How to be a Pureblood

Chapter 11

! Eating Disorder !

"Oh, hey Lyra," James grinned sheepily. "I didn't hear you."

"That's alright," Lyra smiled weakly. "Did I interrupt something?"

Lyra stepped further into the compartment and sat down next to James across from Sirius and Remus. The boys all seemed tense.

"Of course not," Sirius quickly uttered. "Glad you're here!"

Lyra smiled softly at the boys, evading Remus' gaze.

There was an awkward silence among the usually chatty friends. Sirius knew that Lyra had heard something but he did not want to initiate the difficult conversation. He looked at James and Remus with a pleading look in his eyes. 

With a sigh, Remus directed his body towards Lyra, quickly followed by James, who sat beside her. Lyra looked into Sirius cool grey eyes. 

"Lyra, we need to talk," Remus finally broke the silence. "We are worried about you."

"There is no need to-" Lyra tried to end the conversation before it even started, but was interrupted by Sirius' warm hands in hers.

"Lyra, you look terrible," Remus whispered. "There's so little left of you."

Lyra swallowed back a hurtful reply. She knew he was right but it did not make the confrontation any easier. She rubbed her wrist, which was slowly starting to bruise.

"You hurt me," Lyra choked up. "I- I- I panicked."

Remus saw the bruise forming on Lyra's wrist. He gulped. He had hurt his friend. That's when Remus felt James' comforting hand on his knee. 

"I am so incredibly sorry, Lyra," Remus cracked up. "I never meant to hurt you."

"We want to help you," James took over. "Please let us help you."

Lyra looked down at her lap, at her hands in Sirius'. She started to shake softly and could not contain it anymore. She started crying.

"It's hard, I know." Sirius lift her chin. "You can cry, darling. We all love you."

Hearing those words, Lyra started bawling. James put an arm over her shoulder and pulled her into his chest.

That's how the friends remained for a long time. They hugged and held each other comfortingly. When the trolley witch had knocked on their door, Sirius had grabbed some things from her cart and quickly put galleons in her hand, dismissing her. 

Lyra had stopped crying and was hiccupping gently in James' arms.

 "How are we going to tackle this?" Remus asked the group. He made sure to look at everyone, indicating Lyra that she was not going to do this alone.

"You'll never have to eat alone." James came up with the first 'rule'.

"At least one of us should be with you during meal times," Remus added.

"Also, at least one snack every day," Sirius butted in. "We'll choose which one."

"I don't know guys, this seems like a lot." Lyra averted her gaze from her friends. 

"And the worst of all," James added. "No Quidditch until you're at a healthy weight."

Lyra jolted up.

"Anything but that!" She practically screamed. "I'll do anything. Please don't take Quidditch away from me."

Sirius and James, who were both on the Quidditch team, looked at each other, wordlessly exchanging thoughts with each other.