Muggle!AU. This fic was written for my lovely friend Chloe as part of the Ilvermorny Secret Santa project The International Wizarding School Championship.

Merry Christmas sweetie pie, I really hope you like this gift I have written for you.

Much love

Claire.

Lyra awoke with a start. She wasn't sure what had pulled her from her slumber. It was then that she heard her phone vibrating against the wood of her bedside cabinet.

She rolled over and glanced at the clock. It was six in the evening. Lyra cursed herself for having fallen asleep because she knew that she had a long night of wakefulness ahead of her.

She sat up, leaning against a mountain of downy pillows, and she grabbed her phone. As she pressed the power button, the bright screen made her squint, and the phone vibrated again.

"Son of a bitch," Lyra said, blinking rapidly to remove the light spots that were dancing in front of her eyes.

Finally, she could see the damn thing. One was a notification for Instagram, but the other was one she had been waiting for. It was an email from her brother, Harry. Lyra quickly opened the email and started to read.

Lyra,

Thanks for your last email. I'm sorry I've taken so long to reply, but uni has been very busy.

As for coming home for Christmas, I would love to but I can't. You see my friend Draco, his father who is big in the law circuit, well, he's having a gala on Christmas night. I have to go; this will give me the opportunity to meet with all the right people, and might even get myself a job in one of their companies at the end of the year. Please understand just how important this is to me because if I'm lucky, I'll be able to join an elite law firm and earn good money. Can you do that for me, Lyra? Can you please understand? I hate being away from you all at Christmas, but I have to do this. Please send my apologies to Mum and Dad for me?

Harry.

Lyra threw her phone down so forcefully it tumbled off her bed. How could he do this? Harry, not coming home, would break their mother's heart. He was the apple of her eye, not that Lyra minded, she was a complete daddy's girl, and she adored him.

She sighed and crouched down to pick up her phone. She was quick to find Harry's number and call him. He didn't answer. So, through gritted teeth, she sent him another email.

Shithead…

I can't believe that you're doing this! I am so not telling mum! You can bloody well call her yourself because I am not about to break her heart! I hope you have the worst time ever!

Lyra hit send. Her hands trembling as she did so, and she got up from her bed and stretched. As she descended the stairs, the front door opened.

"Good evening, Lyra, my love," said James Potter, her father. He breezed his way into the house. "How was your day?"

"Quiet," said Lyra. "I have had an email from 'brother dearest'. He won't be home for Christmas."

Lyra let that hang in the air for a few moments before her father digested that piece of news.

"He said what?" asked James.

"That he's going to his friend's, someone called Draco, and just because his father is some big-time lawyer. They're having a big gala on Christmas night, and he wants to brown-nose all the big wigs in the hopes of getting a job after he finishes uni."

Lyra watched as her father's jaw tightened in annoyance. He knew what this would do to Lily.

"I've sent another email, telling him that he's going to have to ring mum."

"It might be best if you do give your mum some warning, sweetheart. If she finds out that we all knew and she didn't…"

James let that sink in for a moment.

"But, Dad…" Lyra whined. "Can you tell her? I'm too much of a chicken to do it myself."

James gave a mock sigh and said, "It's lucky you're my favourite."

Lyra threw her arms around her father.

While waiting for Lily to come home, Lyra and James began to prepare dinner. They had the radio on, and they were singing along to the Christmas songs so loudly that they didn't hear Lily arrive home.

It wasn't until Lily turned the radio down that they even realise she was standing there looking highly amused.

"Honestly you two a burglar could have broken in, and you wouldn't have even heard it, not until it was too late," she said in mock admonishment.

Lyra and James just grinned at their mother/wife, respectfully.

"So what has Chef's Potter got prepared for dinner tonight," asked Lily as she filled up the kettle.

"We have the house speciality; salmon with potatoes and vegetables," said James in a mocking French accent.

"Don't forget the chilli sauce!" said Lyra, looking scandalous.

"I'm sorry poppet my bad," James said grinning at his daughter.

"Lily, can you come here a sec," said James in a more serious tone. "There's something I need to tell you."

Lyra felt her stomach drop. She knew what was coming, and she wasn't looking forward to the fallout from that conversation.

"Darling, as you know Lyra emailed Harry about Christmas. She finally had a reply today. I'm sorry to say he isn't coming home for Christmas…" said James trailing off as he watched his Lily's face fell. "Lyra has sent an email back telling him that he needs to call you and tell you himself why exactly he's not coming home. We thought it only fair to give you a heads up."

James held his wife to his chest whilst Lyra looked on.

Suddenly Lily pulled away from her husband and smiled at them.

"At least I have you two home, what more could I ask for?"

"Mum?"

"Honestly sweetheart I'm alright, we have to accept that Harry is growing up and spreading his wings. One day there may be a time when you won't be able to come home from Christmas, it's no big deal," Lily said shrugging, as she grabbed the dishcloth from the sink and began wiping down the kitchen surfaces.

Lyra and James looked at each other and shrugged. Maybe they hadn't given their wife/mother enough credit after all.

A couple of days later and Lyra was gritting her teeth in frustration.

Not only had Harry not responded to her previous email, but her mother's facade was starting to grate on her nerves. Lyra knew her mother better than she gave her credit for. She knew that she was only faking this apparent happiness and that she was distraught, especially as her son hadn't even bothered to pick up the phone to tell his mother why he wasn't coming home this Christmas.

Lyra set to work on a plan. She jumped into her friend's group chat and told them the situation and what they would do to help. Her friends responded with an affirmative and a date was set, now Lyra had to get her parents out of the house for the day.

When James arrived home, Lyra was waiting for him in the hallway.

"Daddy, you need to take mum out for the day on Saturday okay?" Lyra said before James could even greet his daughter.

"Okay, but why?" asked James with a small smile. He knew that Lyra wasn't going to sit back and let things be. He knew his girl better than that. He knew that she would do something to try and make things a little better.

Lyra smiled hugely and just looked at her father. She knew full well that her father's question was rhetorical and didn't need an answer. He pulled his daughter into a hug in understanding.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny. James casually suggested to his wife that they were going on a date and that he would take her into London and go to Hamley's toy store and then dinner at the Savoy, before catching a show at the famous West End Theatre. Lyra marvelled at her father. He had gone all out so it would keep Lily out of the house.

Lily's green eyes swam in delight. There was nothing like a trip to London for the day to put her in a giddy mood.

"Happy anniversary, my love," said James, quite suddenly.

For once in her life, Lily looked lost and confused. Lyra grimaced for her father. It was the first time in their twenty-three-year marriage, Lily had actually forgotten their anniversary. To be fair, so had Lyra, but that was beside the point.

"Oh my God…" said Lily as a hand flew to her mouth. "We've been so busy at work that I forgot all about our anniversary tomorrow. Can you please forgive me?"

James just smiled at his wife. Short of an affair, James could forgive his wife anything.

Once husband and wife departed Lyra put a message in the group chat that the coast was clear and 'Project Christmas' could begin.

One by one, Lyra's friends arrived with boxes full of various Christmas paraphernalia. After much discussion of Lyra's vision, they split into two teams of four and began work.

Lyra and her friends decorated the entire downstairs.

The living room looked amazing. The tree was up—its theme for the year was red and gold. Though they left the top of the tree bare for now. It was a tradition that Lily put the angel on top of the tree. In the fireplace, a couple of ceramic angels had been placed on the hearth, either side of the family's Nativity scene. They strung lights up in the bay window, the doorway. The stair bannister was bedecked with long garlands with red and gold baubles, bows, and small strands of tinsel threaded through it.

In the dining room, there was a smaller tree which had been decorated with blue and bronze coloured decorations. On the table stood the huge pillar candles Lily liked to use every year, a Christmas runner lay through the middle of the table that had been Lyra's grandparents. All the chairs had been covered in white with a bow of gold and black securing the covers in place.

At the top of the stairs the family gallery picture frames had been bedecked in green and silver tinsel twisted together. As it was also James and Lily's anniversary, Lyra had bought some red roses and left them on her mother's side of the bed with red rose petals in the shape of a heart in the centre of the bedspread.

Also the friends as a surprise to Lyra had also decorated her bedroom by wrapping fairy lights around her white metal framed bed, and put a fake wreath on her bedroom door, and a small table sized Christmas tree sat atop her dresser covered in fake snow and miniature decorations.

Lyra hung the wreath she had bought on the front door as the last thing to do before she left for the night so her parents could have a quiet anniversary together. James had promised to film her mothers reaction and send it to her.

Lily's reaction had been priceless. Lyra almost wished she'd been there to witness it in person, but just seeing the video James sent was enough to melt her heart. When she returned home on a Sunday afternoon, Lily had given Lyra the biggest of hugs, as had her father - especially for the roses.

"That was a nice touch, thank you darling," James had whispered as he'd hugged his daughter.

Seeing the house decorated so nicely seemed to lift Lily's mood. When Christmas day finally arrived and they were sat together in front of the tree, very much aware that one of them was missing, Lily's mood wasn't quite as buoyant as it had been. As they were opening their presents Lily suddenly stopped and stared at Lyra.

"Mum?" asked Lyra who was feeling uncomfortable at the way her mother was staring at her.

"You know, I never really said thank you to you for all the hard work you put into decorating this place, and for that I'm sorry, I should have said it. I've never seen this place look so good, you really did save Christmas from being totally ruined by your brother not being here today. He really has shown his true colours and intentions this year and I'm less than impressed, I thought we had done better than that at raising him," Lily said impassioned but she wasn't done."You have proved that you do care about all of us."

Lyra heard the slight infliction on all. Did her mother think that she didn't love her? Lyra's heart sank.

"Mum, look at me. I know sometimes that it comes across that I don't love you as much as I love dad, but I do love you so very much, you're my mum, and I know we aren't exactly close, but I don't hold that against you. You'll always be my mum, and I couldn't ask for better. I love you, Mumma."

Lily pulled her daughter into a bone tight hug and held her preciously. Right at that moment, Lyra silently swore to spend more time with her mother come the new year.

Christmas had come and gone, and the family were making preparations for their annual New Year's party.

Halfway through the preparations, Harry arrived home.

"Hey family I'm home," Harry called as he shut the front door. His eyes darted every each way, taking in the way the house had been decorated.

Lily and Lyra strode from the kitchen only to greet their son/brother coolly. Once Lily had given her son an extremely brief hug, she walked back to the kitchen and closed the door.

"What was that all about?" Harry asked obliviously.

"What do you think, shithead?" Lyra said scathingly. "You email me back and tell me to tell mum that you can't make it home, and you can't even be bothered to ring and tell her yourself! I can't believe how unbelievably selfish you've been, and neither can mum and dad. Mum has been so upset over your behaviour. I hope that it was the biggest waste of your time ever, cos that's what you are, a waste of time."

Before Harry could say anything, Lyra turned her back on her brother and went to check on their mother to make sure she was okay.

Harry stood dumbfounded. The truth of the matter was that it had been a complete waste of time. No one wanted to know or even give him the chance to come on board one of their companies. Draco had warned Harry that that could be a possibility, and he had been right, and he had been wrong, so very wrong, in fact. He should have used his better judgement and come home and spent it with his family.

Feeling foolish and upset, Harry slipped away upstairs to his room until their father arrived home from his beer run. Only then did Harry show himself again.

"I'm so sorry that I didn't come home for Christmas. I'm sorry I didn't ring you, Mum. I was just a huge chicken. It was a complete waste of time and truthfully; I was bored stupid. So many rich old men so up themselves, who can't remember what it's like to be in my position… "

"Oh my God, stop! My heart bleeds," Lyra snapped. "Blah blah blah, I couldn't get my foot in the door, blah blah blah, I'm so upset. So you should be Harry! You let us all down. Don't you come home and try to milk us for sympathy because it won't work."

"Lyra that'll do," said James softly. "He knows he's done wrong and he's going to pay for it by helping his mother in the kitchen for the rest of the day."

Harry let out an exaggerated sigh and followed his mother into the kitchen. And pay he did. Harry spent the entire afternoon wearing a pinny, making sandwiches, pies and cakes for the party that evening.

By the end of the night and the party had started to wind down, Lyra found her brother sat in an armchair staring into nothingness.

"What's the matter with you?" Lyra asked as she lightly kicked her brother in the ankle.

"I was just thinking about how grown-up you've gotten and what a great job you've done, not only decorating this place but making sure mum and dad had a good Christmas. Thank you, Lyra."

With that, Harry got to his feet and hugged his little sister. Lyra hugged him back.

"Bitch," whispered Lyra.

"Jerk," Harry said softly.

"Come on it's nearly midnight, let's grab some champagne and celebrate the new year," Lyra said as she pulled away from her brother.

Together they stepped into the kitchen to join their parents and welcome in a new year as a family of four.