"There will be a point in your lives that he will find her-"

"Don't!" Severus broke off the elder. "Don't you dare say that she belongs to him~ Just as I once was — No! For once in this brilliant life, I am not living on your word, nor anyone else's. My life had always been hung on a string and because of that I lost the one true friendship I've had… all because that you plainly turned your head to ignore what was happening directly under your nose!"

"Severus… Your soul is inflamed," Dumbledore shakily sighed, coming around his desk toward the livid Potions Master who kept his left arm hidden beneath his cloak.

"Headmaster." Severus addressed with his dark eyes sharp and glittering. "You intended to throw her on the doorstep of the woman who detests the very mention of magical blood. Her husband, even more so… They would have butchered her to the point of her becoming an Obscurial."

"Being her only blood relatives, protection would have been set over the home's vicinity. Not much gain in that. You and I have never seen eye to eye and that is fairly understandable, Severus. Your anger is, to be fair, justified. Your passion and vigor had grown stronger since you have broken away, thus opening up to a whole new possibility that I cannot battle. "

"What has been created between her and I is strictly not at your disposal to use for the 'Greater Good', Albus." Severus remained steadfast. "I will never allow it… We. Belong. To. No one."

No One~

Names felt just as powerful as spells and it was a concept that plagued her dreams that night with yet another vision. One where her guardian's voice was livid and dangerous… Once again, she wasn't able to see anything, which was the one thing she hated in these dreams. This time, it was in the middle of the night and she found her heart pounding too hard for her to fall back to sleep, so she got out of her bed. Careful to not make noise, Lyra (as she had to keep reminding herself) went to Prince's bedroom that was only across the narrow hallway. Her light creaks on the floor roused her Guardian just enough for him to turn over slightly, confused.

"Lass." he deeply yawned, his voice still sounding exhausted. "It's deep into the night."

"I… Sir, I had another bad dream." she cooed while standing still at the door.

Giving a gruff sigh as he sat up, Prince waved her to come to him and she did. Hearing that actually rose his heartbeat to a loud hum, secretly, considering circumstances.

"Tell me," he requested, quiet. "… are you all right?"

"You were protecting me from someone… I think, but I couldn't see you. You sounded so upset that you were almost yelling. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find you, sir." she tried to explain as best she could to the point that she was truly scared at the fact. "You said something like I could have become… an Ob-cur-ious?" the girl tried to pronounce it.

His face was still and very unreadable as he studied her eyes as she explained. Feeling her shiver, he searched his bedside table covered in vials and picked one out of the many. It was a light pepper up and she knew to drink it down. These dreams, at first, came off as odd to him, but as time wore on, it began to make sense. When he was told she was bound to him since that night, there was a literal bond… and once in a while, she would be able to see memories of his own in her dreams. It was not to be mistaken with a Seer's abilities, because it was only his own intense memories rising from the grave, as it were. The one way to not frighten her further was to take it all with a grain of salt.

"There now, do not let these dreams curve your own judgment in the waking world simply because of the fear they instill in you." he replied. "They are remnants of the past~ which are all gone from us, yet they can hold clues to answers at the worst of times."

"You said that we belonged to no one… What did you mean?"

Prince was still for a moment, heaving a deep sigh. "There is a dangerous man. The one who once hurt you." he began, soothing over her right arm for a moment. "In a sense, he thought we did…"

Slow and careful, he rolled and pulled up his left sleeve where a strange shape was drawn on his forearm. It looked like a face or a skull with a snake slithering out of it. She shuddered.

"I know you must think me a very foolish man. And I was… This one mistake isolated me even more than I thought possible. But this does not mean either of us are alone in this. Do you understand? Our goal now is to fight on. You are young and it's painful, I know… but lies and secrets do not help the matter in the slightest, I find. Unlike some."

Lyra was only beginning to truly understand the more she listened. Seeing a mark on him being almost the same as hers, not only terrified her but it inspired her. The same person who hurt her, by what the wandmaker said, had hurt him too.

"It's almost like mine..." she uttered but he heard every word. Slow, she inched in to touch it and he allowed her. "Does it hurt?"

"Once in a blue moon," he impassively replied. "Not intense as it used to be, ever since... the pain simply died away. It is only a memory now."

Although as he said that, his obsidian eyes began to water from one upsetting thought that she caught on.

"I would not say that it's similar. You had no choice. I had." he gravely stated, ending one look down at her. The girl peered down, with many worried thoughts rushing through her mind, softly resting against him until she gathered the courage.

"Sir…? At the wand shop today, Ollivander said that he knew you. He knew me but never said my name. Not like that strange man at the pub. He said my wand had the same… core as the one that… that hurt me…"

"Is that exactly what he had told you?" Prince asked, calculating.

"Yes, a-and he said that we had something, even more powerful than him." she finished, confident that she heard right.

Prince's eyes soon looked drawn away, an important brood filling them. As the candlelight flickered, she could tell that he had remnants of tears in the corners of his eyes.

"Allow me this inquiry, child… Do you believe his words?"

"… are they true?" she had to ask, for herself. Her green eyes were bright with anxiety. "What is going to happen to us? You've always been my father."

"And that is never going to be a subject of change."

"I just have… a very bad feeling now." she sighed. "Things are going to happen, like the night with my parents."

It was clear that those memories tormented her, similarly to how they tormented him. Feeling close to tearing, Prince took a nearby quilt and covered her.

"Of what you have been told, Lyra, it was true." he finally answered. "Regrettably, you are well known in this new world. That is a truth that we must be ginger with, should your true name travel too far, undesirable sorts will slink about to find you. There will be souls you can trust, whereas some, you cannot."

"L-like with… Quirrell."

"Indeed. Leave that sort to me and do not interact with him other than the occasional question in his classes."

"When I got close to him, my mark began to sting…"

"I know." he hummed, masking worry. "We will make do, as long as you consider my advice. I entrust you with so much alone. I pray that you will forgive me for these sins one day…"

The poor worried thing leaned against him, entrapped in her own thoughts that feared the future almost. Her heart yearned at her to ask a question that he may or may not be inclined to answer, but she had to try.

"Sir?"

"Hm?"

"Only when no one is around when it is just you and me… may I call you father?" she asked, with her breaths getting a little heavy. "Even if it isn't so…?" she sighed, knowing this could end up with backlash.

It was honestly the closest she would ever get to say how much she loved him. He was truly quiet for, what seemed like, forever. But something stirred within him though when she felt a warm static flow through the room for a second. For only a moment, she felt him rest his cheek against her head slightly, until finally…

"Yes. But heed well, it can only be between us."
"I promise."

Only a couple of days have gone by since that little midnight chat, but at least she began to feel a little better about all this change. The one change that rattled her mind was her name… Of course, she never truly liked her real one that much, if she was honest to herself. It was when he whispered it, so lightly, in her ear. Unlike 'Rosie' or 'Rose', it was as if it was buried treasure for her to take. 'Potter' through her life held hardly any meaning, although it was a direct link to her real parents. Perhaps… but it had be a secret, one that no one else can know. She was now Lyra. Lyra Prince, the ward of a Potion's Master at one of the greatest magical schools in existence and right now, it was a concept that was a little hard to wrap her mind around. She was literally leaving her past behind.

She had to leave it.
He did.

He did have a previous name before but everyone called him Orpheus… He once had a name that was given down by his Muggle father, who was not very kind at all but he kept his mother's name. As odd as it felt, she had to try and work it out and to never let her tongue slip one day. She was still herself yet the change was so strange because now, she was in the exact same situation as he was in. New names and strange people. People who looked at her funny… The only one other than Prince who didn't was Hagrid and that was from only the course of a single day's chore. She could only wonder what the ride would be like, and she had to be careful about it.

Besides strange dreams, she tried to put her mind on more less worrisome tasks. It was only a day and half now before it was time to go onto the Express. Repeating her newly established name over and over, she organized her books and the pewter he had allowed her to take (it was his own) had miraculously fit inside the case. If only she was able to use her wand to orgaize it all in a manner of seconds because she was not very gifted at doing it the typical Muggle fashion. Platform Nine and Three Quarters sounded like a joke at first yet it began to really make sense when the way to it was a Portkey, just like the doors Prince managed time and time again. Lyra may have felt ready but her thoughts still ran mad and heated like a brew inside a burning cauldron with an accident forthcoming at any given moment.

As soon as these things were packed up into the old case that did belong to Prince back when he first started~ which was so fantastic to know because now she was about to be a part of something more than just roaming and waiting. Of course, as soon as she shut it closed, the little owl atop her bed decided to play a little game with her, by flying about the room, snagging her new robe from her bed. Watching in being shock as he cluttered out of the room, Lyra immediately regretted ever letting him out of the cage in the first place.

Worried Prince was going to give her another firm word, she sprung after him, into the hall. There was another jolt in the air while she chased him down the stairs, but she had to stop herself before she heard a clank in the kitchen.

"Lyra!" she heard him bark out and she ducked a little at his voice.

What on earth did the silly bird do exactly? No matter how she felt, she had to go all the way to see something that made her smile. Once she got down to the kitchen, the sight of Felix, the frisky little owl had landed on her Sire's back in the most humorous way (She couldn't explain it). The creature began playfully nibbling at his black hair, much to his dismay.

"I have an inkling that this is foreshadowing..." he spoke, not as sour as she expected him to sound.

"Apologies~" she fought a giggle at the sight.

"Indeed, laughter is the wisest choice by far." he snarked back yet he calmly lowered for her to take the tiny owl by a foot off the nook of his arm. "He is starved of a lesson in humility. We cannot have our post scattered about in the corridors on a daily basis."

Lyra couldn't help but smile. "I packed all my belongings for Saturday. All is left his him." she mentioned as little Felix finally calmed down. "Also, I think I should get my snow globes back…"

"Don't you look a' me!" LouLou barked, mid-chore.

"Suppose you should," Prince spoke. "Tomorrow is our final day before your departure."

"Forgive me for my questions, but are you coming with me?"

"Not on board the Express, Lyra. It is custom that the first years brought for the first time Hogwarts will be introduced separately. It is a silly custom your Headmaster overly delights in. Shall we humor the old fool in that regard? However, no. I am among the professors besides being his Debuty. I must journey over in a different fashion." he explained while he whisked the tea kettle aside, magically. "You will, in fact, see me at the Head Table and the Sorting will commence,"

"What is… the Sorting?"

"There are four Houses represented by the Founders of Hogwarts; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each, however, does not define anyone, so I have no care about which you will be sorted into. But each as a special quality that the Sorting Hat may look for, but toss in a small word and it might change its weary mind. Gryffindors are well known for their courage and strength. Hufflepuffs, for their loyalty and kindness… Ravenclaws are wise. Slytherins are known for their cunning and intellect. These qualities of each, I strongly believe, already rest within you, Lyra. So I implore you not to worry your head about it. I am certaintly not."

"I won't, sir." she nodded, feeling encouraged.

"There is one matter that you must keep in mind, and I must demand that you come to me if there is any sort of altercation or mistreatment done by some Slytherins. Many magical families take pride in this House, I myself once being among them. I only ask that you be careful with the company you may keep. I trust you have a good judge of character…"

"I-I think I do, sir." Lyra took a moment to gather all that, which he blessedly allowed. It earned her one of those rare smiles.

"Now. About this flittering snitch we have as of late."

Lyra cleared her throat, near forgetting why she scaled the stair. Felix gladly perched on her shoulder while she picked up the cloak that he stole away in his flush of excitement. Prince straightened up, sporting a more calculating look towards the foolery bird, clearly not impressed with the performed antic at all.

"Just as much as a dunderhead as a fair few students I had to deal with in the past." he spoke, judgingly as he eyed the animal, who appeared to shrink at his shadow over him. "This is, without a doubt, the wrong house for this sort of tomfoolery."

Felix flew off into the study, perching atop of one of the bookcases, knowing that his playful nature had dug him too deep of a hole. It was this time when Prince had his wand drawn out, worrying Lyra instantly.

"Worry not, silly girl. Commonly, new owls need a little discipline. Particularly when they are young. Likened to one little fawn that I know, for the most part. Draw out your own wand as well…" he told her, coolly. "This is for you as well, in case if there is a next time,"

"Yes, father." she smiled as she held hers.

"Hm. Now, repeat after me, very clearly … Wingardium Leviosa~" Prince pronounced with so much grace, with each syllable just as smooth as water ripples prior to this soft little sound vibrating from his wand. She did the same…

The moment he cast his own spell, a manner of envelopes that were all piled on the desk and flew quickly in the air, much to Felix's amazement. His head spun to and fro, upside and downward before he started to chase the flying papers, like a rabbit in spring. It made Lyra truly want to laugh as her new bird went spinning mad, collecting of them in his talons and tiny beak. By then, Prince only stepped back and watched this bird flutter about catching as many as he could in such a fray that Felix appeared to be nothing but a flurry of brown in her eyes. Prince regarded the bird who gathered all the envelopes onto the kitchen nook and peered up at him with wide eyes…

"One more incident with him landing atop my head, he will be returned to the owlery…" was the brisk demand before he swept off, yet again, which Lyra nodded to. A part of her had a clue that he truly did not mean a word in that threat.