ii

02

A  V  I  S

( AH - viss )

" conjures birds "

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SEPTEMBER FIRST ROLLED around far too quickly and everyone was now getting ready to board the Hogwarts Express. Lyra was waiting beside the entrance at King's Cross Station with her father.

James Fairfax was a tall man who had stayed in shape over the years. Being a police officer meant Lyra barely saw him in the holidays and spent most of her time with her uncle or the Weasleys. Her father had tamed raven hair and piercing blue eyes.

Lyra's mother wasn't present. She hadn't be there in the past to see her daughter off either. Truth is, Lyra hadn't seen her mother since she was ten; when she found out she was a witch. Her mother — who in Lyra's opinion doesn't even deserve a name — left her daughter and husband branding her child 'unnatural and filthy.'

"You'll pull me through, right?" Her father asked, even though he'd been through the entrance to nine and three quarters multiple times, he was still frightened.

"Yes, you baby." Lyra chuckled, "Come on, dad, I'll miss the train."

Lyra dragged her father behind her, tugging him through the wall onto platform nine and three quarters.

"I'll never get used to that." James grumbled, pushing her daughters cart. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph that family are blonde."

Lyra span on her heels to see a family of three heading in her direction. Lucius Malfoy has his typical disgusted sneer etched on his face. He was wearing black dress robes, similar to the ones he had on at the Quidditch World Cup. The woman walking along side him had hair just as fair as his. Lyra almost mistook her for a veela, she was beautiful. Her features were sharp underneath her pale skin and she walked with an air of elegance.

Lyra met a steel gaze, his eyes bore into her. His face was stoic, a mix of his fathers sneer and his mother's beauty. He was wearing a replica of his World Cup suit, only this time a Slytherin scarf was hanging loosely around his neck.

"Dad," Lyra began, tearing his gaze from Draco Malfoy, "Why don't you go and load my things with Mrs Weasley, tell her you're my dad and she'll help."

"Mrs Who?" He ask, looking over the crowd to see any indication of someone being named 'Mrs. Weasley.'

"She's the mum with the gaggle of redheads." Lyra chuckled, pointing to the woman with a smile.

Lyra watched her father battle with the trolly as he reached Mrs Weasley, who welcomed him with open arms. She chuckled to herself and span back around, only to be greeted by two blonde wizards and a blonde witch.

Lyra jumped in shock, letting out a frightened yelp, which prompted Draco to snigger at her. "Malfoy. Mr. Malfoy." Lyra nodded her head at the two before turning her attention to the woman.

"Mrs. Malfoy?" She asked. The woman nodded.

"Nice to see you again, Malfoy." Lyra smiled kindly, "Did you enjoy the Quidditch World Cup, I heard you were in the Minister's box. Must've been a brilliant view."

"It was indeed." Lucius drawled.

"I had a lovely time." Lyra smiled softly, gazing up to Mrs Malfoy, "All though I did break my leg whilst I was there."

Draco looked at her wide eyed, "You broke your leg?"

"Nothing major, just a pointed hatted man stamped on it." Lyra chuckled, watching the Malfoys seize up momentarily, "I'm sorry to be so forward but you aren't a veela, are you?"

Mrs. Malfoy smiled proudly at the girl, "No dear, but thank you." Mrs Malfoy outstretched her hand to Lyra, but the young girl didn't shake it.

"You don't want to do that." Lyra mumbled, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Muggle-born."

"Shake my hand, child." Mrs Malfoy ordered, Lyra laughed quietly and shook the woman's hand. "Who are you, dear? A friend of Draco's?"

She laughed louder than she hoped, clamping her hand over her mouth. "No, no. I'm good friends with Blaise and Theo."

Fred called out Lyra's name, gesturing towards her father and the train. The young witch turned her attention back to the Malfoys.

"Lyra?" Mrs Malfoy raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow at the girl.

"Like the constellation. My Gran named me." Lyra fidgeted with the ends of her ginger hair, twirling it softly.

"Narcissa." She pointed to herself, a light bulb flicked in Lyra's brain.

"Narcissus, the God that fell in love with their reflection." Lyra beamed, listening to the train whistle.

On a whim, Lyra plucked the Slytherin scarf from Draco's neck, Lucius looked mortified — only making Lyra chuckle harder.

"Fairfax." Draco growled, attempting to snatch his scarf back.

"Ah. Ah. Ah." Lyra tutted, shaking her head. "You can have it back when I get mine back." Lyra hung the scarf over her neck, laughing to herself when the colour matched her top.

"Goodbye, Malfoy." Lyra skipped away, only turning back once more, "Lovely to meet you Mrs. Malfoy!" She called before sprinting her her fathers arms.

The Malfoys watched as she big goodbye to her father, before Fred and George hoisted her into the air. Narcissa let out a chuckle when one of the twin took away the Slytherin scarf. Only for Lyra to start hitting his arm until she got the scarf back.

"She's different." Narcissa said primly.

"She's a Hufflepuff." Draco added, petting his owl.

"Mudblood." Lucius sneered.

Narcissa scoffed at her husband, "Why have we never heard of her, Draco?"

Draco shrugged, "She's a third year, I'm a fourth year. I don't have any classes with Fairfax."

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Lyra entered the last compartment of the train, Draco Malfoy's scarf still sitting around her neck. When she reached her desired section, she noticed it was more crowed that usual. Normally, there would only be four students in the cabin. This time there were six, all but one turned to see who opened the glass door.

"Hello, Sunshine." Blaise Zabini's chestnut eyes shone as he flashed a smile at Lyra. "Where've you got that scarf?"

Lyra looked down at the Slytherin scarf and chuckled, "Keeping it safe for a friend." She glanced over to Malfoy, although Pansy Parkinson was in the way.

"You haven't got any friends, mudblood." Pansy sneered, making her face resemble a pug.

Lyra raised her eyebrow, everyone in the compartment stayed silent. It was only ever Pansy or Draco who used the slur, Lyra was never too bothered since Draco Malfoy wasn't her friend.

"Well, if Draco wants his scarf back he knows how to get it." Lyra smiled as kindly as she could.

Pansy Parkinson's face morphed into a shade of beet red. Theo Nott and Blaise attempted to hold in their chortles.

"Drakie, tell this mudblood she's delusional." Pansy mused, in a voice that wasn't remotely attractive.

"Merlin." Lyra mumbled, pulling out her dragon heartstring wand. "Avis."

Five yellow paper birds flooded from the top of Lyra's wand, flying in a circle. Everyone was in awe at the girl who could conjure n.e.w.t level magic.

"I'm so scared." Pansy whined in a condescending manner before cackling.

Lyra painted an innocent look on her face, softening her blue doe eyes. "Oppugno."

The six yellow birds flocked to Pansy, pecking and clawing at any bit of visible flesh they could. Everyone howled with laughter, Blaise and Daphne high-fived their third year friend and pointed at a shrieking Pansy Parkinson.

"Never seen that spell before, Sunshine." Theo cooed.

"It's a n.e.w.t level spell, Dora. Of course you haven't seen it, you're still stuck on wingardium leviosa." Lyra teased, pulling her glasses to rest on her head.

Draco gave the girl a curt nod after Pansy had left the compartment, still screaming. Lyra smiled back at him, a pure, joyful smile.

"Don't call me Dora." Theo growled, slamming his fist into the table.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist." Lyra giggled, watching Theo try his best to keep his smile at bay.

The train ride was filled with dirty jokes and dark humour, something only certain people could withstand. It was refreshing to be with the Slytherins, although, Lyra had been the butt of many jokes. Blaise had repeatedly wiped away escaped tears from her cheeks after some jokes had gone too far.

The sky had settled into a pink and purple hue, gold rimmed the line between land and sky. Lyra had trouble trying to keep her eyes open while her head rested on Theo's shoulder.

"The rumours were true, at least." Goyle whispered to the other Slytherins, assuming Lyra had dozed off. "She did get hot over the summer."

"Who?" Daphne questioned in a hushed voice.

"The mudblood on Theo's shoulder." Goyle huffed, "It went around after the World Cup that she'd got proper good looking over the holidays."

Lyra crinkled her nose in distaste and, with her eyes still closed, spoke out, "I got a sense of style, a skin care routine and boobs."

"I'm not disagreeing." Blaise said, a hint of pride in his velvet voice.

"I can feel your eyes burning holes in my chest, Zabini." Lyra deadpanned, leaning further into Theo.

"What?" He mumbled, "You brought them up."