Lyra had the worn out box on her bed as she thumbed the photos inside for what had to be far passed the millionth time, she saw Kreacher enter her room from the corner of her eye and smiled.
"Mistress? He bes doing it again" the old elf growled and she forced a chuckle down.
"Bring him here please Kreacher" Lyra smiled and the old elf left the room before returning with a nervous Dobby who was fumbling with his ratty pillow case "Hello Dobby, how are you today?"
The elf squeaked stressing his hands but he didn't answer.
"Answer her youngling" Kreacher narrowed his eyes.
"Fine! Dobby does all his work" the younger elf nodded wildly his big ears flapping and Kreacher sighed.
"Oh that's very good Dobby, you do a very good job" She grinned and the poor thing looked ready to cry like he didn't know what was happening "I was looking over some old photos, would you like to join me seeing as you've finished all your work?"
"I...Dobby is not allowed" his eyes grew so large they looked close to popping.
"Nonsense, if you'd like to join me and Kreacher and someone disagrees i'll just tell them i ordered you" Lyra chuckled "Come Kreacher i found this one of Uncle Reg"
Kreacher all but rushed the bed climbing up next to her he took the offered photo, his eyes grew misty as he took in his beloved master Regulus. Dobby who'd been watching it was close to having a panic attack.
"Dobby? Please come i would like to show you my father" Lyra offered gently, it wasn't an order but it was better then making him choose outright.
The small elf nervously walked closer and played with his case "Here i'll pull you up a chair, i know you don't know me very well so to sit on my bed might make you feel uncomfortable" she stood and grabbed a chair by her desk, dragging it over she placed it by the side of her bed and shot the small elf a grin.
Dobby burst into tears and she paused but allowed him to cry, Kreacher was grumbling but he ignored the elf cry in front of his mistress, after a while Dobbys tears subsided "Why were you crying Dobby?"
"No one has ever asked Dobby to sit with them before, let alone gotten him his own seat"
"Oh? Well you can always join Kreacher and i when we sit and talk sometimes we have secret picnics in here but you mustn't tell anyone i don't want Kreacher getting into trouble" she smiled and he squeaked again but she ignored it grabbing a photo of her father and mother holding her she handed it to him "This is my father Sirius Black and my mother Marlene McKinnon, this was the day i was born"
Dobby held the very edges of the polaroid with gently fingers as he took in the photo, Sirius winked at the camera before laughing as someone said out of view, Marlene was showcasing a beautiful pink babe with dark black hair as she grinned before she smacked Sirius' chest then the photo replayed on a loop.
"Little mistress was an even smaller mistress" Dobby whispered and she giggled.
"I was!" Lyra handed him another photo "This is my father with all his very good friends James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew"
The photo was wild but that just explained the friendship of the four, they were all smiling for the photo before her father said something causing James to lunge at him, Peter scrambled back but then jumped into the fray and Remus just rolled his eyes taking a book that he'd hidden behind his back out cracking it open as he waited patiently but one of the three grabbed him and he went down before the photo restarted.
"Oh my" Dobby studied the photo "Does mistress have any photos of herself?" he asked handing her the photos back.
"Erh" she started searching through the photos but it was Kreacher who handed her five photos "Thank you Kreacher" Dobby looked shocked that she'd thanked him but stayed silent.
"Here is me with Remus" she handed him a polaroid of a little Lyra walking unsteadily towards a beaming Remus who caught her and threw her into the air before catching her again then he pointed to the camera and they both smiled.
"Oh and here's me and my father" it was a photo of a young Lyra sat on top of a huge black dog as it walked around the garden, she had a bright white daisy crown on her head and it looked like they were playing princesses and steeds.
"Little Mistress? There's no man here" Dobby frowned looking at the photo.
"My father is the dog Dobby he was an Animagus but not a lot of people know that so it's a secret"
"Dobby won't tell a soul!" he told her seriously and she smiled.
"Here's me and my mother" she handed over the photo showing a blonde Marlene rocking a sleepy babe before smiling softly at the camera.
"Here's me at my first birthday" the photo showed her eating a slice of cake politely while a red headed child beside her stuffed his own cake into his mouth covering his face.
"Oh and another" the photo was of her running around with her hands up as claws while she yelled quite visibly "ROAR!"
"Little Mistress was a happy baby" Dobby giggled gently watching the babe run around roaring at adults who pretended to be scared "Are there anymore?"
"I'm afraid not, the box is my fathers but he didn't live with my grandmother when i was taken to her, i only have these five because someone started sending them to me on my birthdays four years ago, one turns up every year, there's no name just a happy birthday card wishing me all the joy and happiness the world has to offer and a polaroid tucked inside, the first year held the photo of my birth and the one with my mother holding me"
"Curious" Dobby whispered and she nodded, she didn't know who was sending the photos or cards but she had a few ideas.
"Dobby would you like to come back tomorrow? We can look at more photos if you'd like" she asked gently and he paused.
"After Dobby finishes all his work" he nodded.
"Of course, Kreacher will be joining us maybe we can have a secret picnic" She grinned and the two elves nodded Kreacher looked happy where Dobby looked ready to pass out from either fear or happiness she didn't know which.
~~~
"Alright let's try this again" Narcissa nodded at the two children who were sat side by side Lyra had cleared her mind preparing herself for it to be meddled with, she felt the brush of someone else in her mind and she slammed her walls up. Her Occlumency walls consisted of solid red brick, outside of the brick was lined with steel sheets and barbed wire, the mortar holding the bricks together was unable to be chiselled away easily for she had mixed it with melted gold.
When Narcissa had first entered the young witches mind she had pulled out immediately to ask her how long she had been preparing her mind but Lyra had claimed innocence and had stated it was a mere idea that had taken place around her thoughts.
Little did she mention that if one were to pierce the wall they would find themselves in a maze like feature she had made, the maze was filled with trick memories, nightmares, peoples biggest fears, hundreds of thousands of doors that either lead to another section of the maze or were simply bricked off because her secrets if they were to be broken out of her, would end the wizarding world.
Beyond the armoured walls and maze her thoughts were organised in what looked like police files, each person she came in contact with got their own file, the more memories she had the more files per person, the more the evidence boxes they got.
If they died like her grandmother the box was stamped 'Complete' and put up on two separate shelves, her happy boxes were on a different shelf rack to the unhappy boxes, for example her grandmothers box was the furthest it could be to her mothers box.
Inside each persons box was a single file listing their details being a short memory of what they looked like and their age, et cetera. The more she went on the more organised her memories and thoughts became, if she wanted to remember something perfectly she just had to meditate and open that box.
When she learnt she could almost review memories like a pensive she started to organise classes into boxes as well, each class, each subcategory along with memories of her reading books linking to the subject, it was her own little cheat code.
"Good Lyra, perfect" Narcissa smiled "Your turn dragon"
Lyra herself had entered Draco's mind before and his safety net was the manor, the outside was his families gates but he had added a moat, when you got passed the gate and moat the manor looked different to how it actually looked. It had thrown Lyra off to begin with, she had gotten lost a few times which she guess was the whole point, the boy had organised his memories in the family library. Each memory was a book, each book was organised on different isles but she couldn't find a single memory of herself it wasn't until Narcissa had asked that the Malfoy heir had answered that his memories of Lyra were in an entirely different part of the house under more safety.
Needlessly to say both of them were well on their way to becoming masters at Occlumency.
~~~
Over the next few months Lyra had focused all her efforts in bonding with Dobby and in turn Kreacher who she'd already bonded thoroughly with, the two elves sat with her while she either thumbed through photos or read her new school books telling them everything she found interesting.
Both elves were growing increasingly more worried about the upcoming date of her leaving, Kreacher would admit it openly for his loyalty lied solely with Lyra. She wasn't just his mistress she was his friend just like master Regulus had been but the girl was much more open with her affection and she was fiercely loyal to him as well. Like when that man wanted Kreacher to stay back at the house she'd stepped up as a youngling herself and defended him or even with the blonde haired master of the house they lived in now.
Kreacher didn't take much notice of him, his wife or his babe for they had nothing to do with his Mistress. As long as they treated her well and didn't use those nasty spells like his old Mistress he didn't need to interact with them at all, their elves on the other hand were shocking and his mistress was right it's a shame on the elf magic to be punishing themselves, Kreacher would never do such a thing he'd simply find a loop hole.
Dobby on the other hand would not admit it to any but maybe the old elf, Lyra was not his Mistress no matter how nice that would be he was tied to the Malfoys for the rest of his days and looking at Kreacher it was a long time. He'd hoped the girl would become part of the Malfoy family by right so he'd be able to be her elf, he was sure she'd teach her own young to be the way she was.
So together the two elves helped her pack her trunks to leave the next morning for Hogwarts, Kreacher was sniffling while Dobby forced his tears back but Lyra being the in tune girl she was watched them.
"What is the matter with the pair of you?"
"Mistress is leaving! Kreacher is having to stay here or does he go back to Grimmauld Place by his self"
Lyra knelt in front of his and took his hands "Kreacher you will never be alone again, you may stay here with the other elves if you'd like but i'd like you to do something for me if you do"
"Anything" Kreacher nodded holding her hands tightly.
"I want you to look after Dobby, teach him the true ways of the elves i don't want him hurting himself anymore" she looked at Dobby who gulped then she remembered something "Kreacher? Just say a witch or wizard was to put an anti apparition ward around a building could you get into it?"
"Of course Kreacher could"
"What about Hogwarts?" she smiled.
"Even Hogwarts, elf magic can not be stopped by a simple spell" he nodded.
"So if i was to call out for you in Hogwarts you could appear?"
"Of course Mistress, Kreacher would hear and come to you" he nodded once more.
"Would the head master be notified of your appearance?"
"No, elf magic has no trace like yours" the old elf scoffed at the idea of a spell tracing his magic, Kreacher goes where he wants, when he wants, unless ordered not to by his Mistress of course.
"Oh how wonderful! Kreacher don't you see? You could always visit me at Hogwarts, Dobby you could come too! But we should keep it quite because i might get in trouble" she nodded and Kreacher chuckled.
"Mistress is a clever one"
~~~
"Lyra! Wake up! We leave for Hogwarts today" Draco shook her arm and she opened her eyes slightly glaring at him through the small opening.
"Where's the fire"
"What fire? Come we need to go to the train" Draco shook her arm again, Onyx who was laid on her chest as always growled as he was disturbed but Draco patted the half kneazles head unaffected.
"You shouldn't be in here boy" Kreacher walked into the room with a slight scowl and Draco spluttered.
"But...I...We're, we're going to Hogwarts"
"Kreacher knows that but it's 5 am, the train leaves for 11" he waved the boy from his mistress' room grumbling to himself "Of course the one time the boy wakes before 8 is the one day Kreacher wishes would just wait"
Lyra laughed rubbing her eyes "Good morning Kreacher"
"Not much of a good one mistress" he sulked and she chuckled getting up, gently shifting Onyx from her he gave a short meow of outrage before he curled up on her pillow while she started towards the bathroom "Kreacher is going to take your trunks downstairs to go, there will be a outfit on the bed once you're done"
"Thank you Kreacher" she nodded and shut the bathroom door, Kreacher had taken to his role very seriously, choosing outfits weren't even a part of it but he felt that him being a male elf meant he needed to learn the way of females so he did his research, he learnt the elf magic for hair styles like braids, outfits and how to fix stitching so when he'd asked her if he could choose she couldn't find it in herself to refuse him when he was trying so hard to be the best personal elf he could be.
Exiting the bathroom she found a pretty sky blue dress laid out on the bed, the top half looked like a button up shirt while the bottom half was a pretty pleated style, she wore this style a lot.
She got dressed and pulled on the white socks provided along with her standard Mary Janes, Kreacher entered the room "Ready mistress?"
"Ready" she grinned and moved towards the vanity, Kreacher walked closer and started combing his magic through her hair, the curls dried and curled perfectly under his revised training he was quick to put it in one of her signature styles which was a simple half up half down but he secured a matched blue ribbon using his magic to make sure the bow was perfect and pressed smooth.
"Perfect as always" she grinned smoothing the dress down and Kreacher stood taller with a proud smile "You ready?" she held her hand out and he took it as they walked into the hall, he dropped her hand and bowed politely to the family there before he left.
"Good morning Lyra, last one to the table this truly is a strange morning" Narcissa grinned watching as the girl took her usual seat, Draco placed a plate of pancakes and fruit in front of her while Lucius placed her freshly made tea by her plate. This is what she'd always wanted a small family of four, an older boy the expected heir and a daughter to pull the lot together, it didn't matter to her that Lyra's hair was black and curly not the shocking white silken hair.
It didn't matter that the Lyra's eyes were a shade or two lighter then Draco's or her own, or the fact she wasn't her own by blood she loved that little girl just as much as her own, Lyra was even a few months older then Draco but it all worked. As unseemly as it was Narcissa was happy that old bat passed and she had a shred of decency to place the girl in her care.
"I'm sorry, if i'd have know we were going to be up almost before the sun i would have been here" she giggled nudging Draco who blushed bright red before he glared at her.
"Well you look very nice" Narcissa smiled watching as by habit her husband handed the girl his finished pages of the Daily Profit, watched Lyra pointing the best bits out for her son who nodded and chuckled along, it was bittersweet knowing this was the last morning they'd have until they were back for the holidays.
~~~
At the train station the young pair said their goodbyes to a teary eyed Narcissa and a suspiciously quite Lucius before they entered the train, their bags had been placed on the train already along with their animals.
"Want to go grab a carriage?" Draco held her hand tightly but it was hard as there were a lot of kids and the run way on the train wasn't wide enough for three people to stand side by side.
"Yeah" she nodded and they searched, Draco saw Pansy Parkinson in a carriage and pulled her passed it as he ducked his head hoping she wouldn't see his hair, Lyra laughed but followed him without a word, she allowed him to pull her into a carriage that was filled by Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
Opposite them sat a quiet Theodore Nott, the pair entered and Lyra slumped down next to Theo, they'd had plenty of 'play dates' for them to be acquainted.
"You alright Lyra?" the boy asked looking up from his book.
"Yeah are you excited?" she looked at him and he just hummed remaining silent while the three boys in front of him spoke, she stayed quite until their carriage door opened.
"Has anyone seen a toad, Neville has lost his" a girl with large bushy hair walked in and Lyra loved her already, she carried an i-don't-give-two-fucks attitude and her aura demanded attention.
"No" Draco answered simply.
Lyra chuckled "Here i'll help you look" she stood but Draco grabbed her wrist.
"Lyra!"
"I'll be back before we make it i swear, i dreamt it" she whispered the last part and he sighed but let her go, possessive little thing.
She left the carriage with the girl "I'm Lyra Black" she held her hand out.
"Hermione Granger" the girl shook her hand heartily "Come, this way" she lead the girl to a boy who was crying "Neville i got more help"
The boy wailed and Lyra walked forward "Hey none of that, he will turn up we're just playing the most interesting game of hide and seek and your toad defiantly knows"
"But what if i don't! I keep losing him, he keeps getting away from me"
"So you've lost him before?" she asked.
The boy cried making his words slightly slurred "Loads of times!"
"Do you know what that means to me?" the boys crying got quiet so he could hear her and Hermione was watching closely "To me that means even though he leaves he always finds his way back to you, like a cat you see, they leave to explore but they always find their ways back to their owners. Plus it's a magical toad he's probably holed up eating some kids sweets" she beamed and Neville wiped his tears "Now let's start the seeking"
Hermione had taken the lead entering carriages, Lyra saw many new and old faces some she'd only heard about in the books and others she'd seen on the screens. Hermione opened another carriage and walked right in, Lyra followed her, Neville had separated before trying to divide and conquer and she saw Harry sat with Ron each surrounded by sweets.
"That's why the cart lady had nothing" she chuckled and both boys flushed bright red.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost his" Hermione asked the same question that had left her mouth a thousand times this trip.
The red head rolled his eyes "We've already told him we haven't"
"Oh are you doing magic? Let's see then" Hermione invited herself in ignoring the dismissal and sat down Lyra laughed but sat beside her.
"Hi Lyra" Harry smiled the blush still intact as she grinned.
"Hello Harry, how have you been these passed few months?"
"Oh erh, fine i guess i was just excited for Hogwarts"
"I was too"
"You two already know each other?" the red head asked.
She smiled before it dropped as she took in the rat on his lap "We met at Diagon Alley, so what is this spell?"
"Oh right, erh it's nothing special but let's see" Ron cleared his throat "Sunshine, daises, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow"
Nothing happened.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" Hermione asked and Lyra couldn't stop the scoff that left her but she tried to cover it with a cough "Well it's not a very good one is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when i got my letter but i was ever so pleased. I mean it's the very best school of witchcraft there is. I've heard - i've learnt all our set books off by heart of course, i just hope there will be enough. I'm Hermione Granger by the way, who are you?"
Lyra shook her head in amusement while the two boys looked to still be working out what she said, the girl had spoken very fast but it had all been English, finally Ron had caught up.
"I'm Ron Weasley"
"Harry Potter"
"Holy cricket you are" she smiled and Lyra chuckled.
"I'm Lyra Black" she greeted the red head who clammed up immediately and watched her closely as he shifted away.
"Anyway those spells, let's see hmm..." Hermione hummed before she clicked her tongue "For example, Oculus Reparo" she had pointed her wand at Harry and Lyra watched the glasses repair themselves.
Lyra placed her hand on Hermione's whispering in her ear "Be careful when pointing your wand at peoples faces, they sometimes freak out" she warned gently and the girl flushed with a nod.
"You two better be changing into your robes i expect we'll be arriving soon" Hermione stood "You too Lyra...You've got dirt on your nose by the way, did you know? Right there" she told Ron as she grabbed Lyra's hand.
"See you there Harry" she grinned and the boy nodded.
"Oh wait!" the two girls stopped "Here, sorry i didn't think when i got everything" he held out two chocolate frogs and Lyra laughed taking the offered boxes she reached into her pocket and slapped two galleons into Harrys hand.
"Thank you Harry" she grinned and the two left, Lyra handed Hermione a frog "I'm going to get my robes alright?"
"Good i'm going to continue looking for Nevilles toad, if i don't see you before we get there i'll find you at Hogwarts" the bushy haired girl nodded and walked off leaving Lyra stunned, bossy witch.
~~~
"First years this way please!" Hagrid yelled loudly Lyra walked closer holding onto Draco's hand as they approached the very large man "Right then this way to the boats, follow me" The gaggle of 11 year olds followed the man towards the edge of the black lake.
"Right no more then four to a boat!" Hagrid called as he climbed into his own boat.
Draco had tugged her hand leading her to a boat they'd share with his two bodyguard friends but she didn't complain as the boats started to move on the still water, the castle was stunning and she could do nothing but stare at it.
"Heads down!" Hagrid called and everyone ducked their heads as they entered a curtain of ivy that hid a dark tunnel, it lead to a boat yard and they climbed out of the boats, Draco being a well trained male stood and helped Lyra out by her hand.
"Oi you there, is this your toad" she turned and saw Hagrid holding up a fat toad.
"Trevor!" Neville yelled and grabbed the thing before flashing Lyra a large smile to which she flashed him a thumbs up.
~~~
Climbing god knows how many steps they were lead to the grand hall to which the doors were shut and there was a tall witch stood there.
"Welcome to Hogwarts" the witch smiled "Now shortly you will pass through those doors and join your classmates but before yo can take your seats you must be sorted into your houses, they are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin...Now while you're here your houses will be like your family, your triumphs will earn you points, any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year the house with the most points wins the house cup... The sorting ceremony will begin shortly"
The others were talking about god knows what while she just looked around, it was all a bit surreal and she couldn't find it in her to focus. That is until people were gasping and she turned seeing ghosts, her eyes find Harrys and she just grinned.
"Line up and follow me" McGonagall ordered appearing out of no where and they did as told.
The great hall doors opened and she gulped gripping Draco's hand tightly as there were hundreds of eyes on them and she was walking into the great hall!
They paused in front of a few steps that held a stool and the old hat, everyone watched it and she almost jumped when it started singing as she'd forgotten it sang in the books.
"Oh you may not find me pretty, but do not judge on what you see. I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me,
You can keep your bowlers black, your hats sleek and tall, for i'm the Hogwarts thinking Hat and i can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head the sorting hat can't see, so try me on and i will tell you where you ought to be.
You may belong to Gryffindor where brave dwell at heart. They're daring, brave, chivalry set Gryffindors apart.
You might belong in Hufflepuff where they are just and loyal. Those Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil.
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw if you've a ready mind, where those of wit and learning will always find their kind.
Or perhaps in Slytherin you'll find your real friends, those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends.
So put me on, don't be afraid and don't get in a flap.
You're in safe hands, although i have none.
For i'm a thinking cap!"
The hall erupted into applause and the hat bowed to each table before McGonagall stepped forward "Now before we begin Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words"
The old man stood "I have a few start of term notices i wish to announce, the first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also our caretaker Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the third floor corridor is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death...Thank you"
Oh great so if you do want a painful death then by all means right? Go for it...Because that wasn't going to intrigue some students.
"When i call your name you may come forth, i will put the hat on your head and you will be sorted into your houses"
She unravelled a scroll "Abbot, Hannah"
A blonde with pigtails stepped forward and sat on the stool the hat passing her eyes "HUFFLEPUFF!" the girl run towards the cheering table of yellow.
"Black, Lyra" the room fell deathly silent but she squeezed Draco's hand before walking forward chin raised as she sat on the seat looking out at the sea of faces.
"Hmm interesting" the hat hummed in her head even thought she had her walls up "Lyra in all worlds but a true witch in only one...A seer in ways i see, much has changed already"
"I'd like to be in Gryffindor" she whispered and it laughed.
"Oh yes i can see that, hmm this is very difficult but seeing what you know that may be best...I do have to say the worlds you don't already know are quite intriguing, never have i seen such things" it fell silent "GRYFFINDOR!"
Unlike the first sorting the hall was silent after the hat shouted, you could all but heard the bugs outside the castle until two matching voices burst out laughing "Yeah!" it was the twins who stood up and started clapping startling the other Gryffindor's out of their shock, the table applauded and she walked down the steps towards the table.
Once she'd sat the twins pounced welcoming her into Gryffindor, telling her to ignore the others as they were in their words 'Stuck up' or 'Ignorant' she just politely thanked them before everyone fell silent for the next sorting.
"Bones, Susan"
A ginger haired girl stepped up "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Others came and were sorted Hermione was the first of the trio to join her the girl immediately falling into the seat beside her with a big grin "I knew we were going to be in the same house"
"Did you now?" she smiled gently.
"Absolutely!"
Harry was next and when his name was called the same silence followed his, he was on the stool for a while as the hat decided, she could see him muttering to himself before the hat called out Gryffindor and instead of silence the Gryffindor table broke out into a rumbling applause, if she didn't understand the reason something like that would grow resentment, confusion and anger but she just smiled and joined in.
Last of the trio was Ron who ran towards the table, after all the first years were sorted Dumbledore stood once more "Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts, before we begin the banquet i would like to say a few words and here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you" he sat back down and Lyra burst out laughing while Hermione shook her head and the food arrived.
There was so much food, dishes she'd never even see before, foods that she'd often have as a treat. There were even sides, dressings and god knows what else.
Lyra glanced up and winced she'd made the mistake of sitting opposite Ron who was currently double fisting two chicken drumsticks taking a bit of each, his own plate piled high of mainly meats.
Hermione beside her was well mannered even if every move she made seemed to be very methodical almost planned out, the girl didn't seem to do or say anything without planning first but that was probably just nerves.
Ron reached for another drumstick ignoring the mound already on his plate but released a startled yelp when a head appeared.
"Hello! How are you?" the ghost grinned "Welcome to Gryffindor"
"Hello Sir Nicholas, have a nice summer?" Percy Weasley leant forward speaking to the ghost who turned to face him.
"Dismal. Once again my request to join the headless hunt has been denied" the ghost finally rose from the platter of food coming to float next to the table instead.
"I know you! You're nearly headless Nick" Ron stops him as the ghost started to trail away.
"I prefer Sir Nicholas if you don't mind" the ghost scolded him.
"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Hermione asked and Lyra groaned gently under her breath not looking up as the ghost disconnected his head from his shoulders showcasing how it hung on by a mere section of skin that hadn't been sliced through.
The others bristled and she heard Hermione release a whistle of breath from her teeth as she winced "Can we all agree never to ask him or any other ghost to specify their deaths again" she asked and was answered with a few quick nods.
"So Black, thought you were gonna be in slytherin" a random boy spoke loudly leaning over to grab a chicken drumstick from the platter in front of her.
"Well it's a good thing the hat decides then isn't it" she did not look away from his eyes, no way was she going to back down. She knew this wasn't going to be easy for everyone here thought her father got the Potters killed and killed muggles, in their eyes she's a daughter of a death eater.
But she knew the truth, she knew who she was, no one was going to take that from her and soon enough they would see.
~~~
"Keep up" Percy called as he lead the Gryffindor's up countless amounts of steps, he stopped at the grand staircase "This is the most direct path to the dormitories oh and keep an eye on the staircases, they like to change"
It was stunning, the staircase lead up at least 7 flights and on the walls were thousands of portraits, there were so many that some of the golden frames were overlapping other frames slightly. There was no rhythm nor rhyme to the layout of the frames it was mere chaos in a grand gaudy way but it had a magical feel to it and that's not including the fact that every photo had a moving and interactive person or animal in it.
They were lead up the staircase, the portraits were smiling or waving at the new eleven year olds "Welcome to Hogwarts" a gentleman holding a book and magnifying glass grinned widely.
"Thank you sir" Lyra nodded her head slightly and a woman in the portrait next to his giggled covering her mouth politely when the man spluttered with reddening cheeks. She knew the portraits knew everything that happened in Hogwarts knowing they were not bound to a singular frame, she also knew they told Dumbledore of all they saw and heard. It was in her best interest to be polite even friendly with the portraits and they may even tell her things she needs to know.
They all followed Percy down a corridor off the side of the staircases until they came to the famed portrait of the 'fat lady' who in actuality wasn't very fat anyway, she was dressed in a grand dress that Lyra knew underneath held layer upon layer to puff out the skirt probably including a petticoat with hooping.
Her dark hair was coiffed in ringlets at either side of her head while her face was pale emphasising the pink blush on her cheeks along with the beauty mark under her left eye, she watched them all gather in front of her not allowing a single emotion on her face before she spoke a simple question "Password?"
"Caput Draconis" Percy answered raising his chin and the lady nodded once slowly before the large portrait opened to showcase a entryway.
The Gryffindor entryway was...Warm.
It was also very red, to the walls, rugs, furnishings. The wood was even a dark red colour but it was very homey.
"Welcome to the Gryffindor common room, boys your dormitory is upstairs to the left, girls the same on your right, you'll find all your belongings have already been brought up" Percy went over some last minute rules such as that none of us were to leave the common room after curfew, boys were strictly forbidden in the girls dormitories, fighting was not allowed and so forth before he released them and sent them to bed after telling them breakfast was at 6:30 to 8:30, first class was at 9 and their school schedules would be on their beds.
In her room she was sharing with three other girls, Hermione Granger, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Unlike the films the Patil twins were separated like the books with Padma being in Ravenclaw.
Somehow each room had a small bathroom between the four habitants, it was simple a toilet, sink and a shower but she'd never felt more grateful that she wouldn't have to showering in a prison theme room.
Lyra's bed sat furthest from the bathroom at the very end, Hermione was next to her followed by Parvati and then Lavender, there was a empty bed but she guessed that was going to be assigned to a young Ginny Weasley for the film plot she did hope so that way she could steal the book if need be.
The five beds were positioned in a semi circle way each with a set of draws acting also as a bedside table, their trunks and for some reason a chair the other side of their beds, the beds themselves were large single poster beds with thick red cloth curtains for privacy.
All of which was situated around a metal heater in the centre of the room, there were a few windows in the circular room showcasing the stunning views from their common room on the fifth floor of Hogwarts. The room overlooked the grounds but Lyra could make out the black lake and the forbidden forest.
She could not get over the fact she was actually here, she was in Hogwarts, she had a wand, she was magic...God she needed to lie down.
"What time do you wake?" A soft voice broke through her thoughts, she turned seeing Hermione staring at her from the top of her book. The Granger girl had unpacked her trunks immediately setting out her uniform for the next day in a perfect routine before grabbing a book and settling down to read. It had amused Lyra greatly to see but she couldn't help but think it was sweet.
"Normally around 6-6:30, how about you?" Lyra answered gently as she unpacked her own trunks laying clothes out neatly in her draws leaving the lighter summer clothes in the trunks under her bed as it was September and it was going to start getting cold.
"7 normally but i can wake a little bit earlier" the curly hair witch nodded and Lyra chuckled.
"You don't need to i won't leave without you" she sorted out her bag for the next day, Kreacher had packed her a simple but well made black leather shoulder bag. She filled it with parchment, quills, the books she'd need for the day along with some other emergency bits like hair ties.
"You won't?" Hermione dropped the book lower to look at her straight on.
"Of course not, we'll go get breakfast together then to classes" Lyra nodded and grabbed her pjs walking towards the bathroom to change and brush her teeth.
"Goodnight" Hermione offered when she passed again climbing into her bed.
"Goodnight" Lyra smiled and shuffled under her blankets, so much to do, so much to see, her grin widened when she felt Onyx jump up onto her bed and settle himself down with her, he started purring as she carded her fingers through his fur "My precious boy" she whispered allowing sleep to take her.