Where Secrets Abound

Third year was well underway, and Lattimore, it seemed, was out to ensure that Lyra was miserable throughout it. It was in the little things, like tripping her in the corridors or knocking her books from her hands. She managed to maintain enough self-control not to curse or jinx him, but that didn't mean she had to stop the four boys from doing anything retributive... Needless to say, it was almost amusing when Lattimore blamed her for whatever mysterious misfortune befell him, only to find out she had a flawless alibi.

On a slightly brighter note, Lyra had managed to befriend Peeves the Poltergeist. Well, maybe befriend was the wrong word to use. It was doubtful that anyone could ever really have any sort of positive relationship with him, but Lyra managed to stay under the radar. That, and, if she played her cards right, she might be able to manipulate him enough to set him on Lattimore's tail. He enjoyed it, and so did she, so they developed a mutual respect.

With Lucius gone, Lyra was free to hang around Lily and Lovetta without having to be looking over her shoulder for scrutinizing eyes. Of course, this meant that Slytherins were less inclined to be as tolerant of her, but she could care less. Besides, she had Severus to keep her company, so who needed the rest of them anyway? As long as she didn't receive any angry letters from her parents or her brother, Lyra would be fine.

The only one who might send word back was Sirius' younger brother, Regulus. Lyra knew that Sirius was angry with him for letting himself get put in Slytherin, but she felt bad for the kid. Despite the dangers of him revealing her forbidden associations, she couldn't help but try to befriend him, much to the dismay of Sirius. Whatever the case, the younger boy seemed too happy to have a mentor-slash-friend to go snitching.

Speaking of snitches, James had made the Quidditch team as a Chaser, though everyone knew he had the skills for a Seeker. Lily often complained to Lyra, Severus, and Lovetta that James was twice as unbearable now.

In Defense Against the Dark Arts this year, they'd had to face a Boggart. Lyra had been so afraid of what she'd see that she'd convinced the professor to allow her to face it in private, after class. Only Sirius was insensitive enough to ask what hers had been, but she didn't answer, opting to let Remus elbow him into silence.

Every full moon, Lyra would help distract her two werewolf friends. Sirius, James, and Peter finally managed to get Mandrake leaves. They were happy that all of the Marauders, as they (mostly James) had taken to calling the little full-moon group, would finally be able to run together, but things weren't going smoothly at all. Peter had swallowed his leaf with his breakfast, and James' had slipped out of his mouth while he was training for Quidditch, forcing both of them to start over. Sirius was doing the best of all of them, but he had had to spit his out when Severus had gotten a little too suspicious.

Now, it looked like they were going to have to wait until next term to try again. They had collectively agreed that it was too dangerous to attempt to continue the process on their own, so it was necessary to perform the rituals while they were at school, where Lyra could guide them. The Marauders all promised to write to each other, and another summer flew by.

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Lovetta was feeling better about the whole full moon business because of Lyra and Remus, but being back home was another matter. Her parents did their best, but they were still only Muggles. Thankfully, they were farmers, and they had strong, concrete cellar where she could change. The injuries were much worse without Remus or Lyra to distract her, but at least she wasn't hurting anyone. That, and there were no neighbors to ask about the blood-chilling howls, and no visitors to ask about the deep scratches in the cellar walls.