"Fred, George! No, just carry them!" Molly's shrill voice rang through the room, making Lyra wince for a moment. It reminded her a bit too much of her Aunt Walburga, hanging on the wall somewhere in the house.

The dinner was done, Lyra having hurried to take a seat next to Remus. But Fred and George decided that to get the dinner and all its accessories to the table without even having to touch them. They were of age, after all. They could use magic however they pleased. 

The stew, a lot of Butterbeer and a wooden breadboard (including a kitchen knife) were all approaching the table, not very carefully. The stew and the cauldron holding it skidded towards the end of the table, a bit too close to falling off for Lyra's liking. 

The Butterbeer simply fell to the ground, spilling all over the table (and a bit on Lyra's shirt, which made her sad because it was new and she quite liked it). The kitchen knife fell off the breadboard, hitting a spot on the table where Sirius's hand had been only moments before. 

"For heaven's sake! There was no need... I've had enough of this!" Molly basically screamed in her sons' faces. "Just because you're allowed to use magic now doesn't mean you have to whip your wands out for every tiny little thing!"

"We were just trying to save a bit of time," Fred tried to defend him and his brother, rushing to jam the kitchen knife out of the table, looking apologetically at the man they almost hit. "Sorry, Sirius, mate. Didn't mean to-"

Sirius and Harry were both laughing, making it easy to see that the man hadn't taken it personally. Lyra sat with widened eyes, staring at the spot where the knife had hit while Mundungus had to pick himself up after falling on the ground, cursing to himself. 

"Boys," Arthur said disapprovingly, moving the cauldron holding the stew to a better placement on the table. "Your mother's right, you're supposed to show a sense of responsibility now that you've come of age-

"None of your brothers caused this sort of trouble!" Molly continued, cutting off her husband in the middle of his sentence. She put a new round of Butterbeer on the table. "Bill didn't feel the need to apparate every few feet! Charlie didn't charm everything he met! Percy-"

An eerie silence fell over the room at the mention of Percy Weasley. Lyra hadn't ever met the boy, at least as far as she remembered. But Ron had told her about the big row between him and his father, his mother getting involved eventually. 

"Let's eat," Billy quickly said, catching the heartbroken and helpless look on his mother's face. He wished things didn't have to be like they were, but he didn't want his parents to sit around and grieve for his brother, who didn't seem to grieve for them at all. 

Remus shifted uncomfortably, taking her plate and pouring a ladle of stew onto it. He then quickly did the same for Lyra, who had been trying to seem as small as possible so she didn't have to get involved. "It looks wonderful, Molly."

They were all silent for a few minutes, eating their food to not create any drama or discomfort. The only real interaction was when Lyra would kick Sirius's leg and he'd kick hers back like they were little kids. In the end, Remus noticed and he kicked them both to get them to stop and act like adults. 

Molly quietly turned to Sirius after a while. "I've been meaning to tell you, Sirius, there's something trappedin that writing desk in the drawing room, it keeps rattling andshaking. Of course, it could just be a Boggart, but I thought weought to ask Alastor to have a look at it before we let it out."

The Black man couldn't care less about what was going on around the house as long as it was habitable. He hated the house, he hated being stuck inside and the sooner he could get out the better. He almost missed being a dog hanging around Hogsmeade. "Whatever you like."

"The curtains in there are full of Doxys, too," Molly continued, either not noticing or not caring that Sirius seemed quite indifferent and bored. "I thought we might try and tackle them tomorrow."

"I look forward to it," he responded dryly, though the woman didn't notice his underlying sarcasm. Lyra did though, so she kicked him quickly and sent him a look for being impolite. Remus noticed that, thinking she was just being playful again and kicked her to make her stop so she kicked him back. 

After this, the tension seemed to ease. Lyra watched fondly at Nymphadora entertained Hermione and Ginny while using her metamorphagus abilities to change her face into all kinds of different shapes.

But she had still found herself involved in a conversation with Arthur, Bill and Remus about how the Goblins were doing with everything. Bill had a bit of insight there, working at Gringotts and all. 

"They're not giving anything away yet," the oldest Weasley son informed them. "I still can'twork out whether or not they believe he's back. Course, they mightprefer not to take sides at all. Keep out of it."

"I can't imagine them fighting along with us even if they did believe," Lyra added, never having been quite fond of goblins. "There's nothing we can give that they can't, especially with Fudge and the Ministry denying everything and refusing to help."

"I'm sure they'd never go over to You-Know-Who," said Arthur, looking at her strangely, though not sure what to make of her claims.  "They've suffered losses too. Rememberthat goblin family he murdered last time, somewhere nearNottingham?"

"I think it depends what they're offered," Remus agreed with his blonde friend, sending her a curt nod. "And I'mnot talking about gold. If they're offered the freedoms we've beendenying them for centuries they're going to be tempted. Have youstill not had any luck with Ragnok, Bill?"

Bill frowned at the mention of the goblin. "He's feeling pretty anti-wizard at the moment. Hehasn't stopped raging about the Bagman business, he reckons theMinistry did a cover-up, those goblins never got their gold fromhim, you know-"

It was hard to hear what he said, considering a roar of laughter overshadowed them. Fred, George, Ron and Mundungus were all close to rolling on the floor, not caring about Molly's disapproving eye as the adult man told them about his business ventures. 

The Weasley matriarch already disliked the man enough, she didn't like seeing him influence her sons. "I don't think we need to hear any more of your business dealings, thank you very much, Mundungus."

"Beg pardon, Molly," Mundungus apologized, though not seeming very apologetic. He even sent Harry, who was watching him, a quick wink that only annoyed all the adults even more. "But, you know, Will nicked 'em orf WartyHarris in the first place so I wasn't really doing nothing wrong."

"I don't know where you learned about right and wrong,Mundungus, but you seem to have missed a few crucial lessons," Molly hissed at him, surprising a few around the table at her cool tone. She could be angry at her children, but then everybody could feel the fire. Now, her voice was filled with uncharacteristic ice. 

Lyra and Remus exchanged looks at this as Sirius started whispering to Harry, spreading a bit of gossip about the Weasley woman's hatred for the man and why he was useful to the order. It reminded her strangely of when James and Sirius would whisper about things without letting anybody hear what they were talking about. 

The conversations continued, including the moment where Harry finally found out that Lyra was Nymphadora's aunt. The confused look on his face was quite sweet. She could understand why he hadn't seen it as likely. 

The two women weren't exactly similar, either in appearance or personality. Both because Nymphadora took after her father and because she was, as mentioned, a Metamorphagus who could look however she wanted. 

It was getting quite late, and Lyra was worrying about the time, not sure when would be too late to come home after a supposed dinner with the Abbots. They had all quickly finished eating, so she wondered when they would wrap this up. 

Molly seemed to think the same, letting out a loud yawn. She looked at the tired faces around the table, though many of them still seemed deep in conversation about different things. "Nearly time for bed, I think."

"Not just yet, Molly." Sirius was quick to quirk an eyebrow at his godson instead of sending him to bed. "You know, I'm surprised at you. Ithought the first thing you'd do when you got here would be tostart asking questions about Voldemort."

"Sirius, don't," Lyra said quietly, but he just ignored her. She didn't want them to go and give Harry all these thoughts and ideas that could quickly get him into trouble, especially if he was as reckless as his father. 

Harry looked quite happy that his godfather had brought this up, having grown quite sick of being in the dark since the school year had ended. "I did! I asked Ron and Hermione butthey said we're not allowed in the Order, so-"

"And they're quite right. You're too young," Molly stated sternly, as if daring anybody to argue with her. Her fists were even clenched as they were put upon the dining room table, not a trace of the tiredness once apparent on her face. 

"Since when did someone have to be in the Order of the Phoenixto ask questions?" Sirius retorted. "Harry's been trapped in thatMuggle house for a month. He's got the right to know what's beenhappen-"

"Hang on!" George cut him off, looking quite offended. 

Fred was quick to continue his twin's train of thought. Not only were their faces identical, but also their annoyed expressions. "How come Harry gets his questions answered?"

"We've been trying to get stuff out of you for a month and youhaven't told us a single stinking thing!" George exclaimed, not caring about the way his mother glared at him for their shared outburst. 

"You're too young, you're not in the order!" Fred mocked his mother, though he knew he would get in trouble for it. He felt a bit of pride at the way people looked impressed with his impression. "Harry's not even of age!"

"It's not my fault you haven't been told what the Order's doing," Sirius defended himself. If it was up to him, those twins would know as much as most of the Order did. "That's your parents' decision. Harry, on the otherhand-"

"It's not up to you to decide what's good for Harry!" Molly interrupted him fiercely. The two had often butted heads, but never in the extent they seemed to be closing in on. "You haven't forgotten what Dumbledore said, I suppose?"

The long-haired man straightened up in his seat. There was a faux calm politeness in the air around him, but those who knew him could see that he was on the verge of losing it. "Which bit?"

The redheaded woman glared at him as if she was his mother as well, like she had something to say about him and his behavior. "The bit about not telling Harry more than he needs to know."

"I'm sorry, Sirius, but I've got to agree with Molly," Lyra spoke up surprisingly, hoping to calm the tension. "He's quite young. The more we tell him, the harder it will be to stay out of it. And once you know something, you can't stop knowing it. You know that as well as I do. Isn't it better to be safe and make sure he doesn't get hurt?"

"I don't want him to get hurt either, Lyra," Sirius said, looking a bit hurt at the way she was siding with the other mother instead of him. "But as he was the one who saw Voldemort come back he has more right than most to-"

Molly hadn't cared about Lyra trying to ease the tension. She was as tense as ever as she cut Sirius off in the middle of his sentence. "He's not a member of the Order of the Phoenix! He's only fifteen and-"

Sirius continued the argument, ignoring the fact that Lyra was sighing deeply in annoyance at the way the situation was escalating. "And he's dealt with as much as most in the Order. And more than some-"

"No one's denying what he's done!" Molly exclaimed loudly, her voice almost loud enough to be qualified as yelling, but they all knew she could yell much louder. "But he's still-"

"He's not a child!"

"He's not an adult either," the redhead retorted, crossing her arms stubbornly. Her anger had become so unbearable that her face was staring to get as red as her hair at this point.  "He's not James, Sirius."

Lyra, who had been supporting her argument, suddenly stiffened. She wasn't sure if her input would help calm things down, but she wouldn't let her throw around the late man's name as if it was nothing. "Let's not bring James in to this, Molly. He has nothing to do with this."

"Exactly," Sirius nodded, casting a glance her way. She wasn't sure if it was grateful or pained. She supposed it might be both, but mostly the last one. "And I'm perfectly clear who he is, thanks, Molly."

"I'm not sure you are! And this does have something to do with James, Lyra, even if you don't want it to." Molly looked to the blonde woman, as if expecting her to back her up once again. "Sometimes, the waySirius talks about him, it's as though he thinks he's got his bestfriend back!"

"What's wrong with that?" asked Harry, loving the idea of living a bit like his father once did. He adored Sirius, and wouldn't mind them being close and acting like the best friends his father and godfather once were. 

"What's wrong, Harry, is that you are not your father, howevermuch you might look like him," Molly responded, trying to keep her voice calm as she spoke to the teenager. "You are still at school and adults responsible for you should not forget it!"

"Meaning I'm an irresponsible godfather?" Sirius asked, gaping in offence. Lyra sighed once again, resting her forehead in her hand at how both him and Molly just kept riling each other up in the worst ways possible. 

Molly looked angrier as his voice started getting louder, angry that somebody would dare challenge her like this. She wasn't used to it. "Meaning you have been known to act rashly, Sirius, which is why Dumbledore keeps reminding you to stay at home and-"

"We'll leave my instructions from Dumbledore out of this, if youplease!" Though his words seemed quite polite, there was a shaking anger in his voice that everybody easily recognized. 

She turned to her husband, who was sitting in the seat next to her. Arthur looked a bit frightened at the anger and loudness echoing through the words. He sat up straighter as he made eye contact with her. "Arthur! Back me up!"

"Lyra, why aren't you backing me up?" Sirius asked, looking at his cousin on his side. He had already been annoyed enough at how she had supported Molly's arguments. He needed some of that unconditional familial support they had always promised each other. 

"Merlin help me," Lyra muttered, clutching the bridge of her nose. She wanted to support him, but not when it could lead to unfavorable consequences concerning Harry that she refused to let happen. Her life hadn't been made better by knowing things, she was sure his wouldn't be either. 

Trying to buy himself time, Arthur cleaned his glasses with his robes, avoiding his wife's eye. "Dumbledore knows the position has changed, Molly. He acceptsthat Harry will have to be filled in, to a certain extent, now thathe is staying at Headquarters."

The same annoyance that had been on Sirius's face from Lyra's betrayal was now quite evident on Molly's red face. "Yes, but there's a difference between that and inviting him toask whatever he likes!"

"Suddenly he's going to know too much and it'll ruin everything," the blonde woman suddenly spoke up. "Not only for us, but for him. It's a dangerous thing knowing too much, because you can't just stop thinking about it. Especially as he'll be going back to school in not too long. He should focus on that, on being a kid, instead of throwing himself into the frontlines of a war."

Remus, sensing tension between both the married couple and the cousins, decided it was his opportunity to try to fix things. "Personally, I think it better that Harry gets the facts- not all the facts, Molly, Lyra, but the general picture- from us, rather than a garbled version from... others.'

Lyra could feel Harry and Sirius's eyes on her, waiting to hear her support for him getting to know more. She felt small, but she could remember being young and curious herself. There were some things she knew that came in handy, but much more that seemed to ruin her life. 

There was a thin line between the two things, and she wanted to make sure that line wouldn't be crossed, either with Draco or Harry. "Well, yes, I agree that he deserves to know some things. But let's not give him secret information that will end up putting him in danger."

People nodded in agreement to what Lyra said and Molly seemed to have lost her only ally. "Well, well... I can see I'mgoing to be overruled. I'll just say this: Dumbledore must have hadhis reasons for not wanting Harry to know too much, and speakingas someone who has Harry's best interests at heart-"

"He's not your son," Sirius spoke up. Even though he spoke quite softly, he still managed to cut off Molly's loud rant and making everybody look to him. It was a strange superpower he'd always had, commanding the attention of the room without much effort. 

"He's as good as," Molly retorted, still speaking quite loudly in defence of how much she cared about the young boy, who she'd known since he was only eleven years old. Longer than almost anyone at that table. "Who else has he got?"

"He's got me!"

The redhead was fuming, and her family could recognize the look on her face, saying that she would be saying something she might later regret. "Yes, the thing is, it's beenrather difficult for you to look after him while you've been lockedup in Azkaban, hasn't it?"

"Molly, you're not the only person at this table who cares aboutHarry. Sirius, sit down," Remus demanded, commanding their respect. Sirius had started rising in anger, but Lyra pulled him down in his seat. "I think Harry ought to be allowed a say in this. He's old enough to decide for himself."

"I want to know what's going on," Harry quickly said, without any hesitation. He tried his best to avoid Molly's gaze, and partly Lyra's. He wanted to know more than she wanted him to, after all. He wanted to know everything. 

"Very well," Molly agreed, though quite reluctantly. She was quite obviously trying to keep her temper at bay, but knew she could do anything but protect the other children from the discussion. "Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, I want you out of this kitchen. Now."

The first sign of protest came barely a second later as Fred and George started yelling, in perfect harmony, of course. "We're of age!"

"If Harry's allowed, why can't I?" asked Ron, flabbergasted. He was the same age as Harry, he had gone through parts of his adventures with him for several years. He felt he deserved to know, as well. 

"Mum, I want to hear!" Ginny whined, though she knew she didn't have any arguments for why. She was the youngest there, her parents had the right to choose for her and nobody would fight for her to stay. 

Angry at her children's reactions, Molly found herself standing up dramatically, similiarily to the way Sirius had done so only minutes before, glaring at all four of the teenagers. "No! I absolutely forbid-"

Arthur cut her off before she could continue, but looked a bit reluctant to do so. It was always a hassle to get involved in her arguments with their children. "Molly, you can't stop Fred and George. They're of age."

"They're still at school," she reminded him, her glare now turned to him, which made him cringe a bit in his seat. Fred and George puffed their chests at this, glad to have somebody's support in their never-ending argument with their mother. 

Arthur just seemed tired. He must have been involved in many of their arguments before, but now it was late at night and he just wanted the meeting to end so he could go to bed soon. "But they're legally adults now."

Molly also seemed quite sick of arguing with or about the twins. She finally acquiesced, turning to look at the group of teenagers sitting together.  "I- oh, all right then, Fred and George can stay, but Ron-"

"Harry'll tell me and Hermione everything you say anyway!" Ron suddenly exclaimed. It finally dawned on him what he had said, so he looked to his best friend, hoping he hadn't been lying. "Won't- won't you?"

"'Course I will," the Potter boy responded, though having hesitated. His two best friends beamed at him, having been unsure if he would. He had seemed so angry with them when he had first arrived, after all. 

"Fine," Molly huffed, not looking very happy about this. She didn't want any of her children to sit in and listen to the meeting, much less almost all of them. There was only one she could still get out of there. "Fine! Ginny, bed!"

It took a bit of struggle, dragging the fourteen-year-old to her bed. It even included waking up Walburga's portrait, which meant that Lyra would have to hurry and get her to calm down, letting Remus finally pull the curtain closed. 

Once they finally returned, though a bit more agitated and even a bit sweaty from the struggle, they all sat prepared to give Harry and his friends more news. Sirius looked to his godson quickly. "Okay, Harry. What do you want to know?"

▹▹▹

A/N: This took so long again, but this chapter was actually going to be super long, so I split it in two again. Oops, hope you don't mind. So there will be two chapters coming out tonight, even if it's super late here and I have school tomorrow. It's fine, though, I wanted to get this out.