Lyra and Hermione waited until Lavender and Parvati were asleep, both girls curtains were drawn and soft snores came from both beds "You ready?" Lyra looked to Hermione who nodded hesitantly.
"Ready" Lyra shifted and re-tied her laces knowing they might have to do some running, both girls were dressed warmly but unlike Hermione Lyra gathered her curls into a high bun so it was out of her face.
"Alright then, let's go" she grabbed Hermione's hand and together they snuck down to where the two staircases met as they waited for the two boys, they wasn't waiting long as both boys jogged down the steps soon after.
"You two get out alright?" Harry questioned eyes darting up their staircase as if Lavender was going to chase after them and catch them out.
"Yeah, our dorm mates are asleep, you two get out uncaught?" Lyra asked.
Ron nodded "Dean and Seamus are snoring away" she noticed neither of them mentioned Neville who she knew shared their room but she knew why they hadn't. The four of them jogged down the steps that lead to the main common room but paused when a toad jumped into their path "Trevor go! You shouldn't be here!" Ron whispered to the toad.
"Neither should you, you're sneaking out again aren't you?" Neville revealed himself and stood, Lyra tried so hard not to coo at his teddy bear pjs.
"Neville listen we were-" Harry tried but Neville shook his head.
"No! I won't let you, you'll get Gryffindor into trouble again! I...I...I'll fight you" the boy brought both fists up but Lyra could see they quaked.
"Neville i am really, really sorry about this" Hermione stated and pulled out her wand "Petrificus totalus"
Lyra winced when Neville stiffened up like stone and fell to his back, she walked forward and placed a pillow under his head and a blanket up to his waist "Sorry Neville, what you did was very brave" she whispered.
"You're a little scary sometimes you know that? Brilliant but scary" Ronald whispered watching Lyra practically tuck Neville in.
"Let's go" Harry called and she casted the stiff boy a sorry smile.
All four squeezed under the cloak "Ow! You stood on my foot!" Hermione hissed looking back at Ron.
"Sorry" the Weasley boy whispered as they approached the door.
"Alohomora" Lyra whispered watching as the lock bounced up unlocking with a soft click and they all walked in.
"Wait a minute...He's-" Ron frowned but the cloak was ripped off of the four of them with Fluffys snore, Lyra caught it before it hit the ground and quickly folded it before she handed it back to Harry.
"Asleep" Harry whispered softly staring at the sleeping Cerberus.
"It's the harp but it won't stay playing forever, let's go" Lyra scolded them as she approached the dog.
"Argh, it's got horrible breath" Ron grimaced when the dogs breath flowed over them all as they got closer.
"I'm sure if you asked nicely Hagrid will let you brush it's teeth, you can choose which head Ron" Lyra whispered with a wide grin making the boy throw a soft glare her way but other then that she was ignored.
"We have to move it's paw" Harry knelt by the paw on the trap door.
Ron backed up slightly "What!"
"Come on!" Harry snapped and they all pushed the paw off the door, the head closest to Lyra shifted and she hummed a lullaby gently making it calm and settle back into it's sleep "Good idea" Harry nodded to her and she grinned shrugging.
They all knelt looking down into the opening but it was too dark to see anything, Harry glanced up at the three of them "I'll go first, don't come down until i give you a sign, if something bad happens get yourself out"
"Too late" Lyra sang softly having already heard the harp stop it's gently song.
"Does it seem a bit quite to you?" Harry frowned.
"The harp, it's stopped" Hermione nodded looking at Lyra who felt the air in the room change, she knew if she looked up she'd see the three heads stood above them and choose to simply not do that.
"Ergh! Yuck!" Ron sneered at the mess on his shirt, three of them looked up and saw Fluffy wide awake.
"Jump!" Harry yelled.
"Don't need to tell me twice" Lyra screeched as she dropped down the hole first, she didn't have main character safety so she didn't feel an ounce of guilt.
Instead she watched as one by one they landed onto the devils snare joining her "Woah" Ron breathed a sigh of relief "Lucky this plant thing was here" he patted the black branch to his left.
"Not really" Lyra answered and they all looked at her "Just...Just stay still" they all started to struggle and gasp when the plant started to grab and restrain them all, Lyra just stayed deadly still and she felt herself sinking. Lyra hit the hard floor with a grunt and she heard the others screaming and yelling for her but she wanted them to figure it out themselves like in the films.
"Of course! Stop moving both of you, this is Devils Snare! Lyra was right stay still" Hermione warned "You have to relax, if you don't it will only kill you faster"
"Kill us faster! Oh now i can relax!" Ron screeched fighting tooth and nail to release himself from the plant he'd been petting moments ago.
Lyra readied herself and helped catch Hermione as she sank through the floor "Oh thank god!" Hermione gasped and grabbed Lyra tightly "Why didn't you say anything"
"I knew you could do it" she grinned but they turned back to look up for the boys who were still yelling and struggling.
"Just relax!" Hermione called up to them.
"Hermione where are you? Can you see Lyra" Harry voice was muffled but they heard it fine.
"I'm here, just trust us and relax" Lyra called up and moments later Harry sunk though, she held a hand out to try and help him catch his footing.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked gently as Lyra helped the boy up.
Harry nodded brushing his clothes of dust and dirt "Yeah".
"He's not relaxing is he? We've got to do something" Hermione looked back where Ron was screaming at this point.
"What?" Harry asked panicked, the sound of Ron's screams were not pleasant so she couldn't blame him.
"I remember reading something in herbology erm...Devils Snare, Devils Snare, it's deadly fun...But will sulk in the sun, that's it! It hates sunlight" Hermione gasped before pointing her wand up "Lumos Solem"
Lyra had to look away from the bright light produced by Hermione's wand but heard Ronald hit the ground "Ron you okay?" Harry helped his friend up quickly just relieved he hadn't died.
"Yeah, whew! Lucky we didn't panic" Ron stated and Lyra scoffed gently.
"Lucky Hermione pays attention in Herbology" Harry answered with narrowed eyes.
Hermione looked at the dark wooden door and they all heard the soft noise coming from inside "What is that?"
"I don't know, sounds like wings" Harry whispered listening closely on their side but they were more cautious after the Devils Snare.
"They're actually keys" Lyra smiled walking to the door opening it, the others followed her inside hesitantly but they relaxed seeing the keys flying around innocently.
Harry nodded to the other door ahead "I bet one of them fits that door"
"What's this all about?" Hermione frowned at the broom hovering in the centre of the room.
"I don't know" Harry shook his head looking at Lyra.
She smiled gently "You need to fly and get the key to the door" Ron however left to approach the door and Hermione followed him as he tried to cast it open "It won't be easy Harry but you will get the right one"
"Argh what are we going to do, there must be a thousand keys!" Hermione growled when the spell didn't work but she'd seen Ron cast it so she knew it wasn't him or the spell it was simply a door that would not open without the key.
"We're looking for a big old fashioned one, probably rusty like the handle" Ron glanced up at the keys in the air.
Harry's hand flew into the air "There! The one with the broken wing" he paused before grabbing the broom in front of him.
"What's wrong Harry?" Lyra whispered and he looked up at her, his eyes were so startling it caught her off guard every time she locked eyes with them, the neon green was not a normal colour but it was a very pretty colour.
"It's too simple" he stated and she hummed in agreement.
"Oh go on Harry, if Snape could catch it on that old broom then so can you, you're the youngest seeker in the century" Ron scolded him and Harry nodded as he steadied his shoulders.
"When you grab it, be ready to go" Lyra grinned and he frowned but nodded as she moved towards the door with the others not wanting to be near him when it started.
The moment he grabbed the broom the keys dive boomed Harry who was swatting the air "This complicates things" Ron frowned watching the keys almost turn into one mass group making it almost impossible to see the one they needed.
Harry flew for a few short minutes before he caught the one they needed "Catch the key!" he threw it when he got close enough to them and Lyra leaped up catching the key in her hand. She ran to the door unlocking it, they rushed in and help the door open for Harry to fly inside after he distracted the keys and once he passed through they slammed the door shut and heard each of the keys hitting the door behind them with a soft clinking sound.
The next room stunk so badly all of their eyes were watering, it was a dark and bare room with no windows, there was absolutely nothing apart from a troll which was passed out in the centre of it. The walls had cracks and a few decently sized chucks missing in the walls where the troll had clearly tried to escape, it's wooden bat was cracked itself but it looked slightly different from the troll that had cornered the two girls in the bathroom.
Lyra knew it wasn't dead only because of the snores it kept releasing as the four of them stared, it had a big knock on it's head, the skin was swollen and had started to bruise "I'm glad he actually dealt with this one" Ron whispered and they all nodded in agreement as they slowly slunk past it's figure as if it would spring back to life and kill them.
They kept moving until they reached a door, shutting it behind them just in case the troll woke up and decided to follow them, Lyra spelled it shut for extra insurance. They saw a small flame and walked towards it, the room wasn't whole, there were huge holes in the ground but it was so dark they they couldn't see the bottom of the holes.
There looked to be a safe walkway as the room got bigger Lyra heard Hermione gasp when she saw the huge chest table they had to walk on, it was life sized "I don't like this, i don't like this at all" she whispered and Lyra grabbed her hand tightly trying to comfort the girl.
"Where are we?" Harry looked around "A graveyard?" Lyra elbowed him sharply when Hermione gulped.
"This is no graveyard" Ron passed them to walk forward "It's a chessboard"
"There's the door" Harry pointed and they moved forward to leave but the white pawns drew their swords to stop them from passing.
"Now what do we do?" Hermione whispered.
"It's obvious isn't it? We've got to play our way across the board! Alright Harry you take the empty Bishop's square, Hermione you'll take queen castle, as for me and Lyra, we'll be the knights" Ron glanced at the two horses and she sighed.
"I hate that but fine" She moved to the knight and climbed up to perch herself on the stone saddle.
"What happens now?" Hermione asked when she took her square.
"Well, white moves first and then...We play" Ron stated and as if answering him the first white pawn moved forward.
"Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like...Real wizards chess do you?" Hermione asked once more.
"You there, D5" Ron yelled and the pawn moved forward until it was diagonal to the white pawn who in response draw it's sword and shattered Ron's pawn leaving the four first years silent "Yes Hermione, i think it will be exactly like wizards chess"
~~~
One after another both white and black had lost pieces but Ron was doing it all without truly using four of his pieces unless he knew they were safe.
"Wait a minute!" Harry frowned standing up as he studied the board.
"You understand right Harry?" Ron asked gently "Once i make my move, the queen will take me then you're free to check the king"
"No, Ron no!"
"What is it?" Hermione questioned not understanding at all, having not been a fan of chess.
"He's going to sacrifice himself" Harry snapped glaring at his friend, Ron had been teaching him how to play for months now but it had taken him a while to see the play.
Hermione gasped "No you can't, there must be another way!"
"Do you want to stop Snape from getting that stone or not? Harry, it's you who has to go on i know it, not me, not Hermione, not Lyra, you"
"He will be fine, just a slight concussion and a few scrapes, everything happens for a reason" Lyra smiled gently nodded to Ron who took a deep breath knowing he wasn't going to die.
"Knight to H3" Ron called and they watched his piece move "Check" then it fell silent as the white queen piece approached Ron before it shattered the horse with it's sword and Ron flew from the blast.
"Ron!" Harry yelled watching the boy fall unconscious "No don't move, don't forget we're still playing" he yelled at Hermione who was creeping towards Ron, Harry then approached the king slowly but with a purpose. "Checkmate" they watched in anticipation as the king dropped it's sword signalling the game was over.
All three of them rushed towards Ron "Take care of Ron, then go to the owlery, get a message to Dumbledore, Ron's right i have to go on" Harry looked at the door behind them.
"You'll be okay Harry, You're a great wizard, you really are" Hermione whispered giving him a soft smile.
"Not as good as you"
"Me? Books and cleverness. There are more important things like friends and bravery, Harry just be careful"
Harry stood but Lyra gently grabbed his hand stopping him as she stood "You're not going alone"
"I have to" he frowned.
"No you truly don't, you will never be alone now Harry" she smiled and he paused before nodding, she casted Hermione a smile who looked like she was going to freak out before the two of the walked through the door.
~~~
"There can't be more" Harry sighed never had she seen him so tired.
"This is Snape's test" she whispered, she hadn't known it would be here but after seeing the troll she had an idea it was going to be and Harry was terrible at potions so she came with him.
The moment they stepped over the threshold fire sprung up keeping them captive "What do we have to do?" Harry looked towards the table with seven different shaped bottles standing in a line.
Lyra found the paper so she picked it up,
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind.
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find, one among of us seven will let you move ahead.
Another will transport the drinker back instead, two among our number hold only nettle wine, three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore, to help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide you will always find some on the nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end, but if you move onwards neither is your friend.
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size, neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.
"Oh god, we're going to be stuck here forever" Harry sucked in a breath as the words seemed like Latin to him.
"Of course we won't, look it spells it all out for us: There are seven bottle, three of which are poison, two are wine, one will get us to safety though the fire and one will take us back" she grinned.
"But how do we know which to drink" Harry frowned staring at the bottles.
"Let me think" she walked to the table and stared, she knew the answer already but just to see if she could work it out if she didn't have the needed information she pretended she didn't know.
"Here, this one gets you through the fire towards the stone" she handed him the smallest bottle.
"There's only enough for one person, there's hardly a swallow" Harry help the bottle up looking at the small amount of liquid inside "Which one takes someone back?"
"This one" Lyra pointed at the bottle at the end on the right.
"You drink that one, listen, Hermione might need help to get Ron back passed all those trials"
"I'll go but i need to tell you a few things first okay?" Harry nodded and she continued "Inside that room will be someone you never expected but he is not alone, Voldemort is apart of him, living off him. The stone is in the mirror but he can not get it so long as he wants to use it, you don't need to fear because he can not touch you Harry alright?"
"Can't touch me?" He frowned staring at the girl in front of him.
"No, he can not touch you and i can tell you why later but you don't have time right now" She nodded to the bottle in his hand.
"You take yours first" he demanded and she pulled him into a tight hug first "Lyra!"
"You'll be fine Harry, i promise" she whispered before releasing him, drinking the potion she shivered as she felt like she was now made of ice but she waved at Harry and moved through the fire seeing the chessboard empty once more, she moved through and found Hermione dragging an unconscious Ron.
"Need help?" Hermione head snapped up.
"Oh thank god!" she gently released Ron and snapped her into a hug "I was so worried"
"Come, we need to get Dumbledore" Lyra grinned and grabbed Ron before casting a feather light spell she lifted the boy and they took off.
~~~
"Good afternoon Harry" Dumbledore walked into the med bay "Token from your admirers" he looked at all the gifts on both his side table and the table used for holding food.
"Admirers?" Harry frowned looking at the gifts in confusion.
"What happened between you and professor Quirrell is a secret. So naturally, the whole school knows...Ah, i see your friend Ron saved you the trouble of opening your chocolate frogs" Dumbledore held up the opened chocolate frog case.
Harry sat up quickly "Ron was here? Is he alright? What about Lyra and Hermione?"
"Fine, they're all fine"
"But what happened to the stone?" Harry asked once more.
"Relax dear boy, the stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and i had a little chat and agreed it was best all round"
Harry was filled with guilt "But then Flamel, he will die won't he?"
"He has enough elixir to set his affairs in order but yes he will die"
"How is it i got the stone sir? One minute i was staring in the mirror and-" Harry started but Dumbledore stopped him once more.
"You see, only the person who wanted to find the stone but not use it would be able to get it, one of my more brilliant ideas but between you and i that is saying something"
"Does that mean with the stone gone Voldemort can never come back?" Harry tilted his head as he wished for Dumbledore to agree with him.
"I am afraid there are other ways in which he can return, Harry do you know why professor Quirrell couldn't bare to have you touch him? It's because of your mother, she sacrificed herself for you and that kind of act leaves a mark" Harry reached up for his head "No, this kind of mark cannot be seen it lives in your very skin"
"What is it?"
"Love Harry, love."
~~~
Lyra was stood on top of the staircase with Hermione and Ron as they waited for Harry to be released from the med bay, Ron was the first to turn noticing Harry and the two girls followed, Harry grinned "Alright there Ron?"
"Alright, you?" The Weasley boy asked with a grin.
Harry shrugged "Alright, Hermione?"
"Never better"
"Lyra?" Her head snapped towards Harry surprised he'd asked, she wasn't apart of their trio.
"Perfectly fine" she grinned widely and he nodded happily, the three of them walked down to join him as they headed to the great hall, once in the great hall the banners were all slytherin green but she knew that was going to change.
After they found their seats and people were laughing, spending time together, a glass clinking was able to make the hall quieten down and they all turned to look at the headmaster who stood up "Another year and now as i understand the house cup needs awarding"
Slytherin had won the quidditch cup that year seeing as Harry was still unconscious in the Gryffindor VS Ravenclaw game allowing Slytherin to snatch the win.
"And the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor with 312 points...Third place Hufflepuff with 352 points...In second place Ravenclaw with 426 points and in first place with 522 points is Slytherin" the cheers flew through the hall as Slytherin celebrated loudly.
Lyra smiled and clapped along feeling so very guilty for what was to come, Slytherin really did deserve the win they were winning by a landslide. It also didn't feel right for him to give out points when he'd just called out the winners signalling it was over, it felt wrong.
"Yes, yes well done Slytherin. However, recent events must be taken into account and i have a few last minute points to award...To Miss Hermione Granger for the cool use of intellect while others were in grave peril, 50 points"
The Gryffindor cheered happily and Hermione gripped Lyra's hand under the table tightly as she grinned "Second, to Mr Ronald Weasley for the best played game of wizarding chess that Hogwarts has seen in many years, 50 points"
Lyra closed off all facial expressions, 50 points for a game of chess? Absurd, he wasn't even trying to hide what he was trying to do "Thirdly, to Mr Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, i award Gryffindor 60 points"
"Next, to Miss Lyra Black, for her ability to crack extremely hard riddles and her perseverance to go through anything thrown at her with a smile...50 points" Lyra didn't have the strength to look up, she knew she'd lock eyes with Draco and this felt like she was stripping him of his win, ironically enough there was not a smile to be seen on her face.
"We're tied with Slytherin!" Hermione whispered happily almost crushing Lyra's hand.
"And finally, it takes a great deal to stand up to your enemies but a great deal more to stand up to your friends i award 10 points to Neville Longbottom"
The hall broke out into cheers "I told you it was a brave thing to do" Lyra whispered with a small smile to the boy sat next to her who smiled in shock.
"Assuming that my calculations are correct i believe that a change in decoration is in order" Dumbledore clapped and the banners changed from a emerald green to a scarlet red "Gryffindor wins the house cup"
Three out of four tables celebrated, the aura of the people around her changed completely towards her, before she was given glares, sneers and mean comments now those same people were clapping her back, thanking her even.
It was just sad, how fast people can change towards you. The worst part? She knew it wasn't even real, just like they did with Harry they'd go back to hating and judging her next year.
~~~
"Come on now, you'll be late" Hagrid called out as the train hooted signalling last call.
"Come on Harry" Hermione called when he paused in the doorway.
"One minute" the three of them watched as Harry moved to say his goodbyes to Hagrid, they watched him give Hagrid a hug before coming back towards them.
Hermione smiled "Feels strange to be going home, doesn't it?"
Harry turned back to Hogwarts which was in the distance "I'm not going home, not really"
"I haven't been home for a long time" Lyra added before turning to Hagrid and waved wildly "Bye Hagrid see you soon!" The half giant chuckled and waved with one arm while his free hand was wiping his eyes.
They made it to what they had already claimed as their own carriage, the boys sat opposite the girls both Harry and Lyra had the window seat like always "You all swear to write this summer don't you?" Hermione gave all three a warning glance.
"Of course, we could even plan to meet up at some point" Lyra grinned when the girl nodded quickly, the boys simply nodded and Lyra knew it wasn't going to be easy getting letters from them.
At the King's Cross Station the four said their goodbyes, Lyra watched Ron get dragged into a hug by Molly Weasley, Hermione was bundled up into a hug between her mother and father who both waved happily at Lyra who reciprocated the wave. Hermione had told her she had written to her parents about her 'bestfriend' Lyra Black, the parents answering letter had been joyous asking to know about this girl their daughter spoke highly of.
Hermione had told them so much they they had identified the girl the moment she stepped off of the train, the tight hug Hermione had given her had just solidified who she was "You'll be okay this summer won't you?" she turned to Harry who was stood by her side watching the scene as well.
"I'll be fine" he nodded but paused and looked at her "Why have you seen something?"
"I was just asking but be expecting some parcels from me okay? I can send them by elf if you'd like?"
"Elf?"
"Oh, right erh...How about i come to your house and we can have that long over due talk?" she offered.
"I don't know if i'll be able to"
"Because of your guardians? Don't worry about them Harry they don't even have to know i'm there just send me an owl of a date and time and i can appear in secret" she grinned and Harry chuckled.
"Alright then, expect Hedwig" Harry looked at the owl in her cage beside his luggage.
"I can't wait, she is just so sweet" Lyra cooed at the owl who preened under the compliments "Be careful Harry won't you?"
"Of course" he nodded and tensed slightly when she hugged him tightly "Thank you" he whispered before barely hugging her back, this whole touch thing was new to him.
"Boy!" a loud bellow brought the pair from the embrace and she saw a huge man who was red faced as he stared at them, she felt Harry tense up as he grabbed his bits.
"That's me" he whispered and looked at her once more "See you soon Lyra"
"See you soon Harry" she grinned trying to push all happy feeling towards him, she watched him leave sending a matching glare to the man who was trying to bury her six feet deep. She watched the mans glare drop off and was replaced with a slight fearful expression just as she felt a hand land on her shoulder, looking up she saw Lucius was stood there staring the muggle down.
"Lord Malfoy?" she kept looking at him and he broke contact with the muggle glaring at his young to look down at her "What could be done if a magical child was being abused by their guardians?"
"Magical or muggle dearest?" he asked cocking a brow.
"Either?"
"Quite a bit dearest, we'll talk more at home, come let's get you back Draco is in an awful mood"
"That's partly my fault, they were meant to win the house cup but there were last minute points given meaning the win was taken from them" she frowned as he lead her back to Narcissa who was fixing Draco's hair.
"I'm sorry Dragon" Lyra whispered to the boy who glared but slowly his face dropped and he sighed.
"I guess it was fine seeing as we won the quidditch cup" he grumbled "Not fair but whatever"
"I agree it wasn't fair and you guys completely deserved it however if you hadn't of snitched on me we wouldn't have lost 200 points and we may have won anyway"
Draco laughed loudly "Doubt that! I lost 50 points also meaning we were ahead anyway"
Lyra glared before huffed she held her hand out and he took it lacing their fingers together "You two made up now?" Narcissa grinned as both kids nodded "Good i'm so glad because the elves have a surprise for you"
"A surprise?" Draco perked up as Lucius gathered the trunks.
"Yes my Dragon, now let's go and greet them"
~~~
"Mistress!" Kreacher rushed forward stopping just before her "Kreacher is so pleased to see you, he is pleased you is home now!"
"I'm happy to see you too Kreacher, i missed you dearly" she grinned taking his hand "Now what is this surprise?"
"It was the younglings idea, he comes a long way then before almost no tapes on his hands anymore" Kreacher nodded proudly like it was all his doing which it probably was.
"Oh that's brilliant Kreacher, you have done me so proud" she nodded and he swelled, he'd been looking so much healthier since Walburga died and Lyra read it was to do with their bond, Lyra's magic and love was essentially bringing the elf back to his prime health turns out with healthy strong magic and a strong bond to their master or mistress' elves can live pretty much indefinitely.
They continue ageing until both parties agree it is time to let the elf go, jobs do get harder for elves because of old age and at a certain part they can no longer breed but Lyra didn't want to ask when that was in fear of upsetting Kreacher.
"Kreacher does his best for his mistress" he nodded leading her into the dining room, it was dinner time by now and the table was filled with all their favourites as well as their favourite desserts.
They were welcoming them back.
It was lovely but it made Lyra think of the greeting Harry was going to get.