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The next morning Lyra laid in bed blinking herself awake. Tomorrow they would be going home for summer, getting ready for another year at Hogwarts.
For a moment, she sank into her bed, the green and silver blankets hugging her warmly. Tomorrow they would be leaving the school, and after months of tension and secrets, it felt like everything was finally starting to settle.
She heard the soft murmur of voices as she started to wake up. Daphne and Astoria were already awake, their conversation low but lively.
Pansy sat on the edge of her bed while brushing out her hair, her usual smirk already plastered on her face.
"You're finally awake," Daphne teased, glancing over at Lyra. "We thought we'd have to drag you out of bed."
Lyra stretched, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "You wish."
Astoria grinned, tossing a pillow at her. "How do you look like that after just waking up."
"Good genes I guess." Lyra jokes, swinging her legs out of bed and sitting up.
Pansy snorted, throwing her hairbrush down onto her bed. "Yeah, you're right about the genes. I would totally fuck your d-"
"Let's... not." Lyra shot back with a disgusted expression, throwing a pillow right in Pansy's face.Daphne burst out in laughter.
"We're going home tomorrow, and I'd rather not spend my last day listening to you go on about fathers looks." Lyra continued.
"What about your mothers-" Pansy teased, but her conversation was cut short when she got another pillow flung in her face.
Daphne rolled her eyes playfully by her friends playful banter. "You'll miss us when we're gone, Arakan."
Lyra shrugged with a playful smirk. "Maybe. Or maybe i'll enjoy the peace and quiet."
The girls continued their usual banter as they dressed, the light hearted conversation comforting Lyra.
By the time they were ready to head down to the Great Hall, Lyra felt more like herself than she had in a long while.
She had done her hair in a fresh blow-out, even applied her usual makeup, which she didn't do when she was so focused on studying about her family tree.
She looked gorgeous. Her silky blonde (or whatever you prefer!) hair, falling gracefully down her back. Her beautiful eyes standing out by the mascara she had applied, and her cheekbones glistening with a slightly blush which she had applied.
When they reached the entrance to the Slytherin common room, Draco, Blaise, Theo, Adrian, Crabbe, and Goyle were already waiting. Blaise was shooting insults towards the platinium blonde boy, and Theodore stood a little apart from the group with his arms crossed.
Theodore's eyes slightly widened as his eyes met hers.
Lyra ignored him though. He could pout in peace. Her interest was more perked by Blaise's and Draco's conversation.
Lyra ignored the guilt gnawing at her as she approached them, flashing Blaise a smirk. "What are you whining about now?"
Blaise shot her an offended look. "I wasn't whining, I was explainingâ"
"âExplaining how Draco never listens to you," Daphne cut in, grinning as she joined the group.
Draco huffed, but didn't bother to deny it. "You lot ready to eat, or are we going to stand around listening to Blaise complain all morning?"
"You're right, let's go." Lyra said, eager to shift the focus away from any lingering tension.
"You look absolutely gorgeous, by the way." Blaise whispered in Lyra's ear as he passed by her, joining their friends in front of them.
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The group made their way to the Great Hall, the familiar sight of the enchanted ceiling and the long rows of tables coming into view. They found their usual spot at the Slytherin table and sat down. Plates and goblets appearing in front of them as they settled in for lunch.
The conversation flowed easily. Astoria and Daphne were whispering and giggling about something, Pansy was making sarcastic comments about everything, and Blaise, as usual, was the target of most of the jokes.
"So, Blaise," Adrian started, smirking as he leaned across the table, "Are you finally going to admit that Draco's style is superior to yours, or are you still living in that fantasy of yours?"
Blaise rolled his eyes. "Draco's style isn't even that great. It's just, suits. Black suits."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "I beg to differ. Everyone knows my style is flawless, not to mention classy."
"Delusional, the both of you," Daphne chimed in with a playful laugh.
"Right, obviously Blaise takes the win." Astoria giggled.
As the teasing continued, Lyra felt the knot of tension loosening. Everything felt almost normal again, like the weight of the past few months was finally lifting.
She laughed at Blaise's defense of his style, leaned into the jokes with Daphne and Astoria, and for a moment, she forgot about the secrets she had been holding onto.
But then, out of nowhere, Daphne nudged her under the table, her voice low and teasing. "He's staring."
Lyra raised an eyebrow, confused for a moment. "Who?"
Daphne gestured subtly toward the Gryffindor table. "Over there. You haven't noticed?"
Lyra glanced over, following her friend's gaze. And then she saw him.
Fred Weasley.
His eyes locked onto hers from across the hall, the same way they used to back when they couldn't stand being in the same room without exchanging insults.
He was sitting with his usual group which contained George, Lee Jordan, and Angelina, but his attention was fixed entirely on her.
Her stomach twisted in a way she hadn't felt in months. She hadn't thought about Fred Weasley in so long. She had been too wrapped up in her family history, her research, and her own problems.
But there he was, staring at her like old times.
"What's with him?" Astoria asked, her tone genuinely curious as she followed Lyra's gaze.
"I- I don't know," Lyra muttered as she quickly turned her focus to her plate.
Her pulse was quickening. Her heart was thudding in her chest in a way that irritated her more than anything.
"Maybe he misses you," Daphne teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Lyra scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Doubt it."
But even as she tried to brush it off, the feeling of his gaze lingered. It itched at her, pulling her back to the months they spent bickering, the tension that always remained between them whenever they were in the same room.
She hadn't realised how much she'd missed it.
The thought hit her hard and she shook her head, pushing the thought away. She had more important things to focus on which was; her family and her future.
Fred Weasley was a distraction, and she didn't have time for distractions.
But when she glanced up one last time. He wasn't staring, but his eyes quickly met hers, like he had been waiting for her to look at him.
And then he did something that made her heart flutter in her chest.
He smirked slightly, throwing her a quick wink. Lyra looked away quickly as she cursed under her breath.
'What the hell is he playing at?' She thought to herself.
This could not be happening. Not after all this time. They had forgotten about each other, and he was not just about to remind her of him just before school ended.
But Lyra decided if it was going to be like this, she wasn't backing down.
She looked towards him yet again, and this time his eyes hadn't left her. He was still smirking so stupidly by his table. She swear she was gonna punch that smirk off his face if she got the chance.
"Fuck off," she mouthed to him from across the tables.
Fred, of course, didn't miss a beat.
"Make me," he mouthed back with a cocky grin that made her blood boil.
And just like that, the old familiar feeling returned. The tension, the excitement of their banter. The feeling that no matter how much she tried to distance herself from him, there was always something about him pulling her back in.
Lyra clenched her jaw, pushing the thought away as best she could. She turned back to her friends, forcing herself to ignore the way Fred's smirk lingered in her mind.
"Honestly," Daphne said with a sly grin, "you two just have to-"
"Don't even finish that sentence," Lyra cut her off.
Astoria giggled beside her. "It's like watching a romance movie that never ends, honestly."
Lyra groaned dramatically as she continued to eat off her plate. She remained fixed on her plate for the rest of breakfast. Suddenly, as fast as it had appeared, breakfast was over and every student began standing up, returning to their common rooms.
Since it was the last day at hogwarts, there wasn't much to do but to stay in the house's common room, but hogwarts had a traditional, or rather the students at hogwarts had a traditional the last day.
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A party.
Mostly to celebrate the graduating students, like Marcus Flint for example.
This year it was hosted by none other then; Cedric Diggory, in the Hufflepuff common room, and only fifth years and above were invited.
"I can't believe they're leaving us out," Blaise complained as they made their way back to the Slytherin common room.
"It's tradition," Lyra teased, shooting him a mock sympathetic look. "Only fifth years or above."
Daphne snickered. "Yeah, let us enjoy this moment since we're finally old enough."
Lyra smiled. "I've looked forward to this for ages."
"Okay, listen, we have to go shopping at Madame Malkin's Dress Robes for All Occasions tonight," she announced, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Definitely," Lyra chimed in, nodding enthusiastically. "We can't just show up in something plain."
"Yeah, we have to make a point," She agreed.
"Although, I might have packed a dress just incase.."
Daphne gasped in mock horror, clutching her chest. "Oh, you're sly. I should've done that."
"Well," Lyra added with a wink, "I will company either way since you need me, you know my taste in dresses is superior."
Daphne couldn't help but laugh. "I hate you, but you're right."
"Don't worry," Astoria chimed, looping her arm through Lyra's. "I'll join too, just so you have two of Hogwarts best judges by your side."
Daphne shot her sister a glance. "No way I'm bringing you. You practically pray on my downfall in your sleep."
"Fine," Astoria relented, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Do as you please."
Daphne just grinned, clearly pleased with herself. "Thank you."
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Later that evening, the girls made their way down to hogsmeade towards the dress shop. It was only Lyra and Daphne.
Madame Malkin's was bustling with activity, and students from all houses preparing for the party. The two girls went inside the dress shop, and Daphne tried on different dresses and accessories while they debated over which colour suited her best.
Lyra insisted on a deep green dress robe for Daphne, with silver accents that shimmered subtly in the light.
"You have to represent Slytherin pride," she joked, holding the dress up for Daphne to see in the mirror.
Daphne smiled brightly. The dress fit perfectly around her figure, she looked incredible. The subtle elegance of the outfit felt strangely empowering.
After she was satisfied with her outfits, the two girls made their way back to Hogwarts. Lyra walked with Daphne and their excitement was hard to hide.
But even as they joked and laughed, her mind wandered back to the Great Hall earlier that day. To Fred. To the way he had looked at her, like they hadn't just spent months avoiding each other. Like nothing had changed.
And now, as she thought about the party this night, she couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to shift again.
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