Lyra had hoped that the meeting her family was going to have with the Dark Lord would never come. She had tried to put it off by using excuses about how aurors were watching the house and if she were to go a strange location (or if, God forbid, they were to have the meeting at Malfoy manor) then it would be extremely suspicious. 

But they stopped watching them eventually. Voldemort found out easily, of course. The Ministry wasn't the only ones interested in the Malfoys, after all. And he sent a letter directly to her, saying that him and her family would appear at her home that night. Draco would need to be there. 

Lyra didn't want Voldemort in her home. She wanted him dead. She wanted him to be nothing more than a painful, distant memory. But before that, she wanted him to suffer after all that he'd done. 

Bellatrix and Narcissa had arrived early as usual. Marcus was supposed to come at any minute but he was never as punctual as his parents. Lyra hadn't expected Rabastan to come, but she supposed it would be fitting. She hoped he'd spoken to the Dark Lord on her behalf.

She hadn't outright told Rabastan to intervene on her and Draco's behalf. He had promised to protect her. But then she'd kissed him, something she never thought she'd do. After that they hadn't done much talking. 

She smiled slightly at Rabastan as he arrived into her home. The home that actually belonged to her husband. Lyra tried not think about him because it would only remind her that she was cheater. She was cheating on her husband to stay afloat. She didn't ever think she would be that kind of woman. 

Draco still hadn't seemed to notice that something was going on between her and Rabastan and she was thankful for it. While her son hadn't always grown up in the healthiest of environments she always wanted him to feel loved and happy. He wouldn't understand why she was doing what she was doing. He was only a child. 

"Hello, Lyra," Rabastan greeted her with a nod, though smiling slightly in return. He didn't bother to look at Bellatrix and Narcissa, only turning to look at Draco. "You must be Draco. You do look a lot like Lucius. A bit too much for my taste, though. I haven't seen you since you were a baby."

"Yes, that's me," her son responded, trying his best to stay confident. He knew Rabastan's reputation well. He was sadistic and cruel. He had tortured and murdered. Yet he was a close friend of his mother's. "It's good to see you again."

The older man grinned widely at the boy before turning to look at one of the sisters sitting on the sofa in front of him, looking slightly less happy. "Is Marcus here yet, Narcissa? The Dark Lord doesn't tolerate tardiness."

Narcissa's dislike for him was evident. She hadn't minded him before but when he became the reason her husband had landed himself in Azkaban then she started loathing him. "He'll be here, Rabastan."

"For your sake, I truly hope so," Rabastan said smugly, obviously unbothered with how much she disliked him. He had gotten quite used to it in the past few days as he had been staying at her home. 

"Rabastan," Lyra said warningly, sending him a stern look. She wasn't in the mood for any arguments or petty squabbles. This was an important day. One she didn't want to live through at all, much less with these extra complications. 

He turned to her and his smirk softened slightly. "Alright. He'll be coming soon. Marcus should really be here on time. Your family really can't afford any more mistakes, no matter how small."

"And we understand that," she responded sharply, surprising him. She hadn't been anything less than sweet towards him for the past few days. He didn't seem to understand why that day would be so stressful for her. 

Lyra turned to Draco, making Rabastan eye her strangely without her looking back. She started straightening out his robes, fixing a few loose strands of hair that had fallen out of his slicked back style. She mostly did this to occupy herself and her thoughts. She had spent days obsessing over what this meeting would mean for their future. She wanted a few moments to think about something else. 

The door to the parlor opened abruptly. Lyra froze as she believed the Dark Lord himself was arriving, which was strange. It was still early. He never arrived early, usually right on time. Lyra may have hated him but she admired how punctual he could be. 

But it was only Marcus Flint. He looked out of breath, obviously having been hurrying to get there. His hair and clothes were a mess and beads of sweat were covering his forehead. "Sorry I'm late. I got here as fast as I could."

"Honestly, Marcus..." Narcissa trailed off, looking disappointed at the state of her son at such an important meeting. She quickly dragged him to her side and started fixing him. Bellatrix was only looking at him in disgust, as if she couldn't believe this was her nephew.

"It's alright. You're here at least," Lyra assured him, smiling slightly, though it was obviously very tense. "That's what's most important. It's good to see you."

"You too, Aunt Lyra," Marcus greeted back gratefully. He looked at his other aunt warily as he hadn't seen her since he was a little boy, a toddler. He didn't enjoy the inside, distasteful look in her eyes. "Aunt Bella."

"Marcus," she greeted him shortly. She looked a lot more hopeful as she looked at Draco, who was standing straight with his head held high. "I'm glad you both had the opportunity to make it. I have hope neither of you will let the pure blood in our veins down in our fight."

Lyra refused to meet her sister's gaze as she turned to look at her. She hadn't seen her since the night she had killed Sirius, when Lyra had almost cast the torture curse on her. She would have if Narcissa hadn't disarmed her and Rabastan hadn't taken her wand. 

Rabastan seemed to sense some of her discomfort and put his hand on the small of her back as if to remind her that he was there with her, supporting her. She barely glanced up at him with a brief smile, as if to tell him she was alright. 

Draco eyed them strangely. Only his eyes betrayed his emotions as his face stayed stone cold. He was obviously confused, but he tried to remind himself that Rabastan and his mother had been best friends back in their school days. They were basically family.

Rabastan found himself looking at the Manor's largest grandfather clock, which was hitting noon in only a few moments. "He'll be here any second."

And that he was. The doors to the parlor now opened dramatically and the snake-like face of their Dark Lord was behind it. He eyed the Black/Lestrange family members, studying them as if to figure out what they were thinking. 

Lyra was sure he was attempting to use Legilimency. She could feel a prodding in her mind, but it didn't feel like more than a tickle to her. Not even Voldemort himself could break through her natural defenses. He looked strangely pleased at this. 

She loathed the man. She wasn't even sure if she could call him a man anymore. When she looked at him, she could only see him as the man that had ruined her life. But, worst of all, she saw him as the man that had cast the killing curse that ended James's life for good. 

"Bella, Rabastan," the Dark Lord greeted his faithful Death Eaters first. They were the only Death Eaters he had that hadn't been thrown into Azkaban after all. He was relying more on them than ever, which only made them happier. 

"Narcissa Flint, how lovely to see you again," he greeted the middle one of the Black sisters, who looked pale as a sheet, though sending him a polite smile and greeting him with a quick My Lord. "And Lyra, of course. Interesting to see that Lucius's imprisonment hasn't been too hard on you."

"My Lord," Lyra greeted him back, not saying anything about Lucius. She felt intently aware of Rabastan's hand on her back as Voldemort scrutinized them, probably having gotten into Rabastan's head. She moved a bit away from him, no longer letting him touch her. 

"And young Draco Malfoy." He turned his attention to her son and she suddenly felt sick to her stomach. She never wanted to allow that awful man to look at her son again. "You've followed my instructions by being here. You're already doing quite a bit better than your father in that regard."

"Thank you, my Lord," Draco responded quietly, nodding in respect. It was quite obvious for her that the mention of his father's mistakes had gotten to him, but he did his best not to show it. If Lyra hadn't been his mother then she probably wouldn't have seen it. 

His attention didn't linger on the Malfoy boy, instead turning to his older cousin, who looked a lot more nervous. He didn't have the Black gift of masking one's emotions. "And Marcus Flint, we shall hope you will fulfill your tasks better than your father before you."

"I will, my Lord," Marcus responded, his voice as dark as he was burly. It was easy to see why someone would be intimidated by him. He wouldn't be an awful Death Eater in that regard. But it was still strange for Lyra to see him in that way. She could remember holding him in her arms when he was a baby. 

"I'm sure you've realized why I have called in this meeting with your family," the Dark Lord said. He didn't speak loudly, but he commanded a respect that made sure they all heard him perfectly clear. "With Lucius and Hector's failures I now have a very limited amount of Death Eaters to serve me and our cause."

He continued speaking, none of them daring to interrupt. "Your fathers have done a great disservice to us, one that I hope you will attempt to rectify on the behalf of your family names. It would be a shame to see such great pureblooded families such as the Malfoys and the Flints be ruined. Especially as you all carry the blood of House of Black."

"It is my wish that both of you, Draco and Marcus, will take the Dark Mark only allowed to those in my most inner circle of most devoted followers, such as your aunt before you." Voldemort gestured to a proud Bellatrix in the corner, who was smirking widely at the praise. 

"This is a great honor I am willing to bestow on the both you if you are willing to complete a task to prove your worth and your devotion to our most important cause." He looked at Marcus first. "Marcus, I'd like you to take the Dark Mark and then go to Lithuania. There is a great colony of pureblooded wizards there that I would like to have on our side when the time comes. I want you to make sure they are. Are you up for this task?"

Marcus looked like he had forgotten how to breathe until his task was announced. He must have been expecting something much worse in punishment for his father getting thrown in Azkaban. "I am, my Lord."

"As for you, Draco..." Voldemort sounded rather smug as he continued giving the task. "I would like for you to use your opportunities as a student at Hogwarts to complete a very special task for me. I want you to kill Albus Dumbledore."

Lyra could feel her heart beating in horrific fright. Her son kill Dumbledore? If he'd succeed then the Order of the Phoenix, which she was still a member of, would be left without it's leader, who the Dark Lord feared so.

That is, if he succeeded. Not even Voldemort himself had gotten the opportunity or skill to kill Dumbledore. Her son, her barely sixteen-year-old little boy, would never be able to complete such a task. It was impossible. He would fail and it would result in his death. 

Draco had turned whiter than Lyra thought was possible, but he didn't dare argue. "And so I will, my Lord."

"My Lord, if I may..." Lyra had spoken up without thinking, suddenly finding all eyes on her. She could see that her sisters, son, nephew and Rabastan were all surprised at her rude interruption.

Rabastan grabbed her lower arm, a dark look in his eyes. "Lyra."

"Let her speak, Rabastan," the Dark Lord said, looking at her in interest. She never had liked it when he looked at her like that. It had been quite a while since the last time. "I'm rather interested in hearing what she has to say."

Lyra took a moment to look at Draco, who looked a bit worried about she had to say. She swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing there was only one thing she could say that could possibly save her son.

"Forgive me, my Lord but I do not understand your reasoning for wanting to have Draco in your ranks." The blonde quickly realized that what she said could be considered unforgivably rude and decided to continute before she could be interrupted. "He is only a boy of no particular talent who hasn't even completed his education yet."

She could see the slight hurt in her son's eyes and she tried her best to send a secret message that she didn't mean them through her own, but she wasn't sure if it got through. She would have to explain later.

"I mean, in comparison to someone with experience and a successful completed education." Lyra's face was blank but her thoughts were all over the place as she made her point, which she had never wanted to make. "Someone more like myself."

It was deathly quiet in the room for a moment. None of them seemed able to believe it. Was Lyra truly offering to become a Death Eater? That hadn't seemed to be on the table for decades, since before Draco was born. 

"An interesting concept," Voldemort mused, obviously trying to pry into her mind but not being able. It tickled once again. "Lyra Malfoy, a Death Eater. As I recall, Lucius did not seem very happy about the idea of you taking the Dark Mark."

Internally, Lyra desperately wanted to cry, grab Draco and apparate away from there and disappear forever. But she knew it wasn't an option. The Dark Lord would always be able to find them, to haunt them. "Lucius isn't here, my Lord." 

He almost seemed to consider it. "We wouldn't want to disrespect Lucius's wished, would we? He wouldn't be very pleased with you if he were to return home one day. And you have raised your son to prepare for serving in our army, haven't you?"

Lyra felt all hope crashing down. While a selfish part of her liked that she wouldn't have to get the Dark Mark, a bigger part of her felt like it was blown into a million pieces at the thought of Draco taking it. He was her little boy. She had dedicated her life to protecting him from harm. If that horrid tattoo would appear on his left arm then there would be no way to do so. 

"Yes, my Lord."

"Then it's settled. Do not speak of this to anyone outside of this room, for I will not be lenient if you do. Any of you." Voldemort looked at all of them with cold looks. "Draco, Marcus, I wish to speak with you privately to give you your Marks and discuss your paths to completing your tasks. I'm assuming we may use the Manor, Lyra?"

No, you horrible, stupid git, please die as soon as possible. "Yes, of course."

"Narcissa, Marcus will return to your home once we are finished," he said coolly. "Lyra, I'd like for you not to be in the house while we speak. For security reasons, of course. Nothing personal. You may return at 2 o'clock."

Lyra nodded, not saying another word. She wasn't sure if there was anything else for her to say that wouldn't cause her to burst into tears and want to pull out her wand and make him feel the Killing Curse he had placed on James all those years ago.

Rabastan grabbed her arm, starting to pull her out of the room as Narcissa and Bellatrix walked out before them, with the former looking like she was about to cry. Lyra glanced back at her son as she was forced out of her own home. There wasn't a particular emotion in his eyes, but she was sure he was frightened. How could he not be?

Lyra couldn't even feel herself walking out of the house. Suddenly she was standing outside with Rabastan being the only one next to her, though he looked rather pleased. If there was one thing Lyra wasn't, it was pleased.

These had been a horrible few days. First Sirius was killed by her horrible older sister, then Lucius was chucked into Azkaban along with all his Death Eater friends and now Draco was being forced into being a Death Eater. 

"That went great," Rabastan commented, a wide grin on his face. He didn't seem to catch the mood Lyra was in. "Of course, you shouldn't attempt to interrupt the Dark Lord again but it was rather good that you offered to take the Dark Mark but strange that he didn't accept."

"You said you'd protect me, protect us," Lyra whispered, not meeting his eye. She was still trying very hard not to let tears come to her eyes. She finally forced herself to look at him, though only with disgust in her eyes. "How could you let this happen?"

He frowned at the angry look  in her eyes, having expected her to be a bit happier about what had just happened. He thought she'd see it as a great honor. "He was bound to become a Death Eater eventually, Lyra. There wasn't anything I could do about that."

"This task..." Lyra trailed off, reaching up to dry her eyes as they filled up with tears that hadn't fallen. "This task is impossible. He can't ever expect to complete it! It's not possible... How could you let him make Draco do this?"

"If he succeeds he will be honored above all." "These are the things we have to do as Death Eaters. He's your son, I'm sure he'll do fine. You yourself has been able to do some great torture back in your day-"

Lyra couldn't believe he would bring that up. It had been one of the worst moments of her life when she had to use the torture curse and he had seen how much it had affected her. The screams still haunted her to this day. 

She reached up to slap him in the face but his reflexes were quicker and he caught her wrist before she could do anything. His face hardened and so did his grip on her. It was starting to hurt. "Calm yourself, Lyra. This could be seen as subordination to the Dark Lord."

"No, it's only subordination to you!" the blonde yelled quite loudly. She wouldn't be surprised if Draco could hear it from inside the house. At the moment she was too angry to care. "You- you... I don't want to look at you, I can't... Don't talk to me anymore."

"You don't mean that." Rabastan seemed surprised at how hard she had taken it. He still held onto her wrist but stopped holding it above her head. He shook his head and leaned forward, attempting to kiss her to make it all better but she pulled away. She managed to pull her wrist away from him, too.

Lyra couldn't look at him anymore, turning around to leave and not even glancing back as she called out to him. "Don't follow me, Rabastan!"

▹▹▹

Lyra hadn't known where to go. Her first instinct had been to go to Twelve Grimmauld Place adn find Sirius and hug him tightly and beg for his help to kidnap Draco to keep him away from Voldemort's grip. 

But then she remembered. Sirius was dead. He couldn't help her now, he would never be there with her again. Not to hold her or talk to her or make her laugh. She knew there was only one person she wanted to see. And worst of all, he was the person she had to see. 

She checked Remus's house but he wasn't home. She had no idea where else he would be until she remembered that drunken night when Remus had told her and her cousin a little secret. He had snogged a family member of theirs. 

Lyra found herself standing outside of the Tonks' house. She didn't dare knock on the door, only standing outside for a few moments but she had seen Remus through the kitchen window. After a few minutes, he spotted her too. 

She lifted her finger to her lips, telling him to be quiet and then waving him outside. He frowned, looking concerned. She supposed there was reason to be concerned. She could see him arguing with someone but eventually the door opened and he walked through, but he wasn't alone.

"Lyra, what's going on?" he asked as he rushed towards her, grabbing onto her upper arms as he studied her tear-streaked face. She didn't answer, only looking at Nymphadora, who was standing right behind him, looking equally concerned.

"Aunt Lyra, are you alright?" she asked. She looked unusually demure. Her hair was mousy-brown, reminding her more of Andromeda's hair when they were young and there were no grey streaks in it. 

Lyra didn't answer either of them. "I thought it was implied that I wanted to talk to you alone, Remus."

Nymphadora looked slightly offended, thought understanding that this must be serious business. Her aunt usually didn't come to them crying with no reason. "I thought you knew that I'm too stubborn to allow that to happen."

"One could hope." Lyra actually smiled slightly. She hadn't expected to be able to smile that night. "I'm here to tell you something that I wish I didn't have to tell you. But I don't have a choice, it's too hard now..."

"You're quitting the Order," Remus realized, his lips pressed together tightly. It didn't take much thought to realize it. Sirius was gone and her husband, who she had counted on to protect her, wasn't there anymore. 

"I wish there was another way." Lyra chocked up, and another tear fell from the corner of her eye. "It's not because of you or any of you. I love you. I love all of you but... With Lucius gone it's not very easy to protect Draco anymore."

She neglected to tell them that he was now a Death Eater. She knew she could trust them but it wasn't something she wanted anyone to know. Mostly because she refused to admit it to herself. But part of her knew. And that part of her knew that she couldn't ever face her son of the battlefield. She needed to protect him, especially with the impossible task he had been given. 

Nymphadora gaped, obviously refusing to allow this to happen. "There must be something we can do. I'll, uh, I'll help you take care of him. He's my cousin, after all. You can come live with my parents and I. Mum and dad would love to have you."

There would be nothing better. Lyra could imagine living with Ted, Andromeda and Nymphadora in perfect harmony. But it wouldn't make any of them safer. It would only bring them into more danger. "We can't do that and you know it. I'm sorry but there's no other way. I've made my choice."

Remus didn't say a word. He only looked at her with a far-off look in his eyes. If she were to leave the Order of the Phoenix then he had no idea when he would ever see her again. He'd only had her back in his life for three years. He thought they'd have the rest of it together.

"Remus..." Lyra trailed off, sniffling. It physically hurt her, the idea of not being around him  at least once a week anymore. She didn't want to hurt him or herself. But there was no way to be happy anymore. "Please say something."

"If this is what you have to do-"

"It is," she cut him off. "As much as I hate it, it is."

Remus looked pained. Whether it was from her leaving him behind once again or because of the approaching full moon, she didn't know. Most likely both. "Then I guess there's nothing more to say, is there?"

"Of course there is. I love you, I really do. But right now..." Lyra trailed off. She didn't know what to say. She wanted things to be alright again, but she couldn't imagine it happen any time soon, but it was all she could imagine. "Maybe someday we'll see each other again. When times are better and we're safer. Maybe someday we'll be happy again... together."

"I'll hold you to that." Remus tried to fight it but there were tears in his own eyes. He didn't cry easily but he'd only recently lost Sirius and he hated the idea of losing Lyra, even if it wasn't in the same way. 

"Nymphadora... I need you to stay strong. You can do this. You can win this war. I believe in you." Lyra stepped closer to her niece, pulling her into her arms before whispering the next thing she had to say. "And take care of Remus, please. He's going to try to put on an act but I know he's in pain. He's going to need you as much as you need him. I love you. And tell your parents I love them, too. And that I'm sorry. I really am."

Nymphadora sniffled as she pulled away from the hug, though nodding vigorously. "I love you, too, Aunt Lyra. You're my family, always. You're always welcome back if need be. I know I speak for mum and dad on this, too."

Lyra smiled through her tears at this. She couldn't believe how lucky she had been to get to have Nymphadora in her life again for the past year. Unfortunately, it couldn't have been more. But, if anything, she was glad she would have Remus and that Remus would have her. They'd need each other. She needed them, too, but that wasn't enough.

"Remus..." Lyra turned to him once again. "I hope you understand. I'm all Draco has anymore. There's no one else who wants to, or can, protect him. I would love nothing more than to be with both you and everyone else that we love forever. But..."

"I get it, Lyra." He smiled through the pain. "You're always so quick to give yourself up for others. I love that, how selfless you are, but it's still not something I like hearing. I want you to be happy."

"I can't be happy unless I know that Draco is safe." Lyra couldn't keep any tears back anymore as they started falling uncontrollably. "And you need to stay safe, too. If anything were to happen to you then I don't- I don't know what I would do."

Remus reached out and pulled her into his chest, seeing that she needed all the comfort she could get. Honestly, he needed the hug, too. "Then you need to do the same. Don't put yourself in harm's way any more than you have to."

"Alright, I won't." She buried her face into his chest, neither of them caring about her tears streaking his shirt. "I love you, Remus. You know that, right? I love you so much. I always have and I always will."

"I know, I know," he muttered, kissing her head affectionately as he cried silently. "I love you, too. You know I do. And I'm always here, no matter what happens. I love you so much, I really do."

"And take care of Harry." Her words were barely audible as she sobbed. "He's going to feel so alone after this, especially after Sirius... And I know he's going to have all these questions you won't be able to answer. But please... Not only for me but for Sirius and for James."

Hearing those names only made Remus want to cry even more. They were gone and only him and Lyra remained. And now she was going away again. It felt all too familiar to when he was twenty-one and he lost everything. "Of course."

Lyra pulled away from him, nodding. It wasn't long until it was two o'clock and she knew she needed some time to collect herself before being there for Draco. She was sure it wouldn't have been easy for him to get the Dark Mark. 

Lyra looked at the both of them for a moment, wanting to remember the exact way they looked, smelled and sounded like for a little while longer. She hoped she wouldn't ever forget. She loved them both too much to ever forget. "Goodbye then, Remus, Nymphadora."

She could see Remus grab onto Nymphadora's hand, clutching it tightly as he searched for some comfort at watching himself lose the second of his best friends, in the matter of less than a week. She squeezed back, feeling her own pain at losing her aunt. Neither of them knew the next time they'd see Lyra. 

The blonde turned her head and apparated away, leaving the two of them alone with their tears. Nymphadora turned to cry into Remus's arms and, for once, he allowed himself to melt into the woman he was falling in love with but had been trying so hard not to. 

▹▹▹

Lyra walked into her house a little after two o'clock, when she was sure the Dark Lord would have left, though she hated the idea of leaving her son alone in the Manor for even a second. But she'd rather be there with him alone. 

She didn't find him the parlor, where she had expected him to be, taking in the fact that he was now a Death Eater. She had needed time and space for herself for much less. It was a strange thing, to know that her son was living what had once been her worst nightmare. 

Eventually, she found him in his bedroom. He had fallen asleep, which she hadn't expected. But she supposed he must have been exhausted after such an emotionally draining few hours. She was exhausted herself and she wasn't the one who had gotten the worst part of the package. 

He looked so young as he was sleeping. So innocent and sweet. His hair was messy and his robes discheveled. His left forearm was visible, clearly showing the dark tattoo of a skull and snakes. The Dark Mark.

Lyra wished to cry more but she didn't feel like she had any tears left. Instead, she pursed her lips and grabbed the duvet he had fallen asleep next to and tucked him in, covering his Dark Mark. He looked much sweeter without it. She kissed his head quietly, more for herself than for him. 

Lyra had heard people say things about how you can only stay alive for yourself. But she hadn't lived for herself in many years. The only reason she was alive and well was because she was living for her son. If she didn't have him, she didn't think there would be a reason for it all anymore. 

She was willing to lose everything for him. In a way, she just had.

▹▹▹

A/N: This chapter was a thousand times longer than I thought it was going to be, wow! (Well, more like 2000 words longer). But a lot did happen, so it's worth it. Next chapter will also be REALLY long so I'm not sure how long it will take to get it out, sorry!