Chapter 19
THE MONTHS FLEW BY AS QUICKLY as the newest broom on the market, a Clean Sweep 360, could; and a month before Bellatrix's wedding, grandfather Arcturus wrote her a letter saying that he had received the invitations.
Traditionally, a wedding invitation was sent personally to every family invited -it didn't matter if it was to their own family also- and listed all the persons in it, so as to convey that the bride and groom had kept them all in mind while planning their wedding. However, grandfather Arcturus had sent Lyra a letter with the post-script to show it to Andromeda that in the invitation, Andromeda was very clearly not mentioned, signalling that no matter what he had told them, Bellatrix simply didn't consider Andromeda as part of her family anymore.
Unfortunately, Grandfather Arcturus couldn't force Bellatrix to add Andromeda's name since a wedding was strictly made from the choices and influences of the bride and the groom. Not to mention, after the wedding, Bellatrix wouldn't be a Black anymore in the eyes of the law and magic, only by blood; meaning he would have no control over her actions ever since the second the handfasting ceremony of her wedding would begin.
Andromeda had put on a brave face when she had read the letter and declared that she didn't care before leaving. But her red eyes the next day bore witness to the tears she had secretly shed the night before.
Lyra was filled with sympathy at the action, but just like her grandfather, no matter how much power and influence she had, she couldn't actually do anything to change it; something that she hated.
Bella, like her wand, was unyielding and firm in her beliefs. So any advice, suggestions and pleading would fall on deaf ears due to her lovely cousin's stubborn as a unicorn quality.
Lucius and Lyra patrolled as always. Towards this part of the school year, the conversation between them never seemed to end because they had one too many things to discuss, from the alumni's jobs and the Slytherin Court, all the way to the politics of the Wizengamot and their plan regarding a certain Dark Lord.
Lucius meant it when he said that the only reason he had wanted to follow the Dark Lord was so that they could be safe, but if Lyra didn't like that, then he would quit in a moment's notice. Unfortunately, the reality was harder and harsher than promises, and both the King and Queen understood that if they couldn't get rid of the Dark Lord's influence or desire to have the Malfoy heir in his ranks so easily. And so, the planning began and with it, came the stress.
"Let's talk about something else," Lucius said abruptly, soon after their ideas hit yet another deadlock. "It's nearly midnight, I'm sure our patrols ended a long time ago. We can always do this later, let's talk about something else. Let's do something else." He suggested, making Lyra tilt her head with ever-amused eyes.
She nodded. "Okay, like what?"
Lucius pursed his lips. "I don't know." He admitted. "Let's think of something."
A mischievous glint fleeted through Lyra's eyes. "I know something," she said and without giving him a chance to reply, grabbed his silver and green tie and pulled, forcing him to bend as she smashed their lips together.
Lucius's eyes widened with shock before his eyes slowly curtained and he smirked into the kiss, pushing Lyra against the cold stones that made up the corridor wall.
Lyra wrapped her arms around his neck as he enveloped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him and pushing her more against the wall simultaneously as they continued to kiss each other.
"Ew," Somebody said, making Lyra and Lucius jump apart from each other as if the other was on fire.
James's face was scrunched up in disgust, indicating that he was the one who had just spoken, while Sirius looked horrified at the sight he had walked onto and Regulus was tightly -almost desperately- covering his eyes with his hands.
Lyra felt her face flush, just like Lucius, but she managed to clear her throat. "What are you three doing up so late? It's nearly midnight."
James shrugged. "We realised that since Regulus was in Slytherin, we couldn't meet him much. So we sneaked him out and were on our way to the kitchens." He paused, narrowing his eyes on their slightly guilty faces. "What were you two doing?"
"And please tell me not each other," Sirius begged, causing Lyra to blush harder.
"Shut up, Sirius. It isn't like that." Lyra insisted but the red of her face was certainly not helping her argument.
Regulus snorted. "Oh please, we aren't stupid." He said. "Grandma Mal told us what people want -or who- they want to do when they kiss each other last summer when we asked her."
"Although that much of a detailed explanation was certainly not needed," Sirius added, theatrically shivering. "Honestly, I have never seen so many charts and pictures in my life."
"Thank goodness Grandpa Archie stopped her before she could bring out the pensive memories," Regulus said, wincing at the memory played in his mind. He regarded the couple before him seriously. "I know Uncle Cygnus had Bellatrix when he was thirteen, but we are all too young to be uncles, so please take precaution."
Oh Merlin, please stop.
Lucius decided to be her hero as he managed to successfully divert the topic. "Didn't you say you were going to the kitchens?" He asked suddenly. "It's nearly midnight and it's a school day tomorrow so you need to sleep early. So we really shouldn't keep you up any longer than we should," He turned to his girlfriend. "Right, Lyra?"
"Oh yes," Lyra nodded, eager to escape the conversation. "You should get going now before the poor elves have to sleep."
James nodded, just as eager to stop this conversation. "Yeah, let's go." He said before turning to his sister. "Are you coming with us? We haven't spent much time lately. You've been so busy."
Lyra's eyes softened as her lips curled into a smile. "Of course I'm coming. I would never miss an opportunity to spend time with my little brothers." She said, ruffling James and Regulus' hair, knowing very well not to touch Sirius' precious dark hair given how protective he was of it.
"We are not little," Regulus said, trying to flatten his hair a second later.
"Well, Regulus is little, but James and I are big." Sirius bragged. "We're almost teenagers."
"And I'm almost an adult, which means that for me, the three of you will forever and always be little." She cooed, pinching Sirius' cheek for extra measure, making him scowl even as his eyes twinkled. "Let's head on to the kitchens, then?" Lyra asked her brothers before meeting Lucius' eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Lucius nodded. "Of course," He said, turning on his heel to leave when Regulus' voice stopped him.
"And where are you going, Lucius?" Regulus asked, tilting his head in a similar manner that Lyra did. "We are doing this kitchen venture to spend more time as a family and you'll be our brother in a few years anyway, so might as well get used to our gatherings now," he told him, and Lucius felt surprised and a little touched.
He glanced to Lyra's face smiling at him welcomingly, Sirius' smirking lips and James smiling expression before nodding softly. "Okay."
Usually around this time, Lyra would have been in Astrum and playing in the blue-green ocean waters with her brothers and cousins. Now, however, she was standing in the grounds of Lestrange Manor and bearing witness to the wedding ceremony of Bellatrix Black and Heir Apparent Rodolphus Lestrange.
The match was perfect on paper. The bride and groom were wealthy, pureblood, a part of the Sacred 28, attractive, powerful and intelligent. Lyra also knew that Rudolphous adored Bellatrix to bits and felt that the only thing that would make the match flawless in real life as well, was if her dear cousin would be so kind to return her almost-husband's affections.
Nevertheless, she along with everybody else cheered for the newly-weds and congratulated them after the ceremony was over.
"It's funny to think that it will be us in a situation like this in a few years," Lucius told her, a smile painted on his face.
Lyra scoffed in disbelief but the playful tone she used to make her statement ruined the effect. "If my proposal isn't grand and large, then we won't be getting married at all, I can assure you."
Lucius rolled his eyes. "I know, I've learnt my lesson, and I can assure you it won't be repeated."
"It better not."
"It really won't," Lucius confirmed before a thoughtful look painted itself on his face. "You know, if you want a grand proposal story, then maybe we can break tradition and have you propose to me."
Lyra's eyes shined with mirth as she gasped dramatically and placed a hand on her heart. "Oh, my- Did I hear that historical comment correctly? Did a Malfoy just say that we should break tradition! I must surely be either dreaming or dead."
Lucius shrugged, even as a small smirk made itself visible at the corners of his lips. "It will be a fun story to tell and besides, to quote your Gryffindor brother, what is tradition but peer pressure from dead people?"
"Ssh," Lyra whispered with a finger on her lips as her eyes twinkled. "Lower your voice. Most people here won't hesitate to crucio you for that statement."
"Technically, it's your brother's statement."
"Yes, but you're the one who said it out loud. Publicly, if I might add."
Lucius winked before clearing his throat. "But I'm serious-"
"Just because you took my brother's statement doesn't mean you should take his identity as well."
"-I'm not kidding," Lucius smoothly corrected, "when I said that you can propose to me. In fact," he said as his eyes lit up with an idea. "Let's propose to each other." He declared.
Lyra tilted her head. "Really?"
Lucius nodded. "Yes. Both of us, when the time comes, propose to each other. We'll make it grand, big, amazing and whatever synonyms you wish to add. The best proposal gets bragging rights. That way, you'll have just as much pressure on this matter as I will." He paused, letting her think over it carefully. "So, what do you say?"
Lyra looked thoughtful for a few seconds before her lips curved upwards, making her dimples appear. "Deal."
Lucius' eyes brightened. "Shall we seal the deal with a kiss?"
"Of course. It's a tradition." Lyra said with merriment before their lips met each other in a chaste kiss.
Hours later, when most of the guests were long gone, Lyra saw a man approach her. He was tall and pale with dark hair and unnaturally red eyes. For a second, Lyra thought he was a vampire but then remembered that first of all, the sun was up and secondly, there was no way a vampire would be invited to a pureblood wedding.
"Merry meet," Lyra greeted the man with a curtsy when he came close enough.
"Merry meet," the man greeted, a twisted smirk on his face. "I have waited a long time to meet you, Heiress Black."
If Lyra found his question out-putting, she didn't show it, and the man continued to speak. "I have heard a great deal about you from Abraxas, Orion and even young Lucius has sung praises about you. Damon Swelyn, on the other hand, had nothing but curses to say."
"Well, one cannot be on the journey to greatness and not make a few enemies along the way," Lyra replied, making the man chuckle.
"Very true, Heiress Black." He agreed. "I should know the weight of the statement better than everybody else. After all," he smirked, "Lord Voldemort is truly the greatest."
He watched her for signs of weakness and found it refreshing that she didn't give him any. Rather, she smiled, curtsying once again. "It's a pleasure to meet you, my lord. I have heard nothing but tales of greatness and power of you."
"I'm sure you have," Voldemort smiled predatorily. "You see, Heiress Black, the two of us have much in common. We both became the Silver Rulers of House Slytherin through our own strength and-" He paused for a second, a glint of intrigue in his eyes. "I hear you are a parselmouth, Heiress Black."
"Yes," Lyra said smiling beautifully. "I have been honoured with receiving this most precious gift and I am extremely proud to use it."
Voldemort smiled wickedly. "I am a parselmouth as well, a direct descendent of Salazar Slytherin, to be more precise." One of his cold-as-death hands reached forward and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear before he just stared at her for a while. Observing and calculating. "I look forward to seeing you again, dear Lyra." He said softly, eyes fixed on hers and looking at her as if she was a trophy. Without another word, he grazed his thin lips over her knuckles before turning around and walking away.
Bellatrix arrived at her side shortly after. "Isn't He amazing?" She asked, in the same tone James would use to talk about one of his favourite Quidditch players. Bella's eyes could have been replaced with hearts as she stared at the retreating figure of Voldemort with visible awe.
"Amazing is a word I would not use to describe Him," Lyra said with hardened eyes, making Bellatrix turn to her with a frown.
"What do you mean?" She questioned in a defensive tone.
Lyra turned to her cousin with a blinding smile, her face revealing nothing but positive thoughts. "I just meant that there are so many other words to describe Him better, and to simplify His complexly beautiful characteristics with such a simple word is honestly, a sin. Don't you think so?" She asked rhetorically, making Bella smile again, oblivious to the face that Lyra had played the simple trick of saying what her cousin wanted to hear. Lyra continued, "He's powerful, cunning, intelligent, charming-"
"-And rather handsome, isn't he?" Bellatrix interrupted with a dreamy sigh.
Lyra shrugged. "Lucius looks better."
"You're biased and you have horrible taste," Bellatrix stated firmly, her eyes still fixed on Voldemort. She just stared at him for a few seconds before speaking to her cousin once more. "What did you and the Dark Lord talk about?"
"It was a very short conversation, Bella. He just told me that the two of us have a lot in common, both of us were Silver Rulers and are gifted with the knowledge of parseltongue." Lyra replied in a sincere tone.
Bella's eyes shined with a mixture of pride and envy. "You are so lucky to have talked to him, let alone be complimented."
Somebody called Bellatrix's name that second, prompting the bride to kiss her cousin goodbye and to throw yet another longing look towards Voldemort before leaving.
"Am I really?" Lyra asked softly in reply to her cousin's question to the wind.
Later that day, Lyra knocked on the door of her grandfather Arcturus' study. The doors opened and he gave her a wide smile as she entered from where he was sitting on his throne-like armchair and signing documents.
"Hello, Lyra." He greeted, placing his quill back in its stand and giving her all his attention before his eyebrows furrowed with worry at the expression on her beloved granddaughter's face. "What's on your mind, my dear?"
Lyra hesitated before nodding slowly. "Grandfather, the House of Black has always abstained from wars, hasn't we?"
Grandfather Arcturus' face grew thoughtful. "Please elaborate, my dear?"
Lyra scrupled again before answering. "It's just- While the House of Black has always been dark, it's never actually been in a war. We've only ever provided political backing, financial support and publicly stood by Dark Lords in the past. But we have not exactly fought with them, you see. Is our stance, by chance, going to change?" She asked.
Grandfather Arcturus observed her carefully with understanding for an incredibly long time, before giving her a small smile and a shake of his head. "It won't as long as I live, Lyra, that I can assure you."
She let out an invisible breath of relief as she flashed him a smile. "Thank you, grandfather. I'll take my leave now. You know how mother gets when I don't inform her where exactly I'll be sleeping and suddenly floo to home."
Grandfather Arcturus chuckled. "Of course, Lyra. Good night. Sleep well."
"I wish you the same, grandfather." Lyra dimpled, turning on her heels and on her way to walk out the doors when the voice of her Head of House made her stop abruptly in her steps.
"Lyra," he called out, making her turn to face him. Grandfather Arcturus wore a serious look on his face and his features looked gaunt. "I can assure you that I will keep House Black safe but," He paused, "you must remember, my dear, that Bellatrix is now a Lestrange. If she wishes to join the Dark Lord, it is well beyond your boundary to stop her."
Lyra gave him a sad smile in reply. "I know, grandfather."
Lyra tried not to think about her first encounter with the up-and-coming Dark Lord, Voldemort; feeling grateful for the first time ever that the end of an academic year was so stressful that it almost successfully kept her mind off it.
Almost.
Voldemort's eerily soft voice and glowing red eyes haunted her nightmares while his enigmatic statements and curious actions plagued her thoughts at every waking moment.
To keep others from learning the depths to which her mind swam, she masked her face most of the time. Lyra honestly didn't know whether she should be proud that nobody noticed something was off about her or offended that they didn't realise that there was something disturbing her.
Either way, the goal remained the same and none observed anything different to question her about.
The Slytherin Battle Royale that took place that year once again saw two Blacks competing in each year, this time sisters.
Lyra happily played the part of the referee while Narcissa and Leonard led the fifth years against Andromeda and Penelope. Creative curses, horrifying hexes and terrifying jinxes filled the air, but in the end, the seventh years -much to the disappointment and anger of Narcissa- came out victorious. The final round to crown the victor saw elemental spells and animation transfiguration put to use where Andromeda and Patrick competed for the title.
Channelling all the nasty names she had been called the past few months for announcing her love for Ted, Andromeda's display of spells left no doubt in anybody's minds that in the end, she was a Black.
Poor Patrick, who had taunted her with the phrase 'mudblood lover' had had to experience the first word personally, as he watched Andromeda's gleefully cruel face with descending horror as he felt the blood in his body slowly turn to mud.
Lyra had quickly put an end to the duel after Andromeda had used that particular spell, and had had to spend the rest of the day turning Patrick back to normal again.
Coincidentally, that was also the last day anybody called Andromeda any sort of name, at least to her face.
Fun fact, but the term 'mudblood' originated from this very curse which had been used by famed potion maker and spell inventor, Lord Altair Black in the medieval ages on a muggleborn after said muggleborn had accidentally splashed mud on Altair's favourite robes.
Lyra was sure that her family would be happy that Andromeda had paid homage to their ancestors in her duel.
The incantation, wand work and the runes that had to be drawn for putting into application the 'mud blood curse' was a deep family secret of the Blacks, and was only taught after a member had made a vow to never spread the knowledge to anybody who won't either be born a Black or marry into the Blacks.
Also, the story of how Altair Black had taken a small incident and made it the very fundamental foundation for such a deadly curse was told as a moral lesson and word of caution by other families to their children about how overly dramatic, completely apathetic and personal a Black would take an insult and exert revenge on those that had wronged them- accidentally or purposefully.
In other news, the end of year exams were as easy going as a summer breeze and Lyra admittedly felt disappointed by how bored she had been while writing them. Then again, it could have been just her if they were going by how Fabian had banged his head against a wall after completing the transfiguration theory examination.
Narcissa took her O.W.L.S and when Lyra had asked her how they were, she had been rewarded with a blank stare along with the words, "Never again."
The new members of the Royal Slytherin Court had already been shadowing their positions and diligently taking notes ever since Easter, as always, and Lyra, after finalising the list with Lucius with both of them consulting their respective seconds and the other members, unveiled the list of the members of the Slytherin Court and the positions they would hold the next academic year, which Lyra realised, would be her last.
o.| Lyra Black ~ Silver Ruler (Year Seven)
o.| Lucius Malfoy ~ Green Ruler (Year Seven)
o.| Narcissa Black ~ Silver Second-in-Command (Year Six)
o.| Theodore Nott ~ Green Second-in-Command (Year Seven)
o.| Dennis Yaxley ~ Silver Espionage and Networking (Year Seven)
o.| Alexandria Flint ~ Green Espionage and Networking (Year Six)
o.| Katherine Fawley ~ Silver Management and Organising (Year Seven)
o.| Septima Shafiq ~ Green Management and Organising (Year Five)
o.| Flavius Avery ~ Silver Strength and Muscle (Year Five)
o.| Harold Day ~ Green Strength and Muscle (Year Seven)
o.| Amaya Shafiq ~ Silver Education and Academia (Year Six)
o.| Augustus Rockwood ~ Green Education and Academia (Year Six)
o.| Leonard Rowle ~ Silver Sports and Fitness (Year Six)
o.| Thomas Nott ~ Green Sports and Fitness (Year Three)
Thomas had nearly fainted upon seeing his name and Theodore had looked so proud that his brother was a member that it was adorable. Lyra was sure he would have bragged about it to his crush, Cassandra Greengrass, a confirmation she received a week after announcing the list where Cassandra had begged her to order Theodore to stop repeatedly mentioning that.
James and Sirius had been the sole reason for Gryffindor losing nearly five thousand points over the school year, thus putting them at last place, but the two boys looked more proud than disappointed at that fact.
Regulus had impressed Professor Slughorn so much with his potion skills despite only being a first-year, that the potions master had not only awarded him an advanced invitation to the Slug Club, but also invited Regulus to attend a potion convention in Brazil with him.
Her youngest brother had also topped the first year batch, and according to her mother's letters, her father had actually framed Regulus' perfectly flawless history marks at his office in Stella.
Lyra clapped loudly when Slytherin was once again handed over the Quidditch Cup and the green banners that decorated the Great Hall stayed the same, signalling yet another victorious year for the snakes.
They chatted and joked as they boarded the Hogwarts Express and talked the whole ride through. They got down at the station, where Lyra was greeted by the handsome face of her father, like always; who once again, didn't care much for public opinion as he hugged his three children and James tightly.
Lucius, her father and Regulus had also chatted for a while on history-related things while Lyra and Narcissa listened to James and Sirius' explanation of '10 reasons why Gryffindor is better than Slytherin' with amused expressions.
Andromeda had bid them goodbye at the stations, having decided to alter between staying at Ted's house for half of the summer and Estella, the residence of Pollux and Irma, at the second in order to plan her wedding with him. Lyra wished her luck while Narcissa wished her health and the three girls shared a hug before Andromeda apparated away with Ted, who tossed them a grin and a wave.
After giving Lucius a goodbye kiss -something that made Narcissa coo, her father cringe, Regulus' nose to scrunch up in disgust, Sirius to let out a cry of his eyes going blind and James to make a vomiting motion- the Blacks side-apparated (Orion leaving with Regulus, Lyra with James and Narcissa with Sirius) to the Planetarium where a small return party was held for them, with only family in attendance.
No matter how wonderful Hogwarts is, nothing beat the feeling of coming home to your family.