Lyra took a while to be herself again and it was clear that she was actively avoiding Richardson. Which was fine with James as he too was avoiding him. Seeing as that was now two people in Gryffindor he was trying not to see, he spent more and more time with Lyra, forcing her outside into the snow when December came or otherwise working in the library. Shit, his grades were even getting better and although Sirius and Peter wound him up about this, he could see how proud this made Lyra, and seeing as he was starting to realise he was FALLING IN LOVE with her, he went along with it. Because that was the truth facing James. Whatever he felt for Lyra went beyond anything he'd ever experienced, and he knew, without knowing how, that he was falling in love with her. All he wanted was for her to be happy and all he wanted was to be around her. When they weren't together, he found himself looking for her and even the guys were starting to notice how much time they were spending together. This was okay in that Sirius was currently flirting with, incidentally, Polly Chambers who was Lyra's friend, Peter was interested in a fifth year Gryffindor and Remus was…well, he was Remus, often accompanying James to the library to work with Lyra and Rosie. Remus, James thought, suspected something as he started making small off hand remarks about Lyra and James; how she always seemed to be happier in his company, how James was always noticeably more happy after he'd spent some time with Lyra. James had countered with the fact that she was his best friend and had gone through something utterly shit and he was just being supportive. Remus always just looked at him sceptically but so far hadn't pushed it for which he was grateful.

It just left James in a complete mess as to what to do though. Lyra seemed happier but he knew she had liked Richardson and besides, he had absolutely no idea if she even liked him. And she probably didn't because they were best friends, and it just simply wasn't what best friends did. He had, however, asked her to go with him to the Christmas dance as he knew she'd been upset about no longer going with Richardson. Lyra had asked him whether he wanted to go with somebody he was interested in, to which James lied and said not at all, when actually, she had no idea she was who he was interested in. And he was fucking ecstatic about taking her. He'd even managed to find out she was wearing a navy dress and had asked his mum to get him a navy tie so they could co-ordinate, hoping it would make Lyra happy.

And so, he found himself waiting somewhat nervously in the Entrance Hall, amongst others who were going with people from other houses. He fidgeted with his collar, adjusted his tie, hoping he would be deemed suitable and respectful, maybe that she would even find him…hot. He hated how much he got his hopes up.

"Would you chill out? What's with you?" Sirius said beside him, the picture of nonchalance as he ruffled his hair, eyeing up a couple of girls despite having an actual date.

"Nothing" James told him, making a determined effort to stay still, eyes on the staircase. He was rewarded when a moment later the Ravenclaws appeared, James not finding Lyra until realising that, obviously, this was her so would be at the back. He caught sight of her lingering and he could see her look anxious, but Merlin did she look beautiful. Her hair was delicately waved and her dress…wow it blew him away.

"Hi" he realised he had been staring and quickly shook himself, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

"Hi partner" his greeting put her at ease, made her smile as she looked at him, James feeling incredibly lame when he was sure his heart raced.

"Hey, your tie" she looked delighted, making James smile widely at her.

"I thought you'd like it" he replied, Lyra looking genuinely elated as she gently ran her hand down it, making him step closer to her.

"Sorry, it feels nice though" she apologised, shaking her head and there was a slight blush on her cheeks, one which he thought made her look even more beautiful. "Merlin now I've gone and made it all wonky. Here" his breath caught as she adjusted his tie, James feeling one hand drift to her waist, apparently unable to stop himself. "There, much better" she smiled, apparently not noticing where his hand was right now. She was so close he could smell the mintiness of her breath, could once more almost count her freckles which she looked like she had tried to hide with make-up.

"Thanks. You know I like your freckles" he found himself saying, Lyra blinking at this, another blush gracing her face.

"Stop, they make me look like a child" she told him, shaking her head.

"No, they don't they make you look-"

"Are you two coming?" they both jumped, Lyra taking a step back and James hurriedly dropping his hand as he realised now just how close they were. Shit, he needed to get himself together as he realised their friends had all been watching…and they were looking between them very curiously.

"Yeah sure, let's go" James watched Sirius put his arm around Polly's shoulders, saw the girls grin as they started moving off as James turned to Lyra, offering her his arm. She looked…he was sure she looked slightly flustered as though how they had been standing had some sort of effect on her. But then he wasn't sure if that's because that's what he wanted to see. Lyra slipped her hand into the crook of his arm as they made their way in, the whole place decorated and he saw the way Lyra's eyes lit up, how much she enjoyed it.

"Ly?" he wanted to tell her whilst he still had some sort of confidence about him. She turned to him as he paused in the entrance, looking at him questioningly. "You look beautiful tonight" she definitely blushed this time, averting her eyes but he was sure she was smiling.

"Thanks James" Lyra replied, James beaming, looking forward to his evening with Lyra more than anything else right now.

James was having a bloody brilliant night. Going with Lyra meant he had a completely valid reason for spending his entire night with her and it made him insanely happy. They laughed and joked, people watched and exchanged gossip which he loved doing with her. Their friends joined them, drifting in and out throughout the night but he barely noticed, he was so wrapped up in Lyra. He found himself always sitting as close to her as he could possibly get, Lyra not seeming to mind the proximity at all. But then again, they were best friends, she was used to him sitting like this with her. All those times in the past when they'd sat like this and only now was he realising how much he liked being like this, how he relished feeling her arm brush against his, the way she smiled when she turned to him. Fuck, he had absolutely lost his fucking head.

Even now, when she had gone to the toilet, he found himself simply standing and waiting for her, not minding being on his own as it was only temporary, Lyra sure to return any moment. He scanned the crowd whilst he waited, finding Sirius and Polly stood very close together, was surprised to find Remus and Rosie talking animatedly too. A flash of blue caught his attention and he turned, finding Lyra making her way back to him. She hadn't yet seen him and saw her scanning, about to go to her when he stopped, frozen because somebody had gotten there before him; Richardson. He watched as Lyra's whole body seemed to tense, the way her eyes widened and knew she didn't want to speak to him. It was as if Richardson knew he wouldn't get long as he started talking rapidly, eyes fixed on her as she took a literal step back from him.

James had to take a moment to temper his anger, knowing Lyra would hate any sort of scene before he made his way over to them.

"Ly, really I'm so sorry I was an absolute fucking idiot. More than that I was…I was"

"Completely out of order" James finished coldly, standing as close to Lyra as he could get. He wanted to put an arm around her but thought it would be inappropriate, despite feeling how she leaned towards him. Richardson's whole face changed when he saw James, the stony demeanour descending which James had gotten used to seeing in the common room.

"If you don't mind, Potter" he almost spat James's name. "I was just talking to Lyra. Privately" he added. Once more, James needed to take a breath to compose himself.

"I don't mind at all. Ly, shall we go?" James turned to her, finding her eyes wide, knew she hated this confrontation.

"Ly please, just…let me speak to you" James couldn't help himself, he laughed at those words, a cold laugh as he felt Lyra inch closer to him.

"Oh, so now you want to talk? Oh, the irony" he said, now ignoring any sort of subtlety and putting a hand on Lyra's back. "Come on Ly, let's go" he made to move them off, felt Lyra turn with him but Richardson blocked them with a snarl.

"I don't want to speak to you" Lyra's voice was quiet but it was enough to still Richardson. They both turned to her, James proud beyond words of the way she held herself, the firmness of her voice. "Ever. James and I are going now" and with that she moved, James moving after her, not daring to look back at Richardson who he was sure would be incredibly angry.

"I'm so dam proud of you Ly" he murmured to her, putting a hand on her back to steady her, thinking she needed it and, indeed, once more she leaned into him. She gave him a shaky smile as he heard the music changed and diverted them to the dance floor. "We're dancing" he told her, seeing her eyes widen. "You're my date tonight. You have to give me one dance at least" he insisted with a smile. Lyra frowned at him, but he could feel her more relaxed now as he just smiled at her, seeing her roll her eyes.

"One dance. And only because I want to be as far away from him as possible" he hadn't heard her speak his name since the incident but that was fine by him as he moved to take her hand, spinning her on the edge of the dance floor and making her laugh before he pulled her to him.

Fuck, why had he not suggested this sooner? Lyra came willingly into his embrace, resting her hand on his shoulder, the other held tightly in his hand as his other arm wrapped around her waist.

"Thanks for rescuing me James" she whispered to him as they moved slowly, James finding her proximity most distracting, but he did his best to focus.

"I'll always be there to rescue you Ly" he assured her, Lyra looking up at him with a smile that left him momentarily stunned. He had to actually clear his throat, shaking his head slightly. "Not that you need it, I would like to add. You had better control than I did back there" he needed the light relief, smiling when she laughed, the sound of it moving through him like little else ever did.

"One of us needed to" she teased him, making him shake his head but he liked that she could tease him about this now. They lapsed into silence, James feeling Lyra relax into him and pulled her a little tighter, so they were more flush against each other. He heard her sigh, gently leaning her head against his which made him smile as he knew how close they both were, how he was sure somebody would comment on it, but he couldn't find it in himself to care right now.

"Thanks for dancing with me Ly" he murmured quietly, running his thumb over her hand, sure he was smiling like an idiot.

"Thanks for asking me James" she replied just as quietly. This…this was his perfect night he decided. The best night of his whole life…even if the girl he was dancing with didn't have a clue that he was falling desperately, hopelessly, in love with her.