Impossible Love

Chapter 20 – Wrapped Up

When Jamie returned from his rain-soaked Quidditch practice and opened the Common Room door, he was arrested by the sight of Lara staring at an empty grate. Her hair was plastered to her forehead, her shopping bags were beside her and her sodden coat was half unbuttoned. He hadn't expected her back from Hogsmeade so soon, and she didn't turn to look at him as he approached.

"You ok, princess?"

When her blank eyes didn't waver from the fireplace, Jamie dropped his Quidditch gear and walked towards her.

"Lara?" he questioned again, hoping for a response.

Dragging her eyes away from the ashes, Lara tilted her chin and looked at Jamie. His training shirt clung to his athletic frame and his hair, darkened almost black by the rain, was slicked back.

"What's wrong?"

Lara could hear his concern in the seriousness of his tone and knew she looked a state.

"Had an argument with Hestia," she said quietly.

She didn't know whether he'd believe that was all it was, but there was no chance she could tell him anything more.

"That's not like you two," he remarked, stepping closer and reaching for her hands. To Lara, it seemed as if Jamie had wanted to say something different but was holding himself back.

Lara allowed herself to be pulled up and stood in front of him with a defeated slouch in her shoulders.

Brushing her hair out of her face, Jamie said, "I'm sure you'll make it up."

In response, Lara lowered her gaze. She hoped he was right, but she also felt a twinge of guilt about not telling him the full story.

"Here, let me…" Jamie gently unfastened the remaining buttons, shucked her wet coat off her shoulders and tossed it to the couch behind them.

Her breath hitched in a shiver as his fingers trailed down her arms.

"You're cold," said Jamie. "Let's get you warm, kitten."

Jamie pulled his wand out from his pocket and a warm blast of air soon enveloped her, lifting the damp from her clothes and hair whilst heating her skin. His eyes fixed with concentration on her body, ensuring her didn't miss a spot.

"That's a new one," Lara croaked. When Jamie didn't reply, she elaborated, "Kitten. You've not called me that before."

Jamie chuckled and pocketed his wand, but he didn't take a step back.

"I just call it like I see it. Usually it's princess or duchess – something regal – but kitten seemed to fit then."

Lara rolled her eyes at him and brought her palms to rest on his chest, controlling the distance between them. Although, she couldn't fail to notice his muscular pectorals underneath her hands. Jamie had made her smile, against the odds, and she felt she owed it to him to at least try to cheer herself up.

"Well don't forget, kittens still have claws," she said with a half-hearted smirk as she slightly dug her nails in and pushed him backwards.

Jamie grinned and clutched his chest in faux pain.

"I'm just going to grab a shower and get changed, then we can talk."

Jamie sauntered off to his room and Lara let her façade drop again. Her thoughts swirled slowly as she contemplated what to do.

Get it together. No one has ever walked over me and I'm not going to start with Neville.

Cut loose the feelings … detach my emotions. That's all. Christmas and being away from here will help.

I need to forget him.

Forget the kiss.

Forget it all.

"You look a million miles away, darling."

Lara was startled from her internal pep-talk by the approach of a freshly showered Jamie. A pleasant citrus smell filled her senses and replaced heady masculine aroma that surrounded him earlier.

"I was thinking in the shower- "

"-Dangerous," interrupted Lara.

Ignoring her, Jamie continued, "You sure it was just an argument with Hestia? I've not seen you fall out with her before. Tell me if it's someone else who has upset you."

Despite his commanding tone, Lara wouldn't share this with him.

"I was…" she paused to think of a satisfactory explanation. "Just thinking of Christmas at home. I've got a lot of presents to wrap." She finished lamely.

Her words created an awkward silence as both Jamie and Lara thought of Christmas and how, for Lara, the new information about her father's death would make this holiday a difficult one to bear.

As if her own words were a call to action and a way to avoid another difficult topic, Lara started pulling the Honeydukes' chocolate out of her shopping bags. With a wave of her wand, an open-topped wicker basket flew from the bookcase on Lara's side of the common room and settled in front of her. Rolls of wrapping paper, ribbons, miniature baubles, a pair of scissors and some Sellotape were piled into the basket. Sliding off the sofa, Lara sat cross-legged on the rug with the wrapping paraphernalia spread around her.

Looking confused, Jamie pointed at the basket and the bookcase, "Has that always been there?"

Laughing, Lara nodded and began rolling out the paper in front of her before placing a chocolate gift in the centre to measure accurately.

"You know there's a quicker way to do that?" said Jamie, brandishing his wand at the wrapped as Lara cut a length of tape.

Glancing up, Lara said warningly, "Don't even think about it. My family need to see the Sellotape rather than the magic. Besides …" she paused as she held the two ends of paper down with one finger and stuck the Sellotape in place with her other hand. "It's part of the gift – receiving a present that's been wrapped with care and attention. Magic makes some things too easy."

Jamie watched in fascination as Lara spun the present and folded the corners, sticking them down, and unravelled a length of gold ribbon which she tied in a large bow around the gift.

"Guess I hadn't thought of it like that," he said scratching his head and walking over to his desk.

Lara smiled and reached for the next gift. Of course, he wouldn't have thought of that – his pure-blood perspective was undoubtedly different from her own. Truthfully though, Lara liked wrapping presents. It was a calming distraction for her hands and mind. A distraction much needed from how the rest of her day had gone.

Jamie returned with his Arithmancy textbook and some parchment and sat on the sofa across from her.

A peaceful silence descended as Jamie worked out magical sums and Lara's talented fingers created a growing pile of gifts wrapped with a festive flourish.

Every so often, Jamie would sneak a look at Lara. To begin with, his glances couldn't hide his concerned expression. He was worried about her, and Lara would have been an idiot to think she'd placated him by saying she was in such a state purely because of Hestia. As the afternoon wore on and, unseen behind thick clouds, the sun began to set, Jamie allowed himself to smile as he observed the now contented expression on Lara's face.

Lara was wrapping the last chocolate gift when she finally caught him in the act.

"You keep doing that," said Lara, continuing to wrap.

"Doing what?"

"Looking at me," she said with an eyeroll.

Jamie held up both hands in defence. Rather than admit his worries, he stuck to their usual banter.

"Just waiting to see if anything for me is going to come out of that bag."

Lara's eyes flickered to the small paper bag from Treasure Trove; she wasn't going to wrap that now, but there was no harm in having a bit of fun winding Jamie up. Plus, she needed to show him that she was alright in the hope he wouldn't start Round 2 of the interrogation.

"Do you think you deserve a gift?" she said, tilting her head as she awaited his answer.

Amusement flashed across his eyes.

"I don't not deserve a gift," he said chuckling.

"Well, I can't reward that hideous grammar, Burke," said Lara, noticing that Jamie's face fell slightly. "Such a shame yours is already wrapped up."

Jamie's smile widened and his eyes crinkled happily at the corners.

"Aww kitten, you spent time and care wrapping my present with all your fancy ribbons?"

Rolling her eyes again at his gently mocking tone, Lara pointed her wand at him to punctuate her point, "Don't make me regret it. And stop calling me kitten. It's demeaning."

Packing her things up, Lara levitated the presents up to her room along with the basket and carried the small number of remaining bags up to her room.

"What about my little Pygmy Puff?" Jamie called from the sofa.

Lara sighed to herself, raising her eyes upwards, and continued up to her room. She'd avoided any more probing questions about what her and Hestia had argued about, but she'd never be able to avoid Jamie's twisted sense of humour. Not for the first or last time, Lara thought McGonagall should give her an award for surviving with James Burke as a roommate. However, for all his irritating banter and condescending nicknames, Lara knew Jamie still held suspicions about her and Neville. He hadn't seen them together since their dance at the Halloween Ball, but Lara was certain he seemed to be paying more attention than usual to her comings and goings. She couldn't face any more judgement after Hestia's words, so she prayed the kiss and her humiliation would remain undiscovered.

Author's note:

Just a small chapter with everyone's favourite annoying little snake.

Christmas time is arriving soon for Lara ... I wonder what gifts she'll receive? ;)

Viola Pearl