Chapter Ten

Bittersweet

"Lyra. Oi! Lyra, slow down!"

Draco grabbed my wrist, yanking me to a stop. I stumbled into my brother and scowled. We really did not have time for this. Ron, Hermione, and I had gotten word that Harry had finally woken up. It had been three days since our adventure to the Sorcerer's Stone and none of the professors were telling us what happened.

It was infuriating really. All we knew was that the Stone was safe and Harry was unconscious in the Hospital Wing.

"Oi! Let her go, Malfoy." Ron surprised us all as he shoved Draco back. My brother wasn't ready for it and lost his grip on my wrist.

"Ron!" Hermione hissed but the redhead ignored her. Draco's expression turned thunderous.

"Weasley, I'm trying to talk to my sister." Draco hissed through gritted teeth.

"Well she clearly doesn't want to talk to you." Ron spat back. He wasn't wrong. I really didn't want to talk to Draco right now. Harry needed us more.

"Let's just go." I hissed to the others and we started to make our way down the corridor.

Footsteps echoed behind us. Ron and Hermione shot me annoyed looks which I returned. This was ridiculous.

"I'm not leaving you alone till you talk to me Lyra." Draco called. "You can't avoid me forever."

I stopped with a huff.

"You guys go ahead. I'll try and catch up. If I don't, fill me in later." I said in a lowered voice. Ron hesitated but I gave him a small nod. Hermione grabbed his arm and the two hurried down the corridor towards the Hospital Wing.

I turned towards Draco who was standing behind me, arms crossed.

"Why won't you leave me alone?"

"What is going on?"

The two of us spoke over each other and I huffed. I couldn't exactly tell him about the Sorcerer's Stone. I wasn't even sure what to say. Which was exactly why I had been avoiding him for three days.

"I can't tell you." Hurt flickered across his face and my heart dropped as he took a step back from me.

"You can't tell me." Draco repeated slowly and I nodded. His lips pursed as his gray eyes searched mine. "You were in danger weren't you?"

He knew the answer to his own question. I nodded once again. Draco's expression darkened.

"It was Potter's fault. Wasn't it?" He spat and I shook my head. My throat tightened and my eyes were beginning to sting. I hated fighting with Draco but it was all we seemed to do.

"No. It wasn't." I argued but Draco wasn't listening.

"Ever since you befriended them, they've been putting you in danger! Real danger. Are you actually mad!? First the three headed dog, then the dragon? Now what?! You wonder why I don't like your friends- this is why." Draco threw his hands into the air as he raved. A couple students glanced at us. My heart twisted at his words.

"It's not their fault!" I hissed, trying to keep my volume low. We were starting to gather attention. "I can't just sit by and watch while-"

I stopped short. His expression grew stony.

"While what?"

"Draco, you know I can't tell you."

I wanted to grab his hand and tell him everything. I wanted to tell him about the danger we faced, about the Stone, about You-Know-Who… But I couldn't. This was so much bigger than Draco realized. Not only did we promise the professors that we wouldn't say anything; Ron, Hermione, and I all agreed it'd be better if everything stayed in our inner circle. It would save us and Hagrid from getting into trouble.

Guilt fed the pit that was growing steadily in my stomach as I stared into his steely eyes.

"When did we start keeping secrets from each other?" Draco asked, his expression cold, guarded.

I grabbed at the collar of my shirt, trying to stay grounded. It felt impossible as I stared at my twin.

Tears blurred my vision. I tried desperately to blink them away but that only caused them to fall faster. All of the emotions, the stress, the guilt was finally boiling over.

"I don't even know you anymore." Draco's voice was low but I heard it. I didn't think my heart could break anymore but here we were.

I watched frozen as Draco gave me one last look of disappointment then spun on his heel. I watched as he stalked away, turned the corner, and disappeared from sight. I could hear the other students whispering, wondering what happened.

All I wanted to do was collapse onto the ground in tears. Instead, I wiped my face with my sleeve and tried to shove my emotions down. It took me a second to gather myself. I knew I looked awful as I made my way to the Hospital Wing but I didn't care.

As much as I hated it at that moment, Harry and the Stone took priority.


"I've got to tell you guys something… but you can't get mad at me."

I was sitting across from Harry on the Hogwarts Express. Ron and Hermione were playing a game of chess as the train was getting close to Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

Our adventure to the Sorcerer's Stone ended more dramatically than any of us had anticipated. You-Know-Who had been attached to Quirrell. Stuttering, meek Quirrel. Apparently You-Know-Who had been attached to the back of his head for the whole school year. The thought of that sent a shiver down my spine. Harry faced him in the last chamber, managing to protect the Sorcerer's Stone. Somehow Harry's touch was enough to defeat him. Our Defense Against Dark Arts professor had been reduced to ash.

It was a somber end to our neurotic professor.

Because we went out of our way to protect the Stone, Dumbeldore awarded us all house points, ending Slytherin's six year streak. Gryffindor won the House Cup, we all passed our exams with flying colors (well, Hermione and I passed with flying colors. Harry and Ron passed above average), and we were now on our way home. It should have been a happy occasion but something else was weighing on my mind though.

"What is it?" Harry asked looking up from his broom that he was waxing. I bit my lip looking at the group.

How was I supposed to say this? Suddenly, I wasn't so sure. Anxiety clenched at my heart. I couldn't lose them as well.

"Lyra?" Hermione prompted.

"You guys cannot get mad, okay?" I repeated and Ron rolled his eyes, looking up from the chess board. He was getting close to winning, though Hermione was putting up a good fight.

"Just spit it out already."

I took a deep breath. Just rip off the bandaid.

"Snape is my godfather."

The sentence weighed heavily in the air. Both Hermione and Harry were staring at me shocked but Ron's reaction almost had me laughing. His mouth had fallen open, eyes bulging slightly at my admission.

"What?" Ron asked, his voice high pitched. I shifted nervously in my seat.

"I never meant to hide it from you guys-"

"We thought he was after the stone the whole year!"

"Snape?" Harry breathed, dumbstruck. "As the greasy potions professor that hates my guts, Snape?"

"I know! I know." The three of them stopped talking over each other and I ran a hand through my hair. "I didn't think it was that important at first and by the time I was going to say something I felt like it was too late and I just didn't know how to bring it up."

"Lyra, we thought he was after the stone the whole year." Hermione repeated, her eyebrows high and I nodded.

"I, uh… thought he was after it too?" I admitted. Ron let out a long breath of air, slouching back into his seat.

"Merlin, even his goddaughter thinks that he would go after the stone… that says a lot." Ron shook his head, trying to process the information. Hermione shot him a dirty look.

"Well it wouldn't be the most out of character if he was after it." I admitted. "He's obviously not lovey dovey outside of Hogwarts. Him and my Father go way back and he's one of few friends that Mother approves of which is why he's Draco and my's godfather. He tutored us on potions and sends presents on our birthday but that's it really. It's not like we are close." I rambled. Hermione's eyebrows furrowed.

"Is that how you were able to answer all of the questions on the first day of Potions?" She asked, disapproval laced in her voice and I narrowed my eyes at her.

"No, I did actually read before coming to Hogwarts." Harry kicked me lightly in the leg at that. I smirked a bit. "I mean… it did help though."

Hermione huffed, looking slightly annoyed at that.

"Dumbledore said that my dad saved Snape's life." Harry said slowly and it was my turn to look surprised. "He didn't say how but I guess Snape hated being in his debt. That's why he tried to protect me this year… Why he was always bothering Quirrell."

"I did actually ask him at our holiday party about that…"

"What?!" Ron asked faintly.

I cringed internally thinking back at the party. I still couldn't believe that I had accused him to his face. Not my brightest moment.

"He said that he was using a countercurse that first match when Hermione lit his robes on fire. I swear, I thought he was going to kill me when I asked him about that."

"You're absolutely mad." Ron said, looking at me with a mix of disbelief and… was that pride?

"Lyra, you didn't have to hide that from us." Hermione chided with a shake of her head. "You were probably stressed out all year because of that. We could have helped you."

"Yeah, we don't care who you're related to." Harry added. "Just look at Malfoy. He's a right prat and you're… well you're-"

"Just a bit of a prat?" I offered and they chuckled but didn't deny it. I wasn't wrong.

I looked out the window and frowned. We were about twenty minutes away from the Platform. My heart clenched a bit at the thought of going home.

"I don't think I'm ready to go…" I admitted out loud.

"I don't think I am either." Harry agreed, passing me a liquorice wand. I chewed on the end watching the countryside pass quickly.

"You must come and stay this summer." Ron piped up, turning his attention back to the chess game. "I'll send you all an owl."

"Thanks," Harry had a relieved smile on his face. "I'll need something to look forward to."

I nodded at that. I had a feeling that being home wasn't going to be easy. Draco and I weren't on speaking terms. Father tried his best to ignore me. Mother tried her best but I could tell she was disappointed.

"We'll all have to keep in touch." I added and the other three nodded. I sucked in my cheeks, feeling awkward. "You'll all probably get annoyed with how many owls I send you."

"I knew you liked us." Ron teased.

I sniffed turning my nose up at the boy, though the corner of my lips were twitching.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Weasley."

The others laughed at that and I couldn't stop myself from joining in. Merlin, I was really going to miss this.

The train finally pulled into the station and the four of us bid each other goodbye. I spotted Mother and Father in the crowd, their platinum blond hair setting them apart from everyone else.

I had a feeling that this was going to be a very long summer.


Author's Note

And that is the end of the Sorcerer's Stone! Things are rocky with Draco but there's a lot to come! The two of them REALLY just need to talk but both are so stubborn. He comes from a good place but has trouble expressing it.

I hope you've enjoyed reading! I will be moving to a weekly or biweekly updating schedule once I get settled into my new job! Life has been crazy busy but I am ready to sink my teeth into the Chamber of Secrets!

I will say, I've been posting this on Ao3 for the first time too and I still like 's system. I'm old school I guess.

There is some art for this ff on Ao3 though so if you are interested go check it out! Same username 13Zander13 and story name.

Thanks so much for favoriting, following, and commenting ;)