Lyra heard Draco boast all day long, it was neverending. He got to watch the quidditch World Cup while she had to stay back practicing mozart.
She hated it too. Katie was going and she really wanted to see her. But no, she had to rebel. She tickled the ivories for what felt like forever. That voice screamed in her head for it to be perfect. She grew upset when she messed up or had to take her time.
She was sick of the piano by noon time. She was thankful Minky called her for lunch. She joined her mother for the midday meal. She was reading Witch weekly. She finally put it aside and wore a faint smile. The house seemed more quiet without the males.
"I have some news." She sang as she stirred her tea.
"What is it, mother?" Lyra asked eagerly.
"Hogwarts is putting on the Triwizard tournament." She was trying her best to stay composed and proper. "Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic will be attending in a few months. Though, only students over seventeen can put their names in. But you can attend the yule ball, even fourth years. So be kind to Draco. Don't embarrass the boy."
"Mother, are you serious? Our school is putting it on? That's splendid. How exciting! Does that mean I may have a date to the yule ball? Did father say I was allowed to go with a boy?"
"I'll talk to him, don't worry. Your fifth year will be so stressful with the responsibilities as a Prefect and your OWLs. You deserve to have some fun."
Lyra got picked to be a prefect. No doubt Lucius spoke to Professor Snape. No way would she have had the opportunity to be otherwise. She was a great student, but wasn't particularly noticable.
"Does that mean I get a dress?" She beamed.
"Yes, tomorrow we'll get you fitted. You will be looking like a queen. No one will have a dress like yours."
Lyra smiled to herself and started poking at her meal. She was to be going to the Yule ball, how exciting.
"Wait, mother. The Triwizard tournament is dangerous. Remember the last time we hosted? The death toll was extraordinarily high."
"Professor Dumbledore has insisted the school has ministry officials supervise." Her mother took a modest sip of her tea. "Do not forget about your OWLs, Lyra. You must excel in each course."
"Why? I'm not going to get a job." She grumbled.
"You are from the best wizarding family, you must show others. You need to continue to be an excellent student. You know that, Lyra."
"I-I want to get a job." She admitted, causing her mother to choke. "I want to be a healer I think... Or a magizoologist. I admire Rolf Scamander, he says I have a talent with animals."
Narcissa rolled her eyes. "Lyra, you aren't to be a magizoologist, how embarrassing. It's not proper."
"So? It could be fun!"
"No, Lyra. How would your husband feel about his wife running off chasing unicorns?"
"It's not about him."
Narcissa narrowed her eyes at her daughter. "No, now I suggest you get that silly idea out of your head."
She didn't want to get the silly idea out of her head. She wanted to be more than a stupid housewife.
But on the contrary, she was excited to go to diagon alley again. The first trip was to collect her school supplies and new robes and clothing. She got pretty cashmere jumpers and new pairs of nylons because a lady never shows her legs naked. But this time it was solely for a ball gown.
She was made to get ready early. She took a shower and got dressed in a simple black collar dress with emerald green silk ribbon around the hem. She always had to dress to impress. If she looked slightly out of place her mother threw a fit and made her adjust herself. She'd be staying behind while her parents and Draco got to have fun. Minky was also made to document her, making her have to solely practice the piano or study for her stressful OWLs and study from her old books that her parents encouraged.
She joined her mother when she was satisfactory. They used the floo powder network to pop into Knockturn alley, it always made Lyra feel uncomfortable. She gripped her wand tightly as she walked past dark wizards.
The Malfoy girls walked into Twilfitt and Tatting's. An older woman, Madam Carrie gave them a respectful bow of her head.
"How may I help you today, Mrs. Malfoy?" Madam Carrie asked in a shrill voice.
"Lyra will be fitted for a custom made gown for the yule ball." Mrs. Malfoy beamed happily.
"Yes, come, come." They led her to a platform. Lyra gave her robe to her mother and stood tall for the woman to take her measurements. "What style are we going for today?"
Before Narcissa could open her mouth, Lyra spoke up. "I want bright colors. Pinks, blues, and I want it floral!" She beamed. "Please,"
"A solid color is more proper, Lyra." Mrs. Malfoy stated.
"Yes, but wouldn't a pastel dress be a wonderland? I'd look splendid, don't you think so, mother?"
Narcissa seeing her daughter smile ear to ear, made her sigh softly. "I suppose a splash of color wouldn't harm anything." She turned to the seamstress. "I'd like it long and modest, I don't need anyone seeing what they shouldn't. But if she wants floral, give her floral. And nothing too tight or... Promiscuous."
"Yes, ma'am." Madam Carrie replied politely.
"Perhaps a cute Bulgarian will ask me to the ball." Lyra giggled.
Narcissa pulled her lips into a straight line. "No, that won't be happening. They are near savages, those boys are nothing but trouble. Best to stay away from them."
"Yes, mother." Lyra strained to reply.
Everything was for her to stay away from. She never got the luxury to explore anything.
After the measurements were finished, Lyra and Narcissa walked through diagon alley as Narcissa needed to run a few errands. "Are you low on the blemish serum?"
Narcissa has stocked Lyra with a supply of beautifying products. Once she got pimples, she was given several serums to keep her face clear and youthful. Draco also got blemish serums, along with the most painful potion both have ever received. A batch of teeth straightening potions. Months of pure pain was what they got for the summer. But as Narcissa always told them, beauty is pain.
Lyra had never drank so many pain relieving potions in her life, and she started menstruating at age ten, it was very misfortunate day for her tenth birthday.
"Ugh, of course, I thought I smelt rubbish." Lyra heard her mother scoff.
She looked around trying to find who she was referring to, only to spot Mrs. Weasley. She had so many bags of school supplies following her. Lyra had seen her several times, and obviously her children as well. Her father had nothing but bad things to say about them. Making sure they know she's better than all of them. Lyra was praised when she taunted the youngest Weasley, Ginny, when they were younger. Her father told them they were incestrous and must stay away from them, they also were infected with ringworm. So of course Draco and Lyra told everyone that when they were younger. Only Lyra regretted it and wished to apologize.
But she had rarely spoken to a Weasley. She felt embarrassed to be seen with them and felt guilt because she knew those weren't fair assumptions to have. It was all bestowed upon her from her parents, and wasn't true at all.
She thought the Weasley twins were annoying, but also pretty entertaining. They weren't bad looking either, but she'd never admit that. She had been struck with one of their mischievous spells, which infuriated her to her very core and told Snape to get them weeks worth of detention.
When Mrs. Weasley and Narcissa cross paths, they gave each other the dirtiest look. Lyra felt extremely uncomfortable with what was said between the fine lines.
Molly calling Narcissa a no good prat and Narcissa calling her dirty and a blood traitor.
"Come on, mother. Can we please go home?" She grabbed Narcissa's hand to speed up the passing by Mrs. Weasley, not letting them get cross with each other. Lyra couldn't do confrontation.
Arriving home was bittersweet. Narcissa left to go watch the World Cup. Lyra turned on the radio to hear the commentator. She sat in her and Draco's study with a first year spell book on her lap as she listened closely to the game. She wasn't one for sports, but this was a big deal, Bulgaria versus Ireland.
When it was announced Ireland won even tho Bulgaria caught the snitch, she went to the music room and practiced Mozart. Her mind wondered as she got used to the first few keys. She thought about how stressful this year was going to be. Filled with OWLs preparations and a new defense against the dark arts professor and new students and big tasks ahead. And her Prefect responsibilities. How will she balance it all? Stress was all she felt.
She'd need a calming potion for the whole year.