When Lyra actually sat back and thought about what she had left to do it was both relieving and stressful at the same time, something she thought was impossible. Down in the chamber sat the diary, which was already dealt with, the cup of Hufflepuff, the diadem of Ravenclaw and the locket of Slytherin.
While she thought she had the ring until obviously she found out that she in fact did not, scared her, if the storyline held true that would mean Dumbledore had it and would destroy it after it starts to kill him. That left the snake and Harry, no matter how long she spent researching Horcruxes there seemed to be absolutely no way of killing the slither of soul in Harry without killing him as well and without the Resurrection stone or the elder wand there was no way in hell she was going to start experimenting.
That also moved on to her other problem...Harry. Try as she might she was having a hard time separating her heart from her head, she wasn't sure when she'd developed a crush, it had snuck up on her out of no where but she knew he was never going to be hers. So that summer she'd waited until her father had gotten a few drinks into the night before she starting asking about a similar situation that was when he'd made the fabulous statement that to get over someone he just got under someone...
Considering this year was going to be the very last quiet-ish year they were going to have at Hogwarts plus the fact that breaking that pink toads rules filled her with satisfaction Lyra's eyes scanned the hall. Getting under someone sounded so much easier then it was seeing as she had to choose someone who would not go running to her father with a contract.
That was when her eyes caught sight of Theo Nott, an old friend of hers but most of all it was known he had a thing about collecting ties if you caught her drift...He was walking from the great hall "Excuse me" she interrupted Harry quickly who was talking about when Angelina Johnson, the new quidditch captain, was doing try outs.
Harry, Hermione and Ron watched her go with matching frowns and curiosity "Did she just?" Ron muttered.
"Cut Harry off when they were talking about quidditch? Yes she did" Hermione watched her best friend walk at quite a fast pace out of the great hall "Wonder what happened"
"Not a clue" Harry watched her leave as well before he shook his head.
"Nott!" Lyra called out as she tried to catch up to the Slytherin, Theo paused and glanced back.
He smirked slightly and turned to face her "Well, well, if it isn't the Gryffindor Princess"
"No, that's Hermione" Lyra narrowed her eyes at his teasing smirk.
"If you say so Princess, now what can i do for you?"
It was Lyra's turn to smirk "You still collecting those ties?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about" he shrugged cocking his head to the side.
Lyra chuckled "You're a bad liar you know...Tell me Nott how many red and gold ties do you have?" she let her eyes wonder his frame from top to bottom at a slow pace, he was attractive, tall with a lean build.
She watched something click in his eyes when she reached them again, he moved slightly to allow himself to rest against the stone wall in a relaxed manner "Well off the top of my head? Five but i am all for even numbers you know, you wouldn't by any chance know someone who would help me even that number out?"
"Depends" she hummed.
Theo cocked a brow and his lips twitched "On?"
"If you're going to go running to Daddy with a contract" she grinned as she brushed her hair off her shoulder, he really was handsome all angular bone structure, dark blue eyes, everything was well groomed and somehow still stylishly 'messy'.
Theo scoffed "My father wouldn't send yours a contract after it was confirmed he was innocent and indeed firmly on the light side...If a betrothal is what you're worried about you have nothing to fear here Princess, just some fun between old friends although Draco will kill me"
"Oh? Does Draco frequent your escapades often then?" she asked as she moved closer to the Nott heir and watched his eyes trace her form twice as slow as she had his own.
"Never" he smirked "But we both know you are untouchable" his voice quietening down to a whisper.
"Nothing is ever untouchable" she allowed her tongue to dampen her bottom lip and as expected his own eyes latched on to the movement as if hypnotised, he groaned gently and nodded.
"No, you're right, of course you're right" She laughed softly this was going to be much easier then she thought "So where and when?"
"You must know of a few places"
Theo scoffed "If you mean empty broom cupboards and abandoned classrooms then sure but i just thought..."
"You thought..." she prompted him to finish.
"Well i mean...Lyra come on, you really want to screw around in some dusty classroom?"
"Oh god" she sighed "Are you trying to be romantic? I hope you treat all your other 'friends' like this"
The boy shrugged rubbing the back of his neck "Some of them quite like dusty classrooms, adds a bit of thrill i think, the thought they'd be caught"
"If the dust upsets your dainty nose Theo i'm sure a cleaning charm will suffice but if you are to take my tie then i want something from you"
"And what is it the Gryffindor Princess wants?"
Lyra sighed "Alright first of all you need to stop calling me that, that title goes to Hermione and secondly, this..." she picked up the bottom of his green tie pulling it gently and he followed the motion with his body without much persuading putting them almost nose to nose "Is mine"
Theo's eyes drifted closed for a second or two before his locked with a twinkling pair of silver ones, his gulped "Done"
Lyra grinned releasing his tie so she could pat his chest twice "Pleasure doing business with you Theo" she watched him shiver and chuckled "Tonight, 9?"
He nodded "Tonight at 9, there's a empty classroom on the fifth floor not far off the prefects bathroom"
"See you there" she nodded and pulled back before turning and walking away without so much of a glance back, to get over someone you just have to get under someone...Sounds easy enough.
~~~
So that night she showered and did all the things as normal but instead of climbing into her bed in pjs she dressed back in her uniform and she went downstairs to sit in the common room before it was time. She glanced up from her book when someone slumped down on the couch beside her, her heart squeezed when she saw Harry grinned at her "So? You want to finish our conversation from earlier?"
"Earlier? Oh try outs" she nodded "I don't think i'm going to try out this year, no point, Angelina is a chaser and she is used to working with Spinnet and Bell" she shrugged and looked back down at the book in her hands.
"What? No you have to try out, you're an amazing Chaser Lyra"
"It doesn't matter Harry, i won't make the team this year"
"Well what about another position?" Harry shuffled forward slightly feeling awkward, something had changed between them and it had started in fourth year but he hadn't really realised until the summer and he couldn't put his finger on what had happened.
"Fred and George are great beaters, i hate playing keeper and let's be so for real i won't unseat you as seeker" Harry frowned and studied her, he didn't know what to say and that never happens with Lyra, she was one of the most easiest people to talk to, so why is it recently it felt like something was blocked off.
"Why didn't you sue?" Harry sprouted so suddenly it shocked her.
"What?"
Harry shifted closer "At the trial about me using magic you said you would sue but you just got them to clear me and we left?"
"Do you want me to sue? Make a scene?" she cocked a brow and watched him shake his head "I didn't take it any further because as much as i want to, i knew it would be pointless. The Ministry is going to be infiltrated soon, anyone who i get put in Azkaban would probably be broken out and it would create distrust between us and the good guys there...You have to learn when it is beneficial to attack and when it's better to just let them ruin themselves, we did enough damage that day showcasing the fact that they are trying to falsify evidence on you. After Moldy if those who were against you are still in power then we attack, before then just let me do what i need to"
Just as he went to change the subject her wand started buzzing aggressively beside her "Oh, i need to go do something" she smiled at him "Good night Harry"
"Good night" he nodded but watched her leave the common room instead of walking up the stairs towards the girls dorm room "Odd" so he did what any concerned friend would do, he went to his trunk and found the Marauders map "I solemnly swear i am up to no good"
The ink spread and he started searching for Lyra, he saw the prefects were out on patrol already and he spotted Lyra skilfully dodging them all with alcoves and hidden staircases it made him chuckle but when he saw her purposely hide from Hermione he frowned "Where are you going?"
Harry watched her name hit the fifth floor "What you doing Harry?" Seamus called out from the bathroom making Harry fumble as he closed the map down and stuffed it under his pillow.
"Nothing!"
"You are strange sometimes mate" Seamus chuckled shaking his head "We're going to play some exploding snap before bed, you coming?"
"Sure" he nodded even though he didn't really want to and joined the small group on the floor.
~~~
When Ron entered his common room after his patrol he refused to look at Harry "You alright mate?" Harry frowned watching his friend turn a worrying shade of red.
"F-Fine...Yeah fine" Ron nodded still not looking at Harry.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, i-i...Defiantly didn't see anything...Nothing...I'm off to bed!" Ron jumped into his assigned bed and shut the curtains tight.
Seamus chuckled "Now i know why you two are best mates, strange the pair of yous"
Harry nodded and went to his bed shutting the curtains he opened the map and saw Lyra was back in the Gryffindor Common room, Hermione was pacing and Ginny looked to be including in their conversation.
~~~
"So you and Nott, are you dating?" Hermione paced.
"What!" Ginny sat up from her bed in shock.
Lyra chuckled "No Mi, we are not dating"
"Oh...Oh well, that's good i guess, not that it would be bad if you two were...Together" Hermione continued pacing "What were you two even doing?"
"Homework" Lyra grinned and Hermione blushed not believing that for a second, while her and Ron hadn't walked in on them doing anything the pair were flushed, ruffled and both were missing their ties when they walked into the two Prefects. The pair had been so shocked that neither of them took points or issued detention allowing the Slytherin boy to slip away with a growing smile on his blissed out face.
"Homework?" Ginny frowned studying the pair.
Lyra nodded "Yep"
"Why would Hermione think you were dating Nott then?"
"I'm not sure" Lyra smirked turning to her best friend "Why did you think i was dating Theo Nott?" Hermione glared at Lyra but there wasn't much heat in it as there was in her face as she watched Lyra throw a green tie into her trunk with a wink "Well i am just exhausted, i think i'm going to get some well deserved sleep"
Hermione spluttered at the insinuation, the pair talked boys but the last she heard Lyra was a virgin...Although it didn't seem so anymore. Hermione had lost her virginity in the summer with her neighbour, she was growing in herself and when she told Lyra what had happened the pair had giggled together as Lyra made her share details and broke out some butterbeer in celebration.
"Are we going to get butterbeer this weekend?" She cocked a brow at her best friend trying to see if she had been right in her assumption.
Lyra turned to her with a wide grin "I think two butterbeers should do it Mi, homework with Theo was...Well he is very studious" Hermione covered her mouth with wide eyes and held back the giggle wanting to bubble over but her shoulders began shaking with mirth.
"So no worries about failing any classes?"
Lyra laughed loudly "That boy has nothing to worry about" Hermione joined her in her laughter.
"I feel like i'm missing something..." Ginny frowned as she went over what she just heard when it clicked and her face fell "Oh...Oh...You and Nott...Huh" the girl watched the two giggling girls "Interesting" she forced a smile.
Lyra passed her patting the girl on the shoulder "I'm going to get ready for bed, night" Ginny watched Lyra pass her into the bathroom.
"What's wrong with you?" Hermione frowned seeing the look Ginny was giving Lyra.
Ginny shook her head "Nothing, just tired" without another word she climbed into bed and shut her curtains.
~~~
"You applied first for the Defence against the Dark Arts post is that correct?" Umbridge paced behind Snape with her little clipboard.
"Yes" Snape answered looking bored.
"But you were unsuccessful...?"
"Obviously"
Ron snickered from a crossed from her and when Umbridge left the potions classroom Snape hit him around the back of the head making Lyra snicker herself "Why are you staring?" a low whisper caught her attention but she didn't turn around.
"Staring at what?"
"Not what. Lyra, why are you staring at her?" Draco hissed somewhere behind her.
"Didn't realise i was, she just looks different" Theo's answering whisper just barely hit her enhanced hearing.
"What are you talking about? She looks exactly like she always does"
Theo hummed "I suppose you're right"
"Course i am, now stop it, stare somewhere else" Draco sneered at Theo who bit back a smirk, he hadn't intended to even look Lyra's way but she had approached him, there is no foul in helping a lady out although he did feel rotten for Draco, the boy was simply head over heels.
~~~
"Miss Black, time and time again i have had to remind you that those ribbons in your hair are not school uniform...Remove it now" Umbridge called out to her in the hall.
"And time and time again i remind you that hair accessories, including ribbons, are not prohibited so the ribbon will be staying in my hair" Lyra didn't slow her walking until she felt the ribbon in her hair being pulled free making her spin with a glare.
"I think you'll find that there's been a new decree, decree number 47 : All hair accessories are not permitted" Umbridge grinned "And for you constant back chat, detention, my office tonight after classes" the woman waltzed off with a satisfied grin on her face and not long after Lyra saw floods of students passing her towards the courtyard so she sighed and followed after them.
By the time she made it Trelawney was already talking to Umbridge as she stood with her trunks, she moved closer when she spotted Neville's towering form and slotted herself beside him, he looked down and gave her a sad smile.
"Hogwarts is my home" Trelawney sobbed "You...You can't do this"
"Actually, i can" Umbridge smiled and held up a piece of parchment with the stupid Inquisitor mark on it, McGonagall passed by and moved straight to a sobbing Trelawney "Something you'd like to say dear?"
"Oh there are several things i would like to say" McGonagall nodded but instead shushed and comforted Trelawney just as the doors opened and Dumbledore walked out.
"Professor McGonagall, might i ask you to escort Sybil back inside?" he didn't address or even look at Umbridge until McGonagall did just that.
"Dumbledore, may i remind you that, under the terms of Educational Decree number 23 as enacted by the Minister..."
"You have the right to dismiss my teachers" Dumbledore cut her off "You do not however, have the authority to banish them from the grounds. That power remains with the Headmaster"
"For now" Umbridge answered and Lyra kissed her teeth in frustration.
Dumbledore turned "Don't you all have studying to do?" he yelled out as he walked off, Lyra caught sight of Harry chasing after the man but was being ignored.
~~~
"That foul, evil old gargoyle" Hermione paced in front of her friends in the common room "We're not learning how to defend ourselves, we not learning how to pass our OWLs...She's taking over the entire school"
Lyra watched Harry turn up the radio that was playing the Ministers last spiel about security "Right, i've heard enough besides i have detention" she stood and brushed off her uniform.
"Detention?" Hermione spun back from where she'd been listening to the radio "For what?"
"Back chatting"
"With?"
"One Delores Umbridge" Lyra chuckled moving towards the doorway as Harry stood.
"Don't use the quill Lyra"
She scoffed "Hypocrite" without another word she walked out of the common room and towards the DADA classroom when she knocked she was granted entrance by the toad who had painted the whole room pink...She'd charmed stone pink...And littered kitten dishes one by one on the stone for décor.
"Miss Black, tea?"
"I don't drink anything i haven't prepared myself" she moved into the room and ignored Umbridge's quiet scoff.
"You will be writing lines for me"
"I gathered" Lyra chuckled "Are you sure you wish to continue this route?"
Umbridge bristled "I beg your pardon?"
She shrugged as she sat down relaxing into the seat "I'm just asking if you've actually thought this through" Umbridge placed a quill in front of her along with parchment but no ink pot making Lyra smirk "Again, i must ask if you're certain?"
"You will be writing, Purity isn't everything" Umbridge snarled at her.
Lyra's smirk deepened "Would you like that in English or French? Quite fitting given the Black family Mantra, Toujours Pur...Is it a sore spot for you?" (Always Pure)
Umbridge sneered "I don't know what you mean, if you are talking of my blood status Miss Black then need i remind you that i am apart of the Selwyn family who are also apart of the Sacred 28"
"Selwyn..." Lyra breathed before laughing loudly "Oh my, you are quite distant no? Like fourth or fifth cousin twice removed wasn't it? I don't even think you'd be accepted by the family magic if you were the last one left you're that removed" Lyra wiped a tear from her eye with a chuckle "Didn't they reject your statement? Denied your request to use the name?"
"That's enough!" Umbridge yelled "Write!"
"Purity isn't everything" Lyra nodded with a grin "You have yet to answer, English or French?"
Seeing Umbridge near shaking in her seat with barely contained anger was a joy to witness "English, let everyone be able to read it"
"You can't read French?" Lyra tutted "How unbecoming of House Selwyn maybe that was why it was denied" she chuckled and picked up the quill as she started to write in her most attractive handwriting.
It hurt, she wasn't going to lie and say it didn't because something branding itself into one's skin wasn't an easy breeze but was it even anywhere similar to what she had to endure with her own grandmother? Not even close so she closed her facial expressions off to Umbridge who was staring watching as if waiting for the moment it kicked in, she would not be getting that satisfaction, not from her so when Lyra was done she looked up and smiled brightly "Hope it was worth it"
Umbridge snarled "Leave"
"Have a lovely night Delores" Lyra giggled and left slowly as if she didn't care about what just happened, when she walked into the common room she ignored the sheer amount of eyes that turned to look at her when she did so.
"You said to avoid getting detention" George called out.
She shrugged moving towards the girls dorm rooms "Yeah well, she's got it out for me what do you want me to do"
"Well...Did she make you use it?" Ronald cringed from his spot of the couch.
"The blood quill?" Lyra chuckled "Purity isn't everything...Fitting isn't it? I thought it was quite poetic seeing as that's what me and my father have been saying this whole time, she so out of reach, thought it was an insult"
"Stop!" Hermione moved in front of her stopping her retreat "Don't do that, don't brush this off Lyra, she tortured you"
"What do you want me to do? Cry? Because if so i regret to inform you it's not going to happen...If it's revenge you want me to get then you need only wait"
Harry had joined them by the stairs "Are you going to tell Sirius?"
"Are you?" she watched as he fell silent "That's what i thought, excuse me" she slipped passed them going to her bed where she shut her curtains and went to sleep not giving the back of her hand another glance.
~~~
The first match between Slytherin and Gryffindor went as normal but Lyra missed what happened after, it wasn't until Angelina had approached her personally begging her to take a beaters positioning that she found out Harry and Draco had gotten into an altercation and one of the twins jumped into help. Umbridge not being able to tell the twins apart banned both boys as well as Harry from quidditch all around, Lyra needed something to take her mind off of a certain someone so she accepted.
So when the next game came around that Gryffindor was playing, it saw her kitted out and on the field with Jack Sloper a fourth year sub as beaters and Ginny who filled in for the seeker position. While she preferred playing as a chaser being a beater had it's merits, although it seemed she had to work twice as hard seeing as Jack kept almost knocking himself out with his own bat, he continued to almost plummet to the ground not being able to have both hands off his broom.
Lyra pushed her broom faster and swung her arm knocking the bludger that had been aimed at Angelina, she watched it soar through the air towards Zacharias Smith a Hufflepuff chaser who just barely dodge the steel ball and glared at her making her shrug "Sorry"
"Are you really?" she looked over her shoulder and saw a smirking Cedric Diggory.
She grinned shooting him a flirty wink "Not one bit" she moved off to continue protecting her team members, Ginny had taken a close call when Jack 'tried' to protect her and of course Lyra had given him an earful after catching the bludger with the end of her bat sending it off course enough for Ginny to swoop downwards out of the way.
Gryffindor won that game as well as the game against Ravenclaw but Lyra may have gotten too into her new power, she forgot that being an Animagus had gifted her with more strength and that meant she had, accidentally, sent more then three people to the infirmary.
Hermione had informed her of a meeting at the Hogshead, she realised that the whole DA was going to be a new thing and even though she'd been wanting to keep as much distance between her and Harry, it was a good idea. So that's how she found herself with them all walking into Hogsmeade "Who'd want to be taught by me, i'm a nutter remember?" Harry frowned after Hermione filled him in.
"Look on the bright side, you can't be much worse then old toad face" Ron shrugged trying to lift the spirits.
"Or Lockhart" Lyra hummed.
Harry scoffed "Thanks guys" Lyra grinned at Ron who chuckled.
Ron nudged Harry as they grew closer to the Hogshead "We're here for you mate"
"Who's supposed to be meeting us then?"
Hermione shrugged "Only a couple of people" they opened the door to see inside the normally empty-ish building.
"Lovely spot" Ron whispered as they watched a goat pass by.
Hermione nodded "I thought it would be safer, somewhere off the beaten track" they all sat and waited as one by one their class mates and people in other years appeared it wasn't until most of the pub was full with their friends staring at the four of them that it got slightly awkward and Hermione cleared her throat "Urh...Hi"
Lyra went over every face staring at them placing them with a name and slotting them into a new folder in her occlumency room, most were Gryffindor but there were a few Ravenclaw's as well as Hufflepuff's but no Slytherins of course "So you all know why we're here" Hermione shifted as she spoke "We need a teacher, a proper teacher, one who's had real experiences defending themselves against the dark arts"
"Why?" Terry Boot a Ravenclaw called out with a frown.
Ron leant forward "Why? Because You-Know-Who's back you tosspot"
"So he says" Terry nodded at Harry who remained silent.
"So Dumbledore says..."
Terry huffed "So Dumbledore says because he says...The point is where's the proof?"
Lyra sighed studying her nails as if she didn't have a care in the world "I'm sure when someone you love dies or goes missing that will be the proof you seek so hard for, but of course by that time it would be too late"
"Is that a threat?" Terry glared at the girl who didn't even look up at him.
"I don't know..." her eyes darted up looking at him through her lashes and she smirked "Do you feel threatened?"
Michael Corner, Terry's best friend and another Ravenclaw cleared his throat "If Harry could tell us more about what happened that night..." Ginny who was sat beside him grimaced, the pair had been dating but it seemed to Lyra that maybe that would be coming to an end soon.
"I'm not going to talk about that night so if that's what you're here for you can clear out now" Harry stood turning to his friends "Come on guys let's just go, they're just here because they think i'm some sort of freak"
"Is it true you can produce the Patronus Charm?" an airy voice called out and everyone turned seeing Luna stood there but Harry remained quiet.
"Yes, i've seen it" Hermione nodded facing the group once more.
"That's a seventh year spell and even then it's only an extra project for gifted students" Lyra startled gently when she saw Cedric sat towards the back of the room listening in, he had stood to speak. When she went out of her way to save him she hadn't thought he'd continue to 'show up' she thought he'd just be a side character almost.
Dean chuckled "Blimey Harry i didn't know you could do that"
"And he killed a Basilisk, with the sword in Dumbledore's office" Neville stuttered slightly before finding his feet.
Ginny smiled "It's true!"
"Third year he fought off about a hundred dementors at once" Ron goaded beaming out at the group.
Hermione took a deep breath "And last year he really did fight off You-Know-Who in the flesh--"
"Wait" Harry cut her off "Look, it all sounds great when you say it like that, but the truth is most of that was just luck. I didn't know what i was doing half the time, i nearly always had help"
Hermione turned back to the group "He's just being modest" Lyra snickered gently bringing her fingers and pressing them against her lips.
"No Hermione, i'm not...Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school if you make a mistake you can just try again tomorrow but out there...When you're a second away from being murdered or about to watch a friend die...You don't know what that's like" Harry sat back down.
"But given time that's going to change" Lyra spoke up once more watching him closely, when he looked up at her she allowed herself to observe his eyes for a few seconds before forcing herself to turn away towards the group "This war isn't a myth, it isn't a joke or a prank, it's real...Many will die, more will be injured and twice as many will be traumatized...Every single person in this room will be effected, some may even die regardless on if you believe it is coming or not. But what could be the worst thing that could happen if you just trained? Even if the war doesn't happen and you know how to defend yourself nothing bad would come from that...But to ignore us now? I could think of many things that could come from being so ignorant"
"If we're going to have any chance of beating...Voldemort..." Hermione hesitated on the word before spitting it out.
"He's really back?" Little Nigel Wolpert, a third year Gryffindor sat beside his best friend Colin Creevey and Colin's brother Dennis Creevey.
Harry nodded and not long after Hermione had broken out a small 'special piece of parchment' that she told them they had to sign, she only announced after everyone had signed their name that it was jinxed should anyone betray the D.A which to Lyra's aghast was short hand for Dumbledore's Army.
Lyra had signed it first followed by Hermione, Ron, then Harry before everyone else lined up. Cedric had shot her a smile that seemed a little overly flirty, she was going to ignore it but when Cho came to the table making heart eyes at Harry, Lyra was out of her seat chasing after the seventh year boy.
~~~
"Right, first we need to find a place to practise where Umbridge won't find out" Harry listed off to the small group that was following him which consisted of, Hermione, Ron, Lyra, the rest of the Weasleys and Neville.
"The Shrieking Shack?" Ginny offered trying to be helpful but Harry shook his head.
"That's too small"
Hermione hummed "Forbidden Forest?"
"No bloody likely" Ron scoffed swearing he'd never go back there if he had a choice.
Lyra shook her head "No Ron's right, there's too many of us, we'd attract attention of not only the teachers but the creatures inside the forest"
"What happens if Umbridge does find us?" Ginny questioned.
"Who cares!" Hermione grinned "I mean, it's all kind of exciting isn't it? Breaking the rules"
"Oh god" Lyra snickered and she blushed "And you said i'm the adrenaline junkie"
"Anyway, at least we know one positive thing that came from today" Ginny grinned looking pleased.
Harry frowned turning back to look at her "What's that?"
"Cho couldn't take her eyes off of you could she? Word going around is she's got a huge crush" Ginny beamed and giggled slightly not noticing Lyra slowing down in her steps until both the twins grabbed her elbows gently and kept her walking in between them.
"Anyway...Over the next few days we should each come up with a couple of possibilities of places we can practice, we've got to make sure that wherever it is there's no chance she can find us" Harry shook it off.
~~~
Proclamation:
Educational Decree no. 68
All student organisations are hereby disbanded, any student in noncompliance will be expelled.
~~~
"You've done it Neville, you found the room of requirement" Hermione whispered in awe, Neville had practically dragged them to the wall and made the door appear for them all.
Ron frowned looking into the dark room "The what?"
"It's also known as the come and go room, the room of requirements only appears when a person has real need of it and is always equipped with the seeker's needs" Hermione explained watching Lyra walk around the room but not once did she look surprised.
"So...Say you really needed the toilet?"
"Charming Ronald but yes that is the general idea" Hermione grimaced before shaking her head.
"It's brilliant!" Harry grinned "It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back"
So the next night the first meeting of the D.A's was called where Harry asked the room for a target and he must have been thinking of the graveyard because the targets appeared looking slightly too alike to death eaters, masks and all.
"Expelliarmus!" Neville yelled and his wand went flying from his hand backwards into the line of them where they all ducked low, he frowned "I'm hopeless"
"You're...You're just flourishing your wand too much, try it like this, Expelliarmus" Harry showed Neville and the fake Death eaters wand flew from it's hand.
Day after day they formed and practised their spell work, they had started simple to really get confident.
"Stunning is one of the most useful spell to have in your arsenal, it's sort of a wizard's bread and butter really so erm, come on Nigel, give me you're best shot" Harry smiled politely at the young boy who'd lucked out of being paired with Harry.
"Stupefy!" from the power of the spell not only did Harry go flying back but so did Nigel.
"Not bad at all Nigel" Harry grunted as he climbed back to his feet, pair after pair went until it had been Lyra and Cedric's turn.
The older boy smiled charmingly at her "You want to put a bet on this?"
"A bet?" she cocked her brows "God you've been spending too much time with the twins, what is it you want?"
"If i win, you allow me to take you to Hogsmeade"
Lyra chuckled "And if you lose?"
"Whatever you want"
"That's a dangerous offer Diggory, but be it on your head" she patted his chest as she passed him to get into position, both casted at the same time and everyone watched in awe as the two spells collided creating a small explosion that made the room shake under their feet but while they were all distracted Lyra had nonverbally casted and it hit Cedric squarely in the chest sending him flying backwards.
Lyra had chuckled as she moved towards Cedric who accepted her hand up "What is it you won?" he grunt as he rubbed his chest but he had a smile on his face.
"I suppose Hogsmeade was a good call but the sugar quills are on you" she grinned and he chuckled with a nod.
"Sounds like a plan"
Hermione and Ron moved into position and the room separated into two sides it was pretty much girls vs boys on who they thought would win "Come on Mi!" she called and Hermione smirked. Before Ron even had a chance to breath the words Hermione had him soaring through the air with a whimper.
The girls moved to surround Hermione with giggles while Ron walked to his brothers and quickly moved to protect his honour by saying he 'let' her win but of course no one believed him, that was obvious by their smirks, even Seamus and Dean were chuckling.
~~~
Proclamation
Educational Decree No. 82
All students will submit to questioning about suspected illicit activities.
~~~
Proclamation
Educational Decree No. 85
Any literature by NON Wizards or Half Breeds is banned forthwith.
~~~
Proclamation
Educational Decree No. 98
Those wishing to join the Inquisitorial Squad for extra credit may sign up in the High Inquisitor's office.
~~~
The Inquisitorial Squad had been quickly filled with pureblooded Slytherins and were Delores pride and joy seeing how her control was taking over...Little did she know when she made Draco Malfoy leader of said squad that she was putting the control back into Lyra's hands.
She and Draco still met everyday after dinner in the Room of Requirements, there she taught him what she had practised in D.A but to get around the jinx she had told him before she signed the paper. Draco from the start of the year had went full force on strengthening his bond with his Slytherin friends to make sure they remained loyal to him and by proxy Lyra.
That was why when Delores asked him to find loyal pureblooded Slytherins he knew exactly who to go to: Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson and a few others. Pansy had become one of his trusted friends when she stopped trying to pretend she wanted to get into his trousers and by extension his vaults, turns out the girl preferred her own gender and was just trying to cover it up from her parents.
"Working hard is important, but there is something that matters even more, believing in yourself" Harry brought Lyra's focus back to the lesson, she felt him gently wrap his hand around her wrist and tilt it upwards, he had thought she'd look at him knowing she didn't need the help but she still refused to look him in the eye "Look at it this way, every great wizard in history had started out as nothing more then what we are now, students" he moved on disappointedly "If they can do it, why not us?"
"Expelliarmus!" Neville yelled and the room fell quiet when Parvati's wand flew from her hand.
"Brilliant Neville!" Harry smiled as people surrounded Neville to celebrate with him.
"What's the big deal?" Ron looked miffed as the girls simpered around Neville.
Lyra snickered "He's gotten quite handsome this year" She smirked as her friends turned to look at her with wide eyes "Well he has and they have all noticed" She nodded to the little cluster of girls around Neville.
"Right well that's the end of the lesson, now there won't be anymore until after the holidays, so just keep practicing on your own as best as you can and...well done everyone" Harry grinned at everyone as they all clapped for each other before they gathered their things and started to leave as they said their goodbyes.
Lyra frowned watching Harry walk toward Cho, she cringed slightly "It's weird isn't it?" she turned hearing Cedric behind her but he nodded over the the two seekers "That, most people avoid having to see their exes like that"
"Me and Harry aren't..."
"No, i just thought it was still weird for you though no? Him living with you, it's like watching a brother flirt"
"Brother...Yeah, completely inappropriate" she nodded sagely "You ready to go?" he held his hand out to her and she took it allowing him to pull her from the room, the pair weren't dating she had way too much to plan and worry about for a boyfriend and Cedric was well aware of where she stood on the matter but she was still trying to follow her fathers 'advice' not that he gave it to her to follow.
"Lyra!" they both paused as the twins caught up with them "Diggory" Fred nodded in greeting.
"Boys"
"We got Filch with those Hiving Honeycomb pieces now we were thinking of slipping something into Umbridge's tea, maybe a puking pastille?" George grinned widely as he shook the box in his arms at her.
"Brilliant" she snickered "We could put a dung bomb under her seat cushion so when she sits on it, it will set it off"
Fred snorted "Wicked!" Cedric had walked with them part way to the common room until his friends called out and he bid Lyra goodnight with a kiss on the cheek "So..."
"Absolutely not" she cut George off making the twins snicker, she left them by the portrait and found herself sat with Ron and Hermione, Onyx had joined her and had snuggled up against her side as she brought her feet up onto the couch to read.
"Argh! God Lyra tell your beast of a pet to move over" Ron grunted when Onyx shoved him once more and the cat hissed at Ron who paled and quickly shut up making Hermione snicker, Harry had joined them not long after and Ron had asked the stupid question "Well? How was it?"
"Wet" Harry answered from his spot on the floor but his eyes watched Lyra who rolled her own not knowing he was studying her.
"That bad at it are you?" Ron snickered not feeling the rising tension in the room.
Hermione shifted on the couch "I'm sure Harry's kissing was more then satisfactory"
Before anyone could say a word Lyra slammed her book shut with an aggressive snap "May i borrow the map Harry"
"The map? Sure but why?" he grabbed it and watched her open it before scanning intently for someone, she clearly found who she was looking for because she handed the map back to him and stood trying carefully not to disturb Onyx too much "Where are you going?"
"To study" she answered simply running her fingers through her hair as she turned walking towards the portrait, Harry watched Hermione's eyes widen at her statement before she looked at Harry clearly connecting dot he couldn't even begin to understand.
"Study? We about to go on Christmas holiday?" Ron watched the Black heir walk out of the common room with purpose.
Harry went to open the map on his lap but Hermione snatched it from him "I don't think...It's...You shouldn't spy!" she stuttered holding the map close to her chest in panic, how could she be so stupid! Why hadn't Lyra told her before she liked Harry?
"It's not spying Mione" Ron rolled his eyes as he made way to grab the map but Hermione dodged him "Mione? What's the issue here?"
"Yeah Hermione, it's my map"
"I know that Harry but Lyra is...This is...She...Oh god!" she peered down and found Lyra's name immediately, her best friend had found Theodore Nott and the pair were moving quickly towards an empty classroom.
Ron had peered over her shoulder and flushed a disturbing red which made Harry even more worried "Is she alright?"
"Alright? I'd bloody well say so" Ron muttered not looking up from his lap, it was weird for him to know what one of his friends was doing, he couldn't believe Lyra lost her V card before any one else in their group! And with a Slytherin no less!
"What? Hermione just give me the map!"
"I do not think i should, we all deserve a bit of privacy Harry...Like you earlier with Cho, you wouldn't have like it if we..." Hermione's eyes widened once more and she looked ill.
Harry snatched the map from her hands "So she's with someone?" he looked down and after scanning the map he saw her name, it was tucked in the corner of an empty room and another name was practically on top of her own. Theodore Nott, a Slytherin "Are they dating?" he questioned through gritted teeth.
"No" Hermione frowned and she felt guilty, this was one of the first times in a long time she was stumped and didn't know where to go from this.
"Bit weird no? Harry is here talking about kissing Cho and she suddenly leaves" Ron shrugged but paused at Hermione's icy glare.
Harry ran a hand through his hair "What does that even mean?"
"Maybe she likes you mate"
Hermione gasped "RON!"
"Lyra doesn't like me like that" Harry shook his head but it was very coincidental that he spoke about kissing Cho and she left...Did that mean...
~~~
When Lyra came back through the common room she walked passed the couch holding her three friends with a wave, Ron couldn't look at her without blushing, Hermione looked worried and Harry had an expression of curiosity "Hey Lyra" he called out when she want to pass them to shower. She turned and face him with a cocked brow "I was thinking, did you want to go on a double date with me and Cho? If you can think of someone to come, i think it would be fun"
Hermione gaped at Harry's question and Ron winced, Lyra saw the map hanging out of his bag and fought back a smirk "Oh no thank you Harry, i actually have a date this weekend with Cedric, might be a bit weird you know, seeing as both of our dates are exes...Maybe next time"
"Cedric?" Harry stood in shook, he'd asked her to get a read on how she'd feel about him dating Cho but clearly Ron was incorrect and he refused to name the emotion that burned in his chest.
Lyra hummed "The Hufflepuff seeker? He was Hogwarts Champion with you? Have you forgotten already?" she grinned as he blushed.
"No of course not, i just...He's a seventh year no? Sirius will probably lose his mind won't he"
"I won't tell if you don't" she grinned "Now if you excuse me i would like a shower, who knew studying would be so...exhausting" with that she turned and walked off.
"Double date!" Lyra heard Hermione whisper shout at Harry and chuckled, what was that all about?