Chapter 19

It has now been over a month since Henry has taken me away from Hogwarts. I miss it every day. Henry has gotten worse and more irritable. He comes in and hits me more often and only lets me once a day to eat dinner with him. Every other meal is spent in my room alone with nothing more than a pile of books I've read hundreds of times. I hear Henry's footsteps approach my door. It wasn't time for dinner or any other meal. He slips a note under my door. I scramble to read what it says.

My dearest Lyra

I know you want your freedom so bad, but I am not inclined to give up what is mine just yet. So tonight at dinner I suggest you wear my favorite color to see in you (Pink) and we are going to play a game to earn your freedom again. I will explain more at dinner.

From your love,

Henry

I let out a sigh in relief. I am good at games; I can win my freedom back. I stand up and walk over to the closet. I pick out a blush pink dress similar to the one I wore the first night with Henry, except it was straight across with little ruffles of tulle all along the top. I bring it out and set it on the bed. I go back and grab some pink ballet flats as well. I then take off my current dress and put it back into the closet. I then go and get a quick shower. Dinner should be ready soon, and I don't want to be late.

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3 times a day is how much Mallory needs sex. It is insane. I can barely keep up with her. She has been on edge ever since Lyra disappeared. I couldn't stand her anymore. I had t go back to my own dorm for one day. I walk in, and everyone turns to look at me. I give them a nod and walk to my bed. "What are you doing here?" Moony says, breaking the silence. "I don't want to be around Mallory right now. All she ever wants is sex, and I can't give that to her all the time." I say, taking a seat on my bed. Sirius is looking at me out of the corner of his eyes. "How is the search for Lyra going?" I ask. "you would like to know," He says. His tone is harsh and mean. I wince. He won't be able to forgive me.

Moony puts a hand on Sirius's shoulder. Sirius shrugs it off and storms out of the room. We all watch him go. "You have to fix this," Moony says and points at me. He then runs after Sirius. I look toward peter. "You don't hate me, do you?" I ask. "You hurt Lyra; how could I not," He says. He walks out, and I'm left alone. I never realized Peter and Lyra were close. I lay down on my back. I only made things worse. I just close my eyes and take a nap.

~~~~

I am sitting on my bed waiting for Henry to come to get me for dinner. I hear him come up the stairs and unlock my door. He opens it and walks in towards me. I stand up, and he takes my hand. He kisses my knuckles. "You look beautiful, Lyra," He says. "Thank you," I say. He keeps out hand entangled and leads me out and down the stairs. He doesn't lead me to the kitchen but to the dining room. He brings me around to the right-hand side next to the head of the table. He pulls out my chair, and I sit down. He walks toward the head of the table and sits down in that chair. He snaps his fingers, and dinner appears in front of us. We start to eat. I am too nervous about what this game is to eat. Soon Henry finishes and looks toward me.

"Lyra, you have barely eaten anything all night. Are you feeling well?" He asks. "I am wonderful. You said in the note I can earn my freedom back. Tell me how?" I say. He smiles and wipes his mouth. "We're going to play a little hunter prey." He says. My eyebrows furrow. "you are going to be my prey, and I am going to hunt you down. You have to make it to a certain point, then you earn your freedom, but if I catch you before you get to that point, then I get to keep you." He says. "Where will this hunt be taking place?" I ask. "That will be revealed in a minute or so," Henry says. "Will I be allowed to change?" I ask him. "No, we best be off now." He says and takes my hand. We apparate away.

We land. I look around, and it seems familiar, but I can't quite make out why. "Welcome to the forbidden forest," Henry says, walking around in a circle with his arms out. My eyes widen. "You have to make it to Hogwarts great hall before I catch you." He says with a smirk. I stand there with my mouth open. "You have 5 hours and were miles away from Hogwarts. Make it to the great hall, and you can stay at Hogwarts." He says. I nod along with him. "Your time starts now. Run."