She sat in the train car, alone, while the others went to get sweets. Lyra drew birds in the condensation on the window- ten, twenty, twenty-five.

"Lyra?" Harry's voice startled her, she stiffened and hastily finished her twenty-sixth bird, "Pretty."

"Yes, well, I-" she sighed, "have a thing for birds. I suppose." She scooted closer to the window, "My Patronus is a Raven, I even have one back home. Kangee." Harry stepped into the car and closed the door, Lyra wanted to dissolve into her seat. "Ban just went to get some snacks."

"Lyra, I don't want you getting the wrong idea."

"It was nothing Harry. I don't know what happened and I could barely hear anything."

"But Lyra, Malfoy he-"

"I don't know anything about Draco, Harry." Lyra snapped, "I'm just nosey and wanted to hear him get in trouble. He made my life miserable."

Harry sat across from her and she stared at her birds, "Lyra I'm sure he's a Death Eater, like his father. Just like Snape."

"Professor Snape?" Lyra shook her head, "Draco's father was arrested," she pulled at her hair, " you helped put him in Azkaban."

"I just want you to help me, if you know anything Malfoy is planning."

Lyra stiffened, "How should I know what Draco is doing?" Something flickered in Harry's eyes and his voice was cut off by her brother's return.

"If she did," Ban stepped into the car and sat beside his sister, "I'm sure she would tell you Harry. Or at least me and I'd relay the message."

"If you know anything that could help me understand-"

"She doesn't." Thuban tapped his temple and Harry shook his head. "I think Ginny was looking for you, can't be sure though it's hard to differentiate between what people say and what they think half the time."

❧

When they arrived at the Burrow Mrs. Weasley embraced the twins warmly. "Lyra my dear, Ginny has told me so much about you!" Lyra glanced at her friend who smiled widely. "We've got to get some food in you, you're looking a bit thin."

"Mom." Ginny groaned.

"Nonsense, I'm sure she is hungry."

"I can eat." Lyra shrugged and nodded at Ginny who was mouthing an apology.

"That a girl," Mrs. Weasley smiled, "Now, Ginny, darling you show Lyra up to your room and get her settled in. Supper will be done shortly."

"What about my brother?" Lyra turned to look at Ban who pulled Ron into a headlock and was twisting his knuckle into Ron's temple.

"I swear it you think that one more time I will-" Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat and Ban released her son. "Sorry ma'am."

"I'm sure Ron can find room for both him and Harry." Ban winked at Ginny and she stiffened before tugging Lyra up the stairs. She kept going up and up and pushed a door that was opening shut as she passed.

"Leave us alone Fred!" Lyra laughed and watched as another redhead descended to the main room of the house as Ginny continued to pull her up the stairs. "Brothers." Ginny groaned and pushed her bedroom door closed behind her.

"Tell me about it. And to imagine, I only have one."

"Luck you, six older brothers is terrible. It's just you and Ban?" She frowned and sat on her bed, "I don't think I've ever asked."

"Thuban didn't tell you guys?" Ginny shook her head, "Funny, he tells everyone I'm a Veela but not about our sisters. Figures." Lyra sat on one of the two cots in Ginny's small room. "We had two older sisters, another set of twins."

"Had?"

"They were killed alongside our parents, they just turned eleven and had gotten chosen by their house. Thunderbird of course." Lyra frowned as she dug around in her bag, "We never knew them, or our parents really." She shrugged and bit a piece of chocolate from the bar, "Iota and Alhena." Lyra smiled to herself and pulled a photograph from her bag and offered it to Ginny. "That's them on their fist day. And my parents." Lyra pointed to the babies the girl's cradled. "Me and Ban."

"You look so much like your mom." The girls in the photo bounced the sleeping babies gently and her parents looked away from where the picture was being taken and smiled down at their family. "Wow and Ban looks like your father, your sisters are so pretty."

"We were basically newborns when they died, so our Uncles just kind of took us in." She smiled, "They are my father's older brothers." Lyra reached inside her bag again and offered Ginny another picture. "They're not married or anything. So I don't have any cousins. It's just been me and Ban really, they work a lot." Ginny stared down at the two men who stood behind Lyra and Ban in a still photograph. "It was weird growing up in a non magical home. Funny sometimes, they would ask up to float things down from shelves, or to summon things from other rooms because they didn't want to walk all the way there."

"They sound sweet."

"They are, maybe the next break they won't be traveling and you could come meet them." She offered Ginny chocolate and she shook her head.

"Mom would kill me if I ate that before dinner." Lyra shrugged and tucked it away after biting another piece off.

"I don't have to dress for dinner right?" Ginny laughed.

"Oh, you're serious? No. What you're wearing is more than fine." Ginny stood and frowned a bit, "Don't you ever wear trousers?"

"Sometimes, mostly when I go riding. Or when I have to do laundry." Lyra blinked at Ginny as she laughed at her. "Should I wear them more often?" Ginny led her from the room, still giggling.

"Do you own more than one pair?"

"Of course I do. I just prefer dresses or skirts, they're generally easier to move in." Ginny shook her head, unable to understand her friend as they made their way to the kitchen.

"Remus is arriving tonight, so Bill will have to squeeze in with you two."

"No problem." Said one of Ginny's brothers.

"Then, as Charlie isn't coming home, and Percy-" Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat when her voice cracked, "that just leaves Harry, Thuban, and Ron in the attic, and Fleur shares with Ginny and Lyra-"

"-that'll make Ginny's Christmas-" muttered another brother.

"-everyone should be comfortable. Well, they'll have a bed anyway." Said Mrs. Weasley turning from the table as the girls walked in. Lyra stared at the twins who were messing their brother.

"I forgot about Fleur." Ginny sank into an open seat and watched Ron and Harry peeled an actual mountain of sprouts.

"Who's Fleur?"

"My brother's fiancé." Ginny groaned, but not too loud so that Mrs. Weasley could overhear as she left the kitchen.

"Which one?" Lyra pointed to the identical twins and Ginny laughed crudely.

"Those idiots? No, Bill hasn't arrived yet."

"Can't you help us with these sprouts." Ginny ignored Ron and pointed to the twins as they spoke.

"No, I don't think we can do that," said one twin seriously. "It's very character-building stuff, learning to peel sprouts without magic, makes you appreciate how difficult it is for Muggles and Squibs-"

"Fred." Lyra nodded.

"-and if you wanted people to help you, Ron." Added the other twin.

"George."

George threw a paper airplane at Ron, "I wouldn't chuck knives at them. Just a little hint."

"You threw a knife at them?" Lyra laughed and the identical twins leant back in their seats to get a proper look at her.

"Who's this now?" George smiled.

" My twin." Ban announced proudly and squeezed Lyra's shoulders as he passed behind her, the identical pair exchanged looks.

"When you said you had a twin," Started George.

"We just assumed it was a bloke." Fred finished pushed away from the table, his brother following.

"We're off to the village, there's a very pretty girl working in the paper shop who thinks my card tricks are something marvelous... almost like real magic..." George winked at Lyra who was caught off guard and laughed nervously.

"You're not welcome pretty boy." Ban laughed and scratched the back of his head after the twins smacked him. "You wanna bring your friend?" Fred's voice was searching.

"Lyra." Ban chuckled and helped the others peel the sprouts. "And I think she's good mate." Lyra laughed at his accent.

"We should go, before mom asks us to help." Ginny was tugging Lyra to her feet.

"Gits," said Ron darkly as the group left the house and started across the snowy yard. Ban waved to Lyra and Ginny and Ron shoved him lightly.

❧

"-it's not that I don't like Fleur," Ginny helped Lyra over a stone wall, "Bet you're regretting that dress now."

"Not really. The shoe choice though," she groaned at her now wet suede boots. "Sad really."

"Are you two done gabbing?" George walked backwards towards the town and called back to them.

"Not nearly." Ginny shouted and groaned. "I think they like you." She whispered, leaning into Lyra who couldn't help but flush.

"They are cute." Lyra stared at her feet and frowned as a fleshy blur darted towards the twins. "They don't go to Hogwarts?"

"No. These bozos flew away last year when Umbridge was Headmaster."

"What? Where was Dumbledore?"

"I keep forgetting you're an exchange student." Ginny recalled everything that happened last year, about how Harry taught them all how to use a Patronus Charm and how Draco tormented them while they tried to learn proper Defense Against the Dark Arts.

There was a loud crack and then the twins draped their arms over Lyra, "You should have been there, our pranks are legend." Fred shoved Ginny a bit to get closer to Lyra. Ginny groaned and pushed her hands into her pockets.

"Flitwick even kept the swamp." George said matter-of-factually. "Proud moment for us, right Freddie?"

"Maybe if you were there we wouldn't have left."

"Gross." Ginny pulled a blushing Lyra away from her brothers. "We're going to head back if you two don't quit it."

"So be it. Then you won't get to sample our newest products." Fred and George stopped and stood in the empty field.

"Boring." Ginny tugged Lyra and she watched as they tossed a sparking ball back and forth.

"But it's so pretty Ginny."

"Yeah Ginny," it changed color as they tossed it back and forth, "it's pretty." The twins laughed together as the sizzling accelerated. Fred tossed it high and smiled when it crackled loudly and the sparks turned into birds.

"Wow." Lyra stared after the birds and they circled her, shining beautifully. "Ginny." But she was gone, huffing and stomping back towards the burrow. "Do you have more?" The twins smiled widely.

"Do we have more." Fred and George stared down at her.

❧

"You've never been to our shop?" George gasped.

"You've been depriving your friend of us for months now." The twins placed their hands on the back of Lyra's chair and she shrugged. Lyra kicked herself and became overly interested in her plate, chewing slowly and ignoring the twins as heat crept into her face.

"We weren't always friends," Ginny pushed her food around her plate. " She bewitched my boyfriend."

"I did not." Lyra huffed and squared her shoulders Ginny laughed.

"It's not your fault, something similar kind of happened when Fleur went to Hogwarts." Lyra stared down the table at the silver blonde woman who was leaning into the older Weasley brother. "Lyra's half Veela."

"No kidding." The twins were on the edge of their seat and leaning closer to Lyra.

"Does that mean you're related?"

"I'm sure, distantly at least. My mom wasn't French though." She shook her head, "Fleur went to Hogwarts?"

"For a year." Ron nodded and chewed loudly, "The Triwizard Tournament. You missed a lot."

"Well if I told you about all the things I did in Ilvermorny I'm sure you would feel a bit lost too." Ron shrugged, obviously indifferent.

"She did cause quite a stir." Ginny laughed. "Ron remember when you-"

"Shove off." He groaned and Harry laughed.

"If you're both Veela, why don't you two look alike." Lyra glanced at her brother who shrugged, "Don't all Veela look the same?"

"No." Ban laughed, "For one, Veela is a race of people, they still look different. They're not clones, they just have a certain commonality. Like the hair, or thier eyes. How pale Lala is." Ban shook his head, "And secondly, our father influenced how we looked. Obviously," Ban snorted at Ron. "And we're half Veela, Fleur's what, a fourth? And eighth maybe?" He sat back and drank deeply, "The further you are from the pure Veela the less you look like one." Ban smirked, "And no Ginny, I don't know why I didn't inherit any of the Veela traits. Besides my looks I mean." He winked at Ginny who rolled her eyes. Harry turned pink. "I'm assuming it's only carried through to the females, I've only ever seen Veela women."

"But then how would there be any true Veela."

"Good question. I don't know. Maybe they just appear you know... magically." He shrugged.

Lyra choked when a hand was placed on either of her thighs, Ban glared at the twins and kicked their shins roughly. "Idiots." Ginny laughed as Fred and George sucked their teeth and massaged their legs.

❧

Ginny spent the next few days trying to keep her things from Fleur's snooping hands, and Ban was helping Ron and Harry with the chores that Mrs. Weasley always seemed to ask them to do. Lyra felt useless and lonely as everyone else in the house was preoccupied, until Mrs. Weasley got tired of her hovering in the kitchen and shooed her out of the house. "The garden, dear." Mrs. Weasley waved her towards the small fenced off area and Lyra nodded.

She paced in the snowy vegetable garden and frowned at the labels. "Just carrots darling." Fred chuckled when she squealed. "I didn't mean to startle you. Mum just forgot to tell you what to grab."

"Carful of the Gnomes." George closed the gate behind him and stood next to his brother, offering Lyra a basket. "Nasty little buggers."

"Thanks." Lyra frowned, "You two are always together."

"Since birth." Fred squatted and began pulling carrots from the bed and Lyra leant forward with the basket. "You're not like that with your brother?"

"We used to be closer, when we were in the same House. But now he's usually with your brother and Harry and Hermione." She shrugged, "It's okay, really. Things change I guess."

"George and I still do almost everything together. Sharing a room, our business-" his voice trailed off, "Girlfriends." He mumbled and Lyra could feel the heat rise to her cheeks.

"How many do you think your mother will need?" Lyra ignored Fred and he smirked, tossing another carrot in her basket.

"Oi, Fred!" George shouted before Fred was bitten on his ankle. "Stupefy." George laughed and watched Lyra lift his brother's pant leg to inspect the bite. "Warned you."

"I'm fine really, it was only a nip."

"Are you sure?" Fred placed his hand over hers and smiled flirtatiously, "Sorry I-" she pulled her hand away quickly and shook her head. "The carrots. Right, your mom would want these." Lyra rushed away with the basket full of vegetables.

She watched from the window as the twins shoved each other for a bit, "Thank you Lyra, dear." Mrs. Weasley smiled and then shooed her into the other room. Ginny and Harry sat on the sofa and Ginny blushed when her father stood to leave the room. Lyra chuckled and walked up a few landings before sitting next to a window and watching the snow fall. Ron and Thuban were fighting loudly in the attic and Bill and Fleur were holding each other outside in the snow.

"Should have known you had a boyfriend."

"Oh," she blushed, "No. No, I don't." She watched Bill dip his fiancé and she reddened when they kissed and turned to stare at the two brothers. "I mean there was someone," she shivered, "but he turned out to be-"

"A cheater?" George offered.

"A garbage quidditch player?" She laughed at Fred and glanced out the window as Bill and Fleur moved to the back of the house.

"Evil."

"Slytherin." The twins said together.

"What's so wrong about Slytherins?" They gave a look that suggested she was crazy. "I'm a Slytherin."

"We know." Fred smiled, "Ron told us all about you."

"Remind me to kill him."

"Gladly." Said Fred and George together, she raised an eyebrow at how in sync they were with one another.

"What's going on here?" Ban chewed the inside of his cheek and tilted his head, knowingly. "That so George? Fred?" He ground his teeth.

"Just professing our undying love to your lovely sister. Though she told us that despite being unbelievably handsome..." George clutched his heart.

"...that she loves another." Fred finished for his brother and pretended to wipe a tear from his cheek.

"Do you have to bother all of my friends?" Ron pushed past his brothers.

"I thought she was Ginny's friend." Ron grumbled something under his breath and Ban followed behind Ron. Lyra sat with the twins for some time while they flirted shamelessly, she craned her neck to follow George's finger and laughed when her eyes fell on the angel atop the tree. It was the gnome from the garden, painted gold with small wings stuck to its back and shoved into a tutu.

"You two are shameless." She shook her head and straightened. George smiled up at her form where he lounged on the steps and Fred moved a step lower to be closer to her.

"Completely." Lyra looked from George to Fred and then back again, and then followed their eyes to the mistletoe that bloomed above her head. The brothers moved quickly and kissed her cheeks before rushing down the stairs. Lyra had never felt the intense warmth that bled through her.

❧

"I suppose he got this for me before our fight." Ginny frowned at the small locket that she pulled from her stocking. "You have one too." She nodded towards the overly stuffed stocking at the foot of her bed. Lyra poured it's contents onto the camping cot she was using as a bed and smiled at the amount of chocolate she received as a gift. Some were accompanied by letters and others by photos of the sender. "Insane." Ginny smiled and pulled some photo cards from her hand. "You're kidding me." She flashed one of Blaise and Lyra laughed.

"Must have made a good impression before he was knocked out and left in the forest because of me."

"Wait, what?"

"When I was-" she shook her head, "Blaise was collateral damage I guess. The guy knocked him out cold."

"Woah." There was a small pouch filled with gold coins and jewels. "Can I be part Veela?" Ginny snorted.

"It's not all that it's cracked up to be."

"Sorry I didn't-"

"Why 'ov courze eet eez." Fleur had woken up from the noise, "Alzo, I 'ave never been 'urt because ov eet ."

"Lucky you." Lyra spread the gifts out and lifted a small crimson satin pouch. Inside was a small but heavy circular pendant that had a small crescent moon carved into it with a single citrine gem held between the two points, the short chain was connected to the pendant by attaching to a thin pillar with a garnet. "Pretty." She turned the pouch in her hand and then peered inside, "It doesn't say who it's from." Ginny shrugged and helped Lyra put it on.

Lyra smiled at her brother when she came downstairs and tossed him a box as she passed. "Merry Christmas."

"Here!" Ban tossed her a package that squished when she caught it. "It's a skirt. I thought you would like it."

"Thanks." Lyra rolled her eyes and tucked the present under her arm, "Seen Mrs. Weasley?"

"Lunch." Lyra nodded and hummed her way into the kitchen.

"Oh Merry Christmas Lyra. There are more gifts for you under the tree."

"I wanted to give this to you. Thank you for having us Mrs. Weasley." She handed the large present to her, "It's from my brother and I. I hope you like it, Ginny helped pick it out since I haven't well-"

"Nonsense. I'm sure it is beautiful, thank you dear."

"Thank you again, and Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, now go on and open your gifts."

Lyra sat near her brother who pushed a pile of presents towards her, she frowned and he shrugged. "Magic."

There were fifteen gifts all wrapped in the same paper and her hand trembled when she pulled the note from the ribbon that secured her gift.

Merry Christmas my sweet Songbird

"Who's it from?" Ginny pulled the card from her and turned it over, "No name. Woah." Lyra unwrapped expensive dress after expensive dress. "That's insane."

Lyra pulled open another gift and lifted the card, To replace the one I tore. she tucked the card under her and opened the next gift and quickly crumpled the paper back around it. "He's insane." Lyra laughed and set her leg on top of it to keep it closed.

"So you do have a boyfriend." Ginny laughed and the twins frowned when then flopped onto the sofa next to their sister.

"No. He's a delusional moron. Who apparently has good taste in dresses." She tucked them back in their boxes, "He knows we're not together."

"And yet he persists." Ban sighed.

"You should see all the small gifts she got. It's insane how many people thought to send you something."

"It's her freaky Veela aura that bewitched the minds of men." Ban tossed small throw pillows at the Fed and George who overreacted and feigned innocence. "At least try to keep that to yourself?"

"They're like this with everyone." Ginny helped Lyra bring her things upstairs and shooed her brothers away when Lyra started to change. She hung one of her shirts over the keyhole and laughed when the twins groaned on the other side of the door.

Lyra knew it was supposed to be off putting, Ginny was trying to make them seem like womanizers, but strangely Lyra didn't mind. Knowing that they weren't treating her differently because of something she couldn't control was more than comforting. "I think they have a thing for you."

"Good to know." Lyra blushed and tugged her jeans on, "See, pants." Ginny giggled, "Right, pants means like underwear right?" Ginny nodded and the girls laughed together, Lyra pulled on her knit sweater. Unlike Ginny's and the others Lyra's was missing her initial, the image of Mrs. Weasley making it and deciding that she shouldn't walk around with a giant L on her chest made her smile. It was kind but unnecessary, Lyra would have loved it regardless.

"Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley's shrill voice called up the stairs.

"Right. I'd make yourself scarce, she's a bit stressed. And Fleur isn't helping her nerves." Mrs. Weasley called for her again, "Coming mom!"

❧

Lyra sat on the back steps and made small flowers bloom through the snow. "Don't let mum catch you doing underaged magic."

"Oh, well, I'm not underage." Lyra frowned and watched the small purple flowers twirl as they closed and disappeared beneath the snow, "I'll be eighteen in February."

"Aren't you in Harry's year?"

"We got accepted to Ilvermorny a bit later than others. Apparently, despite the fact that we used magic almost daily, they were unaware of us. We started a year late, unfortunately." She frowned and held her head in her hand, "Perks were they gave us extra classes so we could catch up with the year we were supposed to be in. Apparently they didn't tell Hogwarts though. Classes are so boring when you've already learned most of it." Lyra groaned and tugged her ponytail that was a little too tight. "What do you two want?" Talking about Ilvermorny made her homesick, she missed her friends and wondered why they hadn't returned any of her letters. Most of them were Muggle-born or at least Half-bloods, one or both of their parents knew about regular mail. She even sent letters to her No-Maj friends from where they summered in the Catskills. Lyra wondered if her Uncles had forgotten to mail the letters like she requested. "Sorry, I'm- it's all just a bit too much today."

"Want to take a walk? Clear your head?"

"I don't know. Ginny-"

"Is helping defuse the tension between mom and Fleur. I wouldn't mess with it." Fred was helping Lyra to her feet and wrapped his scarf around her neck.

"Thank you." Her heart fluttered, he was so close and when he smiled she could see his breath. Surely he was cold. Lyra on the other hand was burning as they walked, she stumbled and George caught her and kicked whatever she had caught her foot on out of the way.

"Careful now." The twins laughed.

"Sorry." Lyra's chest swelled and her stomach swooped as the brothers joked and made her laugh so easily. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach when she caught herself thinking of Draco. She wondered what it would be like to have him joke and laugh with her, for him to flirt with her so openly. She settled on the fact that Draco had never made her feel so light, even in the tender moments where he would cast constellations into the room and brush light fingers over her skin, all she felt was shame and guilt for enjoying his company. With Fred and George, she was filled with warmth.

"Lyra?"

"I'm sorry, were you speaking to me?" Fred and George laughed and Lyra hid her smile under Fred's scarf.

"We wanted to know if you enjoyed your gift."

"Oh yes, all my gifts were nice. I'm not sure how I'm going to finish all that chocolate, I mean I'm positive I can but I might go into a sugar coma."

"That's not what we meant." George chuckled.

"Did you like our gift." She stopped short and the brothers turned to look at her.

"Come again?" Lyra was hot, she didn't remember them giving anything to her this morning. Or even when she was opening the gifts from Draco, the twins didn't hand her anything then.

"Of course she likes it Fred, who wouldn't." Said George.

"I'm sorry which one was from you? I don't remember seeing your names on anything?" When she glanced at the brothers they were exchanging looks. "What? Did I really get one? Was it good?" Lyra laughed, when the twins shrugged. "Well, could you give me a hint?"

"To be honest, we didn't give it to you yet."

"Well thanks for making me feel stupid." Lyra took a step forward, "So do I get it now? Just know I didn't get you anything, Ginny wouldn't help me pick anything out."

"You can have it now, but we forgot to wrap it." Fred smiled and hid his hands behind his back.

"You have to close your eyes." She did and waited, shifting lightly in the snow.

"Is it small? Should I hold out my hand?" The twins chuckled, "Come on I feel silly standing here in the cold with my eyes closed."

"Just a moment more." George was so close and was pulling something over her shoulders. "Not yet." He laughed when she opened her eyes.

"Fine." Lyra waited and shifted her weight again. She chuckled and one of the brothers was fixing her scarf. She was itching to open her eyes, to see what they gave her, it felt like a cloak or a jacket. There was a long silence and then a twin pressed his lips to hers. It was just a peck but she shivered at the contact, and then he was gone and the other brother kissed her. When Lyra opened her eyes the brothers were running away from her, laughing. Lyra held her fingertips to her lips and smiled as she watched them spill into the house. She looked down and it was George's jacket that he draped around her. She pulled her arms into the sleeves and walked slowly back to the house, letting the cold air and light snow cool her red face.

❧

Everybody was wearing new sweaters when they all sat down for Christmas lunch, everyone except Fleur who had not received one. And Mrs. Weasley herself, who smiled brightly in a brand-new midnight blue witch's hat glittering with what looked like tiny starlike diamonds, a golden necklace and the dress and robe that matched the others' gifts beautifully.

"Fred and George gave them to me! Aren't they beautiful?" Mrs. Weasley twirled and showed off her hat, then smoothed her dress, "It fits beautifully Lyra dear. Thank you so much, you too Thuban."

"Well, we find we appreciate you more and more, Mum, now we're washing our own socks," said George, waving an airy hand. "Parsnips, Remus?"

"And it's the least that Ban and I could do for you. Thank you for taking us in during the Holidays."

Lyra served herself and groaned when Fred sat beside her and George pulled a chair near her other side despite having no room for a plate. Mrs. Weasley was talking to another Wizard who she had found out earlier was Remus Lupin, and he was once professor at Hogwarts, she had missed having him as a teacher as well.

Ginny eyed her brothers and sat across from Lyra who shrugged and shook her head trying to will herself not to blush. "Harry, you've got a maggot in your hair," said Ginny cheerfully, leaning across the table to pick it out; Lyra smirked and sat back in her chair smugly, trying not to chuckle. "Oh shut it." Ginny picked the roll off of Lyra's plate and bit into it stubbornly.

"'Ow 'orrible," said Fleur, with an affected little shudder.

"Yes, isn't it?" said Ron. "Gravy, Fleur?" In his eagerness to help her, he knocked the gravy boat flying; Bill waved his wand and the gravy soared up in the air and returned to the boat with little effort. Lyra stifled a laugh to spare Ron's feelings and reached for another roll only to have Fred place one on her plate.

"Thank you." Lyra shifted in her chair; Ginny cleared her throat and George passed her the butter, "Thanks." Ban rolled his shoulders and Lyra could see the color rising in his face, his head ticked slightly as he tried to keep the twin's thoughts out of his head.

"That's my sister," Ban growled but no one payed any attention to him.

"Arthur!" Gasped Mrs. Weasley suddenly. She had risen from her chair; her hand was pressed over her heart and she was staring out of the kitchen window. "Arthur-it's Percy!"

"What?" Mr. Weasley looked around. Everybody looked quickly at the window; Ginny stood up for a better look. Sure enough, there was a man with the signature red hair of the Weasley family striding across the snowy yard with his horn-rimmed glasses glinting in the sunlight, he was accompanied by an older man and Lyra frowned.

"Arthur, he's-he's with the Minister!"

"Who's Percy?" Lyra whispered.

"Right git." George grumbled.

"Older brother. Total wanker, you made the right choice." The twins slumped in their chairs and Lyra craned her neck for a better look at the men. Before any of them could say anything, before Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could do more than exchange stunned looks, the back door opened and there stood Percy. The twins were right, she had made the right choice, Percy looked squirrelly and arrogant. She glanced at the other Weasley siblings and chuckled to herself, apparently looks had skipped Percy Weasley. Ban gave a chuckle and Lyra flushed, knowing he had heard her.

There was a moment's painful silence. Then Percy said rather stiffly, "Merry Christmas, Mother."

"Oh, Percy!" said Mrs. Weasley, and she threw herself into his arms. Fred and George shifted uncomfortably and Lyra patted their knees to show her support but only got a cheeky wink from Fred in return, she hadn't bothered to turn to George.

The atmosphere changed completely, like the air had been sucked out of the room, and the Minister requested for Harry to tour him around the house so that Percy could have time with his family. He didn't call Harry by name, which made Lyra roll her eyes, and she noticed the others were also aware of his tactics. Everyone knew Harry Potter.

"What's going on?"

"No idea love." George's breath on her neck gave her goosebumps. "I've lost my appetite." He groaned and stood, followed shortly by Fred.

"Fred," Mrs. Weasley's eyes saddened, "George." The twins apologized, kissing their mother on her cheek as they passed and bumped Percy roughly. Lyra stared at her plate and successfully tuned out the room when her wrist was seized by Ginny and she was pulled from the table.

Percy was storming out the door, shaking mashed parsnip from his hands and his glasses. "What happened?"

"What's going on with you and my brothers?"

"Nothing." Lyra laughed and Ginny shut her bedroom door behind her and folded her arms in disbelief. "Seriously, they're just messing around to piss Ban off or something."

"I won't be mad, I mean what right would I have when I'm-"

"Crushing on Harry?"

"No." Ginny sighed and tossed herself on her bed, "Yes."

"So-"

"So?" She turned on her side and raised an eyebrow at Lyra when laid next to her on Ginny's small bed. "You like them?" She scrunched her face, "Both of them?"

"They did say they like to share." whispered Lyra.

"Gross!" Ginny pushed Lyra and she rolled from the bed laughing.

"I'm sure they're just messing around but," She smiled and shrugged, "I think they're funny."

"They do own a store full of tricks and gags."

"They're nice you know, sweet, and not at all like-" she stared at her wrist and tried to take her bracelet off again, failing with a groan.

"Fine." Ginny groaned, "Don't let me catch you snogging though. How would that even work with two-" Ginny gagged and covered her head with her pillow. "Please don't tell me anything, " Lyra laughed.

"Wanna take a walk?"

"I'm good. Go find my brothers and keep it to yourself."

Lyra laughed and grabbed her purse full of chocolate, "Love you Gin."

She kissed Ginny's head and before she could leave Ginny shot up, "Please don't tell anyone about Harry. Dean sent an owl and we're-"

"Really?" Ginny shrugged, "Fine." Lyra leant against the door, "And you're not going to tell me about all that, even if I ask right." Ginny hurled her pillow at the door and Lyra dodged it. "Okay, I'll drop it." She laughed and shut the door after her.

❧

Lyra wandered the perimeter of the Burrow for what felt like the hundredth time and followed a thin path up a hill to a small quidditch field. The sun seemed to dip quicker than ever and the large moon lit the night beautifully. It was cold, she crossed her arms over her chest and held the scarf she had gotten from Draco tightly, she wished it was Fred's. It was already dark and the house was lit and lively, she watched Mrs. and Mr. Weasley sway together through the kitchen window and smiled lightly.

"Lovely isn't it?" Said one of the twins and stood behind her smiling at his parents. "I hope to find that one day."

"I hope you do. Seems like a dream." Lyra turned her eyes to the sky and rubbed her necklace between her fingers, "I think I'd settle for someone who doesn't look down on me. Where's George?"

"I am George."

"Sorry. It's a bit dark." He studied her as her eyes saddened towards the sky. She shivered again and huffed.

"You should have worn a jacket."

"It wasn't this cold earlier, besides at least I wore a scarf this time." she laughed and her eyes found the constellation she was searching for and then her stomach cramped. She stared at the glittering snow and cleared her throat. "Can't have both unfortunately." George shrugged his long coat off and draped it over her shoulders. "Oh, no I can't. You'll be cold." She held it out for him and he took it back hesitantly, "I'll be fine. Should be heading back soon anyways, dinner right?"

George didn't say anything but moved closer and wrapped his coat around her. "Do you like it?"

"You are pretty warm, a bit snug though." His laughter vibrated her back and she let her head fall against his chest to look up at him. He stared above them, at the light wisps of clouds that moved slowly across the sky.

"Your necklace."

"Oh yes, I don't know who," she chuckled. "You?"

"And Fred."

"Why?"

"You're cute. And Ginny wrote about you every day for about a month." His lips tugged up in a grin, "We thought she was kidding about how pretty you were." She stared ahead at the tall grass as it swayed in the breeze. "Have you thought about it?"

"Hm?"

"Fred and I never enjoyed fighting over things we could share. But if I have to, if you'd prefer one of us, then-"

"Wouldn't be my first time with two." Lyra cleared her throat and George laughed. "First pair of brothers." She realized his arms weren't in the sleeves when his hands rested on her hips lightly. "Ginny gave us her blessing. Sort of."

"You asked my little sister," George whispered heavily into her ear, "if you could date both of her older brothers?"

"Well, no I-" Lyra's stomach burst with butterflies when he wrapped his arms fully around her, his warmth was intoxicating, "She asked me, kind of. Ginny was the one who proposed-" Lyra couldn't think, she couldn't understand how an innocent hug was affecting her so much. "Date?" George was laughing and Lyra felt like a child as he held her.

"Dinner." Fred was panting as he joined them in the clearing. "Good news then?" She could hear the smile in his voice and stuttered when George kissed the top of her head. He stepped out of their embrace and let his jacket slide over her shoulders. Fred wrapped an arm around his brothers' neck as they trudged through the snow and back to the house. It began snowing gently and she used the twins tracks to navigate in the dark.

Ban had saved a single seat for her on the opposite end of the table than where Fred and George sat. He babysat her for four days and if the twins were within feet of her Ban was by her side, glowering.

"What's his deal?" Ginny whispered pulling Lyra's legs across her lap when she joined her on the sofa. "He's hovering more than my father."

"I think he's been in your brothers' heads." The small pie Ban held crumbled and squished between his fingers when the twins entered the room. Lyra turned the page in her book and frowned, "And by the looks of it, he's not enjoyed their commentary." Lyra was bright red and wondering what the two of them could possibly be thinking about to make Ban so embarrassed and angry. A small part of her hoped she would find out soon.