Magic in the Moonlight

CHAPTER Seven

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."- Albus Dumbledore, the Prisoner of Azkaban

September came round once again after a tense summer and as soon as Lily and Severus had boarded the train they searched each compartment in the hopes of finding Lyra sat in one of them. Well mostly Lily who dragged a somewhat paler than usual, Severus around. They searched most of the train only to find a compartment with one person sat inside towards the back, a book resting over their face and appearing to be asleep but the person was unmistakable in her muggle clothing. Severus paused about to enter before thinking twice. Lily looked sideways at him confused.

"Come on Sev, I'm quite sure she doesn't hate you."

"How would you know?" he grumbled, shuffling awkwardly.

Lily chuckle quietly and pointed inside at Lyra, "look at her wrist."

He did so and his eyes widened a fraction to see the silver bracelet still hanging round her wrist. Somehow that small little detail filled him with hope and a little relief but it was still Lily who opened the compartment door. Severus couldn't understand why he was worried about Lyra hating him, sure he loved Lily and always worried when they argued, but Lyra was his friend. He supposed that's how friends were; real friends worried.

"Lyra!"

Said teenager jumped awake in her seat, her book falling. She had changed over the short time they had been apart, her dark hair had grown longer and grey eyes looked somewhat tired but still shining brightly. Even her skin had paled a little giving her an ill appearance but what really drew the attention of her friends were the new scars that marked her throat, completely different from the one that had turned her into a werewolf. It was obvious she was trying to conceal them with the scarf that had slipped from around her neck.

"How did you get that?" Lily gasped, hurrying to check her friend over, finding a few other small scars on her arms.

Lyra fended of her friend with a small smile, "really Lily it's fine, it's just what happens when I…you know," she cleared her throat, "but really I'm fine. I'm getting used to it."

Only then did she notice that Severus had backed out and left. He was determined not to stay near her after seeing her new scars. This was his fault. She hurt herself because there was no one else to hurt when she transformed. It was all his fault.

A hand caught his and brought him to a halt. He didn't need to hear her voice to know Lyra had followed him.

"Wait up Sev, what's wrong?"

He said nothing as he tried to shrug her of, "you shouldn't be talking to me," he growled.

"Why not?" she frowned confused.

Spinning round, Severus grabbed hold of her shoulders and couldn't help but almost shout, "Because this is my fault! You should hate me!"

Lyra frowned at him, "It wasn't your fault. I'm the one that came along and I was the one who got in the way, besides I could never hate you," she grinned up at him as she usually would, noticing he had grown taller and was it imagination or had his voice deepened? "So come on, you're worrying Lily."

That was enough to get him moving however they weren't the only ones in the corridor at that moment. Out stepped some very familiar teenage boys from one of the compartments, looking surprised to see the two stood there. James Potter had changed somewhat also, growing taller but his messy hair was still the same, the slack jawed look on his face however was different.

"L-leery!"

"Four eyes!" she grinned back at him before patting his head, "thanks for you know what."

"I…you…" he stuttered before shaking his head with a small smile, "no worries…err glad to see you back."

Her eyes turned on Sirius who flinched as if expecting her to slap him but instead she fixed him with a steely look.

"I'm keeping my eye on you."

He gulped, an amusing sight to see the rather handsome Gryffindor almost cowering beneath her gaze, but as soon as she turned her eyes onto Remus he returned to the compartment looking rather paler than usual. Seeing that he would not stop avoiding her she looked at James who seemed surprised by how civil she was being towards them.

"Could you tell Remus that I don't blame him? I know Dumbledore told him but I don't think it sunk in."

"Sure…" he replied as Lyra towed Severus back to their compartment, "oh hey! Did you want to try out for Quidditch again this year?"

She smiled over her shoulder and nodded, "thanks four-eyes!"

It felt good to be back at Hogwarts although there were a few curious glances as she had entered but it wasn't like anyone knew the truth. She shot a look over at the professor's table and smiled warmly at Dumbledore who returned the smile. He had done as he had said and the Ministry did not know of her current circumstances, although how long that would last remained to be seen, but for now she was just glad to be treated normally while at school. Now knowing about Remus' affliction she felt sympathy and compassion to the withdrawn teen who still refused to meet her gaze, barely touching his food at dinner. She would have to have a word with him, after all when the full moon came around she would have to go with him to transform. No doubt he had already been told this but he still avoided her even though it wouldn't be long before there was a full moon. But there were a few changes she noticed around the place. For one Severus seemed even closer to the group of Slytherins that she still got a bad feeling from, and she also noticed that even though James' infatuation with Lily hadn't dwindled, her charming friend was also acting a lot more civilly with him! Now it didn't take an idiot to realise that Severus liked Lily more than just friends but Lily was obviously oblivious to it but then again, she also doubted that Lily would be running to James any time soon. But now they were older things like that were starting to become a little more…confusing. Boyfriends were the least of her worries!

Once in their common room, the new students already scampering to their dorms leaving the older students to their fun. James waved Lyra over as she entered with Lily, looking surprised at the invitation while Remus was glaring at James as if he had just betrayed him.

"So what's the honour?" Lyra questioned, "if I knew having a furry problem drew in the guys I would have done this long ago."

"It's not a joke," Remus croaked out looking somewhat appalled by her joke, "how can you even find it funny what I did to you?!"

"It was an accident Remus," Lyra rolled her eyes sitting down on the armrest of the chair Lily now occupied, "I'm past it so please don't blame yourself. What is done is done."

This has been her mantra during the summer holidays and it had stuck.

His eyes were wide with disbelief, "you…you…"

Smiling at him she leant forwards and patted his arm, "stop worrying," before she leant back, "so what's up?"

"We were just talking about well, you know what and what's going on when its time," James informed.

"Next week, but why are you lot involved too?" she asked curiously.

"Well," they shared a look, "you have to promise to keep it quiet and that means no telling Snivellus."

As always Lyra shot a glare at him for the use of the nickname but he ignored it, "fine but I suggest you quit with that nickname."

Sirius rolled his eyes, "just listen us three are animagus," both hers and Lily's eyes widened in shock, "it's how we keep Remus company during those times."

"No way!" Lily gasped, "but that's…illegal!"

James grinned at her, "we know," looking far too proud about it, "which is why you can't tell anyone."

"I'll admit that's pretty cool," Lyra couldn't help but smile, "alright so what's the plan?"

They explained that Madam Pomfrey would come to collect her and Remus, taking them down to the Shrieking Shack while James, Sirius and Peter would sneak into the shack also via the Whomping Willow. Lyra was shocked to hear that James not only owned an invisibility cloak, but the four had even created an enchanted map of Hogwarts that showed where everyone was including all the hidden passageways. Now she understood why they were the group of pranksters that were the best of Hogwarts. The Marauders they called themselves to her amusement.

"We'd induct you but being friends with a Slytherin is sort of a big 'no-no'," James smirked.

"Like I care," she scoffed before standing, "so, see you in a week's time."

Heading up to the girls dorms, Lyra almost jumped onto her bed with a content sigh.

"Another year at Hogwarts! I wonder if it will be as exciting as last year," she chuckled.

"Exciting?" Lily almost laughed, "that's one word I wouldn't use for last year. You're always in trouble."

"That's just how the world is at the minute."

Lily looked over at her friend noticing the slight changes she hadn't noticed before. There was something about her that made her seem older than she was, wiser and more mature despite her usual childish behaviour. It was obvious to her friend now that she was hiding her pain behind her smile, hiding how she truly felt behind her jokes. Maybe her summer alone had not been such a good thing after all.

"Concentrate my dear," Slughorn tapped her desk to grab her attention, "Your cauldron is going to spoil!"

Lyra blinked and quickly rectified her potion. One thing that had definitely not changed was her lack of skill in potions however this time that had not been the problem. Everyone could see she did not look well, her skin pale, eyes dark and tired.

"Sorry professor," she sighed.

"My dear girl you aren't looking too well, have you and Mr Lupin eaten something that disagreed with you both?"

She spared a glance sideways at said teen who looked in a similar state to herself. He sent her a weak smile before she looked back up at Slughorn.

"I'm fine, really Professor, I was just staring into space a bit."

He didn't seem to believe her but merely nodded his head and carried on inspecting other people's cauldrons. Beside her Severus frowned.

"It's tonight isn't it," he didn't even ask knowing it was true.

Lyra sighed again with a small nod, "do me a favour though and don't go out tonight."

He frowned but said nothing, stirring his potion but feeling as though he should say something.

"…good luck for tonight…"

It sounded stupid even to him but it only made Lyra smile until she noticed her potion had turned red rather than green.

"Oh for Merlin's sake!" she growled while her partner smirked.

That night Madam Pomfrey did indeed collect them at around six, leading them down towards the Shrieking Shack. The medical witch smiled sadly at the pair before bidding them goodnight, leaving them in the dusty and shaken shack.

"Well this place is as charming as I remembered," Lyra tried to lighten the mood however it didn't work as Remus only looked worse.

"Yes…last time you were here I…"

"Listen Remus, how many more times do I need to tell you that I don't blame you? It was an accident or if anything, my fault, so stop blaming yourself," she almost ordered him just as three animals appeared.

Lyra blinked in surprise at the large stag that walked up towards them followed closely by a large shaggy dog she recognised as the one that had thrown Remus in his werewolf form off her. A squeak drew her attention and she noticed a rather large brown rat also joined them. She almost cringed at it.

"I'm guessing that's James, Sirius and Peter," she pointed at them, Remus' smile enough of an answer, "I prefer them like this, less annoying."

The stag tossed his head as if huffing which made her laugh before she walked over to the shaggy dog who sat down, tail almost between his legs. She stared down at him before smiling slightly. He might have played that horrible prank on Severus but he had come to the rescue when they needed it and for that she was somewhat grateful otherwise that night could have turned out much worse.

"Thanks," she patted the dog's head much to his enjoyment if his thumping tail was anything to go by, making her giggle until the transformation hit her.

Almost simultaneously the two dropped to their knees in pain. The stag stamped his feet slightly as he kept his eyes on Remus as he tossed and turned, clawing at himself in pain with a cry. Lyra wasn't much better, a scream tore from her throat as she fell forwards, her body shaking with intense pain as it changed shape, growing, lengthening, fur sprouting over her body until two howls split through the air. The three animals watched nervously, unsure of how two werewolves would act and were pleasantly surprised to find their friend relatively calm when he raised his snout. Unlike Remus whose fur was a somewhat dark brown, Lyra's werewolf self was covered in thick black fur and she seemed a little larger than him. The two sniffed each other, circling like wolves that had met for the first time before their attention shifted to the animals. It looked like a game of double tag was on for the night as the animals pranced and darted around the house, the two werewolves following and playfully wrestling the animals after catching them. Maybe having another werewolf around would help things in long run.

As the night drew on their game of tag slowed until finally the animals came to rest, the two werewolves playing amongst themselves, rolling across the floor as they playfully bit and scratched each other, leaving superficial scratches at best. The animals found it rather amusing to see the two fearsome creatures acting almost like puppies together. However as the night came to an end their transformation also came about again, just as painful as it had been the first time. But of course there was one problem they hadn't accounted for. Lyra was a female and werewolves did not change back with their clothes still on. Embarrassed, she covered herself up as the animals spun away from her, Lyra was not pleased to see Sirius pinning down Peter with a paw who looked like he wanted to turn back and take a peek. Quickly grabbing her discarded clothes, she dressed in a flash but was still bright red when they turned back. She would need to remember that in the future but so far so good.