The first thing she saw on that morning were the owl-like eyes in the patterns of the wood of the ceiling. A typical greeting to wake to on a typical morning, yet this time… there was a whole new feeling. Once again, there were voices in her dreams. It was a woman's voice. Perhaps her mother's, just whispering something so kind and gentle to her? She was sure it was a memory. Her very own memory from a time when danger was imminent.
The Night when it all began…
Rosie, you are loved
Mama loves you
Dada loves you
Honey, be strong
Be brave
Help him stay
Help him heal
Save each other
Trust each other
Guard each other
This morning though, she noticed was the overwhelming knot in her stomach. She was so out of her mind that eating wasn't even rational thought, which was one thing Prince could not stand. Breakfast this time was just something simple, only being some slices of banana alongside toasts and tea because they had to make a very brisk getaway this morning.
Lyra ate as best she could just to appease him, despite herself not feeling up to the task just yet. Most mornings it was a little tough to eat anything too big. Strangely, it seemed to go better when she ate a little, such as some fruit or anything like that. Prince had a protective streak where he had to watch her eat something every so often. Truthfully, she appreciated it while feeling embarrassed as well. So it was a custom that he would eat with her with his constant urging. As far as annoyance goes, the girl always worked hard to take his advice as best she could muster at the time, actually obeying random requests. It was just the same as this morning.
As soon as she ate, Lyra was as giddy as Felix the one day before, even peeking out her window for the sight of Hagrid, forgetting about the existence of the Portkeys. Shaking herself out of her reverie, Felix flew to her, nibbling at her ear. Prince went back upstairs to place one important document back onto his desk, passing by her bedroom so quickly that, to her, he looked no more than a phantom shadow in the corner of her eye. What he had was the Hogwarts letter itself with one drastic change in those velveteen scribbling. No longer did the invitation state that name Rose Evans Potter but only Lyra Eileen Prince.
Softly, he passed by bedroom door, letter in hand with a melancholic shadow over his eyes, he knocked lightly on her door. Deep, deep down he could sense how nervous she was and to an extent, so was he. Naturally. Regarding her frightened questions from the nights before due to the wandmaker's blabber, he reassured her many a time that they would work together against anything and anyone coming their way. Prince, due to changes and battles alike in the past, was confident in the strength of defenses already set in motion for this first year. She did not know it fully, but she was special compared to other magical children. Regardless that each one was precious, this little game with a fair few undesirables, this was likened to finding a needle in a haystack. It had to be that way as much as it hurt him to do it to her. Above all else, he wanted her to be strong — Lily would have wanted her to be strong, and loved. James as well despite the grudge that lingered during younger days.
There was not a single hint of doubt in his mind about that, but the issue was now how to go about it, in the most subtle of ways. Only a wizard was as clever as he would know, not in ways others would. Only a good fair few knew the honest truth. If he was still among the Death Eaters, this would prove entirely impossible. Were there times when he lamented ever taking her under his wing?
Now that was one complicated question.
Of course there were.
There was one time that he did and it was the night after he brought her home that night, only due to the fact that he felt something was at work. It was not the reason many would think… In all truth of the matter was that he was terrified, amidst grief sinking in. Over time, as he feared her becoming more like her father, she always remained reserved and quiet. He lamented because he did not deserve much, or felt that he deserved such forgiveness… The girl deserved better. Him taking her instead of leaving her with Lily's grudge-holding sister was lesser of the two evils, as it were. Why did Evans even think of him after what he did? Just… why?
He is still baffled to this very day of such a ludicrous possibility come true.
At times, this tangled bond business left them both in a bad way. It was to the point that the mere thought of losing her life somehow was unthinkable. He had to rid himself of numerous thoughts in order to keep his Occlumency skills at top-notch. It was difficult at times. He was able to nullify the weak spots over the years but there were moments he had to take in order to build the skill up again. He had to confess it, years ago, that this child had grown on him like a screaming mandrake. Little fawn as he would sometimes call her, was precious to him.
She was just as small and just as helpless she was since that horrible night. Now, the chance was coming in only a couple of hours. It was time for her to become what she was destined to be…
For the newly proclaimed Lyra Prince, once she knew that she had all that she had packed into her handed down travel case that happened to have been used by her Sire as well when he was just her age. His words dancing through her memory along with ones from her own mother and father, Lyra held on hard to her faith that the changes she was about to see were simply irrelevant, or they should have been. The doors were opening for her and all she needed to do was grab her courage and step through them. She was leaving soon, at any given minute actually, and it would leave her on her own for a little while, meeting new people in the next few hours.
Felix chose to perch on her back as she shut the case up, after doing multiple checks through it all to be sure that she had all that she needed for the year.
Upon going to her vanity, Lyra took a good long look into the mirror. Without a doubt, with a different name, she wondered how other magical children would take her. Her Sire was a grave man, yet the truth shared between them was as pure as fresh, spring water compared to some of the mysteries she peeked into these past few days. Especially the words of the Wandmaker…
As cryptic as they were to her, did they hold honest truth? The one who hurt both of them, she had the same core in her wand as they did, she wondered if learning more was even a wise idea with this wand. Kneeling beside her packed case, she studied the wand, worriedly. It had a sort of wavy look to it, fairly brown and it had a curious handle that almost had a flora and fauna style carvings on it. It was beautiful and so different from her Sire's that was almost as black as night, just like he, with a mass of strange Chinese writing along with the small handle. Completely, with all meaning of the word, different. Her worry over the whole ambiguity of the entire tale had blinded her to the object's appearance, that it, in a way, suited her?
It was before she could dig further in, there was a fragile knock at her door.
"Morning, LouLou," Lyra sighed without even looking.
"Master awaits for you downstairs, ma'am…" the little elf spoke from the doorway.
There was no need to wait anymore, as much as a shock it was to her, but for now, she could barely hide her excitement combined with nervousness. She could swear that a bird would be popping out of her mouth at any given second, it was so intense. The time came though when she had to face the truth that change was knocking right at her door. As soon as her travel case appeared in the hallway before the door, she happened to come down to be greeted by the tall figure who remained almost in shadow. He drew his arm out to her, solemnly inviting her to finally take her next steps. Felix hovered about the usually darkened home in this old suburban town, but there was a new air in it. After she leaves through that door, from the place Rosie grew up in so protected, to become Lyra… a future witch in this new, wild world.
Having been told that this was going to be a final moment until she would arrive safely at the great castle itself, Lyra could not help but tear up… just a little bit. The conversations, the late-night encouragements, the fresh smell of endless amount of lemongrass and soil, the home here held so many lonesome but precious memories… It felt wrong to leave it.
Her Guardian, at once when he had taken her hand, locked gazes with her as a rumble of coming thunder rolled through the neighborhood. When he had his attention solely on her, it was wise to never ignore… That little nudge upon her chin inspired her to look upward prior to some carefully chosen words came her way, while the wild winds of the Portkey came to be heard near them…
"Lyra Prince." Prince began. "Know that you will grow and blossom each day, for as long as you choose wisely, child. Know not to ever be afraid. If you ever feel a single tremble of it, I am always near."
"Perhaps I'm putting too much thought into it, sir." she replied, sharing a rather saddened smile. "This week people have known more than I have." she uttered, trying not to shy away.
"Regardless of the spoken word, you must remember that you are a Pure witch. The kind that will stand out from the rest… and it will not be in the way you might believe."
Lyra took this into some thought and the possibility made her very curious. It felt as though she was back at the wand shop all over again, with those cryptic words coming into play once more. It only prompted her to question, which was what he had so desired in truth.
"Honestly, even what you told me, sir, I'm still…"
"Don't." he softly caught her before she could finish. "Discipline yourself. Be strong. As soon as you set foot aboard that train, I am sure you will do just fine." he spoke, ending it with a lightly proud smirk. "After all, this is only the beginning,"
Lyra drew in a deep breath when she heard the charm on the door take hold. The sunlight underneath the door was shadowed by someone on the other side. Someone mighty. Prince seemed very confident of who it was, placing a firm hand over her shoulder before looking back.
"Remember what we have spoken about. The sooner you know yourself through and through, the sooner it will manifest through your own magic. I, including many others, are there to teach you. Dangers may pass us by, more often than not. As long as you listen to what your professors tell you, it never hurts to keep your eyes open in this world, Lyra. Heed well now, for I will be holding you up to the same exact standards as the rest of our students partaking in the same education as you."
"The fact that I will not like you very much holds a lot of ground, doesn't it?" she chuckled.
"Hm." he hummed with a simple nod.
"But y-you know what else, sir?" Lyra began to whisper,
"What?" he asked, lowering a little as she whispered in his ear.
"I bet not even the ghosts and goblins mess with you…" he heard, and he grinned at the remark.
He fought a deep chuckle, standing tall and giving her a single pat on the back towards the door. "You poor child, you haven't a single clue." he hinted. "In all of this bleak seriousness, I dare say that you shall be on your best behavior for Master Rubeus."
"That's all set in stone, sir. Even with all the quiet times here, I think I'm going to miss it."
"Believe me when I state, you will be too busy to recall, girl." Prince gave her a shrewd glance one last time before the door was magically opened. Although she knew that she would see him again upon her arrival at this new place, she could not fight the temptation to give her guardian a quick hug. Alas, she could not see the trace of slight agony glint in his eye but he rested two calming palms over her shoulders, squeezing slightly. The sudden affection hurt enough for him to hold her close, for only a moment.
"That is enough," he drawled, pulling back and sounding slightly annoyed. "Your time is nigh. You will see me at the Sorting tonight. Things cannot be accomplished with constant sentiments."
"Yes, sir a-and you're right. I am only delaying the inevitable." the nervous girl managed to humor him one last time before he threw out a last minute enchantment at the girl, having her feel a static surround her left hand where a silver ring had formed around her index finger.
To her amazement, she could see herself reflected off the rim. As soon as the enchantment was done, he held that same hand and soon it was only them while his friend awaited for the right moment to take leave.
"Little fawn, I want you to listen to me very carefully. This ring, it is only a charm, a protection charm of my own creation. No one else can take it or change its course."
"You can make charms…?" Lyra asked, her eyes glimmering.
"Among others, yes. Now then, no one can see it except you and I. Should anything happen, mine will tighten and I will know to come to you. I fear that this is necessary, and I cannot take risks at this point in time." he spoke with a silky softness prior to showing her his own worn on his hand. "I want you to mind whatever Hagrid tells you. Whatever you do, you must make sure to get onboard the Express as quickly as you both can possibly help it." he told her, sharply glaring right into her eyes, into her very soul, it would seem.
Brave, Lyra sighed and nodded, true to her word. "Why can't you come with me?" she asked again out of nervousness.
"You already bloody well know why, child. We differ from the typical witch and wizard. A truth you will learn. We have wasted enough time," Prince eyed her, warily as he stood back up and the door was opened to them.
Sighing, she nodded before stroking Felix through the bars of his cage before picking it up. Prince was fully aware that this was difficult for her, but there was no avoiding it. Compared to other truths, this was mere child's play for her. As soon as the door opened, there stood the bumbling Half-Giant in what looked like a separate brick road that she didn't recognize as a part of Spinner's End. Feeling a little glossy-eyed, she glowed up at the smiling Hagrid before looking back at her Sire one last time.
"G'morn, lassie~ Thar y'are, o'course!"
"Morning, Hagrid!" she smiled at him back with Felix's small cage in hand at first.
"Mornin' t'ya, Professor," Hagrid saluted at the wizard who only gave him an incredulous look.
"Quite subtle, Rubeus." Prince replied with the slight clear of his throat.
"Def'nitely ain't my strong point, sir. Hope this ain't too early then?"
"No. No, as a matter of fact. Your arrival is most opportune. It would seem the Headmaster wishes to have a final word before the festivities commence. Regrettably." Prince sounded irritated as soon as he too had stepped out of the door. With a small wave of his wand, the door was locked directly from the inside.
"Dun' mean to startle ya, but I'll take this for ya for the meanwhile. We have a bit of a walk, aye? We're on time, o'course!"
As he said that, the Giant was miraculously able to carry the massive travel case that certainly weighed tons, to her at least. Prince appeared a little apprehensive but soon, right before they were going to part ways he took out the train ticket that read in very bold type, Platform Nine and Three Quarters squarely on the ticket. It confused her because, frankly, there was no such thing.
"The train is as punctual as a sundial so I suggest you both get a move on. It shall leave with no mercy at precisely at eleven. Heaven help you should you miss it." he told her, in a more scolding tone, it seemed. It made her heart beat faster then she remembered the clues he left for her to keep secret to herself. She was held up at the same standard as everyone else.
"Yes, sir." Lyra stood as tall as could be, mustering her courage.
After paternally sweeping a strand of her red hair behind her ear, his severe glare did not change. "As it is so, young lady, this is not farewell. Be on your best behavior. If you shall not abide, I will know soon enough."
Lyra acknowledged that, taking it with just the right amount of seriousness. "You have my word."
"Very well," was the end of it. "As for you, Rubeus, I hold you up to yours as well~"
"Not even for a blink will she leave m'sights, friend. Straight on, she will."
Prince held onto a sort of wince as something came across his mind, not quite enthusiastic about the change either. "With circumstances being as they are, Hagrid, I suggest you take the Cauldron's route to the station. There is a ward there. Hence why mine have been devised for the third time… She could only be seen on that train." was the deep warning.
"Surely enough, professor. I take it that there are some eyes about us, hm…"
"More than just eyes, sir." Prince hinted, sharply sighing through his nose. "With this being her first flight out of the nest, it will do us well to keep our wits about. I, for one, do not take this leave very comforting to say the very best,"
With her new bird with her, Lyra watched on, feeling her stomach drop drastically. Setting the cage down for a second, she thought it wise to give out her own two cents in the conversation.
"I won't run off, if that is what you are worried about, Professor." she prodded him, as if playfully.
"Being cheeky now?" her Guardian rose a sharpened eyebrow at her.
After that small scolding, Lyra's smile lessened a bit. "I do think I am ready for this."
"Good. Or else all of our lessons would have been for nothing." Prince's dry humor was well-missed riot.
"You're going to be annoying." she teased.
"Oh, expect my worse, little fawn."
"I will."
"Good."
She was sure that things were turning out all right but this was as far as being on her own she has ever been… As soon as he was sure they were far enough, the dark wizard looked over his shoulder at them right before he was going to turn a corner. Having given the trust in the Grounds Keeper, he did feel a mighty amount of worry still. Indeed, from all the work done to keep that child in the safest place imaginable, at least in his eyes, it was now on a grander scale and perhaps for the greater good.
A solemness fell between them, and he nodded to her, inspiring her to follow the Giant, after all.
Oh, to hell with all that misery! he thought angrily to himself, shaking off the use of the ghastly term; the Greater Good.
The thought of it was nauseating ~
It was not going to head in that direction at all as long as he could help it. In any way should the girl become a tool, someone would surely regret it. Indeed, this hidden protection was painfully persuasive in ways that even shocked him, along with being a known presence among the staff of the castle. Without asking, help was always provided, it would seem, so managing this difficult year was probably going to remain fairly sound. On his plate of numerous responsibilities among the matters of guarding, he was a good practiced sorcerer of his caliber. His practice had only begun when he was only sixteen years of age. It was all due to an array of situations where he personally had to defend himself from constant harassment, which had gotten so vicious from home life itself to his own time at Hogwarts. A grand place he once had hope for… as a naive, shriveled boy. He was proven wrong, there was malice behind those walls for as long as he could remember. Of course, through the course of his time there, it had lessened more and more ever since… that dreaded night. If only he could remember full details, but he couldn't. Prince only came to a trembling realization that through an Unforgivable, the information he was ordered to find led to Lily and her husband, who was no friend of his despite the changes they both had gone through. Vicious teenage rivalry transformed into a tolerable mutual understanding as years went on. By that statement, they just never spoke or looked at each other ever again. Grudges were all very well but were entirely irrelevant compared to the grand scheme of things.
None of that mattered in the long term — only as sheer childlike stupidity. When it would come to the bottom line, the only choice of him being at hand back then, husband and wife would have been relieved. Each man, woman, and child would have to undergo some sort of cruelty in their lifetimes. That was the pang of finding one's true self. It was the point of growing.
His past played no part in his life now. It was for Rose now. When he thought he lost love along with Lily, it remained with him and he still did not know why. How ironic could all of it get? A great regret tore his friend away yet he was still in shock at the fact that an ancient secret became known. It was something the world could and would never comprehend accurately.
Due to this reality, he became free from the Dark Lord. He was free… This special connection set him free as if in the blink of an eye, leading him into a new life. In its own way, it saved him, both of them… all thanks to Lily Potter, from death and mindlessness. Her touch on his life was something of a miracle, from a lonely life of poverty and constant strain. When there was one hope of leaving such a life behind, that was when everything began to change, as though for the worst. Such innocence amazed him just as Lily once had on the day that he had met her. Oh, bloody hell ~ a part of him truly hated to do this to her, as a start.
What she had seen and witnessed thus far was a side of himself that he would never ever show anyone else. Prince had once been a spy, used as a means to a cruelly shallow end. The greatest regret of his life was due to a pang of hunger that became so unbearable that the 'acceptance' the Dark Lord had once offered him looked too beautiful to turn down. Be that as it may, he had to become someone else — He could never be seen or heard by the Death Eaters ever again unless it was killing off another one. At least, for now, she was being moved to a much safer place… where he could personally keep a much sharper eye on her, despite the massive size of the castle. Prince did all that he could to prepare her for this day.
While she was with him for the first part of her life, both of them were accustomed to doing things the Muggle way. The simplest things on fine summer days were always enough to have the girl content. For such a dusty, old home, it held something precious within its walls. He was never a tender man, far from it. He was dangerous. He was partial to a lion protecting a lamb…
A truth that had to remain locked away.
