Kat and I didn't sleep very much that night. Both of us were too worried about Cassie to sleep, even though Sasha had been dispatched to collect a strong sleeping potion from Draco (as it turned out he kept a stash in his dormitory in case of emergencies) in case she had nightmares.

Even though Cassie slept like a baby, neither of us were willing to leave her alone. I stared at the ceiling, counting every drop in the chandelier. Anything to keep my mind from tracing back to the details in Cassie's story.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" I asked Kat, scrunching the duvet up in my hand. "She—I don't know how she kept it secret for so long. Only her family knowing..."

Kat's hand clumsily met mine, and she squeezed my fingers. "I know I'm a steel fortress with feelings and stuff, but... when I told you about my mother leaving, it helped."

"Really?" I thought about that night so long ago in the forest, with Kat sobbing in my arms about her absent mother. "You were so upset."

Kat leaned across Cassie's sleeping body so her afro curls tickled my neck. "I was. But it felt good to tell somebody, to let the monster out of the cage. It still hurts to think about my mother, but... it's easier. You helped me, Lyra."

Feeling a surge of pride that I'd helped Kat, a stone dropped in my stomach. "Cassie had a big monster to let out."

Kat squeezed my fingers again. "But these monsters, Lyra, they sit on our chests. Letting it out, helps you breathe again. Cassie might be able to breathe easier."

I hoped so.

**

Over the coming weeks, it became clear to us all that Cassie was breathing easier. She had bright days---when she told jokes to make us snort pumpkin juice and demanding piggy back rides from Harry up to Divination—she also had her dark days.

Maybe it was because she opened the most vulnerable part of herself to us, forcing her to relive everything, or maybe she just wasn't hiding the darkness anymore.

But when Cassie had a bad day she would glaze over, wrap her arms around herself and not speak. Sometimes she would pull strands of hair out without realising until she had a clump in her hand. With gentle monologues from Daphne, an encouraging smile from me or a rare hand-hold from Kat, and Cassie would be pulled back from the darkness to us.

I worried about Cassie all the time, and I knew that would never change. But at least now I knew the signs and had an idea of what was going on in her head.

Another positive was how quickly people took to Remus as Defence teacher. He was easily battling with Mum for beloved teacher—Remus had such a perfect demeanour to be a teacher, he made the lessons interesting but was also willing to have a joke with students.

And as September blurred into October without a single sighting of Dad, I finally felt as though I could relax. Yet at the corner of my mind was an itch I couldn't satisfy, which was making me physically restless—which Fred didn't fail to notice.

"What is it?" he asked without looking up from one of his idea journals. I was lent up against him underneath our favourite Willow Tree, but I couldn't keep still.

"Nothing." I played with my pedant, hoping he'd believe me. "Carry on drawing."

Fred's pencil paused over the drawing of an imagined logo for his and George's practical joke shop idea. For a second I thought I'd fooled him, but then he poked my nose with the pencil.

"Lyra—I know when something's up. I'm like that cool muggle guy Sherlock Gnomes." He poked me with the pencil again.

"I'm thinking about joining the Quidditch team." I blurted out. I reached into the pocket of my skirt. "Cedric left trial information cards in the common room... Try outs are this weekend..."

Fred dropped his notebook and wrapped me into a huge bear hug, his smile wider than a Cheshire cat's. "That's brilliant Lyra—I know you'll do great at the trial, and—wait, why don't you look excited?"

I began playing with the edges of the card. "I've only ever flown a broomstick once, Fred and that was to help save my friends... I'd probably be the worst player ever, I don't even know what position I'd play..."

Fred looked thoughtful. "If you're so unsure, why do you want to try out?"

Looking at my trainers, I told him. "Cassie's been through such terrible things, and she's been so brave. It puts things into perspective—why am I so afraid of flying on a wooden stick?"

Instead of Fred telling me how much of coward I was, as the pessimist of me expected, he pulled me closer and gave a lop-sided kiss to my forehead.

"You're so silly, Lyra. I really care about you, but you are ridiculous." I gave him a pointed look. "You're afraid of flying broomsticks and spiders, but you won't think twice of trying to fight a dementor or even You-Know-Who! You're brave in the ways that matter—and if you're not ready to fly, that's okay."

I kissed Fred right on his freckled nose. How did I get so lucky to have him? "What position do you think I'd play?"

"I think you're a Keeper," Fred said with a mischievous grin. "In Quidditch and in life."

I tried to wriggle out of his embrace to tickle him but failed and looked like a fish out of water, which made my idiot of a boyfriend laugh more. "Fred—be serious!"

"For once in my life, I'm not joking." Fred was still smiling, but I could catch the seriousness in his chocolate brown eyes, a look that he only rarely gave me. "You like to protect things, you always have."

I replied by giving him a long loving kiss, to try and show him just how grateful I was for him. For how he always had the answer when I was stressed or anxious, for how he'd waited for me to wake up from my coma (for the most part) for how he was my personal ray of ginger sunshine.

As we ended the kiss and began discussing strategies for me to use at the Quidditch trial, something hit me. It felt ten times more powerful and golden that my healing powers that had been dormant these last few peaceful months, and it warmed me to my core, but frightened me in a way.

I was head-over-heels in love with Fred Weasley.

**

My realisation of my love for Fred was something I kept secret from everybody, Fred included. We'd only been dating officially three months, and I didn't want to scare him away. The small, brave part of me had a feeling he felt the same way, but the dominant anxious part of my brain told me not to say anything yet.

But I had my Quidditch trial to distract me. Sasha had pleaded Cedric (which didn't require much effort) to give me a private try-out, since I was incredibly nervous.

It turned out okay in the end: Cedric made notes and watched from a short distance away, as Sasha tried to get ten goals into my hoops. It wasn't easy—Sasha was an amazing chaser—but I was nimble, and my arm muscles were strong from violin. I wasn't even as scared of the broom as I imagined—with a goal to focus on, I was barely aware of how high up I was.

I managed to save eight of ten goals, which I was incredibly proud of. What helped was that all my friends, plus Fred and George were in the stands cheering me on. Once I saved the last goal by kicking it into my arms, I soared towards Cedric and Sasha for the verdict.

"Well? How did she do?" Sasha spoke for me, which was just as well as I was breathless from all the exercise.

"C'mon, lets go to the ground to talk about it." Cedric said kindly, and at the time I thought he was going to gently let me down.

But as the three of us sat with our brooms at the bottom stand, Cedric told me the good news. "I think you're really good Lyra—especially considering you have little experience. We've never been able to find a Keeper as nimble or daring as you before."

"So, have I got it?" I squeaked.

Cedric beamed, and shut his notebook. "In my heart I know this is right. I don't think it's fair to try anybody else out—I've seen some of them fly anyways, and they aren't as quick as you. You're perfect."

He shook my hand, and I was all in a daze. "You're perfect," Sasha grinned at Cedric, entwining her hand with his. "I love you for giving Lyra a chance."

Cedric went a faint shade of pink but smiled. "I love you too, Sash, you have such a good eye for things like this—maybe we'll actually have a chance to win the cup this year!"

"Maybe so," I couldn't stop smiling, for getting onto the team and seeing my sister so happy. "Thank you Ced!"

But then I was attacked with a hug from behind, and I squealed. Fred had wrapped his arms around me and was beaming, my friends close behind. "Not if Gryffindor have anything to do with it!"

"We'll see!" I smirked back at him.

**

So now I had Quidditch as a form of distraction three nights a week. This was great, as it was getting me healthier, braver and I had quality time with Sasha which I was lacking.

"You're improving so much," Sasha told me one-night at the end of October as the two of us traipsed back to the common room. "That last one was a Sasha-special."

"A Sasha special?" I giggled, playing with the hem of my Quidditch jumper—another perk, I loved the uniform. "What is that—a burger?"

Sasha ruffled out her wind-mussed curls. "It's the killer move I use when we're behind in points. The Sasha special has saved even the weakest game from collapse."

We walked closely in silence, our shoulders brushing. While I was truly appreciating this alone time with her, right now I really needed my big sister.

"Sasha?" I looked at my still-too-tight Quidditch boots as I said it. "How do you tell somebody you love them?"

Sasha gasped, and I looked as she practically skidded to a halt like a manic cartoon character, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. "You love Fred?"

I felt the heat travel up my neck and into blotchy patches on my chest. "Yes," I said defensively. "I've realised it for a while now. But—but is it too soon? What if he doesn't say it back?"

My usual electric sister had a gentle look come onto her face, as she wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I was fast catching up to her gangly height, the top of my head brushing her shoulder.

"When you know—you know. Life is too short to worry about what-ifs."

"When did you tell Cedric?"

Sasha clutched at her arm, and once again I wished she would talk to me—talk about what happened to her last year, let me heal her scars. When she wanted to be, Sasha could be as impenetrable as bullet-proof glass.

"That's a story for another day, sister."

Sasha tapped the barrels to the common room, and we entered to find a sign of mania. Crowds of students were huddled around the notice board, Cedric trying to create some sort of order. Kat was sat in an arm chair by the fire, knitting of all things.

"Where's the fire?" I asked, sitting next to Kat. She was concentrating hard on a thick book in her lap, which I realised was all about knitting patterns.

"First visit for Hogsmeade has been announced," she didn't look up. Her voice was oddly choked. "It's on Halloween—this Saturday."

"Brilliant!" Sasha grinned. "I've been craving a cheese and bean pasty from The Three Boomsticks! I'll have to rally the girls for a lunch date!" with a wave she headed over to a gaggle of friends in her year.

Sitting into the arm chair next to Kat, I was grateful the common room was too distracted by the notice to listen to our conversation.

"What's the matter?" I asked her. "I thought you'd be excited—somewhere new for us to explore."

Kat put her knitting down angrily, if possible. The grey lump of wool sagged on her knees, and she clutched the needles so tight that her knuckles whitened.

"Ernie Macmillan wants to ask Cassie to go to Hogsmeade with him. For a date. He thinks she likes him because she helps him in Herbology sometimes." Her voice was about a lively as a deflated balloon.

"Oh." I could feel the tension in the air. Maybe now I could get Kat to open up. "Listen, Kat... I know you don't want to talk about feelings and stuff, but I can tell you really like Cassie. Why don't you talk to her about it?"

"I don't even know if she likes girls," Kat said gloomily. "And with everything she's been through recently, I'm not inclined to ask her. I'll just suffer in silence."

A heavy silence passed between us. "So, uh, are you a lesbian, or...?"

Kat smiled at me, and it brightened her whole face. "I'm bisexual." She looked around for a moment and licked her lips nervously. "I was playing truth and dare with the kids from my church's youth group. One of the boys came out as bi, and as he said it, it... felt like a lightning bolt hit me. I've always liked boys, but I've always felt something for girls that I didn't understand... But, when I heard that, I made sense, everything made sense."

I reached over and wrapped my arms around her in a hug. For once Kat didn't resist and leaned into it. "It feels good to say that to somebody. Nobody knows. Not even my Auntie."

Something in Kat seemed to seize up, and I finally abandoned my own chair to squeeze next to her. "I'm sure she would understand. She loves you Kat, even if she can be strict sometimes."

"When we were out before, there was a lesbian couple kissing. She made a face and told me: I hate people like that. Sure, I could date a guy in the future and she'd love it. But if I brought home a girl... That'd be a different story."

Part of me wilted inside. How backwards was the world that a parent could hate their child for who they were? Why couldn't people just accept that love was love, whatever form it took?

"You would stay with me in that case." I stuck my chin up in the air. "My Mum loves you, and so do me and Sasha."

Tears welled in Kat's eyes, and she brushed them away before they could fall. "Thank you, Lyra. That means a lot."

Looking around a couple times to make sure nobody was listening, I leaned into Kat. "Look, I'll try to see if Cassie likes you back. She's a keeper."

Kat gave me a deadpan look. "Please don't recyle your boyfriend's lame jokes, Lyra. I doubt she likes me like that--why would she?"

When I thought hard, I remembered how Cassie was always the one to reach out to Kat when she was hurting, the first one to laugh at Kat's jokes. How when Kat and I entered a lesson, her eyes would always light up a little bit more when they reached Kat...

"She might surprise you."

**

The next morning, I was greeted outside the common room by Harry. He was clutching a sheet of parchment in his hand and a pleading expression. He hadn't brushed his hair yet, and it stuck up more than usual.

"What is it?" I asked warily as the three of us walked up the steps to the hall. "I don't think you've ever come down to our common room before."

"Am I that obvious?" Harry said sheepishly.

"Yes." Kat snapped. She was distracted by glaring at Ernie Macmillan who was walking in front of us, who was loudly strategizing to Justin Finch-Fletchley how to ask Cassie out.

"I, uh—I just need a favour." Harry said sheepishly, standing closer to me. "Well, from your Mum."

Lightly, I nudged Harry with my shoulder. "Does this possibly have something to do with Hogsmeade?"

He turned bright pink, which confirmed my theory. "Well, um—My Uncle and Aunt wouldn't sign the form, and um—well I thought, uh, technically she is my Godmother and I thought... Well if it was okay with you if I—"

Stopping in my tracks I placed both hands on his shoulders. "Yes Harry, that's perfectly fine. You're family. Mum is bound to say yes—she's family too. You need to remember that, even if you aren't allowed to live with us for whatever reason."

Harry nodded, and we exchanged a sad look before continuing onto breakfast.

After I went into the coma, Harry had asked to live with Sasha and Mum, bring some normality to all of their lives in my absence. But Dumbledore had refused, claiming Harry had to stay with the horrible Dursley's every summer until we left school, even though Harry had never been happy there.

But Harry and I had agreed he'd move into ours the second that seventh year ended. We'd even decided which bedroom he'd have, and that we'd take in turns making pancakes for breakfast (assuming Sasha had moved out).

"We've got History of Magic right before break today," Kat said, jumping into the conversation. "I know you have Charms, and that's right down the corridor. Leg it down—ask her then."

"Brilliant idea!" Harry tucked the permission slip into his pocket as we'd reached the hall. "Thanks, girls!"

We next saw Harry as History of Magic was wrapping up. Charms must have finished early as I could see him peering around the door, as Mum was finishing her lesson on the Hogwarts founders.

"—And I'd like you respectively to write one sheet of parchment about Helga Hufflepuff or Salazar Slytherin, and how their influence has shaped your house today. It'll be due in next Friday."

Mum wrote the assignment and helpful notes on the blackboard, and everybody diligently wrote them in their notebooks. Even having her as a teacher for almost two months, I was still so proud of her.

"Now, be gone children!" Mum clapped her hands together. "We all want some fresh air, none more so than me!"

The class began scattering, including Cassie, who after giving us a wave headed off with Daphne. That made my heart pang a little bit, but I reminded myself not to be stupid. It was a good thing Cassie was making friends in Slytherin.

As I began packing my bag, waiting for Harry to scurry into the classroom, I was approached by none other than Draco Malfoy.

"Hey," he said awkwardly, pulling his expensive satchel closer to him.

"What do you what?" I asked suspiciously. Draco hadn't approached me without malice since at least before we started Hogwarts. Kat stopped packing her bag and eyed him suspiciously.

"I'm not here to fight—at the moment," he smirked. But then he dropped the bad-boy act, and we were allowed a glimpse to the boy who had sleeping potions for his sister and comforted her on the train. "I just wanted, well, to thank you both."

"Thank you?" Kat spluttered. "For what?"

"I'm not repeating it." Colour flushed on Draco's pale face. "I just—it needed to be said."

"For what though?" I frowned. "Not going to the teachers when you bully our friends?"

Draco went as pink as a grapefruit. "No—for God's sake, I mean for looking out for Cassie." He looked down at his polished shoes. "You've both looked out for her when I didn't. I've been a real git to her, when—all she went through, I—"

With a realisation, I remembered from Cassie's story that Draco had witnessed the aftermath of the attack. I wonder how that affected him

Surprising myself, I reached out and touched his arm. "Don't worry about it, Draco. Cassie's our best friend. We'd do anything for her."

Draco looked satisfied and wriggled out of my touch. "Well, that's good." He said curtly. "I'm glad my sister has good friends, even if they are lame Hufflepuffs."

I rolled my eyes. "We were friends growing up you know, Draco. You don't need to hate me."

Draco looked left and right, checking for his Slytherin friends before he said, "All right, I'll try to make an effort to be less shit to you all—except Potter, he's my arch nemesis."

Kat snorted. "Dude, he wouldn't be your friend—won't you both get over yourselves?"

Draco ignored her. "I do still remember when the four of us would play pirates and mermaids in our pool. They were good memories."

With that, he hurried off—but not before he snarled 'Potter' at an unsuspecting Harry in the doorway.

"That was weird," Kat said, swinging her bag over her shoulder. "Who knew that creatures from Hades could have feelings?"

"People can change, if you give them time." I smiled to myself. Even if Draco did put a bad-boy persona on most of the time—he did have good inside him.

"Don't take that too literally, nobody said that to Stalin or Hitler," Kat muttered to herself.

Rolling my eyes, I looked to the front of the class to see Harry speaking to Mum. She was shaking her head and looking sad. Oh dear.

I hurried to the front of the class. "Why won't you sign Harry's form?" I demanded. "He is your Godson!"

Mum gave us both a sad smile. "I know—I would love to sign it, Harry, I really would. Hogsmeade is a lovely place. I only just about convinced Dumbledore to allow Sasha and Lyra to go—and that's if I'm present in Hogsmeade."

Anger surged in me for my father. I know it was petty, but how unfair was it that Harry would be missing out on Hogsmeade just because of a chance encounter with him?

"That's not fair though!" I burst out on Harry's behalf, as he was looking quite forlorn, like a kicked puppy.

Mum pushed her hair over her shoulders, and I noticed how stressed she looked below the surface. "I don't think it is either, love. I doubt my husband would stroll down to Honeydukes with hundreds of witnesses, but Dumbledore won't budge. Maybe next time, Harry?"

"Yeah," Harry tried to sound upbeat, but he just sounded sadder than ever.

We left the classroom, where Ron and Hermione were waiting. "It's a no," he told them sadly.

Ron opened his mouth to speak, but I gave him a quelling look. "Before you say anything nasty, remember she is my mother."

"Never mind," Ron mumbled.

"I'm sure you'll be able to go next time," Hermione said positively. "Things would have quietened down by then."

"Yeah..."

The cogs in my brain began turning. Since I had been allowed to go to Hogsmeade, Fred and I were going to have a date—our first proper one since Egypt—and he was going to show me around the best parts of the village. But Harry, being here by himself...

"I'll stay here with you," I said, before the selfish part of my brain could butt in. "We'll have fun, just the two of us!"

"Really?" Harry brightened. "You don't have to do that, Lyra, honestly."

I reached out and squeezed his hand. "Anything for my brother."

Harry beamed like the sun. Anyways, Halloween—despite it being Sasha's birthday—was an uninteresting day. What could possibly happen?

------

A/N This chapter was going to include Sirius breaking in, but it would have been way too long! It's a bit of a filler chapter, but necessary for development (Draco is probably going to end up good sooner than in the original books, fyi). 

Any thoughts about the story/characters? :)

Also this story is ranking high, ahhhh! We're 136 in the Sirius Black tag and 88 (!!!) in the HP tag, which is mad! Thanks for reading!!