Constellations of Black

Chapter 23

Lyra spent as much of the last few days of term with her Slytherin friends as she could. She felt bad for leaving them questioning where she was. McGonagall had even let up on homework, a welcome surprise from everyone.

"Come on, Ly. You're saying you've never been to a professional Quidditch game?" Draco asked. Lyra nodded; there wasn't much she or the Nerro family could do since they were constantly hiding from Aurors and possible Death Eaters.

"Dray, aren't you going with your father to the Quidditch cup?" Pansy asked. She didn't seem interested in it, but even she had been to a professional Quidditch game before.

"I can see if Father will let me take you along, I don't know about your brother though, since he's Gryffindor. Father wouldn't like that," Draco explained.

Lyra nodded, it was a slim chance Regulus wolf even let her go with a known Death Eater and her cousin in the first place. And an even slimmer chance Cetus would be open to joining if he allowed it.

"Just write, and we can sort something out," Lyra agreed.

Anxiety nipped at her fingers, she had just agreed to try to go somewhere with a known Death Eater. Sure her father was one, but he had deflected while he and Anna were still in Hogwarts, almost fourteen years ago.

The conversation eased out of talk of Quidditch, leaning more into holiday plans. Blaise, his mother, and one of his stepfathers were going to visit family in Africa before Blaise came back for the Quidditch game. Theo was going back to Italy for most of the holiday. Pansy and her parents were going to visit family across Europe and attend a distant cousin's wedding. Dray was going to spend time with his mother and go to the Quidditch game. Lyra planned on going back to Italy before spending a week or so in the other estates across Europe, as her father was forcing them to yet another charity ball. Greg and Vincent said similar things about staying home.

Cetus had told her about Harry acquiring a new Firebolt broom from someone and knowing nothing of it. Lyra and Cetus also had them, courtesy of the Black family fortune, which was likely where Harry got his from.

Lyra walked to the train station, her trunk floating behind her. Draco and the rest of their group of Slytherins followed, chatting a storm up. She slipped into a car, looking for an empty compartment. Hopefully, the ride back to King's Cross would not be like the ride here. She shuddered at the thought of Dementors.

Lyra packed her trunk overhead, sitting at the window. Pansy joined her, sitting beside her. She smiled and leaned on the raven-haired girl. Draco, Blaise, and Theo squeezed onto the other bench. Pansy and Lyra looked at each other and snickered, getting to enjoy the space between them.

"Where's your brother?"

Lyra shrugged. She hadn't seen him since they promised to meet at the same spot where they first departed their father for Hogwarts.

"Somewhere, I hope. We promised to meet up when we get to the station," Lyra explained.

The train lurched forward, it was the only thing Lyra didn't think she would get used to. She grasped the window, holding herself in place. It departed from Hogwarts, rumbling and leaving a trail of smoke behind it.

Summer was in full effect now, fields of green expanding outward to the horizon line. Small patches of flowers grew near the tracks, a small guiding barrier for the train. Lyra recognised multiple bunches containing mixtures of wildflowers, lavender, witch hazel, thistle, and lily of the valley.

Comfort, protection, happiness.

Theo and Blaise were arguing over something, dragging Draco and Pansy into it. Lyra smiled. She could get used to this.