, did Lyra do that when she bit you?"
"I did…" Lyra said softly and all four of the wizards turned to see Lyra slowly sitting up, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she wrapped her arms around her waist to hold herself together or because she was cold, she wasn't entirely sure yet.
"And I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry…" Lyra managed to say before her voice hitched and she looked away from the intensity of their dodger eyes unable to meet them especially after what she'd done to them.
Lyra was up; she was awake feeling marginally better and worse yet…
She remembered everything…