Sirius Black's Twin

Leaving

"I'm going to miss you Lily," Lyra said, hugging Lily tightly. "Be safe and stay away from areas that have sighted Death Eaters."

Lily smiled weakly. "I'll be safe. You be safe too, and when you see Nick, tell him I said hi."

"I will," Lyra smiled.

Lyra and Nick had been going on many dates since the Apparation test, and Lyra was really starting to like him. He was sweet, smart and seemed to really care for Lyra. Lyra couldn't understand why she liked Nick, though. It took a lot to impress Lyra, and yet Nick was the typical polite boy, there was nothing extraordinary about him at all.

Maybe that was why Lyra liked him so much. He was simple. She liked that no girls would glance at him and giggle like they did when she was with Cormac, she liked that he didn't have a temper and didn't snap when she said something she shouldn't have - like commenting on his father, who had died three months before and he was still scarred about it.

The thibg she mostly liked about Nick was that she didn't feel as though she had to change herself for him. When she was with Cormac she had changed her whole appearance just to impress him - and impressed he was. But with Nick she had gone on their first date with jeans and a plain shirt - he still said she looked beautiful. He said she was beautiful every day.

"And you say hello to Petunia for me," Lyra joked.

"I bet she'll like that," Lily smiled.

"Who wouldn't be happy that Lyra Black said hello  to them?" Lyra said arrogantly.

"Shove it, Black," Lily teased.

The two girls hugged and Lyra watched as Lily left. She couldn't believe that she hadn't been friends with Lily six years ago, she liked being friends with Lily.

Lyra couldn't believe how happy she was now. She was dating a sweet guy (they hadn't become boyfriend and girlfriend yet), she had a best friend, and she had a family that loved her.

Everything seemed to go uphill when she left the House of Black, though there was a few rocky roads. But now she was happy. The only thing that she knew would make her life perfect was if the Ministry did something about You-Know-Who.

"Claws!" Lyra turned to see Remus and peter walking over to her, both had big smiles on their faces.

"Moony, Wormtail," Lyra hugged both of them. "Stay in touch and stay out of trouble."

"We will," Peter said, his watery blue eyes wide. "We certainly won't be jumping into the middle of trouble. .. "

"Good," Lyra smiled. "I was worried for a minute that Padfoot and Prongs had currupted you."

"Them?" Remus laughed. "What about you?"

"What about me?" Lyra grinned.

"You're worst then Prongs," Remus said. "You can even give Padfoot a run for his money."

"Thank you," Lyra looked flattered.

Remus rolled his eyes as Peter laughed.

"Well, bye Claws," Remus said.

"Yeah, Bye Claws," Peter said, running aay from Remus and Lyra to his parents. Remus waved at Lyra and walked over to his parents.

Lyra smiled at them both and turned to her family. The Potters.

From a few yards away, Lily was being hugged and kissed by her parents, who were looking excited to have their youngest daughter back. Petunia stood a little while back, her lips pursed and her nose scrunched up. She was glaring around at everyone who would pass her, causing everyone to scowl back at her.

Lily sighed at seeing her sisters distaste with her friends and she glanced at Lyra who was with the Potters and her brother.

Lily couldn't believe how much they had all changed, but she was glad they did.

Lily stared at James, and she felt a small jolt in her stomach at seeing him smile. She remembered the small and arrogant boy she had met on the train in first year and couldn't help but feel as though that was a totally differant person on who she was staring at now. James was as tall as his father now, and his hair wasn't ruffled like she was used to seeing it. He looked mature now, so much more responible. And the way he looked at his parents made her know that he respected and loved them - and was afraid for them. Lily knew that his parents were getting old and Lily's heart broke for James.

Lily looked at Sirius. She remembered how harsh and snappy he had been, and how cold. He didn't look like that anymore. He looked like a young man in search of fun and love. Someone who had his childhood snatched from under him. Lily knew she shouldn't have judged him so quickly, that she should have thought about what had made him like that.

Finally, Lily looked at Lyra, her best friend. She had seen how gaurded Lyra had been ever since they first met. She seen how Lyra built a thick wall around herself, stopping herself from getting hurt. Lily had wondered how Lyra could be so gaurded yet so carefree at the same time. Now Lyra seen a young lady who felt the need to defend anyone. Lily had seen how defensive Lyra got when Alice said that a group of Slytherins had attacked her.  All those years Lily had thought of all the negative things about Lyra, how could she not see her redeeming quality that everyone else had saw above all the negative ones? Lyra knew how to be a friend, she would do anything for her friends. Even die for them.

Lyra must have felt Lily's gaze on her, so she turned and caught her friends eye. Lily smiled and waved, and Lyra waved back.

"Come on, Lily," Mr. Evans said. "We have to go home."

Lily glanced at James again and left with her family back to her house.