Chapter Text
Lyra
Draco is still asleep when I wake up. His arm is draped over my waist and I can feel his breath against my neck. The light is coming through the window, so it's at least after 7 a.m.. I want to just roll over and go back to sleep, but I'm too anxious. I keep practicing what I'll say to Theo, and then guessing what he'll say back so I can plan my responses out ahead of time. It's dumb and pointless but I can't stop thinking about it anyway.
My leg starts to ache and I desperately need to move, but I don't want to wake Draco up. Although I should probably tell Theo in the morning, he's usually in a better mood. So maybe I should leave and go find him. But I don't want to, I'd rather stay in bed with Draco all day. But the sooner I get it over with the better.
I roll over so I'm facing Draco, relieving my leg of its cramp, and he groans. "Morning." He mumbles, and I can't help but smile at his gravelly morning voice.
"I should probably go." I say, and he pulls me closer to him.
"No, stay." He murmurs into my hair, he still hasn't even opened his eyes all the way yet. I laugh and try to maneuver my way out of his grip, but he's too strong and I give up.
"I can't, I'm sorry. I'll come back later, I promise." He sighs but moves his arm, and I lean down to kiss him before getting dressed and leaving.
I already know Theo will be in the courtyard, so I quickly stop by my dorm to grab a coat. Pansy isn't there, so I assume she spent the night with Blaise. Dating Blaise has been really good for Pansy. She was really struggling with her mental health and self esteem there for a while. And I'm not saying that getting into a relationship automatically fixes those things, but having someone else to support her definitely has helped.
Theo spends every Saturday morning smoking, he gets up early before students start getting up, and just thinks. I admire both his ability to get up that early, and to be able to sit alone with his own thoughts that long, because I can do neither.
It's windy today and I tighten my arms around my chest as I approach Theo. He's just wearing a light jacket but doesn't seem cold at all, I'm jealous. "Hey," I greet, sitting down next to him. He offers me his cigarette, and I take it, taking a drag before giving it back. It's his way of saying hi, I guess. We sit in silent for a moment before he speaks up.
"I've barely seen you all week." It's true, we used to spend a lot more time together. I miss him even though he hasn't been gone.
"I know." I reply, avoiding his gaze. Between his eyes and the smell of smoke he reminds me of mom. She's who he picked up smoking from, she was always sneaking out of the house for a quick smoke. My parents fought about it regularly, and she'd swear up and down she'd quit, but she never did.
"Pansy is really worried about you." I think this is his way of saying he is, as well.
I take a deep breath and gather all the courage I have. It's just Theo, I can tell him anything. "Well about... all this," I start. It's so awkward and I'm so anxious.
"Yes?"
"I'm actually in a relationship, now. I guess we're officially a couple." I quickly glance at him, scared but wanting to see his reaction. He keeps a fairly even face.
"Well who is it? Do I know him?"
"Yeah you know him." Fuck just say it Lyra, you can do it. "It's Draco." Theos face falls. I suddenly feel like I'm going to pass out.
"What?" He asks, in disbelief.
"I know he's your friend, but-"
"I don't care about that. Yeah it's never fun for a friend to date your family member, but whatever. I care that he's way older than you, and a shitty person."
"He is not a shitty person!" Why would Theo say that, Draco is his friend.
"Lyra trust me, I've been around him way more than you. He's not a good person. He thinks he better than everyone, he doesn't respect the women he's with, he uses people, he manipulative and he's just gonna end up hurting you."
"No he's not. You don't get it, maybe he used to be like that, but he's not anymore." Theo laughs, but it's void of any humor.
"Oh okay, he's changed. Yeah sure, thats why he's dating someone way younger than him and making her keep it a secret. How long have you guys been together?" I am not willing to admit it's only been a few weeks.
"It doesn't matter Theo." I'm starting to get mad, I didn't think Theo would be so cruel.
"Okay, sure. Well thanks a lot for telling me." He sarcastically says, and I frown.
"Why can't you be happy for me. This has been the best thing to happen in... in years. I've been so depressed since mom died, and now I'm finally happy and you act like this." I know it's not fair to bring up mom, but it's true. Draco is the only thing making me happy right now. Why cant Theo see that and be supportive.
"Sorry I'm not okay with my 17 year old shitty friend dating my little sister. Where even is Draco?" Oh shit, why does he want to see Draco? Surely he's not gonna fight him, Theo isn't a violent person, at least I don't think he is.
"He's probably asleep, I don't know. Why?"
"I just want to hear from him, want to hear his justification for all this."
"Can't it wait until later?" I need to talk to Draco before Theo does.
"Lyra, I'm trying not to get mad at you. Its not your fault, he's way older and should know better." Is he seriously acting like I'm some victim?
"He's barely 2.5 years older, and I can make my own decisions." I'm starting to sound whiny, and I hate it. I hate that I'm even having to argue with Theo about this. Really it's none of his business.
"Okay, if you say so." Theo says, before standing up.
"Where are you going?" I ask, and he shrugs before walking off.
Shit. I quickly jump up and scramble behind him, and sure enough he's headed towards Dracos room. I don't know if I should try to intervene him, follow him, or go hide in my room. I doubt I could convince him not to talk to Draco, and I'm not sure I want to be present for their conversation. I slow down as I see other students up now. I definitely don't want to make a scene, so I just go back to my room. I just hope they don't get into a fight.
Draco
He'd just fallen back asleep, despite the cold absence of Lyra, when he hears someone knock on the door. Whoever it is was knocking hard enough that the entire door shook and the sound echoed into the room, so surely it isn't Lyra. Still, just in case, he gets up and checks. He considers throwing a t-shirt on first, but decides against it. He'll be going back to sleep soon anyways.
"Oh, Theo hey." Draco says as he opens the door, completely forgetting why Lyra left in the first place. If he wasn't so tired then maybe he could've had his guard up, and been ready to get punched in the face.
But he wasn't, and so he stumbles backwards, grabbing at his jaw. What the fuck was his problem.
"You've really been fucking my 14 year old sister?!" Theo spits out, and suddenly it all makes sense. Lyra's conversation must not have gone very well.
"Theo," Draco starts, but he interrupts him.
"I don't care what your sick excuse is, I don't fucking want to hear it. Stay away from her."
"I'm not going to do that, I love her." And he does, and Theo needs to know that. Sure Theo knew about all the girls Draco used to fuck, so he probably assumed Lyra was the same. Theo needed to know that this was different, then surely he'd understand.
"You love her?!"
"Yes, I do. I know I don't have the best track record with women, but she's different. This is different. We're both very happy."
"Fuck you, Draco. I didn't think you'd stoop this low, but boy was I wrong."
Draco tried to put himself in Theos shoes. He'd probably be protective over a younger sister, too. Still, it took all the self control he had to not yell back at Theo, and beat the shit out of him for punching him. "I'm not doing anything wrong, Theo. I know she's your sister and you want to protect her, but anything that happens between us is completely mutual and consensual. And also not any of your business, she isn't your property."
"I don't think she is, I'm just trying to look after her. Our moms death fucked her up pretty bad, she hasn't been eating, and now the douchebag I thought was my friend is preying on her. And she's not in a place mentally to make the best decisions." Yeah Draco had been worried about her eating, and hearing her brother confirm it made him feel bad.
"Theo, I'm not preying on her. I want the best for her, too." Draco tries to reason with him, but clearly he isn't being rational right now.
"Then stay away from her. That would be the best thing for her right now."
"I can't do that."
Theo sighs. "Fuck you, Draco. And I'm not done with this." Theo says before walking off. Draco stands there another moment, flabbergasted, before shutting the door.
~
About thirty minutes after Theo left Lyra came by. She saw Dracos swollen, bloody lip and started crying.
At first he felt bad and tried his best to comfort her. He held her, letting her cry into his chest. He told her it would be okay, that he loved her, that she was all that mattered. But she kept on crying. And now it had been almost an hour of this. Draco didn't have any siblings, but for the second time today he tried to sympathize. Surely ones own sibling being so unsupportive would be hard. So he just let her keep on crying, how many more tears could she possibly have? It was only 9 a.m. and Draco already wished today was over.
"I'm sorry," She wailed into his shoulder, and for the millionth time he reassured her it's not her fault.
"It's okay, really it is. Please stop crying." Draco knew that he was being harsh, she felt bad that her brother had yelled at and hit him. It was sweet, and despite both Pansy and Theo telling her to stay away from him she came back every time. He should be nicer to her. More understanding.
He kissed the top of her head and smoothed down her hair. "It's going to be okay."
"I'm sorry, I don't know why everyone is blaming you. I don't know why they think I can't make my own decisions." She sniffles and wipes her eyes, and despite her red and puffy skin he still thinks she's beautiful.
"It doesn't matter, they can think whatever they want. I don't care about their opinions, I only care about you." Draco traced his fingertips down her face.
"Yeah you're right." She sniffs loudly, again, but the crying has stopped. Draco was making progress.
"Of course I am. Now why don't we just stay in here all day, and we can deal with Theo tomorrow."
Lyra smiles at that, "You'd do that?" She asks.
"Of course, I'd do anything for you." And he would.
Lyra curls up by Dracos side and he holds her, and all the crying must've tired her out because soon she's drifting off to sleep. Draco smiles and rubs her arm lightly.
As much as he hates Pansy and Theo upsetting her, a small part of him is happy. If she's upset with them then she'll just be spending more time with him. And he had already been trying to think of ways to get her to stop being friends with Pansy, so this might work out perfectly.