Style // Sirius Black

Chapter IX

If natural causes didn't kill Sirius Black, Lyra Potter was going to become a convicted killer. Ever since their small quarrel in the empty classroom, he has gone out of his way to make her life a living nightmare. They had always hated each other and been at one another's throats, but it's only gotten worse over the few weeks. They were nearing Christmas break, and winter was in full swing, so Sirius stopped at nothing to ensure it was frigid for Lyra.

Whether he would magic up a patch of black ice to send Lyra flying onto her back or bombarding her with snowballs, it didn't matter how small and petty the pranks were, Sirius was torturing Lyra, and she was trying not to let it get to her. Whenever she would try and sneak off to meet with Regulus, he waited for her at their meeting spot. It had gotten to the point where Regulus and Lyra had to meet at ungodly hours of the night just to avoid the leering eyes of Sirius Black watching them.

Pierre was attached to her side, and she used it to go through with her and Regulus's plan. Regulus's goal was simple enough, though he was holding back key details. She had to get close to Pierre, preferably romantically, and manipulate him into exposing his secrets. Regulus even went as far as suggesting trying to get him to recruit her for the Death Eaters, but Lyra wasn't sure she'd be able to follow through with it, especially since Regulus was holding back key details about their scheme. Every time they met, he would give her tidbits of information he found, but something in his voice let her know this was only the start of whatever master plan he had come up with.

With Christmas break creeping up on them, Lyra was desperate to hear the whole scheme. But alas, the youngest Black child was keeping his secrets close to him. She wondered if it had to do with Sirius or anyone else in Gryffindor. He did seem to be hanging around their hallway much more than before.

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"What're you doing for Christmas?" Pierre asked as he and Lyra slid into their seats in potions on the other side of the room from Sirius.

"Going home," Lyra explained, pulling her books from her bag, "James, Sirius, and I go back to Potter manor every year."

"Sirius?" Pierre questioned, glancing over at the blonde sitting next to him, "He goes home with you guys?"

"Mmhm," Lyra nodded, not thinking anything odd of it.

It was common for Sirius to wind up at the Potter home for Christmas every year, but this year was different. The elder Black brother was staying with the Potters from now on, deciding not to return to the treacherous Black household. Although Lyra despised Sirius with a burning passion, she had to give credit where credit was due. He managed to survive the worst life Lyra had ever known of and managed to come out the other side. She applauded him for staying as long as he did, but she also knew there was only so much a person could take.

"Is that a normal thing?" He continued, prying Lyra for information.

"Yeah, the Black family isn't the greatest," Lyra shrugged, flipping over her potions textbook as Slughorn slid into the room, "My mums got a bit of a bleeding heart for sob stories."

"Perhaps she'd like to meet me," Pierre grinned, slyly trying to get an invite to the Potter home, "I don't have the greatest backstory myself."

"Oh, do tell," Lyra hummed, jumping at the opportunity to learn anything more about the french student, "I'm a great listener."

Just as Pierre went to tell Lyra something, a warm liquid pooled onto her skirt, soaking her textbook; she gasped at the sensation it caused along her legs and jumped backwards from her seat, staring at the grinning faces of Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy. Anger flared up within her throat, and Lyra grabbed at her wand, pointing it directly at the former's throat. Lyra lowered her forest-green eyes and stalked around the desk, a taunting motion, waiting for them to retaliate at her.