James felt weirdly nervous as they made their way up the Thompson's path. He had let his parents go first as he wanted a moment with Lyra to himself, knowing that it would probably be one of the only times they got for the day. He took a deep breath, waiting for his parents to go in until he was left with just Lyra, feeling his eyes widen at the sight of her. It was the first time since the dance that she'd done her hair and he thought, maybe, she had done it for him. It was waved gently around her, and she was in a traditional green Christmas dress. She claimed it was the only chance she got to wear her favourite colour as any other time she would just get remarks about it being a Slytherin colour. This year, he noticed how it hugged her body, his eyes drifting down her, taking her in and thinking how insanely hot she looked until he looked back up at her, saw a faint hint of colour on her cheeks as she nervously fidgeted with her hair.
"Hi James" he blinked, realising he hadn't even spoken to her and quickly shook himself slightly.
"Hi Ly, you look beautiful" it was out before he could think on it, the colour on her cheeks deepening, making her freckles stand out which made him smile.
"Oh, um, thanks" she tucked a strand behind her ear, stepping to the side. "Come in" she motioned him in, and he hurried inside, Lyra shutting the door by which time he had produced the flowers he bought for her.
"These are for you" her eyes widened at the same time as her smile did, looking very surprised but also very pleased which made him smile.
"Really?" she asked as he nodded, holding them out to her. "Oh, they're beautiful. That's very kind of you, thanks James" she seemed truly made up and he made a promise to himself to buy her flowers more given how much they seemed to make her smile. She took them from him, marvelling at them before she stepped towards him and kissed his cheek. It was his turn to widen his eyes, the smell of her surrounding him, the feel of her lips brushing his cheek like that. He wanted to reach out and hold her, keep her against him, but she had stepped back before he got the chance and was already making her way into the kitchen. James cleared his throat, remembering he needed to act appropriately right now as he slipped off his shoes and made his way into the kitchen where everybody was gathered.
"James, good to see you. Beer?" Roger asked him straight away, James glancing at his dad who nodded; Christmas was always a one off. "Lyra they're beautiful" Roger clocked the flowers she was putting in a vase and he saw her blush slightly. "James was that you?" Roger asked and he realised Daisy too was watching him now.
"I thought Lyra would like them" he said as he nodded, Daisy giving him a sort of knowing smile which made him quickly avert his gaze back to Roger.
"Well thought. Here, give us a hand with these presents, would you?" Roger asked, setting the beer in front of him but then motioning him to the one bag. James thought it strange, wondered what Roger wanted but nodded as everybody else chatted, James picking up the bag and following Lyra's dad through to the living room.
"I just want to thank you" James had literally just set the bag down and was surprised by the words. "I know your parents have given you a hard time about what happened but when Lyra told us she split up with…well, you know" James nodded, curling his fists at the memory. "And you seemed to get into a fight at the same time well, I figured it was because of what happened" Roger wasn't stupid, had evidently put the pieces together in a way only Lyra's parents would be able to. "And fighting is never the answer" he said sternly, James hastily nodding, "but I appreciate you standing up for my daughter like that James. It makes me feel so much better knowing she has you" James couldn't help the idiotic smile that seemed to have taken over his face, sure that this was as good as any approval he needed when it came to Lyra.
"Thanks Roger. I'm just as lucky to have her" he responded, Roger looking at him in the way Daisy had just done before he clapped a hand on his shoulder, back to his usual smile.
"Indeed you are. Right come on, we have a lot of food to eat" James let him steer him back into the kitchen where he saw Lyra had noticed their departure. She gave him a questioning look, but he just smiled innocently back…which he saw just made her suspicious and so he quickly swiped his beer before offering his assistance to Daisy, knowing it would be a matter of time before Lyra asked him about it.
Lyra loved their joint Christmases and always had done. This year was no exception, although she felt if possible, even more happy this year at how James had been towards her. How he had bought her flowers, the way he would brush her leg or arm to get her attention, how close he sat next to her at the table. She was doing her very best to be casual and normal as she had caught both their parents glancing at them, but inside she was starting to get almost hopeful. Which was ludicrous, she was trying to remind herself, because James was always tactile with her. With everybody. Although, she was sure he'd never been this touchy with her. These were the thoughts that went round her mind during dinner, but they were thankfully pushed to the side when it was time to do presents, the childlike excitement never leaving her as both her and James jumped up, making their parents laugh as they led the way into the living room. As was tradition, Lyra sorted the presents out as everybody took their usual seats and soon the present opening was underway. Lyra and James always got an early present from their parents, this year Lyra got…
"A camera?!" she exclaimed, utterly delighted beyond words. Both her mum and dad nodded as she beamed at them, forgetting everything else as she tore into it, finding it already looking set up.
"We thought you might want it for today" her mum told her, Lyra quickly putting it aside to hug them both tightly. To think she could actually possibly take this to Hogwarts with her as well!
"Come on, let's get a picture of you and James to start with" her dad told her, gesturing for the camera. Lyra, handed it to him, thinking it would be nice and turned to find James already standing, offering her a hand up. She took it, laughing when he pulled her with force up and into him. Her laughter died quickly, instead replaced by a blush as she moved to stand next to him, hoping her blush died soon.
"Okay, ready you two?" her dad asked, Lyra nodding as she felt James slip an arm around her waist. Oh god her heart was racing, and she focused on breathing as she tentatively put her arm around him, hoping she seemed normal. James gently pulled her closer, so they were stood right next to each other, Lyra almost tucked into him. "Lyra you're allowed to look at the camera" everybody laughed as she quickly looked up, composing herself as she smiled, the flash going a moment later.
"You okay?" James murmured, diverting her attention to him, her breath catching at how close they currently were.
"Sure" she smiled, realising they were both still stood close to each other, James smiling at her, his thumb gently moving on her hip which was incredibly distracting. Another flash went off and Lyra turned, surprised to find her dad grinning, only making her blush as she hurriedly untangled herself from James, moving to her dad and taking both the camera and the polaroid's which were developing.
"That's so cool" she hadn't heard James move but he was stood right behind her, tall enough that his head poked over her shoulder. "So, the picture will come up on there?" he asked, distracting her all over again so that she was only capable of nodding. The first one was beginning to appear, Lyra trying to focus just on that and not how close James was…or the way she could feel his hand brush against her waist every now and again. It slowly started to take better shape, Lyra smiling as the image of her and James became much clearer, sharper, more defined. They'd always had a photo taken every Christmas and she now had one to add to her collection.
"Hey, you can add that one to your desk Ly" James told her, evidently on the same wavelength as her.
"I was just thinking the same thing" she admitted, turning her attention to the other image which made her blush. The way her and James were looking at each other, both smiling, his hand wrapped around her waist. Shit, she thought it looked horribly obvious how she felt about him, James behind her moving and before she could stop him, he snagged the picture from her. Lyra turned, wondering how he would react and was…surprised to find him smiling down at it.
"This might be my favourite picture of us Ly" he murmured, his arm coming to wrap back around her waist, pulling her into his chest. Her breathing hitched as she wondered why he was being like this, why he seemed so insistent on having her close to him, her brain refusing to allow her to believe that it might because he might possibly like her in the way she liked him.
"Mine too" she admitted, James turning to her, looking pleasantly surprised. The way he was looking at her made the butterflies surge through her stomach and only their parents laughing made them both jump and move away from each other. James handed her the picture back, Lyra avoiding looking at him as she felt like such an idiot and instead moved to sit back down, feeling relieved when James did the same.
"Let's have a look sweetheart" her mum said quietly next to her, Lyra blushing as she handed them to her. Lyra watched her mum carefully, saw how she smiled looking at both pictures as she held her breath, hoping she wouldn't get any questions. "They're lovely, are you going to add them to your collection?" was all she said, Lyra letting go of that breath and nodding as her mum passed them back to her. "Maybe you should ask Matt or Carol if they can copy them as I'm sure James would want at least one" the way she said that made Lyra think she knew exactly which one her mum was referring to, doing it subtly enough to not push Lyra too far. As such Lyra just nodded, looking up and finding Carol had been watching them.
"Shall I?" she asked, Lyra nodding as she handed them over. Carol looked at them first, smiling softly down at them as she extracted her wand, non-verbally copying the both of them. "James" she called, James looking up as Carol handed them the copied ones, giving Lyra the originals back. James beamed as he took them, giving his mum a hug, which made Lyra smile.
"Thanks, I love them" he told her, making Lyra's heart skip as he glanced at her with that smile before sitting back. He tucked them carefully to the side and Lyra saw him reach for his next present, saw that it was the one she got him. As such she paused, watching him read the label, his eyes darting to her with a smile before he tore into it, making her laugh. As per usual, she got him his favourite large box of Bertie Botts which he grinned at before picking up the other smaller box. He looked at her curiously, Lyra just watching him as he opened it, seeing him smile.
"Ly this is exactly what I needed!" he told her, picking up the brown wallet which she'd had engraved with his initials.
"I know" she replied, making their parents laugh as he opened it…to have a face full of glitter launched at him. James roared with laughter alongside Matt, always taking her very small, very simple pranks with great enthusiasm. He wiped his face, throwing the glitter her way and making her laugh, her mum sighing at the mess which Carol assured her she would help with.
"James you could put one of your pictures in your wallet" Carol suggested, James beaming as he nodded, grabbing one of them and putting it in.
"There, no getting rid of you now" he teased, making Lyra roll her eyes as he looked down at the picture before shutting his wallet, Lyra wondering which one he had chosen. "Right, open mine" he nodded towards the one box she had left. She nodded, wondering what he had gotten her, giving the box a small shake, which made everybody laugh. She frowned, not getting anything as she instead took to opening it, finding a box. She glanced up at James, surprised to find him looking at her a little…nervously? It made her heart beat a little faster as she opened the box, surprise but delight surging through her. He'd gotten her a necklace with her birthstone in the centre in the shape of a star. It was incredibly beautiful, Lyra gently touching it, smiling before she realised something.
"James this must have cost you a lot!" she exclaimed, excitement forgotten. "I can't possibly-"
"You can and you will. You deserve it Ly" he said softly, getting up and moving towards her. "Here" he gestured for the box and wordlessly, she handed it over to him. James indicated for her to turn and so she shuffled around, avoiding looking at either of her parents right now. James gently swept her hair to the side, his fingers trailing on her neck, raising goosebumps, she was embarrassed to discover. James said nothing as a moment later his hand came into view, gently putting the necklace on her and she felt him clasp it, his fingers once more gently brushing against her neck before he moved back. Lyra looked down, smiling at the sight of it, wondering what she had done to deserve this.
"Oh, it's beautiful. Did you pick it out yourself James?" her mum asked, smiling at Lyra as she swept her hair back, hoping her face was an okay colour.
"Sure did" he said, sounding proud, Lyra spinning back around and finding James watching her with a smile. "It suits you Ly" he told her, making her smile.
"Thanks James. It really is beautiful" she told him, pushing down that urge to move and kiss his cheek; she'd already done it once without thinking, twice would make him suspicious, she was sure of it. Thankfully, her parents moved conversation on, leaving Lyra to her thoughts, her hand perpetually straying to her necklace, and her eyes to the boy who had given it to her.
After presents they had gone back for dessert where, rather horrifyingly, their parents appeared to be getting more and more drunk. As such, Lyra and James managed to slip out and were currently sat on the sofa, Lyra turning on the TV so that they could watch something and drown out the noise of their drunk parents.
"That looks good, leave that on" it was a film of some sorts and Lyra left it as James seemed to apparently be interested. As she sat back, she felt James shuffle up so that their legs and arms were touching; this wasn't unusual but with everything else that had happened today, it gave Lyra butterflies. Which really was honestly so ridiculous because this was James bloody Potter. Her best friend. It was entirely inappropriate to have these thoughts which had escalated wildly as of late. As she was thinking this, she felt his hand move, felt his fingers brush against hers in a way which made her breath catch. Surely that had been accidental, because there was no way that…but he did it again. Lyra felt like she might possibly be imagining things until he did it once more. Lyra kept her gaze firmly on the TV, sure it was just a mistake, and he was distracted but it kept happening until she felt him slowly take her hand. The way their fingers interlaced, the way Lyra didn't stop it from happening but was blushing like an idiot was just insane. But James kept hold of her hand, his thumb gently rubbing circles in a way which gave her butterflies. Sure, she had held James's hand before but never like this. Never with fingers interlaced, never with such…intimacy. It was all blowing her mind until she felt him pull her slightly and she obliged automatically, resting her head on his shoulder, curling up into him. James moved their interlaced hands as he leant forward and a moment later, she felt a blanket come over them, making her smile.
"Pass me the remote?" James asked quietly, Lyra having to pick her head up and lean away from him to hand it to him. As she did so she caught sight of him; the brightness of his eyes, the way he was smiling at her. She handed it to him and then put her head back where it was, James resting their hands on her leg. "I have a feeling you're going to fall asleep on me soon" he murmured, Lyra huffing which just made him laugh. They said nothing else, Lyra gradually relaxing more and more and with the heat of the fire, the soft murmur from both the TV and their parents and the heat and comfort of James himself, Lyra found herself falling asleep, content and happy in a way she wasn't sure she'd ever been before.