Nobody said a word the whole journey back through the choppy sea, or on the Knight bus. When we got home, Mum went straight to bed and slammed her door a little bit too hard. Feeling the awkwardness in the house, Sasha and I decided to call it a night as well.

"Well that was a train wreck, like I was expecting," Sasha scoffed as she began to undress with her back to me. She threw her blouse a bit too aggressively on the floor, which told me otherwise.

"You wanted it to go well," I said quietly. "You wore your favourite blouse."

Sasha gave me a look as she pulled a long-sleeved shirt over her head. "Okay, maybe I did. But I just wanted him to ask us about our lives, be proud that we became good people! But all he cared about was trying to prove his innocence, with a ridiculous idea as well..."

My agreement to research Peter Pettigrew flipped around inside my stomach. "I agreed to look into Peter Pettigrew for Dad," I said so quietly that I hoped Sasha wouldn't hear me. "To see if he's innocent."

But Sasha has the ears of a hawk, and she snapped her head fast in my direction. "You agreed to what now?"

"I agreed to look into Peter Pettigrew for Dad," I said louder as I threw back my bed covers harshly, my pillows going flying, and Sooty letting out an indignant meow as he curled around my pillow. "Did you see how sad he was when Mum didn't believe him? A guilty man would never look that defeated."

Sasha was silent as we climbed into our separate beds and turned on our night-light. She only ever kept it on when she wanted to talk to me, so I knew the conversation wasn't dead in the water.

"You're so trusting, Lyra. It scares me."

Well I wasn't expecting that. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Sasha made an annoyed noise. "Well it's not. But Lyra... look, I want him to be innocent as well. But Mum was right, he's blaming a dead man for something he most likely did... He's just trying to play you."

Not wanting to look at her, I dove beneath the covers until all I could see was darkness and feel Sooty's tail tickling my cheek. "Well you'll be sorry when I prove he's innocent."

Through the darkness, I heard Sasha swear loudly and perch on the end of my bed. Her hand patted my head through the covers. "Look, it's sweet you want to believe him. I'm sorry I'm being such a bitch."

Tears sprang to my eyes, and there was only one person in the world I wanted to talk to about this, one who I thought might believe me. Slowly, I crawled out of the cocoon of bed covers.

"I want to see Fred," instinctively my hand went towards the pendant Fred got me for Christmas before he confessed his feelings for me. I'd never taken it off in all the time I'd had it.

All of Sasha's anger seemed to evaporate, and she climbed into bed beside me. She wrapped her arms around me. "Well I wanted to keep it a surprise, but I might have been working on something... A way for us to both have an amazing summer, and for you to see Fred..."

"You're the best sister in the world."

Sasha, being Sasha, wasn't humble. She just beamed, proud. "I know I am."

**

Sasha's plan became evident in the morning. Remus had gone out for a morning run without a word to any of us, and Mum was mulling over her second cup of coffee when we came downstairs. She slapped a fake smile on her face when she saw us.

"Girls, I have a surprise for you both! Well, it's more of a surprise for you, Lyra because Sasha has been begging me for the last week about this..." she trailed off, trying to sound upbeat.

"Just tell her Mum!" Sasha was practically bouncing as she put two pieces of toast into the toaster. "We need to start packing!"

My attention perked up. "Packing? For where?"

A genuine smile crept onto Mum's face. "Well I know you've both had a hard time, and especially after yesterday.... Well, Molly and Arthur have agreed for you to both go to Egypt with them!"

"Really?" I spilled my juice everywhere, but I didn't care one little bit.

It had been in the newspaper yesterday, that Arthur Weasley had won a fair sum of money on the prize draw in the Daily Prophet the previous week, one of the biggest draws they'd ever done. Ron had written to tell me that the whole family had gone to Egypt for the summer, and I'd been insanely jealous.

"Really," Mum nodded. "You both need to get away from this craziness... and Remus and I need to find jobs... still can't believe that Barrow family..."

Mum began on a rant about the Barrow family, who sacked her because Mum was teaching the children about Muggles. But I was only half listening, as Sasha was talking over her, telling me that we were going to leave later today...

Today I would see Fred...

**

To my dismay, we couldn't leave right away. Mum had to sort out our international floo visas at the Ministry, so she gave us each a hundred pounds to spend in London on new clothes. I felt quite guilty at her giving me that much money, but barely any of my clothes fit me properly anymore.

In the end Sasha and I just hit up Primark to get the cheapest clothes we could for me and decided to just give Mum the rest of the money back.

By five pm that evening, we were all packed and had our floo visas attached to our rucksacks. Remus came out of his bad mood to give us both hugs, hoping we had a good time.

Mum gave us extra-long hugs. "I'm going to miss you girls so much," tears came to her eyes. "But I know this will be good for the both of you!"

"It will," I squeezed her hand. "Don't worry about Dad. You do enough worrying."

Mum gave me one last hug, and whispered in my ear, "Look after Sasha, won't you?"

Glancing over my shoulder I looked at my sister who was biting her nails with a vacant expression, her smiles from the day vanished. I nodded fervently to Mum, cementing my promise.

Sasha stood in Remus' fireplace, and shouted: "Chione Hotel, Cairo!"

She disappeared into crackling green flames. Keeping my backpack secure, I stood into the dying fireplace. "Chione Hotel, Cairo!" I cried and tossed the powder into the fireplace.

I became fire and flames, swirling around in a blizzard of endless fire. While it was possible to use the Floo Network to get to other countries (generally for those without Apparating licence or children) it did take longer as you were crossing international borders.

It seemed like forever I flew through the flames, hearing snatches of different languages—French, Spanish—Arabic—and the hum of hundreds of other wizards joining the network, but as all things, it came to an end.

I was spat out onto a pristine hotel lobby, which thankfully had a mat down ready for wizard and witch guests. Sasha was there waiting with her hand out-stretched.

"How long did it take us?" I asked.

Sasha checked her watch. "About two hours... so pretty good timing. The floo network is usually packed this time of year."

While magic was, well, magic, the Floo network wasn't all-powerful. It would take you a shorter time than on a muggle-aeroplane, and luckily to your body it felt like an instant.

"Great," I said breezily. I could already feel the scorching Egyptian heat on my skin, even though it was seven pm. "We'd better find the Weasley's then."

The kind receptionist in a sky-Blue Hijab directed us towards the lift and the Weasley's suite. Finally, I allowed myself to have some sort of nervousness at seeing Fred again. The day had gone so quickly, I'd barely allowed myself to think about him.

A house-elf waited for us inside the lift, dressed in a fancy bow-tie and tails. He nodded to us as we entered. "Which floor, ladies?"

"Fourth, please," I said, digging around in my skirt pocket for a tip to give him. While working in a hotel was a good position for a house-elf, they still weren't paid nearly enough they should. It almost made me want to start a house-elf rights group...

The house-elf nodded obediently, and the golden doors slammed shut. As the lift whirred into life, I allowed myself to look at my appearance. Fred and I had only just begun something when I'd been forced into sleep, and yet I found myself fretting over my appearance... I suppose I was a teenager now.

A pale, scared face met me in the mirrors that surrounded us. Shaggy blonde hair with too many split ends yet to be cut, a barely developing figure (seems waking up was beginning to trigger puberty) and startled golden eyes met me in the reflection. I'd tried with a blue checked shirt and a white short-sleeved blouse.

How would I look to Fred? Familiar or unfamiliar? Would he be happy to see me, as a friend or as more?

"Fourth floor, as requested." The house elf said politely, as the doors pinged open. Lightly tapping him on the shoulder, I tumbled all my loose change into his hand. His eyes widened in surprise. "Thank you, Miss!"

Sasha and I emerged onto the fourth floor, which looked like the rest of the hotel. Small tables separated the suites with vases of fresh flowers, and portraits of famous Egyptian Wizards and Witches lined the walls.

"Wow, they really won big on that prize draw," Sasha raised an eyebrow. She grabbed onto my hand. "Just so you know, Bill and Charlie are going to be here too. You haven't met them, have you?"

"No," I replied. I knew of Bill and Charlie—Bill worked as a curse breaker, and Charlie worked with dragons (we sent Hagrid's dragon to him last year). "But I'm sure they're lovely."

Sasha made a noise of annoyance. "Well I used to have a huge crush on Charlie in my first year—he was in fifth year—before I was friends with Cedric. Just don't—don't join in if the boys tease me."

"No promises," I chuckled.

Sasha rolled her eyes and tugged me down the corridor. We reached 402, and before I could have a moment to brace myself, Sasha jammed her key into the lock and pulled me inside.

The suite was large and airy with velvet blue sofas and a large kitchen-area, where a large pot of something was being stewed. Three ginger boys were slouched on one of the sofas; two I recognised, and one I didn't.

"Lyra!" Ron cried as I shuffled in behind Sasha. "Good to see you!"

Egypt had seemed to made Ron develop hundreds of more freckles on his tanned face, and he looked thrilled to see us. Next to him was Percy, the Weasley brother I'd spoken to the least. He wore a t-shirt and shorts, and yet still had his 'Head Boy' badge pinned on. He ignored us.

"Ron!" I exclaimed as he leapt up and hugged me. "It's nice to see you when I'm not so... confused!"

"It's alright," he shrugged. "Lockhart was more confused that you! Oh, and hey—thank you for curing me of concussion from the Chess game. You saved me a night in the Hospital Wing!"

"No problem," I smiled. I lowered my voice as I said, "Three free healings for my closest friends."

"Hey Sasha," Ron said, as he tried not to snort from my joke. "You remember Charlie, don't you?"

Charlie Weasley was very handsome. He wasn't as lanky as Fred and George, he was stocky. But he was muscled and tanned from his work with the dragons, and his freckled face was just as open and kind as his brothers and sister.

"Yeah," Sasha said shyly, though she put her chin up to make herself seem more confident. "Hey, Charlie."

"Hey," Charlie nodded with a kind smile on his face. He had a large book about Dragon Scales in his lap. "It's been a while, Sash. Are you still into magic creatures?"

Sasha nodded eagerly. For Sasha there were three main interests in her life: The Ruby Series, Cedric and Magical Creatures. She took it as an OWL and the books most thumbed on her book-shelf were written by Newt Scamander.

"Definitely!" she exclaimed. "I may just go to your reservation for work experience after my OWLS... If Mum will let me... Oh yeah, this is my little sister, Lyra."

Charlie gave me another massive grin. "Thanks for the Norwegian Ridgeback again. Noberta is settling right in to our reservation."

A lose thread sewed together—I'd always wondered what happened to Norbert. It was good to know she had a lovely new home with other dragons.

"Where's the rest of the fam?" Sasha asked, dropping her rucksack on the floor. "I know it's not just you three here."

Percy continued to ignore the both of us, as Ron answered. "Mum, Dad and Ginny went for a walk, Bill is doing work in his room... and the twins are off exploring. Mum said if you arrived to take you to your room. Don't know why I have to..."

"Because you don't do anything else," Percy spoke for the first time, and Ron glared at him.

Still grumbling under his breath, Ron led us to our room. Since we were arriving, he explained that he had to share with Ginny. Then he said that the twins were sharing a room, then Percy and Charlie were sharing a room then Bill had his own room.

"This hotel room is endless," I confessed to Ron.

"It's amazing," he grinned. "Dad getting money is one of the best things to happen to us... They managed to get me a new wand as well! You know, after mine broke..."

I nodded, I remembered Kat explaining to me that Ron broke his wand on the Whomping Willow. Sasha snickered. "Poor Ron and his broken wand..."

Ron glared at her as he pushed open our bedroom door. It was a lovey room, twice the size of ours. We had two decent sized single-beds with crisp white covers edged with Sapphire blue thread. We had a large dressing table and an adjoining bathroom with an actual bath in!

"Mum will be back soon... then we'll have dinner." Ron said with a smile. "See you both in a bit."

Unpacking my new clothes into the sleek wardrobe that told us if something was wrong with your appearance ('You have spots on your forehead!' the mirror shrieked, 'It's acne,' I replied) that made me forget entirely about the darkness of Azkaban.

The memory of our father rested in my mind, glowing like a beacon. I would find out the truth, one way or another.

Once un-packed we had dinners with the Weasley's (apart from the twins, who were absent). Molly and Arthur Weasley were lovely people, the exact sort of parental team children dreamt of having. I was also introduced to Bill Weasley, who was extremely cool with an earring and long ginger hair.

With Molly promising to take us to the biggest Pyramid the next day, Sasha and I headed to bed for an early night. I tried to suppress my disappointment at not seeing Fred. Did he not want to see me?

My dreams reflected how uneasy I felt. Standing in a huge glass bottle I was pounding my fists against the glass trying to get out. Fred could see me, but he just gave me a fake smile and wave... he was walking away, leaving me, no... no...

"No!" I yelped, waking myself up my arms flinging everywhere like limp noodles.

"Hey, hey, you're okay..." a husky voice whispered in the darkness. "Lyra don't worry... It was just a bad dream."

Heart beating a hundred miles an hour, I groped for the lamp, only to be greeted by Fred Weasley sat on the bed next to me. Letting out a strangled cry, I threw my arms around him without thinking. After a moment's hesitation, he returned the embrace.

He smelt the same as he did before, but with new scents: of gunpowder, sweets, cinnamon and now sun cream and cheap cologne... My God, he was really here...

As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realised that Sasha was no longer sleeping in the bed across from me (her idea, I suppose) and that Fred had gotten more handsome in the year we'd been apart.

His face was tanned from the holiday, freckles more prominent on his cheeks and neck. As I had noted, his voice had dropped. His jaw-line was more angular, his hair shaggier. But his chocolate brown eyes were still sparkling with warmth, and his smile just as wide.

"Bad dream?" He repeated, and hesitantly he cupped his hand around my cheek, rubbing his finger against it. I practically melted as I nodded, stunned at his gentleness after this time. "Do you get them a lot?"

"Sometimes," I said truthfully. "Sometimes I see Harry and Kat dead, how they'd be if I hadn't saved them... Or I see Voldemort... he turns up a lot..."

Fred continued stroking my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. "Sasha let me in here," this deeper voice was something I would have to get used to. "I was too much of a coward to talk to you in the light... Some Gryffindor I am..."

"Why didn't you write?" I demanded, feeling like a child but not caring much. "I had letters from all my friends—even Elijah—asking how I was, but not you..."

Fred lowered his head, looking like a dejected broken puppet. "I just—I didn't know what to say. I tried so many times..." He reached out and grabbed my hand. I was so lost after you went into that coma... I know it's pathetic because we didn't even start dating properly, but... I missed you so much."

Shifting in the bed covers, I scooted closer to him. "I didn't want to leave... you know I didn't. Least of all you, Fred. You've been the one person I've really wanted to speak to. I missed you"

Fred gave me a shy smile. "You did?"

Nodding fervently, I took a gulp. I was about to ask the one question that had really been on the tip of my tongue since I'd woken up. I really hoped that I didn't come across as a freak, or a jealous psycho...

"Did you, um.... Date anybody when I was.... Gone?"

Fred hesitated, and then nodded, so quickly that you could almost miss it.

"Oh."

Fred took both of my hands and squeezed them. "Listen, I was really sad... I just moped around all summer, crying... I was a mess, I just... got used to you being around, not to mention all of my romantic-styles feelings for you..."

I couldn't help smiling as he continued. "But after a few months, I was lonely, and I wasn't sure if you were coming back... Sasha was getting over her bad spell and starting things up with Cedric. So, I thought, 'hey, Lyra wouldn't want you moping around!' so I went out with Alicia Spinnet for two months."

Screwing up my face, I remembered the small brunette chaser on the Gryffindor team. She was in Sasha's year, and I saw them talking sometimes.

"Two months, past tense?" I said hopefully.

Fred nodded. "It just didn't feel... right. I was dating her because, not because I liked her more than a friend. Not to mention all the stuff with the chamber, I figured you'd be magically awoken or something..."

Leaning back on the soft bed frame, I mulled it over. It couldn't have been any better. Fred had tried to move on, which I would have wanted him to do if I'd died... but he was here with practical heart eyes in front of me, explaining himself...

"Okay," I smiled. "I'm glad you tried to move on. I wouldn't want you to be sad."

Fred practically beamed. "I thought you'd be understanding... A small part of me was worried you'd shut me in a Pyramid—"

I broke him off by kissing him.

Inside my messed-up brain it'd been eight days and a year since we'd kissed last, but for Fred it seemed like a lifetime. Obviously, it wasn't a big romantic moment like the movies would tell you—our noses bumped, our lips parted too quickly, and our hands were jittery and everywhere. But it was the best kiss I'd ever had.

After the kissing (there was more!) the two of us folded up together under my bed covers like two sheets of origami. I laid against Fred's chest and he held me tight like I was a life-jacket keeping him afloat.

"You started wearing it again..." Fred said thickly, his voice heavy with sleep. He lightly pushed my hair back, toying with the necklace he bought me. "I wasn't sure if you liked that necklace..."

"I never took it off," I whispered, kissing him on the small scar that curled over his lip. "Even when I was being stupid and pretended I didn't like you..."

We laid there talking for what seemed like hours. How Fred had been reading more, trying to research a way to wake me up. All of the little things I'd missed—a really great Quidditch match he played, an adorable cat he found in the grounds—how he'd read all the Ruby books three times as a way to remind himself of me.

"Fred," I whispered into the darkness. We'd switched the lamp off and decided to go to sleep. Sasha was going to stay with George tonight, and it felt both grown-up and familiar. "I visited my Dad yesterday."

Fred woke up, and I felt his cold nose against my cheek. "What, really? What was that like?"

"Weird..." I confessed. "He thinks he's been framed... I promised to investigate it for him. Sasha thinks I'm nuts..."

Fred lightly kissed my cheek. "If there is some sort of conspiracy, you'll find it. You're smart. My golden girl..."

Tiredness was beginning to take me over. Fred was so warm and soft, and other than sleeping with Sasha the night I'd come back, I'd never felt so safe.

"Fred?" I whispered, and he hmmed in response. "Are we boyfriend and girlfriend now?"

"Would you like to be?" he whispered.

"Very much so, yes."

I could feel his smile in the dark, a splash of colour in what had been a mostly grim twenty-four hours. "Then we are yes, Miss Lyra."

**

"Fred! Lyra!" Sasha's voice was frantic, and my startled eyes flew open to see her crouched on the bed like a wild beast. "Fred, for God's sake get off my sister!"

Going to sleep together was very romantic. Waking up was not. Fred was blearily eyed and still half-draped across me, and my right arm felt very numb.

"Did Mum find out I stayed in here?" fear flashed across Fred's eyes. "Am I going to die this morning?"

Sasha made a little tsk of annoyance, before throwing this morning's Daily Prophet in front of us. Taking up the whole of the page was a mug-shot. With a headline:

SIRIUS BLACK ESCAPES AZKBAN PRISON

Feeling as if I'd been dunked in a bath of ice-water, I let out an involuntary squeak. I'd seen my father two days ago, and he'd been almost hopeful at me finding the truth about his case.

What could have possibly happened to make him escape? 

------

A/N Yay, Fred and Lyra are together! Their relationship is one of my favourites to write :)

Any questions or thoughts on the chapter? 

If I've got my plan right, we will be going back to Hogwarts next chapter or the one after! See you all soon :)