Chapter 6

Weighing Of Wands

After the meeting, Lyra decided to go explore the castle.

"How do these kids ever get to class?" She wondered, trying to find her way around the place. The castle itself was mysterious. It had changing staircases, ghosts and even a poltergeist! Lyra found a cove in the wall, near the courtyard, she sat down to read a book she had picked up in the library. The poltergeist seemed to prank every student who passed him. When he caught a glimpse of Lyra sitting there. He laughed and bowed lowly.

"Oooo…bow your ickley heads low for the witch from the 27…but dear miss American, can you fight a dragon or will you go up to heaven?" He jeered at her, making up some ridiculous line.

Lyra ignored him, she flicked her wand dismissively, as if to swat a bug. Peeves yelped, grabbing his bottom and looked at her in pain. He began crying and floating away as the students laughed watching Peeves dash away holding onto what looked like a steaming bum.

After spending her day reading her book about Hogwarts. Lyra seemed to know a lot more about the history of the castle, and thankfully, memorize the extensive map. She walked towards the great hall, hopeful to grab dinner. The hall was already full of students and teachers sitting and discussing their day. Lyra walked up to Athena hoping she could sit next to her. However, she was shooed away and asked to sit by the mentors.

"I don't want to sit there…next to him…" Lyra hissed, looking at the empty seat next to the rude professor she had met that afternoon.

"That will be your designated seat through the year, Lyra…"

"I'll go sit by Sarah then…"

"You can't sit with the students!" said Athena horrified at the proposition.

"Anything is better than sitting next to Mr. Dark & Brooding over there…" replied Lyra glancing at Snape who was reading from a book while he ate dinner.

"Just go…" Athena tsked.

Lyra rolled her eyes and walked over to the seat that was assigned to her, pulling it back, she settled down. She felt him look at her from the corner of his eye. He clenched his jaw and moved his eyes back to the book, while he continued cutting his steak. It was evident that neither was happy with their seating arrangement.

Lyra looked at the food in front of her. There was a variety to select from, it was literally a feast. She had been for many formal evenings held by MACUSA and even the 27, but the amount of food here was incomparable. She decided to keep it simple. She picked up a piece of fish and some potatoes. She needed to make sure she didn't overindulge, that meant her drinking would have to reduce substantially, her smoking would have to be cut to down to just one cigarette a day. This also meant that Lyra would have to really hold back on the sweets, which was a disappointment, because she had heard a lot about the shop called Honeydukes, in the village near the school. She would need to clean out her pockets for sure. She also made a mental note to wake up early and go swimming, she had seen a beautiful lake that could really help her workout.

The dinner was exceptionally boring, Dumbledore sat two seats away from her left, the one next to him was occupied by Barty Crouch, who kept him engaged in conversation. At one point, she could see the man looking bored as he caught Lyra's eyes, he gave her a painful smile and returned to the conversation with Crouch.

Finally, the empty seat next to Lyra was filled.

"Oh, thank Merlin!" Lyra whispered in relief. Minerva placed her stack of books on the table and looked down at her curiously.

Lyra beamed at her as Minerva sat down.

"Finally, someone to talk to!" Lyra said. Minerva smiled at her gently.

"You can always find me if you need to talk to someone." Said Minerva as she pursed her lips into a smile. Lyra smirked.

"So, tell me…where does all this food appear from?" Lyra asked as Minerva explained how there were secret house-elves roaming the halls of Hogwarts, making daily life easier.

"Have you not been introduced to your elf yet?" Minerva asked cutting the piece of steak on her plate.

"I get my own elf? Fancy!" Lyra smirked as she drank from the constantly refilling mead goblet in front of her.

"He comes with your quarters…" Minerva said frowning.

"Quarter of what?" Lyra wondered.

"…Quarters…I meant…your rooms…"

"I get my own room? Sweet!"

"Uh…yes…where else did you think you'd be staying?" Minerva asked in surprise.

"Well…I thought, I'd probably camp out at the inn in the village." Lyra shrugged.

"No…no…has Athena not taken you to your room yet? The mentors who aren't already residents at Hogwarts have been appointed rooms!" Minerva sounded, clearly troubled that Lyra thought she was supposed to live off-campus.

"Yeah, Athena…clearly has more important things to deal with. Plus, I think she's had a rather terrible week with Sarah…with Tessra, and now me…she deserves to relax." Lyra said looking sweetly at her aunt on the other side of the table. Athena who noticed her niece looking at her, raised an eyebrow asking her what she wanted. Lyra smiled to herself; she loved how kindness slipped out of Athena, now and then. Even though she pretended to be this strict and stern headmistress. Athena showed her love without actually saying much. Lyra adored her for it.

"Well, don't you worry, I will show you to your rooms after dinner." Minerva offered. Lyra smiled gratefully as she returned to her dinner.

Once she was done, she excused herself to go grab a cigarette. Minerva said she'd see her outside the hall. Lyra waited in the deserted corner for her youngest aunt to appear. She watched as the students exited the hall. Moments later, Dumbledore exited the hall as well. He dug his hand into his pockets and pulled out what looked like candy, popping it into his mouth. Lyra scoffed. He had obviously lied about not having smoked in years. This was clearly him struggling with not smoking. He seemed to been trying to break his addiction, with candy, something that Lyra had tried too! However, it had done nothing except get her addicted to candy.

Minerva came through the doors, chasing after the headmaster. He turned instantly when he heard her voice.

"Albus…"

"This envelope just arrived on my desk yesterday…Charlie Weasley has written back." She said handing the letter to him.

"I had a feeling he'd revert faster if you'd request it." He said as his blue eyes twinkled at her. He opened the envelope. She waited for him to read it, looking at him expectantly.

"Well?"

"It seems…he has asked for a list of our requirements."

"So, the first task has been set?"

"It seems like it."

"Don't you think, it's rather dangerous to have children fight…"

"Not here, Minerva!" He cut her off curtly and calmly.

She clenched her jaw, and then muttered under her breath.

"Not here Minerva…my foot…it's like you won't listen to reason. You keep listening to the ministry and their lackeys and there's going to be world of trouble for us. You know Potter's name showing up isn't some coincidence…he's just a child…he shouldn't be allowed…"

He chuckled at her anger. It enraged her that he did.

"It's not funny! You're offering Potter as bait…for some ungodly reason…and…all this mess is because you won't put your foot down with Barty. If you told them off…they'd listen…" She said fiercely telling him off. He looked at her for a few moments with a nostalgic smile.

"I didn't say it was funny. And you know my views…in order to discover more…we must…for the time-being let things unfold, Min." He replied softly. He then paused. He saw her face grow tense when he called her that. He hadn't called her that in years. They looked at each other as Minerva bit her bottom lip tightly. It felt like there was more said in just that look than in their words.

"Minerva…I…" He began, taking a step closer towards her. She pulled back without her eyes meeting his. But he reached a hand out to touch her arm. She moved away, and he drew back as a group of students giggled past them, bidding them a goodnight. Minerva shot them a stern look.

"I have to go find…Ms. Marks…help her get settled." Minerva said hurriedly, brushing away his attempt at a conversation. He sighed dejectedly, this seemed like it wasn't the first time, she was avoiding whatever he had to say.

"Of course…but…I…"

"Goodnight, Professor Dumbledore." She said leaving him behind. He dismally just watched her leave. Once again, he dug into his pockets for another piece of candy and made his way in the opposite direction.

Lyra watched their awkward exchange. There was clearly some intense tension between them. It started off as a normal conversation, of whatever it was, and then he said something to make her pull back quickly. It was like she went from obliging to detached in seconds. Lyra didn't know what their scene was, but it spiked her curiosity, what did the McGonagall sisters have against Albus Dumbledore?

"Lyra…why are you hiding in the corner?" Minerva called as Lyra stubbed her cigarette under her boot.

"Apparently, I am a bad influence…on the children, if they catch me smoking." Lyra replied rolling her eyes. Minerva who held a stoic look on her face, softened a little.

"Maybe you should stop smoking then…" Minerva replied as she began walking and Lyra followed her.

"You sound like my mom…" Lyra scoffed dismissively.

Minerva pursed her lips tightly and threw a side-glance at Lyra. The woman walked beside her, looking around at the castle's wonders. She completely missed the look that Minerva sent her way.

"So, what's the deal with you and Dumbledore?" Lyra asked blatantly. Minerva almost remained silent.

"He's just stubborn and stupid." Minerva retorted after a second.

"You must be the first woman to call him that…" Lyra laughed trying to push her to say more. Minerva scoffed and rolled her eyes, probably cursing the man in her head.

"I mean…there must be tons throwing themselves at him…even if he's much older now." said Lyra in amusement.

"Is that what happens to the American Dumbledore as well?" Minerva asked smirking. Lyra clenched her jaw. Minerva laughed lightly at her.

Lyra did not push the topic any further. It was clear by the jibe that Minerva wasn't interested in continuing the conversation. She did not want the aunt she had just met to go off her. Athena had known her ever since she was a child, she knew what Lyra could be like, Minerva didn't. And Minerva, had an impressive persona that intrigued Lyra, even if she hardly knew much about her, she felt drawn in.

They continued walking up multiple flights of stairs. Minerva showed Lyra many important terminals in the castle. Finally, they came upon a short corridor, Minerva walked straight through, passing a few doors and stood by one.

"We're here." She said turning to look at Lyra, who seemed to be marvelling the high ceiling. Minerva tapped her wand on the large door knob.

"Place you hand on the handle…it will recognise your print. And only you will be able to open it." Said Minerva. Lyra did as she was told, seconds later the door unlocked into a large living area.

Lyra entered the room that she found truly enchanting.

"I assume it's not the comforts the captain of the American Aurors is used to, but it's..." Minerva began teasingly.

However, Lyra wasn't paying attention. She walked into the room taking it in. It was clean and brightly lit. It was like a small yet expansive apartment.

"It's definitely a billion times better than my office desk!" said Lyra opening the door to the bedroom and the attached bathroom which had a huge clawfoot tub.

"Your…your office desk?" Minerva wondered with a small frown. Lyra returned to the living room.

"Oh…yeah…I usually just end up falling asleep there. I don't remember the last time I went home…" Lyra said half-talking to herself. She pulled out her wand and lit a roaring fire in the fireplace.

"Neat!" She said smirking as the room began to heat up.

"You don't go home?"

"Uh…not on most days…I prefer working…keeps my head screwed straight." Said Lyra dismissively rubbing the back of her neck. She walked over to the window opening it to a full view of the grounds.

"The view is phenomenal!" said Lyra happily pushing half her body outside the window.

"Yes, the faculty tower has it's perks." Chuckled Minerva as she came to stand next to Lyra to admire the view.

"So, the entire staff lives in this tower?" Lyra asked. Minerva nodded.

"The castle is so mystical…I half wish AIMS was so magical…this is definitely more beautiful than Ilvermorny too! I would have loved to have studied here!" said Lyra in wonderment.

Minerva looked at her with a painful smile. One that Lyra did not understand. But it went as soon as it came.

"Well, you are here now." Minerva offered gently. Lyra nodded.

"I suppose I am."

"Oh! I almost forgot!" said Minerva shaking her head.

She walked back to the centre of the room and pulled out her wand.

"Dobby!"

A loud crack was heard as a house elf appeared. He seemed to be wearing a dirty old sock over his ears. House elves did not get human clothes, why in the world did he have one on?

"Professor McGonagall…how can Dobby help?" He offered squeakily.

"Dobby, this is Ms. Lyra Marks, she will be using these quarters for the rest of the year. I hope you will come to her aid when she calls." Said Minerva gently. The elf bowed and offered Lyra his hand. She looked at it with a peculiar smile on her face. However, she didn't want to disappoint the elf, his sweet face held a proud smile. She shook his hand happily.

"Dobby is pleased to meet you, Miss!"

"Likewise, Dobby…and thank you for being of assistance. I see you've already managed to place all my belongings in places where they're meant to be. But I better warn you…I'm a very messy person." Lyra said chuckling. This somehow seemed to pipe Dobby's eagerness more.

"Dobby is not worried; Miss...Dobby has heard only great things about the American Dumbledore! A little mess means nothing, if Dobby gets to help you!" Dobby added chirpily. Lyra flinched at his use of the name. His face fell completely.

"Dobby, didn't mean to offend you, Miss!" He said shrilly shaking his head as if he'd committed a grave error.

"It's fine, Dobby. Please just call me Lyra." She pushed kindly; Dobby nodded hesitantly.

"That will be all for now Dobby…thank you." Said Minerva.

Dobby bowed at the two women before disappearing with another loud crack.

"What's with the sock on his ear?" Lyra asked Minerva curiously.

"It's…it's a long story…maybe we can catch up sometime soon and I will tell you." Minerva said yawning.

"Of course. I am sorry to have kept you…" Lyra apologised.

"No…it's fine. I am glad I got to…meet you Lyra…do drop by my office anytime in the evening if you like." Minerva said. Lyra nodded accepting her kind invitation.

"Now, I must go…I have an early class tomorrow and first year papers to grade…those are never fun." She added with a tired smile. Lyra bid her goodnight as Minerva left, closing the door slowly, but not before she got a finally glimpse at the woman lighting a cigarette. Her eyes lingered on her back for moments, not wanting to leave. Minerva then shut the door. Leaning against it, she sighed closing her eyes, biting her lip nervously. Somehow, she managed to compose herself and then made her way to her quarters just a few doors away.

The plan was to sleep in late today, and start training from tomorrow. Lyra had never been an early riser, but training as an auror and then making a career out of it, meant that she had to stay active. So, waking up early was a part of her routine. But that didn't mean she enjoyed it very much. She liked working out, but never early in the morning. Most of the time, the missions she went on were workout enough, but she knew if she stayed in that bed for very long, she'd get lethargic and comfortable and she couldn't have that!

However, Burst had a different plan. At the brink of dawn like clockwork, the large bird landed on her bed. Lyra was fast asleep. Burst looked at her master and gently nudged her head to wake her. When her master didn't stir like she usually did. Burst got worried, so she nipped at her ears gently. That didn't do the trick either; so, Burst decided to go all in and clenched her beak tightly around her ear.

Lyra shot up in bed from the pain.

"ALRIGHT! MERLIN! BURST! You almost tore my ear off!" snapped Lyra, now fully awake. She checked her watch which had been a birthday gift from her brother.

"It's 6AM, Burst!" Lyra groaned at the bird again who squawked indignantly at her.

"Alright…calm down, we're going!" She said yawning.

She somehow got dressed and scrapped her way out of the castle with Burst flying beside her. The castle was awfully quiet, much unlike it had been in the day. Only a few ghosts patrolled the corridors for students out of bed. Lyra walked past the caretaker who was snoring away on an uncomfortable armchair by the large entrance doors, his cat curled up on his lap. He stirred a little as Lyra pushed them open, but he continued to sleep.

Dawn had not broken just yet as she walked with her phoenix towards the lake. A long walk later, they finally reached the lake. Lyra stripped off her faded AIMS sweatsuit and stood in her two-piece. She then walked into the lake slowly, trying to get used to the extremely cold water that hit her bare flesh. She instantly turned around and tip-toed out shivering to the bone. It took her a few more tries to get used to the cold and a strong warming charm as she dived in. Lyra was an excellent swimmer, but she was wary of the lake's depth. The Black Lake, true to its name was extremely dark, the moonlight flickered on it. However, when she dived in, she could see only darkness. Lyra preferred to swim on the surface, she didn't want to stir any unknown creatures of the deep. After over an hour of constant laps that she had charted, she finally grew tired. She floated on her back, watching dawn break over the mountains in the distance, as Burst flew over her as her guardian angel, in case she drowned. Classic Burst, being over-protective of her. Probably, with good reason, seeing how many times Burst had saved Lyra's skin on missions.

After a few more minutes, Lyra decided to swim back to shore. She picked up her wand, a quick drying charm and another warming charm later, Lyra sat by a large tree in her sweatpants admiring the sky as the sun broke through the mountains in the distance. It had been a very long time since she had spent time doing nothing, or even watched the sunrise with nothing on her mind.

Movement in the distance caught Lyra's attention. She watched as Severus Snape emerged from the forest. He wore a black jumper over a white shirt and jeans. He didn't look so intimidating in muggle clothes. He was carrying a bag full of potions ingredients. His face was covered in dirt, it seemed like he was looking for ingredients in the forest

Lyra watched him march into the castle. However, before he entered, he rolled his sleeves down. That was when she noticed a darkish tattoo on his hand. She couldn't tell from the distance what it was, but it was clear that he didn't want anyone else to see it.

Lyra stood up and brushed herself off gently. Burst had already lifted off. She began walking towards the castle following Burst. This school and its residents were as mysterious as each other. Lyra wondered how anyone got any real work done here.

A few hours later, Lyra looked at herself in the mirror for the tenth time. She had to dress formally for this ceremony. She summoned her white cloak towards her. She hated the customary 27 Coven robes. They were all white with speckles of gold weaved in. Thankfully, they had modernized certain elements for better comfort. Lyra stood in front of the mirror looking at herself, tsking at the way she looked. She always preferred darker colours and these white robes made her hair look brighter than it was. She was wearing a sleeveless white jumpsuit. It had been tightened by a black belt around her waist, which held her wand on one side and a small silver dagger on the other. Lyra then shoved her arms through the white cloak and fastened the gold chain that held it together, making it look more like a cape. The crest of the coven sat on the top side, embroidered in gold. Earlier, it had been a long flowing white robe with a white vest and the 27 cloak over all of this. Now, most members just wore anything white. The only white pieces of clothing Lyra found packed, were this jumpsuit and a knee-length dress.

There was a reason why the garb was this particular way. The white symbolized goodness and purity…in most ways it was emblematic of the coven's motto—Magic for Good. The black symbolized that strength came with being grounded. The gold elements emphasized on potential and power. The wand was always on the right, which meant that magic would only ever be used for the right reasons, while the silver dagger was an archaic tool that each member carried as a reminder of safety from dark creatures like werewolves, which the Firsts had fought long ago, when those afflicted that been considered feral.

For all the good, the Firsts had done, they were sure a bunch of old farts with archaic beliefs. Lyra wondered what they'd have thought of werewolves and vampires living in harmony with wizards these days.

The cloak was an intricate piece in itself, with patterns of thin threads dipped in gold running across it. The gold patterns were supposed to have been weaved in with alchemic properties to help the material defend its owner from dark magic.

Tsking again at the look, she felt like she looked even more ridiculous. Sighing, Lyra left her room to go towards the small classroom where the wand weighing ceremony was meant to be held.

Eyes rested on Lyra as she walked through the corridors. She clenched her jaw, feeling like they were staring at her because she looked ridiculous. She quickly shut the door behind her as she entered the classroom. She noticed that somehow, she had managed to get there earlier than expected. She checked her gold watch. She was indeed early, but not by much. She walked over to the few others who noticed her walk in.

Athena, Dumbledore and Karkaroff were already there, dressed in official robes as well, each holding a crest of their schools. They were speaking to an old gentleman with a kind smile. Lyra assumed he was the wand maker, and the master of the ceremony. He stood behind the small work station he had set up. Barty Crouch, Ludo Bagman and Minerva were also there chatting. Ludo Bagman seemed to be unabashedly trying to flirt with her, while she laughed at something he'd said. Barty Crouch on the other hand was throwing rude glances at someone in the corner. They were all dressed in official robes. However, their clothes weren't as offhand-ish as hers were. But then again, they weren't members of a world-renowned coven. There was also a woman dressed in an extremely tight green robes with silver buttons and black fur trimmings. She was standing away from the rest talking to an excited looking balding photographer. She was the one, Mr. Crouch had been throwing nasty, angry looks at.

Lyra waited patiently, leaning against a desk as she dug into the inner pocket of her cloak and pulled out her silver cigarette case. Picking one up, she began to light it. The woman in the tight green dress sauntered up to her with what looked like a notebook and quick notes quill floating near her head. The photographer in toe, who snapped a picture of Lyra trying to light her smoke.

Lyra's face twisted in frustration at the flash that had blinded her. She hated journalists. But she was used to them fluttering about her all the time, begging for a comment or any scrap of news, she could let loose for them. However, in this case, it was different, Athena had spoken to Lyra about the "small" article that was to be written in the Daily Prophet (the British Wizarding Publication) about the tournament and the champions. So, Lyra had to butter this woman up.

"It seems like the women are the only ones on time!" Stated the blonde woman loudly, directing the comment pointedly towards the men in the room. They seemed to shuffle their feet worrisomely at her comment.

"Cigarette?" Lyra offered the journalist who looked at her impressively.

"Oh…no, thank you…I don't smoke." She replied as Lyra nodded and put her case back into her cloak pocket. Finally, she lit her cigarette. She noticed the photographer move away from them and lit a smoke himself, in the corner.

"Ms. Marks…I'm Rita Skeeter, I am the official…"

"Reporter for the Daily Prophet?" Lyra finished her sentence as Rita beamed at her.

"I was briefed…Lyra Marks…it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Lyra said offering Rita her hand. The woman shook it daintily, eyeing her with a shrewd smile.

"I must say, when I heard that the AIMS champion picked you as her mentor, I didn't believe you'd actually show up!"

"In all honesty…Ms. Skeeter…the AIMS champion is also my niece. So, there was no way in hell, I wasn't going to…as you say…show up!"

"Oh! How touching…she must be very lucky to have such a remarkable witch as her aunt…you must be her role-model!" Skeeter said gushing. Lyra simply bowed her head in gentle appreciation.

Her…a role model? To Sarah? She best hoped not.

"You know Ms. Marks…I'll let you in on a little secret. I have been following your work very closely for years now…in fact…I was the one to crown your very popular name…The American Dumbledore."

Lyra hadn't been listening, but when Rita said what she did, Lyra's hand curled into a fist. Her fake smile faltered, but she somehow managed to keep her composure.

"I see. Thank you. I'm…uh…flattered…"

"Oh, you're very modest for such a renowned personality, Ms. Marks! I was wondering if you could tell me…"

"Ms. Marks!" Came a bark from Mr. Crouch and Lyra was thankful for it. She crushed her cigarette butt under her black heels.

Rita Skeeter moved away from her and haughtily walked off after being rudely interrupted by him.

"Mr. Crouch?" Lyra asked calmly.

"We seem to be running off schedule…I suppose with it being a school day, our champions are stuck in their classes. I am sending a few letters to the mentors. I suggest you bring your niece here as well; we can then begin the ceremony." Mr. Crouch ordered. Lyra nodded as she looked at Athena.

"Double potions…I believe." Athena replied as if already expecting what Lyra was going to ask next.

Lyra nodded and exited the small classroom, making her way towards the dungeons. She found the potions classroom with little trouble as the poltergeist was there, creating a ruckus by banging on some cauldrons. One look at her and he floated away as the floating cauldrons, fell to the ground clanking harshly on the stone floor. He flew away muttering nasty things about her under his breath.

The door to the classroom was closed. Lyra opened it, spotting Sarah. Half of her niece's head was inside a bubbling cauldron. She stepped into the classroom as heads now turned at the bright figure who had just walked in. He met her eyes with a simple frown on his face.

"Yes?" He sneered at her.

Lyra looked at him without replying. Instead, she looked at Sarah who had her head in the cauldron.

"Suppose, you don't teach basic cauldron safety…" Lyra muttered under her breath as she pulled the girl's head up, finally getting her to notice.

"Pack your things…" She instructed as Sarah looked at her anxiously and then she turned to Professor Snape.

"Ms. Marks…you are blatantly disrupting my class…this is not your office, where you can parade your power!" hissed Snape threateningly. Lyra turned to him. And gave him a blank stare. Hopefully, enough to unnerve him. She could see his hand edge towards the wand on his desk.

"I am only here to collect the AIMS champion for the wand weighing ceremony." She replied. A spark of recollection was evident on his face as he looked at Sarah. He gave her a brief nod.

Lyra waited at the table patiently as Sarah tried to fix her hair.

"Merlin…could you hurry up?" Lyra hissed at her as she unsheathed her wand from the belt and waved it over her niece's hair as it raised up and placed her blonde tresses into a neat bun.

In the process, Lyra's elbow hit the cauldron behind her as the potion now lay to waste below.

Lyra turned apologetically towards the other two boys at the station.

"Oh…shit…I'm really sorry about that…" She said waving her wand again as the cauldron returned to the fire.

"Potter…what are you still doing here? Snape…you and Shorthorn are required at the classroom…we're very late!" snarled Moody walking into the classroom now commandeering the situation. He looked all decked up in his auror uniform, which was possibly a little tighter than what it used to be.

He pulled Potter out of the classroom by the scuff.

"That will be a T for you Potter…unless Longbottom can manage a semi decent potion." Snape snarled loudly and then continued to dismiss the class.

Lyra threw him a glare.

"It wasn't his fault…it was mine…don't fail him."

"Be that as it may, Ms. Marks…please refrain from telling me how to teach my class!"

"Teach? Is this what you call teaching? Shoving them in a dark room and pitting them against each other?"

"You clearly shouldn't be anywhere near a laboratory either…"

"Watch yourself!"

"Perhaps you should consider your own words more carefully!"

They glared at each other scathingly.

"It would be prudent, if you'd mind your own business. For the rest of the fourth years, please label your vials of Wiggenweld. Longbottom, if you and Potter expect a grade, then I suggest you stay back and create a new batch, and place them on the table before the rest exit the dungeon. AND DON'T BURN MY CLASS DOWN! Mr. Shorthorn! Let's go!" Snape barked as Shorthorn got off of his seat. They quickly left.

Lyra clenched her jaw. She noticed Potter's lab partner looking terribly distraught as a bushy haired girl came to calm him down.

"I'm really sorry, Neville. Lyra…shall we go?" Sarah apologized sincerely and then turned to her aunt.

Lyra dug a hand into her cloak's inner pocket, really deep into it, as the three students watched her with surprise. Her entire arm was inside the small pocket as she frowned searching for something. She then smirked as she pulled out a vial of Wiggenweld. The three looked at her in surprise.

"Here…it's my last vial…but I'm sure I can get some more…just stick your name on it." Lyra said offering the vial to Neville, who took it from her gently.

"I am really sorry that you have such a bastard—terrible person for a professor." Said Lyra smirking at the boy, who chuckled nervously at the use of her language.

She then collected her niece and walked out of the lab.

"That was really nice of you, Ly!" Sarah said as they entered the small classroom, which now held the required personnel.

"I'll have to write to your mom about sending in some more." Lyra mentioned. Sarah smiled at her aunt's kindness.

"Ah! The AIMS team is finally here!" said Mr. Bagman happily. The room turned to look at the two women. He then gestured for them to join the group. Lyra and Sarah stood next to Potter and Moody as they listened to what Dumbledore was saying.

"Everyone…this is England's most renowned wand maker, Mr. Garrick Ollivander. Some of you have heard of him. However, for those who may not know him. His family has practiced the art of wandlore for centuries. In fact, I hardly know of any witches or wizards, whose wands have not been bought at Mr. Ollivander's shop in Diagon Alley." Said Dumbledore smiling as he introduced the wandmaker.

"Mr. Ollivander, shall we commence the ceremony?" Dumbledore asked the short wizard who tipped his top hat to him. He then began to address the group.

"Hello, champions and mentors…the weighing of wands is a ceremony that marks the beginning of the Tri-wizard tournament. Since, your wands are the most powerful tools you will need, to get you through to victory, we must make sure they are in top condition. Shall we start with…Mr. Krum?"

Krum stepped forward and offered the man his wand. He studied it and was pleased by it.

"Now…you see in front of you three items Mr. Krum, pick any from the bird, the flower or the ribbon and showcase a spell of your choice." He instructed. Krum picked up the ribbon and made it zip through the air, making it perform his world famous Wronski-Feint.

Ollivander repeated this process for the others and their mentors as well.

"Ms. Lincolns…your wand please…" He asked politely as Sarah pulled her wand out of her blazer and handed it to him.

"Aspen…unicorn hair…must serve you well with your charm work, I believe…" He said smiling at Sarah.

He studied it for a few seconds and then returned it back to her. Sarah picked the ribbon just like the other champions and mentors had. She charmed it to change colours.

"Most lovely!" He said smiling happily.

"Ms. Marks?" He then turned to Lyra who was still admiring the colourful charm her niece had placed on the ribbon.

Lyra took her wand out and handed it to him. He studied it like it was the most delicate thing he had held.

"12-and-a-half inches, Ash wood and…I…can't really tell…this wand…"

"This wand is a specially customised one…the ingredients…are…not the most common ones…" Lyra said simply, as Mr. Ollivander looked at her.

"My…uh brother…had a penchant for wand lore when he was younger. He believed in crafting wands based on personalities." Lyra offered.

"Dad…can make wands?" Sarah whispered in surprise looking at Lyra.

"Long ago, you were too young to even remember this. You know how they say the wand chooses the wizard…I was a little careless with mine. My previous wand was hazel and dragon heartstring…12-and-a-half inches. Nasty thing. However, during a mission…it broke in half. I still have a splinter struck in my left hand." Said Lyra showing her hand to Sarah.

"Hazel wood…is not conducive for people who are estranged from their emotions…" Ollivander added curiously looking at her carefully. Lyra scoffed.

"That year…Michelin…my brother…crafted this for me. It's a mix…made with woods from the ash and flame trees, mixed with the essence of fire poppies. The core comes from my Phoenix, Burst, she only ever presented us with three usable feathers. He made three wands with it, one for me, one for his wife and one for his daughter." Said Lyra looking at Sarah.

"My…wand…isn't…we bought my wand from Wolfe's. You were there! He kept asking you to get one of his makes!" Sarah said shaking her head in confusion. Her wand was a unicorn hair, not phoenix feather.

"Yes…well…yours lays buried with our old dog Sal…because you demanded a proper wizard's burial for him. Don't you remember…there was a wake and all! You remember that don't you, Athena?" said Lyra looking at Athena who was laughing silently in the corner and nodded her head.

"WHAT! I…But I was five!"

"Not the most reasonable five-year-old…or seventeen-year-old at that." Commented Lyra, the room gave a small chuckle as Sarah exhaled in disbelief.

"Flame tree wood isn't one…I have ever heard of being used before…but ash wood…makes for most powerful wands indeed…loyal to the core…made for those stubborn in their beliefs…stubborn but not arrogant…" Ollivander muttered away.

"Not arrogant?! She's anything but arrogant!" Sarah scoffed. Lyra laughed at her lightly.

"The world may believe that Ms. Lincolns…but if that were the case…the wand would have defied your aunt a long time ago…" chuckled Mr. Ollivander.

He returned the wand and asked Lyra to pick one of the three things, as he had with the others.

Lyra looked at them, she picked up the flower and made it glide up gently. She then set it on fire as it floated down towards her. She caught the flame in her hand and tapped it with her wand. Opening her palm, what would have been a burnt daisy, had turned into a startling dandelion. She blew it towards her niece who gazed at the magic in amazement.

"Magnificent…a powerful display of charms and transfiguration. I understand why he chose to mix the woods. Your brother seems to have learnt of your multiple talents." Wondered Mr. Ollivander his eyes still following the floating seeds of the flower. His eyes then settled onto Lyra who was putting her wand back into her belt.

"A handpick of the 27 Coven's leader…I can see why…" He said smiling softly, his eyes looking at her in wonderment. Lyra blushed gently.

Maybe she shouldn't have shown off so much.

AN/- Reviews would be much appreciated :)