UDM: Free Falling II - Seconds Away (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Forging Ahead

"There is only so long you can procrastinate on the matter."

Lyra took a deep breath, curtsying and wobbling slightly as she did so, feeling ever so awkward in doing so. "I don't need papa to remind me. I know from the books how stubborn Narcissa Malfoy is, and I think Walburga Black is the same, though I'm not sure."

"It's nice to meet you, my dear."

Lyra stood up, nearly falling over, blurting out. "Your hair is quite red!" And then, "I thought only the Weasley family were redheads."

"Oh, us Prewett are as well," Ignatius Prewett laughed. "But then my niece Molly's married one of them as well."

Lyra's eyes blinked, smiling, hoping not to reveal her mind wandering to the Harry Potter books and how she knew Molly Weasley was the parent of "Seven children?"

"I, well, no," Ignatius said. "Not yet, though that is quite a lucky number."

Lyra clapped a hand over her mouth, and then, after the shock of making such a mistake wore off, she lowered them. "Sorry. I have to be very careful regarding what I reveal."

"I'm not sure why," Lucrettia said, sitting at the table. "Now come here so we can work on taking proper tea. Regulus and Orion should be..." Then came a pause, a frown appearing on her face. She then sighed, shaking her head. "No. Orion will certainly appear soon, but something tells me your brother is again engrossed in a book."

"I'll go ahead and fetch him then, and you can speak with Lyra, dear," Ignatius said, heading away.

"I'm not sure about what," Lyra said, sitting at the tea table while waiting for the other guests to arrive. "I only know Muggles books and some of the things from my school books. And this ballroom dancing is tough."

"Well, you didn't have it drummed into your head from the moment you could start walking," Lucrettia said, clicking her tongue. "Thus, they'll be more lenient. Far more lenient than that rival of yours."

"She's not a rival," Lyra said. "She's, I don't know. Just mean? I don't much like the idea of having a rival. I just want—I don't know what I want."

"You're only eleven," Lucrettia laughed. "It's not like you're Regulus' age and still haven't figured things out."

"Hmm, that," Lyra said.

"Then, your hesitation regarding Narcissa's party hasn't to do with that girl?"

Lyra shook her head.

"Might you..."

"Look who I found!" Ignatius said. "And I actually found him putting his feet up on his desk with his boots on, so engrossed he was in his book."

"Sorry, Aunt Lucretia," Regulus muttered. "I shouldn't..."

"Nonsense. Ignatius is simply happy you're finally able to relax. Those rules of your mothers; I never grew up with anything so stifling, but she tended to say if mother were around." Lucretia shook her head. "Anyways. If it's not this rival of yours?"

"Is it the boy?" Regulus said. "Papa said you don't have to reciprocate if you don't want, and if he bothers you, I can..."

"No," Lyra said, then took a deep breath. "This party. It's to seek marriage candidates for you?"

Regulus sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yes. It is a rather right bore, but it makes Cissy and her mother happy, I guess. And the aunties."

"Hmm. I'd rather you'd find a girl in a manner more to your liking, but if you find someone..."

"That's just it!" Lyra said. "What if..." She looked at the table, her fingers tapping her knees.

"What is it, dear?" Lucretia asked. "We're family."

"What if she doesn't like me?'

"Huh?" Regulus tilted his head, then looked at Ignatius. "Uncle. Do you understand..."

"She means whoever you pick to be your wife," Ignatius said, resulting in Regulus grimacing.

"If she doesn't like me, doesn't that mean we won't be family anymore?"

Regulus' eyes blinked, then he blurted out. "Isn't that a good thing?" Lyra let out a sound of dismay, biting her lip to hold back tears while Ignatius and Lucrettia gave him a look. "Oh. Wait. I think..." Then he sighed. "I said that wrong."

"How?"

"I mean, isn't it a good thing whether she likes you or not? For me, that is?"

"What do you mean?" Lyra asked, then shook her head. "I don't understand."

"I mean, I'm rather a dunce, right?" Regulus sighed. "At this people thing? So if she doesn't like you, I think that's a clue I should run for the hills as they say?"

Ignatius laughed, then looked at Lucrettia as Orion arrived via the Floo. "That's our Regulus. I think that's a perfect solution to a certain problem, at least a partial solution, as there needs to be more than that to figure this all out, Reggie boy."

"Then we'll remain family, no matter what?" Lyra asked as Orion looked around in confusion.

"Yes, of course." Regulus let out a laugh.

Lyra nodded her head. "Then I'm okay. I mean, I think I have a bit more etiquette to brush up on, but when Aunt Lucrettia thinks I'm ready..."

"What have I missed?" Orion asked.

"Papa!" Lyra said, standing up, hurrying over to hug the man, letting him hug her as he gently touched the top of her head.

"Just us figuring out one way for Regulus to sort through aye or nay on some of the marriage candidates," Ignatius said. "If the girl doesn't like our Lyra, she is not considered a contender."

"But of course," Orion said, then. "You might add their opinion of Sirius to the matter?"

"What?" Regulus said. "I mean..."

"I'm not saying her views should line with what your mother feels," Orion said. "But what yours are."

"That's allowed?" Lyra asked.

"Well, Regulus is heir and will eventually be head of this family. If he so wanted, once that happens, he may allow Sirius back into the family."

"I—what?" Regulus' eyes blinked. "I didn't think..."

"Of course, it depends on what Sirius wants," Orion said, "But understand, Regulus, you've far more say than you think in certain matters."

Regulus frowned. "That's not how it is in books."

"Oh, goodness," Lucrettia said, letting out a laugh. "Surely you..."

"I thought you knew," Ignatius said. "From what your father said, not all knowledge can be found in books."

"And dear, some of those books?" Lucretia bit her lip to hide her amusement. "They're a tad outdated."

"I see."

"Well," Ignatius said, letting out a laugh. "After tea, may I have the first practice dance with Lyra since I've not yet had a chance to help our youngest family member learn her dance?"

Lucretia laughed. "You'll each get a chance."