Driven by Challenges

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 11

The next day found that Lyra wasn't able to talk to him. Only to be handed homework assignments, dating back to the first day of classes. Which only gave them two essays from each class. Along with a few questions that needed answers from the reading assignments. Along with rune translations to get done.

"Library," the two asked each other. After finishing their breakfast. Then grabbed their things and headed for the library.

Once there, they found a table at the back corner. Then started on their makeup assignments. Unlike Hermione, who remembers everything she read, Lyra took notes in notebooks that she had gotten the other day. They started with charms, Transfiguration and DADA. Where Remus Lupin came in and dragged them to lunch.

When they entered the Great Hall. They noticed Lily Evans was sitting further away from the guys. Hermione turned to Remus with a kind smile, "We're going to sit with Lily for lunch."

He looked towards his friends and sighed. "What should I tell them?"

"We'll sit with you guys at dinner," Lyra smiled at him.

He nodded his head. "Alright, that should appease them." Then walked towards his friends.

The girls made their way over to Lily. Sitting across from her. "How were the classes?"

"Fine," growled Lily. "Until Transfiguration class, that is." She turned towards the boys, glaring at them. "I hate them! They don't study for the class or do the homework, but managed to get the spell right within a couple of tries!"

Hermione closed her eyes for a moment. She used to be like that. When a few people from Gryffindor were like that. She was frustrated with Neville on some days with Herbology. Until she sat down with him, only to find it was because of his passion for plants. Which helped her to aid him in potions class.

Lyra grabbed a bowl of stew and fresh baked rolls. "I know what you mean. It takes me a while to get something to stick in my head. But I have excellent muscle memory. After doing it about ten times at least."

The red-headed girl flicked her hair. Looking like silky fire. "I wish I could do that, even. But sadly, it takes a couple of days for that to sink in."

They then went on about the charms quiz that the school had. Which explained why Hermione and Lyra had a few essays instead. When it was time for classes once more. "Are you going back to the library," Lily asked.

Lyra nodded, "We are. You want to meet up after your classes?"

Lily agreed before she left. Then the boys came to them. Only to see James Potter looking like a hurt puppy. Seeing that Lily had left. While Sirius Black tried to pull a smoldering look.

Causing the two girls to look at each other. Both looking clueless about him. They turned to the boys with a smile, "Enjoy the rest of your classes."

"Shit," Peter screeched. "We're going to be late for potions!"

The two girls giggled, as they watched the boys dashing off. Like a bunch of cartoon characters that they had once watched as children. They managed to get their giggles under control. Before leaving the Great Hall, to get back to the library. Where they had decided to dive into their potions assignments.

Between the two, they were able to dig deep within their essays in the class. Which had asked from an assay question about other stones, besides moonstone, can be used in healing. They found blood stone. Then they added some well-known facts about the stone.

Once they were done. They jumped into Rune studies. Only to come up with a key chart for their further in class studies. The only sign that they had gotten from the fact that classes were over with. It was when Remus and Lily had walked into the library, before sitting next to them.

"How far did you get on your makeup work," asked Remus. While taking a book out of his bag. Seeing that, he was going to start on the Care of Magical Creatures assignment. Causing everyone to finish what they were doing. In order to work on the same homework.

"Just finished our Rune charts," supplied Hermione with a grin.

"That's fast," stated Remus, as his eyes nearly popped out of his face. "It had taken me three days to get that much detail as you've done!"

Lyra shrugged her shoulders. "It wasn't the first time I have done one." She looked at the measurements that she had done for each cluster. "But this is more outline and labeled than the last one I've done. Hopefully it sticks in my head longer, since I want to be a curse breaker."

"Why do you want to become a curse breaker," asked Lily, leaning into the conversation.

"Well," Lyra thought for a moment. "I had a natural gift for it. Since I seemed to stumble, anything that curses were attached to. So I would break them, by rewriting them." She shrugged her shoulders. "I always love rewriting stuff. Even some books that don't make sense to me."

Once Lyra and Hermione were done. They jumped into Care of Magical Creatures, which they hadn't missed much. Because the teacher was focused on everyone's personal view on a creature and how to take care of them. Hermione was writing out house elves and her views of how to change in Wizarding World's outlook on them. While Remus was doing the same for werewolves. Lily was focusing hers on mermaids and how muggles had looked at them. Lyra did hers on the thunderbird, along with some muggles who had seen it as the terakatal.

It was where the rest of the marauders found them. After each of them had finished with their assignments for Care of Magical Creatures. Sirius walked over to Hermione and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Hate to break the study session. But dinner will be starting soon," he kissed Hermione's forehead.

James grinned, "I'm not sorry. Come on, let's get to the Great Hall already." He went as far as helped stack everyone's books.

Everyone huffed, but managed to get their stuff and then followed James to the Great Hall. Once there, Lily was going to sit away from the massive group of boys. But Hermione held onto her, giving her a pleading look for her to sit with them. Lily grumbled but followed after.

On one side, Remus with Lyra then Lily and Hermione, with Sirius next to her. While Peter and James sat across from them. James tried so hard not to look dumbly towards Lily and tried to act normal around her. Everyone could see how painful it was for him.

Hermione glanced over to the Slytherin table, after seeing Lyra trying to look over without being noticed. Only to see Severus Snape looking back towards Lyra. Hermione hoped that they would find a way to spend time with one another. Knowing it would have caused her to go insane if she had to go through something like that.

'I could charm a couple of journals for them,' Hermione had thought. Making her realize that she was onto something with that idea.

Sirius grumbled, "Can't wait for the weekend." He stretched out his arms, allowing a few pops to sound. "I need a nap after this week of classes."

James hummed after taking a bite from his chocolate pudding. "I agree. It's been a long day. I almost thought McGonagall was going to serve us detention."

"About that," asked Lily. "What happened to get her so mad?"

James glared at Sirius. "You know how we were to transfigure our partners into animal-like features." When Lily nodded. James pointed to Sirius with a glare. "He thought it would be fun if I had antlers. Which somehow poked our lovely teacher's bum, as she passed on by."

Everyone had either gasped, laughed or squeaked. Lily covered her face with her hands. "No," she gasped out.

James nodded, "Yep! But after turning Sirius into a part dog, with the full loll of his tongue. It was enough for her to just turn away." It was then everyone had started to laugh.

Sirius grinned, "I have never seen her so pink." He took a drink of his pumpkin juice. "Let's hope she forgets about us for the rest of the week."

Hermione turned to him with a pout. "Do you ever take your classes seriously?"

James jumped in with a smirk on his face. "I think Sirius is allergic to being serious, it's just not in his nature. Is it, mate?" Where Sirius showed his classic smirk, indicating that he was up to no good.

Remus shook his head. "I pray for peace every year. And yet, it becomes a mad house before term is even started," he grumbled half-heartedly.

Peter grumbled, "Can we start on that prank that we had talked about," he whined softly. Making everyone look at one another for a moment before James smiled at him. "What's your idea, Pete?"

Everyone could tell that James didn't look like he was truly smiling. But seemed to be a good enough actor for Peter to not take notice. "I would like to charm the flames of the candles to spark different colors."

Everyone looked at each other for a moment. Remus smiled kindly. "At least it's a small prank that everyone could enjoy. I'll go to the library to see what we need to do." He took his last bite of chocolate fudge before wishing Lyra a goodnight. Since he didn't know how long he would be.

She turned to Hermione, where Lyra's eyes showed how uncomfortable she was. Where Hermione laced her fingers with her. Showing that she wasn't alone. The two managed to sneak away, after finishing their dinner. Where they slipped out of the Great Hall.

"Where are you two going?" Causing the two to turn in their tracks to see Lily. With her arms crossed over.

Lyra closed her eyes for a moment. "I'm having a bit of anxiety, Lily." Her eyes misted as she looked into Lily's green eyes. "A bit of an adjustment, really."

The red-head let out a sigh. "I guess it can be," she smiled kindly. "Anything I can help?"

Lyra looked hopefully towards the door. "Air, somewhere with air."

Lily smiled, "I know a place." She groaned when she remembered. "But we need to get the boys."

With a great sigh, they dragged the boys out of the Great Hall. Then Lily led them to the astronomy tower. Where Lyra sat down, with her back against the wall. Closing her eyes and just breathe.

"What's wrong with her," asked James.

Hermione shook her head. "She sometimes has anxiety. Being in new places with tons of people, she sometimes forgets to breathe."

Lily turned to Hermione. "So fresh air helps?"

"Mainly, but back home, she had a dog that helped her. Nugging her to be petted. Reminding her that she's not alone."

Sirius Black changed into his dog form, without so much a thought. Walked up to her, laying his head in her lap. Nugging her to pet him. Then she did, raking her fingers through the fur. Causing him to cuddle closer to her.

Hermione smirked, "Even while she's stressed. She managed to tame the wild dog," she giggled.

Sirius only managed to glare at her. Before getting lost with the raking of fingers through his thick coat. After thirty or so minutes, Lyra was back to herself.

"Humm," she shot Hermione a worried look.

Hermione smiled, "Sirius turned into a dog to help you. Are you feeling better?"

Lyra nodded and glanced down. "Come on, Sirius, time to get up."

With a groan, the dog had gotten up. He changed into himself, before helping her to her feet. "Feeling better, I know I sure do."

She gave a smile and hugged him. "Thank you, Sirius."

The group then made it to the common room. Where the guys dragged them to the fireplace and sat around. Where Sirius wrapped his arms around Hermione and Lyra, bringing them closer to him. Causing the rest of the common room with mixed emotions.

James rolled his eyes. "You better tone it down, mate. Everyone is going to think you're dating both of them."

Lily glared at Sirius. "I see Alice gossiping about it now."

Lyra groaned before getting to her feet and ran up to her bedroom. Not wanting Severus to get the wrong idea about her. As she tried to fight the tears from leaking out of her eyes.

"Lyra," called Hermione, as she chased after her. Once they were alone in their dorm room. "What's wrong?"

"I can't help but cry, cousin," she hissed softly. Hoping that no one would hear them. "I am just afraid of the grapevine making its way back to Severus. I don't want to hurt him."

Hermione looked at the door. Only to wave her wand at it. Making sure that no one would hear them. "We'll corner him tomorrow, he is a logical person, Lyra."

She simply nodded. "Since we're alone. Can I be truthful, I really don't like Lily. You told me stories of what people told Harry, but how does she fall for James?"

Hermione sighed, "Yeah, I was wondering about that too." She glanced at the door. "And she is way too emotional about the whole thing. The boys having fun, before the worries of the world take over. But I also get that they should think about their actions."

Lyra nodded her head, showing a small kind smile. "Thank you for listening, Mi."

"You're welcome, Ra." Hermione then waved her wand to the door. Before they had gotten ready for bed. Just moments before, their roommates came to do the same.