Six months wasn't enough. It would never be enough to outweigh all the years spent in misery. But still, Lyra was grateful for every second. She was grateful for every kiss Sirius gave her, every line Remus read to her from his favorite book, every story she could tell to Harry. And honestly, she could've talked about the most boring lesson she had with professor Binns and Harry would still be thrilled. Harry was eager to learn everything he could about his parents, about all the pranks the marauders pulled. It was nice thinking back. Lyra often found herself trailing off while talking, drowning in the memories as she remembered her friends.

"It's hard to let him go, right?", Sirius asked when Lyra had finally let go of Harry. Christmas was over and the new year had begun. It was time for Harry to return to Hogwarts. "I've only had my godson for two weeks.", Lyra pouted and Harry grinned. "I'll be here all summer, I promise." Sirius smiled. "We could spend some time at the beach, hm? Maybe Cornwall?", he suggested and Lyra's heart jumped. They had always wanted to go there but had never actually gotten around doing so.

"That would be great.", Harry said as his friends called for him and he waved one last time. Lyra and Sirius waved back. They both knew that they could never replace Lily and James but they were determined to give Harry all the love he deserved. He had suffered enough and if there was one thing that they all needed...it was a family. And maybe some peace and quiet. But that wouldn't be the case anytime soon. The ministry still denied that Voldemort had returned and tried to diminish Harry and Dumbledore, painting them as liars.

If it hadn't been so horrible and thoughtless, Lyra would've laughed at Fudge and his constant efforts to suppress his own fear. How could they all be so oblivious? They knew what the first war had done and how many lives it had taken. Why were they so keen on pretending that everything was okay? After all, this would only lead to one thing: them being unprepared when Voldemort was ready to step out of the shadows, attacking at full force.

"Hey, you okay?", Sirius asked, gently rubbing her shoulder. Lyra nodded. "Yeah, just thinking." "Don't stress it, love. Right now, there's not much we can do.", Sirius replied, kissed her on the forehead, and walked towards the stairs. "Come one, Moony's waiting." Ah yes, he was right. The moon was close and Remus had been on edge all-day, hiding away in their bedroom, refusing to come out. He had been afraid that he wouldn't be able to control his temper and lashing out at Harry was something he didn't want to risk.

But even though it had been some time since they had last spent a full moon together, Sirius and Lyra knew exactly how to act around Remus. Taking care of him had been always a big portion of their relationship. Sirius would cuddle Remus all day, occasionally taking a hit when Remus' high emotions got the better of him, massaging his aching joints. And Lyra would make some hot chocolate, read out loud from a book Remus was reading at the time, whispering soothing words every now and then.

It had become a routine, a steady flow and during the war, it had been nice to have something unwavering, something that never changed. The full moon nights on the other hand were entirely different on their own and Lyra got a little bit excited when she thought about those. Back at Hogwarts, back when everything had been okay, they had chased each other through the forbidden forest, exploring the woods and she knew that Remus had felt free, not hating the wolf for once in his life.

Sirius knocked on the door to their bedroom and entered before Remus could answer. "Hey, how are you Moons?", he asked, slipping inside, followed by Lyra. Remus was laying on the bed, his shirt unbuttoned, hair disheveled. He sometimes got a fever when the moon grew, the wolf inside him trying to fight his way out of Remus' body. "Oh, glorious.", came the reply, dripping with sarcasm. Lyra walked up to the bed, lightly stroking Remus' cheek.

"You didn't drink enough.", she said, climbing up on the mattress next to him. Sirius took out his wand and aimed it vaguely at the door. "Accio cup." A muffled rumble could be heard downstairs and a few seconds later the summoned household item came flying through the door. Sirius caught it. "Aguamenti." The cup filled itself with water and he handed it over to Remus who gladly took it and hurriedly emptied it. "Seriously, how did you survive all those full moons without us looking after you?"

Lyra set the cup side and settled Remus into her lap, gently caressing his face. "I don't know...", he groaned, visibly relaxing at Lyra's feather-light touch. "Where are we gonna go? Any ideas?", Sirius asked, now joining them on the bed, taking Remus' legs between his own, massaging his strained muscles. "Grizedale? I know we've been there once and Remus and you chased a boar.", Lyra remembered. "Oh yes, I actually almost had it but then someone decided to tackle me instead of the boar.", Sirius grinned and glanced at Remus.

"What can I say? I'm always good for a surprise.", Remus joked tiredly. "So Grizedale it is then?", Lyra asked, looking down at Remus and he nodded. "Sounds good. I bet the wolf won't care much, he's just gonna be happy that you two are back." He closed his eyes, melting away under Lyra's and Sirius' hands. They spent the rest of the day in bed without being disturbed. Except when Molly came in once, scolding them for having skipped lunch.

And two days later, when the sun was about to go down, they apparated together, traveling until they found themselves deep in the forest, south of Hawkshead and east of Coniston Water. Lyra felt that Sirius was jittery with excitement and if she was honest with herself she also couldn't wait anymore. It had been a long time since she had last transformed into Smirks, mostly because there hadn't been any need to do so when she had hidden herself away from the rest of the world.

Watching Remus enduring the pain of the transformation was as grueling as always but as soon as the wolf had settled himself and recognized his old companions they started running around the forest, chasing each other, playfully raising their paws and baring their teeth. While only wild and untouched nature surrounded them they felt free and Lyra savored every minute of that night, letting go of her human self for a bit, enjoying the untamed power the lynx gave her.

***

June 18th, 1996

"Remember to let her into your heart, then you can start to make it better.", Lyra quietly sang, harmonizing with Paul McCartney as Sirius was busy drowning in her black curls. Remus was reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird' although he had already read it three times. Every now and then he would quote one of his favorite lines and by now Sirius and Lyra knew everything about Atticus Finch despite never having read the book themselves.

It was a lazy warm afternoon, they had started the day with their usual meeting in the dining room, discussing everything that was going on, debating whether certain decisions should be made or not. They weren't really going anywhere with it but it was all they could do right now and in the end, it was better than doing nothing at all. Lyra hated it. She hated the fact that Harry was out there, knowing the danger that grew in the darkness.

"The ministry! They're headed to the ministry!", a hurried-sounding voice suddenly called from the hallway. Lyra looked up, Sirius stopped the record player with a wave of his wand. "That sounded like...Snape.", Remus said and closed his book. As fast as they could they urged down the stairs finding Snape and a distressed-looking Molly. "What do you mean? Who's at the ministry?", Lyra asked. "Potter and his friends. Voldemort tricked him into thinking he captured Black, torturing him. And that stupid boy...he's on his way because he wants to save you!" Snape angrily glared at Sirius.

"He's leading them to the prophecy...", Remus whispered. Lyra shook her head. "Screw the prophecy, Harry's in danger. We have to go, now!" She ran back to their room, grabbing her wand. Dear Merlin, he truly was his father's son. Always heading into things without considering the consequences. Actions first, thinking later. "I hope you're proud James...", Lyra muttered, taking Remus' wand that lay next to his book and Sirius' which had been shoved beneath a pillow.

"Alert the others, we need all the help we can get.", Remus said to Snape as she came down, almost missing a step. "I will, now go! Before he gets himself killed.", Snape hissed, already on his way to the fireplace, their fastest way to communicate with each other when they weren't gathered at the headquarters. "Be careful!", Molly yelled when Sirius opened the door. He looked back at her, giving her that unmistakable grin. "What's life without a risk, eh?"

And with that they grabbed each other's hands, disapparating, not knowing that one of them wouldn't return.

"I never liked it down here...", Lyra mumbled, looking at the tiled walls. "I had to visit Moody multiple times in his office during the first war...", Remus remembered, wincing at the unpleasant memory. "You were always wound up when you came back.", Sirius added. "It always took at least half an hour to calm you down." "I hoped I would never have to return.", Remus sighed as they passed another door, looking exactly like the last one in those round corridors. Like an endless stream of black scales, stretching on and on until...

"It's here." Remus stopped and Lyra felt Sirius tense up. Silently they all drew their wands and Remus was ready to open the door as Lyra suddenly held onto them. "Wait, before we go in..." Sirius turned around a smug grin on his face. "I know." Lyra smiled. Of course, he knew. But she still wanted to say it out loud. She might not get another chance to do so. "I love you." Sirius placed a hand on her cheek, pulling her close and placing a deep kiss on her lips. "I love you too."

The voice inside Lyra's head screamed again. It's not enough, it will never be enough. But Lyra chose to ignore it. If that was what Sirius had to offer she would gladly take it and she would never ever complain. She loved this man with every fiber of her body and so did Remus. Whose kind of loving reassurance wasn't a kiss but a very tight hug, burying his fingers in Sirius' hair and hiding his face in his shoulder for a short moment, taking in every detail possible.

As they parted, Remus quickly took Lyra's hand and squeezed it to let her know that he would be by her side, just as he had promised. And so they entered the chamber and they were not alone. Lyra swiftly scanned the room and saw Kingsley, Tonks, and Moody, wands were drawn and they were ready to save the children and fight the Death Eaters. From the corner of her eye, she spotted two redheads, Molly's kids for sure and that boy struggling with the lovely Bellatrix looked an awful lot like Frank and Alice.

"Give me the prophecy!", someone commanded and as Lyra turned her head she saw Lucius Malfoy, almost towering over Harry who was clutching a small glass sphere. "Oi, hands off my godson.", said Sirius, and Lyra couldn't help but smile when he punched Lucius straight in the face. But there wasn't time to admire her fiance's fierce blow. A curse hit the wall, just inches away from her head and Lyra aimed her wand at the cloaked figure. "Stupor!"

Across the room echoed a torrent of curses and spells, too many things happened too quickly and at the same time. Somewhere Remus helped a girl with long blonde hair and that's when Lyra spotted a man sneaking up to Harry and Sirius. She knew him. Antonin Dolohov, a dark wizard that had taken part in the murder of Fabian and Gideon Prewett, Molly's brothers. Lyra held her breath. At a distance like this, she couldn't risk throwing a curse. It could go in the wrong direction, hitting Sirius or Harry in the worst case.

Knowing there was only one thing Dolohov wouldn't expect, Lyra practically jumped at him, transforming into her lynx form midair. The sheer force of her body knocked him to the ground, sharp teeth only inches away from his neck. It would be so easy to just rip him to pieces, to take him apart as he deserved it. But Lyra knew that neither Sirius nor Remus would want her to do that, even if Dolohov himself wouldn't hesitate to kill her if it were the other way around.

"Hah, that's my girl!", Sirius exclaimed, facing her as she turned back while Harry shielded them against one of Lucius' attacks. Lyra smiled. Sirius' eyes were glowing, his black silky hair rumpled in a lovely way. His lips were slightly parted, twisting into that typical smirk of his. And then it was all gone. A green hue flashed past Harry, swallowing Sirius for a second and the light in his eyes went out.

Time seemed to slow down as life was drawn out of Sirius so quickly. He stumbled backward, right into the thin veil of nothingness, and vanished. Gone without a trace, as if he had never existed. Lyra couldn't move, her vision got blurry, all sounds were suddenly muffled. Someone staggered past her, there was a scream full of agony ripping through the air, finding its way right into her chest. Tears started to stream down her face although her head still hadn't fully realized what just had happened.

Lyra felt numb, almost floating as if she wasn't really there. The tears wouldn't stop and her heart tore itself to shreds. Excruciatingly slow a single thought seeped into her brain, replacing everything else. And just as her legs started to shake and her body surrendered, two arms wrapped around her. The faint smell of old books and chocolate was familiar and comforting and at least Lyra wasn't alone when reality finally hit her.

Sirius was dead. And he would never come back.