Lyra sat in her bedroom opposite the fire that Kreacher had made for her, she had a lot to plan out. Her first year was mainly for her to experiment with this whole new world thing, to see if it followed the books or films, if anything she did changed outcomes. Now however, it was time for her to get serious, she couldn't be living at the Malfoy manor by the time the Dark Lord came to live here, she needed free reign so she needed to get a move on.
Step one had been telling Lucius about a vision she saw of an black diary belonging to a T. Riddle, she hadn't thought of anything really but for him to maybe find it, test it but to her absolute shock the next morning he had giving it to her in the morning along with her morning tea. He had just handed it over, just like that, she had sat there staring at it for a while before they had all agreed that she shouldn't go into too much detail with the Malfoy Lord as his occlumency wasn't as strong as theirs. But if she did need to tell him specific things Narcissa would take that memory and then wipe the rest from Lucius' mind, with his approval so their thoughts were safe from the Dark Lord.
So now in her trunk laid a warded Horcrux, Lyra needed to think about how she wanted this to go. She didn't want sweet Ginny to have to go through what she did but she desperately needed the Gryffindor sword to be impregnated with the Basilisk venom...Or did she simply forego the sword to begin with seeing as it was practically sentient and could disappear on it's own whim? It would be quite easy actually seeing as she was pretty sure there already laid a goblin made dagger in the Black family vaults, many daggers actually.
It would be as simple as purchasing Basilisk venom and impregnating the dagger with the it, the Gryffindor sword didn't work simply because it was thee sword of Gryffindor but purely for the fact it was goblin made, all goblin made items absorbed that which makes it stronger. So she could have her very own horcrux destroying weapon without the fear of it vanishing or if it would appear for her to begin with...The basilisk didn't need to be woken anyway but it was dangerous to have it there, almost tempting fate.
Plus the Basilisk was the reason their next DADA professor left, she couldn't handle Lockhart staying for longer then necessary, Lyra sighed and frowned looking into the flames, she didn't know what to do.
A tapping at her window caught her attention and she grinned when she recognised Hedwig but when she opened the window she frowned seeing no letter on the girl "Hey my sweet, come let's get you a treat" she cooed and the owl perched on her shoulder as she walked towards the owl treats on her desk "Did you have a message for me?"
The owl snapped her beak and hooted angrily and Lyra hummed "Did someone else take the message?" the owl bobbed her head once making Lyra chuckle "Okay sweet girl, you did such a good job, Harry would be proud of you" she smoothed the angry feathers down on the owl who nuzzled into her fingers pecking them affectionately.
She was still terrified of owls but Hedwig was different, she was the beauty who gave her life trying to protect Harry...Plus she never twisted her neck in front of Lyra almost like she understood that scared the girl.
"Would you like some rest before you fly back?" she owl hooted and looked back at the window "Ahh i see, anxious to get back to Harry sweet girl? Go on then but be careful" she opened the window back up and the owl head butted her softly before flying off into the night.
"Dobby?" she called out and she heard a gentle pop.
"Yes little Miss?" Dobby smiled at her.
"Come join me, it is cold tonight isn't it?" she waved the elf over who quickly joined her by the fire.
"I guess it is, would you like me to add more wood?"
"Oh no, i'm okay Dobby thank you though...Dobby may i ask you a question?"
"Anything" the elf nodded his large ears flopping forward.
"Have you taken a letter of mine?" she asked softly holding his hand lightly as he froze, eyes filling quickly with tears "I think i know why if you did and i swear i am not angry but i would ask that you give it back"
The elf remained frozen as he stared at her "Dobby...Dobby tries to help that's all...I"
"Hush now Dobby" she smiled sweetly tapping his hand affectionately "I understand you were trying to protect him, i am too...Dobby, Harry is not safe at his house, his guardians hurt him, starve him. That is why i need that letter because i am to go to his house without them knowing to take him food and answers"
Dobby sucked in a breath before he starts sobbing loudly "Oh Dobby" Lyra frowned and gently pulled the elf into a light hug not wanting to overwhelm him but the elf locked his arms around her as much as he could while he sobbed.
"Dobby is a bad elf! Dobby needs to punish himself!" the elf cried.
"No you do not, Dobby you are a good elf! You care for my friend without ever meeting him and that means the world to me, you are a blessing" Lyra soothed as she pulled back the elf looked up at her with his bright green eyes "Now dry your tears my friend, i need to see when Harry is expecting me"
"Harry Potter is in danger if he goes to Hogwarts" Dobby whispered lowly as if warning her.
"Dobby you know of my visions yes? I swear to you i will protect Harry but if he doesn't go to Hogwarts i can not do that" she smiled when the elf hummed "But may i ask how it is that you know what is at Hogwarts?"
"It was Old Master who had the book, the one Master got me to find for you...Dobby feels the bad magic in it, knows the story to the beast"
"And you thought Harry could have been in danger because of who Harry is to the dark lord?" The elf nodded "I see, well i hope i have put your mind at ease...Now may i have my letter please?"
"OH! Certainly, bad Dobby" the elf scolded himself and snapped the letter into existence handing it to her sheepishly which made her chuckle.
Lyra,
I do not know if you have gotten my letters because i know i haven't gotten any of yours or if you have sent any but...
I would like those answers you spoke about and i know you told me to send Hedwig but every time she goes to you she comes back angry so i don't know if you even want this letter.
My aunt and uncle go to bed by 10, my address is 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.
If i see you tonight or not then i guess i have my answer.
Harry.
She glanced up and Dobby with a raised brow and the elf had been reading the letter over her shoulder released a squeak "I'm going to state now Dobby that i really do not want you to take any more of harry's letters okay? While i refuse to order you i'm asking you to trust me Dobby, i would never hurt Harry"
Dobby fiddled with his pillow case "Dobby is very sorry, Dobby doesn't do it ever again Dobby swears it!"
Lyra giggles "Would you like to come with me to meet Harry?"
The elf snaps his head up and nods quickly "Dobby hears he is a very nice wizard!"
"Only the best!" Lyra grins widely when Dobby squeaked once more "I think you two will be great friends"
~~~
Harry was flipping through his photo book that Hagrid had gifted him, it only held two photos but they meant the world to him. The first photo held a magical photo of him being held by his mother and father, the amount of times he'd sat and watched the photo reset itself he was worried they had a limit but he couldn't stop watching it.
The second photo was of him and his friends, the photo showed them all four of them laughing, Lyra shooting Hermione a wink as Ron threw his head back in laughter.
His head snapped up hearing angry steps approaching his room, the door unlatched from the outside and Vernon walked in followed by Hedwig "That bloody bird! What have i said about those blasted letters and that owl!" he bellowed.
"I was sending a letter to my friend" Harry frowned putting Hedwig in her cage quickly before Vernon decided to hurt her.
"Well you haven't received one back have you" Vernon chuckled but his face only held anger "I've had enough!" before Harry could react Vernon had snapped a padlock through the opening of Hedwig's cage.
"You can't do that!"
"Don't talk back to me boy!" with that Vernon stormed out of the room locking it behind him.
Harry stewed in his seat as he glared at the padlock containing his friend in her cage, the owl only hooted gently and snuggled down to rest "Please tell me she got the letter Hedwig"
His owl friend only blinked at him making him sigh as he threw himself back into his bed "Just great"
~~~
Come 11 pm Harry slid into bed, Lyra wasn't coming, Ron and Hermione had ignored his letters too, he didn't understand what he had done, he took his glasses off and rested them on his side table while he tried not to cry, he hated it here.
In his wallowing he had missed the soft popping that entered his room "I was expecting a warm welcome but now i'm wondering if the letter was for someone else" he sat up ripping his glasses off the side he shoved them on his face and gasped seeing Lyra stood in his room holding a big basket in her arms while stood next to a small thing that stared at him with wide eyes.
"Lyra!" he launched himself from his bed but stopped himself just in front of her still not used to the whole touching thing but he wanted to hug her, she set the basket in her arms down and snapped him into a hug which he sunk into "Why haven't you been answering my letters?"
"I haven't been receiving them, just as you haven't been receiving mine but not to worry i have sorted it all out" she whispered into his shoulder and he nodded pulling back "I have them all here actually so you can catch up with everything"
Lyra pulled a decently sized stack of letters Dobby had handed over out of the basket, it had only been a week since they had left Hogwarts and the three of them had loaded up Harry with letters already "Most of them are from Hermione and me, Ron isn't too good with letters but hey ho" she grinned slapping the stack on the boys table "How have you been Harry?"
"I...I am so glad to see you" he answered and she chuckled but Harry had been serious, seeing her stood there just made him feel so much better like the hell of a week he'd just had was so far in the passed he barely remembered it.
"As am i, i have come with my friend Dobby, Dobby this is my friend Harry. Harry, Dobby" she introduced the elf beside her.
"Harry Potter...Such an honour it is, It is a pleasure to meet one of Little Miss' friends...Dobby has heard a lot about Mr Potter" Dobby bowed gently.
"Hello Dobby" Harry nodded his own eyes a little wide as he turned back to Lyra who grinned.
"Dobby is a house elf...Oh Harry we have much to discuss"
"Why don't you both sit down" He offered and Dobby gasped from where he stood behind Lyra.
"S-Sit down? Oh Mr Potter is just as you said Little Miss, he is! Dobby hasn't been asked to sit down by wizards, not as an equal"
"You can't have met many decent wizards then" Harry tilted his head not quite understanding.
"No, i haven't" Dobby answered before clapping his hands over his mouth "That was an awful thing to say!" he moved to the draws and went to bang his head against it but Lyra moved her hand so his head hit her palm instead.
"Dobby! What have i told you" she frowned pulling her friend from the drawers.
"Dobby is not to bes punishing himself, to find loopholes but Dobby bes bad there is no loophole"
"Dobby you could never be bad for speaking your mind, in fact i find myself agreeing with you" she smiled and he calmed.
"Lyra what on earth is going on?" Harry was frowning deeply by now.
"Have a seat Harry we have much to discuss" she sat on the edge on the single bed and Harry sat next to her when she patted the mattress "I'll start off with the easy things okay? I have brought a basket which has been prepared by Dobby and my house elf Kreacher, everything inside is under statistics so nothing will go bad...The hot meals will stay hot, the cold meals will stay cold and when the basket runs out i have already asked Kreacher if he wouldn't mind keeping an ear out for you. If you need anything just call Kreacher by name and he will appear"
"You could call on Dobby too Mr. Potter, Dobby bes happy to help" Dobby smiled proudly but Harry, well Harry looked a little embarrassed.
"Have you seen?" he whispered so gently Lyra almost hadn't heard him.
"I have" she nodded and stood walking to the basket she grabbed a phial from the side pocket which held loads of the same potion, she walked back and handed it to Harry who frowned but took it into his hand "This pretty little thing is a nutrition potion, it does as said on the tin, it supplies the body with nutrition. You, Harry Potter are going to take one every morning until i tell you to stop, do you understand?"
"What if i don't want to?" he smiled feeling warm in his chest as she just stared down at him "Fine, one little blue potion every morning until you tell me to stop"
"Good, now onto the harder stuff" she sighed and dropped herself back down onto the bed beside Harry and the old bed squeaked gently "I...Well to be honest i don't know where to start"
"I heard the beginning is helpful" he sassed her all his tiredness had been washed away the moment she had come.
"I don't do that because i get side tracked" she rolled her eyes and caught sight of his photobook she smiled gently "May I?"
"Oh, sure but there's only two photos inside" he grabbed the book and handed it over to her.
"Kreacher?" she gently called out and her elf popped into Harrys room within moments.
"Mistress calls for Kreacher" he smiled at her.
"Yes Kreacher, this is my friend Harry, Harry this is my eldest friend Kreacher" Lyra smiled as Harry nodded his hello, this elf looked older the Dobby but he looked more sure, strict maybe but defiantly more intimidating then the smaller elf "Could you go and grab me my photo box please Kreacher?"
"Of course" her elf nodded and popped out of existence before returning with her box of photos.
"Thank you Kreacher" she grinned.
"Does mistress need Kreacher for anything else? Kreacher was reading" she laughed gently and shook her head "Kreacher bes listening for your call if you need him" and with that her sassy elf left to continue reading what she knew was Regulus' favourite book.
"Alright, let's get down to business" Lyra's smile dimmed slightly but she held it up for comfort "I'm working on a plan to get you away from here Harry but i need another year, maybe two if things don't go the way i plan"
"Away?" the boy cocked his head at her but she opened her keepsake box and pulled out the most recent photo Remus had gifted her "That's my father" the boy gasped taking the photo gently when she handing it to him.
"It is and that is you"
"Is that you?" Harry looked at the one year old sat on a tall mans shoulders with a big grin, the curls looked to similar.
"It is" Lyra nodded "This is Remus Lupin and my father here, Sirius Black...They were all best friends"
Harry looked up at Lyra eyes full of wonder "Here" she smiled and waved her hand over the photo he looked down to see it duplicate itself.
"You can't do that! You could get expelled!" he gasped as he scolded her.
"They only have a trace on our wands Harry not our magic, when we brought our wands at 11 that wand is then placed on our file and put under trace for the ministry, they couldn't possibly put a trace on our magical cores, magic is too volatile to allow such a thing. It's one of the reasons they do not teach wandless magic anymore, it makes us easier to track if we're dependent on our wands"
"You can do wandless magic?"
Lyra chuckled "Everyone can, we all have accidental magic growing up it just needs training, we need to control it and while the wand helps, our magic is not from our wands Harry, we are the magic" she reached over and put the newly duplicated photo in the book before she riffled for more photos, any containing James Potter or Lily Potter she duplicated and placed into the book.
"Our fathers were best friends?" Harry shook off the shock of watching her do wandless magic.
"From their first year at Hogwarts" she nodded quickly finding a photo of both of their mothers, in the photo Marlene and Lily were stood side by side with large grins whispering between themselves "And our mothers just the same" she handing him the photo and watched him smile.
"Your mother was my god mother" she grinned when he looked up eyes wide, she glanced over at Dobby who was shifting through her photos happily on his little stool.
"That's crazy, we could have grown up together" he smiled softly as he added the photo into his book, his heart was so unbelievably full but also sad at the same time it was quite conflicting.
"We had a year" she smiled sadly before she took the book from him and placed it onto the bed, turning sideways she took both of his hands gently "What i am about to tell you Harry is...It's not a happy conversation but it is one i need you to hear, i need you to know i would never lie to you about this, never"
Harry nodded feeling his hands grow clammy "I trust you"
"My mother and father were your god parents Harry" she took a deep breath "When the war broke out our family joined a group to help fight for the light side, my mother was the first death of the group...I was taken by my nanny elf to get away, it scared a lot of people but i think it just made everything real you know?"
"Your parents were under the fidelius charm, it is a very powerful spell used to hide things or places, or even to conceal secrets. A house which had been protected by this charm was then invisible, unplottable and even soundproof...The only way to know how to find said place is by knowing the password as such and the password is always held by a secret keeper. The secret is embedded in their very soul, the secret keeper was the only one capable of revealing the secret and once you knew the 'password' you could then see the place which had once been hidden"
"So how did Voldemort find them?"
"When your parents had decided to go under the fidelius charm with Dumbledore's advice they first decided to make my father the secret keeper. But once my mother died they decided to change it, everyone knew how close our fathers were Harry, they were practically brothers...It was too obvious who would be their secret keeper so they named another one of their friends instead" she paused and handed him a photo of all four Marauders.
"He betrayed them Harry, he betrayed your parents and my father...His name is Peter Pettigrew, the night your parents died my father left me with the Weasleys before trying to get to them, to get to you...But he too late" She swallow thickly "He chased after Pettigrew, to kill him for betraying your parents but Pettigrew killed 13 muggles and got away, the aurors who are like your muggle policemen found my father in ruin. He was muttering how it was all his fault and that night he was put into Azkaban, which is a prison, for the murder of James and Lily Potter, your parents"
"Why?" Harrys broken whisper made her eyes burn.
"I don't know...I don't know why Pettigrew did it, he was cowardly"
"No, why was your father put into Azkaban?"
She looked up at him to find him glaring at the photo of the marauders but directly at Peter Pettigrew "They were scared Harry, they wanted to comfort the wizarding world that Voldemort and his followers were either dead or imprisoned"
"But they must have known he wasn't responsible!" the boy stood and yelled before casting a scared look at his door.
"Don't worry Dobby silenced the room the moment we entered, but to answer your question there was no trial for my father, he was taken and put directly into Azkaban"
"How can you...How can you just sit here and..." Harry was hyperventilating, his whole world seemed to be crumbling.
"It's okay" she hushed him pulling him into a hug "It will all be okay, i've seen it...I am calm because i know what i have to do Harry, i will get my father into a trial and he will be seen as innocent, Peter Pettigrew will be known for the murders of James and Lily Potter and my father with take over his guardianship of you so you never have to stay here again"
"He was their friend! He was their friend and he betrayed them!" Harry screamed into her neck as he cried but Lyra just held him, he couldn't understand it he had never really had friends but then he found Lyra, Ron and Hermione...Was they like that? Was Peter as close to his parents as he was with his friends? Because if so how was it possible...Too betray someone who was like your very own found family?
"I'm so sorry Harry"
The rest of the night she spent calming Harry, walking him through the photos she had telling him little splashes of information that she had 'seen', he had fallen asleep around 2 in the morning and she had tucked him in under his blanket muttering a warming charm over the thin thing. Lyra put the basket in his wardrobe hidden under his invisibility cloak and left him a note on his desk about what she had done with it along with a reminder to take the potion in the morning.
Before she left she broke the latch of the padlock holding Hedwig prisoner but made it appear fine for when that pig of an uncle came to do whatever to it.
Dobby had taken her back home and she had passed out moments latter but her dreams were racing with all the things she had to do, she also dreamt of the night her father left, she couldn't wait to see him again next year. Under no circumstances would Pettigrew get away from her, no chance!
~~~
Three weeks later Kreacher had informed her of the new bars that the muggle had put on Harrys windows and she knew it was time, she wanted badly to go, so fucking badly and she couldn't find a reason not to so she sent a letter to the twins who had been sending her letters all summer about the snap bangs she'd gifted them.
The same very night she had gotten a letter telling her to go to the burrow so she told Narcissa who had frowned deeply but kissed her forehead and wished her well on her mission. Lyra had Kreacher pop her just outside of the Weasleys wards and she grinned see Fred and George waiting for her.
"Well look what we have here Fred" Fred smirked at George.
"The fact you think i'm that easy to trick Fred is insulting" she glared at them "Now you two ready?"
George chuckled and waved her in leading her to the flying car she loved so much "We're just waiting for Ronald then we can go my Lady"
"Lyra is fine, oh i almost forgot here" she handed over a few more packs of the snap bangs "Knock yourselves out"
Ron had come stumbling out tugging at his jumper but just chuckled when Lyra pulled him into a hug "Alright there Lyra?"
"I'm fine, let's go save Harry"
~~~
George was the one who was driving...Flying? He was the one behind the wheel, Ron had taken the front seat while Lyra and Fred took the back, they followed her directions and slowly pulled up in front of the muggle house, all four looked into the window to see Harry already staring at them.
"Hiya Harry" Ron grinned.
"Ron? Lyra, Fred, George? What are you all doing here?" Harry grinned back in his stripped pjs which no longer looked like he swam in them, it was amazing what three weeks of having three meals a day and one nutrition potion every morning could do.
"Rescuing you of course, now come on get your trunk" Ron demanded and Harry rushed back grabbing his trunk, filling it with a few pieces that weren't already packed inside it, he poured the potions Lyra had given him into his trunk leaving the basket in his wardrobe. He also shut his blinds to quickly get dressed which Lyra though was the cutest thing known to man kind when he re opened the blinds to sit back down to put his boots on.
Once he was all but waiting Ron connected the hook to the metal bars "You better stand back" he warned Harry who took a few cautious steps back "Let's go" George turned the wheel and they pulled off ripping the bar from the window ledge, the glass shattered but he quickly backed the car back up for Harry.
"Potter!" they all heard the yelled but Lyra flung her hand out and pressed her magic against the door to keep it shut, in the films they had come slightly too close for her comfort and she wasn't leaving anything up to chance with her being there.
"Go!" Fred ordered his brother when the boot closed on the trunk that Harry placed into it.
"Hurry up!" Ron demanded with a look of panic as Harry gently handed Hedwig over to them.
Lyra grunt when something heavy slammed against her magic "Get a move on!" she yelled taking the owl cage from Ron, Fred took it and held the owl on his lap as Ron crawled into the back to make room just as Harry launched himself from the window into the car, Lyra released her magic from the door and it slammed open.
"Petunia he's escaping!" the fat man bellowed running to the window to do god knows what.
"Fuck you" she yelled flipping him the bird.
He reached out to grab onto the car "DRIVE!" Ron screeched and George put his foot down accidentally pulling the muggle along too who fell into the bushes below the window.
"I hope that hurt!" she yelled out the window as they drove off.
"By the way Harry...Happy birthday" Ron laughed along with the others.
"Yes! Happy birthday Harry!" Lyra beamed as she leant forward pressing a kiss onto his cheek "That was so much fun! Should we go and kidnap Hermione from her bed now?"
The twins cackled, Ron spluttered having seen the kiss she'd pressed onto Harrys cheek while the Potter boy just flushed bright red. When they landed she said her goodbyes to the boys hugging them each before she called Kreacher to come and collect her, she informed Narcissa of what had happened and the woman had covered her mouth to hide the smile she had, she was so much like her father sometimes.
~~~
"Does she ever just stop and enjoy the moment?" Fred watched as the Black heir disappeared with her house elf.
"It's Lyra, who knows" Ron shrugged as they walked into the burrow practically on tip toes "Do you think it would be alright if i had some of this?" he pointed to the freshly baked rolls on the table.
"Yeah mum will never know" George took one as well.
Harry walked slowly taking it all in, there were pans washing themselves in the kitchen, there were two knitting needles knitting what looked to be a scarf perhaps, he looked up to see three photos one of each of the Weasley boys move from the LOST position to HOME.
"It's not much, but it's home" Ron spoke through his mouthful as he looked around trying to see it through the eyes of someone who'd never seen it before.
"I think it's brilliant" Harry grinned.
"Where HAVE you been! Harry, so wonderful to see you dear" the red headed woman smiled before it dropped as she took in the three red headed boys similar to herself "Beds empty, no note, car gone! You could have died, you could have been seen!" her eyes darted to harry and her whole person softened "Of course i don't blame you Harry dear"
"They were starving him mum! There were bars on his windows!" Ron exclaimed trying desperately to get out of trouble.
"Well you best hope i don't put bars on your window Ronald Weasley, come on Harry time for a spot of breakfast" Molly Weasley smiled as she gestured Harry to the table and she quickly began serving him up a big plate of breakfast.
He pulled the nutrition potion from his pocket and sucked it down replacing the empty vial back into his pocket as he swallowed "What was that my dear?" Molly frowned at his pocket.
"Oh it was a nutrition potion, i've been taking one everyday for a few weeks" he answered quietly.
"And where did you come across such a potion?"
"Lyra gave them to me when she found out about my uncle and aunt" Harry hoped he hadn't just gotten his friend into trouble, he didn't seem to understand the rules of the wizarding world yet.
"Well that was very nice of her" Molly smiled, she knew the potion in itself could be quite expensive especially when you were supplying them to take everyday, she wondered how Lyra was getting them sent to her in that quantity. But it didn't surprise her seeing as it was exactly what both the girls mother and father would have done for their friends.
"Mummy have you seen my jumper?" A small red head ran into the room.
"Yes dear it was on the cat" Molly answered breaking out of her thoughts, Harry looked up to see the girls eyes locked on him.
"Hello" Harry smiled but the girl stared at him for a few more seconds before backing up slowly and then running from the room "W-What did i do?"
Both the twins snickered but it was Ron who huffed and answered him "Ginny, she's been talking about you all summer, it's a bit annoying really"
"Good morning Weasleys"
"Morning Dad!" the room echoed and Harry grinned.
"Argh what a night, nine raids, nine!" the red headed man walked in with a brief case which he threw down onto an armchair.
"Raids?" Harry turned to Ron.
"Dad works in the ministry of Magic, in the misuse of muggle artefacts office, dad loves muggles, thinks they're fascinating"
"Well now" the man sat at the head of the table which had been left empty and turned to Harry "And who are you?" he grinned.
"Oh sorry sir, i'm Harry sir, Harry Potter"
"Good lord, are you really? Well Ron's told us all about you of course, when did he get here?" he asked the last part to the room.
"This morning, your sons flew that enchanted car of yours to Surry and back" Molly put her hands on her hips.
"Did you really?" Arthur Weasley leant back on his chair looking at his boys "How'd it go?"
The twins grinned and went to fill him in but Molly slapped his arm quickly "I mean...That was very wrong indeed boys, very wrong of you" the head of house quickly righted his wrong to stop his wife's ongoing attacks and Harry looked down to hide his smile "Now Harry you must know all about muggles, tell me....What exactly is the function of a rubber duck?"
~~~
Lyra had gone about her summer holiday as normal, spent more and more time with Draco, spent many weeks meditating. She was going to become an Animagus seeing the pros behind it all, seeing as they'd be studying mandrakes this year regardless of the basilisk she'd snip a leaf then and there to make sure no one could see her purchasing one.
She was ready and rearing to go to get back to Hogwarts, she was also going to find the come and go room and search for the diadem taking her horcrux's from two to three, there was simply too much to do.
"Lyra dear, you got another letter from your friend" Narcissa entered her room with a white envelop "This is a pretty stamp, i wonder where she got it?"
Lyra looked at the stamp, Hermione was always changing her wax seal stamps purely because she admitted to her that she had so much fun stamping a letter seeing as the muggles didn't do it anymore so she'd gone out and brought loads of wax stamps. Lyra didn't have the heart to tell her people made their own stamps and didn't change them so seals were easily recognisable, there was no harm in her changing it so Lyra just smiled and sent Hermione a few ones she liked the look of.
"I could ask her" she offered and Narcissa smiled brushing her hair back gently.
"That's very nice sweetheart, thank you" she gasped when Onyx bumped her leg "Yes hello to you too Onyx, good Godrick he grows bigger by the day Lyra"
Lyra grinned when her familiar jumped into her lap folding in on himself to fit "But he is a good boy so i don't mind" Narcissa hummed as she left the room talking about a tea meeting she was having.
She broke the seal and unfolded the letter in her hand before returning her free hand to Onyx's head making him purr loudly.
Lyra,
My parents and i are going school shopping tomorrow, say you'll join us, you must! Mother won't stop asking about you and it's getting annoying, it's almost like she likes you more then me now. Father asked about the wizarding toothpaste, god you should have seen his face when i told him we also had spells to clean out teeth! He looked as if i asked to shoot my grandmother.
Harry is replying to my letters now but they are like Ron's, few and far in between, do you think it's a boy thing or just them two? You speak to the twins don't you, do they send you letters more frequently then Ron and Harry?
I must admit i did buy my school books the week we got our letter, i've been reading them, do you think our DADA teacher is going to be thee Gilderoy Lockhart! That would just be amazing, he truly is brilliant! I do believe i have never seen a man so beautiful in my life.
I hope i see you tomorrow, i'll wait for you outside of Flourish and Blotts at 11 am.
Yours
Hermione X
Bossy witch, she shook her head in amusement and looked at the door hearing the gentle knock "Come in?"
The door opened and Draco popped his head in "You busy?"
"No, come in" she smiled when he walked in and joined her on the couch "What did you want dragon?"
"Nothing..."
"Draco" she repeated herself and he sighed slumping into the pillows as he reached over to stroke Onyx.
"We're approaching September" he answered and she hummed but didn't say a word indicating for him to go on "I just miss you at Hogwarts" he shrugged not looking at her.
Lyra smiled and shook her head "I am going to find the come and go room at Hogwarts, it's unplottable, we could meet there if you'd like, no one would know" his head snapped up.
"You know where it is?"
"Of course i do, i saw it" she grinned and he laughed.
"That's brilliant! We'll meet everyday after dinner"
"Not everyday! I will have homework" Lyra gasped and he groaned glaring at her.
"We'll study together, everyday Lyra!"
"And what exactly am i meant to tell Hermione when she asks why i am no longer studying with her?" she scoffed but Draco actually growled at her.
"You can tell Granger to mind her bloody business! You were my friend first!"
"Draco" she soothed and gripped his hand.
"No it's not fair! They don't even understand, they will never understand because you don't tell them" he yelled standing up disturbing Onyx who growled gently before Lyra shushed him, why must boys be so grouchy.
"Tell them what?"
Draco scoffed as he turned away to face the fire "You think you hide it so well Lyra but i see right through you" he slowly turned to face her and she stayed still letting him continue "I remember our first meeting you know? I remember how long it took for you to slouch in your seat, the panicked looks when your tea cup clinked too loudly to be 'polite', i see you in school when you fall into your default perfect pure-blooded posture when one of those Lions offends you" he moved closer to practically lean over her on the sofa. Alright so maybe she didn't need to try so hard to persuade the Malfoys she was traumatised by Walburga, there were things she played up on but all the things he mentioned had been a genuine reaction from her, funny what things stick after years of abuse.
"They will never understand what it's like to be born on the wrong side of the war, they will never understand how much we have sacrificed, how much we have to continue sacrificing just to survive...Just look at them, you're 12 and they already call you a death eater Lyra! We can't been seen together in school even though everyone knows you live here because we both know who's coming back and they...They just get to live day by day without a single care! You know sometimes i wish mother sent us anywhere else but Hogwarts, at least then i'd still have you"
"You still have me Draco, i'm still your friend, i always will be" she whispered and he fell onto the sofa in defeat and stayed silent "I'll meet you in the come and go room everyday, after dinner even if it is just for an hour"
He looked at her and gave her a small smile as he nodded "I'm scared"
Lyra shuffled closer to her friend and rested her head on his shoulder "Don't be, i have it all under control"
He scoffed "You are 12 Lyra, you shouldn't have it all under control, it isn't fair"
"Life has never been fair Dragon" she hummed as they just soaked up the moment.
~~~
The next morning she'd sat at her vanity while Kreacher styled her hair into his favourite half up, half down with a bow style, he could claim it was her favourite but it was the first style he'd perfected and he was proud to see it on his Mistress so she mostly fell back on it loving how happy it made him.
She moved downstairs to spend the morning with the Malfoys who had become her family, well in a way they were already related "Did you sleep well my love?" Narcissa smiled from her seat watching Lucius make Lyra's tea just as he did every morning, she herself had started waking up early just to see these soft moments between the two.
"Oh erm..." Lyra fiddled with her tea cup before looking up through her lashes at Lucius who raised a brow at her "I...I don't know what to do about a dream i had"
"Would you like advice?" Lucius asked softly putting the paper down to give her his undivided attention.
"There is a basilisk at Hogwarts, it's been there for many years in the chamber of secrets" she answered and Narcissa gasped loudly.
"I have heard of the chamber" Lucius nodded slightly as he watched her closely, it was not very often Lyra seemed stumped by her visions the girl had a very mature head on her, wither that was just the way it was or if it was forced on her by her childhood being taken from her he didn't know but in these moments he remembered just how young she was.
"Well the beast is asleep and will not wake unless woken but...It was meant to be woken and killed this year the only problem with that was the fact that a lot of students were petrified so i stopped what would have woken it"
"And now you are worried about what will happen if it doesn't wake?" Lucius nodded in understanding "Time is a dangerous thing to mess with but you have changed so much already"
"Not really, not like this, i see two visions and i pick the best one but here there was only the vision of the beast waking and i stopped it but now...What if it wakes later on and kills someone? That would be my fault" I.E. if Voldemort does come back and lets it lose in the war, if it gets that far...
"I could kill it myself without waking it, it wouldn't be hard to do all i'd need is a few roosters but i cannot speak parseltongue so i don't know how i'd even open it by myself"
That startling statement kicked Narcissa back into the moment "Please don't do that my love" Narcissa spoke quickly "Promise me you will not seek it out"
"I...But"
"Lyra?" Lucius warned her with a single word and she sighed at his expression, the same one when he was scolded her or Draco.
"Fine, i promise i will not seek it out by myself" she answered carefully leaving room for loopholes, having Kreacher as her house elf engrained certain traits in herself and Narcissa nodded happily none the wiser.
"Let me look into it, i'll try to figure out a way to get into the chamber" Lucius nodded "And just to be clear, you did the right thing Lyra"
Lyra nodded and ate her breakfast before it was time to meet up with Hermione, she hoped she was doing the right thing.