Bad Romance

Chapter 36

Chapter 36: New Magic Tricks

"It's like we've made a thing out of coming home tired," Lyra said as her parents and uncle staggered into the Lestrange library just before dinner.

"How long have you been home," Bellatrix asked as she sank down onto the sofa with an exhausted sigh.

"Not very long," Lyra said, carefully marking the spot in the book she held before closing it and setting it on the small table beside her chair.

"How did it go at the Ministry, then," Rodolphus asked, settling down beside Bellatrix and slipping an arm around her shoulders.

"I suppose I discovered that I can teach, " Lyra said with a chuckle. "I don't think I'd like doing it all the time, but I can clearly convey a concept when necessary."

Bellatrix nodded, smiling at her daughter. "You should be pleased to discover new talents and abilities. It's part of developing your arsenal and expanding your options and opportunities."

Lyra nodded. "Very true."

"Who were you instructing, and did any of them learn to see these Auras," Rabastan asked curiously.

"To my surprise, I was let in to see the Minister herself when I said I was sent by you all," Lyra said, straightening in her chair to tell her story. "As could be expected, she had never heard of Auras either. When I told her of the various ways in which one can work with them, she was interested in trying to learn as well as speaking to Grindelwald about learning. So as it happened, I taught the Minister, Grindelwald, and his man Zabini, isn't it?"

"Yeah, that's right," Rodolphus nodded. "We're so proud of you! You taught something to the Minister herself and to Grindelwald! That's something to brag on right there," he told her, and she gave a proud grin, pleased by her father's praise.

"I worked with the three of them for nearly four hours today, before Grindelwald and his man had to go work in the Department of Mysteries for the afternoon."

"What's happening with the Department of Mysteries," Bellatrix asked.

Lyra shrugged. "Grindelwald and Zabini are studying the objects there in hopes that some of them can be used as weapons against Delphini."

"That's a very good idea, actually," Rabastan said.

"Those two make enchanted objects, so if anyone can figure out more about the direct uses of the artifacts in the Department of Mysteries, it's them," Bellatrix told her daughter.

"What do they make," Lyra asked, intrigued.

"Many different things... they have their own shop where they sell what they make as well as other items of interest they either find or consign," Bellatrix said. "The shop is called Enchanted Odds. We can take you there when we have a moment if you'd like to look around."

Lyra nodded. "That would be interesting. I'd like to have something made by the actual Grindelwald." Then as if suddenly recalling some offense her parents and uncle had committed, she gave them all a piercing glare. "And why didn't you tell me he is the real Grindelwald? It isn't his son, and you know it!"

Bellatrix shrugged. "He's telling people that he is his own son in order to avoid a ton of legal entanglements from several countries. His secret was not ours to tell, and we knew he would let you know who he truly was if he felt like it or found it necessary."

Lyra sighed, nodding grudgingly. "The less most know the better," she agreed. "If any of those other countries try to take him in and imprison him once again we won't have him to help fight against Delphini."