Swimming against the tide (Open)

Lyra put her pumpkin juice splattered book down on the wooden table. The Ravenclaw girl took out her wand and muttered a strong 'Tergeo!' Lyra ran her hand down the now clean pages, inspecting for any inconsistencies. Noting none, Lyra replaced her wand and book back into her bag at her feet. She glanced up to see some curious first years looking at her with interest. Lyra gave them a sunny smile and gestured with a hand at her wand. "It's a common cleaning spell to remove stains." She informed them patiently. "I believe there are some books in the library about house hold spell, I highly suggest it. You would be surprised at how many different uses there are for such mundane spells." The first year's eyes widened briefly before they got up and headed for what Lyra could only guess was the library.

Ah the curiosity of first years. Lyra mused to herself as she stood from the Ravenclaw table and slung her bag over one shoulder. The weight caused her to stagger slightly and Lyra cursed herself for having so many books in the bag. Still trying to regain her balance, Lyra tipped right into the path of another person, nearly stumbling on the man's toes. "Sorry! Sorry." Lyra apologized hastily to the boy. He was obviously a Slytherin judging from his robes and he had an odd solemn air about him.

Lyra gave the other a sheepish smile and brushed some of her heir out of her face. "I just have far too many books to be safe!" she mused out loud before grimacing. "Some respected Ravenclaw I am. actually complaining about books!"

Lyra took a respectful step backwards to give the other his space. She slung her leather bag from her shoulder and groped around for her wand once more. Lyra let out a laugh at the man's comment. "Well this obviously proves them wrong, right? We should petition against the over-population of student text books." She chimed jokingly. Her spindly fingers wrapped around the handle of her wand and Lyra pulled it out with a sound of triumph. She pointed it at her bag and muttered the feather weight charm under her breath. The weight of her bag instantly lightened to almost nothing. Smiling at her accomplishment, she fastened her bag around her shoulders. "Then again," Lyra commented dryly. "Magic has a very good habit of solving such problems." Lyra stuck her cypress wand behind her ear for safekeeping.

Lyra was momentarily stunned by the man's introduction but quickly recovered. She offered him one of her hands for a shake. "Lyra Goldstein, it is very nice to meet you Damon." Lyra said warmly. She waved aside his apology with a shake of her head. "Let's just agree to blame it on the insane amount of books us Ravenclaws insist on bring around with us." Lyra compromised with the Slytherin.

Lyra gave Damon a small, sad smile. "I don't like to blame everything on Slytherins." She said simply. Her eyes unwittingly moved to the opposite side of the hall where the Gryffindors sat eating their breakfast. The rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor was rather legendary, even outside of the school. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff house tended to stay neutral in such disputes, but Lyra personally felt sympathetic towards the Slytherin house. Slytherin house was commonly cast as the enemy in the battles and the Gryffindors as the knight in shining armor. Any respectable Ravenclaw knew to looks beyond such stigmas thus had a rather healthy relationship with Slytherin house. Lyra could also admit to admiring the Slytherins for their cunning compared to the head strong lions. While Lyra had friends in all four houses, she revered the Slytherin snakes on a different level of respect.

Trying to lift her thoughtful mood, Lyra turned her attention back to Damon. "Well if you insist on taking the blame, then you may repay me by walking me to my next class." Lyra smiled at Damon to show the joking intent behind her words. She didn't feel like pressuring him into coming with her, but it looked like he could use the company right now.

She knew she was pretty early to already be heading off to classes, but Ravenclaws were traditionally early to their classes.

The blond smiled kindly the Slytherin boy, understanding exactly where he came from. Ravenclaws were expected to constantly be top of the class and haughty to anyone of lesser intelligence. It created a social pressure that drove many Ravenclaws to secluding themselves in the library to study for hours on end. Oh how Lyra hated house stigmas at times.

Lyra nodded enthusiastically at Damon's words and turned back quickly to pull a bunch of grapes as a snack for later. She looked to Damon once more and practically was bouncing on her heels. "Really? That would be awfully kind of you!" Lyra remarked. "I must warn you though," Lyra popped one of the green grapes into her mouth and swallowed before she started again. "My ancient ruins class is on the sixth floor. We're in for a little bit of a walk."

"What classes are you taking?" Lyra inquired gently, hoping it would be a safe topic to breech. She walked slowly down the Ravenclaw table toward the double doors that lead to the Entrance Hall. Some of the other Ravenclaws nodded to the prefect as she walked by but stopped short when they saw Damon at her side. Lyra just smiled indulgently at them and waved back as the pair passed by.

Lyra nodded sagely as the pair of them passed through the double doors into the entrance Hall, dimming out the noise of the full Great Hall. She was thankful for the quiet, she didn't need to struggle to hear Damon's soft spoken words. "Time between classes are the worst at times." Lyra commented lightly. "Then again, I wouldn't mind the ample time when I have to run from Alchemy class to Care of Magical Creatures on the grounds. And Hogwarts herself somehow always finds a way to entertain you if you take the time to explore her." Lyra turned her steps up the marble staircase and glanced up at the vast expanse of moving staircases above her with a fond smile. "Why just yesterday I found an entirely new, abandoned classroom on the second floor I have never seen before!" She exclaimed excitedly with a small laugh.

Lyra ate another grape as the two of them continued down the hall, just letting Damon's voice travel through her ears soothingly. "I had double Magical Theory this morning." Lyra told Damon. In seventh year, many classes were taken by grade level rather than with your house. In some more obscure classes, such as Magical Theory, the classes were generally small. In Lyra's class they had fifteen students, the majority of them Ravenclaw. "The workload in that class is like nothing you'll ever believe." She continued, he tone taking on a more irritated tone. She would be spending all night writing six foot report on the origin of magic in the Egyptian society. "After Ancient Ruins," Lyra gestured to the sixth floor above them. "I have Earth Magic in the green houses until seven tonight. That class goes right through dinner but the professor is kind enough to let the house elves deliver the food to us in the greenhouses."

Lyra had already gotten all her required grades in all of her course classes, leaving her schedule open to more extra-curricular activities such as Earth Magics and Magical theory.