------------------------> ON THE 17TH OF JULY, Lyra and Lucius opted to have a joint birthday party together. Logically, the decision made sense considering the seventeenth was exactly between both of their birthdays and, more importantly, it was also the day that they were due in Argentina to start the next phase of their lives together- one where they toured the world, picking up new bits of knowledge and being alive instead of merely existing.
Hence, they decided to celebrate both their birthdays together one last time before they began their travels whereupon during, their interaction with their family and friends would be limited to letters, floos and the occasional visits, provided their schedule was available and they felt the need to do so.
The final production of the event was the result of the dynamic collaboration of Walburga, Melania and Belladonna; each of whom had fought literal knives and daggers to make the day perfect and bring their vision to life, sparing no expense on everything.
So predictably, the day was flawless. It took place in one of the Black family islands, of course. Belladonna had initially disagreed to the choice in venue, having reasoned that this needed to be special and had voiced an enchanted forest setting. However, Walburga had very pointedly looked at the idly piano and thankfully, Lady Malfoy had received the hint.
Although, Belladonna was not a pushover. She knew which battles to fight and which to peacefully forgo and so, had been completely stern about the colour and theme of the event, announcing that it would be gold and white. The inferno which burnt in her eyes as she made the declaration had fortunately clued people in to not challenge her on that particular decision.
Melania was in charge of the food and music by a mutual, nonverbal agreement simply because that was where her primary strengths laid: in knowing everybody's favourite foods. She made sure there were enough treacle tarts to please the Potters, enough slow-songs to make Narcissa happy, enough chocolate fountains to earn her grandchildren's approval and keep enough veggies for the parents to turn a blind eye to the not-so-healthy foods that were displayed.
However, despite the happy melodies that played in the background, despite the many jokes that were shared and hugs that were exchanged, despite everything, the party had a forlorn atmosphere due to the inevitable that would be occurring at the end of it: Lyra and Lucius leaving the continent.
The truth was that their combined birthday party also doubled as a send-off. So after the young couple cut their shared seventeen layered german chocolate cake together as their family and close friends gathered around them and sung a merry tune; after James unintentionally but un-regrettably started yet another nearly traditional food war; after Grandfather Arcturus smashed a treacle tart on Grandmother Melania's face, who, subsequently levitated the large birthday cake and dropped it on her dear husband; after they shared laughs and opened presents, the metaphorical waterfalls began to appear.
Belladonna quizzed them on whether they had packed everything they needed, despite knowing that her son and future daughter-in-law could simply either apparate and receive it or buy it using a minute amount of the abundance of money they had between them, while Walburga had walked up to her daughter and gave her a crash course on dangerous curses. It was her way of asking her to be safe.
Lyra had been given a goodbye hug by all her family and friends, the last of whom was her father, who had to literally be forced to stop embracing his daughter for he really did not want her to leave.
However, at last, right after dinner, wearing the runespoor Lucius had given her a year ago as a scarf, Lyra and her fiancé stood at the international portkey spot that would instantly transport them into a Manor in the South American country of Argentina.
Both of them stood beside each other, their luggage having been transported by house-elves a day prior as they adorned a sad yet excited smile.
"This is it," Lucius breathed out, gazing at all the wonderful people who had gathered to send them off. Their dear family and closest friends. Their own, personal army who would always have their back.
Lyra wordlessly nodded, the faint smile on her face putting words to envy as her eyes glinted with gratitude and silent 'miss you's'. Just as they were about to activate, a youthful voice yelled.
"Wait!"
Everybody faced the young boy who had spoken but Sirius Black had never been one to cower under the spotlight.
Lyra directed a politely questioning stare towards her brother.
Sirius shifted on his feet. "Moros," he stated. "Moros, Phoebus, and all the other snakes. What about them? They'll miss you."
Lyra's eyes glimmered with a hidden something as she walked towards Sirius with everybody paving a path and crouched down to his eye level which admittedly wasn't much considering her brother was nearly fourteen years of age.
Meeting his eyes, Lyra responded softly. "Will you take care of them for me, then? All of you," she looked pointedly towards her other brothers and her cousin sisters before returning her attention to Sirius. "Sirius, will you take care of Phoebus in my absence? And Regulus, Moros adores you best and I think you secretly favour him as well. James, Sally II complements your personality wonderfully while Narcissa, ironically enough, I think Godric the snake embodies your behaviour. Bellatrix, I have never found a snake more ferocious and more like you than Leto and Andromeda, Rhea has your loving and strangulation nature. I think you'll like her."
Lyra paused, offering them all a smile. "I would absolutely love it if you would all take care of them for me during my absence and shower them with so much of love and rats that they wouldn't even miss me." she confessed before adding, "If all of you are alright with it, that is. They won't hurt you, I promise they won't. I honestly do not understand the stigma behind snakes because they are such gentle, friendly beings...as long as you behave nicely to them and feed them rats, of course."
"We will," Bellatrix voiced, smiling. "We would love to take care of our snakes," she assured and the others stated similar responses.
Then, suddenly, they were all hugging. Even Andromeda was included and Bellatrix, for the first time in what seemed forever, didn't negatively or cruelly remark at that.
"You lot are acting as if I'm leaving forever," Lyra mumbled into Regulus' shoulders. "I'm not. It'll be just like when I was at Hogwarts. I'll write as often as I can and visit every holiday."
James shook his head, narrowly missing smacking Narcissa's eye considering they were all still embracing each other. "It won't be the same. It'll be different."
"It might be a good different," Lyra said but this time, it was Regulus who answered.
"It won't." Regulus pulled away from the hug slowly, causing others to hesitantly follow his action. He forced a smile to decorate his face. "But we're going to be okay."
"We are," Lyra agreed. She stood up straighter and waved her family and friends goodbye for the last time before she returned to the portkey platform where Lucius was patiently waiting for her.
Lucius quickly smiled at his parents before gazing down at her. "Ready to start our next great adventure together?"
Lyra looked into his eyes and activated the portkey. "Yes."
The next moment, they were in Argentina. Alone but together.