Hey everyone!

So we have reached it... both the last update of the year and the last few days of what have been the craziest year I've ever known. If anyone had told me this time last year about how this year would have gone I'd have said "You're joking!" but it really has been such a crazy year. One lesson I have learnt this year is to be grateful for what I have and never taken it for granted ever again. Now onto the soppiness. Thank you all who have read my stories this year... whether you're new here this year and have boarded the LM fanship or whether you've been here a while; I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my stories. I know sometimes they slow down and not much happens for a bit but the continued support keeps me going. I do look at my figures every now and again but it's ok if I don't have 10k a month. I write because I enjoy it and you all come and read my stories, hopefully enjoying them as well. 2021 will be better in some ways and not in others but we'll get through it by the power of words and stories. (and this became a LOT longer than I'd hoped it would be...) Anyway I'll pip down now so you can read. New Year's Day update are planned as normal but if I don't update I'l sure you know I'll update on the 2nd.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Lots and lots of love,

LM xxxx


Hidden Child-Part 85:

Lyra's eyes blinked opened and she looked around before seeing the faces of Jasmine, Daphne and Astoria. How they ever managed to wake up so early she would never know but there they were sat on her bed waiting for her to wake up.

"How are you all so awake already?" she yawned as she sat up.

"Tori always gets so excited about birthdays and Christmas," Daphne said, "she instantly came to wake me up so, of course, I never went back to sleep…"

"And, if I'm being honest, this is the first time I've been able to celebrate a friend's birthday because you're the first friend I've truly had," Jasmine said and that appeared to wake Lyra up completely and she sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"It's really my birthday?" she asked as she looked at her friends and they nodded eagerly.

"Yes it is. Happy birthday Lyra!" the three said at the same time.

"Now hurry up and get dressed before Draco and Zenon try and get into the dorm and trigger the alarm," Daphne said, "we'll meet you in the common room."

Lyra nodded before she began to get into her uniform. A birthday at school didn't exactly thrill her but when she'd only had her parents and Draco to celebrate with, a birthday at school was rather a lovely thought. She couldn't help but wonder if everyone outside her little group would know it was her birthday. She hoped not. She just wanted it to be a day that only a few knew about.

She headed to the common room and was immediately set upon by Draco and Zenon and she smiled, laughing softly as she was hugged by her brother. This birthday already felt different to her. She didn't care what she ate at breakfast at all… She knew her mother wouldn't be happy with her but she didn't really care. She just wanted to enjoy her breakfast.

Astoria watched as Lyra ate her breakfast before noticing Draco's sad look and she slipped her hand in his under the table and squeezed his hand.

"You OK Draco?" she whispered.

"This will be the last normal birthday she has Ria. I want to be happy but I also feel sadness," he whispered back.

"That is a totally normal feeling to have," Astoria said softly, "just be happy for her today and then we can discuss the rest when she's not around."

The first real surprise came when Helena Ravenclaw came up beside her during first break and showed her the way to McGonagall's office. Lyra walked in confused as she saw the Professor on her knees in front of the fire before walking closer and then gasping as she saw her parents and fell to her knees in front of the fire. Helena went to float away but was told she could stay.

"Happy birthday my darling girl," Narcissa said softly as she looked at her daughter, "sorry you had to be at school for it but I'm sure Draco and your friends are making sure that it is a good day."

"They are Mrs. Malfoy," Helena said, "I've been watching and they are. She hasn't had her presents yet though. They will be given to her at the end of the day," she said.

"Wise decision there. I'd hate for Lyra to get distracted," Lucius said as he wished his daughter a happy birthday. The parents spoke to their daughter before they had to go for a meeting.

Lyra had the most settled day she'd had for ages and had received her gifts in the afternoon and she loved every single one of her gifts; her training went well and some of her spells had returned.

It was only that night when Lyra was totally exhausted and asleep did her perfect day begin to go wrong. She heard screaming and arguing. It sounded like her mother and Aunt Bellatrix outside her bedroom door. She couldn't make out what they were arguing about and then she heard screaming and panic. She tossed and turned in her sleep and then she heard someone close to her door who shouldn't have been. She heard another noise before she woke up screaming, seeing wandlight and Tonks stood there.

She found herself being scooped up and carried off to Severus' office where he was still working.

"She had what I'd call a nightmare… a bad one sir," Tonks said, before Severus went over to Lyra and asked her what she'd seen. He instantly realised that she was reliving the War.

"I'll give you a potion each night to keep the nightmares away and I will have to tell your parents about this Lyra," Severus said as he looked at her curled up under a blanket before he gave her the potion and allowed Tonks to take Lyra back to her dorm.

He then walked over to the fireplace and sighed before throwing some powder into the fire. He'd been half expecting to wake Lucius and Narcissa but they soon appeared in front of the fire.

"Severus?" Narcissa instantly asked as she looked at him, "what's happened?"

"Lyra's had her first nightmare about the War and Tonks brought her straight to me. I know you dreaded this moment but it has now happened," Severus said, "I know that you know I cannot take these memories away but, what I can do, is make sure they don't affect her sleep."

"Thank you Severus," Lucius sighed, "I do not want her sleep affected by this at all… you aren't wrong there but I'd wished that she hadn't remembered the War but we have to face the fact that she does now. We will be the ones who have to answer her questions when she has any."

"Did she really remember a lot?" Narcissa asked.

"No. By the sounds of things this was her first time remembering anything of that time and she may have memories but the potion will give her dreamless sleeps so they won't turn up as nightmares and make her get sleep deprived. Today had been her most settled day at Hogwarts though," Severus said, "I will keep an eye on her and keep you up to date," he said before biding the Malfoys goodnight and heading off to bed, knowing that he'd have to tell Dumbledore what happened in the night… unless the Headmaster knew first and Snape wasn't going to put it past himself that Dumbledore did indeed know what had transpired in the night.