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Sirius

Dear Lyra,
Thanks so much for the owl, it's nice being able to talk to someone. My 'lovely' mother has kept me shut in my room for the whole holidays. I can't even escape - I have bars fitted over my window! I know there's only two weeks left but I honestly can't stand this any longer. You were almost put in Ravenclaw - have you got any clever plans?
Anyway, how is your summer being? You never really told me, your last letter said literally nothing.
Also, have you heard anything from moony, wormtail or prongs? Your owl is the only one I've had all summer! I've actually done my homework, I've been that bored. I don't know what's up with the other Marauders. Any ideas why their being so silent?
Love
Padfoot

I quickly signed my name at the bottom so Lyra would know it was from me then tied it to her owl, through the bars blocking my window. I watched as her tawny owl flew out of sight before laying down on my bed. I hated my life! Well, not all of it - just the time I spent in this prison.

Ever since I was sorted into Gryffindor, not slytherin, I had been seen as a disgrace to my pure blood, slytherin family. In fact, the only one who was still pleasant to me was my cousin, Andromeda who had been sorted into Ravenclaw. She was a disgrace, yes, but not as much as me. Andy was in her seventh year at hogwarts, and I, my fifth.

My brother Regulus is in Slytherin, so are my other cousins, Bellatrix and Narcissa. I hate the lot of them. They're all pureblood supremacists and I hate that. Why is someone worth any less, just because they're not pure blood?

It was two days before Lyra sent back her owl. Luckily, it was dark and my parents and brother asleep so I could read the letter and not worry about making too much noise.

Dear Sirius
Your mum is horrible! I can't believe anyone would do that to their own child! Don't worry, I've got a plan in mind. Where is the fireplace in relation to your bedroom? Is there any time your family always leave the house? Would someone flooing into the house wake anyone up? - apart from you? Would your house elf notice an intruder?
My summer is fine, I met up with Lily, Alice and Marlene a few days back and it was quite fun although Lily's sister - petunia I think her name is - is horrible. Appart from that I've been working on my homework - I'm glad to hear you've actually done yours for a change.
To answer your question, James is grounded. You know how you Marauders almost got expelled last term? Well, turns out, Dumbledore wrote to your parents and Mr and Mrs Potter are furious. Heard mum talking to Mrs Potter about it a few weeks ago. Peter's in Spain but I've got no idea about Remus - he's writing to me. I'll ask him though.
Please write back soon
Lyra

Yes! Lyra had a plan! That girl was a genius! I'm glad I now knew about Wormtail and Prongs but I didn't know about Moony. I quickly pulled a sheet of parchment towards me and began scribbling a reply.

Dear Lyra
You are brilliant. The fireplace is downstairs, in the drawing room. Go out of the room and up the stairs, my bedroom is the second door on the right. My family never all leave the house together but don't worry, the noise of the floo won't wake them. As for kreacher, he sleeps upstairs, in the attic. It won't wake him.
Glad you're having an ok summer. Did you give Prongs' love to Lily. How are the girls anyway?
Glad you've told me about the rest of the marauders - not sure about moony though, has he got back to you?
Hope to see you soon
Padfoot

After sending off my reply, I could only wait for Lyra to get back to me. I wasn't waiting long, luckily. Her reply came the following evening, not long after kreacher had apperated into my room with my dinner - half a bowl of cold soup. I quickly unfolded the piece of parchment, confused. This seemed a bit small and light for Lyra.

Dear Sirius
Thanks for the info, got everything I need now.
Love
Lyra
P. S. Don't go to sleep tonight
P. P. S. Don't reply

I stuffed her letter under my bed with all the other letters from my friends. I kept replaying her words over in my mind - was she really coming to get me? It seemed to much to hope for. Nonetheless, I quickly ate my soup, gagging slightly at the taste, and then proceeded to throw my belongings into my trunk. I scribbled a note to my parents, just in case and lay it on my bowl, just in case.

Hey,
I'm outta here. See you never (hopefully).
Bye
Sirius

It was informal and short - something I knew would greatly annoy my parents but I really didn't care. Kreacher would see the note in the morning, when he brought my breakfast but hopefully, with any luck, I'd be gone by then.

I followed Lyra's instructions and dien to go to sleep. I sat by my window, hoping. Time ticked slowly passed and nothing happened. I waited.

10 o'clock - my parents were just going to bed now.

11 o'clock - they'd be asleep by now.

Midnight - maybe Lyra wasn't coming, there was no sign of her.

1 o'clock - silence... And then a whoosh noise.

My heart leapt. Was that the sound of someone arriving by the floo network? From somewhere in the house, I heard floorboards creak. That must be someone coming up the stairs. A faint whisper and then my door swung open.

Lyra stood in the doorway, her flaming red hair even longer than when I had seen her last. Her green eyes sparkled with exhilaration. She seemed to have grown a few inches yet she was still slim and powerful. "Sirius" she exclaimed in a whisper.

"Lyra" I replied in the same quiet tone. She ran forward and threw her arms around me. I wrapped my arms around her and smiled. Hell, I missed this girl. "C'mon" she whispered, pulling away "time to go".

"is your trunk packed" she asked and I nodded. "are you sure you have everything"?

"everything but my wand" I admitted.

"where's your wand" she asked.

"on my mum's dressing table".

"which room is your mum's".

"the one opposite".

She nodded and walked out of the room. Lyra crossed the landing silently and pointed her wand at mother's bedroom door. "alohomora" she whispered. The door clicked and swung open. My mother flinched in her sleep, but didn't stir.

"Accio Sirius's wand" she whispered and the wand came flying towards her. Lyra caught it easily and threw it to me before closing the door to the master bedroom. I turned around and pointed my wand at my trunk. "locomotor trunk" I whispered.

Lyra carried my owl's cage. The first thing she did was let her out. Celestia was an Eagle owl but my parents had locked her in her cage the second we got home. The owl swooped gracefully out of the nearest open window she could find and disappeared into the night.

I guided my trunk into the fireplace and took a pinch of floo powder. "Reed manor" I said, dropping it into the grate.