The first match of the season saw Gryffindor against Slytherin just as normal but Draco was no longer seeker nor captain having stepped down last summer, Ron dropped down onto the bench with his friends for breakfast but instead of getting stuck in he just stared at his food which was abnormal "So how was it then?"
"How was what?" Hermione looked at him from over her morning paper.
"Your dinner party?"
Hermione smiled "Pretty boring actually, though i think Harry enjoyed dessert" what Lyra didn't know was that while she spoke with Slughorn Hermione had seen Harry staring at her best friend, he watched her in awe as she spun the teacher around her finger "Slughorn's having a Christmas do you know? And we're meant to bring someone"
"I expect you'll be bringing McLaggen" Ron turned his nose up "He's in the Slug club isn't he?"
"Actually i was going to ask you"
Lyra looked down at her breakfast wanting nothing more then to slip away from the conversation "Really?" Ron sighed looking like he didn't believe her at all.
"Good luck today Ron" Lavender had approached tapping the new beater on the shoulder "I know you'll be brilliant!" the girl smiled before she walked off and Ron leant towards Harry and Hermione who were sat together seeing as Lyra and Harry were arguing.
"I'm resigning!" Ron whispered and Lyra snickered "After today's match McLaggen can have my spot"
"Have it your way" Harry grinned.
"Erm absolutely not, if McLaggen plays i'm out" Lyra sneered but Harry just kept the smile on his face as he reached for Ron's goblet and pushed it towards Ron.
"Juice?"
Ron sighed and picked up the goblet "Sure"
"Hello everyone" Luna spoke from the other side of Lyra and they all turned to face her, the girl was wearing a large crafted lions head on her own like a hat "You look dreadful Ron, is that why you put something in his cup? Is it a tonic?"
Harry made a show of putting a phial into his trousers "Liquid luck?" Hermione muttered seeing the phial "Don't drink it Ron!" but Ron being Ron chugged the pumpkin juice and looked changed "You could be expelled for that!" Hermione hissed at Harry.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Harry shrugged.
"Come on guys, we've got a game to win!" Ron clapped hands with Harry and dragged Lyra to her feet.
"Luna? Would you be a darling and sit with Hermione in the stands?"
"Of course" Luna nodded as the boys all but carried Lyra from the hall.
~~~
Slytherin managed to get their hands on the quaffle and had started to form a hawkshead attacking formation, something that meant they took an arrowheads formation in a move to intimidate the other players but Gryffindor's were not easy to intimidate.
Gryffindor players flew directly into the formation causing Blaise to pass the quaffle over to another chaser who batted it back, Ginny had managed to get her hand on it but she was roughly shoved away by the third Slytherin chaser, he tried to score but Ron blocked the throw and the game was still on.
Gryffindor were out flying Slytherin by miles, Lyra kept flying towards the snow covered grass and when she got low enough it caused the snow to be disturbed and in that slight coverage of snow she passed the quaffle over to Ginny who would score. Ginny would then reciprocate by getting the quaffle to Lyra who would violently throw the quaffle through the hoops, Dean was playing with them seeing as Katie was still at St Mongos and he got a few goals in.
Blaise had the quaffle once more and Lyra sped up at they fell back into a hawkshead formation, she attacked head on but Vaisey, one of the Slytherin Chaser wrap his arm around her waist to stop her from getting to Blaise, the speed she was going meant they both went spiralling and struggling to regain control.
Luckily neither Crabbe nor Goyle aimed for her too much with the bludgers but in doing so meant that their own chasers had to keep an eye on her, they were playing dirty body checking her whenever they could, going as far to to blag her which meant they grabbed the end of her broom to delay her or slow her down. They were getting called out for fouls left, right and centre which only allowed Gryffindor to score even more points.
Needless to say Gryffindor won 250-30 after Harry caught the snitch, which was shocking, it showed just how much the team was declining with Draco being gone.
~~~
"Weasley! Weasley! Weasley!" the common room was flooded with the chanting.
"You know you shouldn't have done it" Hermione scolded Harry gently as they watched Ron soak up the attention.
Harry grinned "I know. I suppose i could have just used a Confundus charm"
"That was different! That was tryout this was an actual game" Hermione defended herself as Harry pulled a phial from his breast pocket and the two girls saw that it was still untouched "You didn't put it in?" Harry shook his head "Ron only thought you did" Harry nodded and they all turned back to Ron just in time to see Lavender pull him off the chair he was stood on and immediately attack his mouth.
Ron wrapped his arms around her and the pair made out, Lyra grimaced deeply while Harry grinned from ear to ear. Hermione on the other hand fell silent and slowly backed out of the room, Lyra and Harry saw her go and they both glanced at the other "You should go" Lyra nodded him on and he frowned but agreed and went to follow Hermione.
In that time Lyra ran up to the boys dorms, finding Harrys trunk she took the Marauders map and used it to look for Draco's name, it didn't take her long to find it in the Astronomy tower so she folding it back up and took off.
~~~
Harry found Hermione in a lone stairwell sat with birds flying above her head, when he approached she looked up and he could see the tears staining her face "Charms spell, just practising" she sniffled as he pointed to the birds in question.
"Well, they're really good" he nodded as he sat down next to her on the stairs.
"How does it feel Harry...When you see Lyra with people like Theo and Charlie?" Hermione questioned her breathing staggered as she tried not to cry again.
"Oh, erh..."
"I know, i see the way you look at her" Hermione felt traitorous tears run down her cheeks as Harry tried to deny it "You're my best friend"
High pitched giggling broke the awkward silence and they both looked up to see Ron and Lavender come running in, the pair froze seeing Hermione and Harry sat on the stairs and Harry took a deep breath placing his hand on Hermione's leg for comfort.
"Opps" Lavender's voice echoed through the stairwell "I think this room's taken" she went to run out but Ron didn't follow her.
"What's with the birds?" He questioned seeing the birds flying above the pairs head.
Hermione sprung to her feet and stared at Ron for a few seconds "Oppugno" she spat out harshly and the birds stopped their mindless fluttering to look at Ron, they moved into a single line and dive bombed Ron who backed up and dodged the birds, they turned into nothing when they hit the wooden door and Ron looked at them once more before following after Lavender.
The tears Hermione had been working so hard to stop came forward and she fell onto the bottom step, Harry moved closer offering her comfort which she took happily as she cried into his shoulder.
"It feels like this" he offered but instead of helping it made Hermione cry even harder.
~~~
The stairs up to the Astronomy tower were steep and she stopped by the top to allow herself to catch her breath, Lyra walked inside and saw Draco stood by the bannister "You're not going to jump are you?" she whispered and Draco glance at her over his shoulder before he turned back to look at the stars.
"No"
She approached and came to a stop beside him "Are you alright?"
"It's getting worse" he answered staring at the stars above them "Do you know?"
"I do" she nodded and Draco sighed "I can help you"
"No you can't"
"I can and i will" she glared and his arguments were cut off "We'll get through this together"
"You know you can't Lyra, if saint Potter finds out--"
"Then i'll make him understand, you're not the enemy Dragon. We'll start tomorrow as usual in the room, it can't be that hard right?"
Wrong. It was that hard.
~~~
"He's at perfect liberty to kiss whoever he likes" Hermione snapped "I really couldn't care less! Was i under the impression him and I would be attending Slughorn's Christmas party together? Yes. Now, given the circumstances i've had to make other arrangements"
"Have you?" Harry asked as she put her books back in the library.
"Yes, why?"
"I just thought seeing as neither of us can go with who we'd really like too, we should go together as friends"
Hermione frowned deeply "Why didn't i think of that?"
"Who are you going with?"
"Um" she cringed "It's a surprise, anyway it's you we've got to worry about, you can't just take anyone" she caught sight of someone staring "See that girl over there?" Hermione moved so he could look at the girl over her shoulder and she nodded "That's Romilda Vane, apparently she's trying to smuggle you a love potion"
The girl was pretty, very pretty "Really?"
Hermione snapped her fingers in front of his face to regain his attention "Hey! She's only interested in you because she thinks your the Chosen One"
"But i am the Chosen One" he grinned but winced when she smacked him over the head with her paper "Okay, sorry, only kidding...I'll ask someone i like"
"Wait, does that mean you have asked Lyra then?"
"Well no...She's not really talking to me at the moment"
Hermione nodded "Right, after you publicly accused Malfoy of cursing Katie"
"I know what i saw Hermione"
"You know what you think you saw, maybe she saw something else plus you need to remember she grew up with him, they were friends before we even met her you have to remember she knows him a lot better then we do"
"I know that Hermione but they also haven't lived together for three years now, a lot can happen" he sighed and she nodded in hesitant acceptance.
~~~
The night of Slughorn's party Draco was going to try sending something off to see where they were on fixing the cabinet, the pair had spent hours upon hours pouring magic into it but Lyra had over estimated how easy it would be to fix it. She however couldn't miss the opportunity to go to a Slughorn party with invited guests, she had grafting to do.
She had dressed in a stunning light blue silk dress with a cowl neckline that she charmed to remain modest, she paired it with a pair of silver strappy heels which had been layered with countless cushioning charms.
"R-Ready?" her date held his arm out after he fidgeted with his bowtie once more.
"Neville you look dapper, nothing to worry about now let's go" she chuckled and hooked her arm through his allowing him to lead her to the hall.
"I'm nervous"
"There's no reason for you to be, we're here as friends so you don't need to worry about wooing me" she grinned "We're here to have fun so shake it off, come on shake it out" she shook his arm until he smiled "Good, now we're going to walk in there with our chins up like we belong there, because we do"
"Right" Neville nodded "Why do we belong here?"
"Because i said so, that good enough for you Neville?" she cocked a brow as she smiled gently.
Neville nodded quickly "Good enough for me" he lifted his chin and guided her into the room, he still looked nervous but he was trying, Lyra on the other hand started to greet people the moment she entered, she started memorising names and job occupations, subtly filing it away behind her walls for later.
"Miss Black!" Slughorn approached her quickly with a beaming grin "I'm so pleased you could make it! And you have brought with you...?"
"Sir, may i introduce you formally to Neville Longbottom, Heir to the Longbottom name. He is set to be head of his house and will be taking his families seats on Wizengamot, he's working towards a mastery in Herbology when he leaves Hogwarts"
"Oh my, well that is brilliant my boy" Slughorn grinned shaking Neville's hand who looked to be in shock "You know Herbology and Potions go hand in hand? " he joked and Neville nodded while Lyra chuckled politely beside him holding onto his arm "Lyra my dear, you must come meet Eldred Worple, he has been mentioning you since i told him of who would be coming, you and Harry of course"
"Then we mustn't keep him waiting" she smiled pausing when he waved forward a photographer, she made sure to smile prettily as she stood by his side, Slughorn had placed a polite hand on her shoulder and smiled, after the camera flashed he lead both her and Neville off towards the punch bowl where two men had been stood beside.
"Eldred! This is young Miss Black, one of my star pupils"
"Ahh Miss Black, such a pleasure" the man with a cracking moustache grinned taking her hand to shake it "I must say you are beautiful"
"Thank you" she smiled "This is my date Neville Longbottom" Worple released her hand to shake Neville's.
"Well met! This is my guest for the evening Sanguini"
Lyra made sure her smile didn't fade as she turned to the vampire who was staring at her intently "Pleasure" he held his hand out and she allowed him to take her own where he placed a kiss to the top of her hand, the man was tall and looked emaciated.
"I was talking to Horace about reaching out to your father for a biography of his stay at Azkaban, the only wizard to escape, that's a mighty thing to achieve! And being imprisoned for twelve years only to be found innocent, i must say! People would be ravenous to read about it, i'd be happy to write it myself, think of all the gold that would make you" Worple grinned and she nodded.
She remained polite even when Neville gasped beside her at the mans gall, she reached up to re hook her arm with his "Of course! I must speak to him about it obviously but i don't see why he wouldn't want to at least speak to you on your proposal, do you have a card or anything i can give him to be able to reach you?"
The man started ruffling through his pockets wildly, he found a slip of parchment with his name and postal address on it "It was simply wonderful meeting you! Everything Horace has said seems to be polite talk because you my dear are simply magnificent"
"Oh, why thank you" she pretended to be flattered and he grinned "It has been an honour to meet you and your guest sir, i apologise but we must be speaking to Professor Slughorn, if the evening allows i'd love to come back around and ask you some questions?"
"Of course dear girl! Of course!" Worple waved her off with a large grin and the vampire merely nodded as they left watching her go as they did so, they spend a while slowly getting around the room greeting Slughorns guests and Lyra made a good impression on them all.
Right then they were having a break while Neville ate socialising seemed to make him starved "Hide me!" Hermione grabbed her arm having appeared out of nowhere and hid behind Lyra, it was a hard thing to do seeing as Hermione stood taller then Lyra but Lyra brought Neville closer by his arm giving Hermione more coverage as Cormac approached.
"Hermione?" he called out having seen her tucked away as he could see over Lyra's head, Hermione grimaced but stood upright "Were you hiding?"
"Of course not I--" Hermione shook her head.
"But i saw--"
"I believe Hermione was talking" Lyra snapped when he interrupted her.
"I just--"
"That will be all McLaggen" Lyra dismissed him placing Hermione's hand into Neville's "Hermione agreed to allow Neville a dance, the gentlemanly thing to do would be to stand on the side, she's getting quite tired you see and Neville asked for the last dance before she went to bed"
"To bed?" Cormac narrowed his eyes at her.
"Did i stutter or would you prefer for me to slow my speech? Hermione is tired. She is going to dance with Neville, one last dance. Then she is going to bed...Did that resonate with you this time?"
"But--"
"That will be all Cormac, go see if someone else is willing to degrade themselves by finding a quiet alcove with you, you won't find one here...Well? Off you two go, go dance" she shooed Hermione and Neville off who both stumbled off to the dance floor not willing to argue with the girl while Cormac glared at her for a few moment's before he span and stormed from the party "Men" she rolled her eyes.
Just as she said so the doors opened and Filch pulled Draco in by his arm "Argh! Take your hands off me you filthy squib!" Draco growled as he fought against the hold on him.
"Professor Slughorn, sir. I just discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor, he claims to have been invited to your party" Filch explained as the party fell silent.
"Okay, okay i was gate crashing! Happy?" Draco called out
Snape approached the still struggling boy "I'll escort him out"
Filch released Draco who fixed his suit "Certainly, Professor" the pair walked out, Lyra turned to stop Harry from following but he was already gone...Just great.
~~~
"Unbreakable vow?" Ron questioned after Harry had finished telling them about what he had heard, they were on the train home for the Christmas holiday "You're sure that's what Snape said?"
"Positive, why?"
"Well, it's just you can't break an unbreakable vow" Ron shook his head.
"I worked that out for myself, funnily enough"
"You don't understand...Oh bloody hell" Ron paused and they looked up seeing Lavender outside the door, Hermione had gone off to get something so luckily this wasn't being forced into her face. Lavender breathed onto the glass making it foggy, from there she drew a heart and in the centre of the heart was an R + L, she mouthed that she 'missed him' and left.
"Hygienic" Lyra muttered and Harry snorted, the pair had made up, that meant Harry apologised for being so gun happy with his accusations and she apologised for ignoring him, then of course he followed Snape and Draco which undermined his apology but she shrugged it off, the pair should not have been talking about it in the middle of a corridor, she can't fix stupid.
"All she wants to do is snog me" Ron stressed the fact and Lyra cringed "My lips are getting chapped look!" he moved closer to Harry who backed away.
"I'll take your word for it" Harry pushed Ron away and they all saw Hermione appear, she went to enter but saw the writing on the door and kept walking down the train which made Lyra sigh and throw Ron quick glare.
"Just great, i get lumped with you two..."
"Oi!" Ron narrowed his eyes.
"So what happens to you?" Harry asked out of no where "What happens if you break an unbreakable vow?"
"You die" both Ron and Lyra spoke at the same time creating a spooky effect.
~~~
Christmas was being spent at the Burrow, Mrs Weasley had put her foot down, she had stated quite firmly that while she loved Lyra, Sirius, Remus and Harry she could not do another Christmas at Grimmauld Place. That being said she had demanded they were to join them at the Burrow, Sirius had agreed wanting to get out of the house years ago but the war meant it was safer to stay at Grimmauld place.
"Voldemort has chosen Draco Malfoy for a mission?" Remus asked Harry who nodded.
"I know it sounds mad--"
"Has it occurred to you Harry that Snape is simply pretending to offer Draco help so he could find out what he was up too?"
"That's not what it sounded like" Harry shook his head.
"Perhaps Harry's right Remus" Dora stressed from her seat, a new addition to the Christmas family gathering, it helped the fact she had a crush on the werewolf and had been trying for months to break him down, he'd finally began to grow willing to see something between them "I mean, to make an unbreakable vow it-"
"It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore's judgement? Dumbledore trust's Snape therefore i do" Remus argued.
Harry shook his head "Dumbledore makes mistakes, he said so himself"
"Your blinded by hatred!" Remus snapped his iris' flashing amber.
"I'm not"
"Yes you are! People are disappearing Harry, daily. We can only place our trust in a handful of people, if we start fighting among ourselves, we're doomed" Remus sighed as he tried to calm himself, Sirius sat staring into the fire, it all sounded much too similar to how they used to accuse Snape back in school. That hatred had almost cost him Remus' friendship, hell it could have gotten them all thrown into Azkaban.
"For what it's worth..." Lyra spoke up from her spot stood behind Sirius with a hand on his shoulder "Dumbledore knows exactly what he is doing, Dumbledore knows what we do not, he knows what Draco does not...It is Dumbledore's final move"
"What?" Harry turned his head to look at her wanting more but Lyra kissed her father on the crown of his head and walked out of the room.
"Merry Christmas" someone whispered into her ear and she turned seeing Charlie hiding in a dark corner.
"You're meant to be in Romania" she smiled.
"I can always leave..." he went to leave but she caught his wrist and he chuckled "I have something for you" he lead her toward his room and once they were inside he shut the door gesturing to the wrapped box on his bed.
"You got me a gift?" she cocked her head to the side.
Charlie rubbed the back of his neck as he flushed red "Not exactly" she opened the poorly wrapped box and blinked at what she saw.
"You...Charlie"
"I know, it's weird and maybe slightly creepy, i mean i didn't steal it or anything, i don't think i did anyway but--God i'm so embarrassed"
"You kept it?" she smiled and carefully pulled out the stuffed dragon teddy from the box "This is so sweet" she brought the dragon closer, it was well loved that was obvious but it was also well looked after.
"It's been in Romania with me, I-I kept it, but it was always yours to begin with and now it's back with you"
Lyra chuckled "Charlie, i gave this to you. It belongs to you" she placed the dragon teddy on his bed and stood "But it was very sweet of you to keep it"
"Yeah well..." he grinned and tugged her closer to him by her waist "I'm a sweet guy what can i say" he began to lower his face towards her but before they're lips touched a pounding came from the door.
"I don't think so bucko!" her father entered and dragged Charlie back by the back of his collar "My daughter is sixteen! Keep your hands to yourself buddy" he growled.
Lyra snickered and she jogged down the steps and she grinned at Ginny who stood there holding a plate of Mince pies "Mince pie?" Ginny blushed and Lyra tripped down the last step hitting the ground roughly.
"Oh. My. God! That's why you..." she spluttered from her new spot on the floor as she stared at Ginny with wide eyes, it made so much sense now! The reasons why Ginny seemed to be ignoring Harry, why she stuck so close to Lyra, why she glared at Theo in the corridors, Ginny was Bi.
"Are you alright?" the red head crouched down after putting the plate on the nearest table.
"Oh my god! Ginny you..." Lyra didn't know what to say nor did she get a chance because Charlie snickered and pulled Lyra to her feet, he playfully slapped her arse as she walked passed making her squeal and run off to find Hermione in her embarrassed state while Sirius loudly scolded Charlie.
"Are you alright?" Hermione grabbed her when Lyra bumped into her accidentally and almost fell again "You seem quite out of sorts"
"Ginny fancies me!" she whispered quickly.
"Well yes, that much has been obvious and what is the problem?"
"What! You knew!"
Hermione giggled "Well of course i knew! I thought you did too?" Seeing Lyra's confusion she gasped "You didn't! Oh my, but it was so obvious...Can you seriously not tell when someone fancies you? Actually that makes so much sense now that i think about it"
"I can not believe you didn't tell me!"
"Ginny practically spelled it out for you, i assumed you knew, you do know that Charlie--"
"Hermione!" Lyra squealed and Hermione giggled once more enjoying seeing her normally fully composed friend flustered, here she thought Lyra is unshakeable.
"So they have to kiss you for you to realise, alright i'll be sure to let...Never mind"
Lyra shook her head, she knew what tonight was, seeing Dora had solidified what tonight would be and she had plans, plans that had saw to her dressing in a long sleeved twist knitted sweater dress, it was a dark coffee brown colour and fell three inches above the knee. It was a cute outfit but it was needed for quick access to the holster around her thigh that was covered by the dress.
Everyone was saying goodbye to Dora who wasn't going to be staying, Charlie hugged his friend tightly claiming it was really good to be seeing her again reminding Lyra they had been in school together. Remus who was stood behind Lyra with his hands on her shoulders tensed, his hands clamping down on her shoulders tightly as he stared out into the tall grass.
"Moony?" she whispered but she steeled herself for what was to come, what she had planned.
Seeing the firm hand on his daughters shoulders Sirius moved closer "Moony?" The werewolf merely stared his metaphorical hackles raised, a sudden light appeared out of no where, it grew into a fire ball and it circled the Burrow creating a ring of fire in it's wake and when it finished it's loop Bellatrix appeared inside the ring grinning at them.
She threw a curse at them but Sirius blocked it with a shield, Harry sprinted passed them chasing after the woman and Lyra was not far behind having broken free from Remus' startled hold.
Everything in her screamed to stop as she approached the fire, her chest hurt and her limbs felt weak as her body tried to shut down with fear but her adrenaline was pumping and she used it to run faster, she waved her wand and a harsh stream of water hit the flames by her as she jumped over it. The stream made the fire hiss but it lowered enough for her to pass, the heat she felt made her stomach roll and the smoke choked her as she heaved but she didn't stop running.
Lyra didn't know what she was running to, or who she would find but anyone would do, she heard Bellatrix's cackles but they were too far to be able to distinguish which way to run from then to her right so she kept moving forward. Something was calling her forward and if she had theoretically taken Ginny's spot being the second to jump through then she had a feeling on who she would find, or rather who would find her.
She came to a small opening, it was swampy and her boots were sticking in the mud beneath them as she came to a slow stop her weight being able to sink into it fully enough for it to latch onto them. Lyra looked around when she heard a growling, just as she had thought, she clenched her wand tightly in her hand but she knew with what she had planned she couldn't stay here for Harry to find her so she smirked at the wolf threw a stinging hex his way before she began running again.
It was a dangerous game, taunting a werewolf into a game of chase but she had already set on what she came to do, she heard the wolf chasing her, his growls and rumbles echoed through the fields. She lead him further into the grass hoping to find another clearing and when no clearing appeared and she felt him closing in on her she panicked.
"Bombarda!" she yelled and an explosion went off where she pointed ahead, she ran for it and Fenrir was closing in fast, she could almost feel his hot breath against her back, could feel his nails scraping her skin as he reached out for her. Once in the smoking circle she had made she spun to face him and he slowed to a stop, he began circling her as she panted.
"Mhh" the werewolf sniffed at the air showcasing he was more wolf then man in all his actions "You just smell delicious" he slowly started to approach and Lyra backed up making him chuckle "Where's your fight gone Little Witch? You made me chase you and i can hear your heart pounding..." he stepped closer grinning when she sneered at him "Come on Little Witch don't make this harder then it needs to be" he grinned flashing his rotten and sharp teeth that looked more like fangs, the man in front of her was no man, he was more beast then wizard.
He'd spent too much time giving into every little craving as a wolf, acted as if he never changed back that he became a wolf, Lyra lifted her wand and he snorted "Incendio" she whispered and the flame caught his shoulder burning through the jacket until it hit skin causing it to blister and hiss before he put it out with a angry snarl.
"So be it" The wolf lunged at her and they fought, this wolf in particular preferred to use his hands and he out powered her but she didn't stop fighting, they wrestled and while she whimpered in terror he laughed in exhilaration. Lyra knew the chances when she came out here, she knew what was likely to come of it but she didn't stop fighting, just as her fingers brushed her thigh for the metal blade she had put there she screamed in agony as he used her hair to rip her head backwards leaving her throat displayed, his fangs pierced her skin like a hot knife through butter and she felt him growl against her.
Lyra's ear piercing scream vibrating around his teeth made it all the more enjoyable for him, the pain made her see stars as he clamped down harder on her where her clavicle laid, his bottom teeth scraping the bone making her scream hit a new high pitch she didn't even know she could hit as the pain made her almost pass out. But the feeling of cold metal brought her back enough to swing her arm up and the blade sunk into his own throat just as easy as his fangs had her own skin...
However in the tall grass her scream had echoed loudly, it had all but vibrated through their bones and people ran towards it. Remus knowing exactly who was out in the grass moved with everything he had towards his pup, those around him knew the speed he moved was purely from his lycanthropy side for no wizard could move that fast without a broom. Sirius had shifted into his Animagus form and started to 'hunt' his daughter by scent which wasn't hard when he got wind of her blood and there was a lot of it.
Harry who'd been chasing Bellatrix skidded to a stop when a scream rang through the field, the scream belonged to Lyra and suddenly Bellatrix didn't matter, he turned tail and started sprinting towards where Lyra's screaming was coming from.
When the collective found Lyra many of them froze gasping in horror, the girl was on her knees cradling her hand against her shoulder to staunch the blood flowing freely from a vicious looking bite. But it had been the body on the ground beside her that brought them to a stop "It was an accident, I sent a simple cutting hex but--but he was too close and--and I...My magic...It was an accident--it was--it...I didn't mean too!" The girl stuttered as she stared at them with wide eyes.
Fenrir Greyback, Alpha to one of the biggest, most vicious werewolf packs laid dead at her side, his mouth and face covered in her blood while his own still bubbled from the slash on his throat, ignoring everything else Sirius rushed towards his daughter as did Remus, Remus started healing her throat the best he could while Sirius cupped her face.
"I didn't mean too! Please don't send me to Azkaban, please I...I didn't mean too" Lyra sobbed and Sirius' heart broke as he pulled her into his embrace tightly from behind so Remus could still get to the bite.
"I know baby, I know. You're not going to Azkaban, I swear it! You tried to get him off you and a simple spell accidentally took his life, it could have happened to anyone baby, it's okay" he tried to sooth her while Remus whimpered quietly eyes locked to her mark, a bite from a werewolf and not just any werewolf, the one who ruined his life...If Greyback wasn't already dead Remus was sure he would have killed him himself, he felt Moony growling in agreement.
Lyra was Moony's pup, his own, he had claimed her early on, being away from Lyra hurt the wolf in him and seeing her again in her third year made the wolf feel elated but as they grew closer to what felt like the brink of war he grew more tense every time he saw her hurt. To know another Alpha with it's own pack had attacked his pup was too much for the wolf in Remus, he wanted retribution but seeing the dead Alpha did settle him some, it also made him feel proud that it was his pup that did so but Remus would never admit to such acts.
What no one would ever know about that day was that Lyra had known she was going to at the very least try to kill Fenrir or even Bellatrix, that's why she had the blade but she kept it charmed on her thigh so no one could see it. Just as it was in that moment when Fenrir pulled back with a look of shock on his face as his breathing became staggered and his heart slowed because she had severed his jugular, she had casted a weak cutting charm with her wand into the grass off into the distance, barely strong enough to be classified a third year spell just in case anyone checked it.
Her alibi was sound, her tears and wound would strengthen her case along with the fact she'd taken out one of the biggest threats. She knew there'd be little to no risk of her going to Azkaban but she also knew she needed to keep up appearances and a girl not even out of Hogwarts would not be okay after killing for the first time especially if she was 'innocent'.
"We need to get her to St Mungo's now, it needs to be healed properly" Remus shook his head as his own healing charms weren't touching the bite.
"I'll take her" Sirius nodded and stood with Lyra lifting her into his arms and he went to apparate.
"I'm coming with you!" Harry grabbed a hold of Sirius' arm not allowing for arguments and Sirius left without so much as another glance while Remus called the aurors with Dora who was finally started to come back to herself.
~~~
Lyra had been healed with silver and dittany "You're lucky it wasn't a full moon" the medi-witch frowned as she stopped the bleeding and watched the wound heal, well heal as much as it would. The mark was made by a werewolf even on a non-full moon it would scar, horrid cursed marks they were "It shouldn't effect you at all seeing as it is not the full moon nor is it close to but who knows with Werewolf bites, if there is anything you need to come back in"
"We can go?" Harry frowned seeing the bright red and clearly irritated mark on Lyra's skin, she saw what he was looking at and tutted.
"It's a cursed wound boy, not much else we can do for it now apart from keep it clean" she shook her head "You may go but there were two men in the waiting room for you who'd like to talk to you first, Aurors i believe"
"Great" Sirius huffed when Lyra's head snapped to him in horror "You're not going anywhere baby, you did nothing wrong" A few moments later two men walked in and she saw Sirius visibly relax when he saw it was Kingsley Shacklebolt "Kings" he nodded in greeting.
"Sirius" Kingsley nodded back and turned to face her "Are you alright Lyra?" she just nodded and he sighed "Tonks told us what happened but she wasn't there so we'll need your statement, do you think you can walk us through it?"
"They attacked the Burrow" She whispered, her hands fisting in her lap.
"Who's they?" the other auror questioned as he took notes.
"Death Eaters, i only saw two familiar faces those being Bellatrix Lestrange and Greyback" she answered and Kingsley nodded gesturing her to continue "Greyback seemed to single me out, he chased me in the tall grass, we came to a small clearing someone had made and i knew i couldn't out run him so i stopped, i had hoped if i kept him distracted others would find me first but he attacked me...I couldn't fight him off, he overpowered me easily and then he bit me...I didn't mean too, i panicked and my magic flared, it was a simple diffindo, i thought if it just caught him he'd let me go but he was too close" she started to sob, her voice breaking and her words came out thick and full of emotion, of course none of it was real but none of them would know any different "I didn't mean too! I didn't--" she sobbed shaking her head "I-I would never...He just...I" her head fell into her hands as her shoulder quivered.
"Shush" Sirius pulled her into his chest rocking them slightly as she trembled in his arms "It's okay, it's all going to be okay"
"We are going to have to check your wand" The unnamed auror cocked a brow.
"You think my--"
"It's okay, it's on the side table" Lyra answered looking at her wand on the side table, Kingsley took it and casted the prior incantato spell, it showed a weak looking diffindo, it would have barely cut the skin if he'd been stood a few feet away but seeing as he was chest to chest and biting Lyra's neck it didn't surprise them that the weak spell had caught his throat, severing the vein.
"I think we have everything we need" Kingsley put the wand back down happy with what he had found "Given that he attacked you we are not going to arrest you, the use of underage magic has also been waved due to the situation. We will ask that you give us updates on the bite due to regulations but seeing as it wasn't the full moon we're happy for you to leave now"
"I'm not going to Azkaban?" Lyra whimpered frowned at the men "But i--"
"No Lyra" Kingsley shook his head "You defended yourself, Greyback has a body count so high we may never have a true idea merely an estimate, we are just happy you were not added to that number" the unnamed auror left with a short greeting but Kingsley hesitated looking back, he dropped his voice "If anything you've done us all a great deed, we just might be thanking you when the war is over. Who knows how many you've saved tonight Lyra but i must warn you, his pack is not going to be happy"
With that he left and Sirius continued to hold Lyra while Harry watched her as if any moment she'd be in danger "I killed a man" she whispered looking straight ahead "I killed someone...Do you hate me now?"
"Of course not baby, never could i hate you!"
"Greyback was no man Lyra" Harry frowned "He would have killed you, better it him then you" and he meant it, he'd rather every death eater deaths then Lyra, hell he'd prefer his own death over Lyra's.
~~~
At Grimmauld Place everyone who'd been at the Burrow had moved there seeing as the Burrow was destroyed. So much for not spreading another Christmas there, Lyra was laying in her bed having just banished Harry who'd been hovering when there was a gentle knock at the door "Come in"
The door opened and the burly Weasley walked in shutting the door behind him, Charlie came to a stop at her beside as she sat up "How are you?"
"Fine, are you okay?" she smiled weakly and Charlie nodded in reply but he clearly wasn't "Charlie what--?"
"I don't want kids" he sprouted off and Lyra snickered.
"What?"
"I don't want kids"
She frowned "Okay?"
Charlie huffed rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly "What i meant is...Well i meant...Okay look, i like you, you're a good person and i could see myself falling for you, hard." He nodded "But you are the last of house Black and that mean's you will want children and...I--"
"That is very presumptuous, you know that right?"
Charlie chuckled as he nodded "I do, i didn't mean for it to sound so odd but i just thought...I'm just trying to save us both the hurt unless of course you also don't want kids?" he asked gently as he took her hand.
"I do"
"Do you want them or do you feel obligated to have them?"
"Can it not be both?" she smiled softly.
Charlie scoffed good naturedly "I suppose it could" he sighed shaking hair out of his eyes "I'm sorry, more for myself then you i guess i just--"
"You don't need to explain, your job is your life, the dragons are your babies and i need to stay in London" Charlie sat on the edge of her bed looking more crestfallen as the conversation progressed.
"Is there no way i could convince you?"
"Could I convince you?" she chuckled and Charlie sighed seeing her point.
"This sucks, why does it feel like we're breaking up?"
"We would have needed to be together to break up" she cocked a brow and he laughed shaking his head.
"You know what i meant"
"I think it's because we both know now that this has no where to progress" she patted his hand which was still holding her own "You don't want kids and you're needed in Romania while i must have children and i'm needed here"
He smiled sadly "I guess it's for the better, i have a feeling i would have had a hard time saying no to you"
"I wouldn't have asked you to leave the dragons Charlie" she whispered.
"I know, that's why i would have wanted to give you everything"
"Then why?"
He kissed her softly, it was a kiss that reeked of goodbyes, missed chances and sadness when he pulled away he sighed "I think growing up with so many siblings makes you either want your very own brood or it put's you off. I've known for a long time i didn't want children and i know myself Lyra" he tucked a curl behind her ear in a sadly romantic way "It would have taken one look from you and i would have crumbled"
"But it's never been what you wanted"
He shook his head "No, it's hasn't"
"You're right, this does suck" she whispered, she liked Charlie, liked him a lot actually.
"It does...No, don't cry" he caught the tear with his thumb swiping it away gently, his own chest hurting as if he was holding his breath, like he was grieving. In a way he was, grieving what could have been "I don't want you to cry, not for old me"
"I'm sorry" Lyra sniffled wiping her face roughly before Charlie pulled her hands away to clear her face of the freshly fallen tears much more gently then she was "I don't know why i'm crying, i swear i'm not trying to guilt trip you"
He chuckled with his own misty eyes "I know you're not, you've been through a lot tonight, I'm sorry I should have put it off for a while but tonight just showed me how important you were becoming to me...Lyra when I heard you scream I-I couldn't breath, when I said I could see myself falling for you it's because I already am. I don't want to lead you on to believe i could give you this happy family life, it wouldn't have been fair, to either of us"
Lyra nodded feeling any reply she had get stuck in her throat, she didn't know why she was getting so emotional maybe killing Greyback had effect her more then she thought or maybe she liked Charlie more then she believed.
"I'm sorry Lyra, get some rest okay?" he stood already moving towards the door.
"Charlie!" she called out and he stopped, she threw the blanket off her legs and ran towards him, once in his arms he lifted her reciprocating the kiss with just as much emotion as she gave him, it was a kiss layered thick with emotion like both were trying to memorise it because they both knew it would be a bad idea to ever do it again. She had wrapped her legs around his waist and he had held her pinned to his chest so tight a piece of paper couldn't have been slotted between them.
When they slowed he nestled his head into the nape of her neck on the opposite side Greyback had bitten into and he just held her "I'm sorry" he whispered.
"So am i"
He laughed but it was humourless "I hate myself right now"
"Don't, you've been honest to not only me but yourself"
"I just wish i wanted what you did, that we both wanted the same thing...There's this guy in Romania, Shane, he was constantly going on about how he'd met the love of his life but she slipped through his fingers. Something about it being the right person but the wrong time...I never understood, i thought he was just being dramatic but it feels like i'm letting you slip through my fingers." Charlies eyes were wide like he was panicking.
"Charlie? Charlie breathe, take a deep breath" she cupped his face seeing as he was still holding her up in the air "You'll be just fine, this is what you want, you don't want children Charlie"
"This doesn't feel like what i want" he shook his head, if this was what he wanted why did it feel like the exact opposite.
Lyra chuckled softly "Well no one wants to break up Charlie but i'm still here, we can still be friends and if the timing ever becomes right then who knows"
"Who knows" he whispered and kissed her deeply again "I need to go, i need to go before i backtrack and go against everything i've just said" She nodded and he set her back onto her own two feet, he watched her for a few heated moments before it looked like he forced himself to move to the door "Goodnight Lyra"
"Goodnight Charlie" she whispered, their goodnights felt more like a goodbye and it seemed he felt so too because he hesitated with his hand on the door casting her one last look before he squeezed his eyes shut and left.
They hadn't even been together and this felt like her very first breakup...How pathetic of her.
~~~
"I know what you did Lyra...He was furious, he tortured Bellatrix for allowing you to kill Greyback" Draco spoke quietly as they continued to fix the cabinet, they were successful with sending inanimate objects such as an apple but anything with a heart beat died.
"I had to"
"I know" he turned to her pulling her collar to the side just enough to see the side of an angry wound that was still red and not fully healed, he gritted his teeth and shook his head "I'm happy you did it, if...Lyra he..." he shook his head again angrily this time, Draco grabbed her shoulders tightly "He would have killed you! Do you understand! He...You would have been dead!"
"Draco?"
"He would have killed you" He whispered still holding her by her shoulder, he pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her tightly burying his head into her neck "I...I can't do this without you Lyra"
"You would have done it yourself just fine Draco"
He shook his head into her neck "Not the cabinet Lyra"
"I'm fine and now we don't have to deal with Greyback"
Draco pulled back looking at her scar again "You meant to do it didn't you? You-God Lyra!"
"I'm sorry?"
"Why are you making it sound like a question! Lyra he would have killed you! Dead! He should have never have been able to even look at you let alone hurt you!" he glared as he cupped her face between his hands "I'm glad he's dead because even if he didn't kill you, the moment i heard he'd hurt you i would have killed him myself. Do you understand?"
"I understand" she nodded and he scoffed gently.
"I don't think you do"
"What?"
Draco hesitated, like he wanted to say something but then thought better of it "Ask me again after...When this is over ask me again, swear you will"
Lyra frowned but nodded "I promise i'll ask"
"Good, now let's get this done" he released her and backed away quickly facing the cabinet once more.