Constellations of Black

Chapter 8

Finally, Lyra was on her off hour. Which she was going to use to try out for the Slytherin Quidditch team, having decided to do it after multiple letters of conversation between her and Regulus. Her father had supported her and even offered to buy a new broom for her, without Lyra even having tried out yet. Lyra had written to her father to not buy it yet, on the chance she didn't get on the team. Did that mean he listened to her? No. He bought both twins new brooms, seeing as Cetus also told him that he tried out for Gryffidnor's Quidditch team.

Lyra trying out for Quidditch had been a small secret she had been keeping from everyone but her father and the kitchen elves, which she usually visited at this time. The elves reminded her a lot of Kreacher, quiet, usually irritated, but adored certain individuals that they either served or trusted. Merlin, did she miss Kreacher and his excitement to show Little Mistress some of the trinkets he had collected over his time serving the Black family.

Lyra walked out to the Quidditch field, where others stood, in matching emerald green Quidditch uniforms. She recognised a handful of her housemates immediately. Malfoy, Flint, Bole, Derrick, and Pucey. She was the only girl there.

"Nerro, come to watch the tryouts?" Flint asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. He was the captain and one of the chasers this year. Lyra gave a half attempt at a laugh and shook her head, a small red hue of embarrassment covering her cheeks.

"I want to try out."

Malfoy tilted his head slightly while the rest of the team laughed.

"You want to try out?" Pucey questioned, getting a cold glare in response.

"Well, let's see," Malfoy answered, causing Lyra to grin at him.

Flint looked like he was going to say something but thought better of it. Nerro knew Malfoy's father had bought new brooms for the whole team. Flint wouldn't destroy that little bit of good fortune he received by defying Malfoy's suggestion.

To say more than half of the Slytherin Quidditch team was astonished was an understatement. Flint, seemingly reluctant, accepted her onto the team. Malfoy seemed pleased with Lyra's proficiency as a seeker. The large group of Quidditch players walked back inside the school, all headed towards their common room. Malfoy hung towards the back with Lyra.

Malfoy, with his good arm, seized Nerro by her upper arm, standing in place. She glared at him quizzically, opening her mouth to interrogate him. Malfoy put a finger to his lips, monitoring as the rest of the team kept towards the dungeons.

"What is it, Malfoy?" Lyra asked once she deemed they were far enough away.

"When we play next Friday, your brother is playing on Gryffindor's team," He advised.

"So? It should be no different from you and Potter. Plus, a little sibling rivalry can make it that much better."

Malfoy sighed, releasing his tight hold of Lyra's arm.

"That wasn't all of what you wanted to tell me. Is it, Malfoy?" Lyra asked, lowering her voice. He shook his head. Soft footsteps reverberated in the corridor.

"I... It's fine. I'll tell you later," Malfoy began to walk away, leaving Lyra alone and confused.

Blaise turned the corner just as Malfoy vanished into Slytherin's common room. Lyra stood there, scarcely dumbfounded, pausing for Blaise. She forced herself out of her head, paying attention to her friend coming closer to her.

"What's wrong? Didn't you have Quidditch tryouts?" He asked, once in earshot. Lyra let her confusion dispate as she nodded and beamed.

"I did. I made the team!" Lyra exclaimed, pushing the repetitive thoughts of her confusing exchange with Malfoy to the back of her mind.

"That's great!" Blaise smiled.

The two walked over to the entrance. Blaise, like the gentleman he is, let Lyra enter first. Lyra, like the rest of the Quidditch team, went to change. Blaise joined Pansy, Theo, Crabbe, and Goyle on the leather sofas, waiting for Draco and Lyra to freshen up before dinner.

Since they all sat together, they figured it would be easier to go there together. Blaise and Theo immediately made conversation, chatting about homework in their common classes. Pansy got up and walked towards the girls' dorms. She knocked on the door to the dorm Lyra slept in, cracking it open.

"Yes?" Lyra asked, she was the only one in her dorm, seeing as her roommates were already down in the Great Hall.

"It's just me. Can I come in?"

"Yeah, come in, Parkison," Lyra pulled her dark green jumper over her head as Pansy walked in and closed the door behind her.

She looked down, giving a bit more privacy to Nerro. Lyra took it as a chance to tuck her jumper into her uniform skirt. Lyra looked at the girl, before wincing as she pulled her long hair out of the ponytail she had secured it in.

"Hey. I wanted to apologise, for how I first acted a few weeks ago. It's not a common thing. For people to want to join our little group without wanting something. But you proved yourself, to most of us at least. And it's kind of been eating at me," Pansy looked up at Lyra. The latter was sitting on her bed, staring, silently questioning if she heard Pansy correctly. She could tell that it took a lot out of Parkinson to even own up to her actions all those weeks ago.

"Oh..." Lyra mumbled, shocked, "I- I mean I understand, my brother and I were the same way. I forgive you."

Pansy smiled.

"Now, you ready? The guys are probably fuming that we aren't down there yet," Pansy snickered.

"So what if they're pissed at us?" Lyra chuckled back, the two girls starting back towards the common room.

"Salazar, if you two don't hurry up I swear Malfoy is going to throw a hissy fit all of dinner," Theo called up the staircase.

"I will not!" Malfoy clamoured.

The girls smiled; of course, Malfoy was the first out of the group to get upset. Lyra could make out a faint red hue dispersed across Pansy's cheeks. Parkinson gave Lyra a look, a silent promise she would tell her later. Nerro nodded as they emerged from the torch-lit staircase.

"Look we're here. Now Malfoy can't throw a fit," Pansy sassed. The group of boys were patiently – impatiently– lingering by the door.

The group of Slytherin were some of the last ones to arrive for their table, save for ones studying or off elsewhere. The girls sat across from each other, a difference that even the nearby tables witnessed. The group of third-years disregarded it, conversing and eating happily together.

Lyra could feel four pairs of eyes glaring into her back. She had yet to talk to Cetus about the events near the Shrieking Shack. Yes, she felt disappointed in Draco's behaviour towards Cetus, but Lyra truly wanted to find and bother her brother. They hadn't talked or been themselves with each other in a while.

"Hey, Nerro, tell them about your Quidditch tryouts," Blaise switched topics, the conversation having dialled down significantly. He stared at her, a smirk on his face.

"You tried out for the Quidditch team?!" Pansy gapped.

"Yeah, Lyra!" Malfoy chimed in. The said girl felt her cheeks and ears heat up with the attention on her.

"Well, I made the team," Lyra started. Cheers erupted around her from the Slytherin table.

"What position?"

"Seeker, just like my dad played," Lyra replied, no longer feeling as embarrassed with the support she received.

"You're dad played Quidditch?" Nott asked. Lyra nodded.

"Not for very long. But Father played when he was a few years older than us," Lyra explained, "He taught me and Cetus how to play in the back garden."

That's interesting," Pansy chimed, getting a few nods from the group.

Cetus, Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked at each other, having heard Lyra's news. He had just tried out a few days before the Hogsmeade trip, when they had reconciled. Thankfully, Cetus was not a seeker, not that he had anything against the position his sister would be playing - or their dad used to play. He just wasn't the best at it. Cetus, instead, got assigned as a beater, something he felt more comfortable with.