Prelude
After nearly fifteen hours of labour Druella Black prayed her final baby would be a boy, after all, the whole purpose of this child was so she could be the mother to the next heir, not her dear sister in law Walburga who was due in a matter of weeks.
Druella and Cygnus figured it must be a blessing from Merlin himself, undoubtedly a boy, if she had gone into labour over a month early, beating the other expecting couple to the punch of bestowing an heir, finally after all this time. Druella was exhausted, the sun was setting, the dark green drapes of Blythe manner illuminated by the golden rays as she gave a final push bringing her pride and joy, the son she always wanted in to the world, Which is why when the healer exclaims “ Congratulations, another Healthy girl” Druella is mortified, shocked, and severely disappointed. When the healer tries to hand her the baby, the fourth time mother recoils “take it away, I can't look at her” she moans and begins to cry, she has failed her duty as a proper pureblood wife again.
Cygnus Black, once informed, is disappointed of course, he wishes he could provide the heir, however, he loves his girls and coos at the new baby as his wife sulks, “ Hello little one, what shall we call you?” he thinks, “ surely, not Cygnus IV, Druella?” he chides his wife about the name they had agreed upon.
At his comment Druella looks up at the baby he holds next to his wife “ Oh Darling, I don’t care any longer, let the girls decide” she tuts, knowing she has absolutely no name chosen, but surely, level headed Andromeda, and traditional Narcissa and Bellatrix will think of something, the younger two especially hoped for another little sister.
“Alright Drue, I’ll take her to the nursery and let the girls choose, now you rest” her husband responds, bringing the new babe to nine year old Bellatrix, five year old Andromeda, and little three year old Narcissa, who have been babbling about what the baby should be called since the news was shared several months ago, whether boy or girl. “
Little witches” Cygnus croons as he enters the room, 3 pairs of wide eyes all shoot straight to the bundle in his arms as they scurry over “ This is your new sister, and we’ve decided you may name her” he announces.
This is met with a flurry of squeals, “ father let me hold her” begs Andromeda,
“Dromeda I should hold her as I am the eldest” states Bellatrix with an eyeroll
“Why don’t I hold the baby while you all decide, so she doesnt go flying if this turns in to a debate” suggests their father, which is met with reluctant nods.
“Let’s call her Cassieopia” Bellatrix suggests, big black eyes gleaming with pride as she suggests the name happily.
“No Bella!” Andromeda responds indigent, “her name is Nymphadora, I read it in the constellation book and I think its perfect” the middle sister quips back
“Oh thats ghastly! No baby sister of mine will be called that”
“How about Violetta? It's a family name” Bellatrix counter argues, all three sisters than look at eachother, then the baby, and decide “ No” all at once, which creates a bustle of giggles
Once the laughter stops, docile Narcissa, whom nobody would expect to choose wisely at only three, speaks up, “ Lyra” her blue eyes, unlike any of her sisters portrayed a serious demeanour at this declaration.
After some pondering by the elder sisters, a decision is made, Lyra Persephone Black, becomes the second newest member of the Black family, much to her parents dismay, as little Sirius Black joins the family as the heir apparent just twelve days later.
As the little blonde grew, she developed a penchant for trouble, at three years old, she managed to tear up ancient tomes, break china dolls, and always had a tear in her stockings from unlady-like rough housing, alongside her closest friends Regulus and Sirius.
At five years old, she and Sirius got the house elves to bring her a continuous supply of treats from the yule party she is not old enough to attend. And once managed to sneak off to the muggle park, and make some friends, while supposedly under Kreatures watch.
The mischief only escalated once formal tutoring began.“Did you know, your dress is dull, the other portrait says so” Lyra states at the late lady Black.
As Sirius discusses with another “Phineas, Great grandfather says you were always terribly daft and should never have mad headmaster” the young boy smirks. Such starts the portrait problem of 1968 of Grimmauld place and Blythe manner. The children managed nearly every portrait to go to their another frame, the wrong frame, or disappear altogether for almost 60 days, and during a gala hosted at the ancestral home.
Come fall, Lyra spent most of her days dreaming of the day she could join her sister’s at hogwarts. So when, she receives her letter on her eleventh birthday, along with a beautiful emerald necklace, because of course she should have something to remind her of her future house, she could not help but squeal, no matter how many times her mother tells her it’s not proper decorum”.
Sirius’ owl arrives just a few weeks later, and the pair, along with a watchful Regulus, were brought to Ollivanders, where they were granted their wands. Lyra thought she had never seen any wand quite as beautiful or magnificent as her 14 and a half inch, Redwood with a phoenix feather core, and could not wait to join her middle sister’s next fall alongside her best friend Sirius.
The rest of the year passed rather slowly for the Black cousins, filled with boring studying, only able to use their wands when their tutor is not looking, dying the house elves pink and blue. But finally, the day comes where they get their official supply list letters, along with exciting news.
“Girls, your letters have arrived” exclaimed Druella, on a late summer morning.
Lyra was thrilled, she could not wait to see Sirius at Diagon to get their supplies as she read over the lists, granted she adored reading and had already read most of the books, or at least her sisters old versions, her thoughts were interrupted by two screams as her sisters exclaimed at the same time
“ I made prefect!”
“ I am going to be head girl!”
Lyra beamed at her sisters, so proud, she would certainly also rule the school if her sister’s were the ones in charge.
“Congratulations, Cissa, Dromeda” she smiled up at the blonde and brunette “ so, does this mean you can make it so I can come to hogsmeade” she smirked, raising her tone at the end, batting her lashes.
“Well done girls, perhaps a celebration is in order, a reward for you all, since our little devil is starting this year too, an incentive to behave for you my love?” her mother suggested
The girls all smiled
“How about you get your own familiars? I know you’ve been using one of the family owl girls?”
“Oh do I have to get an owl?” Lyra whined at this, thinking of all the possibilities.
“I suppose not,” her mother responded, not very pleased.
Exactly two hours later, the sisters walked arm in arm into the magical menagerie in Diagon alley, discussing what they were thinking of purchasing
“ I for one would like an eagle owl, they’re quite regal looking, you know, Lucius has one, it’s beautiful!” the fairest Black sighed.
“ well I would like a cat, they’re much better company than an owl, besides I read in hogwarts a history there’s an owlery I can use anyways” Lyra lectured her big sisters,
“Yes little star, that is true, plus mum and dad can always let you take an owl too. I think I want an owl, maybe a tawny owl or a snowy owl, what do you think girls?”
“Snowy” Andromeda’s younger sisters responded.
Each sister left quite pleased with their new purchases, Lyra was enamoured the moment she encountered the rather large hair black kitten, she spent the rest of the time cuddling the creature, while her sister browsed. Andromeda found a beautiful snow owl, which she named “Darcy” claiming it from a book she borrowed from a friend, Lyra was confused as she'd never heard of a character named Darcy in any magical novel. Narcissa picked a beautiful, large eagle owl naming her Artemis. The sisters returned home with their personal pets, Darcy, Artemis, and Willow the kitten.
The weeks between the visit to Diagon Alley and Kings Cross were slow as molasses, with Sirius and Lyra begging to know any and every detail from the elder ladies. Finally, September 1st arrived, and the duo stepped foot on the platform, not knowing from this moment on, everything would change, it was the beginning of a new world.