Driven by Challenges

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 14

Hermione had seen a slight change from Lily. After she apologized to Severus. But he was still keeping his distance. With Lyra, she looked for the most part sad.

"Why are you sad," Hermione whispered softly.

Lyra had taken a deep breath. "Why can't things be simple and easy?" She turned to Hermione. "I… just don't like how things feel. Hiding one's feelings or not knowing that we're okay."

Hermione nodded her head. "Lyra," she whispered softly. "He needs to know himself and he looks lost at the moment."

"How much time do we have," asked Lyra with a hint of fear.

Hermione sighed, "Until Halloween of 1981."

Lyra turned to Hermione with a glare. "Five years, we need to start getting things going."

Hermione nodded her head. Looking around her, she was only too glad to be in the hidden room of the library. Already spelled for privacy. She had already grabbed the books that she needed for Horcruxes. Then she started taking the necessary notes.

While Lyra wrote notes on the five they knew of the time. Then wrote what they were. Along with the location of where to find them. Since Hermione didn't know the info of where the ring was found. Lyra had gone on to find the location of the Gaunt family home.

So the two rushed into their research projects. Only for Lyra to come with a location for them to start hunting for the ring. She didn't just find the town, but also the address to the Gaunt family home.

Hermione glanced down at what Lyra had written. "Outside Little Hangleton,

Yorkshire. What kind of house is it?"

"A shack," stated Lyra.

Hermione groaned, "I had wished I could find something else to kill the Horcruxes. Other than nearly killing ourselves to do so."

Lyra turned towards her with worry. "Isn't there a safe option to kill a Basilisk?"

Hermione smiled, "Cry of a rooster." She jumped up and hugged Lyra. "You're brilliant, Lyra!"

The other woman smiled. "Thanks Hermione." Then they planned on waiting until Boxing Day to deal with the Basilisk. Before taking the diadem and the ring.

The two then noticed the time. They needed to head down to dinner. Knowing that their friends would be worried about them. So, they packed up and left the hidden room. With a quick glance, they left the library behind them.

They had just made it to the Great Hall. When they noticed the angry faces on their friends.

"Where have you been," hissed Lily. "The guys were destroying the castle, trying to find you."

Hermione sighed, as she glared at the guys at the table. While noticing a couple of Slytherins watching them. "I know of a secret room in the library that we were using to get some studying done. Since I wanted to get some things done."

Lyra nudged her, passing some food towards her. "You need to eat, if you want to survive, their out winded questions."

Hermione smiled, she had never pictured a time she wanted Lyra in school with her. But she was pleased to have someone that knew enough about her, to be there for her.

"Hey," cried Sirius. "We're not that bad!"

Lily glared, "Then you can prove it, by not showing off all the time."

"Never," stated James with a smile that reached his eyes.

Remus rolled his eyes. "You see what I have to put up. If you manage to get their attention. They will want a bone to go with it."

Peter laughed, "Yeah, especially Sirius."

Mary gave a hard thought. "Are you saying that Sirius is a hound dog? Any girl would have told you that! He seems to chase anything with a skirt."

Sirius grumbled, "I'm right here." He looked towards James with a look. "They do realize that they can see me, right?"

Hermione bit her lips. Trying to prevent a laugh to leave her lips. She didn't want to encourage him further.

"Sorry mate, but it's true," smiled James with good hummer.

Lily turned to her, who was also trying to hold in her emotions. "Why are we around them, again?"

Lyra smirked, shaking her head. "Face it, life would be boring without them. But the pranks I can live without."

Sirius gasped loudly. "Remus, dump her! I swear she has no funny bone in her body!"

Remus through a roll at Sirius. "Then what about Hermione, you mindless duff? She doesn't like the pranks either."

"She's a Goddess of the Library," Sirius declared. "She is the one I will worship, and still manage to be graced with good grades."

Hermione blushed, as she glared at him. Which she found herself that she couldn't stay angry with him.

Remus glanced towards James. "I am afraid to ask…"

"Lily is the Goddess of Beauty. She adds the right mix of making things right in my life," declared James with love in his eyes.

Lily stuttered in disbelief. "I… you are a prat, Potter."

Peter smiled towards Marry. "You, my fair lady, are a Goddess of Fair and True. You have always been patient when explaining the homework assignments to me."

Mary blushed, causing her cheeks to redden. "Thank you, Peter," she whispered softly.

Remus sighed, he turned to Lyra. "I don't want to be outdone here." She gave a kind smile. "You, Lyra are a Goddess of Song, just like your name. I have heard your singing in the morning, when you think no one was listening."

Lyra gaped at him. "I had thought no one was around when I do."

"Nope," smiled Lily. "I heard you a couple of times. You're good, by the way."

Hermione couldn't help but hug Lyra. "Don't hide your voice. You should sing whenever your heart calls for it."

By then, the boys had decided to sing a song in the Great Hall. Causing the rest of the students to sing along. Hermione glanced towards the Head Table, noticing Headmaster Dumbledore smile. While Professor McGonagall looked uneasy, like it was some kind of prank but soon settled. When nothing else happened.

All in all, Hermione was happy. Not allowing the stress of the First War to overshadow the moment.

'I want more days like this.'