Lyra hated Evan Rosier. It was official. The boy couldn't stay out of her business, just because he had decided he thought she was pretty enough to be his obedient pretty, little wife. They were only fifteen, for Merlin's sake, she wasn't thinking about marrying anyone. And if she was, it definitely wouldn't be to him. 

But he didn't handle rejection very well, and glared at Lyra and whispered about her to Snape, Avery, Wilkes and Mulciber, who all looked at her strangely and in disgust. She could only imagine what lies he was spreading about her. 

She thought it was fine, nobody really cared about what he said. It was well-known that Evan Rosier was a bit of a creep, and the only reason he hung around Lyra's Slytherin friends was because of his bloodline, but if he stepped a toe out of line he would be doomed to only hang around his equally creepy gang of friends. 

The only thing Lyra was grateful for was that he hadn't done anything to hurt Remus Lupin, at least not yet. He spoke like he would, but last time she had seen him he had been safe and sound. But at breakfast around a week later, he was nowhere to be seen. 

She watched Sirius, James and Peter quietly whisper among themselves, trying to make sure nobody could hear them or see the mandrake leaves in their mouths. They glanced towards the Slytherin table, both at herself and Evan. 

Confused, she scribbled a note. What's going on? Where's Remus? She cast a quick spell to make it go up in flames, before appearing in Sirius's hand. He looked at it, reading it carefully before writing, sending a message back with the same spell. 

He's in the Hospital Wing. We just came from there. Her eyes widened, looking at him in question, as if she was trying to ask him what happened. He only shook his head before signaling to Evan. 

Lyra glared at him, before quickly turning to Lucinda and her friends. The girls were chatting and giggling to each other. The blonde smiled politely. "I'm going to the loo before class. I'll see you in Defense."

The girls called out goodbyes to her absentmindedly as she walked away. She thought it was quite obvious she wasn't really going to the loo, and Sirius seemed to realize where she was going, yet he didn't run after. 

▹▹▹

Lyra walked quietly into the hospital wing, not wanting to be noticed by the people sleeping in the beds. She was only there for one person. Everybody else was irrelevant, and they shouldn't know what she was doing there.

Remus was the only one awake in the Hospital Wing, thankfully. He was separated from the rest by a curtain, as if Madam Pomfrey wanted to hide him from the others. Lyra poked her head through, smiling brightly at the boy. 

"Lyra? Hi!" he smiled, his tired face brightening. Her face fell in worry when she saw how bad his condition really was. Whatever Evan did must have been bad, as he was pale and scrunching his face up in pain every few seconds.

"What did Rosier do to you? Merlin, Remus. I'm sorry." She rushed to his bedside, apologetic. She knew the only reason he had been hurt was because of her, and the fact that Evan believed they had a secret relationship, which would be the only reason she'd reject him. 

He shrugged, sitting up in the bed. He groaned as he pulled himself up, making Lyra reach for him, in case he needed a bit support. "Just a knee-reversal hex. Nothing I can't handle."

Lyra sat next to him on the bed, plopping on the other side of the surprisingly large hospital bed. "I'm so sorry. This would never have happened if it wasn't for me. He asked me out, or tried to demand that I would go out with him. I rejected him, of course. He thought that, for some reason, the two of us have a secret relationship."

Remus chuckled at the notion, knowing the thought was absurd for both of them. "He's an idiot. And I would rather have backwards knees for a few hours than you having to suffer through going on a date with that creep."

"Thanks, Remus," Lyra smiled. She looked at him carefully, feeling his shoulder against hers as they were sitting right next to each other. She studied his pale face, ridden with sadness and deep, noticeable scars. "Can I ask you something personal?"

Remus furrowed his brows and tilted his head, meeting her stare. "Of course, I'll try to be honest." 

"About- about your scars..." the blonde trailed off as she felt him tense. "I know you told me your homelife is good and your mum's great. But I've heard the stories about muggles mistreating their childeren, abusing them, hitting them. I couldn't help but wonder..."

"If my mum has anything to do with them?" he finished, no longer as tense as he looked at her, smiling once again. "Don't worry, Lyra. My mum wouldn't hurt a fly, she once cried when she stepped on a spider. She's a good person."

"Oh, that's good," she sighed in relief. She didn't think he deserved for anybody to hurt him, especially someone he loved as much as his mum. "Then how did you get them? If you don't mind me asking."

The sandy-haired boy hesitated, glancing at the girl who looked like she only wanted to know to help him. But he didn't know how much he could trust her, and he thought he was better safe than sorry. "I'm clumsy. I've fallen down Merlin knows how many stairs, a lot of them leading to sharp objects. Then my parents realized the best place for the tool box was not at the bottom of the stairs."

Lyra couldn't help but laugh, although she wasn't sure if he was telling the truth. She wanted to, though, so she accepted it for now. She reached out and grabbed his hand, smiling brightly at him. 

He gripped her hand tightly as she squeezed it. "Thanks, Remus. For being such a good friend to Sirius. I know he appreciates it, he appreciates all of you lads. I don't know where he'd be without you."

"He deserves a good friend. He's been a good friend to me, as well. More than you could ever begin to imagine," Remus responded wistfully, as if he was thinking about a specific event or thing that Lyra didn't know about. 

"You're a good person, Remus," Lyra assured him, feeling like he really needed to hear it. She couldn't help but feel he was a bit insecure, and she thought he had no reason to be. She liked him very much. "And I really hope I can call you my friend."

"Of course you can, I've been calling you my friend for weeks already!" he grinned, making her hesitantly smile back, wider and more sincerely than he had ever seen. He thought it was a good look on her. 

Lyra leaned her forehead against his, in assurance, in comfort. Although she knew some could take it the wrong way, Lyra knew that Remus only saw her as a friend, so she didn't feel uncomfortable in the least doing it. 

The two jumped apart when Sirius, James and Peter all threw the curtain open. They stopped abruptly once they saw how close the two were. Sirius in particular looked a bit disgusted, obviously thinking there was more to it than there was. 

"Remus, Lyra..." the Black boy trailed off, the mandrake leaf visible on his tongue, eyeing them strangely, uncomfortable. "What's going on? What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious?" James laughed, winking at Remus, who looked red, blushing brightly at the interruption. "Our beloved Remus Lupin fancies little Lyra Black. How does it feel, Sirius, knowing Remus wants to shag your cousin?"

Lyra shuffled further away from Remus, uncomfortable. She was getting tired of people thinking there was something going on between them. First Evan Rosier, then Sirius, James and Peter. She didn't really want to sit so close to Remus, knowing what they were thinking. 

Remus didn't look as uncomfortable, though, as if he was used to their antics. He rolled his eyes, raising his eyebrow, unamused. "Piss off, James. Stop being so jealous. You know my heart only belongs to you."

"What a relief," James sighed dramatically, raising his hand over his forehead as if he was feeling faint. "I don't know what I'd do if she stole you away. Who would I cuddle with at night? Who'd I have to be in love with? Who'd I shag every weekend? That's only you, Remus."

"Shut up, James." Sirius slapped his head, tired of him messing around. Which was strange, because it was usually the two of them joking and having fun, but he was still so confused as to what was going on with Lyra and Remus that he wasn't in the mood. 

"Thank you, Sirius," Lyra smiled, getting up from the bed. Lyra turned to look at James, who messed up his hair and smirked, raising his eyebrows as if challenging her to say anything. "You're an ass."

She turned to Sirius and Peter (who had been hiding behind his friends. Lyra suspected he was still a bit scared of her for being a Slytherin). "Hi, Sirius. I'll talk to you later. Take care, Pettigrew. I'm sorry your mates are idiots."

Without saying goodbye to Remus (not wanting even more teasing), Lyra left the Hospital Wing, trying not be noticed on the way out. Of course, a few more patients had woken up, probably because the three boys had been rowdy and loud enough to disturb them. 

Once she left the Wing, she reached into her bag to see if she brought her Defense Against The Dark Arts book, and sighed in relief when she did. She wasn't in the mood to run all the way to the Dungeons to get it. 

"Oi, Black!" a voice called out from behind her, stopping her before she could start walking away. Confused she turned around, shocked to see James trying to talk to her. "Wait up!"

Eager to hear what he had to say, she crossed her arms across her chest and waited for him him to reach her. "Yes? What is it, Potter?"

"Look, I don't want to say this any more than you want to hear it." He looked away, not wanting to make eye contact with her, messing up his hair as usual. "But, you know, Remus likes you-"

Lyra quickly cut him off, hoping he still didn't believe her and Remus were a thing. "As friends."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, I don't care," he rolled his eyes, frowning at her like he wanted nothing more than to walk away. "But he likes you, and Sirius obviously cares about you. And you're being nice enough as a friend to them."

"Where are you going with this, Potter? Does this have a point?" the blonde asked, straightening her Slytherin tie, making his eyes flicker to it, still frowning as he looked at it. "Because I really don't have time for this, class starts soon."

"Okay, fine." He raised his chin proudly, grinning like the troublemaker he was, straightening his own red Gryffindor tie. "I don't like you, you don't like me. That's fine. But I think for Sirius and Remus's sakes, we should have some sort of truce."

"Yeah, alright," she shrugged, only glancing at the clock on the wall, realizing time was passing quickly. "But if you just didn't want to get jinxed again, don't worry about it. I'm not as bad of a person as you think, I don't go around jinxing people all the time."

James couldn't help but smile slightly. "It's not that, although I didn't really enjoy it. I just don't want Sirius or Remus to be hurt by us always fighting and disliking each other. They're my best mates, and I don't think you want that either."

"Of course I don't. And if having to play nice with you is the way to go, then I'll do it. But then you better get it together yourself, I'm not the only one who's been messing around," Lyra reminded him, remembering all the times he teased her, insulted her and said some snide comments. 

"It's a deal." The dark-haired Gryffindor held his hand out, ready to shake hers. "So a truce then?"

She reached out and took his hand with a firm grip of her own, stronger than he imagined. Then again, she didn't expect him to be so strong either, as he usually looked so scrawny. But it made sense, considering he was a Quidditch wiz. "Truce. Now I've really got to get to class. I'll see you around, Potter."

"See you around, Black," he responded, forcing a friendly smile. It was going to take some getting used to, being nice to her. He realized this as he watched her strut away, her head held high. 

▹▹▹

Later, at night, Lyra sat by the window overlooking the Black Lake, which was lit up by the light of the full moon. At dinner, she had recieved a letter from an owl she recognized as the one she gave Bellatrix for her twentieth birthday. 

She hadn't really wanted to read it, scared of its contents. She wasn't sure if her sister had heard some lies (or some truths) from Evan Rosier and his family, or if she had news of life as a Death Eater. All she knew was that no letter from Bellatrix Lestrange meant good things. 

Sighing, she finally decided to open the letter, staring at it by the light from the lake and the moon. Lyra didn't start reading it yet, mentally preparing for what was to come, glancing at Evan Rosier who was glaring at her from the other side of the common room. 

To my lovely littlest sister,
Lyra Black

It has come to my attention that you have rejected the advances of Evan Rosier. I cannot see why you would do such a thing, as he is a man from a respectable, pure family. They are members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, such as ourselves. There could not be a better match for you anywhere, yet you have decided to throw it away. 

Then I heard from Rosier that he had a suspected reason for why you would do such a thing. If it is true, I cannot express my disappointment with you, because I am more angry than I am disappointed. I will not allow you to throw away your honor and the honor of our family for a filthy half-blood Gryffindor. End this relationship now. If I ever see this half-blood, I will kill him where he stands. We will discuss this later, possibly at Christmas. But don't lose sight of the prize. Focus on becoming a great witch, and you will bring honor to our family. The honor that we once lost for such indiscretions. I would like nothing more for you to follow in my footsteps, but it will take hard work. 

From your dearest eldest sister,
Bellatrix Lestrange

Lyra crumpled up the parchment in her hands, pursing her lips angrily. She wanted nothing more than to go up to Evan Rosier and punch him in the lips for spreading such lies to her sister, and for putting Remus on Bellatrix's radar. 

But she knew it would be stupid, when she was already in trouble for things she didn't do. She couldn't even imagine herself in a relationship with him. While she was young and didn't really know what her type was yet, she was sure it wasn't Remus. 

And the fact that Bellatrix had to bring up Andromeda's leaving the family as an indiscretion she would have to help cover up made her even angrier. She was getting tired of her family using her leaving as a way to guilt Lyra into being the perfect last hope of the family. 

The worst part, though, was the reveal of Bellatrix's plans for her. She had an inkling that she had wanted Lyra to become a Death Eater at one point, but she had confirmed it. She had confirmed Lyra's worst nightmares, and she wouldn't be surprised if her sister had been talking her up in the Death Eater circles, if not to the Dark Lord himself. 

"Lyra!" a voice called out, pulling her out of her angry trance. She turned to see seventh-year prefect (and a good friend of hers), Emma Vanity, running up to her. "I'm glad I found you, I really need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Evan Rosier," said Emma. Lyra clenched her fist in anger. "He's been spreading all sorts of rumors about you to the other Slytherins. Saying you're a blood traitor and the biggest slut Hogwarts has ever seen."

"That's not true!" the blonde girl hissed, glaring towards the boy she had rejected. "He's just an ass. I rejected him because he's an ass and a creep. He must think that if a girl doesn't want him then it must be her fault. But I can't imagine anyone ever wanting him. He's gross."

"Trust me, I don't believe the rumors spread by Evan Rosier of all people. I think he's at least as gross as you do," Emma responded, grimacing at the thought of him. "Last year, he kept trying to do the same thing to me. But I was a prefect and he wasn't, so he couldn't really say much when I gave him detention for harassment."

"You're my hero, Emma," Lyra smiled softly at her friend. The brunette seventh-year sat down on the other side of Lyra, facing her while smiling back. "I just wish I could do the same, but unfortunately, he's a prefect, too."

"Maybe not forever." The older girl grinned mischievously, in a way people wouldn't expect from a prefect. "I had a little chat with Professor Slughorn, and may have said that he should monitor Rosier's behavior, because I don't think he's really fit to be prefect. I wouldn't expect him to lose the position right now, but maybe you won't have to deal with him next year."

"I love you, I love you so much," Lyra gushed, grinning from ear to ear. It sounded like a dream not having to spend a night a week with Evan Rosier for her last two years at Hogwarts. Doing so in fifth year was more than enough. 

"I know, I'm pretty great," Emma smiled back. The two girls chatted for the rest of the night, and Lyra was glad someone in Slytherin was at her side, although she didn't think everyone believed Evan Rosier's lies. But it was good to forget about things for a while and just have fun with a friend.