Author's Note: Hey guys, you should check out my RP tumblr for Lyra .com I've been putting up headcanons and RPing with a few people so if you can't get enough of this story hit me up there!

Not sure when I'll post the next chapter, I've been stuck on writing Chapter Four for a long time so we'll see. I'm going away for a bit so I won't be posting for a while but you'll see me on tumblr. Hope you enjoy.

August 1994


A shrill scream rang out through Malfoy Manor, one of that belonging to a woman. A laugh followed, one that the young girl who sat in the room of the lounge recognised. It was quickly muted by a flick of a wand, the young Lucius Malfoy's face was tense and bitter.

"I don't know why they had to do this here," he muttered as he flicked his wand to the cabinet, a bottle of wine emerged and poured itself into a crystal glass before he plucked it from the air. "You're alright," he said to the girl who had a panicked look on her face, her eyes glancing at the door.

She looked over to the man and closed her eyes swallowing hard before looking down at the book she had in her hands. Her eyes reread the passage and she watched the animated dragon fly high in the sky on the pages of the book. The act did nothing to calm her nerves, in her mind she could still hear the scream and the laugh, causing her much distress.

Lucius took a seat at the grand piano that sat in the centre of the room and he lifted the cover, beginning to play. The young girl lost interest in her book, instead taken by the melody that flowed flawlessly from the instrument and the way his fingers danced over the keys. She closed her book and walked over for a closer look.

Lucius smiled at the girl's curiosity and he paused, instantly she shied away thinking she had done something wrong to make him stop playing. She was such a frightful girl, terrified of the world and what lay in it. "Would you like to play, Lyra?" he asked.

"I don't know how," she said with a frown.

"Come, I'll teach you," he said, shifting on the stool and patting the spot next to him. "I don't bite, I promise."

She looked so uncertain of herself but she went and sat next to her uncle.

"Now, there are seven notes in music," he explained to the girl, "C," he pressed down on the key before slowly moving up and stating each note, "D, E, F, G, A, B and then we're back to C."

"What about the black ones?" she asked.

"They sit in between," he explained, "C sharp," he pressed the black key and followed the same lesson, "D sharp, F sharp, G sharp and A sharp. Are you with me so far?"

She nodded and pressed the C key nearest to where she was sitting then ascended, stating each note. Lucius smiled and continued the lesson, beginning to teach her music theory and a short tune before they were interrupted by the door being pushed open.

"Mum," the girl said with a smile, sliding off the chair.

"Is uncle Lucy teaching you how to play piano?" her mother asked.

The girl glanced back at her uncle then back at her mum and nodded.

"How lovely," she said, "Come I have something to show you." Bellatrix's smile was menacing but young Lyra was all too trusting of her mother and she took her hand, allowing herself to be guided to another room.

Before that door even opened the world turned black.

Lyra woke up in her bed in a cold sweat. She could recall perfectly how that memory ended with the sight of a dead body and she did not feel the need to relive that terror.

Ever since that conversation about the events that transpired during the World Cup Lyra had been having hyper-realistic dreams of her memories from when she was a child during the war. Fear would grip her heart as she woke as she walked in the same footsteps as she did as child with no control over what happened. It was like she was paralysed, forced to live out those memories.

Oh, how she wished she had taken note of Severus' Draught of Restful Peace. She was scared of the possibility that she may not sleep restfully for a very long time to come. A week had already passed since that conversation and it haunted her in every aspect of her life.

When she wasn't working she was thinking; thinking about her options in the face of the very possible reality that the Dark Lord could return very soon. She debated with herself as to whether she should go back, whether she should take Corvus or leave him. She was paralysed with indecision and her mind had decided to punish her for that, reminding her of when she was younger and the things she had to go through.

She didn't want Corvus to live through that.

It didn't help that her family back in England had refused to answer her owls. Of course, they wouldn't want to write anything incriminating on the small chance they'd be intercepted but it was frustrating. Even Narcissa hadn't popped by as she usually did once a month to spend time with her great-nephew.

She really didn't want to apparate over, it was a pain in the ass. She had to apparate into three separate countries to avoid splinching herself which was something she knew from experience. The first time she had left her forearm behind. It was lucky she was a healer because that would've been embarrassing to explain.

Reluctantly, she got out of bed. It was about 7pm - a result of her late night work schedule. She had taken the night shift to work on her research so she wouldn't miss out on as much quality time with Corvus. She'd work from 9pm until 7am, Feliks and Ilya had work from 8am til 4pm so she'd sneak in a quick nap until Corvus woke up and then spend the day with him, crashing when he crashed. It was complicated but they made it work. Lyra had been determined to finish her healing qualification and to absorb as much as she could in different fields, spending the past six months working on magical bites.

"Hey, what are you doing up?" Feliks asked as she made her way into the kitchen.

"Can't sleep," she said, taking a seat at the dining table with her two friends.

They both frowned as she sat. "Are you hungry?" Feliks asked, "I made some pierogi."

She smiled, "I'm not hungry but I'd love to take some to work."

"No worries," he said, "I'll pack some for you."

"You haven't slept right since you found out about the World Cup," Ilya said with a look of concern.

"Is Corvus asleep?" she asked.

"I just put him down," Feliks replied, "Out like a light."

"I just feel like I need to go back," she said, "I know it's dumb but it's just not sitting right with me."

"Will you take Corvus?" Ilya asked.

"I don't know," she sighed, "I'd rather not, it'd be too dangerous."

"Ilya and I will figure something out," Feliks said, "Don't worry."

"Still haven't heard from your aunt?" Ilya asked.

She shook her head with a frown.

"You should check in on your family," he insisted.

"Yeah," she said with a heavy sigh, "I might just pop over. I don't think I'll be able to sleep."

The two men nodded and Lyra took her leave, dressing herself in something presentable before apparating away. She stopped by Poland, near its border with Belarus, and Germany before landing in front of the Malfoy Manor. She took a deep breath before walking forward through the wrought iron gates that surrounded the Malfoy estate and down the paved footpath.

As she walked up the steps of the porch there was a jarring, haunting melody being played on the piano that came to an abrupt halt as she pushed the front door open. She shrugged off her coat and hung it on the hook as she heard firm footsteps approached her, coming from the living room and soon. She saw her Uncle's face appear from behind the staircase, looking slightly sunken and drained before it was replaced by a cheery expression.

"Lyra, my dear," he smiled, "What brings you here?"

"Possibly the fact that you haven't written back to me," she said, "Or that Cissy didn't show up for her usual monthly meeting."

"Oh yes," Lucius responded, pretending as though he had just recalled. "Narcissa needed to take Draco into Diagon Alley so he could purchase some things."

"Right," Lyra said, slightly annoyed. "And that couldn't warrant a letter?"

"She probably just forgot," he said with a shrug. "Anywho, come, sit, drink with me like old times."

She tilted her head slightly in annoyance as she watched her uncle turn and walk into the drawing room. Indignantly, she followed, knowing that it would be the only way she would be able to get answers from him.

Her wine glass was already hovering and waiting for her as she entered the room, she took it and sat in the armchair next to her uncle.

"You look tired, dear niece," he said, "Are you not sleeping well?"

"In light of recent events, no," she said in a tone that was perhaps a little too sharp.

"Corvus keeping you up at night?" he asked, "Or is it your nightmares again?" She looked away, her reaction giving away her answer. "Ah, what is it this time?"

"It's different every night," she said, "Things from the war. I just woke up from one where you first taught me the piano. You know, before Mum…" She trailed off, her face slightly pained.

Lucius' lips twitched in discomfort before he pursed them, "You shouldn't be apparating cross-country in this state."

"I've been trying to get a hold of you for a week, uncle," she said.

He shook his head, "What helped you before?"

She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. Her arms tingled at the memory of Severus and his touch. "Severus brewed me something," she said, "Something of his own creation. The Draught of Peaceful Rest is what he called it."

"Then I shall get him to brew it for you again."

"You two are still friendly?"

"Of course," he said, "You did do quite a number on him but he's over it."

"Are you over him fucking your niece?" she asked with a smirk.

He cringed in distaste before saying, "I hope you don't use such unpleasant language around others. It helped you realise your role, did it not?"

"Sure," she said, taking a sip of wine. Their conversation lulled for a moment, Lyra watching her uncle as he took a sip of wine. She shuffled in her seat whilst she attempted to gain her nerve to broach the subject that had been plaguing her thoughts for the past week. "Uncle," she said softly, ensuring he looked over to acknowledge her. "What happened during the World Cup?"

He tensed for a moment before playing it cool, "Whatever do you mean?"

"The display after the match," she asked, "Surely that was you, Crabbe, Goyle, whoever else."

His eyes narrowed at his niece, "As you say, it was a display."

Her lips thinned with impatience, "For what purpose?"

"I know you're intelligent enough to piece it together," he said with equal disdain, "I gather that's why you're here."

"So, he's back?"

"I would tell you if he was."

"So his return is imminent?" her eyes glanced down at his left arm and he moved with discomfort as she stared. "Can I see?"

His jaw tensed and he unbuttoned the cuff of his dress shirt, sliding it up and showing it to his niece. There in all its glory, the Dark Mark with thicker lines and a darker colour than she recalled when she had seen Severus' those few years ago. "Are you satisfied?" he asked, earning a small nod from his niece. He pulled his sleeve back down and buttoned it back up, draining the remainder of his wine after he did so.

"I think I need to move back," she said, her brows furrowed.

"Why?"

"Because I can't just wait idly by," she said, "At least I can plant myself back at St. Mungo's and be of some use when he returns."

"What about your husband? What about Corvus?"

"I doubt he'd want to leave his job at the ministry," she replied, "Perhaps I can leave Corvus with him, keep him away from everything."

"A child needs their mother."

It wasn't Lucius who had spoken, instead the dulcet tones of a woman. Both Lucius and Lyra turned their head towards the door and saw Narcissa standing there.

Lyra frowned, "I don't want Cory to go through what I did."

Narcissa shook her head, "But you shouldn't keep Corvus away from you for so long, that could be more detrimental."

"Than being exposed to torture and death at a young age? Not sure about that."

"You can't expect Ilya to be able to look after Corvus," her aunt argued, "He has a full time job. Bring him here, I'll help you look after him."

"I'll have to talk to Ilya about it," she said.

"But of course," Lucius said, "For now you need to rest. You can sleep in your old room. I don't want you apparating until you're well rested, don't want you splinching yourself."

"Thank you, Uncle, Aunty," she said, "I'll be excusing myself now."

Lyra slid past Narcissa as she moved into the room, no doubt to discuss logistics with her husband. It made Lyra uncomfortable to think that after all these years her aunt and uncle were still trying to dictate how she should live her life, now her child's. It was one of the many reasons Lyra had chosen to move so far away. With her aunt and uncle far away they couldn't negatively influence Corvus in the way that they had done to her. Of course they'd still catch up on big family events such as birthdays and holidays but it was obvious the dynamic between them all had changed. Though she looked up to them and respected them, they no longer ruled over her life and she would prefer to keep it that way.

It was times like these when she thought of the Tonks family and her Aunt Andromeda. She was in a much better position cut off from the pure blood ideologies that had ruled her life, even though it meant cutting off her sisters. Perhaps Lyra should've taken a page out of her book but she was much too sentimental for that, valuing her relationship with the Malfoy's as the people who'd raised her which why she was back here in the first place.

She was now in her old bedroom, nothing had changed. As she settled into bed, she felt sleep easily wash over her. Perhaps it was the familiarity of her old bedroom that gave her comfort to sleep. Maybe it was that she felt more at ease after her discussion with her family. All she knew was that when she woke up the next morning she felt more rested than she had for the past week.

She was reluctant to leave that morning in the early hours of the day, her heart longing to stay and catch up with her family and hear stories from her dear cousin's escapades but she knew that Ilya and Feliks would be leaving for work soon.

With a quickly scrawled note addressed to her aunt and uncle, Lyra left the Malfoy Manor and apparated back to her home in Russia. She landed just in time for the boys' breakfast routine, Corvus sitting up in his high chair with them.

"Mummy!" he called out as he reached out towards her.

"Good morning, Cory," she said, walking over to the boy and pecking him on the forehead.

"How are the Malfoy's?" Feliks asked, "I gather you stayed the night?"

"Yeah, I did," Lyra said as she took a seat at their dining table next to her son.

"You look better," Ilya said, "Well rested."

Feliks nodded in agreement before asking, "So what's the plan?"

"I think I need to move back," Lyra explained, "I can't just wait here for something to happen. I'll probably get a job at St. Mungo's and live with the Malfoy's again."

"Are you taking Cory?" Ilya asked.

"Honestly, I don't want to take him," she sighed, "He'd be safer here with you two but Narcissa is insistent I take Cory with me and she'll help look after him."

"And our marriage? Won't they be suspicious?"

Lyra shook her head, "I don't think so, they'll think we've just gone our separate ways. I told them you wouldn't be willing to leave your job at the ministry. Otherwise you could come weekends and we could pretend?"

"I mean, Russia is starting to loosen up their laws about homosexuality," Feliks said, "You two could get divorced and maybe we…"

"No," Ilya said, "Do not be fooled by the laws. I do not think their hearts have changed so easily."

"But it's something," Feliks said.

"Because we can legally have sex?" Ilya replied, "It is still considered a mental illness. There is a long way to go."

An awkward tension hung between the three of them before Lyra spoke up. "Look, we can remain married for legal purposes," Lyra said, "I have no desire to marry anyone else so I am not too stressed. We'll see one another occasionally to maintain the illusion that we're still together, just separate due to work and family commitments." She glanced at the clock, "Anyway, you two should be off otherwise you'll be late."

"We will discuss this more when we get home," Ilya said before giving Lyra and Corvus a hug goodbye.