Chapter 7- Lyra

The night sky began to lose its eternal darkness as I walked back to our spot by the shore. The fire was flickering in and out when I took a sit back down on the soft sand. My hand titled a bit as nighttime began to pull at my senses and my body lies to rest on the ground.

Yet the sleep was not peaceful and the dreams were not dreams at all. At one time they were dreams but at the occurring time they are only nightmares in my point of view. My mind traveled back four years ago into a memory I had failed to remember before but I was pleased not to remember.

The car seat was rough but his warmth was comforting. His football uniform stuck to his skinny frame. My teeth chattered loudly from sitting out in the cold November night watching him play his football game. Keith enveloped me into his arms, completing the circle of love and I smiled from the closeness and beat of his heart.
He grinned and whispered into my ear, "Didn't I say I was going to hold you?"
I snuggled by head into the nape of his neck, the perfect pillow and responded, "Yes you did."
But my trembling heart failed to speak more and my mind closed out, leaving the space around us. It was just he and I. Those sparkling brown eyes staring into mine, reaching to my soul, touching the core of my soul.
"I love you." He says while pulling me closer within his jacket trying to contain the warmth I'm feeling. Butterflies consume my stomach as he lips sprawl onto mine. Gently tugging at my conscious. It was short but sweet, his lips were wet and crimson pink. I craved for them again, craved for that sweet feather like touch. I moved in gently kissing him again, edging into the position of his arms.

The dream soon ended and the night took me into its grasp. I awoke to seeing Harry packing certain items into his bag.

I rub my eyes trying to adjust to the bright light of the sun and question him, "Hey, what you hurrying up for?"

He jumps shocked at the sudden voice and answers me quickly, "We barely have anytime. We only have two more days to report back to Dumbledore. Can you please awake the others."

I figure I should listen and began by waking Hermione. Each of them awakens urgently and jumps up to a sitting position. I hold back from awakening Keith but I shake him awake then quickly return to my previous spot.

He had taken his shirt of before he went to bed and his six-pack bugles as he pushes himself up. His body is a masterpiece to my eyes as I stare transfixed. My mind begins to speak to me; you know you want him? No I do not! Yes you do! No, he's an asshole look at what he did to me! But girl look at his body! No, leave me alone! We both know you still care a whole lot about him. No! I don't and never will again, go away!

"Uh Sarah, Why are you staring at me?" I hear Keith's voice from off somewhere and look up at his confused face.

I try to smile in embarrassment and mumble,"Oh just in a daze. You know how people can get."

"Right." He says in return.

Harry suddenly speaks, "Come on we got to get out of here."

We all follow after Harry and soon we begin again on our adventure.

We step one by one onto a rough area of ground and I am barely able to see much since there is an only a low amount of light within the area. I slightly see the faces of everyone. The walls are made of a coarse stone, like stones of an ancient castle. Polished redwood tables are in two corners of the room and long streaming white curtains on our hung upon the windows.

"Pssshhh. Come on you guys, we must search for her without Oxford now." Hermione's speaks and motions for us to follow her out of the room. The architecture of the room is incredible and I marvel at the marble statues.

The hallway is more brightly lit by candlelight and I see Keith standing next to me.

He comes closer to me and whispers, "Quite beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes it is." I whisper back grinning.

"BOOOMM" I hear it from up above and jump back, falling into Lewis. I tremble a bit from the surprise.

He supports me back up and laughs teasing, "Oh Sarah, don't be such a scardey cat."

I stick my tongue out playfully and walk farther ahead. The carpet is a plush maroon with intricate designs sewed into it.

When we turn the corner we hear a feminine voice talking but oddly don't hear a voice talking back. The voice asks itself questions then answers back.

Harry listens at each close by door for the female voice and finally finds where it is coming from. He opens the door slightly peeking while staring at the picture of Lyra in his hand. He peaks in looking throughout then sees her at her desk.

He does not hesitate to speak and says quietly to her, "Excuse me, Lyra?"

She jumps from her sit slightly yelping then turns staring wide-eyed at Harry.

She giggles then eyes him speaking, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know anyone was there," She takes a breath then comes back into a normal state, "May I ask what your business here is?"

Harry nods and begins to talk, "It is of up most importance that we talk to you. I am Harry," he points to each of us while saying our names, "And this is my girlfriend Hermione, Ron, Lewis, Sarah, and Keith."

She grins and gets up taking a sit on her lace-covered bed, "Ok, what is it you need to speak to me about?"

Harry begins to tell her as much as he knows but is interrupted in the middle, "Will? Did you say Will? What nonsense is this? There is no way for any of this. And how do you have the subtle knife it was broken when I last saw it and as I know HE was the last to have it. But what is it you are saying about my dear Will? Please tell me." She gets off her bed approaching Harry wittingly.

Harry searches for words to say, "Well it is possible. I do not know how but when we return to the ministry we shall find out. Which is after we retrieve Will. Will is one of the prophets, we are going to go get him."

Lyra's face lit up at the last sentence and paced back in forth staring occasionally in the mirror then excitedly speaks, "I'm going to see Will! Will! Am I really going to get to see my true love? I cannot wait. Oh dear, I look horrid. What will he think of me now? Does he still love me?" She stops mid sentence going into her closest tearing out clothing, "What should I wear? So many choices. But I get to see my Will! I never thought I would see him again. Oh-"

Hermione stopped her and put her hand on her shoulder confused, trying to calm her down, "Calm down girl. Just breath in and out."

Lyra looked up shocked at Hermione, "You do not understand he is my one true love. We fell in love our final venture. Without him I am so lonely. To see him is to be granted life again. I love him so. I have no one, he was my only one. No one ever cared for me, as he did. I grew up an orphan and my only parents used me."

She sighed and sat down on her desk chair.

I step up to her and wrap my arm around her, feeling her pain. I whisper, "I know how you feel honey. I know how you feel. But now it's all ok."

She looks up again with a streak of suspicion in her face, "How do I know this is not a joke. Let me see the knife if what you say is truth."

Harry takes out the knife from his bag after he takes off the charm. Lyra stands up and takes it from his hand, staring at it.

She smiles, "The subtle knife. Boy, does this bring back memories." Lyra sat back down on her bed staring into the metal off the knife.

She hands it back to Harry, smoothing her hair back, "So when shall we be leaving?"

I step in asking a question, "Before we go though Lyra, I was hoping to see your world. I am quite amazed by it. I take it as just enchanting from what I've seen."

Lyra smiled awkwardly, "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to see a little bit. Follow me."

We follow her into the hall and continues speaking, "After we all tour the town a bit, you may stay the night, two to a room please."

Everyone started to pick there room buddies and before I could speak to Lewis he had chosen to stay with Ron, who he had grown a companionship with over the past two days.

I look over seeing my only choice for a partner, Keith.

He smiles hitting my back, "Hello room buddy."

I sarcastically grin and respond, "Oh joy." I stare away as Lyra leads us into our certain room.

The room has one large master bed and an engraved nightstand on the side. Two beautiful candles light the edges of the room, filling up the ceiling. The details and furnishings are just without imperfection .

I moan at the site of the bed though and complain to Lyra, "Is there any room with two beds?"

She laughs, "Not anywhere near me. I'm sorry but it is the best I can do. You'll just have to deal with it."

I fall against the wall as she walks out. I put my head in my hands as he searches the droors in the room.

I hear him talk, "Looks like were going to have a sleepover. Don't worry, I won't rape you."

I try to laugh but only sneer at his comment, "Don't even touch me ok? You stay on your side of the bed."

He laughs, "Ok Sarah. Just please, stop being so immature."

Before I can fight his comment he walks out of the room leaving me there.
A few minutes later as I start to doze off Lyra pokes her head in the door saying,
"Now that were all settled in, were going to go explore a few places. Come on now."

We all proceed down the hallways and certain stairs. Each hallway is filled with more lights and windows then the one before. We finally exit two large wooden doors and find ourselves standing on long stone stairs.

After walking down a short dirt road, we come to a place bedecked with all sorts of things. It looks like a place to shop.

I look at the back of Lyra and suddenly see a small green lizard crawling from her pocket. I scream at her, "Oh my God Lyra! There is a green lizard on you! Let me get it off of you."

She doesn't look at all surprised, just smiles and says to me, "Don't worry darling it is only my Daemon, Pantalaimon."

Harry raises his eyebrows interested and asks, "Daemon?"

She grins looking as if about to laugh, "Well you have one inside of you. It's like your soul, your conscious. Your daemon just isn't broken away from you. In our world our Daemons are apart from us and can become any animal they want. You'd be dead without it."

We all watched as the daemon turned into a large gorgeous leopard, rubbing its head against Lyra.

We were all still amazed but followed on into the market.

Jewelry, clothing, food, furniture, tools, and everything imagined were strewed about the different merchant tables.

The boys seemed to wander off to a different section as Hermione and I were attracted to a little shop with dresses hung on every crevice of the wall. All different colors of the spectrum each with lovely embroidery and jewels. Three dressing rooms lined the back of the dirt floor store.

I was attracted to a lilac silk dress with little jewels hanging on the shoulder sides and draped around the stomach line. The sleeves hung off my shoulders and a train was on the back. Detailed shiny flowers went around the waistline.

Hermione picked up a light green colored dress with about the same design except the beads were green and diamonds went up and down the sides. Her dress also was strapless with a bodice to thin out her stomach.

We both went into the dressing rooms and put them on. Also fixing our hair up into fancy styles as best as we could.

We came out finding the boys at the door of the store. Harry stared transfixed at the dress on Hermione, walking up to her putting his hands on her stomach.

Lewis smiled at me and said, "You look just astonishing. Late 1800's style, I see."

I laugh, remembering how smart he was.

I look over at Keith who's eyes our centered in on me, twinkling and wide-eyed. I blush noticing his stare.

The lady of the shop walks over to me and whispers to Hermione and I, "These are witch made dresses and the spell on them makes the man who loves you transfixed on you. Looks like you've both got admirers."

I smiled oddly, since Keith was in a trance on me. I think to myself, It's probably just a stupid myth. No it's not, He loves you! Haha, no way sugar. It's just his hormones making him stare. Admit it, you love him too! NO! You know nothing. Well I am you, aren't I? So how could I know nothing? Ohhh! Just bug off.

After we finish looking through the market we are about to go into a garden she wants to show us but we suddenly see figures above.

At first we cannot make out what they are but as they get lower I can tell they are on brooms and wearing dresses.

Lewis looks up and asks, "Lyra, What is that?"

She smiles happily, "Just witches Lewis. Don't worry its just Serafina Pekkala and her clan; they are friendly with my town. She is a very good friend of mine too."

The witches all land and one starts to speak, "Good day Lyra. We have brought urgent news for you."

I look back finding all four of the boys gap-mouthed staring at the witches. Each of the witches is gorgeous, with large hair and delicate make-up.

Before Lyra can say a word Ron runs up saying, "Are all witches as beautiful as you? God, you guys are perfect looking. And I'm a witch too, well a wizard."

The witches giggle a little then Serafina looks at him oddly asking, "Wait. You're a wizard. That means you can do what we can. Us witches can only marry regular man because that's all we have here. This is the first time we have seen wizards. We bow at you."

The witches gather around Ron and a few around Harry but Hermione rushes in pushing them from Harry, "My property! Mine!"

A few groan but only walk away throwing their selves on Ron. You can obviously see he is enjoying it very much.

Serafina laughs but begins what she started, "Girls, Girls calm down now. We were sent to deliver news not flirt. Lyra, we have found out that four powerful people are after you and your friends. They near and will harm you if you do not move on within a day. I advise you return back to Oxford for the rest of the day then leave in the morning. Just in case, I am also going to make three witches stay with you till then."

A chorus of Can I go comes from the crowd and Serafina waves her hand to be quiet. She steps around the witches looking at each, then picks a blond haired one with large blue eyes, a dark brown haired one with green eyes, and lastly a lovely girl with black hair and dark set eyes. At that moment they throw themselves on Ron.

The witches say their farewells then fly off into the evening sky again.

Lyra looks at all of us and speaks loudly, "Come now everyone, we must get back to Oxford."

We finally get back to Oxford and each of us say goodnight and return to our rooms.

I sit down combing my hair out as Keith undresses into his boxers.

I look over at him stunned, "Excuse you, you may not wear that little while I'm in bed. What do you expect, sex?"

He laughs then looks at me sarcastically, "Oh ya baby!" He winks at me swinging himself on the bed.

I groan then jump onto the bed too, resting into the pillow.

I feel a poke in my stomach then turn over saying angrily to Keith, "Don't do that!"

I sigh and whisper I can already tell this is not going to be a good night.