A/N I'm so so sorry for taking ages with this! :'( I just got a bit confused with what's going on in the books (I haven't had access to them for months, honestly, but my sister left today so I can get to them again!) and then I lost my inspiration, and then I got some again in the middle of the night before Christmas Day - which I promptly forgot about when I woke up on Christmas morning.. A special thanks to Rea558750 once again, who helped me when I was desperate for answers about Christmas 1996. Sirius is still alive, (I could never kill him! I don't know how JK Rowling sleeps at night), but Dumbledore's hand is cursed. Not that that's relevant for this chapter, but he will be dead so Ly is on the horcrux hunt for Christmas 1997.


Christmas 1996

For the first time, Lyra was spending Christmas Day away from Hogwarts without her friends. Hermione was with her parents, Ron was with his, and she was spending Christmas Day with Sirius, Remus, and with Dora, whose parents had gone away to visit her grandparents.

While Lyra was sad that she wouldn't be seeing either of her best friends for Christmas, the first time since she had met them, she was relieved that she wouldn't be stuck in the middle of their arguments. Ron was with Lavendar, and so her two best friends weren't talking to each other. That wasn't the only problem on Lyra's mind.

Ever since Dumbledore had asked Remus to spy on the werewolves, he had lost all his feeling of self worth, and had broken up with Dora. They were both devastated by this, but this mission of his had lost him all his confidence and had caused him not only the pain of transforming without the aid of Wolfsbane and Sirius, but had also reminded him of the bigotry towards werewolves in general. He had broken up with Dora, and now they weren't speaking to each other either. Sirius had written Lyra a furious letter, as had Dora, and when she had found out what had happened, Lyra had gone bright red with anger, and had hurtled out of the Common Room, leaving Hermione and Ron incredibly confused. Neither of her two best friends had known about Remus and Dora's relationship, as it had been secret for all but Lyra, Sirius, Charlie, and the Tonks'.

And Dumbledore, who had found out when Lyra had burst into his office and started yelling at him furiously.

So now Lyra and Sirius had a plan. Remus didn't know Dora would be there on Christmas Day.

Or rather, they had had a plan. Dora, in her miserable state, had decided she wouldn't be spending Christmas Day with them. Sirius, who knew where she lived, couldn't go and find her without revealing the plan to Remus, and Lyra couldn't get there either.

Lyra, Remus and Sirius had all been sat miserably at the table after exchanging gifts. Sirius and Lyra had been upset with Remus when they found out, but they couldn't help but sympathise with his reasons why. Both of them were as unhappy as Remus, and so it was silent in the kitchen until eventually Remus took his leave and sadly ascended the stairs.

Immediately, Lyra turned to Sirius. "I've got an idea."

Sirius brightened.

"And what's that?"

Lyra leaned forwards conspiratorially.

"Charlie" she whispered. Sirius' eyes widened as he realised the genius of the plan. Charlie and Dora were good friends, and Charlie definitely would know where her flat was and would get there without raising suspicion.

"Alright then" Sirius nodded his consent, and leaving Lyra to her mission went after Remus. Lyra knelt by the fire and tossing some Floo powder in, called out "the Burrow", and waited until the familiar scene of the kitchen emerged.

Mrs Weasley was busy in the kitchen, but turned round when the Floo roared. "Lyra, dear!" She exclaimed in surprise, "what are you doing here?"

Lyra looked at her and smiled. "Merry Christmas Mrs Weasley, is Charlie about?" When Mrs Weasley nodded her affirmative, Lyra asked if she could come through, and a minute later joined her in the kitchen, only to be engulfed in a huge hug.

"Hello- Mrs- Weasley" she gasped, before being eventually released. "Do you know where Charlie is?"

Mrs Weasley looked at her. "Charlie.. Not Ron?" Lyra blushed. "Err - no Mrs Weasley, but I need to borrow Charlie for a bit if that's ok?"

Mrs Weasley smiled, and indicated through to the living room. "Everyone's in there."

Lyra wandered through and blushed when everyone's attention turned to her. "Lyra!" Ron exclaimed, running over to hug her. Wolf whistles came from the twins, causing them both to turn bright red, while Bill and Fleur watched Charlie knowingly. He was staring at the floor and the tips of his ears were reddening.

Lyra was quickly hugged by Fred and George, followed by Ginny and Mr Weasley. Bill smiled at her from his place on the sofa, as did Fleur.

"What are you doing here, Lyra?" Asked Mr Weasley. Lyra turned to him. "I was wondering if I could borrow Charlie?" Charlie's head snapped up as he looked at her, his cheeks flushing ever so slightly. "Me?" Quick as a flash, Lyra retorted "well I don't see any other Charlie's in here!"

Everyone choked as they tried to stop themselves laughing. Ginny and Fleur were giggling on either side of Bill, while his hands that had been wrapped around each of them were covering his mouth, desperately trying to stop himself laughing at the embarrassed look on Charlie's face.

Suddenly Lyra looked shy. "Can I talk to you Charlie? In private?" Charlie nodded, and escorted Lyra up to his bedroom. Closing the door, he turned to face her. "So what's this about then?"

"I need your help." Charlie raised his eyebrows. "What with?"

"Did you know that Dora was going out with Uncle Remus?" Charlie nodded, "well, they broke up. And now Uncle Remus is miserable, and Dora is miserable, and Dora isn't spending Christmas Day with us and we had a plan, but Sirius and I can't go and get her because that would make Uncle Remus realise something was up. So we need you to get her, if you can, and bring her to Grimmauld Place."

Charlie was staring at her, open mouthed. "They broke up? Why?!"

Lyra sighed. "Dumbledore sent Remus on a mission with the werewolves, and now Uncle Remus doesn't think he's worthy of being in a relationship and thinks that Dora deserves more than him. Me and Sirius both think he's being stupid, but we do sort of understand his reasons.. We were going to get them back together again but then Dora bloody CANCELLED on us!"

"That git! How dare he break up with her!"

"Charlie! Uncle Remus thinks he is doing Dora a favour. He didn't even write to me for ages because he thought he didn't deserve to be in my life. So can you please go and get Dora and bring her to Grimmauld Place without telling her Uncle Remus will be there. Please?"

Lyra looked at him with pleading eyes, and the moment he looked at her Charlie knew he didn't have a choice. "Alright.." Then was surprised by Lyra throwing herself in his arms. "Thank you!" He wrapped his arms around her. "So long as you're sure this will work" he warned.

Suddenly realising their situation, they blushed and separated. Walking downstairs, they both called out their leave to the rest of the Weasleys before Lyra Flooed home and Charlie disapparated.

The Weasleys exchanged confused glances.

Back at Grimmauld Place, Lyra emerged cautiously, checking that Remus wasn't present before leaving the kitchen. Looking for Sirius, she eventually found him standing in the doorway to Remus' bedroom, watching his friend who was sitting in a chair staring into space. Lyra walked up to him and whispered "Charlie's in", watching the expression of misery on his face at his friend's plight turn to relief.

Backing away from the door, as their plan was now able to go ahead, they enlisted the help of Kreacher to get all the decorations up. Once they were up and there was mistletoe in the living room, there was nothing to do but wait. And wait. Lyra started to get worried, what if Charlie had not been able to convince Dora to come?

Eventually though, the door opened and Charlie and Dora entered. Charlie was looking slightly stressed however, giving Lyra the impression that Dora had not come easily. Whispering her thanks to Charlie, Lyra hugged Dora, and hoped that their plan would work.

She took them both into the living room, and sat next to Charlie on the sofa, while Dora sat on the armchair. While Dora could not see the other side of Lyra, as she was too busy looking dejected, Charlie could very easily see Lyra's crossed fingers sitting in between them.

Eventually, they heard Sirius coming closer. Dora didn't look up. Sirius brought Remus into the room, at which point he noticed the decorations. "When did this happen? This wasn't here earlier- Dora?!"

Dora's head snapped up. "Re-Remus?" She stammered, "I was promised you wouldn't be here.." She paused, and then glared at Charlie and Lyra. "Did you set me up?!" Neither looked particularly remorseful.

Remus also glared at them, but also at Sirius who was now blocking the doorway behind him.

"You need to fix things Uncle Remus, it's not fair on you or Dora, you're just as miserable as she is." Dora's eyes filled with tears, and seeing this, Remus' heart broke.

Suddenly, Dora stood up and moved so she was standing in front of Remus. "I have told you time and again that I don't care that you are older than me! That I don't care that you are poor! That I don't care that you are a bloody werewolf once a month! You're human! We all think so! Ly even wrote to me really upset in September because you hadn't written to her, and then when she had asked Sirius why not, he told her that it was because you thought that she would be better off without you! That's not your choice to make! Ly loves you, she wants you in her family! Sirius wants you as a friend, and I.. I love you Remus.." She couldn't go any further, and broke down in tears.

"I'm sorry Dora", Remus whispered. He couldn't watch her cry, not when he no longer had the right to comfort her, and turned to leave - only to find Sirius standing right behind him with his arms folded, blocking the door and glaring at him. "Oh no you don't." Sirius growled. Remus' shoulders slumped, and sent a pleading gaze at Sirius, which was only met by a glare and a pointed look behind him.

Remus turned round to see Lyra comforting Dora, a few tears in her eyes as well. His heart broke once more seeing the two women he loved more than anything upset because of him and his cowardly actions. "Oh Ly" he sighed, "I'm so sorry."

Lyra stared at him sadly before returning to Dora.

Finally, Remus couldn't take it any longer. "Merlin, Dora, I'm so sorry! I thought I.." Here his voice broke. "Thought I didn't deserve someone amazing like you. But the last few months.. I missed you Dora, so much. Oh Dora, I love you." Dora looked up at him, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears. Then she ran at him, leaping into his arms and hugging him.

Lyra and Charlie joined Sirius by the door as they watched the couple embrace. Sirius looked at Charlie. "Thanks", he murmured. "So long as she's happy.." Charlie replied, eyes still fixed on the couple in the room. Eventually, they came to their senses and left them to it, Sirius headed up to his room to get Dora's Christmas present, while Lyra and Charlie headed down to the kitchen so Charlie could head back to the Burrow.

"Thanks Charlie" Lyra said before he had a chance to go, "we couldn't have done it without you" Charlie smiled. "I'm glad their back together, Dora was so miserable when I got to her flat it was horrible!" Lyra's eyes saddened, and Charlie felt awful for making her miserable again on Christmas Day. Without even thinking about it he hugged her, and she eagerly returned it. When they separated, Charlie stepped back to turn around, before his head brushed against something. They both looked up, and took in the sprig of mistletoe that Sirius had hung there just in case their plan hadn't worked.

Lyra blushed, and Charlie looked at her questioningly, as if silently asking for permission, before bending down and kissing her cheek. Just as he was moving away, Lyra turned her head and kissed his lips. Startled, Charlie paused, before kissing back. His arms moved around her waist and her arms raised themselves to his hair as they relaxed into the kiss they had both been waiting for. It was slow and sensuous, feelings they had been suppressing bubbling to the surface. For a moment, it was just the two of them, just Charlie and Lyra in a little world of their own.

And then their world stopped. They had both distinctly heard the sound of a cough. Blushing, they stepped away from each other and turned slowly to the door, only to see Sirius and Remus staring at them, while Dora was smiling.

Sirius turned his stare to Charlie, who flushed even more. Then, to both Lyra and Charlie's surprise, he said "finally! I've been waiting for over a year!"

He had not thought it possible, and neither had Remus, but at his comment Lyra blushed even harder while Charlie was getting redder and redder.

Eventually Charlie realised the time, and knew he had to get back to the Burrow for dinner. He took his leave from the three smirking adults in the doorway, and then said goodbye to Lyra, who blushing under her godfathers gaze, surprised him once again by leaning up and kissing him once more. Flushing once again, he departed through the Floo, knowing he had to think of a reasonable excuse to the inevitable questions about why Lyra had come looking for him, and why he returned bright red.

Lyra sighed when he left, only to turn round and find herself in Sirius' arms. "Aww Ly, it's finally happened! Aww look at you blushing!" Struggling, Lyra forced herself away and glaring at him walked out of the room.. Only to turn round and hug everyone with excitement.

She couldn't stop the grin from taking over her face all night, and Sirius, Remus and Dora were all incredibly pleased that Dora had decided to stay at her flat, prompting Charlie to be sent to retrieve her that night.

When Sirius went to say goodnight, she was lying in her bed, a blissful, sleepy smile still stretched across her face. "Goodnight Ly, Merry Christmas." "Merry Christmas Sirius." "I love you Ly" he murmured, before kissing her cheek and then backing out of the door.


A/N AHHH! I hadn't quite intended it to end like that but Lyra decided she was going to kiss Charlie, so that's what happened. I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can but at the moment I don't know when that will be, especially as Fanfiction isn't working properly -_-