Chapter 56


Lyra finished the memory charm on the old couple sleeping peacefully in their bed, placing Josephina in the crib Lyra had assembled in the corner moments before. She blinked back tears, rubbing her daughters' ruddy cheeks as she slept.

Less than a year ago Lyra had chosen family. She had picked what she thought she needed more than the other. She had married Marcus, and given up the only man who may ever understand her for exactly as she was. She had discarded her friends, and hidden in her world that fabricated protection.

Josephina would never be allowed to live in that world with Voldemort.

Whatever the results of this night, one thing would be certain: Josephina would be safe. That was all Lyra cared about. It was all she needed to continue to trudge from the house hidden in the woods. It didn't matter if Lyra died this very night. Joey would be able to live a normal life without the fear of being persecuted for something she had no control over.

Lyra's decision had been cemented by her husband. She had probed him, asking what he thought of children with disabilities. It was a risky question, but one she had to take.

He said they all should be culled. That they were useless, the weakest of the litter. All of them should be scorned from the Earth.

It wasn't very hard to make a decision after that.

Lyra stared up at Hogwarts, at its towering steeps and pointed gates. She took a deep breath in, walking calmly across the bridge. She didn't exactly have a plan, only to make sure the Dark Lord did not win and that her daughter would never be found unless Lyra wanted her to be. Hogwarts was the only stand she could make. It was too late for anything else. Lyra knew the battle was tonight. Marcus had left nearly two hours ago to prepare for it, saying his goodbyes to Lyra and his daughter in case the worst happened. Lyra hoped they didn't run into each other. She wasn't sure how Marcus would react, and didn't want to know.

Students were racing indoors when she got there, the younger years ushered in by the older ones. Lyra had never been in a true duel, not since first year when she signed up for the dueling club ran by Professor Snape and Lockhart. Even then Lyra didn't even count that. Her partner's heart hadn't really been in it, neither of them wanting to hurt the other. They had simply tossed one spell after the other, each one practically timed and always predictable. She had put hexes and curses on other students, but they had never fought back. Tonight would be her first real fight.

Lyra was anxious. She wasn't sure if she was any good at dueling. She hoped she was, but she didn't have high expectations. She had never been ranked in the top ten in her class, and was sorely lacking in experience.

She was fond of Marcus, but she did not love him. She could not put her husband first in this, especially when his ideals were opposite of hers. She grabbed one of the second years by the shoulder. He appeared startled, eyes wide in fright as she asked him where all the students were heading.

"Everyone is going to the Great Hall! Professor McGonagall is making an announcement!"

"What of Snape, and the Carrow siblings?"

Some of the fright left his face and he hopped in the air in excitement, pumping his fist. "They were kicked out of Hogwarts! No one knows or cares where they went as long as they're not here." He gave her another once over, recognition filling his face as he took a step back. "Say, aren't you that Malfoy? The one who married a Flint?"

Lyra struggled to keep any emotion off of her face. Her whole body tensed in order to stop trembling from the adrenaline rushing through her veins. "I am," she admitted softly. He took another horrified step back, about to shout for help she continued, "But I'm on your side."

"Like I've never heard that before."

She laughed quietly, taking in his determined stance. She leaned down so that they were eye to eye. "It's the truth. My husband is out there, and I will remain here. I'm sure you're not surprised to hear that he does not know about this."

He went to make another retort, but there was the last call to the Great Hall. He glanced at her once more, giving her the evil eye as he raced through the double doors. She sneaked in between them, leaning against the wall and shutting them softly. McGonagall was standing in front of the podium, determination filtering through her every pore. Some strange people that Lyra had never seen stood behind her, along with some of the teachers. At least, what was left of them.

"—evacuation will be overseen by Mr. Filch and Madam Pomfrey. Prefects, when I give the word, you will organize your House and take your charges, in an orderly fashion, to the evacuation point."

"And what if we want to stay and fight?" asked Ernie Macmillan with purpose, daring the proud teacher to forbid it. It was at that moment she noticed Harry Potter walking up and down the Gryffindor table. He had almost killed her brother that night, and any moment before this Lyra may had risked her life to extract her revenge.

But her only chance in a better world lay with him. She could no longer feel any adversity towards the dark haired boy.

"If you are of age, you may stay," Professor McGonagall answered in a resigned manor. The teacher's eyes landed on Lyra as they scanned the room, opening with surprise. It seemed she was about to say something, but then that familiar voice filtered through Hogwarts. The one Lyra hated and feared more than anything, demanding to hand over Harry Potter and that everyone would be rewarded if they did so.

After Pansy Parkinson's declaration to hand over Potter, things went rather smoothly. Each table was evacuated, many of the older students remaining to fight in the Battle for Hogwarts.

"I must say I'm rather surprised to see you here." McGonagall stood in front of her, regarding Lyra with suspicion.

"Hey, isn't that Lyra Flint?" one of the strangers asked in anger.

"Yes, it does happen to be Lyra Flint," McGonagall confirmed in a steady tone. The irony was not lost on Lyra that this was the first time the transfiguration teacher had referred to her as that.

Three wands raised to face Lyra. She watched them all resigned.

"My mum is dead because of your husband," one of them growled, her wand trembling in her fisted hand.

Lyra opened her mouth, then closed it, speechless. There was nothing she could say to make that better. She took her in, the black hair and pink tinged cheeks, swallowing thickly. She blinked rapidly, keeping the tears at bay.

"Many people are dead because of my husband," she answered finally.

"And you think you can spy on us? That we're complete idiots?"

Lyra turned to stare down at the ground, ashamed. "No, if I were you I wouldn't trust me either. I wouldn't trust a word that came out of my mouth, and would send me back where I came from."

"So why are you here if you know that?" a woman with bubblegum pink hair asked testily.

"Because I can't live in a world of the Dark Lord's creation."

They all quieted, a few of them lowering their wands.

"You only just realized that now?" McGonagall asked in an almost amused tone.

Lyra tugged at her sleeves nervously. "I thought- When I decided to go along with my parent's decision I thought it was what was best for me. I love my family," Lyra said, begging for them to understand. "I knew that if I chose this side they would burn me off the family tree just like my grandmother did with my Aunt Andromeda."

The girl with bubblegum colored hair slacked in shock, her wand arm dropping to her side. "Wait, your aunt is named Andromeda?"

Lyra nodded rapidly. "I only met her once."

One of them snorted. "What a great way to meet your cousin Tonks."

Lyra blinked obtusely, not catching onto the meaning.

"That doesn't matter at the moment," McGonagall brushed off. "What matters is why you chose now to come forward. Why is family no longer as important?"

Lyra stared at them, watching as the last of the stragglers made it out of the Great Hall. "It is. It's why I'm choosing this."

"You're an idiot," one proclaimed. "Completely mad. The Malfoys are on the other side of the war, as are the Flints. We will not oh so kindly direct you to your chosen side because of your apparent confusion."

Lyra scowled. "It's not them anymore, it's my daughter."

McGonagall's brows raised, disappearing under her pointed hat. "You could protect all of your family on the other side."

"I cannot."

"Why?" Tonks asked in a loud, demanding tone.

It did not matter anymore. No matter what Josephina would be safe. If the Dark Lord won Josephina would be with the muggles hidden in the woods, if the Light gained victory hopefully that meant Lyra would make it and she'd be able to get her daughter back. "The Dark Lord does not like weakness… he would view my daughter as weak. She is not… as a normal child is," Lyra worded carefully.

"Why's that?"

"She is mentally handicapped," she admitted, giving up on all pretenses. When none of them had anything to say, Lyra continued. "My own husband would kill her if he knew. I cannot allow him to do that, nor will I allow the Dark Lord to hurt my child and use me as some vessel to bring forth more purebloods. That's all the Dark Lord wanted me for, the only reason he did not kill me." She crossed her arms, biting down on her cheek.

"He's known what I've felt about him for nearly two years now. After a Christmas party he rummaged through my mind and realized that I don't think lowly of muggleborns, and that I do not share the traditional pureblood ideals. He is the reason I was married so young. It was the only thing my parents could think to do in order to protect me. The Dark Lord… he knew how strong my loyalty for my family was and used that against me. But what he did not expect was for my feelings to be so strong for my daughter. For me to birth out anything less than perfect. So this is my only hope, my last stand. If I die my daughter is safely hidden in the muggle world where no one will hurt her because of something she cannot help."

She couldn't bring herself to look at them after pouring out her heart and soul to them. "So… you can do what you want to me tonight. But in the end I will do everything I can to fight, because a world with Lord Voldemort at its head will only lead to more death." And more pain and misery.

"She testified at Mary Caldweather's trial," Tonks said reluctantly. "Ginny told me. Mary could have come back to Hogwarts. Lyra had elevated her to half-blood status after all, but Mary was too frightened and went back into hiding."

Lyra rubbed at her throat. At last she finally knew what happened to Mary.

"She doesn't have a Death Eater's mark either," another pointed out. Lyra rubbed at the bare skin at her forearm that had been exposed when she'd pulled her sleeves up.

"I don't care what you do then. Just stay out of my way, and if you run into your husband leave him for me," the dark haired woman demanded, stomping away.

"Hestia?" the man called after her, hurrying in the direction she had disappeared in.

The rest of the people surrounding her dispersed until only Professor McGonagall stood. "What are you waiting for? Help fortify Hogwarts."

For a moment Lyra didn't know what to do, but then she raced down the halls.

She knew Fred and George were blowing up hallways, an attempt to make it harder for the Death Eater's to navigate. A number of the people with McGonagall had gone outside.

Lyra raced to the window, gasping as she watched the stone statues that had once only been decoration steadily walk across the bridge ready to fight for Hogwarts. Blue light began to head towards the sky, one after the other.

"Protego Maxima," she whispered, adding her own to the mix. She took one more glance and fled towards the stairs, taking them by twos until she laid winded against the wall. She didn't need to wonder any longer how the Death Eaters were going to get in. They were bombarding the protective shield at the moment, screeching their anger into the night.

When she finally got to the roof of Hogwarts she saw three other people were already up there, one of them being her cousin. She was holding hands with a battered man, a man that appeared to be very familiar.

"Professor Lupin?"

He turned around, looking at her in surprise. "Miss Malfoy? Well, I should actually say Mrs. Flint, shouldn't I? You were only a first year the last I saw you."

Lyra blinked, staring at the two in utter confusion.

There was no way her cousin married her old professor.

"I-yeah?" This night was not going too well for her. But what did she expect when she jumped sides so suddenly?

"My wife just realized you two were cousins. I knew because of Sirius, of course, Sirius Black. He told me once that his cousin had married Lucius Malfoy."

Lyra nodded, slowly walking over to the edge.

"Be careful," a slightly accented voice said. "It's a far drop to the bottom."

Lyra hadn't bothered to look at the last person upon the roof, too distracted by her cousin and ex-professor. He looked familiar, but Lyra could not place him.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt," he said, shaking her hand. "We might as well get to know each other before the worst comes to happen."

"We're family." It was the first thing that popped into her head. She turned a light pink, amending, "Well, we're like third or fourth cousins. Maybe fifth?" Lyra sighed. "I don't know. The Malfoys are related to everyone."

Shacklebolt snorted. "You're one of the oldest wizarding familes around. Of course you are."

Lyra turned her head up to stare at the protective spell above them, noticing the dementors. "I see why you guys are up here now. I can't do a full corporeal patronus."

"Perhaps you should go back down then," Lupin suggested. "We can handle this."

"It's only a matter of time before the shield fails," Shacklebolt said with finality.

Lyra was never very good at maths, but three wizards against a sky-full of dementors didn't seem to add up. She didn't have much longer to argue, because at that moment part of the shield shattered.

"Expecto Patronum!" they all shouted, making a protective circle around each other so that no one's back was uncovered. A shimmery lynx and two wolves fled into the sky, keeping the dementors at bay.

Lyra whispered the spell again, attempting to think of the happiest memory she had ever had. A glowing cloud was the result. She looked to her left to see Lupin sweating with the effort to keep the dementors at bay.

"Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum!" she whispered in frustration, still receiving lackluster results. The rest of the barrier fell, and the full force of the dementors came down upon them. Lyra squeezed her eyes shut, blocking everything out as that cold, dreadful feeling washed across her. Lyra fought it, riffling through her happiest memories.

She was staring down at Josephina, watching her giggle as Lyra tugged at the stuffed puffskeins dangling above. Every time it bounced into the air little Joey would burst into raccorous laughter. Lyra couldn't help but let out a chuckle of amusement, charmed by her daughter's antics.

"Mommy loves you," Lyra whispered against her belly. "Mommy loves you very much."

Remus Lupin cried out, pulling Lyra out of her memory and falling to his knees as his spell began to give out.

"Remus!" Tonks shouted, losing focus.

"Pay attention Nymphadora!" Lupin shouted, watching as his wolf flickered.

"Damn it to hell!" Shacklebolt bellowed, pouring more ferocity into his spell.

Lupin's spell flickered once more, before burning out. He stared wide eyed above him, attempting to get his bearings as he shouted the words clearly.

"The damned full moon! I warned you that you hadn't recovered yet. You didn't listen to me!" Tonks screeched, shifting her wolf to cover more surface area.

But there were too many, and soon enough Tonk's wand began to flicker too.

"Remus, what are you doing?" Tonks asked in panic. He had backed away unknowingly from them, distracted as he was while trying to get enough energy to cast the spell again. Her cousin shifted her wolf over towards Lupin to protect him from the dementor nearing him, leaving an opening straight to them.

"Expecto Patronum!" Lyra roared, throwing every bit of energy she could muster into it and thinking of that memory of her daughter.

A blinding light burst from the tip of her wand. She closed her lids, eyes burning from the bright color. After her eyes adjusted she gasped, staring in awe at the large, iridescent bird making lazy circles above them.

"What is that?" she asked.

"An egret, and it couldn't have come any sooner." Shacklebolt let out a choked laugh, his own patronus gaining light from his giddiness.

"Kingsley," Lyra whispered, staring in front of her once she had pulled her gaze away from her patronus.

"What?"

"Tonks."

He shifted slightly to see better what she was pointing out. His dark skin paled, his hand beginning to tremble. "It seems… it seems that you called it out too late. But don't worry kid, I'm alive because of you." He cleared his throat, attempting to pull himself together. "Now let's, let's get out of here. We've done as much as we can. There's no point in sacrificing ourselves along with them."


A/N: I am currently working on a Harry Potter/Game of Thrones crossover and I am needing a beta. If anyone is interested please message me. The initial four chapters are on my profile, but I'm re-vamping those and will pull them down once I get on the right track.