Chapter 24

Unnecessary Opinions

July progressed, as Harry's hearing had exonerated him. He could now be a little less stressed through the remainder of his holidays. He had definitely opened up a lot more with Ron and Hermione being around. Ginny and the twins would also always try to keep his spirits high. Having Sirius and Remus so close to him, was a blessing too. And he had formed a strong bond with many of the Order members as well.

It had been a week or so since his arrival, but he was still not explicitly told, what exactly it was that the Order was doing. Harry, was of the opinion that if Voldemort was building an army, he needed to be in the know of what was happening. He needed to know everything the Order was planning. After all, this fight involved him and his life, and it seemed like they were freezing him out completely. No one seemed to be giving him any information, what so ever. Every time he asked Sirius, he would change the topic.

At dinner, Harry sat opposite Lyra and Sarah. Sarah beamed at Harry who smiled and blushed. He wondered if she'd tell him, what he wanted to know. Harry knew, she was here for Zeus. That they were in love with each other, but for her to stay back and involve herself in a fight that wasn't meant to be hers, was really inspirational. Also, Sarah, had managed to rope in Lyra Marks somehow. That meant, something completely different.

Hermione had told him of just how difficult it had been to bring the member of the 27 Coven on board. Harry could understand why. Just like Sarah, this wasn't Lyra's war to fight. But she was here. For some reason. Hermione had also told Harry about the things they had overheard about her past, from the whispers between Sirius and Mrs. Weasley.

Harry's chain of thought broke as Bill Weasley, suddenly rushed into the kitchen and darted straight to Moody. They began talking in hushed whispers. Mrs. Weasley, threw them a nasty glare as if to say…not in front of the children!

Harry had had enough of being kept in the dark. He'd struggled all through summer, waiting on scraps of information, from whoever would write him back. But all he'd got back, were Hermione's lesson plans and some nasty jokes from Ron to help cheer him up. He finally snapped.

"You know...Voldemort is after me. Thinking that you're protecting me, by not letting me in on your whispers is…honestly, bloody pointless!" He snapped. The noisy kitchen now looked at the annoyed teenager.

Moody looked up from his hushed conversation, his magical eye darted straight towards Harry.

"We know…you're right, Harry!" Sirius sighed. Professor McGonagall, Mrs. Weasley, Remus and Moody all shot him glares.

"You need to know! What?! He needs to know. It's not your lives at stake…it's his!" Snapped Sirius loudly at them. He had grown tired of the boy's insistent hunt for information.

"He's just a boy, Sirius!" Mrs. Weasley yelled back at him.

"Well, he's not your child, Molly!" Sirius barked at Mrs. Weasley. She was clearly offended by this statement.

"Well, he's as good as! Who else has he got?!"

"He's got me! His Godfather!"

"Yes, but staying in Azkaban hasn't exactly been conducive for his upbringing has it, Sirius?!"

"So, you're saying I'm a bad godfather?!"

"No! All I'm saying is that…he's not…he's not James, Sirius! He may look like him, but he is not his father! And sometimes, you treat him like you've got your best friend back." Snapped Molly.

"Molly, Dumbledore agrees, that we should fill Harry in on the details. Not everything…but somethings, that could affect his future. Better coming from us, than anywhere else." Said Mr. Weasley trying to calm his wife. He was trying to be the voice of reason. Remus nodded in agreement.

"But this is ridiculous…he's still in school and…"

"Maybe…you should let Mr. Potter, decide what is in his best interests. He may be young, but from what I've heard, he's not exactly your ordinary teenager." Lyra spoke, tired of this argument.

"Lyra's right, Molly. We all care about Harry, just as much as you do. But it's time, we bring him up to speed." Remus answered.

"Fine then—FRED, GEORGE, RON, GINNY, HERMIONE…take your plates up to your rooms."

"Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George are just a year younger than me. And Harry's probably, going to tell Ron and Hermione, everything anyway. You should just should let them stay." Sarah urged, standing up for her younger friends. The teenagers nodded adamantly, staying stuck to their seats.

Mrs. Weasley, seemed defeated by her reasoning. She crossed her hands and muttered to herself. She found the prospect of involving the children, preposterous!

"So…Harry, what would you like to know?" Remus questioned carefully.

"What's Voldemort doing? I've been tracking the Prophet and even the muggle news, hoping for a single scrap of information…but there's nothing…no sightings, no killings!" Harry ranted.

"That's because, he's keeping a low profile…" Replied Remus.

"Not really that low...seeing he came after Lyra..." Spat Sarah. Lyra looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

"You...could have died!" Sarah snapped.

"Coulda...woulda...shoulda..." Lyra smirked shrugging. Sarah grunted at her aunt in disapproval.

"Why won't he show his face to the world? Wouldn't it make things easier for him? And if he did that night...it was probably because he thought I'd be an easy target!" Harry said quickly. Lyra leaned over and looked at him curiously.

"You see, Harry, his comeback didn't go quite the way he thought it would. He messed it up. Or rather, you messed it up for him!" Sirius responded cautiously.

"How?"

"You weren't supposed to survive that night…" Lyra added to the conversation. Harry noticed her looking at him as if he was something to marvel at. He blushed deeply.

"Mr. Potter, do you remember the last time we spoke before this…do you remember what I'd said?" Lyra asked with a twinkle in her eyes. Harry paused and tried to remember.

"You said…you sure know how to stay alive…" Hermione said out loud and then covered her mouth.

"Sorry, Harry. I just remembered what she said!"

Harry shook his head at her, mildly amused by his friend's quirk.

"The only people, who were supposed to know of his return, were Voldemort and his death eaters. He was to use your blood, to revive himself…blood of the enemy, if I recall correctly. He was going to kill you that night…but you escaped…" Lyra began.

"That night, in the defence classroom, when I fought the imposter, I understood why he was trying to kill you. That was their back up plan. If Voldemort failed, Barty Crouch Jr. could save the day. It wouldn't have the same weightage, but at least it would leave him free to roam the world…without his greatest enemy that he had created…but his plans were foiled once more."

"…and you returned to the one person You-Know-Who has always been afraid off…Dumbledore!" Sirius added.

"That's why he tried to kill Lyra...thinking it was you. We knew he was going to attack, the minute the Order planned to retrieve you." Sarah added.

"How...how would you know this?" Harry asked.

"We have a spy..." Lyra replied.

"A spy...in his ranks?" Ron wondered out loud.

"Bet...it's Snape..." Fred chuckled to his twin, who nodded.

"Professor Snape, is a crucial member of the Order, Mr. Weasley. You may think poorly of him, but he's the reason why we're a step ahead of You-Know-Who." Snapped Minerva sternly.

"Snape's part of the Order?" Harry frowned at Sirius.

"Dumbledore trusts Snape...a little more than we do. He's not the only one...it seems." Sirius replied shrugging, throwing a side-ways look at Lyra.

"He's out there at the cost of his own life, Sirius. Do not demean his contribution, just because..." Minerva said defending Snape.

"Minerva..." Moody called out to her. She grew silent and shook her head.

"So, what's the Order been doing?" Harry asked breaking the spat.

"14 years ago, Harry, when Voldemort gained power, he had a huge army…and not just witches and wizards but all manner of dark creatures! We believe he's building an army…much stronger than last time!" Lupin explained.

"Then those dementors…weren't lost like the ministry said?"

"The Minister of Magic, has a rather different agenda. He believes, Dumbledore, is after his job. That all of this, is a farce that's been crafted to throw him out of office. He's got the Daily Prophet in his pocket and they've been spewing lies about you…and Dumbledore, all through these months. Small articles of his past being brought up to defame him!" Moody spat distastefully.

"As long as, he's on the chocolate frog card…he seems to be pretty jovial about this trash!" Said George chuckling. Minerva rolled her eyes at his comment. She had heard Albus say this multiple times. How that man functioned was a mystery to her.

"The Order is recruiting heavily. Our latest edition, as you see, is sitting right in front of you. Because if, You-Know-Who, is building a powerful army, we need all the support we can get!" Said Moody gruffly, shoving his head in Lyra's direction. She smiled at Harry, who bowed his head gratefully.

"We believe…Voldemort might be after something…" Sirius began carefully. The room grew tensed by the topic.

"Sirius!" Minerva snapped warningly.

"You mean…me?"

"There…there is a reason, why the Potters were the ones to face Voldemort's wrath, Harry. There was a prophecy, that was disclosed to Dumbledore…it managed to reach Voldemort soon enough…"

"What prophecy?"

"That a child born in July, to parents, who've defied Voldemort thrice, will be the reason for his end."

"That's…that's why he killed my parents? That's why he's after me?" Harry asked dumbfound.

"So that…so that…he can kill me…before I can...? But that's just stupid...how? How am I supposed supposed to…I…am…I'm not even of age?!" Harry said shaken by what he had just heard.

"That's enough, Sirius!" Remus said loudly.

"You say much more…you might as well recruit him…" Snapped Mrs. Weasley.

Sirius, who had been close to the edge of his seat, fell back and shook his head.

"Good. Then I want to join…!" Harry replied with a glint of fierceness in his eyes.

"If Voldemort is raising an army…then I want to fight!" Harry said with an air of confidence. Many other young voices whispered in agreement. Sirius smirked at Harry and he smiled back at his godfather.

"Your determination is commendable, Harry. But, as you can see. You are not alone, we're here. Leave the fighting to us!" Sarah replied with a gentle encouraging smile.

"You don't have to do this alone. We're all in this together. That's something, You-Know-Who, doesn't have. He functions on driving fear. Everyone here, functions on care, love and support, Harry." She added. Harry bit his bottom lip. He was incredibly grateful for her empathy.

Someone entered the kitchen and broke their gaze. Harry followed Sirius' eyes as he saw a look of disgust and anger cross his face. Professor Snape had stepped into the kitchen as the table suddenly grew silent. He seemed to have ignored the shift in the mood and asked Lyra Marks to step outside. She excused herself mid-meal and walked away with him.

"Are they friends now?" Harry whispered to Hermione.

"They spend an awful lot of time with each other. They do seem close." Hermione replied shrugging.

"Please...who'd want to be friends with Snape?" Grunted Ron softly.

"That's just rude, Ron." Hermione argued.

"Come on, Hermione...he's a complete prick! Lyra Marks is too cool to be friends with someone like that git!"

"He's not a git to her!"

"And you know this...how?" Ron asked rolling his eyes.

"They're constantly doing night shifts, Ron. Not all of us, sleep like the dead! I've overheard them talking to each other. They're quite friendly."

"Gross Hermione! Are you saying, what I'm thinking?" Gagged Ginny, who was listening in on their conversation.

"You're all behaving very immaturely. All I said, was that they're friends..." Hermione snapped shaking her head.

"Yeah...probably...Marks...is too hot to fall for a greasy git like him. And can you imagine, Snape trying to get into her pants? She'd hex him to death!" Ron snorted.

"Rather rich coming from you, Ronald! Seeing that you can't even reveal your feelings for the girl you like." Piped Fred looking at Hermione. She looked at him in confusion.

"Shut up, Fred!"

"Aww...Ronnikins...are you going to dock points of me...now that you're an ickly prefect?" Fred sang softly, teasing his brother.

"You're a git...you know that?!" Ron snapped back at him.

"This isn't about me...why are all of you defending Snape anyway?" Ron questioned stubbornly.

"No one's defending him..."

"It's like you'll want him to get it on with her!" Ron thundered loudly as the table turned to look at his sudden outburst.

"Merlin, Ron...this is why they won't tell us anything!" Ginny hissed at him.

"All I am saying is..."

"Shut up! All of you!" Snarled Sirius quietly.

During their silent conversation, they hadn't noticed Sirius listening in. He looked disturbed by the fact that they had all pointed out. He knew Marks and Snape had grown close, but he didn't appreciate it. Maybe, it was time, he made his move.

"Don't be so sour, Sirius. You still have a better chance with her, than Snape does..." Snorted Fred. Sirius scoffed at his statement.

"Blimey! You're blushing!" George laughed as Sirius flipped him off.

Lyra sat in the kitchen alone, it was rather late, and the house was eerily silent. She rubbed the back of her neck, a dreadful feeling sat in the pit of her stomach. She hated it. She couldn't understand, why she kept feeling that way. It was as if, every time she was alone, she could feel a dark and sinister energy floating around. Lyra didn't know, what it was. Maybe, it was because the house had belonged to a family involved in the dark arts? But she wasn't sure, if something like that could leave a trace even after the castors had vanished from the face of the Earth. Could Sirius's hideous mother's portrait be the reason behind it? Or was the nasty house-elf messing with them?

Lyra sighed, stretching and yawning in her seat. It was late, and she hadn't even made a dent into the large file of article clippings, strewn across the dining table. In front of her, lay every piece of literature, every scrap ever to be written about the Dark Lord. All of this had arrived just a few days ago, from the headquarters of the 27, upon her request. If she was to be an emissary for them, she needed to know everything, about their biggest threat. After all, Lyra hadn't just become an auror, because of luck. Before every arrest, raid, duel, attack, encounter and mission, she planned diligently, and when Lyra planned, she did it with a passion.

The best part was that the library at the 27 headquarters, held knowledge about everything. Any word, worth knowing, everything ever published into the world, lay collected in the 27s vast library. So, in case a member, had a sudden need for extensive knowledge, it was available from all around the world.

Lyra had a feeling, she wasn't going to be able to finish this tonight. Not like it had anything startling in them either. However, she was on a night shift, and this one she couldn't risk dozing off on.

Since the past few nights, Snape had been constantly called away by Voldemort. That was what he had come to tell her during dinner. Every night, he'd return just before the brink of dawn, looking worse than ever. Lyra never asked him, what those meetings were about? Or why he looked like someone had beaten the life out of him. He would simply, slip into a chair opposite her and pretend like he had been there the whole time. She'd make them a cup of tea and then they'd just sit there in silence. Mostly, because Lyra knew, he'd fall asleep in minutes. And she didn't have the heart to keep him awake. There was also the little comment, he had thrown at her. Ever since the day that, Severus flung Sirius across the room. Lyra couldn't shake what he had said to her.

She sighed looking up from her parchment. She had the shock of her life. Sirius was sitting there looking closely at one of the parchments.

"Sirius...you startled me!" She said, trying to regain her composure.

"I apologize, that wasn't my intention." He replied, offering her a smile.

"Why are you still up? It's one in the morning..."

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd grace you with my presence. Seeing Snape's not doing his job properly. Thought you could use some company." He replied, moving closer to her.

"That's very thoughtful, Sirius, but as you can see, I have a lot of reading left to do."

"I could help you find what you're looking for." Said Sirius suggestively. Lyra clenched her teeth.

He sat down next to her, making Lyra feel uneasy. She knew, what he was trying to do. It was very obvious. She did pity him though. Not being intimate, for so many years, could drive anyone crazy. She knew, she couldn't handle it. And in his prime of all things! So, she understood. However, that didn't mean she welcomed his advances. It wasn't like she was new to men fawning over her. In fact, she had relished that attention to the advantage of her own desires. But, there was a time and place, and…he…did not interest her at all. Especially, with the insistent trying and the clear lack of game. If this had been her a year ago, perhaps she'd have taken him up on his offer, just for his looks. But Lyra, felt like she had gone through a lot of personal-growth. She found herself more interested, in people who were at the same wavelength as her. And Sirius Black was far from it.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather read them myself. Besides, I need to stay alert, in case..."

"In case something were to happen?" Sirius asked, still using that irritating sultry tone.

"Yes, actually. You know I'm on night duty...that's literally the job..."

"Well, you don't have to do it alone." He said, smirking at her and reaching his hand toward her face. She quickly withdrew.

"I'm not alone. Severus, will be here…shortly." She replied. Hoping he'd leave after knowing, Snape, would be returning soon. Lyra knew, they avoided each other like the plague. Especially, after Dumbledore had asked them to start putting their differences aside.

However, this had an adverse effect on him. He grew furious and frustrated.

"What's so special about Snape anyway? All he can talk about is potions…"

"Look Sirius, I have enough to deal with. I'd rather you, keep me out of your petty schoolboy rivalry." She snapped at him. Which made him angrier.

"You're a smart witch…clever woman…supposed to be a rather talented one too. Snape's bad news, Lyra. He's a snake…and the worst kind. I can't understand, why you're so keen on him? He's always been a pathetic, sad, loser…with not much to show for…"

"I am not keen on anyone, Sirius…" Lyra started tiredly; she really wasn't interested in this argument.

"He thinks he's so special, because he's got Dumbledore's ear. Well, 14 years ago, the same man played for the other team. He had Voldemort's ear. It's rather convenient don't you think, Lyra? That he's suddenly, rooting for our cause. To work for Voldemort, you've to do some really nasty shit. My brother was a part of that group…got himself killed for it. Who's to say, Snape's not selling us out, right at this moment!" Sirius spat venom as he spoke.

"I'm not going to indulge you in this conversation. I'm going back to my research, Sirius. I suggest you find something better to do if you can't sleep." Lyra snapped shaking her head. She pulled the parchment he had his elbow on towards her.

"I like you, Lyra. I know you had feelings for me too. So let's not beat around the bush..."

Lyra looked up at him, affronted by his proclamation.

"I'm sorry, Sirius. I'm not here to fan your libido. Please get that straight. I do appreciate your honesty though. I hope, you will appreciate mine as well." She replied. He clenched his jaw at her rejection.

"I'm sorry if my words have hurt you, Sirius. But I think your affections would be better received elsewhere."

"Elsewhere?"

"Hestia Jones...seems very interested in gaining your attention..."

"Are you jealous...?"

Lyra scoffed.

"I don't need to be jealous, Sirius. I am used to this kind of attention. I just don't think, I have the time or patience to use it anymore. Let's call it personal growth and move on." She replied going back to her reading.

Knowing that he wasn't getting what he had come for, Sirius scoffed and walked away, with a damaged ego.

Sirius had retreated to sulk in solitude a while ago. Lyra sighed, rubbing her eyes and checked her watch. It was now three in the morning. She frowned; Severus should have been back by now. He always got home around a quarter past two. Why wasn't he here yet? It felt peculiar that he hadn't returned by now. Lyra had a bad feeling about it. She wondered if this was something she should bring up with Albus. Although, it wouldn't be appropriate to barge into Dumbledore's bed chambers at three in the morning. He'd probably stun her before he could see her coming. Besides, she had no idea where he lived during the summer.

Lyra stood and lit a cigarette, pondering whether she should send Burst, her phoenix, to search for Severus. No, that plan had its flaws; if any Death Eater spotted a phoenix descending upon Snape, it could jeopardize his safety. She reluctantly returned to her research, but her mind remained distracted.

Another hour passed, and Lyra finally closed the file she had been staring at mindlessly. Her brain was too exhausted to continue. She jumped from her seat as a sudden loud crash resonated through the air, accompanied by thunderous magic that extinguished the candles in the kitchen. She waved her wand to relight them and then hurried to investigate.

"Merlin! Severus!" She almost yelled when she found an unconscious and pale Severus Snape, who had apparently apparated over the glass coffee table and crashed through it. Fawkes, Albus's phoenix, perched on the couch, gazing at Lyra and flapping his wings as if urging her to tend to the injured man.

Lyra rushed to Severus's side, her concern outweighing her irritation. She noticed the broken glass on the floor and waved her wand to clear it away. Carefully, she levitated Severus off the shattered table and placed him gently on the nearby couch. She checked his vital signs, finding a slow pulse and shallow breathing. Determined to help him, she ran to her room in the attic to retrieve her medical kit and returned promptly.

Severus groaned in pain, still unconscious, but Lyra took this as a positive sign that her healing efforts were working. She began by removing the large glass shards embedded in his broken hand, then fixing and bandaging his fractured ribs. Administering a blood replenisher to combat his extreme paleness and slow pulse, she moved on to the deep gashes across his chest. These injuries were the result of multiple Cruciatus curses and a dark slashing jinx, and Lyra used her skills to alleviate the pain and heal the wounds.

As she worked, her eyes inadvertently landed on Severus's Dark Mark. She knew he was a Death Eater, but seeing the mark up close was a chilling experience. It seemed to come to life, the snake moving as if it were slithering on his skin. She quickly averted her gaze and focused on her healing tasks. After setting and bandaging Severus's broken arm, she liberally applied healing salve to the gashes on his chest, murmuring incantations to accelerate the healing process.

"Fenura!" A stream of bandages enveloped Severus's wounds, securing them neatly.

Lyra breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the wounds closing and healing. She realized she couldn't leave Severus's side just yet; he needed monitoring. She took a seat by his feet, attentively watching for any changes in his condition.

Aries Shorthorn quietly entered the house, trying not to draw attention to himself. He had made it a habit to slip in and out unnoticed to have some time alone in London. However, this time, he had returned later than usual, just as his brother Zeus and his girlfriend, Sarah, were about to leave for work. He decided to avoid them and slipped into the living room to catch his breath.

What he found there surprised him. Lyra Marks was fast asleep on the couch, partially wedged behind Professor Snape's legs. She was breathing heavily, clearly exhausted from a long night. Snape, on the other hand, looked badly battered and bandaged. Aries could tell he had been through a rough night.

Aries had never particularly liked Snape, but he had grown to respect the man for his dedication to the cause and his willingness to help his brother.

Aries remained silent and slipped into the kitchen, pretending that he had just woken up. He sensed the tense atmosphere in the room, and it was clear that some of the Order members were discussing Lyra and Snape. He knew better than to get involved in the conversation.

The kitchen was bustling with activity as Order members gathered for breakfast, thanks to Molly Weasley's hospitality. The mood soured when the conversation turned to Lyra and Snape.

"It's not what it looks like…" Sarah interjected, clearly upset by the ongoing discussion.

"Oh, please!" Sirius retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Sirius, he was clearly hurt last night...badly! Go look at him, he's all bandaged up…and your first conclusion to that is they're sleeping together? You're being ridiculous!" Sarah snapped back at him, defending her aunt.

"They do seem awfully close for comfort, Sarah. I mean, they're always together…" Hestia Jones chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.

"That means nothing. They're together because they're working on helping the Order!" Lupin interjected, siding with Sarah.

"Not like it's any of our business!" Tonks snapped at Sirius, defending Lyra's honor.

"I agree," Remus added firmly.

"To be fair to Sirius, I think he should know what's going on in his house. If the Order thinks they can use it as their own personal brothel, then maybe it's something worth addressing." Hestia Jones chimed in again. Everyone knew why she had brought forth her point of view.

"Thank you, Hestia! Finally, someone who sees the right perspective!" Sirius said grateful for the support as he looked at her curiously.

"How fucking dare you!" Sarah snarled slamming her hand on the table as her breakfast plate fell to the floor and shattered loudly.

Severus jolted awake, wincing as pain surged through his ribs, his head pounding in rhythm with his heartbeat. His groggy eyes blinked open, and the memories of the previous night crashed into his consciousness like a freight train. He remembered the fury that had enveloped Voldemort, especially directed at Lucius Malfoy, whose failure to secure a base in England had incited the Dark Lord's wrath. Voldemort had demanded the relocation of their base to Malfoy Manor, but Lucius, once proud of his choices in life, was now plagued by regrets and concerns for his family. He had begun to question whether he should subject his loved ones to this danger. Voldemort's anger had grown, leading to punishments for every Death Eater present. Severus bore the brunt of it, as he could only report that Harry Potter had been moved to the Order's headquarters. When pressed for more information, Severus had nothing to add. He vividly recalled enduring multiple Cruciatus curses before Voldemort had moved on to another target. The details of how he had made it back remained elusive, but he remembered a fiery burst before collapsing, uncertain if he would survive that night.

Surveying the bandages on his arm, chest, and head, Severus pushed himself upright, grimacing in pain. He couldn't help but notice Lyra Marks, fast asleep and partially draped over the couch, her body shifting when he moved. Resolving to maintain some semblance of dignity, Severus retrieved his wand, fastening the buttons of his shirt and rolling down his sleeve before making his way to the kitchen. He realised, she must have administered a blood replenisher last night, and now the potion was making him hungry.

A tense atmosphere encapsulated the kitchen, where the Order members were gathered. It was not an unusual morning; but something was different. Limping into the room, Severus was met with an abrupt silence, every eye turning to him as he moved to the counter and prepared tea. The pain in his chest flared, but he endured it, refusing to show weakness.

"Oh…please, Professor Snape! Let me fix you a plate, and some tea…" Molly said fussing around him.

He wanted to wave her away, but he had no energy, not even for a snide comment. He stood there quietly, while she moved around, plating some eggs and some warm tea in a cup. The food smelt delightful; his stomach gave a loud angry call, asking to be fed.

"Here you go, dear. Do let me know, if you need anything else!" She said patting him gently on his arm. He shook his head politely, but was cut short when Black spoke.

"It's fine, Molly! Seems like Lyra's already fixed him up well, last night!" Snapped Sirius sarcastically.

Severus had had enough of Sirius's baseless accusations. He knew what Black was implying. He had seen the way, Black followed Marks around like a love sick puppy. How every time, she was having a conversation with anyone, he'd butt in without reason. Giving his unsolicited opinions, whenever he felt like it. Dumbledore had warned them both though not to indulge in their differences, to start working together. They'd clearly just ignored each other's existence for the most of it. But, Severus found his accusations baseless. He didn't know, why he said what he said, but he decided to provoke him further, to hit him where it hurt.

"Jealous, Black? That she prefers me over you?" Severus taunted, a sly smirk playing on his lips.

The tension in the room escalated. No one moved a muscle as Snape gingerly sipped the tea from his cup. Sirius retorted, aiming a low blow.

"What does she see in you? Is it your greasy hair, Snivellus?" Sirius snarled. Severus smirk shifted upwards.

"Perhaps, it's that I'm not a convict. Perhaps, it's that I have a functioning brain." Severus responded coolly, relishing the power he felt as he made Sirius look small in front of the others.

"Perhaps it's because you're flaunting your 'reformed Death Eater' façade. But I know, what kind of performance you're putting on..."

"A very...very enjoyable one, Black. Every single night. Are you upset, that you haven't been able to perform in years?"

Sirius's anger boiled over, and he raised his wand threateningly.

"Get out of my fucking house!" Snarled Sirius. Snape scoffed.

"Not that it's any of your business, Black. But unlike you, I am here to meet with Dumbledore. I actually have something valuable to contribute."

"It is my BLOODY BUSINESS! Find another place to FUCK YOUR SLUT!"

"Gentlemen!" Dumbledore's stern voice cut through the tension, his arrival causing both Severus and Sirius to turn their attention away from each other. They looked at Dumbledore, who stood in the doorway. Their eyes then simultaneously darted to the woman standing beside him. A look of extreme embarrassment crossed both their faces.

As the room fell silent once more, Dumbledore was accompanied by Lyra Marks, who wore an expression of disappointment and frustration. Severus felt a pang of guilt for dragging her into the confrontation.

Lyra walked into the silent kitchen. She addressed Sirius directly, her tone sharp and accusing, refusing to let him hide his previous words.

"What's wrong, Sirius? Weren't you just calling me a slut? Why don't you say it to my face?" She challenged, her gaze unwavering.

"Go on…I'm waiting…"

"Lyra…I was just…" Sirius faltered, struggling to explain himself in her presence.

"You were just what, Sirius? You were just…working on your own mindless assumptions and judgements again?"

"He said…you and him…" Sirius began too embarrassed, to say anything, trying his best to blame Snape for his explosion.

"And you believed him? Look at him, Sirius! Do you think he looks like he's in any state to even use his hand?"

"But you and him…"

"Who I like…who I sleep with…who I want to sleep with…is my decision…not yours!"

"I'm not here because I want to be! Do you really think I enjoy being trapped in this godforsaken house every damn day? Fighting a war that's not even mine? Let me remind you, in case your memory's failed you: I have no obligation to be here! It's you and your lot who depend on me, your godson who relies on me! But instead of recognizing that, you're stuck in some adolescent fantasy. Grow up, Sirius! Open your eyes to the world we're all working to save.

I'm sacrificing my time and life for a future where you might actually see freedom again, where Harry and his friends won't have to constantly fear for their lives! But no, you're more interested in my personal life, who I'm with or not with romantically. Is that all that matters to you? Take a cold shower, reflect on your pitiful existence, and think about how utterly irrelevant your behaviour is! Did you never dream of more? Didn't you want to be better? If not for yourself, then for Harry, the boy you claim to love so much? I remember you boasting about being a great father figure to him. Is this the example you want to set?

You're so consumed by jealousy and insecurity that you can't even see the bigger picture. This war is not about your petty vendettas or my personal life! It's about the future of the wizarding world, about ensuring that Harry and countless others can live without the constant fear of death hanging over them.

So, next time you decide to open your mouth and spew your baseless accusations, remember what you're really fighting for. Remember the sacrifices we're all making. And for Merlin's sake, grow the hell up!"

Lyra's voice raged like a wildfire, scorching every ounce of doubt and resentment in the room, leaving Sirius silenced and chastised in the face of her furious tirade.

"I thought you were better than that." She sighed disappointedly shaking her head. Once more, he said nothing.

Lyra's patience had worn thin, and her rage simmered as she waited for him to say anything—anything at all. But she knew, that he had nothing of substance to add after that disgraceful display. She clenched her jaw, her fury intensifying, and turned her piercing gaze towards Snape. The sheer disappointment in her eyes was palpable, and it cut deeper than any knife.

Snape, however, met her gaze with an infuriating indifference, as if he had done nothing wrong. As if he had no shame in dragging her into this wretched mess! The audacity of the man!

Unable to contain her anger any longer, she erupted like a volcano. In a moment of fiery resolve, she slapped him with all the force she could muster. The sound of her palm connecting with his cheek reverberated through the once-silent kitchen, freezing everyone in their tracks. Jaws dropped, eyes widened, and a deafening silence hung heavy in the air. Severus Snape, for once, stood in shock, his hand still cradling his stinging face.

"You are, without a doubt, the most ungrateful, despicable person I have ever had the misfortune of meeting!" Her voice thundered.

"Every single night, I stayed awake, consumed by worry and fear, praying that you hadn't met some gruesome end in a wretched ditch somewhere! I hoped against hope that you would return safely, and this is how you repay me?"

She bore into him with a gaze that could cut through steel, her eyes ablaze with a mixture of anger and extreme disappointment. His pride, which had shielded him moments ago, seemed to crumble under the weight of her words.

"Every night, for these past few months, I sat there saying nothing, while you writhe in pain in front of me. Every time, you fell asleep on the job, I felt sorry for you and made sure you had a couple of undisturbed minutes of peace…"

"Tell me, Severus..." She continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Did your little performance just now make you feel like a big man? Did it inflate your ego, knowing that you've outwitted Black and claimed some sort of victory by dragging me into this mess? Look at you! Do you think you're in any state to even have one off the wrist? Indulging his brainless judgements, make you feel good about yourself? Make you feel like a man? I slaved over you all night…making sure you didn't die! And this is how you thank me?!"

He opened his mouth to say something…but she cut him before he could produce any words.

"I don't want an explanation. Save your breath." She finished. Snape seemed to freeze upon hearing those words.

"Not the first time, you've heard that!" Muttered Sirius under his breath. Lyra shot them both a glare.

Turning around, to look at Sarah who stood up in support.

"Don't we have to be at work?" Lyra asked Sarah calmly.

With firm determination, Lyra marched out of the kitchen, her niece following closely behind. The message was clear: no one would get away with putting her aunt down.

"The Daily Bugle has a few articles about who Lyra's really slept with...both of you won't even be able to compete with some of the amazing men she's supposedly slept with!"

"SARAH!"

Lyra's snarl reached them from outside, and Sarah hastily made her exit. Nobody, it seemed, could mess with Lyra and get away without getting burnt.

AN/- Thanks for the reviews, guys! Really appreciate your thoughts. Also a big thanks to the Italian Reviewer, who has been a constant presence! I don't know who you are, but really happy that you're reading the story. I'd like to just say, put your mind at ease :) I won't say more, don't want to give away any spoilers.