The next few weeks saw Lyra's presence become a familiar part of the Gryffindor Tower's daily rhythm. While she hadn't exactly gone out of her way to make friends, her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude earned her a place among the Marauders, even if it was mostly out of sheer persistence on James's part.

It started innocently enough. Lyra had been wandering the grounds one afternoon when James spotted her from across the courtyard, sitting with her nose buried in a book, her green eyes flicking up occasionally to observe her surroundings. Without a second thought, he'd bounded over, as was his way, and plopped himself down beside her.

"You're new here, right?" James asked, leaning back on his hands. "I'm James Potter, future Head Boy, reigning Quidditch champion, and, you know, kind of a big deal around here." He winked at her, a grin spreading across his face.

Lyra glanced up at him, her expression unreadable. "I think I can survive Hogwarts without knowing your life story," she said coolly, her eyes flicking back to her book.

James chuckled. "Right, right, the mysterious, aloof type. I get it." He leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice to a dramatic whisper. "But in case you're interested, I'm also quite famous for my ability to make a lot of trouble."

"Good to know," Lyra replied, not looking up.

Over the next few days, Lyra found herself involved in more and more Marauder-related antics. James was persistent, and though she had little interest in some of the more ridiculous pranks he came up with, she couldn't deny the thrill of being part of it all. There was something undeniably exhilarating about being with them, and Sirius, despite his usual cocky demeanor, had a certain charm that made it hard to resist his easygoing nature.

One evening, after dinner, Sirius found himself sitting with Lyra on the steps leading to the common room. She was absentmindedly tracing her finger along the edge of her book, while he leaned back, arms folded behind his head.

"You know," Sirius began, glancing at her sideways, "I always thought I had the best talent for breaking the rules, but I might need some competition."

Lyra didn't look at him, but she smiled a little. "If you think you're the only one capable of getting into trouble, you're mistaken."

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Definitely." She closed her book, meeting his eyes. "I've gotten into trouble before. Back at Ilvermorny, I almost got kicked out for sneaking into the Forbidden Section of the library. You know, where they keep the dark magic books?"

Sirius chuckled. "I think I'm going to like you, Hawthorne."

She rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes as she stood up. "Come on, then. Show me what you've got." She gave him a pointed look, daring him.

Sirius grinned widely, standing up in one swift motion. "Alright, you're on."

✵

The next few days were a blur of stolen moments, mischievous adventures, and growing camaraderie. It wasn't long before Remus, always the calm presence of the group, was roped into their activities. One night, Lyra found herself walking alongside him to the library to meet up with the others.

"So," Remus began, adjusting his glasses as they walked, "what's the real reason you're so determined to crack this star chart mystery? You seem... different from the usual students who come through Hogwarts."

Lyra glanced at him, a little taken aback by his perceptiveness. "Is it that obvious?"

Remus smiled faintly. "It's just that... there's more to you than meets the eye. You're not the type to let things go, especially something as complicated as this star chart business."

Lyra sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "It's personal, Remus. My father—he was working on something that could change everything. But when he disappeared, I was left with nothing but fragments. And I need to know what happened. If I don't figure it out, I'll never be able to move on."

Remus nodded thoughtfully. "I get it. It's hard when you don't have all the answers. But trust me, you don't have to do it alone."

She met his eyes, a small but sincere smile tugging at her lips. "I didn't think I did. That's why I'm asking for help."

Soon, the whole group was involved—James, Remus, Peter, and even Sirius, though he still couldn't quite shake the feeling that Lyra was hiding something. She wasn't an open book. But there was something about her—something that drew him in, something that made him want to unravel her layers one by one.

It was on a chilly Saturday afternoon, as the Marauders sat huddled around a table in the library, that Lyra made her first real move toward including them in her quest.

"Alright," she said, glancing up at the group. "I think I've figured out part of it. The key to finding the star chart lies in the old astronomy records. Apparently, there's a section in the Restricted Section of the library that holds some older charts... ones that were lost."

"Lost? How convenient," James quipped, though he was more interested than he let on. "And let me guess—you need a certain group of troublemakers to help you get in there?"

Lyra smirked. "You'd be the first to volunteer, Potter. I thought you'd never ask."

Sirius, who had been half-listening while lazily leaning back in his chair, suddenly sat up. "Wait a minute. You mean you're actually going to go after something in the Restricted Section?"

Lyra shot him a look. "You got a problem with that, Black?"

Sirius couldn't suppress a grin. "Not at all. I'm just trying to figure out what's so special about this chart you're chasing."

"That's what we're here to find out, isn't it?" Lyra said. "If we're lucky, the chart will be the key to unlocking the rest of the mystery."

And so, despite their shared hesitation, the Marauders found themselves deep into the mystery of the lost star chart, taking turns sneaking into the Restricted Section at night and deciphering ancient magical texts. With every step, Lyra felt herself growing closer to the group, the bonds of friendship slowly forming even in the midst of their shared secrecy.

Sirius noticed it too. The more time he spent with Lyra, the more he saw beyond her cool exterior. There was something about her, something that made him feel like they were two sides of the same coin—both struggling with their own dark legacies and trying to find meaning in a world that didn't seem to have answers.

By the time they reached the heart of the mystery, Lyra had become as much a part of the Marauder family as anyone. And although Sirius wasn't entirely sure where this path would lead, one thing was certain: life at Hogwarts had never been more interesting.