TWENTY-ONE
THE TRAIN WHISTLE SCREAMED through the air as billows of thick steam clouded Platform 9 ¾. The last few goodbyes echoed faintly in the distance, and Lyra found herself standing at the edge of the bustling crowd, barely listening to Lucius and Narcissa as they spoke in hushed, clipped tones about her responsibilities at Hogwarts.
"Your conduct this year will define you," Narcissa said, her words sharp and deliberate, each one like the crack of a whip. Her icy blue eyes were locked on Lyra, drilling into her with a gaze that refused to allow weakness. "You may not carry our name, but you carry our blood. That is far more important. Do not forget it."
Lucius, leaning heavily on his cane, said nothing at first, his pale eyes scanning the platform with the precision of a vulture looking for its next meal. Finally, he glanced at her, lips curling into a tight, disapproving line. "It is imperative that you focus on your studies," he said, voice laced with the usual superiority. "No distractions. No foolishness. And for Merlin's sake, do not disgrace us."
She gave a curt nod, her teeth gritted so tightly she thought her jaw might snap. The weight of their words was familiar, like an iron collar clasped around her neck, cold and suffocating. It had been there for as long as she could remember. Even now, it seemed to tighten, the air growing thinner with every passing second
Draco, as always, was untouched by the oppressive scrutiny that followed Lyra everywhere. He stood beside her, his expression alight with barely concealed excitement. There was a gleam in his eyes—a cruel anticipation of what lay ahead. He was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet as he nudged her toward the train.
"Come on," he said, his voice casual, as though their parents' suffocating expectations were nothing more than background noise. "Crabbe and Goyle are waiting."
Lyra hesitated, her feet rooted to the ground for just a moment longer, before finally stepping forward. She moved mechanically, dragging her trunk behind her, her free hand clenched into a fist at her side.
The narrow corridors of the train were a cacophony of sound and motion—students shouting greetings to one another, trunks thudding against the walls, the occasional screech of an owl muffled by the chatter. Draco pushed through it all with an air of entitlement, his path parting before him like the Red Sea. Lyra followed in his wake, her expression a carefully crafted mask of indifference, though inside, she felt the familiar unease beginning to creep in
"Where are we going?" she muttered, her voice low and edged with irritation.
"You'll see," Draco replied cryptically, his smirk widening.
She hated that smirk. It was the same one he wore every time he was about to start trouble, the kind of trouble that inevitably dragged her into its orbit. But she said nothing, letting the silence fester between them as they moved deeper into the train
They reached a compartment near the middle of the train, and Draco slid the door open with a flourish. Lyra's heart sank.
Inside sat Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Their conversation halted abruptly, the tension in the air palpable as all three turned to face the intruders..
"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy," Harry said coolly, his green eyes narrowing.
Draco ignored him, his gaze already fixed on the small, rusted cage sitting beside Ron. A threadbare sleeve of what looked like ancient dress robes dangled from the edge, swaying with the train's motion. Draco's eyes lit up with malicious glee.
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FLUORESCENT ADOLESCENT ► harry potter ¹
RomanceFLUORESCENT ADOLESCENT | "Everything's in order in a black hole. Nothing seems as pretty as the past though" ━━he stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even with...
