The days passed in a blur of laughter and carefree adventures, and Lyra couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so light. The burden of her quest for the star chart, the lingering shadows of dark wizards, and her father's mysterious past felt distant now, eclipsed by the daily joy of being a part of Hogwarts life.

One Saturday afternoon, after a particularly intense Quidditch match (which Gryffindor had won thanks to James's impressive Seeker skills), the Marauders decided to continue the celebration in the Gryffindor common room. The room was filled with students, buzzing with excitement, some still wearing their Quidditch robes, others with glasses of pumpkin juice in hand.

Lyra had found a spot by the window, enjoying the view of the sprawling grounds bathed in golden afternoon light. But she wasn't alone for long. Sirius slid into the chair next to her, looking pleased with himself. He had a mischievous grin on his face, and Lyra knew immediately that trouble was brewing.

"Potter's a bit too happy with himself, don't you think?" Sirius asked, his voice low, though the glint in his eyes was anything but subtle.

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "You're up to something."

"Of course I am." He leaned closer, his grin widening. "What do you say we give him a taste of his own medicine?"

Her heart skipped a beat as she caught onto his plan. She leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing with amusement. "What are you thinking?"

Sirius leaned in and whispered the plan, his voice conspiratorial. Lyra couldn't help but laugh. It was perfect.

They waited for the right moment—James had already been caught boasting about the win for the hundredth time, recounting each play with exaggerated flair. As he was regaling the room with an overly detailed retelling of his chase for the Golden Snitch, Sirius and Lyra exchanged a quick look. The signal was clear. They both stood up at once, and Sirius gave a quick nod to Peter, who was standing by the fireplace, ready to assist.

James was halfway through his animated recount of the match when a loud "whoosh" filled the air, followed by a loud splash. He froze mid-sentence, confusion written all over his face. Then, his eyes widened as he realized what had happened.

A bucket of icy cold water had dumped directly onto his head, drenching him from head to toe. The common room erupted in laughter.

James stood there, dripping wet, his jaw slack in shock. "Who did this?" he sputtered, looking around wildly. "Was it you, Black?"

Sirius was grinning ear to ear, already trying to hide behind Lyra, but not quite succeeding. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said, feigning innocence.

"You—" James started, shaking the water from his hair. "You absolute—"

Lyra was doubled over with laughter, clutching her stomach. "This is too good!" she gasped, trying to catch her breath. "You looked like a drowned rat, Potter!"

Remus, who had been quietly watching from his chair, couldn't suppress a chuckle either. "I think it's a fair trade for all the bragging," he said, grinning.

James scowled, but his expression softened as he saw the genuine amusement in Lyra's eyes. "Alright, alright, you got me. But next time," he said with a wink, "I'm getting you both back. Just wait."

Sirius raised his glass, offering a toast. "To revenge. And friendship. May the pranks never end."

The room burst into cheers, and Lyra felt a surge of warmth in her chest. This was what she had been missing—these simple moments of fun, of friendship, of belonging. She had spent so much time wrapped up in her own head, in her father's secrets, and in the weight of her destiny, but here, with her friends, she could just be.

As the evening wore on, Lyra found herself in the middle of a spontaneous game of wizard's chess with Peter, the board littered with pieces that seemed to have a mind of their own. James and Remus were seated nearby, exchanging jokes, while Sirius kept popping in with random, nonsensical commentary.

Lyra's knight, after a particularly heated battle with Peter's bishop, ended up knocking over the queen in a dramatic flourish. "Ha! Checkmate!" she announced with a triumphant grin.

Peter groaned. "You're cheating!"

"I'm not cheating," Lyra said innocently, leaning back in her chair. "I'm just... thinking outside the box."

"More like thinking outside the castle," Sirius quipped, earning a laugh from everyone.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter, challenges, and light-hearted moments. By the time the common room began to quiet down, Lyra was sprawled across the couch, feeling more content than she had in ages. The worries she had carried with her—of dark forces, the past, and her search—felt far away for the first time in months.

Sirius leaned against the armrest, his face serious for a moment before his usual grin returned. "You know, you've got this whole 'Marauder' vibe going on now. You've been officially initiated into the fun side of Hogwarts."

Lyra raised an eyebrow, half in amusement and half in disbelief. "Are you saying I'm a troublemaker now?"

Sirius tilted his head thoughtfully. "You? No. You're more like... a fun troublemaker."

"Good enough for me," Lyra said, her eyes twinkling. "I'll take it."

"Good," he said with a wink. "Because you're stuck with us now. Whether you like it or not."

The warmth of the fire crackled beside them, and for the first time, Lyra truly felt at home. She had no idea what the future would hold, but in that moment, surrounded by friends, she realized that maybe it was okay to just enjoy the present.

And that, for now, was enough.

✵

The next few weeks passed in a flurry of classes, laughter, and new friendships. Lyra had finally begun to feel like Hogwarts was truly her home, and as she moved through the castle with ease, she encountered more students who were eager to get to know her.

One morning, Lyra found herself in the library, rifling through dusty old books on magical astronomy for an essay she had to write for Professor Sinistra. She had long ago abandoned the heavy thoughts of her quest and had started to focus on enjoying her studies and the company of her friends.

Her eyes scanned the shelves, but she didn't expect to find anyone she knew. But just as she pulled a particularly large book from the shelf, a voice called from behind her.

"Need any help with that?"

Lyra turned to see Marlene McKinnon, a Gryffindor sixth-year who was known for being friendly and approachable, standing with a grin on her face. Marlene had a mischievous glint in her eye, a playful contrast to the sharp focus of her studies.

"Not unless you can levitate it for me," Lyra said, laughing as she eyed the weighty tome she'd just pulled down.

"Of course I can levitate it," Marlene said matter-of-factly, her eyes twinkling. "But only if you promise to stop reading books about stars for a whole week. There are more interesting things to read in the library, you know."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"

Marlene shrugged nonchalantly. "I've been eyeing a book on the history of the wizarding world's most infamous pranksters. It's bound to be more entertaining than celestial mechanics."

Lyra chuckled, setting the book down. "You're on. One week off the stars, and we'll read about pranksters."

"Deal," Marlene said, her grin widening. She moved to stand next to Lyra, now scanning the shelves. "I've been wanting to try out a new prank, and I think you might be just the partner in crime I need."

Lyra raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh? You're thinking of pranking someone?"

Marlene nodded eagerly. "Maybe even Professor Flitwick. He's got that look about him, like he's too nice to suspect anything."

"You're dangerous, McKinnon," Lyra said with a grin. "I think I'll take you up on that offer."

The two of them shared a conspiratorial laugh before Marlene leaned in closer, lowering her voice as if telling a secret.

"Speaking of which," Marlene continued, "I heard that you and Sirius Black are the new dynamic duo. Is that true?"

Lyra blushed slightly, surprised at the question. "Sirius and I are just... friends. We're always messing around together, like the others."

"Sure," Marlene said, smirking. "But you've got to admit, he's got a way of getting under your skin, hasn't he?"

Lyra laughed, nodding. "I'm still not sure how he manages it. He's like a magnet for trouble."

"Wouldn't have him any other way, though, right?" Marlene said, her voice full of warmth. "He and James are a handful, but they make things interesting."

Lyra was quiet for a moment, reflecting on the way her life at Hogwarts had unfolded. Marlene was right. The Marauders had a way of making everything more exciting, more unpredictable. But she wasn't just friends with them anymore. She was starting to see how much she truly enjoyed being around them—how much they had become her own little family.

"So," Marlene continued, clearly sensing Lyra's shift in mood, "I've got to ask... How's your fifth year going? You settling in okay? You know, not too much homework and all?"

"I'm actually liking it," Lyra replied. "The teachers are... well, most of them are fine. I'm getting used to everything here." She shrugged. "I think it helps that the Marauders keep things interesting."

"Well, they certainly do that," Marlene said, rolling her eyes but smiling. "They've made it their mission to drive me crazy this year, but I can't complain. James' antics are always good for a laugh."

"I've noticed," Lyra said with a grin. "But they really do keep everyone on their toes. It's like living in a comedy show."

The two girls continued chatting for a while, swapping stories about their classes and professors. Lyra found herself feeling more and more at ease, her earlier thoughts of dark wizards and family secrets slipping further into the back of her mind.

As they left the library together, the corridors of Hogwarts suddenly felt a lot more welcoming. Students waved at Lyra as she passed, and she realized with a small start that she was no longer just the "new girl." She was becoming part of something bigger than herself—something warm and chaotic and full of possibility.

That afternoon, as she made her way to the Gryffindor common room, Lyra found herself laughing with Marlene and a few other students. It was the kind of simple joy she had almost forgotten existed in her life, and she couldn't help but embrace it fully. No more searching for the cursed star chart for now, no more worrying about what lay ahead. Right now, she was surrounded by people who cared for her, and for the first time in a long time, that was more than enough