firecracker ???

The Prophet's headlines arrived before breakfast.

"Sirius Black CLEARED—Ministry Confirms Peter Pettigrew as Traitor"
"Dementor's Kiss Delivered to Peter Pettigrew in Secure Holding"
"From Azkaban to Vindication: Exclusive with Sirius Black"

By mid-morning, owls had swarmed the castle like a second sky. Everyone talked about it. Everyone had questions. But Lyra Black kept to her own silence.

Draco had practically marched her out of the Hospital Wing under Madam Pomfrey's watchful eye, muttering that the "circus" was finished and Lyra needed "five gallons of sleep and a Slytherin cleanse." She hadn't argued. She'd let him hover and fuss and nearly brush her hair himself—though not without protest.

Still, her name was no longer whispered. It was spoken with awe.

She was the one who'd stood in the Shrieking Shack. Who had shouted at Sirius Black. Who had been there when the truth came undone.

That afternoon, Regulus found her.

"Ready?" he asked beside her.

She didn't look at him. "Why am I here?"

"Because Sirius wants to speak with you."

"That's not a reason."

Regulus gave her a look—half tired, half fond. "It's the only one I've got."

She scoffed and stepped forward.

The gargoyle leapt aside without prompt, and they ascended the stairs together.

When Lyra entered, the room changed.

Sirius straightened. Narcissa turned, her face softening. Regulus's hand twitched at his side like he might reach for her but didn't.

"Lyra," Sirius said.

She met his gaze. Sirius was the first to speak. "Did I tell you you look extremely like your mother?"

"You did," Lyra said coolly. "you called me her name. Pity though, I was hoping for Bella."

Narcissa choked.

Regulus cleared his throat behind her. "Be nice."

"Not in my nature."

Sirius raised a hand. "Fair. But if we could maybe... talk?"

She arched a brow but didn't object.

"Look, I know I've got no place saying much of anything to you. I didn't even know you existed until two weeks ago. I'm not trying to make this personal."

"Then why am I here?"

Sirius met her eyes. "Because I owe your name an apology."

Lyra blinked.

"I didn't just walk away from my family," Sirius said. "I set it on fire. And I laughed. And I called that bravery." He glanced at Narcissa, then Regulus. "But I never stopped being a Black. I was just too proud to admit it."

"You betrayed the House," Lyra said, voice low.

"I know," Sirius answered. "And I won't pretend I didn't. But I'm trying to un-betray it. Whatever's left. Whoever's left. That includes you."

She didn't reply at first.

Regulus watched her carefully. Narcissa stepped forward, resting a hand on Lyra's shoulder.

"Politics," she said softly, "change nothing about blood."

Lyra looked down. Her thumb brushed the brooch at her collar. Sirius took a step closer.