"Quibbler?" Luna's voice floated down the train making Lyra smile as she stood from the trains seat to open the door seeing Luna getting closer with a small stack of quibblers in her hand.
"Luna! I like your glasses"
Luna reached up to touch the glasses on her head "Thank you they're Spectrespecs, they help us to see invisible creatures"
"Brilliant idea" Lyra smiled kindly "May i have a quibbler?"
"Of course" Luna beamed handed her one over.
"When you're done Luna, you're more then welcome to join us here" Lyra offered and Luna hummed.
"I might but i don't think i should, we shall see" she waved at the others in the compartment before walking off to promote the quibbler once more and Lyra went back inside to retake her seat flicking through the quibbler stopping every now and then to read a well written article.
"So what was Draco doing with that weird looking cabinet and who were all those people?" Harry asked, the morning he had woken at the Weasleys they had gone to get things for school but Lyra hadn't been with them nor had she seen when they followed Draco and saw the vanishing cabinet "Don't you see it was a ceremony, an initiation"
"Stop it Harry, i know where you're going with this" Hermione huffed.
Harry shook his head "It's happened, he's one of them"
"One of what?" Ron frowned as he rested his head against the back cushion.
"Harry is under the impression Draco Malfoy is now a Death Eater" Hermione rolled her eyes and Ron chuckled slightly.
"You're barking" he shifted in his seat "What would You-Know-Who want with Malfoy?"
"Well then what's he doing in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry asked and the other two went quiet "Browsing for furniture?"
"It's a creepy shop, he's a creepy guy" Ron shrugged it off.
"Look he's father is a Death Eater, it makes sense"
Lyra narrowed her eyes "Why are you so hard pressed to pin this on Draco? Old families have this practice that they take their heir in a shop that sells cursed items and then they teach them how to recognise the curse and how to undo it, why do you think i had that diary...It could have been that Harry besides how many times do i need to remind you that regardless on which side you stand on both of those are going to have people who don't belong there"
Harry stood from his seat "And look how that diary ended out...I-I'm sorry i didn't mean to snap, I need some air" he left the compartment leaving his three friends in confusion and wary acceptance.
"He does have a point though" Ron winced when the two girls sent glares his way "What i didn't say it"
~~~
At Hogwarts the three friends waited but Harry made no show of arriving "He's probably already on the platform, come on you two" Ron gestured the girls to follow him and Lyra frowned remembering what was going to happen, this year was going to suck.
Harry obviously was not on the platform nor was he in the carriages but the three had made it to the Great Hall and he wasn't there either, Harry missed the sorting ceremony but of course the moment food arrived Ron tucked in while Lyra delicately filled her plate.
Mains were finished and desert was served, Ron helped himself to jelly and ice cream along with Hermione while Lyra had a bowl of fruit "Don't worry, he'll be here in a minute" Ron spoke through a mouthful of jelly and Lyra grimaced.
Hermione snapped and started hitting his arm with her book "Will you stop eating! Your best friend is missing!" she snarled and Lyra snickered with Ginny who sat to her left.
"Oi! Turn around you lunatic" Ron looked bewildered and Hermione along with the others turned to see Harry walking into the Great Hall with Luna holding something to his nose.
"He's covered in blood again, why is it he's always covered in blood?" Ginny asked the boys three friends.
"Looks like it's his own this time" Ron shrugged as Harry sat down on the other side of Lyra.
"Where have you been?" Hermione leant forward "What happened to your face?"
"Later" Harry removed the blood soaked fabric away to drink from Lyra's goblet "What have i missed?"
Ron scoffed "Sorting hat urged us all to be brave and strong in these troubled times, easy for it to say huh? It's a hat isn't it?" Harry nodded in agreement as Lyra tilted his head back slightly so she could see.
"It's slowing down, tilt your head forward" she gently moved his head to tilt forward.
"I thought you were meant to tilt it back?"
She chuckled "Not unless you want to swallow blood and potentially vomit, blood irritates the stomach"
"Very best of evenings to you all" Dumbledore called out bringing the attention to the head table, Lyra turned but not before she slid her bowl of fruit towards Harry who thanked her and began eating "First off let me introduce the newest member of our staff Horace Slughorn"
A plump older man stood from the head table and the crowd applauded "Professor Slughorn, i'm happy to say has agreed to resume his old post as Potions Master meanwhile the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts will be taken by Professor Snape...Now as you know, each and every one of you was searched upon your arrival here tonight and you have the right to know why. Once there was a young man, who, like you, sat in this very hall, walked this castle's corridors, slept under it's roof...He seemed to all the world a student like any other he's name? Tom Riddle. Today of course he's known all over the world by another name which is why as i stand looking out upon you all tonight i'm reminded of a sobering fact. Every day, every hour, this very minute, perhaps, dark forces attempt to penetrate this castle's walls but in the end their greatest weapon is you...Just something ot think about, now off to bed, pip-pip."
"Cheerful" Lyra muttered.
"Very" Hermione looked towards her with raised brows but they did as told and went to their assigned dorms.
~~~
The two girls stood in potions class side by side as Slughorn spoke "Attention to detail in the preparation is the prerequisite of all planning" the man paused when two more people entered the room "Ah Harry my boy i was beginning to worry, we've brought someone with us i see"
"Ron Weasley, sir" the red head smiled and Lyra heard Lavender simper beside her, Hermione shot the girl a questioning look but Brown was staring at Ron, any more and hearts would erupt from the girls eyes like the cartoons "But i'm dead awful at Potions, a menace, actually so i'm probably just gonna-"
Ron moved to take a step back by Harry stepped behind him cutting him off "Nonsense, we'll sort you out" Slughorn waved the boy off "Any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine, get your books out"
"Erh sorry sir i haven't actually got my book yet and nor has Ron"
"Not to worry, get what you want from the cupboard" Slughorn nodded to a closed cupboard before turning back to the class "Now as i was saying, i've prepared some concoctions this morning, any idea's what these might be?" Hermione's hand shot into the air as usual "Yes miss?"
"Granger, sir" Hermione introduced herself and walked forward towards the potions "That one there is Vertisaserum, it's a truth telling serum and that one would be Polyjuice Potion, it's terribly tricky to make and this one is Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in the world, it's rumoured to smell differently to each person according to what attracts them...For example, i smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and spearmint toothpaste"
Lyra cleared her throat as Hermione got sucked into the draw of the love potion and Hermione snapped back coming to stand back beside Lyra. Slughorn chuckled "Now Amortentia doesn't create actual love, that would be impossible" Girls in the class were slowly creeping towards the potion, Hermione having been drawn in already stood fast in her spot and Lyra looked unaffected with a blank look in her eye "But it does cause powerful infatuation or obsession and for that reason it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room"
Slughorn placed the lid on the love potion cutting the luring smell off at the source and the approaching girls all snapped backwards in embarrassment, Lyra released her shields as the overly sweet scents left the room, she noted the scent of treacle tarts, dark cherry and apple pie. It was all so overly sweet her teeth already hurt.
"Sir? You haven't told us what's in that one" Katie Bell pointed to a small glass bottle.
"Oh, yes" he moved to take it from the stand "What you see before you ladies and gentlemen is a curious little potion, do any of you recognise it?" he faced the room and they were silent even Hermione.
"It's Felix Felicis sir but it is more commonly known as Liquid Luck" Lyra answered and he smiled at her.
"Yes Miss?"
"Black sir, Lyra Black"
He's eyes widened slightly "Good God, you wouldn't be directly related to young Regulus Black would you?"
"My uncle, sir" Lyra nodded and the man beamed.
"Well right you are Miss Black, Liquid Luck, desperately tricky to make disastrous should you get it wrong, one sip and you will find that all your endeavours succeed...At least until the effects wear off" he chuckled "So, this is what i offer each of you today, one tiny vile of liquid luck to the student who in the hour that remains manages to brew an acceptable drought of living death. The recipe of which can be found on page ten in your books i should point out however that only one student managed to brew a potion of sufficient quality to claim this prize, never the less, good luck to you"
Lyra was making steady progress on the potion, she continued to dodge old beans that flew through the room as people tried to cut them "How did you do that?" Hermione's voice made Lyra look up from her cauldron and Hermione was staring at Harry who was holding his Sopophorous bean over his own pot.
"Crush it, don't cut it"
"No" Hermione shook her head "The instruction specifically say to cut"
"No, really" Harry grinned and Hermione picked up her book to re-read the instructions that read to cut the bean.
"Both of you are right" Lyra decided to help the girl out "Normally for your own potion with your own ingredients you could cut the bean because they'd most likely be fresh but here the school beans are old and harder, it's easier to crush them. The instructions are right but the ingredients are old, we need to cater for that"
Seamus' pot two tables away blew up in his face and she grinned as she stirred her potion, around her the potions were looking abysmal but that was why Drought of Living Death was know to be one of the hardest potions to perfect or even get partially right. Hermione's pot resembled the texture wise of something close to porridge, one of the Patil girls potion had seeped from her cauldron and had looked like a dark green slime, Crabbe's potion had turned hazardous and had started to dissolve his stirring utensil.
Lyra's potion while not the perfect black was a deep purple "Well done My Girl, near perfect! You follow in your uncles footsteps after all" Slughorn grinned at the girl his eyes shining with the promise of planning to obtain her into his group. He wondered round to Harrys dropping a dried leaf into the deep black liquid and watched it disintegrate before his very eyes "Merlin's beard. It is perfect, so perfect i daresay one drop would kill us all"
Lyra just smiled when Harry looked at her proudly, she wasn't too bothered that she didn't perfect the potion, she knew she wasn't going to be able to beat Harry because while she had been trained by Snape, Harry had the step by step guide of the one and only Half Blood Prince. That and when she walked into the room she duplicated the copy in the cupboard and her very own copy was tucked neatly in her bag, couldn't let genius annotations be lost forever could she?
"So here we are then, as promised" Slughorn handed the phial of Liquid Luck to Harry "One phial of Felix Felicis, congratulations, use it well" the remaining students clapped half heartedly.
~~~
The old man put the cursed ring into his draw as a knock sounded at his office door "Ah Harry, you got my message, come in...How are you?"
"I'm fine sir" The Potter boy smiled with a nod.
"Enjoying your classes? I know Professor Slughorn is most impressed with you"
Harry grinned "I think he overestimates my abilities, sir"
"Oh, do you?"
"Definitely" Harry scoffed jokingly making Dumbledore chuckle.
"What about your activities outside the classroom?"
Harry frowned cocking his head for a moment in question "Sir?"
"Well, i noticed you spend a great deal of time with Miss Granger. I can't help wondering if--"
"Oh no! No. I mean, she's brilliant and we're friends but, no" Harry shook his head.
"Forgive me, i was merely being curious, that and there is a bet you see between the staff"
"Bet?"
Dumbledore smiled cheekily "Yes, between whether you would end up with Miss Granger or Miss Black, it split pretty evenly but i guess those who decided Miss Granger are out of luck..."
"Oh..."
"And Miss Black?" The old man cocked a brow but Harry just shifted uncomfortably making him sigh, he'd hoped Harry would be interested in the muggleborn girl, not for any stupid bet but he wanted to keep the Potter family firmly on the light side.
The Black's had always been unreliable, they were naturals in the form of occlumency, studying practically fresh from the womb but it wasn't just that, they knew how to spin lies into pretty webs of half truths and false promises. They were dangerous, they could not be controlled that was obvious from ever encounter he'd had with the youngest member of house of Black. She was insubordinate and wayward, every time he thinks he may just have her she slips through his fingers with a knowing smile.
But Harry? He was too trusting and maybe he could use the boy to control the girl.
~~~
Quidditch try-outs, there were at least thirty people on the field wanting to try out and only six open positions not including Harry's already fixed spot as Seeker seeing as he was also Quidditch Captain.
There were members from second year up to seven and Lyra stood within the group "All right, um" Harrys voice was dulled from all the other loud voices "Okay so this morning i'm gonna be putting you all through a few drills just to test your strengths...Quiet please" Harry called out see only Ron, Ginny and Lyra were actually listening.
"Shut it!" Ginny yelled and the crowd quietened down quickly.
"Thanks, alright erm. Now then remember, just because you made the team last year does not guarantee you a spot this year, is that clear?" he was met with silence "Good"
Harry moved to prepare the drills and Cormac approached them "No hard feeling Weasley, all right?"
"Hard feelings?" Ron frowned looking at Lyra who was rolling her eyes at the blonde boy.
"Yeah, i'll be going out for Keeper as well, it's nothing personal"
"Really? Strapping guy like you? You've got more of a beaters build, don't you think? Keepers need to be quick, agile"
Cormac grabbed a fly from the air that had been buzzing around insistently, Lyra hated the fact she was actually impressed "Oh, i like my chances, better then i would as a Chaser" he winked at Lyra who scoffed and turned from him walking off to help Harry "Say, think you could introduce me to your friend Granger? Wouldn't mind uh, getting on a first name basis, know what i mean?"
Harry set them up into two teams, Lyra was put on Ron's team while Ginny was with Cormac, She also got Bell and Dean who was trying out. Ginny had been given Seamus and Demelza Robins as chasers, Harry had done it to be fair knowing the two girls were out for blood this year to make the team with Angelina Johnson being gone.
Ron and Cormac was in the goal posts as Keepers, and there were a bunch of Beaters Harry had to watch to pick two from.
Once the whistle was blown it was all guns blazing, from the corner of her eye Lyra saw Robins catch the quaffle from Ginny and she sped up, just as Robin's moved to pass to Seamus Lyra snatched the ball out of the air at the same time as she turned and was newly flanked by Dean and Katie. The three chasers moved as one passing between themselves as they approached Cormac, Katie threw the quaffle but Cormac blocked the ball.
It was a continuous back and forth, Lyra and Ginny playing more aggressively then the others, the two girls were actually stealing the quaffle back and forth so much so that Harry had to change up the teams so he could truly test the keepers and the Beaters. The pair laughed loudly when he announced they be on the same team from them on while the others groaned and looked ill.
Lyra hated to admit it but Cormac was a fucking good Keeper however, Ron was holding his own, there'd been a few quaffles that had passed him but those had been both Ginny and Lyra's.
Some positions were obvious in who were going to fill them, others not so much.
~~~
"I have to admit, i thought i was going to miss that last one" Ron chuckled from beside Lyra on the sofa, she was laid out on the sofa with her legs perched a crossed his lap while Hermione and Harry sat on the floor closer to the fire "I hope Cormacs not taking it too hard..." That was right, Harry gave the position of Keeper to Ron while Cormac was put into the sub position "He's got a bit of a thing for you Hermione, Cormac"
Harry lent his head back from where he rested just beside Lyra who answered by running her fingers through his hair, he'd given her the first Chaser spot which while she hadn't betted on it, it seemed pretty obvious to the others who tried out.
Katie Bell and Ginny had gotten the other two spots, an all girl Chaser team just like before "He's vile" Hermione shook her head which was true, the rumours about Cormac weren't pretty, where Theo was known as a player Cormac got all the bad rep but none of the charm or good rumours Nott did.
"Have you ever heard of this spell? Sectumsempra?" Harry reached his arm out showing Hermione the book without moving his head away from Lyra's caressing fingers.
"No, i haven't" Hermione snapped seeing the book in his hand "And if you had a shred of self-respect you'd hand that book in"
"It means to always cut" Lyra hummed, she needed Harry to know what the spell did so he would not use it on Draco, she could allow him to keep the book, use it to get ahead of Potions but harming Draco? Out of the question.
"What?" all three of her friends looked at her.
"Sectumsempra, it means always cutting, loosely. It would cause brutal lacerations on the target's body as if they've been slashed with an invisible blade and there is no counter curse written in there, it's not pretty...You'd kill anyone you casted it on" she stared deeply into Harrys eyes in warning and he shivered.
"You need to hand it in!" Hermione screeched at Harry who snapped the book shut in horror.
"Not bloody likely. He's top of the class he's even better then you two girls, Slughorn thinks he's a genius" Ron scoffed and Hermione snapped her head around to glare at him "What?"
"I'd like to know whose that book was, creating dark curses like that! Let's have a look" Hermione moved to her knees.
"No" Harry got to his feet unwillingly as he regretfully felt Lyra's hand leave his hair.
"Why not?" Hermione followed him.
"The spell isn't dark, dark grey at best" Lyra waved her hand going back to her book on protection wards, she needed to perfect them for just in case they did go on the run.
"The binding is fragile and did you hear that? Dark grey Hermione, i won't use the spell but i need to pass Potions to become an Auror"
"The binding is fragile?" Hermione scoffed as she slowly trailed Harry who was backing away from her right towards Ginny who stole the book from his hands.
"Who's the Half Blood Prince?" Ginny asked after cracking the book open.
Hermione frowned "Who?"
"That's what is says, right here: This book is property of the Half Blood Prince" Ginny smirked but handed the book back to Harry who did not look impressed.
"Do you know who it is?" Ron asked Lyra who was nose deep in her book.
"I have an idea but i will not disclose, that's half the fun" she answered back ignoring all the noises of disapproval from her friends.
~~~
"For weeks you carry around this book, practically sleep with it" Hermione huffed as they walked towards Hogsmeade "And yet you have no desire to find out who the Half Blood Prince is?"
"I didn't say i wasn't curious and i don't sleep with it"
Ron scoffed "Well it's true! I like a nice chat before i go to bed and now all you do is read that book, it's like being with Hermione"
"Aw, Ron's not getting his preferred pillow talk from Harry did you hear that Mi? Their relationship is failing because Harry had fallen for a book" Lyra taunted and Hermione giggled.
"I did! And i was curious so i went to the--"
"Library" the three of her friends answered for her making her blush "And?" Harry questioned.
"And nothing! I couldn't find a reference for the Half Blood Prince anywhere"
Harry grinned "Well there we go, that settles it then"
"Filius!" their attention was drawn to Slughorn's loud greeting "I was hoping to find you in the Three Broomsticks"
"Uh no, emergency choir practice i'm afraid Horace" their Charms Professor smiled tightly as he continued along his way.
"Anyone fancy a butterbeer?" Harry questioned as they watched Slughorn walk off towards the put.
"Harry" Lyra asked "I thought you'd never ask" she grinned slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow and began leading the group forward not seeing the new flushing to Harry's face.
Inside they all took their seats, Harry lead Lyra to take the seat beside his own, he tucked her in once she was sat and the group fell into their normal sitting spaces with Lyra next to Harry and Hermione opposite her beside Ron "Something to drink?" a waiter approached them.
"Erm, four butterbeers and some ginger in mine, please" Hermione ordered and the man nodded taking the dirty glasses from their table giving it a quick wipe down.
"Oh bloody hell!" Ron groaned dramatically and the others turned to see Ginny tucked away in a booth with Dean the pair were too close to be friendly and were holding hands "Slick git"
"Honestly Ronald, their only holding hands" Hermione rolled her eyes but when they looked back the couple were now kissing "And snogging" Lyra snickered and looked at Harry who surprisingly didn't seem the slightest bit bothered.
"I'd like to leave" Ron told the three of them politely as their fresh glasses were placed in front of them.
"What?"
"Thank you" Lyra offered the man a polite smile which he nodded in response too before leaving.
"You can't be serious" Hermione scoffed and Ron sneered at her slightly.
"That happens to be my sister"
"So? What if she looked over here and saw you snogging me? Would you expect her to get up and leave?" Hermione asked with a grin.
"Here we go" Lyra picked up her glass "Cheers Harry" she clinked hers with his own and he chuckled.
"Harry my boy!" Slughorns voice broke through the pubs chatter as he approached, Harry stood from his chair with a happy grin.
"Hello sir, wonderful to see you"
"And you, and you" Slughorn shook Harrys hand.
"So what brings you here?"
"Oh the Three Broomsticks and I go way back, further then i care to admit" Slughorn chuckled "I can remember when it was One Broomstick" The ones still sitting startled when his drink split onto it splashing upwards towards them but Hermione got the brunt of it "All hands on deck Granger! Listen my boy, in the old days i used to throw together the occasional supper party for the select student or two. Would you be game?"
"I'd consider it an honour sir" Harry nodded and Slughorn smiled.
"How about you, Lyra dear?"
Lyra gifted him her most charming smile "Oh thank you sir! I would be overjoyed to join you"
"Perfect" the man's smile brightened "You would be welcome too Granger"
"I'd be delighted sir" Hermione smiled after swallowing about half of her drink.
"Splendid! Look for my owl" Slughorn smiled before seeing Ron "Good to see you Wallenby!" the moment he left Lyra broke down into heartfelt giggles.
"What are you playing at?" Ron demanded.
"Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him"
Ron frowned at Harry's answer "Get to know him?"
"I don't know, it must be important. If it wasn't Dumbledore wouldn't ask"
Lyra hummed "Did he also ask you to kiss his arse? It would be an honour sir" she imitated Harry.
"You can talk, I'd be overjoyed to join you sir!" Harry batted his lashed at her and she shoved him.
"I didn't bat my eyes at him!"
Harry smirked "Might as well have"
"Oh! You're jealous!" she grinned and he flushed.
"What? No i'm not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not" Harry glared.
"Do you want me to bat my eyes at you instead?" she teased and he choked on his drink slightly.
"Ew, are you two flirting?" Ron grimaced deeply and grunted when Hermione jabbed him with her elbow.
"No" the two friends snapped finishing their drinks instead of talking anymore, Hermione had ordered another round as they hung out, the girls alcohol tolerance was so low after her third butterbeer she was swaying slightly which only got worse when they walked outside "What am i going to do with you Mi?" Lyra grinned helping her friend walk.
"Love me forever and ever" Hermione slurred.
Lyra rolled her eyes "Obviously" a shrill scream made them all freeze and up ahead Katie Bell laid out on the snow her best friend Leanne cried.
"I warned her! I warned her not to touch it!"
As they grew closer Katie's body started to twitch and move as if something was dragging her and then all five of them stumbled back when she flew into the air with a scream, she was air borne for a few seconds before she was forcefully thrown to the ground making her body crumble in on itself as she continued to twitch. Lyra went to moved forward but Harry grabbed her hand keeping her tucked into his side.
"No one get any closer!" Hagrid's voice startled the group "Get back, all of you" Hagrid approached the girl and picked her up into his arms and Harry moved towards the package on the ground "Do not touch that except by the wrappings! Do you understand?"
In the snow laid a stunning necklace set with multiple Opals in silver metal work, a pretty piece but deadly, and so it begun.
~~~
The four of them were stood in McGonagall's class room with Leanne as the necklace was laid on the table and the woman studied it closely "You're sure Katie did not have this is her possession when she entered the Three Broomsticks?" McGonagall turned to face Leanna who was hugging herself tightly.
"It's like i said, she left to go to the loo and when she came back she had the package. She said it was important that she deliver it" Leanne answered with tears in her eyes.
"Did she say to whom?"
Leanne nodded "Professor Dumbledore"
"Very well" McGonagall sighed "Thank you Leanne, you may go" as the girl left McGonagall turned slightly to face the Golden Quartet "Why is it when something happens it's always you four?"
"Believe me Professor, i've been asking myself the same question for six years" Ron whined gently.
McGonagall caught sight of someone outside "Oh, Severus!" the man walked forward and the pair spoke quietly between themselves before Snape moved towards the desk to examine the necklace "What do you think?"
"I think Miss Bell is lucky to be alive" Snape answered as the necklace hovered in the air.
"She was cursed wasn't she?" Harry asked loudly "I know Katie, off the quidditch pitch she wouldn't hurt a fly, if she was delivering that to Professor Dumbledore, she wasn't doing it knowingly"
"Yes, she was cursed" McGonagall nodded.
"It was Malfoy" Harry accused and Lyra snapped her head towards him in shock as did everyone else.
"That is a very serious accusation Potter" McGonagall looked dumbfounded and Snape turned from where he'd lowered the necklace.
"Indeed, your evidence?"
"I just know" Harry answered and Lyra took two steps away from him closer to Ron, she couldn't believe he'd throw something like that out there after she told him early on about her father and the accusations that started with.
"You just...Know?" Snape reiterated once more "Once again you astonish with your gifts Potter, gifts mere mortals can only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One"
"I suggest you go back to your dormitories, all of you"
Lyra bowed her head slightly "Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape" she greeted them goodbye before being the first to turn and walk off.
~~~
Lyra's first experience of the Slug Club was that it was subpar, the dinners were at least, she had yet to be to one of his parties where he invited people to Hogwarts to meet his selected students, that's what she was waiting for. People could hate on these parties as much as they wanted along with hating on Slughorn as well but to Lyra is was new players for her chess board, high influence players at that, people she could need and use later down the line.
"So tell me Cormac, do you see anything of your uncle Tiberius these days?" Slughorn asked the boy sat next to him after dessert was brought in.
"Yes sir, in fact i'm meant to go hunting with him and the Minister of Magic over the holidays" Lyra rolled her eyes as she looked at her ice cream but Slughorn was impressed.
"Well be sure to give them both my best" the Professor grinned "And what about your uncle Belby? For those of you who don't know Marcus' uncle invented the Wolfsbane potion, is he working on anything new?"
The boy who was shovelling ice cream into his gullet at an astonishing rate shook his head "Don't know, him and my dad don't get on" he scooped a large mouthful into his mouth and Lyra caught the grimace of Blaze's face who had been placed next to the boy, she smirked and bit back a chuckle "Probably because me dad says potions are rubbish...Says the only potion worth having is a stiff one at the end of the day"
"And what about you Miss Granger?" Slughorn changed the subject quickly and all eyes turned to Hermione who was sat in between Lyra and Harry who were still not talking, Blaise gladly took his eyes off of Marcus Belby and Lyra chuckled gently "What exactly does your family do in the muggle world?"
"My parents are dentists...They tent to peoples teeth"
"Fascinating" Slughorn nodded "And is that considered a dangerous profession?" both Lyra and Hermione giggled looking at each other remember when Mr Granger had come back complaining of having to get stiches while Lyra was visiting a few summers ago "No, although one boy, Robbie Fenwick did bite my father once he needed ten stiches"
The door opened and they all looked to see Ginny walking in "Ahh Miss Weasley, come in, come in" Slughorn smiled at the girl.
"Look at her eyes, they've been fighting again, her and Dean" Hermione whispered Ginny's eyes were red and puffy, though to Lyra's surprise Harry didn't stand when Ginny approached he merely smiled politely which Ginny copied.
"Sorry, i'm not usually late" Ginny apologised.
Slughorn waved her off "No matter, you're just in time for dessert, that is if Belby's left you any" he joked and Lyra snickered seeing as the boy had finished his large serving already, Lyra looked forward when she felt Hermione's leg stiffen beside her and saw Cormac sucking on his finger trying to look seductive but she could feel how uncomfortable Hermione was.
"Do you need a napkin McLaggen?" Lyra asked loudly and he startled and froze with his finger in his mouth.
"Oh here you are my boy" Slughorn handed him a fresh napkin and Cormac flushed and wiped his hand "Tell me Miss Black, how is your father doing?"
Lyra smiled demurely taking her hand from her dessert spoon and tucking it into her lap "He is well sir, he's finding his feet again but he prefers to take a backseat with the politics, i guess he feels a little tense around it all still" she chuckled.
"It is just you and him am i correct?"
"Yes sir, we're the last Black's left"
"And is he planning on having another child at all? For the name?" Slughorn smiled and she felt Hermione tense beside her again but this was good, she needed this to be brought up.
"No sir, My father has named me heir and i will continue on the name as will i be the head of house Black, i have a more sure hand in politics you see, he knows house Black is safe in my stead"
"Yes" Slughorn nodded with a satisfied smile on his face looking very much like the cat who got the cream "I am most certain it is dear girl"
When the dinner came to a close she left along with everyone but Harry who stayed back, Hermione walked up ahead talking intently with Ginny who'd asked for her help, the two girls were close having bonded sharing a room and Lyra thought it was sweet. As she watched, a hand grabbed her elbow and tugged her into an alcove while another came up to cover her mouth, she fought the grip on her.
"Shush! Shush it's me! Salazar's sack it's me!" Theo hissed into her ear and she stopped fighting, he let her go and she spun to face him.
"What the hell is wrong with you! You don't just go grabbing people like that!" she growled and he shushed her again looking around to make sure they weren't caught.
"I need your help"
"With?" Lyra frowned.
Nott paused as if he was unsure what to say before he seemed to find his feet "Draco"
"Why, what's wrong with Draco?" she tried to seem nonchalant, they weren't meant to be friends after all.
"Don't pretend, i know about the journals Lyra, i know!" he narrowed his eyes at her before he sighed "Look, i don't care alright and i won't tell anyone but i can't help him and i know you can"
"With what Theo"
"He's been given a mission, i think you know what it is, not the old man the other one and it's eating him alive, he's not eating or sleeping"
Lyra was silent, to help him would mean to help Death Eaters into the school but to not help him it meant he was to be punished for how long it takes him and he becomes almost gaunt looking, sickly and stressed. She could help him fix the cabinet and also make sure the Death Eaters don't hurt anyone..."When does he go?"
"All the time Lyra, every meal, every morning and noon, sometimes he skips class" Theo frowned as he watched her "He barely told me i had to force it out of him and even then he didn't tell me everything i only found out from my father..."
"Alright, i'll figure something out i swear it"
"Thank you, also if he asks i said nothing" Theo sighed "Not a single word"
"I understand Theo, i've got it i promise" she nodded "I'm going to go now, i'll find him tomorrow" when he nodded she left the alcove and quickly made it to the dorm before curfew hit.
"Let me guess, studying?" Harry voice called out as he watched her enter the room, the Marauders map was laid folded on his lap and she rolled her eyes.
"Spying isn't polite Harry" the map was going to have to missing for this year, it just had too.
Harry scoffed "Lyra you can not be serious!"
"What?"
"Seeing Nott, you can't!"
"I can Harry, i can do anything i want but for your information we were only talking"
He nodded as if he didn't believe a word she had said "Right...Talking"
"Whatever Harry" she moved to the stair but he caught her wrist.
"Why are we even fighting? I hate this"
Lyra narrowed her eyes slightly "You know damn well why Harry Potter!"
"I know what i saw!"
She shook her head "You don't know a damn thing! I don't know what your two's problem with each other is but it's ridiculous and i want no part in it, so while you continue to spew your accusations to anyone who will listen i will not, in fact, be listening"
"Lyra-"
"No! Goodnight Harry"