Lyra felt like the end of term was ending in some sort of dream. She had gone to the dance with James, the guy she'd liked since, well since she was eleven. It had felt magical, dancing with him, spending all that time with him, so much so that she had actually asked him to dance again. Lyra knew he could never like her, would never reciprocate any of her feelings but when he was dancing with her, she found she could forget all of that and just pretend. And so, for once she let herself get caught up in it, knowing he was only doing it because he pitied her, felt sorry that she didn't have anybody to go with. But right now…she sighed, drawing attention to herself apparently.

"You've been totally out of it since the dance you know Ly" Rosie remarked, Lyra doing her best to remain calm and casual, no blushing. Especially because the guys were with them right now.

"I'm just looking forward to Christmas. I need the break" Lyra said simply, avoiding James's eye as the train slowly started coming to a stop. Thankfully this meant everybody started moving and so she quickly got her stuff together and followed everybody out where they started saying their goodbyes, reassuring each other they would catch up and see each other for New Years at any rate.

"Come on Ly, mum and dad are waiting" James had been waiting patiently for her as she said goodbye to her friends and she now turned to him, finding him waiting with a smile.

"Sorry, I'm coming" she went to get her trunk, but James beat her to it, making her smile as he instead offered her his rucksack to carry. Thinking it a fair trade she let him take her trunk, following his instructions from behind her on where his parents were. Both Carol and Matt beamed at her as she broke into a small run and embraced them both, excited to see them.

James watched as Lyra hugged both his parents and the surge that went through him…sure, his parents liked Lily, but they loved Lyra, and seeing her with them made him, if possible, fall in love with her even more. He realised he had been staring when his dad called his name and he jumped, quickly hurrying over to say hello to his own parents. Lyra was already chatting away, relaxed in a way she only ever was with either his parents or hers and it made him smile, made him happy.

"Right come on you two. Lyra your parents won't forgive us if we linger and hear all your stories before they do" his dad reminded her, Lyra laughing and nodding.

"Well, seeing as you two have been busy with your apparition lessons we'll guide you this time. To think, next time we pick you up you'll be able to do this yourself" his mum told them, looking at them with slight tears in her eyes. James rolled his eyes, making Lyra punch him in the arm.

"That would be great. I've really wanted an opportunity to focus properly on it" Lyra told her, ever the Ravenclaw as she went forward to her, James's dad drifting to him. They watched as his mum and Lyra disapparated with a small pop before his dad turned to him.

"Here, let me take one" James offered his dad his own trunk, keeping the other one tightly in his grip before allowing his dad to steer the apparition. James focused carefully, felt that now familiar tug before they were off, appearing only moments later in Wimborne. James had to pop his ears but other than that felt okay, finding Lyra hugging her parents tightly, already chattering away, making him smile.

"Right come on then, let's get you home out of the cold please" Lyra laughed at her dads' words as James realised it was in fact very cold here as her dad picked up her trunk.

"We'll see you in a couple of days Matt and Carol. Any time as always" Daisy was saying as his dad got his trunk for him, James turning to Lyra to find she too had turned to him. Without thinking about it he moved towards her, seeing her do the same as he wrapped her in a hug.

"Do you parents know about him?" he whispered, needing to know how much he could disclose as he knew his parents would want to discuss what happened.

"No. I only told them I had a boyfriend then we broke up but that's it" she whispered back, James glad she had tucked herself into him so that they could have this conversation hopefully without too much suspicion. "Don't tell your parents please James" he could hear the pleading tone in her voice as he tightened his hold on her.

"Of course I won't. Come down if you need an escape from the inquisition" he said, hearing her laugh as they started pulling away, James glad to see her smiling.

"Will do. See you later" she told him, looking around and seeming surprised. James mimicked her actions and saw why; their parents were watching them all with matching smiles which freaked him out.

"Come on, I'm frozen" James told them, hoping they wouldn't push anything and feeling thankful when they simply nodded.

"See you in a few days Thompsons" his dad called out cheerily as James gave them a wave, seeing all of them return it as they made their way back to their house, James readying himself for what was sure to be a very long discussion about violence.