The evening of the last task had finally arrived, and two Slytherin girls stood behind the bleachers that had formally been the Quidditch Pitch, cloaks around their slender forms. Both girls were fifteen, in fourth year, and looked quite alike except for their hair color and eye color. The twins of Slytherin had yet another difference this evening, however. Syrie had a gleeful expression, very excited about what was about to happen while Lyra's expression looked dull and dead, almost as if she was only here because she was expected to be.
Both girls were in skirts, black and green ones and heels, the cloaks able to close completely around them if necessary. As the cannons blasted to allow people to start going into the maze, they listened carefully. There was to be a slight signal from "Mad-Eye" to when they were supposed to use the port key that rested in Syrie's gloved hand. They'd taken the precaution of gloves so that neither of them would end up transported to the grave yard before they were meant to.
The horrendous waiting seemed to go on for years to Lyra, her fingers fiddling and tapping on her leg. The mask that was on the top of the hood she wore was something she'd have to pull down soon, and she dreaded what was going to happen. Pushing all thoughts of the unpleasantness aside she tried to think of pleasant thoughts of how this would turn out. Her family would finally be whole again, except for her mother, and she'd get an acceptable husband, someone she could hold her head high with…sort of. A sigh left her lips, and her twin beside her thought it was from the waiting itself.
"Sissy, it's okay. Things will be as they're supposed to be soon, we just have to be patient," she murmured in her sweet and almost childlike voice as she half hugged her sister with the arm that wasn't holding the port key.
A slight smile lifted up Lyra's lips and she nodded her head. "I know….I know, Syrie," she murmured and lightly kissed her sister's temple before she disentangled herself from her younger twin. Listening carefully she heard the slight signal that they were supposed to from "Mad-Eye" and she smiled slightly, removing both of her gloves and tucking them into her cloak. Pulling the cloak more tightly around herself and fastening it so it hid her clothing and everything but her face and hands she took in a slow breath. "It's time."
Syrie was already ahead of her, having pulled off her glove and pulled the mask from her cloak down over her face. Reaching over, the blonde Slytherin did the same for her dark haired twin, making sure the Death Eater mask covered both of their faces completely. "Alright, on the count of three we grab it. One….two…..," she paused a moment and looked at her sister.
"Three!" They said in unison and took a hold of the gem that was acting as their port key and within just a few moments they were standing in the graveyard. Cedric's body was nearby and it almost stole a gasp from Lyra, though her eyes moved along her surroundings slowly, taking it all in as her sister put the gem down on the gravestone of the Riddles, close to where Potter was, though there was no way he knew that the object was a port key.
Clasping one hand to her twin's, Lyra's heart beat started to kick up in her chest. The man standing in the middle of the circle was not the "cousin" she remembered from pictures. His head was smooth and hairless, his eyes less pronounced, and where a nose would have been were two slits like a snake. Whatever he had done to insure that he would still be alive had easily changed the man, and it was a bit more disturbing than she had thought. There was the underlying charisma that their family was known for, but his tone was cold as he went around the circle. He pulled off masks and accused them of betraying him, forgetting him, though he'd let them continue to serve.
Their family could make an insult sound like something like mercy at times, and he was doing it now. Looking down at the injured Pettigrew she just blinked and stared at him through the mask. He hadn't noticed her, and he wouldn't if she was careful, though she couldn't believe he was there. Hearing that he was the one that betrayed the Potters was one thing, but seeing him there, having been the one to bring back the Dark Lord, was something else entirely. Now she wanted nothing more than to pick up the bloody knife that was on the ground and plunge it into his side, just to make a point to herself that she wasn't like all of the people standing in this circle. Her eyes never left her extended "family" however, and when Voldemort restored Peter's hand, making it out of pure magic she couldn't help but blink in awe, that was until he turned.
Voldemort's eyes settled onto the two young girls and he smiled, an odd twist of his lips that made Syrie giggle and almost made Lyra want to run. Instead, the dark haired Slytherin smiled, her voice calm from under the mask. "…Cousin, it's good to see you," she murmured, and saw his nod of approval and the looks of shock on some of the Death Eaters' faces that were exposed.
"And it is good to see you both," he murmured and reached forward, patting them both on the head. Turning to glanceback over at his Death Eaters he smirked. "Even though these two didn't know me when they were small, they remained loyal, helping my servants organize this," he said, glaring at Malfoy a moment as his eyes scanned over the Death Eaters once again. For a moment, his gaze lingered on his followers before he remembered Potter being held to his father's grave. Turning his head with a deadly smirk, he moved past the twins to get to him, that dark grin curving his lips.
Lyra didn't dare turn her head to look at the young man. Not now. Voldemort strode past his cousin's and chuckled, the sound dark and twisted, almost more of a hiss than a laugh. "You….your mother died to save you so I couldn't touch you….but I can touch you now!" He said with glee as he reached forward and pressed one finger to Harry's forehead, causing both of them to wince as he stepped back and let Harry fall from gravestone he had been held to.
Taking in a slow breath as she watched Voldemort get Harry his wand to make him duel, the circle fell apart, moving back further to watch. The spells started to be thrown after the bow, Harry dodging most of the spells. Headstones were cracked and the light of spell work illuminated the faces of the Death Eaters in the graveyard, shining on the masks that the rest of them wore. The spells were cast back and forth, and Lyra's eyes darted between the two of them, her heart rate accelerating from a bit of fear and anxiety from even being here.
Lyra's hands were getting twitchy, about to move into the inner pocket of her cloak to pull out her wand as the duel progressed. They dueled for several long moments, and as the fighting went on, more of Harry's hair fell into his face and she could have sworn that it was James, stilling her breath as she stared at him. The urge to interfere was growing, especially as she thought it was James there…but no, he died. That simple thought made it feel like a part of her heart was breaking, the part of her heart she considered only family capable of touching. If she dove in, she'd lose her family and she'd lose her place here…was it worth it? As she saw Voldemort lifting his wand and the fear in Harry's face even as he dueled her subconscious mind made up its mind for her.
Without another thought, the dark haired Slytherin tore off her mask, letting the hood fall back as she moved between the two of them and pulled her wand. "Expelliarmus!" She shouted with a quick flick of her wrist, knocking the wand out of her cousin's hand and leaving the area in a state of shocked silence, her gaze still on her cousin as she spoke to Potter just loud enough for him to hear her. "Get out of here….take Cedric's body and the port key and leave," she said sharply.
"But what about you, De'La-" he began before he was silenced by a loud hiss from her and a shake of her head.
"Merlin spare me from chivalrous heroes. Go Potter, before I change my damned mind!" She said sharply, and listened as he dove for Cedric's body, summoned the port key, and disappeared. Her cousin was picking up his wand and the other Death Eaters were slowly moving a bit closer to her, watching her with cold eyes. As Lord Voldemort…Tom Riddle, picked up his wand, the two of them started to circle slowly, both of them staring down the other, though Tom's eyes were filled with anger in those red optics, making the younger heir to Slytherin start to tremble with her fear.
"The only reason you still stand, little Lyra, is because I have a soft spot for my purebred cousins….family and the last Slytherins are important after all," he said with a voice that was more a hiss than actual speech, like he had fallen into Parseltongue, though she wouldn't have noticed that if he had, not with how well she spoke it as well. "So now…why?" He asked sharply, his eyes only on his little cousin now, not sparing a glance for her twin or any of the Death Eaters that looked between the two of them, unsure who they should be rooting for in some of their cases, though others wanted the young Slytherin heiress to suffer for her insolence.
Before she could answer Lyra's gaze fell to Peter once, and his eyes were wide with a spark of recognition in them as he stared at the ghost from his past. With that look, she knew it would be better to fess up to a bit of it herself, or he'd do it. She'd already done the actions that would make her hunted for all of this….if she managed to get out. Looking at the gravestones and then back to her cousin, an idea formed in her head about how to get out of this mess. That port key would benefit her more than it would Syrie at this point.
"This is wrong, Tom, in so many ways. This isn't right to me anymore….and I couldn't very well let you kill the last remaining trace of Lily Evans and James Potter…..right Peter?" She asked as she continued to circle, only sparing a glance to him, just as her cousin was doing right at that moment. The look of anger that Voldemort was giving Pettigrew at that moment made it seem like the man wanted nothing more than to shrink into a rat and run away, even as Lyra kept her eyes on him for a few moments longer.
"…See you in the past, Peter dear…better hope I don't tell," she said with a bit of sadness in her voice before she flicked her wand once again quickly. "Accio Port Key!" She shouted, hearing the yell of the world no as the gem came to her and she grabbed it in her hand, being teleported back to Hogwarts behind the bleachers. Falling to the ground in relief and disorientation she almost sobbed, her wand quickly being tucked back away in her cloak, before she noticed "Mad-Eye" leading Harry away from the pitch and towards the castle….alone. That couldn't be good…and of course her cousin would have a way to insure that what he wanted would get done….even if Potter escaped him. Dumbledore had to know…and it was likely he didn't know from everything going on.
Pushing herself to her feet she stumbled into the pitch, walking to the tall form of Dumbledore, no doubt looking paler than normal. Her long hair was a mess in her face now, and she could feel many eyes from the bleachers on her as she walked on shakey legs over to the headmaster. The body of Cedric Diggory almost made her want to weep. If she had told people what was going on….if she had listened to the humanity that had been starting to grow within her from meeting her boys…her friends, maybe the boy on the ground would still be alive. She would never know though.
Swallowing her fear she tugged on the Headmaster's sleeve slightly and looked up at him with those piercing blue eyes, the optics more sad and torn now as she looked at him. It was clear he was confused by her presence there, his normal twinkling eyes a little dull after all of the dark events that had unfolded in the night.
"Ms. De'Larsha….what is it?" He asked kindly, though tiredly, it clear that the events that would follow this were already weighing heavily on his mind. She hated to make him worry more, to fatigue him further, but if she didn't, another innocent boy might die tonight, and after risking all of this to save him….she couldn't let that happen. Her family would likely get to her later, and she'd rather that her death not be in vain if that were the case of things.
Letting out a shuddering breath, her voice was just a bit louder than a whisper. "…Professor….would Mad-Eye take Harry away from all of this…after he brought a friend back dead out of that maze saying that He was back?" She asked softly, keeping her gaze on his the whole time, simply asking the question, and watching as the Headmaster's expression changed quickly from one of tiredness, to one of worry on the edge of being frantic, or furious….the young woman wasn't exactly sure, and she didn't give away anything, all she did was ask a simple question, something that a curious student might even ask. Hopefully that's all he got from it, and he wouldn't know. Right now he had more things to worry about after all.
Looking around quickly he looked to the other Professors, his voice just loud enough to carry. "Minerva…Severus, come with me. Filius….take Lyra up to my office please, and make sure that the door locks when you leave her up there so no one can get in," He said firmly, pushing Lyra slightly over towards Professor Flitwick as he went up quickly to the castle with the other two professors, making a very slight smile curve the young Slytherin's lips as she started to walk with professor Flitwick. As they started to leave, she felt eyes following her from the crowd, and she knew one person in that crowd would rush down if she could weave down to confront her about what was going on.
Walking with the short Charms Professor up to the castle, they moved as swiftly as he could, her gaze down. Looking back over her shoulder she saw Kimmy staring after her with a confused expression…which was for the best. The less that Kimmy knew the better, it would mean that she'd be safe when she disappeared under the radar of all of this. Distantly she could hear her friend calling for her, though she was held back by another of the Professors saying that important business was being taken care of. With a faint smile, Lyra silently thanked Trelawney for the first time in her life.
The young Slytherin thought she would honestly be lucky if she got to return to Hogwarts, not trusting her sister not to try something even while they were in school….the girl was a little unstable after all. There was nothing for her to go back to and nothing for her to move forward to….but she'd finally started to follow what she knew to be right.
The walk was quiet, and as she was let in with a familiar password she couldn't help the slight smile as she was led in, and when the professor left she heard the door lock. Moving to sit at a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk she looked up at Fawkes with a light smile and sighed. "…You're lucky your life isn't so complicated, Fawkes," she murmured softly, and the noise made the phoenix stir and glide over, landing on the arm of the chair to look at her more closely.
A bit more of a smile curved her lips and she reached out very lightly and stroked along the warm feathers of the bird. He was oddly soft, and his eyes oddly comforting, though she pulled her hand away and reached up around her neck, holding the locket before she pulled the chain harshly, and breaking the clasp. Looking at the elegant S on the silver she shook her head with a sigh. "…It doesn't really belong here anymore…does it?" she asked lightly as she looked at the phoenix who only let out a little cry.
A few sad tears rolled down her cheeks as she thought of the note that was given with the locket and she couldn't hold back the soft sob as she leaned forward, resting her head on Dumbledore's desk. She'd saved the last remnant of her friends that lived…but in the process she lost her family…though when she thought of family she thought of the past. The younger Severus flashed in her mind with that slight smile, Lily with her happy laugh and pranking ways, James with his brotherly attitude, though his huge ego, Sirius with his teasing and playful words and the way he flirted, Remus with his intelligence and his gentle and protective nature, and even the soft and pudgy Peter who was like a younger brother to the young woman. Thinking of all of them and what they'd become now, more tears ran down her face, her hand tightening on the hard lines of the locket.
Time went by with her silently crying, Fawkes lightly playing with her hair in his beak some as she sat there. This was all she could do as she waited after all, let out all of the pain, the fear, and the longing she had for her other family. She had wanted to feel that pulling sensation all year, so she could go back and see all of their smiling faces and get into trouble with them once again. Now she'd likely be lucky to survive this summer.
Hearing the door open she sat bolt right up and looked over her shoulder, reaching for her wand before she saw the old wizard enter the room, her body slowly relaxing. A kind smile curved is lips at that, and he walked further into the room and went up the few steps to go around to his desk. Fawkes moved back to his perch near his master's desk as he approached, and Lyra sat back in the chair, wiping lightly at the tears under her eyes, a faint smile curving her lips.
Clearing his throat, Dumbledore smiled at her. "..That was very brave of you, Lyra, to come forward even knowing what your family might due because of it….may I ask the why of it?" He said lightly, not attempting to pry too far, due to the red eyes of the teenaged girl that sat in front of him.
Looking down she smiled very slightly and shook her head. "…I wasn't brave…I just let go…and finally saw what was right. What they taught me…that isn't right, not at all. I couldn't let what was left of James and Lily die, I couldn't…they were my friends, so full of life and so kind and….different," she whispered softly, her hands turning the Slytherin locket over and over in her hands now with a faint smile. "…I can't go back home now though, they'll kill me if I go back…I don't know what to do," she murmured quietly, though when she looked up, her own eyes met the twinkling eyes of the older wizard.
With a very light chuckle, he reached out and started petting the warm feathers of the phoenix beside him. "I have an idea for that Ms. De'Larsha, just go and pack your things. I have another letter for you to have with you at all times, just in case, as well as two mirrors for you. I was told by a younger Sirius and Remus to give it to you when you weren't there for their fourth year…and one from Severus with the same request. You made some very good friends. Now….go pack your things and meet me back here. I'm having Severus lingering around the Slytherin common room to make sure nothing happens….you'll be in good hands, trust me," he said kindly as he moved to stand, and she did the same smoothly.
Trying not to ask what his idea was just yet she smiled at him and nodded her head as he opened a drawer in his desk and handed her the two mirrors and gave her a kind smile. Without another hesitation the young Slytherin darted towards the door, slipping out of it and going down the stairs and out, heading towards the dungeons. Once she was safely in her room she would read the two notes that were with the packages. With how fast she was moving, it didn't take her long to get down to the dungeons and utter her password before she slipped inside and darted to her dormitory room. Her cat was outside that door, mewing, so she opened the door and slipped inside with the cat, closing the door and locking it behind her.
Leaning against the door she held the two mirrors to her chest, holding them tightly with a smile, tears in her eyes once again, but for a different reason now. Going to her jewelry box she put the Slytherin locket there and took out the locket she'd gotten from James for Christmas last year and clasps it around her neck. It belonged there, now more than ever. After what she just did…it was the Slytherin one that didn't belong around her neck.
Flicking her wand so her luggage and such would start to pack itself, she slowly unwraps the mirror from Severus, taking the note out of it with a slight smile, and read it to herself.
::Lyra, you left without a trace and left me here to deal with these idiots. How do you expect that to work out without your influence? I expect you to come back soon, and if you don't….then whenever you're in London say my name into the mirror and it should alert mine so we can talk. Oh…Lily misses you too. Be careful, and be careful where you're going…can't have you falling onto people, can we?::
The words in that note made her laugh lightly and she shook her head, and she looked at the next mirror with nervous eyes as she unwrapped it and removed the mirror, seeing Remus' elegant script scrolling across the parchment paper, tugging at her heart just a bit.
:::Lyra, I hope that you're okay and that nothing is amiss, I know you have to of left for a reason…though Sirius says how dare you kiss us and run off. I hope your Mum is better, since Dumbledore told us she was sick and that's why you had to go home…but the next time you're in London….look for us or say one of our names into the mirror, it'll contact us immediately and we'll talk, maybe meet up…Merlin knows I need another intellectual to talk to. Be safe.
Love , The Marauders
:::
A small thrill went through her then…..they didn't hate her, they missed her, just as she missed them. Getting her trunks she rolled them easily, though Filch was there with a slightly annoyed look on his face and took her things, taking them to the Headmaster. Taking in a slow breath, she followed after him with her cat, the mirrors in hand with the notes, and with her favorite locket around her neck. Inside the locket was the image of all of them together, laughing, actually getting along…that's what she was doing this for. For their smiling faces…this was her true new beginning.