A/N: Rewritten Fanfic

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its magic belongs to the extraordinary J.K. Rowling.

LYRA woke with a start.

"It was just a dream, it was just a dream," she reassured herself several times over before wiping the sweat off her brow and attempting to steady her breath.

But, despite her feeble effort to calm her mind, the dream flashed before her eyes once again.

It started with the sound of screeching brakes. Her mother's scream followed, rattling the three others in the car. Her father turned to her in response or desperation. Lyra still wasn't quite sure, but she was just able to see the side of his face filled with terror as he searched for his wife's eyes. Her sister's sharp intake of breath as her body snapped against the seatbelt interrupted from beside her and she looked just in time to see Vera look up and gasp in fear at the sight before her.

And finally…. finally, there was the CRASH.

Shattered glass rained down on them as the car was jolted into a tailspin. Upon reaching the ditch, zero gravity hit Lyra because the car begun to flip. One, two, three turns before a tree put an end to the disaster. As Lyra hung upside down, all she could see were limp the bodies around her.

She screamed herself back to reality.

"It is just a dream!" she cried and a small sob escaped. But the lie was futile. It wasn't just a dream. Her parents were dead. They had died in that crash. And while Lyra had been only four when it happened, the horrible details had stuck with her all these years. And almost every night the scene would haunt her.

There was no denying the reality of it all.

Before she could succumb to the memory again, Lyra rose from her bed and stumbled through her room in the dark.

"Ow!" She complained. She wasn't quite sure how she managed to run into not only her trunk, but then the bookcase, despite there only being three pieces of furniture in her room. In her irritation, she angrily snatched a book at random. Fortunately, she was smart enough to proceed carefully back to her bed in a tiptoe.

At the feel of the cool metal bedframe touching her burning skin she sighed and plopped back onto her bed. As the creaky springs settle she finally turned on her light.

Her angry, red toe stared at her and she looked on with a frown before snuggling into her blankets and turning the page on her favorite read. "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" she read with a grin. The novel was Lyra's go to mood therapy, and she eagerly flipped to the first page to read the words "Chapter One: The Boy Who Lived" for possibly the hundredth time.

About an hour or two later she was soon fast asleep again, but nightmares no longer haunted her. Instead, Lyra dreamed of wizards and witches and the magic of their world.

.

The following morning Lyra woke up content. That is, before she realized it was a Saturday, otherwise known as Chore Day.

"Good morning, sunshine," Drake called out with a smirk as he entered her room without permission. Lyra noticed his dark locks were in their usual, slight disarray and he had stubble to his chin today. "How'd I know you'd still be in bed?"

"Drake, go away," she grumbled and quickly burrowed under the covers to hide.

"Uh, uh," Drake scolded with a laugh. "You're not getting off that easy."

Lyra listened as his shoes make the floorboards squeak and knew he was making his way over. She attempted to clutch the comforter closer around her and waited with a secret eagerness. He paused as he reached her side.

"Hey!" She exclaimed as Drake unceremoniously ripped the covers from her grasp. He laughed at her look of outrage, which she quickly turned to an angry pout. Tongue out and all.

Lyra tried to prevent the smile that wanted to fill her face at the sight of his face holding one of his own. She loved the way his one true smile lit up his whole face, even his moody brown eyes glinted.

"Alright, alright. I'm up you twat," she conceded sassily, partly in an attempt to hide her escaping smile.

"Good. See you out there sunshine." Drake began walking towards the door, but right before he stepped out into the hall, he called out over his shoulder, "Feel free to wear what you have on now." He finished his comment with a smirk and closed the door, leaving behind a very bright red-faced Lyra. She threw a pillow over her face and screamed.

Summer nights left the Home hot and humid and Lexa wore only a thin, skimpy white top and very short bottoms. She could not believe Drake had said that or even seen her outfit for that matter. For a moment, she thought of calling in sick for the day to hide in embarrassment. But before she could think on it further, another person forgot to knock.

"That's a little dramatic, don't you think Lyra," a familiar voice called.

Lyra's only rolled her eyes in response, even though she was still under the pillow and the other couldn't see.

"Not true," she mumbled, very incoherently through the pillow.

Her face was still a little red when Ridley, Lyra's best friend, plucked the pillow from her grasp and tossed it on the floor.

"Get up, we're going to be late."

Lyra only huffed in response.

...

RIDLEY's morning was one that was quite typical of her usual routine.

She had woken up early from deep sleep in the arms of her neighbor: a buzz-cut brunette named Conall. He lay bare beside her, possibly dead to the world, with his mouth open and quiet snores emanating from him to match the rise and fall of his chest.

As she slipped from his arms to use the loo she reflected on their latest midnight escapade.

Conall had started it with his signature knock and continued by refusing to wait for a response.

"You could try waiting for me to let you in."

"Where's the fun in that?" He had pouted. "Are you trying to change our tradition?" He paused for a minute and then decided, "You're bored of me. I knew it!" Conall continued, his volume escalating, "Tell me it isn't true! Tell me-"

"Conall!" Ridley laughed as she rushed toward him and covered his mouth with her hand. Completely undeterred, Conall continued as if un interrupted, mumbling incoherent complaints into her palm.

Rolling her eyes with a smile on her face, Ridley shut him up with her lips instead. The resulting feel of his grin against her lips proved he didn't mind one bit.

Moving a step closer, she slid her lips to his ear and huskily whispered, "Ready to get this show on the road?"

A wicked grin accepted her invitation.

.

After a quick trip to the loo, Ridley returned to her tiny bed and lifted Conall's arm to slide in beside him. As she settled, his arm tightened around her side and his face moved closer to hers.

"Morning," he breathed. His eyes remained shut as Ridley turned to face him. Her free hand finding its way to his hair.

"Morning," she whispered back, and he finally cracked open his eyes. A soft smile escaped as he looked at her.

"What a sight to wake every morning," he reflected as he lazily grabbed one of her curls.

"Do you use that line on all your girls?"

"Do you really want to know, love?" He slyly continued with a teasing smile and Ridley rolled her eyes to hide the fact that it bothered her. As she tried to move away, Conall sighed and caught her chin.

"I would never," he promised.

.

Less than twenty minutes later, Ridley and Lyra were on their way to the Dining Hall for breakfast. Ridley hummed quietly beside her friend who was lost in thought.

"Why were you up so early this morning? Usually I have to drag your darn arse out of bed," Lyra suddenly quizzed her and Ridley's cheeks flamed red in a slip-up.

Ridley worked quickly to cover her blush with a smirk, as her thoughts simultaneously tried to betray her. Images of Conall in her bed this morning continued to flood her vision, but lucky for Ridley, Lyra only saw the final smug look.

Lyra grinned.

"Who was it this time?"

"Conall Richards," she answered with a cheeky grin and Lyra made a face. "Oh, come on, just because he isn't Drake doesn't mean he- "Ow!" Ridley finished loudly as Lyra pinched her

"Shush. I do not fancy Drake," Lyra growled.

"Who fancies me?" Drake questioned, as timely as ever. The two girls whipped around and Ridley thanked whoever that Lyra paled instead of blushed at his words. But then she wondered if it would really be so bad for Drake to know the truth. The sight of Lyra glowering at her made her stop that thought dead in its tracks.

"Marcie," the brunette let slip instead of the truth "Apparently, she's extremely keen for you." As bonus, Ridley added, conspiratorially, "But you didn't hear that from us." She finished with a wink and Lyra laughed as Drake fake vomited at the news. "Now let's get some breakfast before I die of starvation."

...

DRAKE couldn't help the disappointment that arose once the lot realized the food was gone.

It usually was most meals though. The orphanage was home to almost over a hundred kids, but was only meant to hold closer to forty children. And considering that many of the kids were over ten, didn't help the food shortage situation. The oldest kids, including Lyra, Ridley, and Drake who were less than year each from turning seventeen, did what they could to make sure the younger got enough food, but the reality was that there was not enough money in the budget to buy food for all of them.

Fortunately, there were a couple brave caretakers who snuck in food for the older ones to prevent them from starving to death, despite the rule against it. Madame Stone, the head caretaker, however, happened to be quite the troll and would much rather let kids starve then allow for the rules to be broken. If caught giving away food, the staff member was either very publicly fired or was forced to clean the loos.

.

The trio, instead of filling their starving selves, sat at one of the tables and distracted themselves with possible ideas for the day.

"We could visit Mrs. Cook?" Ridley suggested and Drake thought of the snacks she always made them, before remembering.

"She's visiting her daughter," he reminded her.

"Oh, right. Well, we could go to the park?" Ridley tried again.

"It's raining," Lyra pointed out and as Drake and Ridley looked to the windows and sure enough it was pouring rain.

"Right. Humph. Fine, then let's go see what Ms. Fletcher is doing."

"She's out sick," Drake grumbled, now getting annoyed. Ms. Fletcher was one of the few caretakers that actually gave a shit about what happened to them and she was always their Plan B.

"You know, I'm not the only one who has to come up with the ideas around here," Ridley complained in exasperation, clearly put out as well.

The three fell silent at that and, as if on cue, Lyra's stomach rumbled loudly. She quickly clutched her midsection to quiet it out of embarrassment as Drake and Ridley looked on in, at first surprise, then pity.

Drake surveyed Lyra's too frail body and frowned before an idea popped into his mind.

"Let's visit Morgan's bakery," he offered with a kind smile in Lyra's direction. He knew it had been days since she'd last had a proper meal. Lyra was always so adamant about not eating until everyone else had, including Ridley and Drake.

Drake made sure to catch to catch Ridley's eye to urge her into agreement, but it seemed she was already on the same page as him.

Morgan always let the three of them work for a meal and the two unanimously decided that it was the best plan to get Lyra a meal for the day, although it was their chore day too.

"We don't need to do that. I'm actually note that hungry."

Lyra, it seemed, was the only one not in agreement.

Of course, Drake thought with an eye roll.

"Come on Lyra," Ridley complained, "I really am starving. Please!" Ridley purposely dragged out the 'please' and brought on the puppy-dog eyes for extra measure.

And after eyeing her for a moment and realizing that her statement could not be far from the truth, since everyone here was always hungry, she conceded.

"Fine."

Drake grinned.

...

RIDLEY was drafted to convince Ms. Holly- the Home's nurse and a very fair woman who was unfortunately related to Madame Stone- to let them leave, while Drake and Lyra grabbed jackets and an umbrella.

Within a half hour the lot were on their way towards a real meal despite the pouring rain that was trying to send them home.

As they hurried towards the bakery, Ridley tried not to cringe every time the rain forced her in closer to Drake. If he wasn't so kind to Lyra, Ridley probably wouldn't step closer to him than a ten-foot pole would allow. But she refused to dwell on such thoughts as they neared their destination at the end of the street.

A blast of warm air, an aroma of baked goods, and a crowd of people all greeted them and not even layers of soaked clothes could diminish their good moods.

Ridley swiftly slipped her way up to the front of the line and spoke to a waiter who was almost always working. Boy was he thrilled to see the trio.

"Bloody perfect timing, I could kiss you right now," Will exclaimed. Ridley reflexively gave him a wink and he grinned. "Alright tell Lyra to take orders at the counter, Drake to make drinks, and you and I will serve."

"Aye, aye captain."

And the rush began.

.

Two and half hours later, Lyra, Ridley, and Drake sat at a booth enjoying their hard-earned sandwiches and pastries. The rain had finally eased up and the crowd had gone with it.

"Can't wait to do even more work when we get back," Drake glumly complained and Ridley narrowed her eyes in response.

"Always looking at the bright-side Drake. How do you do it?" she sarcastically quipped. Drake met her with a glare.

"Well," he began while mimicking her tone, "when I get put in fortunate situations such as these, it's quite easy. I just love working for food when- "

As Drake's tone turned biting, Lyra frowned at the two.

"We make the best of what we have. I know it's tough, but it's better than being out on the streets," Lyra interrupted with the final say.

The two dropped their glares at her words as they filled with guilt. Ridley, and likely Drake too, tended to forget that Lyra had lived on the streets for a while.

"Everything alright, guys?" The three looked up at Will, who was clearly unsure if he should interrupt.

"Of course! We are just so grateful that you let us help out today," Lyra admitted and Ridley watched as Drake tensed beside her.

"We really needed something to do," he added and Ridley knew he was trying to downplay their need.

"And eat," she supplemented with a winning grin shot Drake's way. She then turned to a slightly uncomfortable looking Will. "I can never turn down one of your mom's blueberry muffins. I must find out what she puts in them!" Ridley added a sweet smile and Will grinned back.

"How about blueberries?" Drake offered with a smirk. Lyra elbowed him in the side and he looked down to meet her frown.

"Funny," Ridley continued with a fake laugh.

"You should take some to go," Will sweetly offered and the three turned back to him with hope-filled eyes. For once, Ridley was at a loss for words.

"Yeah, um, that would be lovely," she conceded.

"Great! Come help me box some up?" he offered and Ridley immediately understood.

Hope the new and improved story has your stamp of approval. Would greatly appreciate a review if you can spare a moment! Thank you for reading!