Shades of Silver and Black

Chapter 48

-------------------> THE MONTHS FLEW BY AS QUICKLY as the newest broom on the market, a Clean Sweep 360, could; and a month before Bellatrix's wedding, grandfather Arcturus wrote her a letter saying that he had received the invitations.

Traditionally, a wedding invitation was sent personally to every family invited -it didn't matter if it was to their own family also- and listed all the persons in it, so as to convey that the bride and groom had kept them all in mind while planning their wedding. However, grandfather Arcturus had sent Lyra a letter with the post-script to show it to Andromeda that in the invitation, Andromeda was very clearly not mentioned, signalling that no matter what he had told them, Bellatrix simply didn't consider Andromeda as part of her family anymore.

Unfortunately, Grandfather Arcturus couldn't force Bellatrix to add Andromeda's name since a wedding was strictly made from the choices and influences of the bride and the groom. Not to mention, after the wedding, Bellatrix wouldn't be a Black anymore in the eyes of the law and magic, only by blood; meaning he would have no control over her actions ever since the second the handfasting ceremony of her wedding would begin.

Andromeda had put on a brave face when she had read the letter and declared that she didn't care before leaving. But her red eyes the next day bore witness to the tears she had secretly shed the night before.

Lyra was filled with sympathy at the action, but just like her grandfather, no matter how much power and influence she had, she couldn't actually do anything to change it; something that she hated.

Bella, like her wand, was unyielding and firm in her beliefs. So any advice, suggestions and pleading would fall on deaf ears due to her lovely cousin's stubborn as a unicorn quality.

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Lucius and Lyra patrolled as always. Towards this part of the school year, the conversation between them never seemed to end because they had one too many things to discuss, from the alumni's jobs and the Slytherin Court, all the way to the politics of the Wizengamot and their plan regarding a certain Dark Lord.

Lucius meant it when he said that the only reason he had wanted to follow the Dark Lord was so that they could be safe, but if Lyra didn't like that, then he would quit in a moment's notice. Unfortunately, the reality was harder and harsher than promises, and both the King and Queen understood that if they couldn't get rid of the Dark Lord's influence or desire to have the Malfoy heir in his ranks so easily. And so, the planning began and with it, came the stress.

"Let's talk about something else," Lucius said abruptly, soon after their ideas hit yet another deadlock. "It's nearly midnight, I'm sure our patrols ended a long time ago. We can always do this later, let's talk about something else. Let's do something else." He suggested, making Lyra tilt her head with ever-amused eyes.

She nodded. "Okay, like what?"

Lucius pursed his lips. "I don't know." He admitted. "Let's think of something."

A mischievous glint fleeted through Lyra's eyes. "I know something," she said and without giving him a chance to reply, grabbed his silver and green tie and pulled, forcing him to bend as she smashed their lips together.

Lucius's eyes widened with shock before his eyes slowly curtained and he smirked into the kiss, pushing Lyra against the cold stones that made up the corridor wall.

Lyra wrapped her arms around his neck as he enveloped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him and pushing her more against the wall simultaneously as they continued to kiss each other.

"Ew," Somebody said, making Lyra and Lucius jump apart from each other as if the other was on fire.

James's face was scrunched up in disgust, indicating that he was the one who had just spoken, while Sirius looked horrified at the sight he had walked onto and Regulus was tightly -almost desperately- covering his eyes with his hands.

Lyra felt her face flush, just like Lucius, but she managed to clear her throat. "What are you three doing up so late? It's nearly midnight."

James shrugged. "We realised that since Regulus was in Slytherin, we couldn't meet him much. So we sneaked him out and were on our way to the kitchens." He paused, narrowing his eyes on their slightly guilty faces. "What were you two doing?"

"And please tell me not each other," Sirius begged, causing Lyra to blush harder.

"Shut up, Sirius. It isn't like that." Lyra insisted but the red of her face was certainly not helping her argument.

Regulus snorted. "Oh please, we aren't stupid." He said. "Grandma Mal told us what people want -or who- they want to do when they kiss each other last summer when we asked her."

"Although that much of a detailed explanation was certainly not needed," Sirius added, theatrically shivering. "Honestly, I have never seen so many charts and pictures in my life."

"Thank goodness Grandpa Archie stopped her before she could bring out the pensive memories," Regulus said, wincing at the memory played in his mind. He regarded the couple before him seriously. "I know Uncle Cygnus had Bellatrix when he was thirteen, but we are all too young to be uncles, so please take precaution."

Oh Merlin, please stop.

Lucius decided to be her hero as he managed to successfully divert the topic. "Didn't you say you were going to the kitchens?" He asked suddenly. "It's nearly midnight and it's a school day tomorrow so you need to sleep early. So we really shouldn't keep you up any longer than we should," He turned to his girlfriend. "Right, Lyra?"

"Oh yes," Lyra nodded, eager to escape the conversation. "You should get going now before the poor elves have to sleep."

James nodded, just as eager to stop this conversation. "Yeah, let's go." He said before turning to his sister. "Are you coming with us? We haven't spent much time lately. You've been so busy."

Lyra's eyes softened as her lips curled into a smile. "Of course I'm coming. I would never miss an opportunity to spend time with my little brothers." She said, ruffling James and Regulus' hair, knowing very well not to touch Sirius' precious dark hair given how protective he was of it.

"We are not little," Regulus said, trying to flatten his hair a second later.

"Well, Regulus is little, but James and I are big." Sirius bragged. "We're almost teenagers."

"And I'm almost an adult, which means that for me, the three of you will forever and always be little." She cooed, pinching Sirius' cheek for extra measure, making him scowl even as his eyes twinkled. "Let's head on to the kitchens, then?" Lyra asked her brothers before meeting Lucius' eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Lucius nodded. "Of course," He said, turning on his heel to leave when Regulus' voice stopped him.

"And where are you going, Lucius?" Regulus asked, tilting his head in a similar manner that Lyra did. "We are doing this kitchen venture to spend more time as a family and you'll be our brother in a few years anyway, so might as well get used to our gatherings now," he told him, and Lucius felt surprised and a little touched.

He glanced to Lyra's face smiling at him welcomingly, Sirius' smirking lips and James smiling expression before nodding softly. "Okay."