****Lyra's P.O.V.****

"Wait, he what?!"

"He jumped out and screamed 'HE'S GOING TO KILL US ALL!' right in the professor's face!" Lydia started cracking up laughing.

"Wait, your brother was an animagus. And of all the names in the world, you choose Rusty?" I asked.

"Not the point! He transformed into a cat right in the middle of science class and scared the professor half to death!" She was still cracking up, and I was with her.

"What is wrong with your school?" I gasped in between laughs.

"I don't know, but probably the same thing that's wrong with yours. I mean, it produced you." She smirked.

I began whacking her with pillows. "That *whack* was *whack* rude! *whack*"

"SHUT UP!" We heard Draco's muffled annoyed cry.

"TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE, FERRET!" I screamed back. We heard him groan, and smirked victouriously.

We stayed up for the rest of the night, occasionally falling asleep between stories. And by occasionally, I mean we slept for a total of twelve minutes. Combined.

The next day, we walked to lunch together. Yes, lunch. We got no sleep, and, purely by accident, missed half our classes.

"Bye, Lydia, I have to go see my boyfriend. He probably thinks Voldemort kidnapped me, or something." I smiled half-heartedly at her. We're in the middle of a war, which sucks, but I have an adoring boyfriend, a few best friends, a cousin, and a family.

While lost in thought, I failed to notice that I was being attacked. By Harry hugs.

"Ly, Merlin, you're okay."

"Harry, I was gone for a night. With Lydia. Lydia Ann Peterson, who wouldn't seriously injure a fly."

"Seriously injure?" He looked concerned.

"Yes, now don't worry, Harry. I won't leave you, we'll get through this. Together." I smiled at him, and relieved, he beamed back.

"Now, what's this I hear about Hogwarts serving all-day breakfast?" I teased.

"Nothing; that's not happening, Ly. Who on Earth told you that?" Hermione joined in.

I didn't bother to respond, instead I glared at Lydia, who, witnessing our exchange, was cracking up laughing.

"Bloom? Isn't she your Potions partner? And the the first tri-house in existance?" Hermione looked baffled.

"Yeah, why, 'Mione?"

"Because she's. . . how do I put it. . . important." She looked hesitant. I rolled my eyes.

"Jeez, thanks 'Mione. I can feel the love just radiating off of you." I left, noticing I had Potions in three minutes.

Harry caught up, and walked to class with me, seeing as he's my boyfriend.

"What're you thinking about?" I asked him, seeing him unfocused, about to run into a wall.

"Nothing, Ly. Sorry. . ." He trailed off, still not looking completely present. We walked into the library together, as today was a Study Day.

Snape gave is our instructions, and I began working. Alright, wolfsbane is made of-

"Ugh, where am I gonna get a date this late?" Ron groaned quietly.

"Not my problem. I'm going with Harry, so we both have dates." I smirked.

"Hey, Hermione, you're a girl." He said stupidly as I snickered.

"Oh well, spotted."

"No, you could go with me, then we'd both have dates. I mean, it's one thing for a guy to go alone, but for a girl, it's just pathetic."

"Sorry, Ronald, I already have a date." She countered back, and my ears pricked up.

"Oh, come on, 'Mione, seriously."

"Yes, Ronald, seriously. Just because it took you three years to realize I'm a girl, doesn't mean nobody else has." She hissed at him, slamming her book closed and turning in her paper.

I glared at Ron, copying her actions and going after her, to Charms. Luckily, I was studying with the Gryffindors today; I'd be able to talk to her.

"Alright, class, today we will be learning about Cheering Charms. They are believed to have the same affect as, what is it, muggle Laughing Gas? Yes, you may begin." The squeaky voice of Professor Flitwick chirped.

"Professor! Professor! Sorry to interupt, but the headmaster wishes to see Lyra Black!" Colin Creevey, a boy in Ginny's year who idolized Harry, came in extremely excited.

Flitwick sighed, but agreed nonetheless. I grabbed my bag and left to our headmaster's office.

Walking in, I saw Harry get yanked into a broom cupboard, the same ring-covered hand grabbing my arm not two seconds later.

"Cozy, isn't it?" the overly obnoxious voice of Rita Skeeter chirped.

"No. We're in a broom cupboard, and there is literally no room in here. How about we leave, and you sit here, sulking your life away in an oh-so-cozy broom cupboard." I snapped.

"Feisty, I see. You don't mind if I use a Quick Quotes quill? Fantastic. Alright, Harry, the public wants to know. What do you see in Feisty over here?"

I growled. "Yes, we do mind, use a different quill, and stay out of my personal life!"

She smirked, and placed a silencing charm on me. "So, Harry?"

"Um. . . let's see. . . nunya." He replied in a monotone voice. Now it was my turn to smirk at her, silently of course.

"How do you think your parents would feel about you entering yourself in this competition?"

"I didn't enter!" he paused to look at her parchment, "and I do not have tears brimming my eyes!"

"Ignore the quill, Harry." She spelled her parchment away from view, and turned to me, removing the silencing charm.

"What about Harry attracts you the most?"

"Hmm. . . that's a hard one. . . how about none of your overly intrusive beeswax. Now can I leave?" She looked like she was about to say no, face crimson with anger, then thought better of it when she realized I had fire in my hand. And that we were in a broom cupboard, full of dry straw and wood.

I grabbed Harry's wrist and angrily walked him to the Hufflepuff common room, ignoring the fact that class wasn't yet over. I plopped down on the fluffy couch, ranting.

". . . she can't do that! That is none of her business, and completely unfair! I was right to leave." I crossed my arms.

"Ly-"

"And how does she know everything about me? Is she a stalker?!" I stood up and groaned, pacing.

"Ly-"

"Seriously, what is wrong with that-"

"Ly!" Harry grabbed my shoulders, stopping me from my rant.

"Yeah?" I asked innocently.

"You've been ranting for the past half hour. What's wrong?" He led me to the couch and sat me down.

"I didn't ask for this. I know you didn't either, and I'm being selfish, but I'm scared. I've never done anything more dangerous than climbing a tree to read, Harry. I need someone there for me through all this. . . mess. First Spotter, then dragons and grindylows, now a deranged reporter following my every move."

"I know, Ly. That was exactly what was going through my head all through first and second year. Then, in the summer before third year, I met you. Everything made sense, Ly. We all have obstacles, but the ones who conquer them have someone to live for. You're my someone, Lyra Black. My reason. And I know we'll get through this. Together." He looked me strait in the eye the entire speech, and in the end, I was crying.

"Harry, I-" Before I could finish, he crashed his lips to mine. We were sitting on the couch, when Hermione came in, screaming her head off about the Yule Ball in six hours.

"Lyra! LYRA BLACK! LY- oh, hi Harry. Lyra, you can snog your boyfriend at the ball, we have to get ready!"

"First, we weren't snogging. Second, Hermione, we have have six hours. All I have to do is put on my dress and brush my hair. I'm not wearing make-up, and I'm not going to be wearing a dress for six hours, especially when I have to pee. And how did you get in here? This is the Hufflepuff common room."

"Well, we have a schedule. It's four o'clock now, and the ball starts at ten, so if we move fast, we can stay on time. From four to five-thirty, we'll be working on Hannah, from five-thirty to seven, we'll be working on me, seven to eight-thirty, Lyra, and eight-thirty to ten, Sarah. Parma and Pavarti are helping Ginny. Get it? Got it? Good." (A/N: Please tell me someone got that?!)

Hermione grabbed my wrist and dragged me out of my smirking boyfriend's arms.

"Oh, and Harry?" Hermione stopped.

"What?"

She didn't bother answering; she threw a picture at him, and he blushed beet red.

"Ly, if I don't show up tonight, it's not because I ditched you. It's because your uncle killed me." He showed me a picture Hermione had taken as soon as she walked in, before the rant, of me and Harry kissing.

"HERMIONE!" I ran after her, silently hoping she didn't already send a duplicate of the picture to my Uncle.

She ran past Sarah, giggling, and Sarah started running with her. I hopped on and air cloud I had created, and flew above them, groaning at what I saw.

Hermione was showing Sarah the picture she took; the one she didn't give Harry, but was probably going to give my uncle.

I made the cloud I was standing on start raining on them, making sure it would only rain on them. What? I don't know how the castle or other students would react to having magical rain.

****Harry's P.O.V.****

A few hours later, I was helping Ron calm down, wearing his. . . interesting. . . dress robes. I was wearing normal dress robes, when Sirius burst through the common room painting, screaming.

"Well. . . er. . . Ron, gotta go, bye!" I ran down the stairs, attempting to move only when Sirius had his back turned to me. I made the mistake of looking up, and in doing so, he looked straight at me.

Honestly, I think I was more scared when I though he was a mass murderer. Now, seeing as I'm dating his daughter. . .

"You." He growled.

"Er. . . hey, Sirius."

"Would you happen to know what this is?!" he held up the picture Hermione had taken hours ago.

"I'm gonna go. . . you see, Ly's waiting. . ." I rushed out, only to trip and fall on my face.

"If you- just don't- I will-" Sirius stopped and groaned in frustration. "Just, please, don't hurt her, Harry."

"I won't, trust me. I would never hurt her, and if I did-"

"I'd kill you." He cut me off.

I smiled softly. "I'd hand you a wand." I know I wouldn't hurt her, and what I said held true. If I hurt her, it would hurt me more not seeing that beautiful smile on her face.

I walked down the steps, alone, waiting for Ly to come and make her big enterence.

****Lyra's P.O.V.****

I walked out of the girls' Hufflepuff dorms with Bella and Gabrielle, seeing as we were performing tonight. The Wierd Sisters were coming, so we'd only be performing one song.

We were wearing masks again; ones that matched our dresses. My mask was peach, with white beads along the border. Gabrielle's was white with blue beads along the border. Bella's was white with yellow beads along the border, to match her yellow mermaid-style dress. Ironic, right?

We used the charms from third year; the ones that let us apparate short distances and arrive in smoke.

Gabrielle was freaking out about the ball, as Aaron had asked her, and her voice was too shaky to sing. Bella didn't care; no one asked her.

"Gaby, calm down, okay? Aaron asked you because he likes you for you, not for your too-old-for-him older sister. Besides, isn't she going with that Ravenclaw, Rodger Davies?" I said.

She nodded and kept breathing in and out to calm herself down. I rolled my eyes, smiling at her. I was just like this before Hogsmeade with Harry for the first time, only instead of wearing a ball gown, I was wearing his hoodie and leggings.

Muttering the charm with Gabrielle, we poofed up on stage.

Don't Wait, by Joey Graceffa:

Bella: I know you got a strong heart, it's written in the stars, behind the castle wall, you hide your life

Gabrielle: But when you the past go, your story unfolds, look out your window, into the night

Lyra: The darkness can be such a lonely place on your own, I'll be your compass so you'll never be alone

All: Don't wait for the world to be ready, who says you can't explore, who says you can't explore

Bella and Gabrielle: Don't wait for the world to be ready, find what you're looking for, find what your looking for

Lyra: Are the monsters in your head now, stare them all down, when they come back around, you'll be alright

Bella: And when the journey gets tough, just know that you're enough, your like a warrior, keep up the fight

All: Don't wait for the world to be ready, who says you can't explore, who says you can't explore

Lyra and Gabrielle: Don't wait for the world to be ready, find what you're looking for, find what you're looking for

Bella: Don't, don't, don't wait, don't you wait, no, don't, don't, don't wait

Gabrielle: Don't, don't, don't wait, don't you wait, no, don't, don't, don't wait

Lyra: Don't wait for the world to be ready, who says you can't explore

All: Don't wait for the world to be ready, find what you're looking for, find what you're looking for

All: Don't wait for the world to be ready, who says you can't explore, who says you can't explore, don't wait for the world to be ready, find what you're looking for, find what you're looking for

When we finished, everybody who knew who we were, or made a guess, was smiling, along with some others. Harry looked flustered and nervous, but was trying to cover it up with a smile.

I took my mask off and approached him, pausing to look back at Gabrielle, smiling next to Aaron. I noticed Dean sitting alone, moping. I thought he asked Ginny . . .

"Harry! Thank Merlin you're here, the champion's dance starts in," I checked my muggle watch, "three minutes!"

"Champion's dance?" He asked stupidly.

"Yes! Merlin, Harry we have to dance in front of the entire school!"

****Sarah's P.O.V.****

". . . we have to dance in front of the entire school!" I heard Lyra freaking out, talking to Harry. I started piecing together the pieces, and realized something.

I didn't have a date.

We, I, had to dance in front of the entire school, and I didn't have a date. Looking around for a guy without a date, one that wasn't a total doof, preferably a friend.

George was an option, but he was staring at Bella, and I didn't want to interrupt . . . whatever that is. Dean wasn't an option; Dean and Ginny were in love, but Dean was too cowardly to ask her. The only other guy alone was . . . Lee.

I awkwardly walked over to him, noticing we had about a minute and a half left before we were required to be on the dance floor.

I tapped his shoulder, gaining his attention. "Er. . . Lee?" He turned towards me, "I was wondering if you would . . ." I sighed.

He raised an eyebrow, causing me to blush. "Listen, the champion's dance starts in thirty seconds, and I really need someone to dance with. 'Cause, y'know, I like keeping my head on my body."

He chuckled, and nodded.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're a lifesaver Lee!" I cheered and wrapped my arms around his neck, squealing.

Walking out to the dance floor, the music started, and we began dancing.

****Lee's P.O.V.****

I spent the entire song, staring into her beautiful coffee-brown eyes. Her chocolate hair was laid out perfectly across her shoulders, and she looked too perfect to be desperate, and too alive to be sad. I sound really stupid.

"Lee?" She asked, smiling.

"Yeah?" I asked in a soft voice.

Her smile faltered a bit. "Fred and George are glaring at you. Also, the song's over. You don't have to dance with me anymore."

I smiled a sad smile, but covered it up with a smirk, and left, my spirits falling. Walking over to Fred and George, my smirk completely fell.

"What's up?" I asked.

"You were dancing with our sister." They chorused.

I rolled my eyes. "No really, Sherlock, I couldn't tell."

"Why?!"

"She was a champion. Who came alone, and so did I."

"You're saying you danced with our sister because she was a champion?!" They growled.

I rolled my eyes, not intimidated one bit.

"No, morons, he danced with me because I asked him to. All of the champions have to be present for the Champion's dance. Hence the name, smart one." I jumped, not seeing Sarh come up.

"Yeah." was the only response so could come up with, my thoughts blurred, the girl next to me to blame.

****Lyra's P.O.V.****

I was dancing with Harry, silently observing my surroundings.

Sarah and Lee, smiling and laughing at Fred and George's grumpy faces. Hagrid and Madame Maxime dancing around, the tallest partners by far. Gabrielle and Aaron, looking at each other with complete admiration in his eyes. I never would've thought that three schools could've come together like this.

Fleur, as much as I despised her, looked painfully uncomfortable with Rodger's creeper hands snaked around her. He kept speaking, not aware that she couldn't keep up with her limited English.

I sighed again and smiled softly smiled at her. "Don't drink the punch; it's spiked. Also, Gabrielle doesn't want you, so don't interrupt her and Aaron." She nodded, and walked away smiling.

****Hermione's P.O.V.****

Excusing myself from Viktor, I walked away to get some punch. Pouring myself a cup, I lifted it up, only to get it slapped from my hand. I looked at Lyra strangely as she rushed off to Harry, only muttering a quick 'Fred and George made it', before she was gone.

I walked out of the ball to find Viktor, which didn't take long. He was drunk, babbling on about Quidditch. Figures.

Rolling my eyes, annoyed, I began to ascend the stairs toward Gryffindor Tower. Halfway there, the stairs began to change. I struggled to stay straight in my too-long dress and high heels. My struggles were useless, and, terrified, I fell over the rail.

Someone's strong arms caught me, and right away, the smell of old parchment and toothpaste filled my nose.

"'Mione?"

"R-Ronald?"