"Her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever...Ginny" Ronald stared at the wall with wide eyes, Lyra turned and took his shoulder.
"Listen to me closely, she will be fine, we will get her out and she will be fine, i've seen it, she becomes an amazing chaser" she spoke strongly "Now we need to go get Lockhart"
"Lockhart, he's thick!" her red headed friend all but yelled.
"Yes he is but he needs to go down there" she rolled her eyes and pulled them toward his office, she was not going to allow for there to be a possibility of him coming back especially with how close it was to third year.
They burst into the office "Professor we have information" Harry called but froze when Lockhart stopped packing his trunks "Are you going somewhere?"
"Uh well, yes um...Urgent call, unavoidable, uh...Got to go" Lockhart waved them off trying to save face which made Lyra snicker.
"What about my sister?"
"Well um, as to that, most unfortunate. No one regrets more then i"
"You're the Defence against the dark arts teacher, you can't go now!" Ron snarled at the man who continued packing.
"Well, i must say when i took the job there was nothing in the job description about..." he went to pass them but Harry and Ron both blocked the path.
"You're running away? After all those thing you did in your books?" Harry looked so confused but also almost betrayed.
Lockhart straightened "Books can be misleading"
"Meaning he didn't do those things" She smirked at the man who jolted.
"What?" both boys echoed the question.
"My dear boy Harry do you use your common sense! My books wouldn't have sold half as well if people didn't think i'd done those things!"
"You're a fraud! You've just been taking credit for what other wizards have done" Harry looked outraged and Lyra suspected most of the British wizards and witches would feel the same way.
Ron snorted looking at the man he hated since the book store at the beginning of the year "Is there anything you can do?"
"Yes. Now that you mention it, i'm rather gifted with memory charms otherwise all those other wizards would have gone blabbing and i'd never have sold another book in fact erh...I'm afraid i'm going to have to do the same to you" and with that he spun but all three had drawn their wands the moment he turned his back.
"Don't even think about it" Harry warned as he glared.
Lyra chuckled "Or do, i've been wanting to cast a few spells at you for a while now" she looked over to see Ron had his new wand out and momentarily panicked, she leant closer whispering gently "Please tell me you didn't throw out your old wand?"
Ron frowned not seeing how it was relevant but shook his head at her, call it stupid or cheesy but he just couldn't throw his first ever wand away, he kept it in his robes as a sentiment ignoring the random stray spark it flares if he catches it.
"Do you have it with you?" She whispered once more and he nodded "Good switch the wands out, it's very important you do that Ron, not right now but before we go down to the chamber" When that was done she bent down and grabbed the wand Lockhart had dropped before she followed the boys to the bathroom.
"Who's there?" Myrtle called before smiling happily "Oh hello Harry" Lyra grimaced and moved to the sink looking for the snake, it didn't take her long to find she turned back to the others "So i unlocked the door to tell him to go away and...I died"
"Yes terribly sad Myrtle, sorry we can't stay long but i found it" Lyra called out and Harrys head snapped towards her, he rushed to her side not seeing the glare Myrtle shot her.
"What is it?"
"It's a hidden doorway like Diagon Alley, here watch" she turned to the sink she took a deep breath and hoped she could speak parseltongue not just understand it.
"Open"
The sink groaned and there was a round rumble as the top part of the sink lifted up and the sink columns separated to slide apart leaving behind a deep hole in the centre. "Excellent Lyra, ah good work, well then i'll just be...There's no need for me to stay" Lockhart was freaking out as he tried to leave but once again the two boys stopped him.
"Oh yes there is" Harry grunted as they shoved him back but he caught himself on the sink columns "You first"
"Now, children, what good will it do?" Lockhart pleaded with them.
Ron glared harshly "Better you then us"
"Um, but...Obviously. Yes" Lockhart slowly turned around to look down into the hole "Sure you don't want to test it first?"
Lyra brought her leg up and kicked the man harshly in the chest causing his grip to loosen and his body to plummet into the hole she turned back to the two boys ignoring their shocked looks "It's like a slide as such just filthy, Ron swap your wands out now" with that she stepped forward and allowed herself to drop into the hole sliding the whole way down.
Ron faced Harry who had watched her go "She scares me, badly" Harry nodded quickly in agreement.
"Harry, if you die down there, you're welcome to share my toilet" Myrtle giggled as she looked at him.
"Erh, thanks Myrtle" with that Harry jumped into the hole following Lyra.
Lyra watched the two boys come sliding out hitting the ground roughly "Did you two really need to scream the whole way down, honestly i told you what to expect" she rolled her eyes as she spelled the dirt from her clothing and skin, reaching up she tied her hair up once more into a ponytail.
"Now remember, any sign of movement, close your eyes straight away" Harry ignored the jab and Ron's gag of disgust seeing as they were stood on bones.
They made a move down the tunnels and Lyra traced her finger tips over the huge shed skin "What's this?" Ron asked from somewhere behind her.
"It looks like a...Snake" Lockhart answered.
Lyra snorted "No shit, the man sees snake skin and finally it clicks" she shook her head she starts moving back towards Ron not wanting to have to see the live beast.
"Bloody hell, whatever shed this must be 60 feet long or more" Ron gapped and Lyra watched Lockharts eyes roll back and his body collapse to the ground "Heart of a Lion this one"
Lockhart however hadn't feinted but used it to reach up and grab Ronalds wand which she saw was thankfully his old wand "The adventure ends here boys and girl, but don't fret the world will know our story, how i was too late to save the girl, how the three of you tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body so you first Mr Potter" Lockhart turned slightly "Say goodbye to your memories, obliviate!"
The same pale green from before erupted and backfired against Lockhart who's body flew back hitting the old stone harshly knocking him out properly this time. But the answering rumbles didn't fill her with joy as she was stood right in the middle, she went to run forward towards Ron but Harry took her hand and roughly jerked her backwards making her gasp as the breath was forced from her lungs.
A sharp piece for stone flew up and sliced the skin by her temple making her hiss, Harry was wincing as he had rolled his ankle "Harry! Lyra!"
"Ron! Are you okay?" Harry yelled moving closer to the rock wall while she sat and stared at the floor, why would this happen? Why would Harry grab her?
"I'm fine" Rons voice called back before there was low muffled talking on the other side of the wall "Lockharts memory charm backfired! He hasn't got a clue who he is! What do i do now?"
"You wait here and try and shift some of this rock so we can get back through, we'll go on and find Ginny" Harry called back.
"Okay!"
Harry moved back towards her but noticed she hadn't move an inch "Lyra, are you alright?"
"I'm not meant...I don't..."
"What, what is it?" he tried to encourage her to continue but how could she explain she didn't want to go with him to fight off a Basilisk?
She forced herself to her feet "Nothing, let's just go"
"You're bleeding!" he stopped her as she moved to pass him.
"Yeah well we're both going to be doing a lot more of that soon" she muttered as she stepped back before continuing down the corridor.
They made it to another door but this time it was Harry who walked forward "Open"
There were seven snake heads which one by one drew back as an eighth snake slithered passed them before the heavy vault like door unbolted and swung open slowly. Harry went first helping her down the ladder at the bottom when she almost slipped on the wet tiles, it was a very long strip of stone tiles which was decorated with huge snake heads, eight either side of the walkway but she knew the rest of them were under water and who knew how deep they went.
Looking ahead she gasped softly as she was greeted with the face of Salazar Slytherin, once again his head was the only thing showing but to house the Basilisk it had to be a decent descent into the water. "Ginny..." Harry whispered and the pair started to run towards the eleven year old girl who was unconscious, Harry dropped to the ground beside her while Lyra kept an eye out for their soon to be guest "Ginny oh, Ginny please don't be dead! Wake up, wake up...Please wake up"
Lyra frowned down at the young girl and briefly saw her chest raise and fall once more which meant she was at least alive right now which was good when she looked back up she had to clamp back a gasp when she locked eyes with a pair of very dark blue ones.
"She won't wake" he stated as he slowly walked closer the light glimmering off the prefect badge on his robes.
"Tom, Tom Riddle? What do you mean she won't wake, she's not...?" Harry asked from his spot of the ground and Tom made his way closer at a speed which was slightly disconcerting.
"She's alive, but only just"
"Are you a ghost?"
"A memory preserved in a for diary 50 years" Tom smirked and Lyra frowned he was unnaturally beautiful, his jet black hair was perfectly styled in a wavy style that kept it out of his eyes which were already framed with long thick lashes. His whole bone structure was stunning, strong and sharp edges while his lips remained soft and full the only thing sharp about them being his cupid's bow. Even his uniform was perfectly pressed the badge on his robes was buffed and shiny.
It was sad actually how something so beautiful could be so deadly but Lyra guessed that was just how life worked "She's cold as ice, Ginny please don't die" Harrys voice brought her back and she tutted at Tom who moved to pick up Harrys wand "You've got to help us Tom, there's a Basilisk"
"It won't come until it's called" Tom answered gently his eyes taking Lyra in.
Harry stood moving to stand next to Lyra "Give me my wand Tom"
"You won't be needing it" Tom paused before focusing on her once more "It is not often i am wrong but this surprises me...A Black in Gryffindor"
"Not the first either and definitely not the last" she jerked her brows at him, if only they made boys that looked like this without the crazy but she guessed it also wasn't completely all on him.
"Listen, we've got to go, we've got to save her" Harry shook his head not understanding.
"I'm afraid i can't do that Harry, you see as poor Ginny grows weaker i grow stronger. Yes Harry it was Ginny Weasley who opened the chamber of secrets"
"No, she couldn't. She wouldn't!" Harry snarled.
"It was Ginny Weasley who set the Basilisk on the mudbloods and Flitch's cat, Ginny who wrote the threatening messages on the walls"
"But why?" Harry looked down at Ginny who remained unconscious on the ground.
"Because he told her to" Lyra glared, Tom hummed as if both amused and impressed.
"You'll find i can be very persuasive...Not that she knew what she was doing. She was, shall we say, in a kind of trance still the power of the diary began to scare her and she tried to dispose of it in the girls bathroom and then who should find it but you? The very person i was most anxious to meet"
"And why did you want to meet me?" Harry frowned but straightened up at the clear threat.
"I knew i had to talk to you, meet you if i could so i decided to show you my capture of that brainless oaf Hagrid to gain your trust" Tom smirked.
"Hagrid's my friend! And you framed him"
"Harry, he is trying to rile you up, it's just words he has no true power right now" she whispered towards Harry who shifted closer to her which did not go unnoticed by Tom.
"It was my word against Hagrid's, only Dumbledore seemed to think he was innocent"
Harry smirked "I bet Dumbledore saw right through you" Lyra winced and turned to look at Ginny instead, the way Dumbledore treated Tom was what Lyra believe pushed him right onto the track he took. She didn't believe he was perfect or even good but Dumbledore did ice him out and only treated him with suspicions and coldness, but she would never make excuses for Voldemort however she also didn't hold Dumbledore at as high regards as others did.
"He certainly kept an annoyingly close watch on me after that, i knew it wouldn't be safe to open the chamber again while i was at school so i decided to leave behind a diary preserving my 16 year old self in it's pages so that one day i would be able to lead another to finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work"
"Well you haven't finished it this time, in a few hours the Mandrake draught will be ready and everyone who was petrified will be right again" Harry taunted knowing that Lyra had a batch being sent to the school soon.
"Haven't i told you? Killing mudbloods doesn't matter to me anymore, for a while now my new target has been you...How is it that a baby with no extraordinary magical talent was able to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed"
"Why do you care how i escaped? Voldemort was after your time"
"Not quite" Lyra frowned.
"Voldemort is my past, present and future" Tom smirked and turned to write in the air.
Tom Marvolo Riddle
He swiped his hand and the letters which looked like fire shifted and rearranged in the air.
I Am Lord Voldemort
"How long did you have to play around with that huh?" Lyra snickered when Tom turned looking proud of himself.
"You? You're the heir of Slytherin, you're Voldemort" Harry muttered as he studied the boy with the new information.
"Surely you didn't think i was going to keep my filthy muggle father's name? No, i fashioned myself a new name...A name i knew wizards everywhere would one day fear to speak when i became the greatest sorcerer in the world" Tom sneered his nose crinkling in what was quite possibly the cutest way, definitely not scary at all...Maybe that's why he got rid of it.
"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world!" Harry yelled and Lyra made a questioning noise as she tilted her head from side to side, it was debatable.
"Dumbledore was driven out of the castle by the mere memory of me" Tom's nose scrunched up again and Lyra almost cooed the only thing holding her back was the fact knowing he was actually just a beautiful psychopath.
"He'll never be gone, not as long as those who remain are loyal to him"
Tom looked ready to attack and Lyra knew there'd be girls who would get some weird fucking joy from the look as if they would be able to save him...No, he was too far gone and a memory, if this was 50 years prior maybe...No...Well...No, she liked her partners a little less murderous...
A birds screeching pulled her out of her mental debate about whether or not she was attracted to Tom Riddle, which was actually a big distinction between Tom and Voldemort.
"Fawkes?" Harry frowned at the red bird that dropped a hat down towards Harry who caught it, Fawkes screeched before leaving again. Harry unravelled the object the bird dropped for him and they all took in the hat.
"So this is what Dumbledore sends his great defender? A song bird and an old hat?" Ton sneered at Harry and Lyra could help but nod sadly at Harry.
"It's not great Harry"
"Awaken and come forth!" she turned seeing Tom speaking to the Salazar statue.
"Not good, this is not good!" she panted as she took a few steps back she glanced down at the puddles under her feet and silently casted a silencing spell on both of her and Harrys shoes.
"Let's match the power of Lord Voldemort, heir of Salazar Slytherin against the famous Harry Potter"
Lyra glared and stepped forward connect her hand with Harrys "Eyes Harry" she warned as they saw the snout of the Basilisk come through the new hole in the wall but seeing the beast Harry turned and tugged her hand down the strip of stone.
"Kill them!" Tom hissed at the Basilisk before facing them again as they ran "Speaking Parseltongue will not help either of you now, it only obeys me"
Harry sped up only to trip which forced both of them to the ground once again, she had Da ja vu to the forest when he tripped and took her down with him, she was going to have to either stop him from taking her hand or teach him how to run.
She looked over and saw Harry searching for his glasses like Velma from Scooby Doo, she groaned and ripped them off the floor, she slammed her eyes shut and stood pulling him to his feet as she slapped his glasses into his hand. Just as it went to attack a birds screech sounded loudly, she saw a flash of red then she knew that Fawkes was attacking the Basilisk and it would soon be safe to look up without the chance of being petrified or worse killed by the simple glance of a snake.
"No! Your bird may have blinded the Basilisk but it can still hear you" Tom yelled at them in his fury which made Lyra snicker knowing she had already seen to that, however she didn't have time to stop Harry from running into a corridor which ended up with him kicking a stone into the wall which lead the Basilisk after him she instead simply walked passed the beast moving towards Ginny.
"How did you...?" Tom looked confused before looking down at her feet.
"For someone who claims to be the greatest sorcerer of all time the fact you forgot a simple silencing spell is somewhat shocking" she smirked "And FYI, which means For Your Information if you are unsure...You didn't even come close, you became feared for what you look like and act" she was lying but whatever "Do you know what you looked like Tom? Your skin was all but translucent almost chalk white, your eyes were red and silted like a cats, you no longer had a nose instead you resembled a snake, you looked almost skeletal like you could drop dead any second and do you know the best part? It's not an allusion it's all real because of how many times you did a spell" The boy looked disguised momentarily before composing himself "I've seen your death" she taunted.
"Now i know you're lying because i cannot die" he smirked.
"Oh but you can, i know of more then one way of killing you in fact i plan too, been planning for a long time now" she chuckled looking down at Ginny "You die like a muggle Tom, you get hit by a second year basic spell and your body and soul could not take anymore so you just dropped down dead. No big moment, nothing shocking like fireworks you just simply drop. Heart no longer beating, lungs never to take another breath and do you know what your followers do? They move on to the next big thing that claims to be great"
~~~
It didn't take Harry long to realise his footsteps were silence and even less time to realise he was alone which worried him a lot so he stopped running and threw a stone as far as he could in the opposite direction before he went in search for Lyra.
He found her quickly, knelt beside Ginny sneering at Tom, he ran forward and dropped down looking both girls over "Yes Potter, the process is nearly complete, in a few minutes Ginny Weasley will be dead and i will cease to be a memory, Lord Voldemort will return...Very...Much...Alive." Tom spoke full of confidence but one look at Lyra had Harry confident he was wrong.
"Ginny" Harry shook her once more before both jumped when the Basilisk burst through the water behind them with a loud screech, beside her Harry slid away grabbing onto something he pulled out a large sword "Stay with Ginny" he ordered before running off making the beast follow him as he did so.
Lyra watched the Basilisk take several swipes at Harry but luckily it being blind was a big help for Harry to be able to deflect or move out of the way until he moved to the top of the head where he swung the sword with no real aim or skill which made sense for a 12 year old.
Then with a stroke of luck Harry had somehow dropped the sword and when he managed to grab it he trusted it upwards which happened to be perfect timing because he managed to pierce the inside of it's mouth hitting the brain and killing the beast but not without cutting himself on one of it's fangs.
Lyra and Tom watch as the beast seems to thrash around in the air before it drops down dead, neither said a word as Harry climbed down and approached them holding a fang in hand, he stumbled before dropping to the ground beside Ginny "Remarkable isn't it? How quickly the venom of the Basilisk penetrates the body? I'd guess you have a little less then a minute to live, you'll be with your dear mudblood mother soon, Harry"
Lyra took the book gently from Ginny "Funny, the damage a silly little book can do...Especially in the hands of a silly, little girl" Tom smirked and she thumbed the leather of it gently.
Lyra tilted her head at Harry before looking down at the fang in his hand, he followed her eyes and instead of stabbing the book he handed it to her which confused her greatly but a small part of her wanted to destroy all the horcruxes herself not that, that was possible. "It is silly what damage a silly little girl can do" she nodded before looking at the fang in her hand as she opened the diary with her other hand.
"What are you doing?" Tom took a step forward, she lifted the fang "Stop! NO!"
"Bye Tom" she smiled before stabbing the fang into the diary, the result was astounding, a large hole in his chest formed and glowed like a fire, he growled and went to approached but she ripped the fang out of the pages and plunged it back in again in a new spot which caused more painful looking holes in the boys figure.
Harry reached over and closed the book "Here" he tapped the front of it.
"You do it" she handed it over and without a word he forced it down slipping through leather and pages of parchment like butter, killing this first version of Tom and without knowing destroying his first Horcrux.
Like clockwork Ginny gasped and bolted upright "Ginny..." Harry whispered as he clutched his arm the girl turned almost shocked to see them.
"Harry, Lyra...It was me but i swear i didn't mean to, Riddle made me and...You're hurt?" the girl paused eyes widening when she saw his arm.
"Don't worry, he will be fine" Lyra waved her off gently.
"I...I stole it from you...From your trunk" Ginny had tears rolling down her face when she turned to Lyra.
"I know, i was trying to destroy it, i am so sorry you went through that" she frowned at the eleven year old.
"Dumbledore he said...I don't know why i took it, i really don't! I'm so sorry!"
Lyra shuffled closer to the young girl "Ginny, you don't need to apologise, i myself am so sorry you got hurt by it but i swear i didn't know what it could do i just knew it was dark and i wanted to destroy it but it was too strong and i was scared i'd be taken to azkaban if i took it to an adult"
"I shouldn't have gone through your things, i shouldn't have stolen it" Ginny shook her head "My dad is always warning us against things like that, i don't know why i even wrote in it, i'd never do something like that"
"Lyra...You need to get Ginny and yourself out, go back to Ron"
"Not a chance Harry, just wait a few more seconds and you'll be fine" she narrowed her eyes at him and true to her word Fawkes screeched as he flew in landing beside them closer to Harry as he studied the boy.
"You were brilliant Fawkes, i just wasn't quick enough" Harry smiled gently as if to comfort the bird who just leant closer and Lyra watched five tears drop on to his arms, the venom was drawn out and the wound healed within moments "Of course, Phoenix tears having healing powers, thanks"
"Thank you Fawkes" she grinned at the bird who crowed at her gently.
"It's alright Ginny, it's over, just a memory"
~~~
"You three realise of course...That in the past few hours you have broken perhaps a dozen school rules" Dumbledore stated, the old man had somehow managed to claw his way back into the headmaster spot, how? She wasn't sure but if she had to guess it had to do with the close ties he had in the ministry.
"Yes sir" both boys nodded and Lyra discreetly rolled her eyes, they had single handedly saved Ginny and others lives, killed the problem he had that he hadn't even bothered to search for and the potion she had Narcissa brew was being administered soon but he wanted to talk about broken rules?
They were out at curfew, caused a bit of damage and kidnapped a teacher fine, but said teacher was a fraud without a single qualification to teach and was going to wipe their minds thanks to Dumbledore's bad hiring. The school damage was pretty much down to Lockhart's attempt to practically kill them and well, who didn't break curfew?
"And there is sufficient evidence to have you all expelled" Dumbledore added seeing her roll her eyes that hadn't been as discreet as she had thought "Therefore...It is only fitting that each of you receive Special Awards for Services to the School"
Oh goody, they were receiving the very same award Tom Riddle got when he framed Hagrid...How heart warming.
"Thank you Sir" Ron smiled happily.
"Now Mr Weasley if you would, have an owl deliver these papers to Azkaban...I believe we want our gamekeeper back" Dumbledore handed him a sealed letter and while Lyra was happy to get Hagrid out of there a part of her filled with vicious anger, it burned so hot she had to completely shut her mind behind her occlumency wards.
If he had the power to simply send a letter and get Hagrid out when the only evidence they had was a empty diary and the word of three second years then why was her father still rotting in Azkaban "Miss Black?" Dumbledore turned to her.
"I hope you have the day you deserve Headmaster" she smiled brightly at him but the only thing she didn't mean was the smile and with that she turned on her heel and left the room not baring to hear him say another word to her.
It was so strange, no one said a word that the book belonged to her. Lyra wasn't even sure if the Weasleys were told about that little bit of information and Dumbledore certainly didn't bring into question about her having it but she believed that was due to him removing her wards. Why he did so she still didn't know, how he even knew she had it was beyond her. However, she had sent word to Lucius that she wanted to pay for Ginny's st Mungo's treatment as well as a therapist for the girl, he had sent word anonymously because while she felt responsible for the book being at Hogwarts she wasn't entirely to blame.
She left to her room and grabbed her personal journal that was linked with Draco's and told him where to meet her, when his reply came in she left to the come and go room asking it for a comfortable common room. He entered moments later and she started to sob as she told him everything that happened and what Dumbledore had done, he held her while she sobbed, he listened while she slated Dumbledore, he agreed with her in her anger and never once allowed her to feel any different.
"I think you might lose Dobby from your families command" she whispered once she finally calmed down.
"Why?"
"Harry tricks your father" She snickered and he sighed.
"I like Dobby"
"He will never be gone for good i'm sure if you called he would still answer just not to do your washing" she grinned and he rolled his eyes but let it go.
~~~
"Curiously Lucius" Dumbledore stated "Several of the board were under the impression that you would curse their families if they did not agree to suspend me in the first place"
Lucius felt his nostrils flare at the insinuation, the fact he would stoop so low and to do so in front of a student no doubt told Lucius his plans and actions were less then savoury "How dare you!"
"I beg your pardon?" Dumbledore raised a brow at him and Lucius had to fight back the desire to curse him.
"My sole concern has always and will always be the welfare of this school and of course it's children, who might i remind you include not only my son and my ward, but also four students who had been left in a petrified state while you worked on your gardening." he took a deep breath to centre himself once more "The culprit has been identified i presume?"
"Oh yes"
"And...Who was it?" Lucius challenged knowing from Lyra that he was the reason the diary became unwarded from her trunk.
"...Voldemort"
Lucius scoffed gently of course this was the direction he'd take it "Ah"
"Only this time he chose to act through somebody else...By means of this" Dumbledore held up the now destroyed diary.
"I see"
"Fortunately our young Mr Potter discovered it, one hopes that no more of Lord Voldemort's old school things should find their way into innocent hands, the consequences for the one responsible would be...Severe"
Lucius bit his tongue, it was ironic how the reason said possession ended up in an innocents hand was because of the old man himself but here he was not only threatening him but Lyra and that just would not do. "I do hope so" he taunted slightly "I hope if it had been intentional that it does come out in the end, after all the truth does have a funny habit of doing such a thing" he surmised before turning to leave "Come Dobby we are leaving"
~~~
That night they sat at the feast, Lyra had seen Colin who had thanked her for the flowers she'd gifted him, she had noticed Penelope sat closely with Percy who was talking her ear off.
She could even see Sir Nicholas in the hall greeting others so she waited for Hermione and she didn't have to wait long "Lyra look, it's Hermione!" Neville grinned seeing her head snap to the side followed by Harry and Ron however while the two boys stayed seated Lyra launched from her seat and started running towards the girl who grinned and started running too.
The two girls hit each other harshly as they ran into each other, the wind being knocked out of both of them as they teetered almost to the point where they fell but Lyra leant back to try to rebalance them and the two giggled.
"You are in so much trouble when i finish hugging you" she hissed.
Hermione nodded into her shoulder "I know"
"I hated it, i was left with the boys and it was..." she shivered recalling their conversations in the few weeks Hermione was petrified for.
Hermione had the nerve to giggle once more "Sorry"
Lyra pulled away and glared "I hate you" she grabbed her hand and tugged her towards the table where Hermione and Harry hugged while Ron and Hermione shared a very awkward hand shake.
"Uh...Welcome back Hermione" Ron nodded making Lyra grimace but then chuckle at Seamus' face.
"It's good to be back, congratulations i can't believe you solved it so quickly"
"I resent that statement" Lyra glared.
"Well we had loads of help from you" Harry smiled at Hermione "We couldn't have done it without you"
"Thanks" the girl blushed deeply.
"Can i have your attention please" McGonagall clinked her glass and the hall fell silent making the four of them find their seats quickly.
"Before we begin the feast let's have a round of applause to Madam Pomfrey for un-petrifying the student who had fallen victim." Applause rung out "Also in light of recent events as a school treat all exams have been cancelled" The second round of applause was louder and more genuine then the first but Lyra knew it was probably because he couldn't be bothered to look for another DADA teacher, there were only four months of the school year left, it came to a stop when the hall doors were pushed open.
Hagrid walked in "Sorry i'm late, the owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused some ruddy bird named Errol" a few chuckles sounded by those who knew who Errol was but Hagrid stopped by them "And i'd just like to say it it hadn't been for you Harry...And Ron, Lyra and Hermione of course i would...I'd still be you-know-where...So i'd like to say thanks"
Harry stood slowly until he was facing Hagrid "There's no Hogwarts without you Hagrid" he moved forward to hug the half giant and Dumbledore stood as he started to clap, it was maybe one of the one things Lyra wouldn't hate on.
She started clapping loudly and most joined in each trying to talk and congratulate him, being overwhelmed Hagrid wiped a few tears from his cheeks and that just set Lyra off.
~~~
Being as there were no exams it meant DADA became a free lesson and she used the time wisely, placing her mandrake leaf in her mouth she used a sticking charm to the roof to keep it there before that month was finished which was absolutely horrid seeing as everything tasted like piss water. She had a crystal phial sent to the school by Narcissa along with some ingredients, she added the chrysalis of Death's head hawk moth in that list along with some random ones just in case someone else got to her letter.
She also journeyed into the forest and sectioned off a small section of it, she cast a notice me not and a small barrier which would make anyone about to walk through it change their mind and turn around, she did this for the dew drops she would need. When the full moon in which her leaf was ready came she snuck out into the forest once more and stood under a beam of moonlight while she added the leaf and one of her hairs which she plucked fresh just in case, nothing could go wrong with this.
She added the dew in which hadn't be touched by human footfall or sunlight for seven days, along with the chrysalis of Death's head hawk moth to the phial, capping it off she placed it inside of a hallow tree seeing as it would remain dark, cool and quite until the time was right, to protect it though she casted the same spells on the tree itself and left it be.
Then came the easy part, every sunrise and sunset she had to point the tip of her wand to her heart and chant Amato Animo Animato Animagus, which roughly translated to 'I love to breathe the spark of spirit in me and be an animal wizard'
~~~
Lyra grunted as something heavy fell on top of her, she forced her eyes open to see what had woken her so rudely but all she saw was curls "Mi"
"Happy birthday! Finally 13 god i was going crazy being one of the only 13 year olds, the curse of having a birthday in September"
"Oh the horror" Lyra muttered and closed her eyes once more trying to go back to sleep.
"Wake up you have presents! Oh and a letter came as well" Lyra's body shot upright which ended up accidentally pushing Hermione from her to the ground.
"Where?" she looked around seeing the pile of presents "Where's the letter?"
"Here" Hermione held the white envelope out "i thought it was mine to begin with not many wizards use envelops i've noticed but don't worry i didn't open it"
Lyra tore open the paper and pulled the card out, the birthday card was of the Lyra star constellation she caught the beloved polaroid which revealed her mother and Lily holding both herself and Harry, their fathers were rough housing in the back and while Lily was rolling her eyes Marlene was cheering James on to rile Sirius up clearly.
"Who is that?" Hermione watched the photo replay.
"My mother, father and Harry's parents" she pointed them out before opening the card seeing the familiar writing inside.
Dear Lyra,
Happy birthday Pup!
Your second year at Hogwarts, i have heard you made your way into the lions den, i hope they are treating you well. I hope you have a great year which you deserve.
I am proud of you Pup.
"There's no name" Hermione frowned unable to stop her question.
"There never is" Lyra smiled as she packed away the letter and the photo after she duplicated it for Harry.
~~~
After three weeks of repeatedly chanting the spell every morning and night she almost freaked when she started to feel a second heartbeat but she pushed back not only the panic but the excitement, she went as far as to lock those feelings along with any thoughts she wanted to have about it away in a chest behind her occlumency wards.
However the next lighting storm didn't come until two months later, the year was almost up and she was panicking over the thought of having to do it all over again but seven days before the school year ended she was startled out of her sleep when she heard thunder, she opened her eyes and caught a flash of lightning, looking up she saw all the other girls were asleep so she stood and ran from the room as quietly but quickly as she could.
Slipping from the common room she ran towards the forest after casting a notice me not over herself and silencing her shoes, she made quick time in finding her tree and she could have cried when she grabbed the phial and saw it was a blood red meaning she had done it right.
"Father...This is for you" she whispered up into the sky and pointed her wand to her heart once more "Amato Animo Animato Animagus" she uncapped it and took the small phial of blood red potion swallowing before the lightning had a chance to disappear. It started out as a stinging in her chest, it was slight but defiantly uncomfortable but the burning that came after sent Lyra to her knees as she screamed through gritted teeth, it felt like a second heartbeat was trying to brand itself into her chest just against her human heart.
The pain had her feeling delirious, her wand had dropped from her hand and had rolled a few inches away as she fell sideways onto the leafy ground of the forest, her eyes opened from where she had unknowingly been clenching them shut and she almost panicked when she thought she saw a black shadow moving in the forest but she noticed it remained in her eye sight.
What she was seeing was in her mind but the pain was making it seem like it was real life, Whatever it was it had extremely dark fur and it was large. She took a deep breath and held her trembling hand out to it, it wasn't trembling out of fear but from the burning in her chest, the large beast approached her and the moment it's snout touched her fingertips the burning sensation left instead being replaced with a gentle tingle all over her body.
After what seemed like hours Lyra looked around but her body felt different, she looked down at her hands but startled gently to see paws instead, large black paws which when she flexed large and very sharp claws unlatched like a cat. She looked back and saw a long gently curved tail, she was a solid black all over and when she opened her mouth she felt her tongue brush against very sharp fangs, whatever she was she wasn't small and defenceless like a rat.
Which could be seen as a pro and con, her size meant she could fight but it also meant she would have a hard time slipping by unnoticed. But then again being an Animagus came with it's own pros regardless so she wasn't going to complain.
Tweaking her ears she heard a gentle lapping of water so she attentively picked her wand up between her teeth being careful not to indent the wood she followed it, it happened to be a small lake which was being lit up by the moon and the lightning which struck now and again, slowly Lyra stalked over to the waters edge dropping her wand just before the water she peered over and had to blink a few times at what she saw.
Staring back at her was a large black panther with big silver eyes, she opened her mouth and almost choked seeing the fangs on herself, over the almost four months she had wondered what she would have been but she had thought it would be a dog or maybe a wolf figure but this was completely unexpected but not unwelcome.
Lyra spent the next few hours trying to turn back and only managed to do so when the sun started to rise, getting back had been easy falling asleep however was impossible, all she wanted was to tell Sirius about what she had managed to do but she couldn't, she couldn't tell anyone just yet.
She had one more thing to do first before her father manages to escape, which meant she didn't have long to do so but she had faith.