Quidditch season was far too long, far too boring and far too cold for Lyra to be interested. She had gone to the Gryffindor vs Slytherin just because she was forced to support her own house against their most bitter enemies. 

Why she had been forced to sit through a Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw match, she didn't know. All she was certain of was that she had gone to leave breakfast when Sirius snatched her Slytherin scarf, stuffed it in his bag and pulled her away. 

He had said it wouldn't really make her fit in where they were going. Lyra wasn't blind, so she had seen people preparing for the match, including James Potter's loud battle cry from the Gryffindor table that lost him ten points. 

Therefore, she had a feeling about what Sirius wanted her to join, so she tried to fight against him. But when Remus saw what he was doing, he decided to grab her and help him drag her to the Quidditch pitch as Peter trailed behind awkwardly. 

The thing that scared Lyra most, though, was the idea of any of her friends (or enemies, for that matter) from Slytherin noticing she was standing in a crowd of Gryffindors, not rooting for Ravenclaw like all of them did. 

"I can't believe you made me come out here," Lyra muttered, squeezed between Sirius and Remus in the stands. She tried to hide her face under her cap, wrapping her coat tighter around herself to keep the cold out.

She had been offered a Gryffindor scarf by both Remus and Sirius, but she would already be in enough trouble if someone saw her, and it would only get worse if she wore one of their accessories.

"Stop being so dramatic. It's just a Quidditch match, which you're watching with your favorite person..." Sirius trailed off and glanced at Remus who grinned at Lyra. He narrowed his eyes at the interaction. "Oh, and Remus."

"Oh, but Remus is my favorite person," the blonde teased, reaching out to pinch the tall boy's cheeks. He swatted her hands away, snickering. "Come on, look at this handsome face. Who could ever resist?"

As she shivered, Remus raised his eyebrows at her, concerned. "You sure you don't wanna borrow my scarf?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," she nodded, wrapping herself even tighter in her outerwear. "I can't afford for anyone to see me in a Gryffindor scarf. I can't really afford for anyone to see me here at all when I'm with you."

"Not to worry, Lyra dear. As long as you're sitting with me, nobody will even think to look at you. I'm sorry but you know I got the good looks in the family," Sirius teased, grinning to himself even when he was elbowed in his side. 

"Oi, it's starting!" Peter exclaimed from Sirius's other side. They all looked out onto the pitch to see Madam Hooch preparing for the match as the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw teams walked out, prepared for the match of a lifetime.

Madam Hooch released the balls, and one of the Ravenclaw chasers was quick to grab the quaffle, much to James's obvious chagrin. Still, it only took a few moments before the ball miraculously ended up in his arms. 

The keeper, Gryffindor's team captain, kept trying to take charge of the match, trying to make his teammates do specific things, but it was clear he was Captain in name only. The one who truly lead the was James, who did it effortlessly. 

It was almost incredible how fast the Gryffindor team had gotten the upper hand as James and his fellow chasers threw the Quaffle through the hoops time after time, even if one of them was obviously better than the others. 

After an especially impressive throw, the game and its crowd stopped for a moment just to applaud James. Even the Ravenclaws couldn't help but clap, even if it was obvious they didn't want to. 

James grinned, sitting proudly upon his broomstick, watching the crowd who adored him. His eyes instantly traveled to the Gryffindor stands, where he found his cheering three best friends, and the girl that always seemed to be around. 

For a minute, his gaze met Lyra's. Her words from after the first match of the season echoed through his mind, reminding him of how handsome and confident she said he was when he flew, that he was a person she liked much more.

His grin grew as she raised an eyebrow, as if asking him what he was staring at. James wasn't sure if she remembered that part of their conversation, but he winked at her nonetheless before speeding off on his broom. 

Lyra's eyes widened, a blush covering her cheeks. She pulled her coat up in hopes of covering it, or she would only complain about the cold if anybody asked about it. She wasn't sure exactly what she had said to James, but she was beginning to suspect she said something about what she thought of him when he was flying. 

The blonde tried not to think about his skills and the effortless leadership skills he showed for the rest of the match, but she found herself unable to keep her eyes off him. She had never truly been as invested in sports as when she watched James play Quidditch. 

The time passed, and it became obvious that Gryffindor was going to beat Ravenclaw horribly, even if the latter team managed to catch the Golden Snitch that was buzzing around uncontrollably.

Yet, it was the team in red and gold who won the match. Lyra couldn't help but grin and cheer with the people surrounding her, thinking it had been a great match, even if Gryffindors were supposed to be her mortal enemies.

Her smile faded when she caught the eye of someone on a nearby stand. Rabastan looked suspicious as he glanced her way. She tried to look away, but she knew she was caught. All she could do was prepare for an uncomfortable discussion.  

▹▹▹

Lyra decided to leave Sirius, Remus and Peter the minute they were able to leave the stands. There were two reasons. One being that she would feel awkward running into James when she felt she had probably embarassed herself that time she was rambling drunk to him. The second was that she didn't want to be with them when she would inevitably run into Rabastan.

Maybe if they were surrounded by other people when he saw her, she would get off the hook. At least, that was what she was hoping for as her small legs attempted to hurry towards the Slytherin Common Room. 

"Lyra!" a voice called out from behind her. She stopped in her tracks and cursed, knowing her plans were foiled. When she turned around, she saw Rabastan jogging up to her. "Can I talk to you?"

Not wanting him to think anything was up, Lyra smiled brightly at her friend. "Of course. What's up?"

He returned her smile, but it was a bit fake. He looked deep into her eyes, as if trying to study her and read her mind. "I just noticed you with the Gryffindors during the Quidditch match. With Black. You told me you didn't even like him."

Awkwardly, Lyra didn't respond for a couple of seconds. She didn't know what to say, how to convince him she hadn't lied to him, even if that was exactly what she did. "Well, I don't. I just- he's... You know, he's family, and just..."

Rabastan looked like he was getting annoyed at her attempting to lie to him, but always contradicting herself. Finally, Lyra straightened up and forced a cold, Slytherin mask on her face. "He's always trying to become close again, and he dragged me with him and wouldn't let me leave. And trust me, I tried."

Rabastan wasn't really convinced. "You didn't seem unhappy. In fact, you were quite excited when I saw you."

"About the match. It was a good match." The blonde shrugged.  Lyra brought her hands up and tried to breathe hot air on them to combat the cold, which had made her shiver for the last few hours. 

He sent her a deadpan look, knowing it was quite impossible. "You hate Quidditch."

It was a well-known fact that the Black girl hated the sport, so she instantely regretted her lie, but she decided to keep lying. "Yeah, but we've been learning about the Aerodynamics of broomsticks in Arithmancy. It's qutie fascinating."

Lyra started wrapping her scarf (which she got back from Sirius after the match) tighter around her neck as she kept shivering, her teeth starting to chatter from the cold. Rabastan quickly got concerned at how cold she seemed. "Let's get you inside. You're freezing."

She smiled up at him when he put his hand on the small of her back to lead her back into the castle, knowing she had gotten out of that conversation for now. But the moment she felt his hand on her, she was thankful she was already red from the cold, so he couldn't see her blush. 

▹▹▹

The rest of the day passed quickly, and the Gryffindors' win was the gossip on everyone's lips. Lyra wasn't sure she had walked ten feet without someone mentioning how good of a Quidditch player James Potter was. She didn't disagree, but as a Quidditch hater, it wasn't her favorite subject of conversation. 

Therefore, she had decided to try to avoid Gryffindors for the rest of the day, hoping she could finally escape the grandiose arrogance they inevitably showed every time they won a match, which hadn't been rarely since James joined the team.

That was until she realized she had promised Remus she would return a book she had borrowed from him that night. Pride and Prejudice, a muggle book. It was interesting to get a look into the muggle mind, but he was quite fond of the book. That was obvious from its worn pages and rips from him too eagerly turning the pages. So he wanted it back. 

That night, Lyra found herself outside of the Gryffindor Common Room, where the Fat Lady was guarding the entrance. She refused to let the blonde in when she didn't know the password, and there were no Gryffindors in sight. 

Lyra tried to tell her to go inside and tell someone she was out there, but there was no use. The Fat Lady decided to just sing until Lyra's ear bled, and try all too hard to break a glass with her sharp voice. 

The moment Lyra decided to leave though, was when a familiar face decided to walk up to portrait. Peter Pettigrew tried to sneak past her, but she noticed him quickly. "Pettigrew! So glad I caught you."

"Oh, Lyra, hi." Peter looked away, his voice small. He tried to avoid eye contact at all costs, but she could still notice his red cheeks and his nervous demeanor when he was around her. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm trying to return a book to Remus." She held the aforementioned book up, while smiling slightly. "But the Fat Lady won't let me in. You can't help me with that, can you?"

He hesitated, fidgeting, reminding Lyra of a rat (which she found rather funny). "I'm not sure if it's the best time. You know, celebrating the Quidditch match and all. I know you're not a fan, so..."

The blonde pursed her lips, knowing what he meant. There was always some sort of party in the common rooms of the playing teams, whether they won or not. "Yeah, I know. It's just, I promised Remus he'd have it back by today. I'll be right in and out."

"Alright, I guess," he gave in, before turning to the Fat Lady, who didn't seem all too pleased at this agreement. But she had no choice but to open the doors for them both when he spoke the password. "Gillyweed."

The portrait swung open, revealing the entryway to the Gryffindor Common Room. Lyra couldn't lie and say she wasn't excited, because she had never seen any common rooms besides her own, and she was curious as to how they looked. 

She didn't really have time to think about the warm, cozy atmosphere Gryffindor Tower usually had, because it was filled with people who were yelling, screaming, drinking or snogging, all in celebration of winning the Qudditch match. 

"Yeah, I told you it's not the best time," said Peter, who could see her shock. It was quite different from the Slytherin parties, where people mostly grouped up and drank, laughed, listened to music and perhaps make out a little. 

"I'll just find Remus then." She didn't even look back to say goodbye to the small boy as she tried to fight through the crowd. She expected to find Remus near James, and James in the middle of the crowd as the great Quidditch star. 

She was right. There was only one surprise, and it was to see Remus chugging the last of a bottle of firewhiskey, as James and Sirius (along with a crowd) cheered him on. Once he finished, he cheered loudly. Lyra couldn't help but laugh. 

Her laugh attracted the attention of the three boys. Sirius grinned as he saw her. He ran at her and pulled her into his arms joyfully, laughing brightly, like he hadn't since they were kids. "Lyra! You're here!"

"Looking good, Black!" called James at her, winking. Lyra would have blushed or looked away, but she could see how drunk he was by the slurring of his words and the wobbly walk, as if someone had hexed him. 

"Sod off, Potter!" she called back, sending him a teasing look. Once she finally managed to fight Sirius's arms off her, she made her way to Remus. "Oi, Remus, mate. I've got your book with me."

"You're marvelous, Lyra! Simply marvelous," he muttered, grabbing her by the shoulders and looking straight into her eyes. He took the book out of her hands. "I love you! I love you so much. This is so great."

Lyra laughed loudly, not used to seeing her friend drunk. "Well, I should probably get going. You lot are going to have a late night. Have fun, lads."

Remus grabbed her hand, sticking his lower lip out in an excessive pout. He made sure she couldn't leave, swinging their hands back and forth.  "No, no. Stay. We barely see you now that you hang around Lestrange all day."

Lyra squeezed his hand, grinning but shrugging. She slipped her hand out of his, chuckling at the heartbroken expression on his face. "I don't know. I should really get back."

"Come on, darling. We all know you love getting your drink on," Sirius winked, making her look away as she remembered the last (and first time) she got drunk. "I've got a bottle with your name on it."

Lyra hesitated as he waved the bottle in front of her face, but eventually took it out of his hands. "Fine. Just one drink."

▹▹▹

One drink never ends up with being just one drink. Suddenly Lyra's had half the bottle and danced around the common room with some older Gryffindor boys, until Sirius ripped them away for being too close to her. 

Remus and Sirius had started sobering up, and Peter hadn't gotten drunk in the first place. The rest of Gryffindor house kept their buzz going, and that included Quidditch star James Potter, who had fallen onto the couch after dancing for what felt like hours. 

Lyra wasn't really sure how she ended up sitting next to him on the couch, nor did she remember how their conversation started. All she knew was that they were laughing, acting like they had never been mortal enemies.

Lyra tilted her head and looked at him, studying the goofy expression on his face. "I never hated you, you know."

"Aw, that's nice to hear," he grinned lazily, leaning closer to better hear what she was saying over the loud music played by the captain of the team. "I did sort of hate you, but you also sort of deserved it for how you treated Sirius for a while there."

"Understandable. Eleven-year-old me was a bit of a bitch," Lyra giggled, making him reveal his booming laugh, which strangely suited him. "I hope you don't hate me now, though. You've been nice enough to me lately."

"No, no, of course I don't hate you anymore. You're nice enough. And you're fit," James complimented, making her blush and giggle at the compliment. "But, hey, I know you think I'm pretty fit, too. Especially when I'm flying."

The blonde covered her face with her hands in embarrassment at finally getting confirmation of what they had talked about the last time she drank. "Oh, no. Please tell me I didn't say that to you."

James messed up his hair as usual, trying to look as cool and suave as possible. "Oh, you definitely did. But I don't mind, I love hearing compliments, they remind me how great I am."

"You're so great you can't even notice when your glasses are crooked," she giggled. He couldn't quite hear her over the music, so she only smiled and reached out to fix them, straightening them over his nose.

Lyra didn't even notice that her hand had rested on the side of his face, or that he had started leaning closer to her. Only when she felt his hot breath on her face and their noses were brushing against one another did she notice what was happening. 

And Lyra was drunk. She was so drunk. 

Therefore, she believed it wasn't an awful idea to snog James Potter. Even if he was insufferable, arrogant and her cousin's best friend. So they both leaned in, they both got to feel each other's lips. 

James was surprised at how much he liked it. And how incredibly soft her lips were, along with her hair, which he started running his hands through. He had never snogged a girl before, and he couldn't help but feel Lyra Black was a pretty good one, one he wouldn't mind doing it with more times. 

Lyra thought it was alright. He didn't have the skill Davey Gudgeon did, but he was also far from as rough. All in all, she wasn't sure if she was going to regret it, but she couldn't see herself snogging him again. 

"What the bloody hell are you two doing?" They were cut off early, as Sirius ripped James off his cousin. Lyra leaned back and fell into Remus, who grabbed her arm as she giggled awkwardly. 

James only smiled dreamily at Lyra, who was still giggling at Remus.

▹▹▹

It was decided that when James and Lyra, who had disliked each other as long as they had known each other, got drunk enough to snog, they would have to get to bed and sober up. Sirius had brought James up to their dorm room, as Remus walked Lyra back to the Slytherin common room.

Remus could still feel a bit of the buzz, but he was a good actor and liar so he could say him and Lyra were out on a patrol, switching with another pair for the night if they were caught after hours. 

He had let her go through the doorway to the Common Room on her own, because he wouldn't really be welcomed in the home of the Slytherins. She stumbled over her own feet on the way in, expecting everyone to be asleep. 

She was wrong, as both Rabastan and Lucinda sat in a heated discussion, until the door opened loudly and they saw their friend enter. They both jumped to their feet, starting to ramble and ask where she's been. 

Until Lucinda got close enough to smell her breath. "Where have you been- What have you been doing? Oh, Merlin, you reek of alcohol. Lyra, what in the bloody hell?"

Lyra looked at them with wide eyes, not sure how to respond. "I'm back now, at least. I just want to go to bed."

Rabastan stayed silent for a couple of seconds, looking sternly at his blonde friend. "This was Black, wasn't it? Sirius Black. He did this to you."

She gaped for a few seconds, trying to figure out what to say. "I mean, he didn't do anything to me. I just had a drink or two with some people."

Rabastan clenched his jaw, looking at Lucinda, who mostly seemed happy he was paying attention to her. "Get her to bed. I'll talk to her when she's sober."

Lucinda nodded eagerly, dragging Lyra to bed. The blonde hadn't really realized what happened that night, not that she snogged James or that she was found out by Rabastan on spending time with Sirius.

All she knew was that she was going to have to suffer the consequenses.