Sirius Black's Twin

Secret Defense Group

Lyra didn't find Nick at the muggle town west of Helga Lane, but if she was true to herself; she wasn't really expecting to see him there. By the time she got there the only clue that he had been present in there was the footprints in the snow - and even that could have just been a random muggle.

But that was one of the last things on her mind at that moment, because what she was listening to filled her with both pride and rage, which were two things that should never be mixed.

"A secret Defense Against the Dark Arts group?" Mrs. Weasley shrieked after the Order meeting. "What are they thinking? Harry? Teaching a group of teenagers right under Umbridge's nose? They will get expelled."

"They are just trying to learn how to defend themselves, Molly," Sirius said. He did not seem troubled by how much trouble the kids would be in, if anything, he seemed delighted. "And I think they are right about this. It's something that James, Remus, and I would have come up with. I'm impressed."

"This isn't us, Sirius!" Lyra said, before Molly could say something rude. "These are my children and your godson. If they get expelled how will they finish their education-"

"This is war, Lyra," Sirius said impateintly. "I think defending themselves is more important then homework."

Lyra growled. "Sirius! Get this trhough your incredibly thick skull! They are children! I don't care if Harry has been through tough things, it doesn't mean that he can face trouble and laugh! Your job as a godfather should be to protect him from harm, and I'm terribly sorry for saying this but you aren't doing a very good job!"

"I can't do a good job if I'm locked up in a house!" Sirius yelled back.

Lyra was surpised, they never argued.

"Everyone is saying I should do a better job at being a godfather but lets see how easy it would be for them if they can't even leave the house in fear that they would be chucked back in Azkaban again!" Sirius seemed to be letting all his fustration out on Lyra, and Lyra grew both defiant and angry at this. "And it's hard to keep treating someone like a child if they hold the responsability of a grown man! You're children have no responsability because the worse they ever faced was a 'P' on a test!"

"That's the point of being a good parent, Sirius!" Lyra shrieked. "You make sure they don't face anything horrible! I could have succeeded if it wasn't for Bellatrix Lestrange or those other Death Eaters for making my husband go mad!"

"I could have suceeded if it wasn't for Peter Pettigrew!" Sirius shouted back.

"Stop blaming your problems on Peter, Sirius!" Lyra screamed, getting slightly hysterical. "What he did was cruel and unforgivable, but you can't keep dumping all of the things you did on him! It was your choice to go abandon your godfather duties to go chase him! It was your choice to let him get free so you could stop Remus from attacking the children! And it's your choice to stay stuck in this house! You're not an animal; if you don't like being caged, Sirius, use your thumbs and set yourself free."

Mrs. Weasley decided to get into the argument right there.

"Sirius can't leave the house, Lyra! Why would you say something like that to him?" Mrs. Weasley said, stepping in between Sirius and Lyra. Lyra felt herself unclench her fists and she wondered breifly if she had been about to punch Sirius. "Now he might get ideas!"

"He's not a child or an animal, Molly," I growled viciously. "He's a grown man and my brother. Who is Dumbledore to tell him to stay cooped up in his childhood home? Dumbledore has no right over Sirius just like Mother had no right to force him to take a path of a Death Eater."

"He has to stay here or Harry will get in trouble trying to stop him from being sent to Azkaban!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.

"Then keep a closer eye on Harry and leave Sirius alone," Lyra was shocked that she could go from yelling at Sirius to defending him in a heartbeat. "Just like it was Sirius' choice to chase Pettigrew, it would be Harry's choice if he intervened with the Ministry. I don't think you get the point, Molly, but people have choices."

Suddenly, Lyra got what Sirius was saying. Her children had choices, Harry had choices. And they were choosing defending themselves over education. Though she didn't think it was right, how could she stop her children from following what they thought was right? These were their values, and she couldn't change them like her mother tried to change her's.

Lyra looked over Molly's shoulder at Sirius. Her words shocked both her, Mrs. Weasley, and Sirius.

"I want you to speak to Harry through fireplace, Sirius. Make sure you tell him that I said that though I don't agree with what they are doing, do what they think is right. And tell him to tell my kids that if they get caught and get expelled, expect me to make sure they are grounded for the rest of their lives. Alright?"

Sirius grinned and nodded. Lyra left the room then, having gotten a headache from the arguments. One question was bouncing inside her skull; did she do the right thing?