End of summer - fifth year/start of sixth
Lyra almost bounced down the road to the Potters, incredibly excited to see her best friend. It had been the first summer in five whole years that they'd not spent every waking moment together and Merlin had she missed him. At the start of the summer, he'd gone away with his parents and Sirius and then, the day before he got back, she'd gone on holiday with her parents. A very, very, long holiday. Not that she minded; Lyra was aware she'd almost properly burnt out last year with the pressure of wanting to do well in her OWLs, Rosie and James having to actually look after her and make sure she was sleeping (that was the responsibility of the former, the latter's job was to march her to the hospital wing for pepper ups when he felt it was necessary). Unfortunately, James looking after her hadn't sat well with his current girlfriend, Lily Evans and Lyra privately thought it was probably a good thing she'd been away this summer, so she didn't feel like she was driving a wedge between James and yet another girlfriend. Seriously though, everybody at school knew they were best friends, how were they surprised when James talked to her?
Anyway, the point was it was now the end of summer, with only a couple of days left for Lyra to get herself sorted for school and then they would be off for sixth year, the start of NEWTs and she was feeling positive about it. As per usual, she let herself into the Potters, calling out a hello and getting a response from the kitchen and so set off in that direction.
"Oh Lyra, we had hoped that would be you!" Carol exclaimed, motioning her in with a wide smile and embracing her in a hug. "Wow, you are looking beautiful Lyra! Positively glowing, isn't she Matt?" Lyra blushed, as per usual not getting a word in edgeways as she turned to Matt who was already filling the kettle.
"Absolutely, but that's what a summer in the Caribbean will do for you aye?" he grinned at her, making her laugh and nod.
"It was amazing!" she told them both, temporarily taking a seat and filling them in as Matt made her a tea. "But anyway, how's James been?" she asked looking to Carol who rolled her eyes, smiling, nonetheless.
"Missing you. Moaning about how long you've been away for and how he's had to do the de-gnoming by himself this year" Lyra laughed at this; ever since they'd first met, the de-gnoming had been her and James's summer job at the Potters. "I think even they missed you as they bit him" this made her laugh again as Matt plonked a tea in front of her.
"Thanks Matt" she told him, curling her hands around it despite the summer heat.
"You're welcome. Now get yourself into that garden before he tells us off for holding you up. He's with Sirius and Remus" Matt told her, making her smile as she hopped off the stool and made her way down to the orchard where she knew they'd all be. It made her smile to be back here, taking in her surroundings as she heard the noise the guys were making and knew they were playing quidditch. Stepping into the orchard she smiled at the sight of them on their brooms, getting their attention by waving. James stopped mid-air, staring at her which got him a whack in the head with a quaffle. Lyra did her best to look casual as he dropped to the ground, ruffling his hair in his trademark James Potter move before heading to her. Merlin, how was it possible for the guy to get even hotter? She hated herself a little for still fancying him, after all these years, after all these girlfriends. She had hoped that by this point and with one ex-boyfriend of her own, she might have let it go but no, evidently breaking up with Tom had spurred her crush back into life. Shit, she really needed to get a grip of herself if she was going to continue being best friends with James Potter.
Holy hell. James had taken a quaffle to the head because he had been too busy staring at Lyra. His best, fucking friend. But Merlin she was…mind blowingly hot. Had she always been that hot? Fuck, she was stood there, beaming up at him in a red sundress, her boobs looking…well, insane, her figure just…fuck. He couldn't even think straight. He managed to land, reminding himself he had a fucking girlfriend and shouldn't, couldn't, be thinking this about any girl, let alone his best friend. Heaving his mind out of the gutter he made sure to relax, chill out as he made his way towards her. Lyra put her mug in the grass and met him halfway, smiling at him in a way which had his mind spiralling as she launched herself at him. Evidently, she didn't care, or mind in the slightest that he was topless and sweaty, something which helped calm him enough to put his arms around her and hug her back.
"Merlin Ly, I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow!" he told her, glad he sounded normal, smiling when she laughed and stepped back from him.
"I know, I wanted to surprise you" she replied with a small grin, sending the blood rushing to a very, supremely inconvenient place right now.
"Well, you've successfully done that" he said, thinking furiously of anything to stop him embarrassing himself right now.
"Missed me?" Lyra asked him, perfectly innocently and perfectly acceptable a question to ask of a best friend.
"Every day you were gone" he answered truthfully, seeing something flicker in her eyes but it was gone before he could register it, Lyra just smiling.
"Good, as well you should" it made him laugh as he heard Remus and Sirius land and make their way over.
"Merlin's beard Lyra Thompson, you look fucking insanely hot" Lyra blushed, shuffling awkwardly and looking down at her feet at Sirius's words as James turned and punched him.
"Seriously, do you have to?" James queried him with a frown, shaking his head.
"What?! Lyra you are, I just thought you should know that you look great" Sirius said it so simply, and in a way James wished he could get away with. James turned to her, seeing her tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear and peek up in that fucking adorable and now extremely hot way of hers.
"Oh, um, well, uh, thanks?" she said it questioningly, Remus laughing.
"He's a dick, but in this case he is right Lyra, you look great" Remus echoed, Lyra successfully blushing more now.
"Seriously, what happened to you all since I was gone? I'm surprised you haven't thrown water at me already" she told them, and James realised she wanted to move the conversation on, away from her.
"Oh, do you want us to?" Sirius's whole face lit up and Lyra, looking suddenly horrified, realised her mistake and quickly shook her head. But it was too late, Sirius was already bounding off.
"Sirius Black don't you dare!" he only cackled, making Remus laugh as he surged after him, Lyra groaning and drawing James's attention back to her.
"I'm such an idiot" she shook her head, bending to pick her tea up in a way in which James had to quickly avert his eyes.
"Amazing for somebody who got so many O's" James reminded her, making her roll her eyes but James knew how happy she was. Seemingly unable to keep from torturing himself he slung an arm around her shoulders; a move he had done so many times but this time…fuck, this time he truly enjoyed having her close in a way he shouldn't. Lyra didn't even flinch as he did so, and they started making their way up the garden.
"You know I'm proud of your O in Potions, don't you?" Lyra asked him, truly making him smile as they went.
"You can say it more often if you like" he replied, making her laugh as she looped her arm around his waist. Fuck, when they were younger this seemed totally fine but now…now it felt like something they shouldn't be doing. But dam if he was going to stop her right now.
"You're such a Gryffindor" her usual retaliation only made him laugh. "So, we going to hang out tonight?" he was about to nod when he remembered he said he'd see Lily…the thought enough to make him retract his arm and Lyra turned, confused as she too let him go.
"I can't, said I'd see Lily" she looked disappointed, and it hurt him to see it. "I'm sorry Ly I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow so figured it would be okay if I saw Lily tonight" he rambled but she shook her head and smiled.
"That's no problem. We can just hang out tomorrow" she said with a shrug as she turned, suddenly completely diverted as Sirius surged towards her and she took off, throwing her sandals off so she could run faster, all previous thought of their conversation evidently gone as she ran laughing away from Sirius and Remus who were firing their water guns at her. James watched this all with a smile, thinking that this was likely to be one fucking tough year for him.
The next morning Lyra got ready, feeling excited for her day. She'd organised with Rosie and James and the rest of the Marauders to head into Diagon Alley to get their school supplies, ready for their sixth year at Hogwarts. Sometimes Lyra couldn't believe she'd just sat her OWLs and was moving into the next stage of her education. Yesterday, James had teased her about her keenness to start but it was all in good fun and she knew he didn't really mind that she was so keen. She was, after all, a Ravenclaw for a reason.
Lyra threw on another summer dress, knowing Rosie would want to see her in some of the outfits she had picked out for Lyra to wear on holiday, before slipping into her sandals and heading out down the road to collect James. She had sent him an owl yesterday reminding him they were meeting at eleven and although only half past ten now, she felt he would not be ready to go yet and as such would require, as usual, chivvying to make it on time. Lyra let herself in as usual, knowing Carol and Matt would both be at work and so headed for the living room, thinking James might be lounging in there. Throwing open the door she stopped, in abject horror at having walked in on James Potter with Lily Evans sat straddling him, topless with James's hands currently looking like they were going to un-do her bra. Lyra felt herself blush, knew her eyes were wide as Lily turned and James peered over her shoulder, looking very embarrassed.
"I uh, shit I'm so sorry I'm just guna go" Lyra pivoted and quickly made her way out, wondering why on Earth James would let her walk in on that and why he was very clearly not going to Diagon with them when they'd already made plans.
James sat in stunned disbelief that Lyra had just walked in on them, feeling fucking thankful he didn't have his hands up Lily's skirt and only came around when he heard the front door go. Lily just giggled, turning back to James who was genuinely, completely torn right now. Like…Lily was giving him all the right signals about this going further and he thought they weren't supposed to be meeting until one. He made up his mind, shifting Lily off and hearing her huff.
"James" she pouted, looking hot as hell but he quickly got up.
"I'll be back in two Lil, don't go anywhere" he told her, noticing how she seemed to like his tone of voice and tucked that away for later. "And don't put your top back on" he growled, seeing her grin at him.
"That all depends on how long you're going to be" fuck, he almost changed his mind in that moment, especially when Lily shifted in a way which highlighted her glorious, perfect boobs but then he remembered Lyra.
"Two minutes" he promised her, running out of the room, slipping on some shoes, and literally running out, grabbing his key as he went. Thankfully, Lyra was only just turning up her garden path as he sprinted to catch her up. "LY" he yelled, seeing her pause but she kept walking, evidently set on ignoring him.
"Ly wait" he panted just as she had her door open and was already a step in, but she stopped now, although she didn't turn. "Ly, I thought we weren't meeting until 1" he said, catching his breath.
"I owl'd you last night that it was eleven" she told him, not looking at him but speaking over her shoulder.
"I could have sworn it said one" he said with a frown, ruffling his hair. "Hey maybe I can meet up with you there in a bit?" he asked seeing her shrug.
"Whatever James. Have fun with Lily' and with that she went in and shut the door, stunning him again. Fuck, she was obviously pissed off with him but…half naked Lily. And he was so sure it was heading to sex. He stood there, torn between sex and his best friend but eventually the latter won out and he hurried up the path and let himself in. "Ly?" he called, leaving the door ajar and heading to the bottom of the stairs but he couldn't hear anything. Shit, he moved to the living room and saw just a faint fall of ash and knew she'd already left…without him. James sighed, looking at the fireplace before remembering he had a very hot, sexy girlfriend waiting for him and just figured he'd meet up with the others later, locking up behind him and heading back. And thank fuck he did because when he re-entered the living room, it was to the sight of Lily's knickers on the floor and a mischievous grin on her face. He actually groaned at the sight, allowing Lily to beckon him forward as he forgot entirely about every other plan he'd previously had.
James knew he was grinning like an idiot but Merlin, he could not help it. He'd just had the BEST DAY with Lily, and he found himself humming as he went up the pathway. He was sure Lyra would understand that missing out on Diagon for sex was totally okay. The guys had understood, had cheered and clapped him on the back, wanting to talk about it but he'd promised Lily he'd keep the details between them, and he'd stuck to his word. So, he figured he should just pop down to Lyra, apologise and let her know why. As per usual, he let himself in, finding both Roger and Daisy on the sofa, watching the TV.
"Oh, hello James. We weren't expecting you" Roger greeted him as James gave them a beaming smile, seeing a slight frown of suspicion appear on Daisy's face and hurriedly tried to play it just a little cooler.
"Evening both. I've just swung by to see Lyra" he said casually with a shrug.
"Oh, right. She's actually at Rosie's for the night" James was surprised by this as she hadn't said anything, and they'd not hung out just the two of them yet this summer. And they only had a matter of a few days left now.
"Oh" he couldn't help but air his surprise and saw how Daisy was unsurprised, but Roger looked as confused as him. "Right well um, do you know if she'll be back tomorrow?" he asked, feeling suddenly very unsure and not half as confident as he was two minutes ago.
"I think she said she'd be back in the afternoon some time" Roger told him as James nodded, processing the fact that his best friend hadn't told him what she was up to.
"Okay thanks and have a good evening" James said with a smile, earning two in return but he saw how they watched him and so quickly made his escape, walking slowly back to his. He had thought Lyra would understand that he was moving things forward with his relationship and that it was only a trip to Diagon but then her absence and the fact they'd not yet properly hung out…James pondered all this, wondering if he'd been a jerk…again.
A/N: Thanks everybody for reading! From this point in, we're staying with sixth year and following James and Lyra through their NEWTs :)