The whole situation with James just made Lyra uncomfortable. It was strange knowing a boy liked her, and wouldn't stop liking her just because she said so. Especially as it was the last boy she'd ever think would like her.

The worst part was that she didn't know how to act around him anymore, therefore she tried to avoid him as much as possible. The issue with that was the fact that it meant she was avoiding his friends, too. 

Remus and Sirius had already been annoyed at her spending much less time with them because of her friend, Rabastan's, protectiveness, and her being afraid to even make eye contact with them because James was close by was too much.

Sirius had no time where he could speak to Lyra, and all their correspondence was through clandestine letters slipped through Remus or through assigned group work in class, where they usually weren't put together anyway. 

But, thankfully, she still had Remus. They were still prefects who had the same patrol schedule, forcing them to spend a night together every week. Not that they would complain, as they figured out quickly that they got along swimmingly. 

But Remus had some bitterness in him after her avoidance and the way she seemed afraid to approach him and his boys. "So, what's going on with you and James? You look like you're avoiding him more than usual."

"Oh, Merlin, don't even mention that," Lyra groaned, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment. "I still have nightmares from Valentine's Day. I can't ever listen to You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me again."

"It's that bad?" chuckled the Gryffindor. He was a bit annoyed at the situation, but he couldn't help but think it was a bit amusing, too. "You love Celestina Warbeck, and he's managed to ruin that for you?"

The blonde smiled, shaking her head. She wasn't even sure why she smiled, Remus just always made her smile. "Not all of Celestina Warbeck. Not even James Potter could ruin my favorite singer for me."

"But he can ruin your relationships with Sirius and I?" Remus raised an eyebrow, making her look away awkwardly. He sighed. "Look, I can tell James to calm down because I don't want to lose you as a friend, and Sirius is so annoyed when you avoid us."

"I don't want to avoid any of you, really," said Lyra, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I love hanging out with you and Sirius. Even Pettigrew and Potter on occasion. I just don't know how to deal with the Potter situation."

"The Potter situation?" the sandy-haired boy repeated, raising an amused eyebrow. "Look, he fancies you. He fancies you and it's pretty gross, actually. But you don't hate him, you've even gotten along sometimes. Why don't you want to give it a chance?"

Quite serious, Lyra met his gaze. "Do you really want me to answer honestly? It will open up a door of uncomfortable conversations that I've never had with anyone, except like once with Sirius."

She expected him to let it go, to let her sit in her own emotions like most fifteen/sixteen-year-old boys did. But instead, he smiled comfortingly and held her gaze "I want you to be able to talk to me, especially if you can't talk to anyone else."

It was in that moment Lyra realized how lucky she was to have Remus in her life. A boy who would just sit and listen to her because he cared, not because he had any ulterior motives. A boy who wouldn't judge or try to get her mind off it just because he didn't know what to say.

"There's no use even entertaining the thought of fancying Potter back," Lyra shrugged, looking away, afraid that she would cry as the conversation would keep going. "I know exactly what my life is going to bring."

Somberly, Remus shook his head. "Nobody knows the future. It's not set in stone."

"But it is." She turned to meet his gaze, pursing her lips. "Every single one of us born into this aristocratic, pureblood society have been raised to fulfill one task. Nobody ever strays from that path."

"And what task is that?" he asked. He already knew the answer to that question. Everyone knew what the lives of the Sacred Twenty-Eight were like, but nobody thought about if the younger generations didn't want to live those lives anymore. 

Lyra sighed. "I'm going to marry a respectful, pureblood man who will never even think about truly loving me. He'll only love my pure blood. I'll pop out a couple of babies to keep the line going and I'll spend the rest of my life taking care of them and being a trophy wife."

"You're way too smart to only be a trophy wife, Lyra," complimented the boy, smiling comfortingly. He was hoping he could see her smile, but it didn't work. "There's a lot more to you than being a pureblood."

"I wish everyone thought like that. But you're right, there is one more option," the Slytherin said, and he looked at her expectantly, waiting to hear. "I could always become a dark witch and join the Death Eaters. That'll be acceptable, too."

Remus frowned in concern. "Please don't join the Death Eaters." 

"I'm not planning on it." Lyra couldn't help but smile at him worrying about her. It felt good to have someone care about her as a person and not as the means to an end. "The first option doesn't sound so bad now, eh?"

"It doesn't sound good either," he retorted, grabbing a hold of her arm to make her focus on him. "I want you to know, no, I need you to know... There are other options out there, too. Sirius grew up just like you, and he's made his choice. He wants to be different."

"Sirius is different," the blonde reminded him. "He's brave. He's a Gryffindor for Merlin's sake. I'm not like him."

Remus shook his head, not wanting her to talk herself down. "You're braver than you think. Make those choices. Sirius wants to be an auror, the complete opposite of what his parents must want."

Lyra remembered the fact that her muscles were about the size of a pea and she hadn't duelled since third year, during their current Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. She lost. "I don't think I'd fit that job."

"I'm not telling you to be an auror. Just keep your options open, think about it." Then Remus grinned and said the words that would motivate her and run through her head for years to come. "You're a Slytherin. Where's your ambition?"

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There was something scary about being called in to speak with your Head of House alone. Lyra hadn't ever had to speak to Slughorn alone in his office, she never caused trouble if she could help it. 

He sent her an incredibly vague note saying he needed to speak with her. Lyra hadn't been so nervous since last year's exams. All the possibilities of what it could be about was running through her head. 

Was someone in her family hurt by the war? Did they found out the Gryffindor boys were Animagi and she had aided them? Did they find out Bellatrix was a Death Eater and were coming to find out if she was one, too?

Then she asked Rabastan, and he said he knew exactly what that meeting was about, and how she didn't have to worry at all. It was common knowledge that fifth-year students were called in to meetings about their ideas for future careers with their Head of House.

Lyra knew this, of course, but they were always held after easter. Then again, Slughorn had only sent notes to a couple of students, including herself and Rabastan, who were two of his favorites. So she supposed he was interviewing possible Slug Club members a bit early. 

Then Remus's words echoed through her brain again. You're a Slytherin. Where's your ambition? Lyra was determined to show she was one of them, that she had the ambition to be anything, not only what her family wanted. 

Lyra Black had decided to secretly rebel, and it was all because of Remus Lupin.

So, when she sat in a chair in Slughorn's office, sipping some of his strange-tasting tea, she was fully prepared to show him she was a true Slytherin. "Thank you so much for the tea, Professor."

"My pleasure, Miss Black," Slughorn smiled as he sat down by his desk, opposite of Lyra. "I've called you here because I'm wondering if you have any plans for your future career and how you will get there."

"I'm so thankful you asked, Professor," Lyra smiled brightly, charming her way into Slughorn's heart. "I've been giving this quite a lot of thought lately, and I was having such a hard time deciding."

She started rambling on. "I could see myself working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but not as an auror. Being a healer seems very rewarding, too. The only issue is that I'd have to take N.E.W.T.-level Herbology, and I fear I don't have the grades for it."

"I do quite enjoy Arithmancy, so I wouldn't mind making a career out of it someday. And I know curse-breaking is awfully dangerous but it seems like a powerful thrill. I'd like to end up in the Wizengamot at one point. If I have the time, I could end up teaching here at Hogwarts, or at a foreign school."

Slughorn couldn't stop smiling as she spoke, laughing wholeheartedly as she finished up. At first, she thought it he was thinking she was too ambitious, so much that it was funny. But she realized she was wrong when he started speaking. "I'm impressed, Miss Black."

"You  know, I invited all of your sisters to one of these early conversations. Bellatrix, Andromeda, Narcissa..." Lyra was surprised to hear someone speak of Andromeda as her sister again. She had barely thought of her when she was so rarely mentioned. 

The Potions Master didn't notice her expression and simply continued. "None of them truly seemed to possess the right qualities most of my favorites possess. Don't mention to anyone the thought of me having favorites, though."

Lyra wanted to laugh. It was far from a secret that Slughorn had favorite, and that they all seemed to do better in the workforce when they graduated school. "Of course not, Professor. These lips are sealed."

"They simply didn't have the same, true Slytherin ambition you're showing now." He hesitated, but carried on. "Or, Bellatrix always had ambition. But I was always a bit worried that it was wrongfully founded. I hope I'm not overstepping any boundaries."

He definitely was, but Lyra couldn't afford to say so. She needed to stay kind and polite, to make him like her even more than he already did. That was the only way she could keep on being so ambitious. "Not at all."

"Good, good." Slughorn took a sip from his tea, so Lyra politely did the same. "Professor McGonagall speaks very highly of you, as well. She says you are amazingly talented in Transfiguration."

"She even says she could one day see you being her successor as the Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts." Slughorn's eyes twinkled in pride. "This type of praise does not come easily from Minerva."

A genuine smiled came to the young girl's face. "It's amazing to hear. I love Transfiguration as a subject as well. If I were ever to become a teacher, it would definitely be my preferred subject."

"I suspect you will be taking N.E.W.T.-level Transfiguration then," he supposed, watching her nod in agreement. "Have you thought of what other subjects you would like to take for the next couple of years?"

"You don't have to worry, Professor, I plan on taking Potions," she smiled charmingly. "And Transfiguration, as mentioned. Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Astronomy. Perhaps History of Magic. I think I'll take Care of Magical Creatures if I manage to get an Exceeds Expectations on the O.W.L.s."

Again, Slughorn couldn't help but seem impressed at the workload she was prepared to take on. Very few students bothered. "Those are very many subjects, my dear. Do you think you can handle so much work?"

"I have to try, Professor." She kept her chin up, and tried to remind herself of why she wanted this. Why she wanted to do so much work. She was going to be more than a future housewife. More than a dark witch. "I wish to keep my options open."

Slughorn mentally went through her list of subjects. "I noticed one subjects was missing from your list. Will you not even consider taking Herbology? You mentioned being a healer, and you do need Herbology to become one."

"I'm quite dreadful in the subject, sir. Professor Sprout always seems particularily nervous when I enter the classroom," she joked, and got a hearty laugh. "I wouldn't want to put her through that for two more years, even if it ruins some job opportunities."

Slughorn's smile faded as he studied his student, sad thoughts running through his mind. He had seen too many of his students ruined by their families. "Miss Black, I was wondering if I could speak candidly?"

Lyra really didn't want him to, worried about what he could say. But again, anything that could be conceived as rudeness was off the table, she needed to be on his good side. "Of course, Professor."

He hesitated, his lips tightly pursed in concern. "I do fear for your future considering your position."

"My position, sir?"

"You come from a very affluent family, but the kind who expect a certain future for their children. Especially their daughters. It's the saddest part of being born into Pureblood society," said Slughorn. 

He sighed. "No matter their potential to do good things for the Wizarding World, most girls in your position end up going one of three ways. They end up as housewives, or they're seduced by dark magic. Some even end up jobless and disinherited. Like your sisters."

Lyra knew which sister fit which category, but that didn't mean it hurt any less to hear. "Jobless? Do you know anything about Andromeda's current situation?"

"Your sister has gotten quite the reputation after leaving your family and being disowned. I've heard this has caused her to have some issue in finding work," he revealed, furrowing his brows. "Do you have no contact with her whatsoever?"

The blonde couldn't help but show her discomfort at the question, because she wished she could respond differently. She wished things had gone differently. "I haven't spoken to my sister in almost four years, Professor."

The professor noticed the sadness on her face, and wanted to avoid an even more uncomfortable situation where he would have to attempt to comfort her, which wouldn't end well. "All I'm saying is that you need to be careful with how you proceed if you wish to be this ambitious."

"I'm well aware of this, sir. I do wish things could be different, but life is what is it is." Lyra tried to shake off the sadness of being reminded of her estranged sister. "But I know I will figure something out, because I refuse to let my dreams go to waste."

Slughorn perked up at this, smiling again. "So young yet so ambitious. Remember to enjoy your youth as well, don't be worrying about the future too much, Miss Black. You're only a teenager once, don't let it pass you by."

She knew he mostly said stupid things that was better to forget, but that was some advice she knew she should take to heart. The only issue was that the future always seemed to be closing in, and she was afraid it would catch up to her all too fast. 

"Even so, you are a true Slytherin, my dear," the Potions Master gushed, looking at her warmly. "And if I still may speak of the future, if you ever find yourself in a bit of a sticky spot while you're searching for a job once you've graduated... you can always contact me and I will do my best to help you out."

Faking a smile, Lyra turned on her Black charm once again. "It's very good to hear, Professor. You are a wonderful teacher for taking care of your students and keeping tabs on them even after they have graduated."

"It is very nice to hear it is appreciated," he smiled back. "But I suspect you must be hungry. Supper doesn't wait for anyone and your friends are probably waiting for you. You mustn't keep them waiting any longer."

Lyra gathered her things and stood up from her chair, ready to finally leave his office and hopefully forget about the more uncomfortable parts of the conversation. Forget about Andromeda. "Of course not. Thank you for the chat, Professor."

A part of her felt guilty for pretending to be such a charmer, a girl who had Professor Slughorn as her favorite teacher, only so she could more easily gain a future for herself once out of school. Lyra didn't like using people. 

But she knew he was doing the exact same thing with her. If she managed to get a prestigious position somewhere, she could grant him benefits like many of his old Slug Club members did. And even if she ended up being a housewife to a powerful man, it meant that he had connections to her husband through her.

But Lyra wanted this. She wanted to be a strong witch with an actual future. The only way for her not to lose her beloved family through doing this would be to gain connections and great marks in school. Nobody could deny her her dreams then. 

At least, she hoped so. She hoped so badly for things to work out for her. Maybe if she gained enough respect in the family on her own merits, she could one day bring Andromeda back to them, she could make sure Sirius didn't reach the breaking point he was getting closer to every day. 

She wanted to bring Bellatrix back from the cusp of madness. She wanted Narcissa to see there was more to her than a pretty face. She wanted Regulus to stay a sweet boy. She wanted to not be afraid of the world around her.

Unfortunately, she knew this could never be. She would never stop hoping, but she would never stop knowing it was in vain either. 

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A/N: Thank you guys so much for 10k reads! It really means a lot to me and you guys are so great! It really brightens my day to see you voting and commenting. I love you guys!