The Older Malfoy

The Meetings

The Lestange manor was slowly becoming home to Lyra. Motley, the house elf, had turned into Lyra's most trusted friend. Conversations with Hermione were sporadic and were mainly to make sure they were both alive. Lyra sat in the library, the fire illuminating her pale skin.

"Young master Draco is here miss" Motley announced. Lyra gestured for her to bring him in. Draco looked like a small boy in the large house. Draco watched his sister. She had changed, she wasn't unhinged like his aunt, but more composed. It was eerie that his sister's composure reminded him of the Dark Lord. His sister sat watching the flames of the fire,

"What?" She asked, her voice hard,

"Father's back" Draco's voice shook as he said it. Lyra nodded, her face impassive.

"We redeemed him" Draco tried to make it better,

"No we didn't" Lyra's cold tone made Draco flinch, "The Dark Lord needs him for something" Lyra stated, "Otherwise he'd still be cowering in Azkaban"

"But we-"

"We didn't do anything" Lyra shouted, from her chair, she continued to watch the flames, "Snape did, why the Dark Lord thinks that is worth redemption I don't know" Lyra muttered. There was a silence, Draco stood unsure of how to approach his sister.

"They want to see you" He said quietly.

"Then why aren't they here?" Lyra replied, Draco swore she sounded exhausted.

"They didn't think they were welcome"

"Tell them to come if they wish" Lyra stated, she stood. Draco watched her for a moment. She reminded him of their father more than anything. Her strong stature, and commanding presence made him understand why the Dark Lord and their aunt preferred her as a protégé.

"If you don't mind I have things to attend to" Lyra stated as she walked out of the library and up the grand staircase. Draco sighed before showing himself out. Lyra sat on the large bed, she stared down at one of the few photos she had grabbed on her desperation to leave the manor. Her parent's smiling faces staring up at her. Setting the photo down she picked up the small notebook, opening it up, she found a new sentence.

Ottery St Catchpole, 31st of July.

Lyra frowned. She recognised the place but she couldn't place it. It was in a weeks' time. Shutting the book, she debated going. Her mind telling her it was a trap.

Lyra strode confidently down the drive, her parent's home appearing in the dark sky. It was no longer her home; it hadn't been since the evening at the tower. Walking in, she raised her wrist as she strode through the wrought iron gates. Walking in, the manor which was normally bright and homely, was dark and bland. Walking into the large dining room, she was presented with the long table housing most of the Dark Lords inner circle, as she walked in, her jacket swirling behind her confidence ebbing as she walked in. Her gaze flickered over her broken father and cowering brother. She locked eyes briefly with her mother who gave her a pleading look. Ignoring it she turned her gaze to the Dark Lord, he gestured to the seat between her mother and aunt.

"Lyra, you look well" The Dark Lord greeted, Lyra nodded but remained silent. As she settled into the seat, her mother's hand brushed her arm,

"Lyra-" She muttered quietly, Lyra pulled her arm away so quickly it was as if she had been burned, the tears in her mother's eyes forced her to look away.

"Not now" She stated, her aunt gave a tilt of her head, enough for Lyra to know that they were being silenced.

"Ah Severus, we saved you a seat" the Dark Lord stated, gesturing to a seat across from Bellatrix. "What news?" He asked,