The short life of Kyrah Swanson

Chapter 16 | Year Three

     September switched over to October and the spirits were rising high as the Quidditch try-outs was around the corner and this was all everybody talked about. Sirius and James were discussing their tactics to join the Gryffindor team and Kyrah could only smile at them because she knew how much Sirius loved Quidditch.

     The day of the try-outs the Slytherin team and Gryffindor team had double booked the pitch, Kyrah had to admit that she thought Professor Slughorn was doing this on purpose, seeing as the Gryffindor's had won the Quidditch Cup four years running now. She went over towards James and Sirius as they stood waiting for their turn to fly. Wishing them both luck she noticed Lily Evans in the stands. 

     She was glaring in James's direction and Kyrah noticed Sirius nudging James. He turned around and saw Lily, blushing he grinned at her but she looked away ignoring his enthusiastic wave.

     "Well Evans seems to "hate" you." Sirius said making air quotes at a blushing James.

     "I don't know why she won't go out with me though." He said looking a bit disappointed at the way she had greeted him.

     "Hey you two idiots." Kyrah said smiling at them, "I'm a girl I can find out if you want to."

     James face lit up as he looked at her, "Really?"

     "Honestly!" She said laughing. James nodded and Kyrah left with Beatrice towards the stands. Looking back at the Slytherin's she saw Cole's blue eyes watching her; she waved at him but he turned around suddenly. 

     Shrugging it off as Quidditch nerves she went over to Lily Evans smiling at her, "Hello Miss Evans!" Kyrah said to her and a smile spread across Lily's face.

     "Rah-Rah." She said looking at Kyrah "Bea." And she hugged them both before sitting down again. 

     "Come here to watch Potter?" Beatrice started but Lily gave a snort of laughter.

     "Oh hell no." She replied still laughing and Kyrah felt a shock of annoyance about how she was laughing. "No, I didn't come to watch that stinky toe rag." She explained. She pointed towards the Slytherin's and the two girls noticed Lily's friend Severus.

     "You're kidding?" Kyrah exclaimed and she knew it sounded rude, but Severus Snape was the worst broom rider in the Third Year Class. Kyrah knew that both Beatrice and herself weren't any good but Severus made them look amazing! Kyrah frowned at Beatrice as she shook her head at her, as though saying 'Shut up'.

     Lily glared at them, "At least he is nice and not a total git like your imprudent friends Potter and Black!" she scolded before getting up from the stands to move over towards Marlene and Alice. They both gave us a sympathetic glance before comforting Lily.

     Kyrah couldn't quite explain what happened next, because she felt anger rushing up to her face, Lily had called both Sirius and James imprudent the filthy little mud-blood. She glared at Lily Evans, she had never disliked Lily before, they were on good terms but this was a low blow from her. Lily knew that Sirius was almost like Kyrah's brother and that she had spent some time at the Potter's, and still she insulted them to her face.

     The next thing she knew Lily's bag exploded, all her books and quills caught fire and Lily screamed as some of her ink burst into flames, spattering everyone with black goo. Kyrah felt someone tugging at her arm, saying something but she couldn't hear. The noise inside her head was too loud like waves crashing into rocks. The tugging got worse and her anger flared higher and higher, and then just as suddenly as it had happened it stopped.

     "Kyrah!" It was Cole's voice and she noticed that he was standing in front of her both his hands on her shoulders but he seemed so far away from her. "Rah stop it!" he yelled and she could suddenly hear clearly, the noise inside her head gone, she looked around at the crowd that had gathered around them, all looking at her as though she did something wrong, something bad. 

     Cole embraced her and she felt hot tears rolling down her cheeks, and over his shoulder she saw Lily being rushed towards the castle.

-----

     Miss Swanson, explain yourself." Kyrah was inside Professor Slughorn's office after what had happened last time with Lucius and Bellatrix she knew she'd be in huge trouble the moment she had returned to the castle. 

     Kyrah had gone up to the Hospital Wing to apologize to Lily, somehow she had burned Lily's hands quite bad but Madam Pomfrey assured her that she would be able to heal Lily's hands without there being any major damage or scarring.

     "I don't know Professor." Kyrah mumbled not looking at him. She couldn't explain what had happened. One minute she was fine the next she had gotten so angry that she burnt Lily and destroyed her bag and all her belongings inside the bag. 

     "It seems to me Miss Swanson that the previous few year's punishments didn't sink through to you at all now did they?" Professor Slughorn glared at her and she felt her lip quivering.

     "I'm really sorry Professor.' Kyrah started but he held up a hand.

     "Detention, be in my office Monday at seven." He said and waved her from his office. Kyrah ran from his office tears pricking her eyes, she wish she knew what had happened. Wish she could explain it or have an explanation about what happened. 

     Kyrah entered the common room and walked straight for her dormitory. As she entered her room she saw a note on the pillows. In the handwriting she noticed as Cole's she read the small scrap of parchment.

-----

Rah, I'm sorry about what happened.

Odd things keep happening to me too.

We need to talk.

-----

     With a jolt of frustration she figured that this was something to do with having Veela-blood. Kyrah slipped on new clothes and left the dormitory to find Cole. 

     She kept thinking about Cole and somehow she was able to stretching her mind to find his she felt a small answer of awareness, but it wasn't Cole's mind. It was like something she has never felt before and it frightened her. 

     Covered in darkness and hate it seemed to radiate and with shock she pulled her mind back but the mind she had reached replied with a small inkling of recognition and dislike.

     The only concrete thought Kyrah had seen in this mind was 'Kill them both.'