Lyra woke up slowly, feeling a little stiff and uncomfortable although she wasn't sure why. It took a moment for her to realise that was on the sofa…and that she wasn't alone. She was in fact, somewhat sprawled over James, her head tucked into his neck, her arm and leg thrown over him. James, in turn had one arm wrapped around her shoulders, the other was, she took a breath, the other was on her thigh. And Merlin save her if she didn't think that this was possibly one of the best ways she'd ever woken up. Ever. However, she realised they had a duvet over them which meant their parents had definitely seen them asleep like this. The thought alone made her blush, made her heart race as she fidgeted which seemed to be enough to make James stir.

"Ly?" he murmured, turning so that his face brushed against the top of her head.

"Sorry" she whispered, still blushing at this proximity as James made no efforts to move any part of him.

"Did we fall asleep on the sofa?" he asked, Lyra sure he still had his eyes closed.

"It would seem so" she managed to get out as she felt James sigh, the hand on her thigh slowly moving…in a way which had her heart racing. "Sorry for sprawling on you" Lyra choked out, James just laughing, the sound a deep rumble which she could feel move through her and God was it hot.

"I forgot what a fidget you are" she blushed at this, thinking it wise for her emotions if she moved and so started doing so, James giving her the room to do so. Lyra sat up, stretching out her arms and rolling her neck before looking over at James, finding him watching her. Merlin he was so hot, why did her best friend have to be so hot? It was seriously unfair, especially given how they'd slept on the sofa and she most definitely looked part troll as a result.

"Breakfast?" she asked, needing to escape, James smiling as he nodded, beginning to move. "No, no, you stay. The usual?" she needed a moment to herself, James nodding again and so she quickly left, taking a few deep breaths before trying to straighten her dress which was incredibly wrinkled after a night on the sofa…on James. This, her actions and feelings were almost spiralling out of control, and she needed to get a grip on everything. She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths to steady herself before she moved around the kitchen, getting them both a bowl of coco pops before returning. James was smiling, sat up, duvet moved to the side as he gestured her to him. Friends, best friends was her mantra as she sat, James putting the duvet over her before she passed him a bowl.

"I've been looking forward to these for months" he said, genuinely moaning when he put the first spoonful in, giving her all sorts of inappropriate thoughts. Lyra realised she was staring when he turned to her, cheeky grin on his face and eyebrows raised as though he knew exactly what she was thinking. As such she jumped, blushing as she averted her gaze and hastily started eating, hoping James didn't think anything of it.

James didn't think he'd been happier than he was right now. He'd had literally the best day with Lyra, and he was genuinely starting to think that he might have a chance. She had held his hand last night, had fallen asleep on him and he just knew she kept looking at him throughout the day and morning. They hadn't really had a chance to speak though before Roger had come down, greeting them both cheerily, telling James he was to go home as soon as he'd eaten and reminding Lyra they needed to be out of the house by ten for their family visit. She had tensed and James knew how much she dreaded going to these events, how much she hated lying but knew it was necessary. James had caught her checking her notes in the library in the last week, looking over what she'd told her muggle family, what she would need to remember. As James had finished his breakfast, Roger had taken his bowl and looked at him pointedly and so he'd had to go, not even getting a chance to reassure Lyra who had jumped up, said a quick goodbye to James and hurried upstairs.

When he'd gotten in, his parents had just smiled before chivvying him upstairs as they too had a family event, but his thoughts had stayed on Lyra the entire time. He remembered how good it felt to hold her hand, the softness of her skin as he put on her necklace, that picture of the two of them looking at each other, the smile on her face giving him hope like nothing else had. It was this that had him moving, taking the stairs two at a time, almost leaping down them.

"And where do you think you're going?" his mum stopped him in the hallway, arms crossed.

"I forgot to give something to Ly. I'll be literally two minutes" she looked at him in the way she kept doing; head slightly tilted, knowing smile on her face which he just hated.

"Two minutes. I do not want to have to drag you out" she nodded towards the front door which opened as he grabbed his key from the side and literally raced out. Letting himself in, he saw Roger and Daisy looking as though they were waiting for Lyra.

"Oh, James. Forget something?" Roger asked, James nodding.

"Just need to give something to Ly. She around?" he asked, sure he could hear her moving around her room.

"Sure, upstairs. We're leaving in five" Roger shouted up the stairs, James saluting him before tearing up the stairs, knocking on her door and hoping she'd hurry up.

"James?" she seemed confused when she opened the door, looking her usual beautiful self in a navy dress, hair half up like she couldn't be totally bothered; vastly different from yesterday. He blinked, shaking the thoughts as he didn't want her parents to interrupt.

"I wanted to give you something" he told her, shifting his sleeve, and unclasping his watch. "I know how nervous you are about today, and I know you'll be fine but I want you to know that I'll be there, even if I can't you know, bodily be there" he gently took her hand, seeing her look of surprise as he slipped his watch on, seeing it shrink magically to better accommodate her slim wrist.

"James I…" but her voice tailed off, making him chuckle as he kept hold of her hand, pulling her to him.

"You'll have a good time. And you'll be great" he pressed a kiss to her forehead, very pleased when she put her arms around him. "You've got this" he reassured her before stepping back, his eyes darting down to the necklace she had on which had him beaming. "You look beautiful as well by the way" she definitely blushed at this, averting her eyes and fidgeting with her dress. "Owl me later?" he asked, wanting to know how it went, pleased when she nodded. "Have a good time, see you later Ly" she smiled at him, a smile which had his heart rate falter.

"See you later James" she was gently holding his watch, making him smile as he quickly went down the stairs, calling out a hurried goodbye to Roger and Daisy as he ran back to his, finding both his parents waiting.

"Ready when you are"

Lyra finally found a moment to herself, sat in the armchair, taking a breath. Having James's watch had weirdly helped her, had truly made her feel like he was with her, helping and encouraging her. She hated lying to her family and knew her parents disliked it too, which just made her feel guilty all over again about what they were doing for her. So far, everything had been okay, Lyra having done the usual amount of research on both her family and the muggle world to carry a casual conversation. But that was it, any further probing would only freak her out, would make her story sure to unravel.

"Hey, you look like you need a drink" Lyra looked up, finding one of her older cousins watching her with a smile and two beers. She nodded which gave Sarah the invitation to come over, sitting in the opposite armchair. "Family events are always so intense, aren't they?" Sarah mused as the pair of them turned their attention to their aunts and uncles, all catching up, laughing, exchanging news. It all looked so…casual, something Lyra would never really be a part of again.

"So, guna tell me whose watch you have on?" Lyra blinked, turning to find Sarah watching her, realising now she had her beer between her knees and her hand cradling James's watch.

"Ooo yeah, I wanna know" Colin sat next to his twin, looking honestly horribly excited. Sarah punched him, making him pout and Lyra laugh at the pair of them.

"This is girl talk!" she exclaimed but Colin just huffed, turning to Lyra.

"Come on, it's me. Whose is it?" Colin asked, making her blush but she did her best to remain calm and casual.

"It's just my best friends, you know, James" she said with a shrug. However, both of her cousins looked at her sceptically, with matching grins.

"Oh, you're so cute" Sarah told her, making her blush and now it was Colin's turn to elbow her in the ribs.

"Don't be a dick" he told her before turning to Lyra. "Ly, I'm telling you because we all love you. A guy does NOT give his watch to just anybody" he said as Sarah nodded.

"Sorry for being a dick but Col's right. A watch is important, it's symbolic. If he's given it to you, it's because he thinks of you as more than a friend" she insisted as Lyra just shook her head.

"No, it's just James. It's what he's like" she said, even if that spark of hope fanned to life bigger than she'd ever known it to get.

"Has he ever given his watch to one of his ex-girlfriends?" Sarah probed, Lyra blushing as she shook her head, knowing how precious he was with it. "Exactly. I'm just saying, I think he likes you" she said simply with a shrug. Lyra bit her lip, feeling nervous but then…her cousins were a third party, non-bias perspective. She saw them once a year. After today, it would be a whole other year until they met again.

"But we're best friends" she found herself saying, feeling nervous to even be airing her thoughts. However, the twins looked totally unfazed by this.

"Sure, it makes it easier for you two to establish a relationship. He clearly likes you Lyra, and I'm prepared to bet he's the one who also gave you the necklace" Sarah told her, nodding towards the necklace as Lyra felt her blush deepen as she nodded.

"Oh dayum. Ly he is clearly into you! Trust us, a necklace AND his watch? He's got it bad" Colin told her, making Sarah laugh as Lyra just smiled, hope uncoiling in her and spreading at a somewhat worrying rate.