Lyra was sat with Harry once more in Charms, Hermione was on the same stretch of tables beside Ron. Professor Flitwick was younger then he was in the first films and looked more like he did in the later films, he was stood on a big stack of books as he taught the room.
"One of a wizards most rudimentary skills is levitation or the ability to make objects fly, do you all have your feathers? Good now don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been practicing this morning, the swish and flick, everyone" he gestured for the room to start.
"Swish and flick" the room moved as one as they all practised once more.
"Good oh and enunciate Wingardium Leviosa, off you go then"
Lyra paused waiting for the moment she'd been waiting for and it happened, Ron was waving his wand in the air like a killer from Psycho she could hear the horror music now.
"No stop, stop, stop! You're going to take someone's eyes out, besides you're saying it wrong. It's Leviosa not Leviosar" Hermione frowned stopping the boy.
"You do it then if you're so clever, go on" Ron taunted and Hermione rose to the bait turning back to her feather.
"Wingardium Leviosa" the girl commanded and the feather slowly rose into the air fluttering gently as if a gentle breeze had complete control over it. Lyra honestly couldn't help the laughter that erupted from her seeing Ron's face fall, he really was strung too tight in the first film.
"Oh well done! See here everybody Miss Granger's done it" Flitwick beamed before awarding Hermione another 5 points, the girl was racking in points in every class apart from Potions.
Lyra nodded happily before focusing on her own feather and with a soft whisper the feather slowly lifted from the desk, she made it dance in the air before making it tickle Harrys nose with a smile as he glared at her batting it away from his face.
"Cheer up Potter, don't look so serious" she grinned and he rolled his eyes before allowing a small smile onto his face.
"Well done Miss Black" Flitwick smiled watching history repeat itself, he just hoped it didn't end the same. It was weird for not only himself but the other teachers seeing a Potter and a Black both of whom looked so much like their parents sat side by side in their classes again.
"Wingard Leviosa" Seamus spoke the other side of Harry and Lyra leant back slightly just in time for his feather to explode covering both Harry and himself in soot.
"I think we're going to need another feather over here Professor" Harry watched the now black and smoking feather with wide eyes, Lyra beside him started fanning her hand as smoke crept up towards her.
~~~
The two girls were behind the small group of Gryffindor boys no matter how hard Lyra tried to make Hermione go in a different direction. They were heading towards Astronomy and the boys either didn't see them or didn't care for they were bitching more then a group of teenage girls.
"It's Leviosa, not Leviosar. She's a nightmare honestly! No wonder she hasn't got any friends apart from the Deatheaters daughter" Ron joked and Seamus, Dean and Harry chuckled along.
Hermione gasped gently and Lyra saw the tears building as the girl sped up bumping her shoulder with Rons purposely.
"I think she heard you" Harry gulped as the four boys stopped to watch her go, Lyra slowly moved to stand just to the side of them.
"You think? You wasn't exactly being quiet with your cruel jokes and laughter" she glared "That nightmare has single handedly put Gryffindor in first place with points, just because your performance has been lacklustre so far doesn't mean you should belittle your housemates to feel better about yourself...And you three shouldn't encourage him by laughing at such cruel jokes, you wouldn't be laughing if it was directed towards you"
She simply spun and walked away before any of them could speak for their expressions were enough, Ronald had flushed so violently red it looked painful while the other three looked well and truly scolded.
It wasn't hard to find Hermione for she knew where she was heading but the girl would not unlock the door and allow her in "Ignore him Hermione, he is just looking for attention and approval"
"So am i but i am not being cruel to do so" Hermione cried in the toilet stool.
"I know you are and that does not mean he is allowed to be horrid but what he said isn't true, you know that" Lyra spoke softly.
"Do i? It's not hard to notice no one likes to talk to me, i see the glazed eyes, people speeding up to get away, rolling eyes when i answer a question. No one likes me"
"I do"
"I don't know why! Just go back to class" Hermione demanded.
"I'm not leaving you while you're clearly upset"
"Please, just go! I need to be alone right now and you need to get to class"
Lyra sighed "And if i stay?" no answer "Hermione?" nothing "Alright, but i will come back after every lesson, you cannot stay in there all day over a stupid red head" she huffed and left the room honouring Hermione's wishes.
~~~
And she did, after every lesson she went back to the bathroom at sat for a while before Hermione had asked her to leave, Lunch she had packaged a small napkin with some food for the girl even if it was disgusting to eat in the bathroom.
Hermione clearly wasn't leaving and Lyra couldn't let the girl starve but Hermione didn't take the food nor did she allow Lyra into the stool. A few girls had come in to both use the bathroom and to get information from Hermione but Lyra had just politely told them to do their business and go.
Come dinner she didn't even bother packing them food she just went straight to the bathroom and stood "Hermione Granger you listen to me right now! You are going to get control of yourself, you will open this door and come with me to dinner!" Lyra glared at the door.
"Leave me alone!"
"No! I will not allow you to sit in there and mope over some daft boy, what he said was cruel and no true in the slightest. His ego was hurt and he took that out on you. You haven't eaten since breakfast and neither have i and now i'm starving but i will not leave this disgusting room without you so either you come out or we both starve to death and i haunt you for the rest of our undead existence"
"Why won't you just go?"
"Because you're my best friend and you are upset, i'd hope you'd do the same for me if the roles were reversed but to be truthful with you i don't have a hold on my temper like you do so really i'd wish you to save me from my self in another way"
Lyra swore she heard a small chuckle followed by a sniff from Hermione but that was when she smelt it...It smelt like rot, shit and all things bad really.
It was here, she'd spent all day trying to avoid this!
"Hermione" she whispered "We need to leave, right now! We need to leave!" she hissed turning to watch the door.
"Why what's wrong?" the girl froze at the dramatic change in Lyra's voice, she almost sounded scared.
"Hermione please, please! We need to go!" Lyra begged and Hermione unlocked the stool but it was too late, the troll had entered the bathroom.
~~~
"Where's Lyra and Hermione?" Harry asked looking at the table but not finding the curly haired girls.
"Parvati said Hermione wouldn't come out of the bathroom, she said she'd been in there all afternoon crying and Lyra hasn't left her even though Hermione had shut her out of the stools" Neville answered looking at the two empty spots beside him, Harry looked back at Ron who shrugged and went back to his food.
The doors to the grand hall sprung open "TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!" Professor Quirrell ran down the centre of the tables "Troll in the dungeon! Thought you ought to know" the man spoke before his eyes rolled back and he fainted.
There was a moment of silence as his words settled before the room erupted into chaos, people were screaming, pushing each other to get away from the tables and from the hall.
"SILENCE!" a loud yell caused the room to quickly become quiet as everyone froze as they looked back to Dumbledore "Everyone will please not panic! Now, prefects will lead their house back to the dormitories. Teachers will follow me to the dungeons"
That got everyone moving again but this time it was an orderly mess, Harry stood and followed the crowd "How did a troll get in?" Harry asked Ron who was beside him.
"Not on it's own, trolls are really stupid, probably people playing jokes...What?" he asked when Harry grabbed his arm tightly.
"Hermione and Lyra, they don't know!" he answered and took off into a run towards the girls bathroom.
~~~
The troll stared at Lyra for a moment as if trying to compute what it was seeing, Hermione opened the bathroom door about to see if Lyra was okay when she saw it.
It was huge almost standing as tall as the room, it was almost as fat as it was tall, it's skin a gross pale green colour, the thing was only wearing some rags on it's bottom half and a tiny waistcoat looking thing while it held a club as big as the two girls.
Hermione reached forward grabbing onto Lyra's arm tugging her back into the stool, she locked the door but the sudden movement had made the troll raise it's club. Lyra grabbed Hermione remembering this part she tugged the girl to the ground just in time as the club swiped out almost half the stools into practically nothing.
"Go!" She demanded and Hermione started to army crawl under the stools and Lyra was quick to follow trying to ignore the fact she was crawling on bathroom flooring which was just disgusting.
Both girls ducked back down when the troll took out the rest of the stools sending planks of wood and dust raining down onto the two girls, a jagged plank caught Lyra's face and she hissed at the burn on her cheek while Hermione winced when a large plank came down hitting her own head with a loud bonk.
"Hey pea brain!" both girls heard Ronald Weasley yell just as the troll looked away from them, Lyra got off the floor and pulled Hermione along with her but as she went to dart passed it, the ugly thing turned and took a swing at them only missing by a hair as Lyra danced backwards trying not to get hit or fall into Hermione.
Hermione dragged Lyra towards the sinks as she tried hiding under them which was so beyond rational it would have been funny in any other setting. Both girls released a scream when the club came down towards them shattering ceramic, Lyra reared back as water sprayed her as the club had hit a pipe causing it to burst.
The water had created a gap between the girls like a waterfall "Help!" Hermione screamed loudly trying to reach back for her friend and keep an eye out for the troll, she was kicking herself for not listening to Lyra before.
"Woah!" Lyra heard Harry yelp and looked up seeing him sat on top of the trolls shoulders barely hanging on as the troll tried to shake him off, she winced when his wand slid into it's nose by accident.
The troll managed to grab Harrys ankle as he held him in the air upside down "Do something!" Harry demanded as the troll took a swing at him but he managed to force his body to 'sit' up missing the club.
"What?" Ron asked looking around.
"Anything!" Harry yelled missing the club once more "Hurry up!"
"Swish and flick!" Hermione coached Ron.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" the boy yelled and the club was ripped from the trolls hand on it's downwards swing towards Harry, the troll froze looking at it's empty hand in sheer confusion, god they really were thick.
For unknown reasons, the fact that 'troll' was a mark on tests was a new found insult to Lyra, the sheer cheek the teachers had to even come up with that scoring was truly insulting. She watched the troll look up at it's club which came down to smash itself against the trolls head, the troll swayed on the spot it's eyes fluttering as it tried to fight off falling unconscious.
Harry was dropped to the floor but instead of standing he just watched it from his position on the floor. When the troll started to tip though Harry shuffled back on his arse until he was beside Ron which turned out to be just enough distance as the troll feinted and landed inches from the two boys.
Both girls stood, Hermione quick to grab Lyra's hand ignoring the grit of dirt and dust on both of their hands as they slowly approached the boys "Is it dead?"
"I don't think so, just knocked out" Harry reached down grabbing his wand all parties grimaced as it came back with a trail of snot still attached "Argh! Troll boogers"
The teachers finally decided to appear McGonagall gasped hand coming up to support herself on the wall "Oh my goodness! Explain yourselves, both of you!" she demanded the two boys who both started to stutter.
"It's my fault Professor McGonagall" Hermione cut in and all three teachers turned to look at the two girls, mainly Hermione.
McGonagall frowned not understanding "Miss Granger?"
"I went looking for the troll, i'd read about them and thought i could handle it but i was wrong, if Harry, Ron and Lyra hadn't come and found me, i'd probably be dead" Hermione explained and Lyra frowned clearing her voice bringing the frowns her way next.
"If i may Professor, it wasn't entirely her fault. I had told Hermione about how much of an adrenaline rush it would be to look for it, it was entirely my idea if you truly think about it..." she shot the teachers a smile.
"Be that as it may, it was extremely foolish thing to do i expected more rational behaviour and i am very disappointed in you Miss Granger...And you Miss Black!" McGonagall shook her head in both disappointment and also the unsettling feeling of how the girl shared the smile her father had when he lied.
It was a smile that mixed innocence with cheekiness, a smile that goaded you into almost questioning it but then deciding not to as it held a sincere look to it, one that disregarding the situation made you almost want to answer it with your own smile. Luckily for her she had years of practice with Lyra's fathers own behaviour so she was able to hold back her amused look completely.
"Five points will be taken from Gryffindor, from the pair of you for your serious lack of judgement...As for you two gentlemen i just hope you realise how fortunate you are, not many first year students could take on a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale...Five points will be awarded to each of you for sheer dumb luck" with that she left the room.
"Perhaps you ought to go, it might wake up" Quirrell waved them towards the exit and the four of them walked passed the troll, just outside the door they heard the troll growl and Quirrell screech before chuckling nervously. They had to pass Snape as they went who waved his wand at Lyra's face discreetly, she felt a slight burn as she reached up, the board had cut her face but he had healed the cut without as much as a word. Lyra glanced up at him but he shot her a short look and she nodded sending him back a smile before following the others.
Such a softie.
The four of them didn't say a word as they made it to the Gryffindor common room, it wasn't until the girls were about to split off the two boys paused in turn stopping them "Thanks" both Ron and Harry whispered before practically running off which made Lyra scoff.
"You lied" Hermione whispered as Lyra turned to walking up the girls stairs.
"As did you" she answered.
"Well yes but i lied to save everyone from getting into trouble you lied for...Well i don't know what" Hermione huffed following her up the steps into their room.
"I lied because unless you've forgotten we were in that bathroom because of what the red head said, too right they should have saved us now we are even, good thing too because we could have owed them a life debt. You didn't have to lie for them but you did and i won't ask you why but i wasn't going to sit there and let you take the full blame for something you simply didn't do"
The silence that followed after was deafening until a quiet 'thank you' broke it and Lyra chuckled "You don't need to thank me, the two boys got credit for saving you, you got scolded and i was feeling left out" she pouted playfully making Hermione smile "Now i'm tired, let's get to bed"
~~~
November had came and Quidditch season had officially started, the atmosphere in the great hall was electrifying the quidditch try-outs had finished and each house had their teams as well as their reserve players.
The amount of depth she had found out about the game compared to what was in the films and books was amazing, the game itself was exhilarating and the amount of joy it brought the other students was enough to get her hooked. She loved flying as it was, there was nothing like it from her own world, to be up in the sky you felt practically invincible.
She couldn't wait until second year to try out, even if she didn't make the team it would be exciting to try, if she didn't she had learnt anyone could take flying classes all the way through the years it was only compulsory for first years.
Turns out the games were always held on a Saturday unless of course the weather had them move the game and for some reason the first game of the year was always Gryffindor VS Slytherin...These adults seemed to love helping harbour animosity between the two houses.
Lyra sat beside Seamus and Ron at the table, Hermione sat opposite her beside Harry and Neville "Take a bit of toast mate, go on" Ron watched with the others as Harry continued to play with his food.
"Ron's right, you'll need your strength today" Hermione wheedled.
"Aye she's right, seekers are always the ones who get nobbled by the other teams" Seamus nodded handing Lyra a muffin when she asked quietly, at first he hadn't been sure of the girl after what he'd heard about the lasses family but she seemed decent. Always helpful, kind but she was also funny and a bit blunt if anything so in his eyes she was alright.
"Thanks Seamus" Harry rolled his eyes biting into some toast with a grimace.
Snape appeared out of no where and looked down on the small group "Good luck today Potter, however seeing as you managed to take down a troll a little game of quidditch should be easy for you, even if it is against Slytherin" he stared for a moment before walking off.
"How polite of him" Seamus rolled his eyes and Lyra snickered at the sarcastic comment, his Irish accent was actually quite handsome.
"That explains the blood" Harry whispered from no where watching Snape walk away.
Hermione grimaced turning to face Harry "Blood?"
"Listen the night of the troll attack, i'm guessing Snape let the troll in as a diversion so he could try and get passed that dog but he got himself bitten and that's why his still limping" Harry explained and it was quite sweet to watch a young Harry try to put the pieces together, a puzzle he didn't even have half the pieces of.
"But why would anyone go near that dog?" Hermione frowned trying to make a connection.
"The day i was at gringotts, Hagrid took something out of one of the vaults said it was Hogwarts business, very secret..."
"So you're saying..."
"That's what the dog is guarding, that's what Snape wants" Harry finished Hermione's question.
"Not Snape" Lyra spoke keeping her tone light as she tried to impersonate Luna Lovegoods aura to try dropping hints along the way, she couldn't outright tell 3 children who probably didn't understand what a seer is but if she made some really good 'guesses' then it would be more believable down the line.
Ron looked at her, his mouth full of half chewed food but she kept her face blank when he spoke "What?"
"Snape doesn't want the stone" she answered matter of factly.
"Stone?" Harry frowned but she just hummed luckily Hedwig came flying through the hall dropping a parcel in front of Harry.
Hermione looked at the large parcel "Bit early for mail isn't it?"
"But i never get mail" Harry looked up looking like a confused puppy, his green eyes were hard to get used to but it suited him well actually.
"Let's open it" Ron grinned wiping his greasy hands on his robes before he reached for the ties on the parcel, Harry and Hermione joined them while Lyra just watched.
Hermione pulled slightly too hard and hit her orange juice causing the liquid to splash up the side and on to the table but the three eleven year olds didn't even blink so Lyra threw some napkins on the mess.
Harry gasped in awe "It's a broomstick"
"Oh good for a second there i thought it was an odd shaped book" Lyra teased and the boy rolled his eyes at her but grinned anyway.
"This isn't just a broom it's a nimbus 2000" Ron grinned not taking his eyes from the broom on the table, Lyra noticed Oliver Wood leaning as close as he could from where he was sat a few seats down.
"But who?" Harry frowned.
"The cat" Lyra smiled and the trio frowned at her before Harry saw McGonagall stroking Hedwig's feathers at the head table.
"How do you..." Harry turned back to her but she just shrugged.
Come 11am pretty much the whole school had gathered on the pitch, just like the books their small group had created a banner for Harry it read 'Potter for president' along with a pretty decent lion Dean had drawn and some fancy spell work Hermione had added to get the paint to flash different colours excluding green though obviously.
With a sharp blow of a whistle the game begun, Gryffindor managed to take first possession of the quaffle and after a bit of a struggle scored in the first few minutes.
"Budge up, move along!" They turned seeing the huge man squeezing through the crowd.
"Hagrid" Ron grinned.
"Bin watchin' from me hut but it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the snitch yet eh?" Hagrid brought up his binoculars looking around.
"Nope, Harry hasn't had much to do yet" Ron shook his head looking around for his friend.
"Kept outta trouble though, that's somethin'."
"Slytherin in possession, chaser Pucey ducks two bludgers, two Weasleys and chaser Bell and speeds towards the...Wait a minute was that the snitch?" Lee Jordan the third year commentator screeched down the megaphone.
Lyra watches as Adrian Pucey, a slytherin who had no reason to look that attractive, dropped the quaffle as he turned to watch the snitch pass by his left ear. She caught sight of Harry speeding towards the golden ball with Terrance Higgs the Slytherin seeker hot on his tail, that was until Marcus Flint blocked Harry on purpose making cries of outrage sound throughout the Gryffindor stand as Harry's broom span off course.
"FOUL!" Seamus screamed beside her. Hooch had spoken quite angrily with Flint and had ordered a free shot at the goal post for Gryffindor but that didn't seem to satisfy some of the Gryffindor's.
"Send him off ref! Red card!" Dean screamed making Lyra chuckle.
"This isn't football Dean, you can't send people off in quidditch. What's a red card?" Ron informed his muggleborn friend who was red in the face with rage.
"They ought to change the rules, Flint could've knocked harry outta the air"
"So after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating" Lee Jordan hissed in the air.
"Jordan!" McGonagall's voice cut through stopping him.
"I mean, after that open and revolting foul"
"Jordan i'm warning you!"
"All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor seeker which could happen to anyone, i'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor taken by Spinnet who puts it away, no trouble and we continue to play, Gryffindor still in possession" Lee spoke almost monotoned after the sharp warning from McGonagall.
The game was brutal after that, the Slytherin team not going easy at all as they scored 6 points bring the total up to 60/20 to them after Flint had knocked Oliver Wood out of the game with a bludger to the chest. The fourth year reserve keeper was much more intimidated by the Slytherin team.
That's when she noticed it, it was subtle at first a slight jerk of a broom, a quick positioning of hands, tightening of knees but she had caught it. Then it ramped up, Harry was zig zagging in the air trying hard to stay on as his broom tried to fling him off.
Her eyes shot over to the teachers stand but they were too far away for her to actually see, not that she truly needed to, she knew who was behind this. She completely fazed out of the conversation happening around her until someone grabbed her hand and had started dragging her.
"Leave it to us" Hermione grunted at Ron feeling the exact moment when Lyra refocused, the two girls fought their way towards the other stand she had rushed forward not seeing how Lyra roughly shoved Quirrell in the back forcing him to try and catch himself on something before he fell face first down the stands.
She hadn't been the least bit gentle about it while Hermione did her blue bottle fire spell on Snape's cloak she looked up to see Harry rebalance himself before he started speeding towards the ground. Upon reaching the ground which he did on all fours, he heaved into the hand that had been clasped over his mouth.
"I caught the snitch" he held up the golden ball in his hands.
"He didn't catch it, he swallowed it!" Flint bellowed for a good while after the game had been ended.
They had won 170/60, Harry had swallowed the snitch just as he was meant to and Lyra got to shove that stuttering fool...Today was a good day.
~~~
Lyra was walking hand in hand with Hermione as they walked with Hagrid and the two boys "Nonsense, why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?" Hagrid demanded as Ron had spluttered about the curse.
"Who knows, why was he trying to get passed that three headed dog on Halloween?" Harry shot back and they all watched as Hagrid staggered slightly before catching his footing.
"Who told you about Fluffy?"
"Fluffy?" Ron asked deadpanned.
"That thing has a name?" Lyra looked towards Hermione at her question.
"Well of course he has a name, he's mine. I brought him off an Irish fella i meet down the pub last year, i lent him to Dumbledore to guard the..."
"Yes...?" Harry trying to get him to continue as the huge man stopped.
"Shouldn't have said that, No more questions that's top secret that is!"
"But Hagrid, whatever Fluffy is guarding Snape is trying to steal it" Harry warned and Hagrid brought the group to a stop.
"Codswallop, Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher"
"Hogwarts teacher or not i know a spell when i see one, i've read all about them. You've got to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking" Hermione sassed in the cutest way possible.
"Exactly!" Harry nodded as if the girl's word was absolute.
"Counter curse" Lyra grinned airily.
"What?" Hagrid asked her but she stayed silent and he sighed "Now you listen to me all four of you. You're meddling in things that ought not to be meddled in, it's dangerous. What that dog is guarding is strictly between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel"
"Nicholas Flamel?"
"I shouldn't have said that...I should not have said that" Hagrid walked off to his hut and the four let him go watching him mutter as he scolded himself.
"Nicholas Flamel, who's Nicholas Flamel?" Harry turned to the three of them.
"I don't know" Hermione frowned tightening her grip on Lyra's hand while Ron shrugged, Lyra stay silent for now as they had to wait until after Christmas break and hell she wanted to have a bit of fun.
~~~
Christmas was approaching so everyone was getting ready to go home, Lyra looked over at Hermione who looked a little sad "What's wrong Mi?"
"Oh nothing...You will write to me won't you?" the girl looked up at the closest friends she'd ever had.
"Of course, but it is only two weeks before we are back all the way until Easter in April"
"Okay good" Hermione nodded as she continued packing "Are you going to be okay there?"
"At Malfoy Manor?" Lyra smiled and Hermione nodded "Of course, Malfoy Manor is a lot better then when i used to live with my grandmother, they may not be well liked but they've been good to me. They treat me well and soon everything will sense"
"Well the smallest thing happens just sent me an owl and you can spend some of the holiday with me, i'm going skiing with my parents, i think you'd love it!" The girl beamed at Lyra wo smiled.
Once both were done packing they walked down to the great hall to wait for the carriages "Let's say goodbye to the boys" Hermione dragged her forward seeing the pair at one of the tables.
"Queen to E5" Ron smirked and they all watched as his queen slid on the board and smashed Harry's knight into pieces.
"That's totally barbaric!" Hermione gasped.
"That's wizards chess, i see you've packed" Ron nodded to their cases as he moved the broken pieces from the board.
"I see you haven't" Hermione shot back at him.
"Change of plans my parents went to Romania to visit my brother Charlie he's studying dragons there" Ron smirked again.
"Wicked" Lyra nodded as she sat beside Harry flashing the Potter boy a grin.
"Good, you can help Harry then he's going to look in the library to look up Nicholas Flamel"
"We've looked a hundred times!" Ron whined.
"Not in the restricted section" Hermione leant on the table dropping her voice "Happy Christmas"
Lyra turned to Harry "I hope you enjoy the mirror Harry, you deserve it"
"What?" he frowned watching as she climbed from the bench and followed Hermione and the only answer he got from her was a grin and a wave.
"I think we've had a bad influence on Hermione" Ron whispered to Harry who was watching Lyra leave.
~~~
"Mistress?" Lyra blinked her blurry eyes as she fought sleep, looking to the right she saw Kreacher at her bedside "That boy is trying to get into the room again and won't go away" he growled at the door and she chuckled wiping her eyes.
"Thank you Kreacher, Happy Christmas" she sat up stepping from her warm bed.
"Happy Christmas Mistress" he grinned at her.
"Oh i got you a gift" Lyra grabbed the wrapped gift off her vanity table "I know you are getting very good at reading so i asked Severus about it and he told me...Well just open it first"
Kreacher slowly unwrapped the object, inside the dark green paper was a pretty blue book that read in white writing 'The Winter's Tale', he took great care in folding the green paper before picking the book back up.
"I asked Severus if he knew which books Uncle Regulus read and he told me he was always reading this one, i couldn't find his old copy so i got you your own. This way you can keep on practicing and you have a small piece of him always with you but this piece will only hold good memories instead of bad"
"I remember" Kreacher choked out roughly "I remember the name...Thank you"
"Oh you are very welcome Kreacher" she smiled but she fell silent when he reached out and held her hand, Kreacher had never initiated touch before, he accepted her touch but he never sought it out himself in fear of punishment.
"Kreacher...Kreacher cares for his mistress" he looked up at her with misty eyes.
"I care for you too Kreacher, you are my very first friend" she cover his hand with her other one and smiled brightly at him.
"Kreacher can never thank his mistress enough"
"You could do something for me" she chuckled when his head snapped up from where it had dropped to look at his new possession.
"Anything!"
"You could start calling me by my name, you are my friend Kreacher you have the right to address me as such"
The elf was silent for a while "How about Mistress Lyra?"
Lyra burst out laughing "Are you negotiating with me Kreacher?"
"I believe so Mistress Lyra" the old elf looked far to pleased with himself at the sound of her answering laughter.
"Oh my dear friend how i have missed you" she pulled her friend gently into a hug "Thank you Kreacher...For everything"
A great pounding at the door broke the happy silence "I CAN HEAR YOU LAUGHING! GET OUT HERE IT'S TIME FOR PRESENTS!" Draco bellowed through the wood as if it was five foot of solid concrete.
"Bloody boy, no manners, white haired..." Kreachers grumbles were broken off by Lyra's gently chuckles.
"Now now Kreacher, i think it's time i greeted the others"
"Kreacher helps his little miss" the elf nodded and moved back snapping the book which held neatly folded paper within the book out of her room and into his own before he turned to her and waved her to the vanity once more.
"I think i want my hair to be left down today Kreacher" she smiled at his reflection as he started brushing her hair.
"Of course mistress Lyra" once he was done he snapped a pretty red dress onto the bed followed by tights and her shoes sat on the floor "Kreacher will go and prepare your breakfast"
"Thank you Kreacher" she grinned and he snapped away leaving her to dress herself.
Once downstairs she was grabbed by Draco who rushed her into the dining room, he pulled her chair out and plonked her into it before quickly following her into his own seat. The boy served her some fruits before Kreacher appeared with pancakes which Draco promptly filled both their plates up with "Eat quickly Lia, we have things to do"
He paused his eating as laughter echoed through the room, he looked up to see Lyra laughing but his mother and father were watching him with raised brows "I...I apologise, i seem to have forgotten myself" he straightened his posture and started eating at a more polite rate.
"Oh hush Dragon, eat faster i want to see what we got!" Lyra grinned and popped a large bite of pancake into her mouth trying very hard to keep her lips closed as she chewed the massive bite, he couldn't help but chuckle as he followed her.
"One of you are going to choke" Narcissa shook her head but could not cover the small smile trying to escape as she watched them.
"Not it" Lyra cried out touching her nose as quickly as possible.
"You! That's not fair!" Draco glared at her but was answered with a tongue being poked in his direction.
"Now now children, the presents aren't going anywhere" Lucius shook his head hiding his smile behind his tea cup but he looked over at Narcissa with mirth filled eyes.
"I hate you" Draco hissed as he leant over.
"That's not nice" Lyra frowned deeply looking at him making her eyes widen slightly.
"I hate it when you do that" Draco sighed "I'm sorry, i didn't mean it" he was answered with her winning smile which made him roll his eyes.
~~~
They had finished breakfast and were now sat around the tree, the adults were on the love seat while Lyra and Draco sat on the floor "Here Lia" he handed her a box wrapped in pretty silver wrapping, she unpacked it and pulled out a stunning thick cloak, the outer material was a dark red colour.
"I was going to get it in green but mother said no" the boy sulked slightly "I noticed how cold you seemed so i though this would help you in the castle"
"Thank you Draco" Lyra smiled as her fingers slipped over the thick material, she saw a flash of white and reached back into the box pulling out a white peacock feathered quill.
"A piece of home" Draco smiled proudly while Lyra couldn't help but get a little choked up, she reached over and snapped him into a hug making him laugh but he wrapped his arms around her in return "I better have good presents after mine got such a good reaction"
"I hate you" she wiped her face as she pulled back, grabbing his box she handed it over and the blonde haired boy ripped the package apart like he was feral but she couldn't help but laugh.
Lyra watched him pull out a green leather journal that was locked with a clasp that held his family crest "I know you like to write down your thoughts but this one is paired with another which i own. I though we could keep contact in Hogwarts while still keeping it secret, you can write any time and it appears in my own journal"
"Thank you" he nodded opening the book making a point not to look up at her hiding his own misty eyes "I have missed our talks"
"Check the box again Dragon" she grinned watching as he pulled out a pair of seeker gloves with his initials embroidered on them in silver stitching as well as a training snitch.
"I don't get it?"
"I had a dream, i think you'll need practice for next year" she grinned when he gasped.
"Truly?"
"Truly!" He cheered and stood pulled her up he hugged her as they jumped around.
"You were on the Gryffindor team as well wasn't you? You promised" he stopped his jumping to look at her and she chuckled, the year Lucius had hired a professional quidditch player to teach them Draco had made her swear they'd play together, or against each other he didn't care as long as they were both in the air.
"I didn't see anyone only you chasing the snitch next to Harry"
He glared at her "Please tell me i caught it"
"I woke up before i got the chance" she grinned when he huffed letting her go completely.
"What good are you then" he joked as he opened the snitch letting it fly up before he moved to grab it.
"Draco!" Narcissa scolded him quickly.
"It was a mere jest mother, Lia knows that!"
"Jest or not you must never speak that way...Now come sit both of you there are plenty more gifts to open"
Narcissa had gifted her a few new dresses as well as silken ribbons to complement the dresses, Lucius had gifted her a beautiful golden bracelet which held a few protective charms but he said as she grew he would add more charms to it.
In return she had gifted Narcissa a necklace from the Black family vaults, she had noticed how the woman had not one piece of her old family as she was never allowed to keep anything once she married into the Malfoy family. Upon seeing the familiar necklace Narcissa had broken down into tears before she thanked Lyra gently and even hours later Lyra noticed Narcissa glancing at the necklace or running her fingers over the emerald stones.
Lucius on the other hand she had gifted him a tea set, it sounded like a jest but it was the first thing they had bonded over so she had gotten them custom made. They were the obvious slytherin green colour but they faded into a black while each cup had protective sigils printed on them in silver. Lyra had also added in a few thin silk ribbons to his box, she had noticed he had started wearing his hair back similar to hers but the leather ties he'd been wearing would catch on his soft hair pulling harshly at them.
She didn't truly understand why he was wearing his hair like hers but a small part of her loved it, she'd never had a father figure in her live, not before and in this one Sirius had only been around for a year and a bit before he was taken. She couldn't help but appreciate the strength Lucius held, the care he took in looking after his family, she had been grateful he had allowed her such freedom like with Kreacher and her studies so she never questioned the why.
She been gifted a few other presents like sweets from Crabbe and Goyle which she had copied, Theo Nott had gifted her a few advanced potions books while she had gifted him a few muggle stories which she had included a note saying how they would appear as school books to his father and any others who looked at them.
Blaise had sent her a few of his mothers hair products that were always out of stock due to how popular they were as well as more hair ties, while she had gifted him a fancy black woollen trench coat, which given the boys already tall stature would only reach mid to upper thigh.
Pansy had gifted her a pretty pair of black, thick winters gloves paired with a scarf, she had added a note stating how 'too much red washed her out' Lyra had gifted the girl a book on beauty spells which she knew the Parkinson girl would appreciate even if she didn't admit it.
Hermione had sent her a few muggle books, each holding a letter on her own thoughts and annotations in the back of them, Lyra had send the Granger girl a few books of Wizarding traditions and expectations, not to imply anything but in the books Hermione had been practically in the dark, so had Lyra really as she read the books. Living in the world she had to learn that everything had rules or hidden meanings so she thought Hermione would love to learn them even if she didn't keep to it.
Harry and Ron had sent her sweets which was sweet of them really, she had gifted Ron a new wizarding chess set as his own one was getting worn out, the magic was old and his pieces took forever to rebuild themselves. Harry she had gifted him a book of short wizarding stories as well as new quidditch gear including a matching set of gloves she had gifted Draco but with his own initials in gold stitching.
She had gifted Neville a book of advanced Herbology and plants, Seamus a box of 'bang snaps' that were a muggle invention which when thrown at something, ideally the ground, would produce a snap sound and pop like a small firework which she thought was fitting.
She had sent similar boxes to both of the Weasley twins in hopes that would inspire a similar product with their future store, all three boys were sent a note with instructions of use while Dean Tomas she had sent him a book of Quidditch rules and moves seeing as he was a fast fan.
The last gift she had gotten was for Dobby, she had brought him a pair of gloves and while she told him they would not free him from the family she hoped they brought him comfort all the same, his hands were getting a lot better with the help of Kreacher who had been showing him the gift of a loop hole. Even though Lucius wasn't awful to Dobby as he was in the movies his father Abraxas had been and poor Dobby was traumatised.
The poor thing had sobbed into her after receiving her gift, the following days Kreacher was walking around as prideful as one of Lucius' peacocks as Dobby kept talking about how kind his mistress was, how caring and strong she was, how she was the perfect mistress. Of course Kreacher didn't need a youngling to tell him such things for at his age he knew the difference between a good master and a bad one, but his little mistress was the best of them all and she was his.
He would protect this one better then he had his deeply missed Master Regulus, for good masters never came easily.
~~~
He hated Christmas, it reminded him of how much he was missing. She'd be 11 now turning 12 in four months, she would have started Hogwarts by now.
He sat in the corner of his 'room' hugging his legs to his chest as he pictured what she'd look like, how she'd talk, smile.
He wondered if she was like him at all, like her mother or had they stripped that from her like they had...
Had they forced her to be everything he wanted to keep her from or had she managed to stay true to herself like he had, he liked to think she would have.
She had fire, she had been kind, she had been so full of love he couldn't bring himself to believe they could ever take that...But he knew better, he knew how quickly kindness could sour when being held under the Cruico curse.
He knew how quickly love for others could turn into hate or distrustfulness, he knew all too well.
As he sat there day after day he imagined her sorting, maybe the hat would yell Hufflepuff and she would be dressed in yellow, she had always cared about others an awful lot.
Or maybe it would yell Ravenclaw and she would dress in blue, blue had always suited her hair much like his own, she had done everything early, she rolled early, walked early, hell when he read to her it was like she understood every word he spoke.
Perhaps the hat would bless him and call out for Gryffindor and she would be dressed in red, where she would find 'home' like he had, she would see the difference in the Gryffindor common room, how warm it was, cozy even.
Or maybe...Maybe the hat would place her in Slytherin, he was a fool to believe her being anywhere but there would be kind for her. He knew what everyone thought of him, he knew how unkind Gryffindor's could be, hell he had been one of them.
She'd be safe in Slytherin but never truly herself, she be forced to hide behind the mask of a...of a...
The mask of a perfect pureblood.
It was all his fault...
All his fault...
He should never have...No, he shouldn't have...She told him not too...
It was all his fault...
Yes, all his fault...He should have known...They would have been...Then he...Lyra would be...
It's all his fault.