THE RAVENCLAW PRINCESS

chapter 4 - screams and questions

The feast passed in a blur and soon enough, Lyra and Mieko were walking away from Ravenclaw tower after leading the first years to their dorms. It was just before curfew as the two prefects joined Iliana on their way to the Gryffindor common room. Once arriving, Lyra spoke, "Fortuna major."

The fat lady scrutinized the two ravenclaws and hufflepuff before begrudgingly opening the door. Lyra, Mieko, and Iliana entered and joined Charlotte, the twins and the golden trio by the fireplace.

Lyra took a spot on the floor between the couch and George as everyone else settled and made small talk. He nudged her slightly with a worrying look in his eyes. He didn't say anything but Lyra knew and gave him a reassuring smile and a small nod. He smiled back but Lyra could still see the anxiety behind his eyes.

"Okay, now that we're all here can you please tell us what the heck happened?" Charlotte prodded.

"It wasn't that big of a deal-"

"Not that big of a deal?" Fred scoffed.

"Lyra, you fainted." Hermione stated, still the ever-concerned look on her face.

"Oh, fine," Lyra said with a sigh. "So it was a little bit of a deal." She looked at Harry who had an amused look on his face. She was tempted to direct questions to him because as she could easily point out, she wasn't the only one who fainted. But, knowing how much he despised the attention, Lyra instead continued, "I just saw the dementor in the hall. As it approached me I felt like it was- I dunno pulling out all the happiness I've felt or something. Then I heard a lot of screaming and then nothing. I guess that's when I fainted. When I woke up Professor Lupin was there and he offered me chocolate, which was actually really good."

"The chocolate was really good," Harry added with a smile.

Across from Lyra, on the floor near the opposite end of the couch Mieko felt troubled at hearing what had occurred. The ravenclaw curiosity within him had a million questions but decided upon one, "Ly, who did you hear screaming?"

Everyone looked at her worriedly again. They knew Harry had heard his mother screaming the night she was murdered, but no one had any clues as to who it had been for Lyra.

Furrowing her brows Lyra raised her shoulders, "Honestly don't know. Couldn't be recently because I don't remember anything like that happening. It's not my parents or Dora." Lyra turned her attention down as she fiddled with the hairs on the carpet continuing in a quieter voice, "Maybe it was from before they adopted me. Maybe-maybe it was my birth parents." Barely whispering, she added, "maybe that's why mum doesn't want to talk about it."

The common room became eerily quiet as they all stared at Lyra. She hated the uncomfortable environment she had created but truly didn't know how to remedy the tension. Glancing at George, and hidden from the others by hair covering half her face, she silently pleaded with him to change the subject.

George quickly began detailing their newest prank idea and Fred commented too. Lyra joined in offering suggestions to improve it.
Hermione lightheartedly remarked, "Lyra, you do know it seems a bit foolish for you to help seeing as you are a prefect."

"Please," Ron scoffed. "If anything this makes her a better prefect."

Lyra chuckled and Mieko and Iliana rolled their eyes.

"This is going to be perfect for the first years," Fred added with a sly smile.

"Fred Weasley you will not be doing these pranks on first years." Charlotte scolded.

"Oh, so second years then?" Fred replied wittily.

Before Charlotte had a chance, Harry quickly said, "No no, Fred, she meant third year slytherins. Specifically, Malfoy. Right, Charlotte?"

"Ugh," Charlotte threw her hands in the air, "why do I even bother?"

Iliana and Mieko shared a knowing smile.

Just before midnight, Iliana, Mieko, and Lyra said their goodbyes and returned to their own common rooms. At the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room, the eagle knocker spoke, "What kind of tree can you carry in your hand?"

At the same time Lyra and Mieko spoke.

"Palm tree!"

"An acorn!"

The eagle knocker nodded slightly, "both true, welcome back."

Lyra bid Mieko a good night and slipped into her dorm, changing into comfortable pajamas, and fell on her bed.

Tossing and turning Lyra tried finding a comfortable position. No matter what she did though, her mind drifted back to Dumbledore's speech. A mass murderer was on the loose and based on what she heard from the twins, it seemed as though he was out looking for Harry. As nervous as she was for her friend, Lyra couldn't help but be reminded of Ollivander.

Before her first year, she visited Ollivander to get her wand. It was then that he had asked her relation to the Black family. For three years she didn't think too much of it, but now- now was it possible that Sirius Black is someone she is related to? According to Ollivander only people from the Black family had wands like hers. But even though Lyra wanted answers about her birth parents, she was certain it wasn't Sirius Black. It couldn't be. Lyra absolutely could not be related to someone like him, someone who had basically murdered her friend's parents. She refused to accept it, and yet there was a small nagging in her brain. The piece of her mind that demanded answers had found a shred of an explanation and it wasn't going to let her ignore it.

Lyra frowned into her pillow. She had to stay focused. Classes started tomorrow and it was already past midnight. She needed sleep at least before the first day. She didn't have time to think about what ifs. She needed facts and solid answers and she wasn't going to find that tonight. Even after coming to this conclusion, her mind wouldn't rest and she kept tossing and turning until finally sleep overtook the exhausted girl.