Chapter Seven

She stared at the words. The clamour of pots and pans, the sound of small feet rushing about, the smell of hundreds of dishes, of roast lamb and cottage pie, washed over her as she stared at the words on the small bit of parchment that had been dropped on the table next to her.

Droobles

Thursday 9pm

It had been two weeks since the incident in the Great Hall and Lyra had begun to hope that McGonagall had forgotten to arrange her meeting with Dumbledore. It was a wild hope. One that she would have been mad to think about with any weight. But no matter how distantly that hope was kept, it had been blown into nonexistence. And now in three days' time, she'd be sitting in the headmaster's office.

She'd resolved to not say anything. She'd go because she had to, but she wouldn't do anything, wouldn't say anything that would invite more conversation. The others had tried to reassure her that it wouldn't be as bad as she thought. But they didn't know what she was thinking. Sirius was the only one who hadn't said anything. He no doubt knew that his were the only words that could bring her close to reassurance. Instead he'd just gritted his teeth and sat, brooding in the squishy armchair as the rest of them sat around the common room fire, all agreeing that there were worse ways to serve a detention then sipping tea with the headmaster.

Lyra could guess why Sirius had chosen silence. It wasn't something he did often. Whenever he did, she knew it was because she would have found something disagreeable with the words he wanted to say, and he knew it. And she knew exactly what it was he was desperate to say that night. He wanted to tell her that she should get over herself. That Dumbledore was a great wizard who she should respect. And then, once it was just the seventh years left in the common room, he would've brought up the little group they'd all decided to join.

The Order of the Phoenix. Even thinking about it cause a sneer to form, a scoff to escape from her. A part of her, a very small vindictive voice that she would never let see the light of day, was pushing her to bring it up on Thursday night. It dared her to ask what made Dumbledore think that children would make for better soldiers than the countless Aurors he no doubt knew.

A pressure on her fingers pulled Lyra from the letter. Sitting on the table beside her, having finished chewing a piece of discarded chicken on the side of her plate, Talons had turned her attention to Lyra. Big yellow eyes were now fixed on swirling silver ones. At her master's raised eyebrow, Talons turned her head in a silent demand that Lyra knew all too well. The letter was all but forgotten as the girl moved to gently scratch the owl's dusty brown feathers.

The grin that had slowly been creeping onto Lyra's face faltered when she felt a familiar presence enter through the kitchen's portrait.

'There you are,' Sirius muttered, making his way towards them, ignoring the house elves who dodged around him on their way to offload heavy dishes onto the four long tables running the length of the room.

Lyra couldn't decide who he was talking to until he held out his arm, Talons flying straight to him.

For a moment, Sirius hesitated, not knowing whether to sit down with her or just leave in silence. Lyra fleetingly wished that the last month hadn't happened, that they could go back to how things had been before their parents had ruined everything.

She didn't have to wait long for Sirius to make a decision and a quick movement of his head in the direction of the entrance, had Lyra standing from her place at the end of the table. After years of non-verbal communication, she'd accurately translated the movement as a request for her to join him.

As they left the kitchens, Lyra noticed the letter in his hand, frowning in confusion at the name written on the envelope.

'Why are you writing to Uncle Alphard?'

'I can explain.' Sirius said, giving her a sideways glance.

'I don't think you can, actually.' She tried to keep her voice as calm as possible as they passed a small group of first year Hufflepuffs making their way to their common room. 'But give it your best shot.'

'Well it's not like I can waltz into Rosier Estate and simply ask Madam Rosier what exactly she was talking about that night.'

A heavy stone of exhaustion dropped into Lyra's chest.

'Although, I'm sure she'd be more than happy to invite me inside so we can discuss the matter over a nice cup of tea,' Sirius muttered, sarcasm coating his voice like bubotuber pus.

They stepped onto a flight of steps just in time for it to give a jolt – an action that had Lyra gripping the stone banister so as to not grip her stomach as it shot with a sharp pain. As the pair climbed the moving staircase, those in the group of Ravenclaws climbing the staircase in front of them tried their hardest to discreetly peek over their shoulders. Whether they were attempting to sneak a glance at her, Sirius, or Talons, she didn't know. To assuage her discomfort, she told herself that they were most likely looking at Talons. After all, it wasn't too often that an Australian Boobook owl would accompany a student to a school in Scotland.

Lyra felt herself grin when she looked at the small creature on her brother's shoulder. Their mother had told them that they were to share an animal, that she wasn't going to waste galleons on two creatures when she doubted the twin's ability to even look after one. Lyra had spotted Talons first. She had been placed in a cage and shoved into a corner in the back of the emporium. She'd been missing feathers and was lethargic and pale. Apparently, the owl had not taken the trip from Australia too well.

After showing Sirius, he quickly became just as enamoured as she was with the plighted bird. They'd prepared themselves to convince their mother to let them buy her, but, to their surprise, Walburga had spared the poor creature a single glance before laughing and agreeing to their request.

To this day Lyra wasn't sure why Walburga had done this, perhaps she'd not expected the bird to make it, and was revelling in some twisted delight over the prospect of her children's future heartache. Perhaps she'd simply seen the requested price and had pounced on a deal that was better than the one she'd been expecting. Whatever her reasons, it soon didn't matter as the bird quickly made a full recovery, thanks to Sirius and Lyra's efforts. And the twins never once missed the embittered look that would pollute their mothers face every time Talons would fly into a room.

The group of Ravenclaws didn't look back once they reached the top of the staircase and moved into the corridor it had stopped in front of. Sirius and Lyra followed them for a few steps before turning into a much less crowded passageway.

Making sure that nobody had followed them, Lyra turned to Sirius as they walked.

'You think Alphard might know something we don't?'

'What do we know, Lyra? I mean, apart from the obvious,' he said, waving a dismissive hand in her direction, not acknowledging her raised eyebrow. 'It's worth a try. We weren't around back then, he was, he could know something.'

Lyra didn't say anything. Stepping into a corridor that had been hidden behind a tapestry, nothing but the sound of their footsteps echoed around them.

When she was younger, she remembered that one of her mother's friends would sometimes visit. She had a distinct impression that Walburga had made them call her aunt or some such. She'd once told Lyra that she was unique, special, capable of so much more than anyone would ever allow. Such words said to such a young girl would of course be received with a fair amount of wonder and excitement, and trepidation. Looking back at it now . . . how those words haunted her.

But that was a lifetime ago. And even if Sirius was okay with allowing himself to be sucked into it all, she wouldn't.

Lyra didn't say anything until they'd reached the Fat Lady. As always, the guardian to the Gryffindor Common Room winked at Sirius – who winked back on instinct – and cast a wary glance to Lyra – who ignored her, as usual.

Turning to face each other, Lyra gave Talons' head another soft scratch.

'Just, don't be disappointed if he can't tell you anything.'

'You almost sound hopeful that he won't.'

Lowering her arm, Lyra turned to the Fat Lady, murmuring the password. She'd taken a step before she realised that Sirius hadn't moved.

'Owlery,' he said in answer to her unspoken question, shrugging the shoulder on which Talons was still perched. Well aware of the fact that she didn't quite believe him, Sirius tried not to sigh too obviously when she finally turned and made her way into the common room, the portrait swinging shut behind her.

Turning towards the direction of the owlery, Sirius gritted his teeth. He knew Lyra better than anyone else alive, and she to him. But there were times when he questioned even that. She was afraid. Of that he was certain. But of what, he had no clue.

ooOOoo

'Have you ever read Dracula?' He asked, lips twitching upwards as a soft, distracted hum answered her, followed by the sound of a page being turned. 'Y'know, that one by Bram Stoker, the muggle author.'

'The one about the vampire? No, I haven't. Why?'

Remus shrugged. 'Just wondering how accurate an account it is. He based the main character after Vlad Drakul, you know.'

'Hmm, it'd be interesting to read a muggle's perspective.'

Rolling on to his side, he grinned fully when he saw her still engrossed in the book she was reading.

After being thoroughly bogged down by mountains of homework, they had finally worked through enough of it that they could relax for an afternoon. Remus was sure she'd been doing most of her work in the small hours of the morning, knowing that she never really slept well. Not that he could talk. The full moon was only a few days away and he'd woken up in the middle of the night more than once since returning from Christmas.

They were currently lounging on a blanket that had been thrown down over the thick layer of snow under a tree near the frozen lake at the edge of the Dark Forrest. The air surrounding them was a lot calmer and warmer than the air Remus had walked through to get here . . . He doubted it was a natural phenomenon.

Now as he lay on his side, propped up by an arm, his own book lay forgotten beside him, Remus cast an eye over the grounds. Off in the distance he could just make out the tops of the Quidditch posts through the thin mist that had accompanied the snow. Every so often a figure on top a broomstick would fly around one of the posts before quickly dipping and disappearing again.

The sight led him to consider the twins' on-going tension. Sirius and Lyra were fiercely protective of one another, about that there was no argument. Maybe it was because of this that he would never get used to how short tempered they could be towards each other.

There was something they weren't telling the rest of them. Something that had happened that night that had led them both to put distance between them.

'So, when are you going to have it out with Sirius?'

Lyra flipped another page of her book. 'When he stops being a stubborn arse.'

Remus was tempted to make a reference to a pot calling a kettle black but bit his tongue.

Remus rolled over so he was being propped up by his forearms to better consider her. She had a hand resting on her stomach and Remus felt the familiar feeling of panic flare. He knew that there was nothing to worry about, by now she'd healed, she was fine and that's simply where her arm had fallen, but still the panic remained.

Remus blinked. 'Are you going to tell me what's going on between the two of you?'

She dropped her book and turned to him, frowning a little, the silver in her eyes swirling softly like the snowflakes that fell around them.

After a moment, she sighed, facing the branches above once more and closing her eyes. 'Sirius is just being paranoid, as per usual.'

Remus' eyes narrowed in annoyance but chose not to say anything.

'I'm sorry,' came Lyra's voice. 'I know you hate it when we fight.'

Remus snorted and moved closer to her. 'The whole castle hates it when the two of you fight.' Indeed, while the castle was not accustomed to seeing Lyra in what one would call a sunny disposition, they were used to seeing Sirius in a good mood. Having him stalk and brood through the castle was enough to set everyone who saw him on edge.

Remus relished in the smile that bloomed on Lyra's face when she opened her eyes to find him leaning close to her.

'Well it's a good thing that not everyone seems too upset then,' she said, her deep voice sending a shiver down him that had nothing to do with the surrounding snow.

Remus pretended to be affronted as he slowly lowered his face to meet hers. 'If you're talking about me then I'll have you know that I . . . am . . . very . . . very . . . upset.' He pressed short kisses to her lips, cheeks, forehead between the words.

'If you say so,' Lyra chuckled at his attention, which had grown now that he'd stopped speaking.

Remus grinned and gently bit a spot on her neck he knew would get a response. He wasn't disappointed as Lyra gave a small, breathy moan.

'Remus, what do you think you're doing?' Her hands pressing into his chest. 'We can't do this here.'

'Why not?' He mumbled into her skin, revelling in the warmth she was giving off. He captured her lips with his when she didn't answer him, apparently not having a good enough reason to stop, which was reason enough to keep going.

What he wouldn't give to be frozen in this moment forever. From the snowflakes falling gently, to the soft breeze swirling around them, to Lyra underneath him, her hands in his hair. It was perfection, totally, completely.

Or it would have been if a twig hadn't snapped from somewhere in the forest behind them that had them pulling away from each other and peering into the shadowy undergrowth.

Lyra was the first to look away patting Remus' chest as she did so. 'It's probably just an animal.'

Remus nodded but didn't look away. Now that he focussed, he swore he could hear something, almost like . . .

'Remus!'

He looked down at her.

She patted his chest again, pushing a little this time.

'Come on, I better get going, I'm sure I was supposed to meet the girls for lunch.'

He rolled over and watched Lyra get up. She bent down and gave him a chaste kiss. 'I'll see you later.'

He watched her until she was out of sight before he turned back to the forest, trying to find that sound again. But it was gone.


First off sorry about the lack of update on Monday, I had a killer of a university assignment due and didn't have time to work on this story. But to make up for it, I thought I'd give you all a bit more of Remus and Lyra seeing as people seem to like their dynamic (can't lie, so do I, obviously) and I'm hoping to get another chapter up by Monday as well.

Continued thanks to all those who are following this story and even more thanks to those leaving comments, you are the fuel that keeps this story going.

I'm currently doing work experience in a small zoo/conservation park that have a few boobook owls. I couldn't help myself from including them into this story as they're super cute and have such expressive little faces. They're also quite small and I thought it would be a nice tie into as to why Sirius chose such a small owl (Pigwidgeon – who according to JK was a miniature scops owl) to gift to Ron.

Next time, Lyra's detention with Dumbledore.

Till next time, stay safe, stay happy.