'This is so bloody awkward,' was on repeat in Lyka's head. She could sense that it was floating through Harry's as well. Not long after she had dragged Severus off to the ice cream parlor, James had shown up with Remus and Peter in tow. All three of them had glared daggers at Severus, but at least stopped once everyone's parents had arrived. Now it was just complete silence as everyone ate their ice cream. While the parents were having a jovial time over at their table.

Harry honestly wanted nothing more than this to end. Severus looked miserable. Lyka looked like she wanted to be anywhere else. Preferably with her ice cream in tow. And the trio of idiots across the table looked like they would prefer the parents to leave so they could hex Severus. All in all...it couldn't have been a worse ice cream run.

But things change as Lyka seems to silently hurry Harry and Severus on with their ice cream eating. And eventually James and his friends begin to chat about what may come with their second year of schooling. Harry notes that Severus is attempting to make it seem like he isn't actually listening to the other boys' conversation. But Harry understands that Severus wants every advantage he could possibly get.

Then things get even more awkward when the conversation turns towards Houses.

"So Harry and Lyka, what houses do you think you'll end up in?" Remus Lupin asks innocently and kindly enough.

"Well of course they'll be Gryffindors like us!" James practically yells out with pride. Harry looks towards Lyka and sees her rolling her eyes. And notes that Severus has noticed her eye roll.

"I believe that it's probably likely that I'll end up in Gryffindor. I'm not overly smart, not too cunning, and I just don't really see myself being in Hufflepuff." Harry replies quickly, just as Lyka is about to open her mouth. He still remembers the scathing remarks she paid people who accused her of going Dark just because she was in Slytherin in their past life. Bloody hells, she was most likely going to force the Sorting Hat to put her into Slytherin anyway. Regardless of the subtle changes their new life had caused. Harry's opinion was that she was more of a Ravenclaw these days.

Remus nods thoughtfully, "Don't count your brains out yet, Harry. You never know what might develop in a few years of schooling!" Remus gives Harry his kind smile. The one that if it wasn't for that Harry knew Draco was somewhere around here, he would probably pursue Remus. "And what about you, Lyka? Have you given much thought as to where you'll most likely end up?"

Lyka nods slowly, looking between all the boys at the table. Gods...James was about to be pissed. "I've given it a lot of consideration. And I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to two Houses." She pauses for a few moments to eat more of her ice cream. "I'm fairly certain that I'll either end up in Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Mostly because I'm not overtly kind enough for Hufflepuff. And I don't have enough idiotic bravery for Gryffindor."

Harry had to stop himself from groaning out loud. Of course she would phrase it like that. But then again she's already spent sixteen years dealing with the prejudice that came with being placed in Slytherin. She was beyond used to the amount of shit she would get. And in this life, Euphemia would still be loving towards her daughter, regardless of placement.

Harry dares a glance towards James, and sees he can't seem to come up with a response towards his little sister's declaration. Was it the fact that she just called Gryffindors stupid? Or was it the fact that she said Slytherin with more enthusiasm than Ravenclaw?

"You...you'd actually want to be placed in Slytherin?" James finally manages to get some form of words out. "But Lyka...they're all Dark magic users! They all plan on following that Dark wizard everyone has been talking about!" He says this with a glare towards Severus.

Lyka snorts at him, "James, you do realize and understand that jinxes and hexes are considered Dark. And from what you've told me of your escapades at school, you've used quite a few. Does that mean you're a Dark wizard or have gone to the Dark side?" Lyka tilts her head as she stares at her older brother, popping another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. "Plus with what you've told me of Gryffindor house, it's filled with a lot of people that I wouldn't get along with very well."

Harry watches silently as James opens and closes his mouth in shock. Harry had been wondering how long it would take before Lyka started talking like this. Apparently one whole afternoon. "She does have a point." His mouth had opened of its own volition it would seem. Then again he was used to always having to back Lyka up when she managed to shove her foot into something. She always had his. "I mean...Merlin was a great Light wizard. And he came from Slytherin. Plus isn't your potions professor the Head of Slytherin? Isn't he good?"

James continues to stare in shock at the two of them. When had these two started growing up? Most kids their age just worried about the next snack and their homework. Not the differences between Light and Dark! "Uhh...well I would assume..." He closes his mouth, feeling somewhat sick from the fact that his little sister was a bit right. And the fact that Snivellus was looking at her with some mixture of awe and appreciation. "Oi Snivellus. The hell you looking at my sister like that?" James all but growls out, forgetting entirely about the points that Lyka and Harry had brought up.

Severus sighs and looks at Potter, "Simply being amazed that there is a Potter with intelligence. And being amazed that she's survived eleven years with you."

Harry laughs at that, the sound ringing out bright and clear. "That's because she gives as good as she gets. Sometimes she'll give even worse off if she feels slighted in some way." Harry starts snickering as a particular memory pops up. "Like the time where James thought it would be funny to dump a vat of mandrake jelly on her. Oh she was absolutely livid. The next day James woke up with mandrake jelly in all of his drawers and covering every single piece of clothing in his closet. She had even somehow manage to get it into the underwear he was wearing without waking him." Harry had to wipe tears from his eyes as he restrained himself from having a full on laugh breakdown. "Best part was is that there was no way to prove she had actually done it! We still don't have wands. And she can't really do wandless magic."

At this, everyone at the table besides James and Lyka were laughing. James was blushing profusely at the memory where his little sister had gotten him back so well. And Lyka was just smiling proudly while attempting to get the last bits of ice cream out of her bowl.

"How did you manage to get him back so good?" Peter squeaks out, speaking up for the first time.

Lyka realizes after a moment that Harry just managed to defuse the entire awkward energy. She flashes him a grateful smile before answering Peter, "Well a girl just has her ways."

Severus just observes Lyka, already figuring that she probably did some sort of silencing tune around James before loading his room up with the jelly. He halfway wonders if it's possible for sirens to be able to summon inanimate objects with their songs. That's when he decides to look through the Hogwarts library and see if there happened to be any texts on sirens.

Euphemia comes bustling over to their table, "Is everyone done with their ice cream?" At the four nods she gets, she smiles brightly. "Excellent! Then off to Madame Malkin's. Oh I can't wait to see my precious darlings in their school uniforms!" She drags Lyka and Harry into a hug.

"Muuuum! What about me? Aren't I one of you precious darlings?" James whines, deciding at this point that Harry had already embarrassed him beyond repair in front of Severus. Wait...when did he become Severus?

Euphemia chuckles and with a gentle, "Come here," drags James into the hug. Then after releasing the three, she motions for Severus to follow them as she led the way to Madame Malkin's.