Perfidy | Tom Riddle |

50.

Lyra deeply dreaded having to leave her room to attend back to class on the first day.

The remaining time at the Manor was spent with her isolated from everyone. Even after her meaningful conversation with Tom, she didn't see him after that. Insisting that she required more time to wrap her head round everything and having to deal with the trauma of that night along with Nott and Mucliber lying to her.

Lestrange remained the sole person she would see or speak to. He confessed that Frey used him specifically due to their odd past. That he knew she was devising something big on New Year's but the curse forcibly prevented him from informing her whatsoever. She was gone and unaccountably disappeared from the manor when Frey found out Lyra was still alive. The boys kept their promise and didn't confront her or attempt to seek revenge though it was hard when everyone wanted to brutally tear her apart.

"You don't have to go back you know? Rakepick cherishes you and would excuse you from class." Lestrange attempted to comfort Lyra who had been staring in the mirror for odd minutes.

"You know you don't have to pretend to care about me anymore."

He sighed wearily looking down to the floor with guilt, "She never cursed me to care about you, merely get close to you. How I feel about you is all on my own."

She didn't speak, mindlessly staring at the scar in the centre of her chest. Lestrange couldn't even look at her back while it was faced to him. The deep scars of the symbol never went away and merely imagining what she went through that night forcibly sent a shiver down his spine.

"I do care about you Lyra. We're friends. I know it's nothing like your relationship with Nott or Mulciber but I do. I just grew to detest you because of how severely I was punished by Riddle when we couldn't find you."

"It's odd." Lyra huffed with a small chuckle, "How much can change in such a brief amount of time?" she smiled desperately attempting to blink back the uncontrollable tears forming in her sunken eyes.

Lestrange turned Lyra to him and began fitting her in her uniform top while she curiously observed him. While buttoning up her dress shirt when his fingers reached near her chest he momentarily stopped. "Ugly isn't it?" she questioned looking up at him. He resumed buttoning her shirt up again.

"No it isn't ugly."

She laughed, "Liar."

"Shut up." He smiled down at her while adjusting her tie. She grabbed her book bag and properly secured her wand to her thigh.

"No dress robe?" He marked her confused expression while they were about to head out the door.

Lyra turned her head away in awkwardness, "It's silly but it makes me feel claustrophobic."

"We don't have to go you know that right." He placed his finger under her chin, turning her head to face him. "We even skipped breakfast I see no reason for us to attend class."

"But we have to." she sighed into his chest. "We also can't skip breakfast forever."

The pair lightly laughed and proceeded warily to exit Lyra's room. Since classes were about to begin most Slytherin students wouldn't be in the common room. Especially three Slytherins she'd like to avoid.

"We will start off with a simple duel today." Rakepick announced to the entire class the moment everyone sat down. "Riddle and Lenkrov please step up in front of the class."

"Professor Lyra is still healing from wounds she attained during the holiday," Lestrange spoke up eyeing Tom.

"Are you alright to duel Lenkrov?" Rakepick asked Lyra.