“What?! You’re kidding!” I exclaimed.
“Nope. Come on, I’m hungry!” Talia said as we approached the doors of the great hall.
I laughed and we walked in, almost running right into Professor Snape, who had been waiting by the door.
He smiled, “Glad you could join us Lyra and Talia. Lunch is a bit different today. You can sit anywhere you’d like and with whoever.”
“Thanks,” I grinned.
“Shall we sit with our family?” Talia winked.
Snape raised an eyebrow, “You told her?”
Talia nodded and Snape wiped any trace of emotion from his face. He turned sharply and joined the other professors at the table where they sat.
“Can we just sit alone?” I asked. “I don’t know who likes me after my outburst on the first day.”
Talia nodded and we found an empty table near the wall. We took a seat and watched as other kids began drifting in. I was surprised to watch a couple of guys glance at the spot beside me before Luna took it.
“Hey Talia,” Luna Lovegood grinned. “Hi, Lyra. I’m Luna.”
I smiled carefully, not knowing what to think, “Hi.”
“Are you sick of the snakes already?” She asked nodding to where Blaise, Pansy, and Draco sat. I watched my brother’s gaze dart around the room, probably looking for a way out of his seating arrangement.
“I never liked Pansy,” I muttered. “Blaise I was surprised by and Draco is not that bad once you get to know him.”
“Which is rare,” Talia laughed.
Luna nodded as a taller boy joined us. He had dark hair and a carefree grin on his face. Luna raised an eyebrow at him, “Not afraid of the girl Malfoy’s are we, Cedric.”
Talia grinned evilly, “He should be. Draco’s power is just a tad bit stronger than Lyra’s and Lyra still has two years of classes to complete to catch up.”
I pulled my wand out playfully, “I could make you eat slugs if I wanted to.”
Cedric grinned, “I’ll take my chances.”
“Why’d you choose to come and sit with us anyway?” Talia asked.
“Draco asked me to come and make sure Lyra was alright. Apparently, you ran out of class as soon as it was over?”
I groaned, “Blame it on Pansy and Blaise.”
“Blame what on us?” Pansy’s voice came from behind me.
“Jeez I really can’t get away from the nosy Pansy Parkison,” I rolled my eyes, turning to face her. “What’s wrong? Did you lose your way? Or realize that you killed any chance you had left with my brother after that little show you and Blaise put on in Potions?”
“That wasn’t a show,” Blaise muttered.
“Thanks for setting me straight. You’re free to go now.” I turned back to the table and glanced at Luna, whose eyes were dancing with laughter. Cedric looked like he was trying to hold back his own laughter and Talia, looked annoyed. Probably at Pansy and Blaise.
Draco plopped down beside me, “You heard her.” His voice was cold, not like that was anything new though.
“WHY CAN’T YOU-” Draco cut Pansy off with the slug-eating spell I had mentioned earlier and she dashed out of the great hall.
“Hey look at that Diggory grew some balls,” Talia laughed. “He’s sitting with all three Malfoy siblings.”
Cedric laughed, “I suppose it’s not so bad when Draco isn’t pointing his wand at you.”
“Diggory,” Draco nodded at Cedric.
Cedric raised an eyebrow, “Malfoy? Do you wish to say something?”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Only half the problem has left,” Cedric muttered.
We all turned around and sure enough, Blaise was standing behind us. I groaned.
“Lyra can I talk to you?” Blaise asked, calmly.