Hermione

Okay here's the edited verison

*********

After Lyra was discharged from St. Mungos, she moved in with the Malfoys. She was silent and seemed to be withdrawn when they told her that her parents were off working again, but this time they wouldn't be back for awhile. She calmed down once hearing this but as the months went by, Lucius and Narcissa would catch Lyra looking at them in an odd manner. Her brown eyes seeming watery yet not, then she would look away. It was as if she knew they were lying to her but she never said a word of accusation.

One day, while Narcissa and Lyra were strolling about in Diagon Ally, a reporter spotted them and took a picture of Lyra. He raced to her side and asked her if she had visited her parents in Azkaban yet. Narcissa was so enraged at the reporter's audacity to ask a two-year-old child such a question that she pulled out her wand and hexed him before she apparated them home. The witch picked up her niece and explained to her that the wizard reporter was a deranged man, and that she should not listen to anything he said. Lyra merely nodded and kissed her aunt's cheek.

The next few days the Malfoys were plagued by owls from reporters requesting to see Lyra and ask her questions. Lucius declined interviews of any kind and complained to the Ministry about the reporters' harassment when one of them had tried to sneak into their manor to possibly kidnap her. The Ministry in turn, issued a magical restraining order against all those who had tried or would try to approach and harm Lyra because she is far too young to understand the world around her, and might become traumatized by the bombardment from wizards and witches who would want to make a profit out of her and her story.

Having her photograph on the front page of the Daily Prophet, everyone recognized the young witch as the daughter of the murderous Lestrange couple. Lucius' strategy to stop this once and for all was by keeping his niece away from public view. The Malfoys kept her inside the manor and, occasionally, took her to far off isolated vacation spots where no one would recognize her.

"Must we send her so far away?" Narcissa asked her husband.

"She cannot go to Hogwarts." Lucius said, "You know what will happen. The other children will ridicule and tease her non-stop, some might even attack her on the train if they find out who she is."

"What about Beauxbaton?" the witch suggested, "We can move to our other manor there, the one really close to the school, so we can be together. Then Draco can attend it too - we'll be able to see them both every day after school and on weekends."

"You can't keep the children with you their entire lives." He said, they hadn't even started school yet and she's already having separation anxiety.

"But Durmstrang is much too far away, what if she needs us?" she persisted, "Why must you make her start so early - she suppose to be in the same year as Draco."

"Narcissa," he grabbed hold of her shoulders, "Durmstrang will groom Lyra into a fine witch and I want her to start early so she can see what it's like to be in school without Draco for one year. They have the rest of their lives to be together. At this point, I believe that they need some distance before they begin to grow tired of one another and resent each other."

"And it has nothing to do with you wanting to make connections abroad?" Narcissa asked her husband. She knew him far too well to not see passed his latest scheme.

***********

~September 1, 1990

"Owl me when you get to your room to tell me if you're doing alright there." Narcissa told Lyra, pressing her niece's face to her chest.

"Honestly Narcissa, you'll suffocate the poor girl." Lucius drawled. "And owling once a week is enough."

Narcissa ignored her husband's comment as she continued to hug her niece.

"Daddy, daddy," Draco whispered, pulling at his father's robes, "she's not going to do this when I go to school is she?"

"I'm afraid so." The wizard replied and inclined his head, gazing at his wife's tear stained face, "Maybe even worse..."

"What?!"

"What's the matter Draco?" Lyra asked her little cousin.

"Nothing." he said quickly, not wanting to get in trouble.

"Come Draco," his mother said, holding her hand out to him, "come properly say goodbye to your cousin. You won't be seeing her until her birthday party."

Witches, Lucius Malfoy thought, such emotional creatures.

And, for the last time, he thanked Merlin that Lyra did not inherit his wife's emotional personality or her mother's, especially her mother. He could only imagine how it would be to raise a younger version of his deranged sister-in-law.

Draco looked up at his father and gave him the do-I-have-too look. When his father nodded Draco reluctantly stomped his way to his cousin, said a lazy bye and tried to return to his father's side, but his father poked his back with the head of his cane. The gesture was for him to go back and say it like he meant it. Draco stepped forward, between his distressed mother and expecting cousin.

"Goodbye Lyra." He said with the saddest expression he could muster.

"Goodbye Draco." Lyra said.

Draco nodded and stepped back to his father's side.

"Show off..." Draco muttered under his breath while he gazed up at his father, who was busy admiring his cousin's calm and reserved demeanor.

His father was always scolding him for every little thing he did wrong, but with her his father was always nodding in approval. It was obvious to the young wizard that, in his father's eyes, Lyra could do no wrong. Draco despised her for that, and stealing his parent's attention from him as well. But not anymore, she'll be away, at school. He'll have all their attention to himself now.

Lyra is the only one in her year that was not with tears and boogers on her face, nor was she screaming, crying, or begging them not to leave, like her would be schoolmates. She was demonstrating mature behavior, taught to her by her proper pure blood upbringing."I'll send you all of your favorite sweets every day." Narcissa replied before the horn was blown, signaling the parents to leave the ship's deck.

Narcissa kissed her niece one last time before she released her. She took her husband's arm as she walked down the steps to the pier. Lyra stepped to the edge of the ship, rested her hand on the rail, and slightly lifted her small hand to wave good bye to her family. Her schoolmates beside her waved frantically at their parents, with pink faces from the chilling weather, wailing their goodbyes.

Lyra stepped back as an older student, who introduced himself as Adam, called them into the forecastle to show them their quarters. They were made to walk in rows of two because of the narrow hall, standing side-by-side waiting for further orders. The witch observed her schoolmates as their rooms were assigned. He would call them two by two in alphabetical order. When the students came forward, he would point at a bare area in the wall in the hall and tell them to choose a password quietly. After a password was selected a symbol would appear on the wooden wall, and Adam would tell them to walk right in. Two-by-two students disappeared into the wooden frame.

"Lestrange!" the wizard read the list, "Lekas!"

Lyra came forward followed by a brown haired witch with thick black spectacles that made her green eyes appear as if they were about to pop out of her face. She was completely tanned over, an obvious indication of having spent long hours on the beach, possibly on the coastline in her native Greek country, if her last name was any indication.

"Password." he said, pointing at a bare wall.

"Hi! I'm Veralidaine Lekas, and you are?" the witch introduced herself to Lyra.

"Password." Adam interrupted

Veralidaine looked at him and said, "Oh right sorry!" she glanced at the other children awaiting their turn, "Sorry! - password." she turn to Lyra, letting her decide.

Lyra observed the witch up and down, and turned to the wall, "Obelus." She said in a low tone and entered the port hole.

"Obelus?" Veralidaine repeated after she followed Lyra in. "Meaning dagger? Why did you choose that word?"

"I chose Obelus as in a sign used to mark questionable or corrupt text passages." Lyra didn't say any more, not wanting to give the impression that she was insulting the witch in any way by indirectly saying Veralidaine was questionable or corrupt. She just felt like it should be her password.

"Okay," Veralidaine shrugged and went through her luggage that was placed in their room already. "Oh!" she squealed, "You haven't told me your name yet – I'm Veralidaine Lekas."

"Lyra Lestrange." she answered.

"Lestrange, Lestrange. I think I heard of that name before." Veralidaine said, pondering the thought. "Holy cricket!" she breathed. "Aren't your parents –"

"Yes." Lyra answered bluntly, ready for whatever insults the witch would throw at her for having murders for parent.

Veralidaine was silently staring at her like she was an exotic creature which was rarely spotted. In defense, Lyra stared back at her, mirroring her face but with more shock in her eyes, which was a bit difficult considering Veralidaine had aid from her spectacles, while Lyra's face lacked the assistance. The witch's face was completely readable, Lyra saw that the other girl was shocked that's for sure. She also seemed amazed, curious, and blushing? It was hard to tell with her skin so dark, but Lyra somehow managed. After a while Veralidaine became uncomfortable with the staring contest, she closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Sorry." she apologized, looking at her feet and blinking a few time. "It's – it's not that I'm judging you or anything. I – I never met one of you before... and...and...you're so pretty." her face burning redder.

Lyra constructed her face back to normal with skilled ease and said, "It's alright. I'm use to it." she was not insulted the less bit by Veralidaine's emphasis on the word you.

"No! - I mean -" Veralidaine bit her bottom lips, trying to think of some way to redeem herself. "I don't blame you – you're not your parents – you're different -"

"I comprehend what you're trying to say." Lyra said, having no desire to watch the witch squirm under her gaze any longer. Though, she thought it was too early for the witch to already say she is was unlike her parents. They just meet each other a few minutes. "Thank you."

Veralidaine smiled brightly at her words but then her smile faded and her face fell. "I don't think badly of you but... but the others out there might."

"I don't care." Lyra replied, looking through her things.

She pulled out a copy of the Iliad and began to read it. Seeing as Lyra was too busy to pay her any attention, Veralidaine took her large spectacles off and decided to have a quick nap.

"Veralidaine," Lyra shook her, "wake up, we're here."

"Ten more minutes, daddy." Veralidaine groaned.

The witch opened her eyes and squinted at the blurred colors. Lyra handed Veralidaine her spectacles after she finished rubbing her eyes. When she placed them on she gazed at her surroundings as if she didn't know where she was, then she began to cry. "Mommy! Daddy! Where are you?!" she cried.

Lyra handed her a handkerchief, took a step back and sat on her bed, waiting for the witch to get it out of her system. She took out her copy of the Iliad and began reading from where she left off. It was not as if she was an inconsiderate witch or anything, but she felt that Veralidaine needed to come to terms with the fact that she wouldn't be seeing her parent's everyday anymore, only months at a time. Veralidaine was lucky, thought. At least she could still see her parents whenever she wished.

"Sorry for acting this way," Veralidaine sniffed, "I swear I've never done this before... crying so much."

Lyra closed her book and put it away, "Don't worry, everyone cries." she said as she pulled out another handkerchief and helped Veralidaine wipe her face.

"I must look awful." Veralidaine sniffed.

"Yes, dreadful."

Veralidaine whimpered at her blunt honestly but appreciated the fact that she did not say it in a mean, scolding way. Lyra's tone was calm and relaxed, if she didn't know any better she would think Lyra was giving her a compliment. Veralidaine stared up at her, wondering how she pulled it off so well.

"Come, we'll be late for the welcoming feast." Lyra said, brushing away the last line of tears on Veralidaine's face.

"Okay." Veralidaine nodded and followed Lyra out.

"You're not going to change?" Lyra asked, gesturing to her attire.

Veralidaine looked at Lyra and saw that she had already changed into her school robes. She looked back at her wrinkled school robes, and patted the material down. She still had time to change but decided not to.

"No." she shook her head.

The witches joined the rest of their schoolmates in the castle; Veralidaine was walking behind Lyra, steadying her pace to match hers. She followed her closely through the crowd and by the time they were seated at a table, Lyra was certain that she had unwillingly gained herself a friend.

"Welcome." The headmaster said as he walked up to the podium. "Before we begin the feast I would like you inform the new students about our rules and regulations."

His speech was short and simple, easy for the first years to understand. After the feast was over an older witch and wizard appeared. They introduced themselves to be the head boy and girl and told them to follow them as they give them a tour of the castle. All first year witches follow the head girl, while all first year wizards follow the head boy.

"Durmstrang consists of four floors," the head girl said, leading them through the corridors.

Lyra was about to walk into the corridors with the group, but something caught her eye and made her stop.

"What are you looking at?" Veralidaine asked, taking her spectacles off to clean them.

When she put them back on she saw the carving on the wall and went up to examine it. There, on the wall, was a triangle over a circle with a line going through them.

"What is this?" Veralidaine asked, turning to Lyra for the answer.

"It's his sign," a wizard responded, "Grindelvald's sign..."

Lyra turned around to face a tall wizard with dark hair and eyes. Veralidaine went to stand beside Lyra, all the while staring at the wizard.

"Hey!" the head girl shouted, gesturing them to return to the group.

Lyra walked away without a second glance at the wizard or the carving. Veralidaine turn her head to Lyra and realized she was leaving, the witch ran to catch up.

"What a cutie." Veralidaine mouthed to her.

At the end of the tour Lyra entered her new room with Veralidaine in tow. Their luggage was already there, having been brought in by the school's house elves. Lyra took out a piece of parchment and a quill to write to her aunt to tell her that she had gotten to the school safely.

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good is it? I've tried a few simple spells myself and they've all worked for me." Veralidaine said smugly.

Lyra looked over at the witches arguing over who was better in Charms, apparently Veralidaine was winning. Charms was their first class on their first day of school. Lyra had awoken early and was the first to have arrived, with Veralidaine right behind her of course. Slowly, the empty class began to fill and students were sitting patiently waiting for their professor to arrive.

"Yes, it's a real spell." the other witch argued, "It didn't work simply because – because I wasn't focused enough."

"Oh?" Veralidaine said

"Watch closely." the witch said, holding her wand up but quickly dropped it on the floor, being startled by their professor who suddenly walked into the room.

"Good morning." He greeted every one. "I am professor Ryes, welcome to you first Charms class." he said looking over his students. "Can anyone tell me, what's the most important thing you must remember when casting a spell?"

Veralidaine hand was the first to fly up.

"Yes you there." He pointed at her.

"Pronunciation, sir." she replied with a smile.

"Good." he said, "and what's next?"

Veralidaine's hand was up again but the professor chose another student to answer. The witch slowly put her arm down in disappointment. Lyra placed her hand over the witch's in an effort to comfort her and lessen her whimpering. Veralidaine smiled toothily at Lyra's gesture and laced her finger with her.

"Wrist movement." A wizard answered.

"Wingardium leviosa is a levitating charm…" the professor began.

"Wingardium leviosa!" Lyra said as her quill floated into the air.

"Wingardium leviosa!" Veralidaine said as her quill floated also.

Those who were able to cast the spell were made to help the others who could. The wizard Lyra was paired with was able to cast the charm within seconds after her careful instructions, but Veralidaine is having trouble with her partner.

"Wingardium leviosar!" the witch shouted, flicking her wand.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Veralidaine shouted, frantically waving her hand, "You're going to take someone's eye out." She scolded her.

"I'm trying me best!" the witch cried.

"I know you are," Veralidaine said in what she thought was a calm tone but it sounded like she was being arrogant. "You're saying it wrong. It's LeviOsa, not LeviosAR!"

"Here let me help." Lyra replied, getting in between the witches.

The witch looked about ready to hex Veralidaine.


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Their next class together was Potions which Veralidaine quickly became their professor's favorite, causing jealousy among her classmates. While the professor left the room to speak to another professor, he left Veralidaine in charge. The witch took to the position given to her and walked about the room inspecting the other students' cauldron, commenting on the colors, if they were wrong or right, and amount of bubbles that the potion should be expelling. She returned to hers and Lyra's cauldron to demonstrate to the class what their boil cure potion should look like.

"As you can see the color is suppose to be ashy green, not dark green," she said, eyeing the cauldron on her far left, "and not light green," she said eyeing another table, "and most definitely not black."

Meanwhile, Lyra poured a jar of dried nettles into the cauldron and told Veralidaine to go get the jar of horned slugs so that they could stew before they put them in. Veralidaine nodded and went to the storage closet. On her way back she tripped and fell, dropping the glass jar and cutting her palms with its shard pieces.

"AAAAAAAAAA!"The witch screamed at the stinging pain of the liquid, used to preserve the slugs, as it leaked into her cuts.

"Episkey!" Lyra shouted, racing to Veralidaine side, healing the cuts on her hands.

Upon hearing the witch scream, their Potions professor came back into the room.

"Scourgify!" he shouted, cleaning the mess and tending to the injured witch. He praised Lyra for her quick thinking, healing the witch's hands right before the liquid went in to deep, but, to be on the safe side, he sent them off to the hospital wing for a thorough examination.

"Thanks." Veralidaine said to Lyra after they left the hospital wing.

"Don't worry about it." Lyra said and held out her broken spectacles.

"You brought me my spectacles!" the witch said, happily, reaching for them. "It's broken isn't it?" she stated after putting it on and seeing the creaks of clear and blurred shapes and color.

"Yes."

"Daddy is going to be so mad at me."

"I'll fix them."

"What?" The witch asked, staring at Lyra, but in truth she was staring at an empty space on the witch's right side.

"I'll look for a spell to fix it or do you want a new one?"

Veralidaine thought about it for a moment. "I don't know if I want a new one, I'm quite attached to these… but a new one would be better for my eyes…"

"Then I'll fix these and get you a new one." Lyra said, taking her wand out. "Oculus Reparo!"

In an instant the glasses was repaired and the witch placed them on her face.

The witches returned to the Potions class room, Veralidaine was completely fine, and continued with their potion. Their professor, being cautious, told her to stay seated and not use her hands too much. That being the case, she sat on her stool stirring the potion while Lyra went to retrieve the ingredients.

Lyra waited patiently until the wizard she had been watching went into the closet and followed him in, closing the door behind them and casting a silencing and locking charm.

"Apologize." Lyra said to the wizard.

"What?" He asked turning around to face her, appearing confused.

"Apologize to my friend," Lyra replied simply, "for tripping her earlier."

"She's clumsy and fell on her own." He said. "How are you sure it was me? With that know it all attitudes of hers - practically anyone could be the culprit!"

"I saw you sticking your feet out when she was walking." Lyra said coldly, advancing towards the wizard. "Apologize."

The wizard began to step back, uncomfortable with the way the witch was looking at him.

**************

Veralidaine stirred the potion, waiting for Lyra patiently, when a nameless wizard approached her.

"I'msorryIhadmyfootintheaislewhileyouwerewalkingandaccidentallytrippedyouPleaseaccepmyapologyandletmebuyyouanewpairofglassesandcarryyourbagtoyournextclass."

The witch stared blankly at him for a moment. "What?" she asked, he was speaking too fast for her to understand.

The wizard nervously side glanced at the witch who was leaning against the wall, staring at him with cold eyes. Swallowing an imaginary lump in his throat, he spoke a bit louder. "I'm sorry. I had my foot in the aisle while you were walking and accidentally tripped you. Please accept my apology and let me buy you a new pair of glasses and carry your bag to your next class."

"Al… alright."

At that the wizard sighed in relief. He was holding his breath throughtout the entire ordeal.

In the library, Veralidaine was arguing with yet another witch about the twelve uses of dragon's blood. Meanwhile, Lyra tuned out the conversation in front of her and focused on her writing. A few minutes later the other witch, Lyra didn't bother to catch her name, jumped up from her seat and stumped out of the library in a huff.

"Ly, Ly..." Veralidaine whispered the nickname she gave Lyra, "he's staring at you again."

"So?" Lyra replied without looking up from her writing.

"I think he likes you, been stalking you for weeks now since we meet him on the first day- haven't you noticed how he's always there, like when we get out of class - he's there against the wall, staring down at something when we turn to him."

"Maybe he likes to lean against walls and admire his shoes."

"What about during breakfast. Couldn't you feel his eyes on you - I did and still do, it makes me shutter."

"Maybe he's looking at you."

"No, he's looking at you - definitely you." Veralidaine said with a nod, and then she inclined her head, lost in thought, "Want me to go ask him if he likes you?"

"No." Lyra said with no emotion.

"Why nooooot." Veralidaine whined.

"I'm involved."

"What?" Veralidaine said, bolting from her chair and staring at her wide eyed, "YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME!!"

"Veralidaine," Lyra said calmly, "sit down."

Veralidaine opened her mouth about to protest, but decided against it and did as she was told.

"I have a fiancé."

"How?" Veralidaine asked her.

"Arranged marriage."

"There's still such a thing?"

"Yes."

"Who is he? Anyone I know?" Veralidaine asked, her shock altered into excitement.

"No. He's in England."

"What does he look like?"

"Blonde, very blonde."

"Do you have a picture? Can I see it?"

"No."

"Is he the one you've been owling every week and sending you all those presents?"

"No."

"Well that's odd he's your fiancé and he hasn't owled you."

"Never."

"Not once?"

"No."

Veralidaine gazed at her friend, puzzled. "What? He is too busy flirting with other witches to write to you?"

"Yes."

"What?! HE'S CHEATING ON YOU?!"

"Not exactly, I know about her, she knows about me."

"Then - then what - I don't understand." Veralidaine stuttered in confusion, and then it turned to anger. "What's her face's name? How dare she try and steal your man when she knows he's involved - that - that home wrecker!"

"You can meet them on Sunday."

"Sunday?"

"My birthday party."

"You're birthday is on Sunday?! And you didn't tell me?!" The witch exclaimed, holding her hand over her heart. "How could you just – just tell me all of these things in one day - NO! in less than an hour!"

Lyra merely shrugged as a response.

***************

Lyra's birthday was on the nineteenth of September, Wednesday, but since it was on a school night, her uncle and aunt chose to throw her party on Sunday. There weren't that many people at Lyra's birthday party, only close family and friends, and none mentioned a word of her parents. Lucius Malfoy made sure they all knew what was expected of them before they could attend the witch's party.

"Where is he?" Veralidaine whispered to Lyra.

The witch turned to gaze at the blonde wizard at the far side of the room. Veralidaine followed her gaze and spotted him immediately.

"Wow you weren't kidding." Veralidaine said staring at Draco, "He's blonde, very blonde and cute, very cute," and then her eye trailed to the brunette beside him, "who is that?"

"Pansy." Lyra answered.

"That's the whore?!" she asked, pointing at the witch.

Every one turned to the direction of the witch in the long lavender dress. Veralidaine stood frozen in place, completely mortified.

"More cake?" Lyra asked, covering for her friend's embarrassing outburst. "You want some more cake?"

"Yes…" Veralidaine said quietly, playing along with Lyra's story.

Every one returned to whatever they were doing before the witch's outburst.

"Don't call her that." Lyra said.

"Sorry." Veralidaine said quickly looking down at her feet, feeling more ashamed than embarrassed.

"She's his friend and a guest."

"Yes." Veralidaine answered in a low voice. "I'm sorry."

"Don't do it again."

"Okay, I promise." Veralidaine said, hugging Lyra, happy that she is not upset with her.

*****************

"I think you should give Viktor Krum a chance." Veralidaine said to Lyra one day, "He seems more reliable than that… wizard, and less likely to cheat on you."

"No." was all Lyra said and that was the end of that conversation.

**********

On the next chapter Lyra I'm thinking of having Lyra transform into Hermione and show what she had to research in order to become a muggle...