Colours - h.potter

armchairs in beige

Summer had gone by quickly for Lyra and Harry. They both took their time to grieve over Sirius, allowing it to bring them closer. Lyra had inherited 12 Grimmauld Place from Sirius, he specifically wrote in his will "I leave 12 Grimmauld Place to Lyra Lexson, trusting that she will give the portrait of Walburga Black hell." This made Lyra giggle.

The pair had celebrated Harry's seventeenth birthday there, which to his surprise was almost the entire order, and Lyra's father there celebrating with him. Lyra spent her seventeenth there, her brother showed up too, much to her surprise and she formed a close bond with Maisie, although her and her brother weren't on full speaking terms.

Summer wasn't over yet, the pair had plans to ride the London underground, and take a train around the city. "Harry, let's grab coffee!" Lyra pulled the bespectacled boy into the coffee shop, a certain curly haired girl eyeing her. The two sat, reading a news paper, until that same curly haired girl came to their table.

"I like your eyes, who's Harry Potter?"

"Thank you, you're very pretty. Harry Potter is no one really." Lyra giggled, nudging her boyfriend's side. "I get off at 11, then you can tell me who that Harry Potter is." The girl winked at Lyra, setting down the two cups of coffee.

"Lyra I think she just flirted with you." Harry smiled, he couldn't blame the muggle waitress, his girlfriend was absolutely stunning. "Hm, maybe. Is that Dumbledore?"

The pair looked through the window, spotting the old man near the tracks and made their way to him. 

"You've been reckless this summer."

"We like trains. Clears the head." Lyra smiled at the older man, her smile faltering when she notices the odd black on his hand. "Rather unpleasant to behold, isn't it? The tale is thrilling, if I say so myself. But now is not the time to tell it. Take my arm." The teenagers did as told, feeling the world spin as they apparated to a small village.

"We just apparated, didn't we?"

"yes, and quite successfully to, I might add. Most people vomit the first time, however Miss Lexson has apparated with others probably more than I."

"I can see why people would vomit." Lyra giggled at Harry's statement, taking his hand in hers. The pair followed Dumbledore through the village.

"We're in Budleigh Babberton. My grandparents used to live here." Lyra gazed at the houses, revisiting old memories. "Indeed, Lyra. I assume why you must be wondering why I brought you here?"

"Actually sir, after all these years we sort of just go with it." Lyra answered, listening to Harry snicker made a smile grow on her face. The trio stopped in front of a house with the door knocked down, no light shining whatsoever. "Wands out."

Wands pointed, the three entered the house cautiously, examining the torn apart furniture and thrashed belongings. "Horace?" 

Lyra walked in front of the men, spotting an oddly pristine conditioned arm chair. "Revelio." the spell shot out of her wand, a head poked through the chair, making the girl yelp in fear. "Merlin's beard! No need to disfigure me, Albus." The arm chair turned into a man, a rather old man in Lyra's opinion.

"it wasn't me, Horace, it was actually one of my dear students. Lyra Lexson. You do make a very convincing armchair."

"It's all in the upholstery. I come by the stuffing naturally. What gave me away?"

"Your arm chair was in pristine condition while your entire house looks like a hurricane ran through it, no offense, sir." Lyra spoke up.

"Lexson? I knew your father, one of my absolute favorites! You've got both parents' eyes! Aquila was also very talented, of course being a Black. You're a Legilimens, yes?" Lyra blushed ever so slightly, nodding. "I tend not to use my power, in fear of abusing it."

"Harry, Lyra, I'd like you to meet an old friend and colleague of mine, Horace Slughorn. Horace, this is Harry Potter and Lyra Lexson. What's with all the theatrics? You weren't by any chance, waiting for someone else, were you?"

"Someone else? I'm sure I don't know what you mean. Alright, the Death Eaters have been trying to recruit me for over a year. Do you know what that's like? You can only say no so many times, so I never stay anywhere more than a week. Muggles who own the house are in the Canary Islands." Slughorn complained, Lyra couldn't help but think why would Death Eaters want him? "Well, I think we should put it back in order for them, don't you?" And with the wave of Dumbledore's wand, the house starting fixing itself up, everything flying back to where it belongs. "That was fun. Do you mind if I use the loo?" With Horace's approval, the older man left, leaving the three alone.

"Don't think I don't know why you're here, Albus. The answer's still no. Absolutely and unequivocally, no." Slugorn turned to the couple. "You're very like your father, except you have your mothers eyes. Oh lovely Lily, she was exceedingly bright, your mum. Even more impressive when one considers she was Muggle-born. Best friends with Miss Lexson's mum." Harry grinned at the girl next to him.

"One of our best friends is muggleborn, one of the brightest in our year!" Lyra exclaimed, a small part of her thought Slughorn was prejudiced. "Please don't think I'm prejudiced. She was also one of my favorites! Look, there she is." The three walked over to the shelf cluttered with pictures. "All my students. Barnabas Cuffe, editor of the Daily Prophet. Gwenog Jones, captain of the Holyhead Harpies. Aquila Black, fought for the rights of Werewolves and creatures alike, her cousin, Regulus Black. You no doubt know of his older brother Sirius. Died a few weeks ago. I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Flexson." Lyra lowered her head.

"It's alright."

"I taught the whole Black family, except Sirius. It's a shame, he was a talented boy. I got Regulus when he came along, of course, but I'd have liked the set." Lyra slightly smiled at this, shaking her head. "Sirius did always like to break tradition."

The call of Slughorn's name from Dumbledore had forced the three to turn around. "Do you mind if I take this? I like knitting patterns, and Miss Lexson is an avid user of makeup, so she'd appreciate it just as much." Lyra grinned at the headmaster.

"Of course, but you're not leaving, are you?"

"I think I know a lost cause when I see one. Regrettable. I would have considered it a personal triumph had you consented to return to Hogwarts. Oh, well. You're like my friends Miss Lexson and Mr Potter, one of a kind." Lyra waved the man goodbye as she followed Dumbledore and Harry out of the clean house and to the gate. 

"Alright, I'll do it. But I want Professor Merrythought's old office, not the water closet I had before. And I want a raise, these are mad times we live in, mad!"

"They are indeed."