Sirius Black's Twin

Retreat

The appearance of Lyra broke apart the love-struck couple. In fact, the appearance of Lyra broke apart every love-struck couple on the dance floor, and sent them screaming.

"The Ministry has fallen!" Lyra was shouting, a wide eyed Estelle right behind her. "The Death Eaters - they're coming!"

Lynx was startled when she felt a hand grab her by the elbow and yank her from Cormac's grip.

"Oy!" Cormac protested, but he didn't make a move to grab her back. "What are you doing?"

"Keeping my sister safe," a cool voice replied. "Go run home to your hair curlers, McLaggen."

Will pulled Lynx over to Lyra and Estelle.

"Weel!" Estelle said, looking paler then usual as she wrapped her arms around his neck in a vicious hug. "I was so scared! Ze Ministree - zey just started attacking! I didn't know what to do!"

"What you have to do now is come with me," Lyra said, she counted heads. "We're all here. Come on, we're apparating before the Death-"

There were even louder screams then usual and Lynx caught sight of black cloaks whipping through the crowd and flashes of bright light. Estelle was screaming in Will's arms.

"Grab my hand!" Lyra snatched Lynx's hand in her's and Will brought them both into a hug with Estelle. Lynx felt her lungs close up and all she seen was black.

Apparating. When they asked Lynx if she wanted to learn how to apparate, her answer would be 'no', because it was not in the least bit comfortable. All those times she saw Will apparating around the house and felt jealous were over - no more!

It felt like she were being squeized through a small tube, she felt the others around her but they were the last thing on her mind - the only thing she was thinking was: breathe! Breathe!

Lynx sucked in a large breath of air and felt herself collapse on the ground, the grass feeling silky under her thin fingers. Lynx feintly heard Estelle being sick on the ground and she herself was trying to force th vile back down her throat.

"Lynx, Estelle, get up," Lyra hissed, looking down at the two small curled up figures in the grass. "We can't stay here."

"We should carry them," WIll said, then picked up Estelle, who had stopped being sick but looked ready to feint. "Where are we, anyway?"

"Home," Lyra said, picking up Lyra. "I put a Fidilus Charm on it before Lynx and I left for the wedding, I had a bad feeling..."

Will nodded and looked around the empty grass feild. It was obvious that someone took care of the grass (Lyra lived for nice grass) but there was no sign of her house - or Sirius'.

"Just take one step forward," Lyra said, then took one step forward and disappeared.

Will walked though the invisable border too and was relieved to see the two tall houses there, he had felt uneasy in the open plain, where there was no way they could duck behind something to dodge a curse.

"Mum, the others," Lynx said faintly when they were in the house, all of them at the table and sipping tea.

"They can take care of themselves," Lyra said stiffly, obviously worried herself. "It's not your place to worry anyway, you should be in bed."

But because Lyra didn't tell her to, Lynx stayed seated.

Estelle was crying silently, and even with the comfort of Will, she still couldn't shake off the hysteria that was burning inside of her. She had been standing next to her father as they talked to a high authorized Ministry official, when Lyra came over to them, dressed in yellow.

"Estelle, we were looking for you," Lyra had said.

"I am sorry," Estelle had replied. "I am late for ze wedding, are I not?"

"No, not at all," Lyra laughed. "But everyone was worried... this is your father?"

"Yes," Estelle introduced the two and they both shook hands. Only then did all heck break loose.

The ministry official took one look at her and got a dazed look in his eyes. At first, Estelle had assumed he was gaining a crush on Lyra - understandable - but then he took out his wand and blasted a curse at her, so that stumbled backwards and fell to the ground.

Estelle had screamed and rushed over to Lyra, who was starting to get up. But when they both took out their wands and aimed them at the Ministry worker, he was already running, sending spells flying everywhere.

"Imperious Curses," Lyra hissed, looking around.

Estelle then realised that everyone was firing spells at each other, not just that Ministry worker. And her father, confused, was looking around in panic.

"Que se passe-t-il? Estelle, Estelle! Canard cette malédiction, Estelle!" Estelle's father was saying. What's going on? Estelle, Estelle! Duck that curse, Estelle!

Estelle was pushed to the ground by Lyra just before an orange jet of light flew over her head.

"Papa! J'ai peur!" Estelle cried, tears streaming down her face. Daddy! I'm scared!

Estelle's father raced over towards the two girls and bent over them as though his body could block all the curses flying over them. "Prends ma main, nous rentrons à la maison." Take my hand, we're going home.

Estelle shook her head, under all her panic was a fierce determination, something she had never felt before. "Weel. Je dois sauver ma Weel." Will. I have to save my Will.

Estelle's father look pained, but he nodded and looked over at Lyra, who had been firing protection spells around them as the two had spoken to each other. "Take care of her."

Lyra had glanced over her shoulder and gave him a look that said quite clearly, Duh. Then she had grabbed Estelle and they both had apparated away from the chaos, leaving Estelle's father to take care of himself.

Only afterwards did Estelle feel a knawing guilt. She shouldn't have left her father, especially for a boy - even if the boy she had ran to was in love with her, and vice versa. Estella looked at their entertwined fingers, his scarred and her's thin and pale, and her guilt lessened. Running to save her Will had been, undeniably, the smartest thing she had ever done.