Get It On
The next morning, Lyra stirred awake, stretching lazily as the early sunlight filtered through the dormitory curtains. Believing she was the first to wake, she decided to get a head start on the day. Quietly slipping out of bed, she grabbed her robe and made her way to the bathroom—only to jump in surprise when Lily emerged from the shadows near the wardrobe.
"Lyra!" Lily gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "You scared me! What are you doing up so early?"
Lyra let out a breathless laugh, recovering from the surprise. "I should be asking you the same thing," she countered with a grin, stepping into their shared bathroom.
Lily followed her, gathering her book bag from the floor. "I was just about to head down for breakfast," she said, her tone still hushed out of consideration for their sleeping roommates.
Lyra smirked as she reached for her favorite headband on the sink. "Guess great minds think alike," she quipped, slipping it into her hair.
A glance at the clock caught her attention—it was only 7 a.m. Frowning slightly, she turned back to Lily, who was fussing with her bag's straps. "Lily, do you think we’re weird for being up this early? I mean, class doesn’t even start until nine," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Lily paused, following Lyra's gaze toward Marlene and Mary, who were still sprawled in their beds, snuggled deep under their blankets.
"Weird?" Lily echoed, tilting her head thoughtfully. "Maybe. But I prefer to call it being responsible. Besides, it’s our first official day at Hogwarts. I wouldn’t want to risk being late." She gave a small shrug, her practical nature shining through.
Lyra chuckled softly as she adjusted her headband. "I guess that’s true. Better to be early than get stuck behind a crowd of first-years trying to figure out where to go."
"Exactly!" Lily said with a grin, slipping her book bag onto her shoulder. "Do you want me to save you a seat at breakfast?"
Lyra shook her head, her smile warm. "No, that’s fine. I’m meeting Sirius and the others beforehand, so I’m good."
At the mention of her brother, Lily’s lips quirked upward in a knowing smile. "Of course you are. Well, I’ll see you down there, then."
"See you," Lyra replied, watching Lily slip out of the dormitory. For a moment, she lingered, glancing back at Marlene and Mary, who were still blissfully asleep. She couldn’t help but wonder if their more leisurely approach to the morning was the smarter one.
Marlene and Mary were just beginning to stir as Lyra gathered her things and headed for the door. She paused to flash them a cheerful smile. "Good morning, you two! Lily’s already at the Great Hall, and she’s saved seats for both of you. So, you’d better get a move on. I’ll see you in class!"
The two mumbled groggy replies, still half-buried under their blankets, as Lyra slipped out of the room with a bounce in her step.
Descending into the common room, Lyra was surprised to find Remus sitting alone near the fireplace, a book open in his lap. He looked up at the sound of her footsteps and smiled warmly.
"Good morning, Remus!" Lyra greeted him, her voice light and cheerful.
"Morning, Lyra," he replied, setting the book aside.
"Where are the rest?" she asked, glancing around the otherwise empty room.
Remus chuckled softly. "James and Peter are upstairs waiting for Sirius. He overslept."
Lyra rolled her eyes, "Of course, he overslept. Why am I not surprised?"
Remus chuckled, his amusement evident as his eyes crinkled. "Speaking of being prepared, Professor McGonagall asked me to hand out our timetables." He reached into his pocket and handed her a neatly folded slip of parchment.
"Thanks," Lyra said, smiling as she took it. She glanced at the neatly written schedule, mentally noting her first classes.
Before she could say more, a commotion echoed from the boys' staircase. James and Peter appeared, followed by Sirius, who was hurriedly adjusting his tie as he descended.
"You overslept? On the first day, Sirius?" Lyra asked, raising an eyebrow as her brother strolled into view, looking entirely unbothered.
Sirius flashed her a lopsided grin, his dark hair still slightly disheveled. "I prefer to think of it as conserving my energy for the rest of the day."
"Or being a lazy git," Remus muttered under his breath, earning a quiet laugh from Lyra.
James clapped Sirius on the back as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "Come on, Lyra, it’s only our first day. No need to get all serious."
Lyra groaned, exasperated, as she buried her face in her hands. "Why would you say that?"
Sirius’s face lit up with a mischievous grin. "Well, actually, I’m Sirius," he quipped, clearly far too pleased with himself.
Lyra dropped her hands, turning a pointed glare toward James—a look that plainly said, Look what you’ve just done. James merely shrugged, his lips twitching in amusement.
Peter let out a small laugh, though he quickly covered his mouth to stifle it. Remus, on the other hand, just stared at Sirius, eyebrows raised as though he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.
"Really?" Remus said finally, his tone as flat as his expression.
"What?" Sirius replied innocently, his smirk unwavering. "It was a good one."
Lyra sighed, shaking her head as she turned toward the portrait hole. "Let’s just go before we miss breakfast."
The others followed her, Sirius trailing behind with a smug grin, clearly satisfied with his pun, while the rest exchanged glances, a mix of amusement and mild disbelief.
"What? I think that was a great joke," Sirius said from behind Lyra as she walked alongside James, their footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor leading to the Great Hall.
"It's just a play on your name, Sirius. Funny the first time, sure, but it doesn’t get funnier after you’ve repeated the joke ten times," Lyra replied, her tone tired as she tried to defuse yet another version of the same conversation they’d had a hundred times before.
Sirius huffed in mock offense. "Well, you’d think one day it would finally make you laugh."
Lyra shook her head with a sigh, pushing her way into the Great Hall. As they reached the Gryffindor table, she glanced over to where Lily sat, chatting quietly with a group of friends.
"Wait," James said suddenly, stopping in his tracks as he stared at Lily across the room. "Merlin, who is that?"
Lyra turned to him, a puzzled expression on her face. "That’s Lily Evans. I share a room with her."
James frowned, his gaze still locked on Lily as if trying to figure something out. "She looks... she’s beautiful," he said in awe, his voice softer than before.
Lyra blinked, staring at James with the most confused look on her face. "Uh, yeah, she is," she said with a small, awkward smile.
The five of them sat down at the Gryffindor table, and almost immediately, their laughter erupted. James, however, looked deeply offended by their teasing.
"Don’t laugh," James huffed. "I think I’ve just fallen in love."
"James, she doesn’t even know who you are," Remus said, trying—and failing—to contain his laughter.
"Yeah," Sirius chimed in, fluttering his eyelashes dramatically. "Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love at first sight."
James scowled, crossing his arms and glancing down at his plate. "It’s not my fault she has that effect on people."
Lyra and Remus exchanged amused looks, while Sirius and Peter continued to mock James with exaggerated sighs and dreamy expressions.
"Honestly, mate," Sirius said between chuckles, "it’s cute, but you’ve got about as much chance as that toast flying off your plate."
James huffed once more but couldn’t suppress the small smile forming at the corners of his lips. "Fine," he muttered. "Laugh all you want. I still think she’s amazing."
Sirius leaned back in his chair, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. "A true romantic, this one."
As they ate their breakfast, the Great Hall buzzed with chatter and the occasional flap of wings as owls began flying in. Lyra spotted a familiar owl soaring toward her and Sirius. With a heavy sigh, she extended her hand to take the letter from its grasp.
She glanced at Sirius, who was watching her with a calm, unreadable expression. "Do you want to do the honors, or shall I?"
Sirius raised an eyebrow, his faint smile at odds with his tone. "Ladies first," he said smoothly, though his voice held an edge of sarcasm.
With a deep breath, Lyra opened the letter. The crisp parchment revealed her mother’s unmistakable handwriting, and her expression immediately soured.
The letter read:
Dear Sirius and Lyra,
I heard that you were sorted into Gryffindor. I must say that although I was not surprised that Sirius has disappointed us yet again, I am very disappointed in you, Lyra. You both have brought shame and tainted our family name by being sorted into this house.
While you are there, do not bring any more shame to our name by associating with those disgusting mudbloods.
Your father would like to inform you that you will still be returning home for Christmas. You are both disgraceful to our family, and I hope you think about your actions.
I’ve attached a letter from Regulus behind, though I’ve warned him about what you’ve both done. I hope you realize that you’ve disappointed your little brother.
See you at Christmas,
Mother
Lyra folded the letter slowly, her hands trembling slightly as she glanced up at Sirius. His gaze was distant, his expression unreadable.
"Well," Lyra said softly, her voice shaking slightly despite her best efforts. "That went about as expected."
Sirius let out a short, bitter laugh. "You mean worse than expected."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the letter hanging heavily between them.
Lyra took out another piece of parchment from the envelope—a letter written by Regulus. Her fingers traced over the familiar handwriting as she unfolded it.
Dear Lyra and Sirius,
I hope you’re both doing well. I heard about Gryffindor. Mother told me everything, and… I don’t know how to feel.
You’ve made your choice, and I understand the consequences, but it’s hard to ignore the things they say.
Part of me wants to support you, but another part feels trapped, like I should be standing with them. It’s not easy.
You’re my siblings, and I care about you both. That much is certain. I just don’t know where I stand yet.
Regulus
Lyra read the letter slowly, her breath catching briefly as she folded it back into her bag. Sirius remained quiet, his expression thoughtful.
"He didn’t outright say it," Lyra murmured softly.
"But it’s there," Sirius said, his voice low.
They sat in silence once again, the weight of the letter a palpable presence between them.
After a moment, Sirius broke the quiet. "What if he ends up hating us, just like the others?"
Lyra shook her head, a small, tentative smile forming on her face. "He’ll come around. We just have to be patient."
But even as she said the words, doubt flickered in her eyes. She wasn’t entirely sure—what if Sirius was right? What if Regulus did end up hating them, just like the rest of the family?
The thought lingered between them, heavy and unsettling.
Sirius studied her face, his own expression softening with concern. "We can’t force him, Lyra. We can only show him that we’re still here, no matter what they say."
"I know," Lyra whispered, her voice barely audible. "But what if it’s not enough?"
Sirius leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest as a frown tugged at his lips. "Then we figure it out together. That’s always been the plan, hasn’t it?"
Lyra gave a small nod, though the weight of her thoughts didn’t lift entirely. They sat in the quiet again, the uncertainty between them thick.
James noticed their quiet demeanor and furrowed his brows slightly. "Hey, you two alright?"
"Yeah, we’re fine," Lyra smiled, quickly folding and tucking the letter away.
Sirius, back to his usual playful self, added, "Yeah, she’s right, just our mum."
Remus raised an eyebrow, his tone gentle but concerned. "You sure?"
"Yeah, it’s nothing," Lyra said with a soft smile, her eyes flickering briefly to Sirius. "Just what we expected. She wasn’t too happy we’re in Gryffindor, but you know, everything’s fine."
James gave them both a doubtful look but didn’t press further. "Alright, if you say so."
Sirius leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. "It’s not like it’s a huge deal. We’ll just keep being our brilliant selves."
Lyra laughed quietly, the sound easing some of the tension. "Exactly. Now, what have we got first?"
Remus pulled out his timetable and glanced over it. "Transfiguration," he said, sliding the parchment across the table for them to see.
Lyra’s eyebrows lifted. "Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall? Well, we’d better get going. I do not want to be late for her class." She stood, gathering her things.
"Hey, wait for me!" Sirius called out, his voice muffled by the piece of toast he was balancing between his teeth as he hastily grabbed his bag.
Lyra turned to look at him, hands on her hips. "Sirius, don’t do that—you look like a dog," she said, rolling her eyes.
Sirius smirked, dropping the toast into his hand. "What can I say? Some of us are naturally charming, even when eating breakfast."
James laughed as they all headed for the door. "Sure, mate. I’m sure that’s exactly what McGonagall will think when she sees crumbs on your robes."
Remus shook his head, amused. "Let’s just hope she doesn’t hex you on the spot."
Lyra smiled as she walked next to Peter, their quiet conversation about chess weaving through the bustling morning chatter of the castle. She had never expected Peter to be so interested in strategy, but his thoughtful insights into the game impressed her.
"I like the Queen's Gambit," Peter was saying, his tone shy but enthusiastic. "It’s risky, but if you know how to defend properly, it can give you a strong position early on."
Lyra nodded, her smile widening. "That’s one of my favorites too! My brother hates when I use it—says it makes the game too unpredictable."
Peter chuckled. "Sounds like Sirius."
Their peaceful conversation was interrupted by a familiar, boisterous voice echoing down the hallway.
"Hey! Evans, is it?" James hollered, his voice cutting through the hum of students heading to class.
Lyra turned her head toward the commotion, catching sight of Lily standing a few steps away with a dark-haired boy Lyra didn’t recognize. Both of them stopped and turned, their expressions equally unamused.
"Yes, it is," Lily replied, her voice cool but polite. "Can I help you?"
James grinned, undeterred by her tone. He strode forward, his robes swishing dramatically behind him. "I was wondering if you wanted to sit with us in Transfiguration. You know, get to know each other better."
Lily raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "No, thank you," she said flatly. "I’m already sitting with Severus."
The boy beside her—Severus, Lyra realized—stood a little taller at her words, a flicker of smug satisfaction crossing his face.
James stopped in his tracks, his grin faltering for a moment before morphing into a look of disbelief. "You’re sitting with a Slytherin?"
"Yes," Lily said, her tone firm.
James frowned, as if struggling to process the information. "Why would you want to do that?"
"Because we have Transfiguration with them," Lily replied slowly, enunciating each word as though explaining to a particularly slow toddler.
James rolled his eyes, now clearly irritated. "Yeah, I know that, but seriously... Slytherins?"
Severus’s lips curled into a sneer. "Not all of us bite, Potter," he said, his voice smooth and edged with disdain.
"Could’ve fooled me," James shot back, his tone growing sharper.
Lyra sighed, stepping forward to diffuse the tension. "James, maybe you should let it go. It’s the first day, and McGonagall won’t be thrilled if we’re late."
Lily glanced at Lyra, her expression softening slightly. "Thank you, Lyra," she said, her voice warmer.
James opened his mouth to retort, but Sirius appeared at his side, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, mate. Save the theatrics for later—we’ve got class."
Peter nodded quickly, clearly eager to avoid further conflict. "Yeah, and McGonagall’s not exactly known for her patience."
James hesitated, his gaze darting between Lily and Severus, frustration clouding his face. Finally, he shrugged, his voice dripping with disdain. "Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Evans. You don’t want to be associated with their kind."
Severus’s expression twisted into a dark smirk, his pale face lighting with malicious amusement as he took a step closer. His sharp eyes flicked toward Sirius and Lyra, and the corner of his mouth curled. "Funny you’d say that. I wonder what the Black family thinks of their precious bloodline slumming it in Gryffindor. Tell me, have they disowned you yet?"
Lyra’s stomach tightened, her fists curling at her sides. The words cut deep, not because they were untrue but because they hit too close to the truth she was still grappling with. Before she could respond, Sirius’s head snapped up, his gray eyes blazing with fury.
"What did you just say?" Sirius snarled, his voice low and venomous. He took a step toward Severus, his stance tense, ready to spring.
"Sirius, don’t," Lyra said quickly, placing a firm hand on his arm.
But Sirius shrugged her off, his gaze never leaving Severus. "No, Lyra, I want to hear him say it again."
"Gladly," Severus sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. "I said, have they disowned you yet? Or are you just waiting for the Howler to make it official?"
Sirius lunged, but Lyra moved faster, stepping in front of him and pushing him back with both hands. "Sirius, stop!" she hissed, her voice urgent.
"Get out of the way, Lyra," Sirius growled, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.
"No!" Lyra snapped, standing her ground. Her eyes locked with his, fierce and unwavering. "You’re not giving him the satisfaction."
Severus crossed his arms, watching the scene unfold with a smug expression. "Touching," he drawled. "Your sister keeping you on a leash now, is she?"
James stepped in then, wand already in his hand. "You’ve said enough," he spat.
"James, don’t," Remus said sharply, stepping between them. His tone was calm but firm, a warning look in his amber eyes. "He’s not worth it."
"Listen to Lupin," Severus said with a sneer, though his voice wavered just slightly. "It’s the only sensible thing any of you have said all morning."
"Come on, Severus," Lily interjected, her voice cool but steady. She placed a hand on his arm, her green eyes narrowing slightly. "Let’s go."
Severus hesitated, his gaze flicking to Sirius one last time, the smirk still faintly on his lips. But he let Lily guide him away, his footsteps echoing in the corridor as they disappeared around the corner.
For a moment, no one spoke. The tension hung thick in the air.
"You should’ve let me hit him," Sirius muttered, his voice simmering with frustration.
"And what would that have solved?" Lyra shot back, her voice sharper than she intended. She let out a breath, softening her tone. "He’s not worth it, Sirius. He’s just trying to get under your skin."
"Well, it worked," Sirius said bitterly, rubbing the back of his neck as he avoided her gaze.
James sighed, slipping his wand back into his pocket. "One day, someone’s going to put him in his place. And I wouldn’t mind if it was me."
"Not today," Remus said firmly. "Come on, we’ve got Transfiguration to get to."
Lyra gave Sirius’s arm a gentle squeeze. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly.
He met her eyes, and for a moment, she saw the flicker of hurt behind his bravado. "Yeah," he said, forcing a smile. "I’m fine."
She nodded, though she didn’t entirely believe him. As the group started walking again, she fell into step beside Sirius, casting one last glance down the empty corridor where Severus and Lily had disappeared.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
Despite their earlier altercation with Severus, Lyra couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction as the day drew to a close. All in all, her first day at Hogwarts had gone better than she had anticipated. She had managed to make a favorable impression on all her professors, their approving nods and encouraging remarks a quiet reassurance that she was off to a strong start.
The lessons themselves had been relatively straightforward. Lyra had found most of the material refreshingly familiar. Growing up in the Black household, she and Sirius had been taught by private tutors who drilled them relentlessly in magical theory and spells. While the experience had been far from enjoyable, it left her well-prepared for the curriculum at Hogwarts.
"Transfiguration wasn’t too bad, was it?" Lyra mused aloud as they made their way back to the Gryffindor common room after their lessons.
"Speak for yourself," Peter groaned. "I think I nearly turned my matchstick into a pile of ash."
Sirius grinned, throwing an arm casually around Peter’s shoulders. "Don’t worry, Peter. You’ll get the hang of it eventually. Or at least... before we graduate."
Lyra rolled her eyes at her brother’s teasing but couldn’t help smiling. "I thought McGonagall was going to hex someone when James tried to turn his into a quill instead of a needle."
James laughed, unrepentant. "She said to get creative! I was just following instructions."
"Creative is not the same as ignoring directions," Remus pointed out, though there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
As they stepped through the portrait hole, the warm glow of the common room greeted them. Lyra let out a contented sigh, dropping into one of the plush armchairs by the fire.
"You’re awfully cheerful," Sirius observed, flopping onto the sofa opposite her.
"Why wouldn’t I be?" Lyra replied, stretching her legs out. "I survived my first day without setting anything on fire or offending any professors. I’d call that a win."
"You did more than survive," Remus noted, settling into a nearby chair. "McGonagall practically beamed at you during Transfiguration."
"Not surprising," Sirius said with mock pride. "We Blacks are naturally gifted."
"Natural gift or not, it helps that we’ve already learned most of this stuff," Lyra admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I suppose all those endless lessons at home finally paid off."
Sirius’s expression darkened briefly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face, but he quickly masked it with a smirk. "At least something useful came out of it."
Lyra caught the shift in Sirius’s tone but decided not to press him. Instead, she forced a smile and leaned back in her chair, determined to lighten the mood. "You know what? I’m starving. Let’s go get dinner."
James perked up immediately, seizing the opportunity to break the tension. "Finally! Someone else who understands the plight of the constantly famished," he declared dramatically, clutching his stomach. "I’m wasting away here. Let’s go before I keel over from hunger."
"You just ate a mountain of pudding at lunch," Remus pointed out with a smirk, closing his book as he stood to join them.
"That was hours ago, Remus," James argued, his voice filled with mock indignation. "I’m a growing boy! I need sustenance to fuel this brilliance."
Lyra snorted, exchanging an amused glance with Sirius, who had regained some of his usual lightheartedness. "If brilliance is what we’re fueling, we’ll be eating for days," she teased.
"Exactly!" James exclaimed, completely missing—or perhaps intentionally ignoring—the sarcasm. He threw an arm over Lyra’s shoulder as they headed for the portrait hole.
Sirius grabbed his cloak and followed them, shaking his head. "You’re lucky we like you, James."
"Luck has nothing to do with it," James shot back with a grin. "I’m utterly irresistible."
Peter trailed behind, chiming in as they descended the staircase. "Irresistible to food, maybe."
The group burst into laughter, their earlier tension now replaced with lighthearted teasing. Sirius grinned as he pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket, waving it dramatically in the air.
"Oh! I forgot to mention, earlier today I made some friends with the older students and guess what they gave me?" Sirius said excitedly.
James leaned in, eyes wide with curiosity. "What is it?"
"This!" Sirius exclaimed, unfolding the parchment to reveal a complex, illegible series of runes. "A spell! It’s a shortcut for the stairs. We can go up and down each other’s rooms without the stairs turning into a slide."
“Are you serious?” Peter asked, his eyebrows raised in disbelief.
“Of course I’m Sirius, Peter. Who else would I be?” Sirius said with a smug grin.
The group collectively groaned, rolling their eyes. “Do you ever get tired of that joke?” Remus asked, his tone dry as he walked next to Lyra.
“Not in the slightest,” Sirius replied, unbothered. “Anyway, back to my point—no more risking life and limb every time we want to visit each other.” He gestured dramatically to Lyra.
James snorted. “Life and limb? Bit dramatic, don’t you think?”
Sirius ignored him. “This spell? Brilliant. Revolutionary. Now we can visit Lyra whenever we want, and she can sneak up to our room whenever she’s bored of her roommates.”
"That sounds incredibly reckless," Lyra said, raising an eyebrow as she crossed her arms. "It’s our first day, and you already want to break the rules?"
"Are you saying you don’t want to visit your charming brother and your three friends?" Sirius teased, flashing her a playful smirk.
"I wouldn’t exactly describe you as charming, that’s for sure," Lyra replied with a teasing grin, brushing past him toward the Great Hall.
Sirius followed, laughing quietly to himself as James and Peter exchanged amused looks.
"Charm is subjective," Sirius said with a shrug. "But you’ll thank me when we can actually get to each other’s rooms without losing a shoe—or worse."
"Fine," Lyra rolled her eyes as the group settled into their seats at the Gryffindor table. Sirius slouched down next to her, pulling a slice of pumpkin pie onto his plate.
James, however, was on a mission. He tried his best to wave enthusiastically toward Lily across the hall, despite her clear disapproval.
"James, haven’t you pissed her off enough already today?" Lyra asked with a sigh, resting her chin on her hand.
"I'm just being polite," James shrugged, completely unfazed by the scowl Lily shot in his direction.
Remus chuckled as Lyra passed him a slice of the pie she was holding. "Yeah, because polite is exactly what you were going for earlier."
"I was being charming!" James argued, giving a mock offended look. "She just doesn’t appreciate it yet."
"Maybe ‘charming’ isn’t her type," Peter said dryly, helping himself to some mashed potatoes.
"Exactly!" Sirius added with a nod. "You’ve got to ease into it. You can’t just hit someone with your best lines all at once."
"Who said I’m hitting her with lines?" James scoffed. "I’m just trying to be a decent human being."
"Decent?" Lyra laughed. "You are anything but decent, Potter."
James grinned, unfazed by the collective eye-rolls around him. "We’ll see who wins her over first."
"Good luck with that," Sirius said, shaking his head as he dug into his meal. "You’ll need it."
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
They were walking through the dimly lit hallways toward their dormitories, Peter, Remus, and Sirius leading the way, engaged in a lively discussion about who-knows-what, while Lyra walked beside James.
"Look, all I’m saying is that it doesn’t make sense," James said, exasperation clear in his voice. "I mean, what kind of person would willingly want to go to Slytherin? They’re all evil."
Lyra raised an eyebrow, casting a sidelong glance at him. "Well, my family did," she said with a shrug. "Besides, not all of them are bad. I mean, my cousins Andromeda, Narcissa, and Bellatrix are from there, and they’ve been really nice to Sirius and me."
James frowned, deep in thought. "Well, of course you'd think that. I mean, they're your family."
"Well, you’re not wrong about that," Lyra said, her voice casual as they walked into the common room, the group immediately dropping onto the couch.
"Seriously, what does she even see in that—that...Snivellus!" James muttered, his distaste clear.
"Snivellus?" Remus turned to him, confusion evident on his face. "How did you think of that?"
Sirius, who had been quietly chuckling, burst out laughing. "Oh, you’ve been holding onto that one, haven’t you?"
"Yeah," James admitted, a smug smile creeping onto his face. "I’ve been thinking about it all day. Then I saw him in the Great Hall, sniveling, and that was when it hit me."
Remus shook his head, a bemused look on his face. "You do realize that calling him that isn’t exactly original, right?"
"I don’t care," James said with a shrug. "It fits."
"I mean, you have to admit, it’s quite funny," Peter added, grinning.
Lyra shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. "Look, I don’t care what you call him, just don’t let Lily hear you calling him that."
"Yeah, mate, wouldn’t want to ruin your chances with her, would you now?" Sirius teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Whatever," James replied, rolling his eyes. "I don’t care what Lily thinks, I’m still calling him that."
Sirius laughed softly, shaking his head. "You really are something else."
"Alright then, I’m gonna head up. Goodnight, guys," Lyra said as she stood up from the couch where she had been sitting next to Peter.
"Goodnight, Lyra," Peter said, offering her a small smile.
"Sweet dreams, Lyra!" Sirius called after her with a wink.
James gave a brief nod before settling back into his seat. "Night."
"Good luck with him," Lyra said as she patted Remus’s shoulder, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
Remus chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Hey!" James interjected from across the room, overhearing their conversation. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Lyra said, folding her arms with a playful smirk, "you’re a walking disaster waiting to happen."
James rolled his eyes with a laugh. "Hey, at least I keep things interesting!"
"Interesting," Remus echoed with a chuckle. "That’s one way to put it."
Lyra gave a final pat on Remus’s shoulder before heading toward the staircase. "Good luck keeping him out of trouble, Remus. You’ll need it."
As she disappeared up the stairs, James leaned back with a sigh, muttering, "She makes it sound like a full-time job."
Lyra smiled softly as she closed the door behind her, the warmth of the room enveloping her. She glanced at Mary and Marlene, their peaceful faces resting against their pillows, and then at Lily, who was tidying her belongings for bed.
"You know, they woke up later than us," Lyra said with a quiet laugh, nodding toward Mary and Marlene, who were still fast asleep.
Lily chuckled lightly, her gaze meeting Lyra’s. "Yeah, well, they’re not exactly morning people."
"True," Lyra agreed with a nod. She hesitated for a moment, her playful demeanor softening. "Hey, Lily. I’m sorry about James and Sirius earlier."
Lily glanced up, her expression neutral. "Don’t worry, it’s not your fault. Besides, you didn’t do anything." She paused, her voice quiet. "I’m sorry about what Severus said about you and Sirius earlier. It wasn’t right."
Lyra sighed, running a hand through her hair as she leaned back against her bedpost. "Don’t apologize for him," she said softly. "It wasn’t your fault either."
They both sat in a comfortable silence for a moment before Lily broke it with a quiet laugh. "Look at us, apologising for their mistakes,”
Lyra joined in, laughing softly. "Exactly. Let them deal with their own mess. We’ve got more important things to focus on."
Lily smiled warmly, her gaze meeting Lyra’s. "Agreed. I can’t believe we almost let a bunch of boys ruin our friendship."
"Tell me about it," Lyra said with a laugh. "Alright, I’m going to go take a shower. Good night, Lily."
"Good night," Lily replied softly, watching as Lyra gathered her things and headed toward the bathroom.
It was now 10 PM, and Lyra lay in her bed, the dim light from the enchanted ceiling casting soft shadows on the stone walls. Despite the late hour, sleep eluded her. Frustration settled in as she tossed and turned, unable to quiet her restless mind.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced—a spell Sirius had given her earlier. With a quiet determination, she slipped out of bed, her movements careful and deliberate as not to disturb anyone. She tiptoed to her trunk, pulling out the small, folded piece of parchment. The familiar words glowed faintly in her hand as she whispered the spell.
Making her way through the darkened common room, the only sounds were the faint crackle of the fire and her own soft footsteps on the stone floor. She ascended the stairs slowly, each step a deliberate attempt to avoid the creaky spots.
Finally, she reached the boys’ dormitory. Standing outside Sirius’s door, her breath hitched slightly. Knocking softly, she waited, heart pounding.
“Lyra?” Sirius’s voice came from behind the door, his tone surprised. It creaked open slowly, revealing his tousled hair and tired eyes. “Couldn’t sleep?” he asked softly.
“No,” she murmured, stepping inside as Sirius pushed the door fully open. Her gaze swept past him, noting James sitting cross-legged on the floor, a quizzical expression crossing his face as he watched her enter.
“Me neither,” Sirius said quietly, settling down beside James.
“I’m surprised you couldn’t sleep, James,” Lyra said, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she settled down beside them. The dim glow from the flickering candle on the nightstand cast soft light across the room, adding to the cozy atmosphere.
James let out a quiet laugh, running a hand through his messy black hair. “Yeah, well, guess I’m just excited with it being our first week and all,” he said with a small chuckle.
Sirius leaned back against the bedframe, his dark eyes flickering between them with a smirk. “Mate, did I tell you? Lyra’s a huge Quidditch fan too,” he said, his voice laced with amusement.
James raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “Really? I didn’t know you followed it that closely,” he said, looking at Lyra with curiosity. Lyra shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. “It was my only source of entertainment back home,” she said softly.
The three of them spent the next hour talking about Quidditch—reminiscing about matches, debating tactics, and sharing their favorite players and moments. The room was filled with laughter and banter, the tension from earlier slowly dissipating.
Finally, a comfortable silence settled in—the kind that didn’t feel awkward but soothing. Until James broke it.
“Hey, what letter did you two get earlier?” he asked, his voice a bit more serious now. “And don’t say it was nothing because it clearly bothered the both of you.”
Sirius sat up straighter, his smirk faltering slightly. Lyra’s expression shifted too, her eyes distant for a moment as she played with the hem of her sleeve.
Sirius cleared his throat, his tone quieter now, the usual smirk replaced with a more serious expression. “It was from our parents,” he said, his voice a little rough around the edges. “They heard about us getting sorted into Gryffindor, and… they were not happy about it. They said they were disappointed.”
Lyra exhaled softly, her gaze distant as she fiddled with the locket her mother had given her. “Yeah, and that we’ve brought shame to the family name.” Her voice was calm, but there was a sadness behind it that neither Sirius nor James could ignore. “The only surprising thing was that they still want us to come home for Christmas.”
James sat quietly, the weight of the conversation making it hard for him to find the right words. What do you say to a situation like that? What comfort could possibly ease that kind of disappointment?
“I’m… sorry. That has to suck,” he said awkwardly, his voice hesitant.
Lyra gave a small, bitter laugh under her breath. “Yeah, it does. But thanks, James.” She met his gaze, her expression softening slightly. “Just promise you won’t tell this to anyone else.”
James nodded firmly. “Not a word,” he said with a reassuring tone. “You can trust me.”
“Hey, do you guys want to make a pillow fort?” Sirius asked with a mischievous grin, his voice lowered to a whisper.
“Yeah, that sounds awesome! Let’s do it!” James whispered-shouted, his excitement palpable.
They gathered as many pillows and blankets as they could, working quickly to construct the fort. Despite their best efforts to be quiet, their laughter and clumsy attempts made enough noise to stir the room.
Within moments, Remus and Peter were awake, groggy and blinking blearily at the chaos unfolding before them.
“What are you guys doing?” Remus mumbled, his voice rough with sleep as he sat up on his bed.
“Lyra? What are you doing here?” Peter added, rubbing his eyes as he sat beside Remus.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Lyra said sheepishly, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Do you guys want to sleep in our really awesome and huge pillow fort?”
The two boys exchanged amused glances before Peter chuckled, “Sure.”
James beamed, guiding them all into the makeshift fortress. With blankets draped over every surface and pillows stacked high, they made themselves comfortable.
The dim candlelight flickered softly in the corner, casting a warm glow on their faces as stories began to flow. They shared tales of home, their past, and the dreams they held for the future. Laughter echoed through the room, a symphony of youthful energy and carefree joy.
One by one, their eyelids grew heavier, the stories fading into whispered murmurs and the gentle sounds of breathing.
And there, in the quiet heart of Gryffindor Tower, five friends sprawled on the floor beneath a towering pillow fort. For that fleeting moment, nothing else mattered. The world outside could wait. Only the five of them existed, wrapped in the warmth of one another’s presence.
They knew they had each other, and that was enough—enough to shield them from the uncertainty of the future that laid ahead of them. They were ready to take on the world, together.