For weeks after the tragedy at the World Cup Lyla stayed with her family having taken the time previously to give her sister a baby shower and see her little sister and brother off to Hogwarts before going back to work.
Lyla had been at her happiest in light of the recent events at her sister's baby shower. The back yard where the tables had been set up was green and full of bubbles drifting through the air, reflecting the bright colors of the packages and flowers in their sheen. Her mother was at her height of hostessing and grinning from ear to ear. Despite the jubilance of the party and the fact that everyone had a great time playing games and sharing stories there was still the shadow of unease waiting for each guest as they entered back into their normal lives, back to the news and radio reports and speculation of the night so many weeks ago.
At Platform nine and three-quarters Lyla was able to hug her sister before she started her first year at Hogwarts.
"I want to hear everything!" she squealed excitedly as she tucked Alicia's hair behind her ear.
"I'll send you an owl as soon as I get to my dormitory" Alicia said, her eyes sparkling, "My dormitory!" she repeated jumping up and down on the balls of her feet.
The whistle sounded from the front of the train and Lyla kissed her sister's head before handing her off to her mother to get a five-second lecture before she needed to board. Lyla stepped back and rested her head against a pillar and waved as the train as it pulled out of the station.
"What a year to start" Charlie had said as he crossed the crowds of people to Lyla. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her into a hug.
"Oh!" she exclaimed surprisedly and put her arms around his neck to give him a quick squeeze in response. As her heels lowered to the ground and he relinquished his grasp from her waist she smiled at him. "That is not the Charlie Weasley I remember" she smirked.
He shrugged and rubbed the back of his head. A soft hand touched Lyla's shoulder and she turned around to face her mother who was successfully holding back tears from saying farewell to her two youngest children. Lyla went to hug her but her mother, instead, grabbed her arm and turned her back to Charlie, "And who is this?" she asked, sniffling, as a knowing smile crept onto her face.
"Charlie Weasley" Charlie said, beaming, as he held out his calloused hand and shook Lyla's mother enthusiastically.
"Oh Charlie Weasley!" she said, glowing. "One of Molly's boys! How nice to meet you, I'm Fiona! And how do you know my Lyla?"
"Well, we were in the same year mum." Lyla said, squeezing her mother's shoulders "He was a Gryffindor though."
"Ohhh" Fiona cooed, "Lyla's father is a Gryffindor."
Charlie's glance moved quickly to Lyla just in time for him to see her face become stony. He knew that Lyla's father had been missing for almost ten years and, yet, Mrs. Murphy had referred to him in the present tense.
When Lyla felt his eyes on her she quickly spoke, "Yeah mum, yeah. Anyway, Charlie, it was nice to see you." And she began to turn her mother away
"No, no!" Fiona said, turning back to face Charlie. "How much longer are you in England? Come have lunch with us at home."
"No, mum, that's okay" Lyla said loudly as Charlie opened his mouth. "Besides I'm staying home in London, remember? Back to the real world"
Fiona giggled and put a finger to her temple, "Oh I forgot!" she said and kissed Lyla firmly on the cheek before turning to Charlie to shake his hand again. "It was nice to see you, Charlie! Bye now you two!" And before Lyla could say goodbye she had disappeared into the crowds of people.
"So," Charlie said, breaking the silence "You live here in London then?"
"Yeah" Lyla sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear "Yeah just recently moved here to be closer to work. When are you headed back to Romania?"
"Coupla days" he said, nodding "Do you...wantogeta drink?"
"I'm sorry?" she asked, unable to understand the end of his question
"A drink" he cleared his throat "Do you want to get a drink?"
Lyla's eyes sparkled, "I know the perfect place."
They walked along the damp London streets, his hand hovering over the small of her back as he strode alongside her; his stocky frame semi-shielding her from the downward spritz that was coming from the sky. He followed her lead, silently, keeping pace with her as she turned at random intervals to look back at him and smile as though she were making sure he could keep up. Suddenly, she stopped, turned on the spot three times while stomping her left foot on the ground then grabbed him by cuff of his shirtsleeve, close to her, and pushed her body against his as the ground below them crumbled away.
Charlie landed flat on his back, his knees pointed to the street above from which they fell. He blinked three or four times, his eyes adjusting to the much darker place he found himself in. While Lyla had landed across his body on her side the impact and darkness didn't seem to have phased her as she stood up quickly, brushing herself off. Instead of bending down to help Charlie up she pulled her dark grey, long sleeved shirt off over her head to expose the cerulean, lace bralette top underneath. She pulled her skinny jeans down to rest over her hips and expose her lower abdomen. Charlie propped himself up on his elbows and watched her as his eyes had adjusted to the light.
"What are you doing?" he asked
"Getting ready!" she huffed impatiently as she took her hair down from the bun on top of her head and shook the hairs into a fluid waterfall down her back. She smiled at his confused look and offered her hand to him. "You don't ask Lyla Murphy for a drink and expect her to take you someplace average, do you?"
"No, I guess not" he chuckled as he vaulted to his feet "Where are we then?"
"The Turner" she said, turning on her heel and leading the way down a couple of stairs and to a bright red door with a blue light shining on it. She rested her hand on the knob and looked back at him as he moved closer to her. "Where it can be any time you want." She opened the door.
