The Hastings family appeared right in front of the door to the Potter's house on the 31st of December. Poppet's head was still spinning from the apparation. She'd be seventeen on Friday. She'd be able to take that test. She pushed that thought out of her head and stared up at the cottage that was in front of them. Her first thought was that it was big. Not just big – huge. But it wasn't obnoxious. It had a very homely, warm look to it. Roses crept up the walls and orange light glowed through the windows. Around them was a large front garden, set back from the village road. All along the front path daffodils had been planted. Poppet sighed, thinking how beautiful it would look in the spring when they bloomed. They'd really compliment the wild flowers that littered the front lawn.

Douglas knocked on the door three times. Jennifer straightened her dress with her free hand. The other one was clutching a cold bottle of champagne. Poppet heard footsteps on the other side of the door.

Ginny Potter opened the door and beamed at Douglas, Jennifer and Poppet who were all stood smiling sheepishly on their doorstep. Poppet took a step into their house and was immediately pulled into a hug by Ginny. Once released, she gave Ginny a dazed smile and remembered paying her a compliment about the Potter family home. She could smell mince pies. Inside the cottage was modern but it didn't feel untouchable. It felt loved. Family photos in frames littered every sideboard and worn rugs lay on the wooden floors. The walls were white, crisp and clean but they didn't feel imposing. Even the large staircase wasn't daunting with fairy lights wrapped around the banisters.

"The children are in the den, Poppet," Ginny smiled, pointing through an alcove to her right. Poppet could hear the loud, wine-fuelled laughs of adults coming from a room opposite the 'den'. She assumed that was (one of?) the living room(s). Douglas and Jennifer flashed Poppet a toothy smile before Poppet walked off through the alcove and into the den. The den was cosy with a roaring fire burning, squishy leather sofas and a worn, red rug on the floor. A computer on a desk was in one corner and in the other was a large grandfather clock. Sat on the sofas were James, Albus, Lily, Rose, Hugo, Roxanne, a boy Poppet didn't recognise and Florence.

"Here she is!" James said, beaming up at Poppet as she shyly entered the room.

"Hi," she smiled. Around the room here were murmurs that Poppet took to be greetings. Had she just walked into a room full of the most bored party guests ever? Not at a Potter party – surely not!

"That everyone?" Albus asked. "Poor turnout this year." The sombre mood was reflected in Albus' voice.

James nodded in agreement. "Well, it doesn't help that Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur took Louis, Dom, Vic and Teddy skiing en France."

"And Uncle Percy thought it would be too much of a late night for the twins," The boy who Poppet didn't recognise piped up. He was older than Poppet but not by much. He had caramel skin and shiny black hair. She internally swooned.

"Jocelyn couldn't make it," Roxanne said, "because it's her sister's birthday."

"Couldn't Tobias and Blane come?" Poppet asked.

James pressed his lips into a fine line. "No."

"Blane's spending New Year with his family," Florence muttered, "I have to go without a kiss this year!"

"And Tobias?" Poppet pressed.

"He couldn't come," James said, quickly.

"Because you didn't invite him," Albus snorted.

James glowered at Albus from across the room.

Poppet shrugged. She was somewhat relieved. She'd never admit that though.

"Well, I guess that is it," James quickly changed the subject. "Hastings, this is Fred. Fred, this is Hastings."

The beautiful boy turned to Poppet and smiled. Wow. "I assume you have a first name."

"It's – uh – Poppet."

"Well, Poppet," Fred extended his hand out to hers, "It's very nice to meet you."

Poppet smiled, shook his hand and the quickly withdrew it, looking away. This is silly, Pops, she told herself. He's only a boy- a very beautiful boy. But still. Just – a – boy! Poppet soon realised that this was the fit brother that Florence had told her about when she recounted the story of the weird, cousin-competitive summer. Florence wasn't wrong. Fred Weasley was a dish and a half. She had to remind herself that one of her best friends' family members was off limits.

James handed Poppet a Butterbeer and she took a seat on one of the cushy sofas next to Roxanne. She had only seen Roxy and Florence yesterday when they met for ice cream (which, in hindsight, wasn't the best idea as it was freezing. Poppet would have appreciated a warmer snack!) at Florean Fortescue's on Diagon Alley. It had been a nice day out.

"Now Poppet's arrived can we please go and play Gobstones?" Lily spoke. Poppet had never really spoken much to Lily. She was a sweet girl with reddy-brown hair and freckles splashed across her nose. She was short – even for an eleven year old – and constantly wanted to be as far away from her brothers as she possibly could be. Poppet didn't blame her, to be honest.

"Fine," James sighed, "but just know you're being rude, Lil."

"I can live with that," Lily said, brightly. She stood up, grabbed the Gobstones board from the bookshelf and was followed out of the room by Hugo and Rose. James shot a look at Albus as if to say 'aren't you going?' and Albus sighed, pulling himself off of the sofa reluctantly to follow his sister and cousins out of the room.

"Wait up," Poppet heard him say lazily and she suppressed a giggle. Poor Al.

James turned to the rest of them, his eyes gleaming. "So, what do you guys want to do?"

They sat around for a while, talking quietly while sipping wine the bottle, passing it around. As the wine diminished, the noise the five of them made grew and soon everything was far funnier than it usually would be. Poppet was bent over laughing about Hinkypunks at one point. And she couldn't even remember why. She just remembered the tears in her eyes and the ache in her stomach as she struggled for breath. In that moment she was so happy.

James tossed the wine bottle between his hands. He offered a game of spin the bottle. Fred pointed out that three of them were in fact related. This made Poppet laugh even more. At about nine, Ginny came in bearing trays laden with party food. With a broad smile, she set the trays on the table. James hid the empty bottle under a pillow but the smirk on Ginny's face told Poppet that she'd seen it.

James and Fred had decided that, last minute, they wanted to play one last Quidditch game of the year – in the dark, in the cold – and abandoned the girls in the den to go and play outside. Poppet's stomach was full and it seemed the smile on her face was permanent. Roxanne sloshed more wine into Poppet's glass.

The conversation turned to Poppet's love life and while she was mildly intoxicated she was inclined to share a little more with the girls. She told them that her date with Tobias was nice. She didn't like the weird flavoured latte he bought her – "I thought it would be like pumpkin juice, but it wasn't! It was just foul!" – but she enjoyed the conversation. She admitted that she was physically attracted to him and that they got on very well.

"Remind me why you're not dating?" Roxanne said, smirking at Poppet from over the top of her wine glass.

"If you think he's hot and you get on really well, why aren't you together?" Florence pressed.

"I just don't feel it. There's something about him that I just don't get. I just don't feel like I could fall in love with him. I feel like kissing him wouldn't be natural. I just don't – I don't know!" Poppet was exasperated but this had been on her mind for a while. Tobias, on paper, ticked all the boxes. However, in reality, he was not.

Roxanne paused and then said, "I see."

"Sorry to disappoint," Poppet bit.

James and Fred walked into the room at that point, cheeks flushed and brooms in their hands. James had changed his trousers, it appeared. Fred looked windswept and handsome. Poppet bit her lip. For a second time that night she had to remind herself that one of her best friends' family members was off limits.

"Woah," James said, taking a step back. "Catfight?"

"Hardly," Roxanne snorted.

James dropped it very quickly when he met Poppet's eyes and saw her lethal gaze. James seemed to be on the receiving end of these looks far too often these days. He explained to them about their Quidditch match and how it was cut short because they didn't take into account the fact that it was dark and that they wouldn't have been able to see. In spite of them not actually finishing the game of two man Quidditch in the dark, James was sure he'd won.

Midnight came and they all hugged each other. Lily, Rose, Hugo and Albus came back for midnight. Poppet made her rounds giving everyone a New Year's squeeze. She was very excited to hug Fred. Florence caught her eye over Fred's shoulder while it was happening and winked. Poppet laughed as she released Fred.

Ron and Hermione left with Rose and Hugo pretty soon after midnight. They were worried that Hugo was getting tired. This put Ginny in a frenzy about Lily being tired as well – even though she insisted that she was not – and she was sent off to bed. Albus went to spend time in the living room with the adults, clearly where he felt more at home, and Poppet, Florence, Roxanne, James and Fred spent the first hours of the new year playing 'Snog, Marry, Avoid?' whilst sat on the floor of the Potter's den.

(Poppet said she'd marry Professor Longbottom, snog Professor McGonagall and avoid the Headmistress, Professor Clearwater. Florence insisted that was a wise decision however became a little flustered when James suggested going to tell Professor Longbottom who was in the other room.)

Florence left at two. Her parents had sent her a text on her muggle phone telling her she needed to come home.

Roxanne and Fred left at three. Their dad, George, popped his head around the door to the den and told them it was time to go. Poppet asked James where his ear had gone after they left. James told her that Albus' namesake, Severus Snape, had cursed it off when he was being a double-agent for The Order of the Phoenix against You-Know-Who. Poppet called bullshit but didn't tell him.

At three-thirty, Ginny asked James and Poppet if they could wash up. At three-thirty five, Poppet found herself in the kitchen with James, a dishcloth in her hand. He was washing and she was drying. Poppet saw a dishwasher under the sink and inwardly cursed Ginny. The two of them were slowly sobering up.

"Things not great with you and Holt, then?" James asked, submerging a plate under the mountain of white suds as he spoke.

"I could say the same to you."

James smiled. "I heard you telling Rox and Flo that you had the ick."

"Excuse me?" Poppet didn't know what the 'ick' was but she was sure she didn't have it.

"The ick is when you think you should like someone but instead the thought of getting... intimate with them is icky," James calmly explained this to her as if he was teaching a child how to throw and catch a Quaffle.

"Then I suppose I do have the ick." Why was she sharing this with James?

"That's a shame," James said, and returned to washing the plate he'd submerged earlier.

"Don't pretend you're not pleased," Poppet sighed, "I know you're not his number one fan."

"I'm not. That's true," James said, quietly.

Poppet sighed again, drying the plate that James passed to her. They washed and dried in silence for a while.

"I enjoyed tonight," Poppet said, breaking the silence. Understatement of the centaury goes to Poppet Hastings, "I've never really had friends to share New Year's Eve with before so thanks."

"You're welcome," James said, awkwardly.

"Shame not everyone could come," Poppet added.

"I thought you didn't like Holt anymore," James retorted.

"I didn't mean him specifically. You're so touchy about him. What's he ever done to you?" Poppet snapped.

James grumbled something inaudible. Poppet chose to ignore him.

And then suddenly, James put the plate that he was washing down and turned to look at her. His hair was messy and falling over his eyes. His cheeks were very pink, almost glowing. His eyes were dark but also friendly, inviting. "I'm sorry for making things awkward."

"Oh! That's okay!" Poppet was taken aback.

"I won't pick fights with Holt anymore," James seemed sincere.

"Thank you," Poppet smiled, warmly.

The pair of them returned back to laughing very shortly. Poppet was hysterical about something stupid again – she had a feeling that this time it was about Florence and Blane and the noises they make when they're snogging but she couldn't be sure - when Jennifer popped her head around the door and told Poppet that they'd be leaving shortly. Poppet smiled and nodded. She was tired and as she became more sober, her head began to hurt more. She looked back at James who still hadn't turned back to the sink.

"Guess I'm off then," Poppet

And then, before she knew what was going on, he leaned across so their noses were nearly touching and kissed her on her lips. It was soft and surprising. Poppet was alarmed. The kiss lasted three seconds before Poppet jumped away, her head spinning and her stomach twisting itself in knots.

"What the hell? What was that?"

"A kiss."

"But why?"

"Something for the road," James smiled sweetly and turned back to his washing up. Poppet was breathless. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened. They'd just been talking. She'd never thought about James in that way before. And yet, Poppet found herself reminding herself for a third and final time that night that one of her best friends' relatives were off-limits.

AN: This is my favourite chapter to date. Let me know your thoughts. PS: Thank you to the guest/s who left me some lovely reviews yesterday. I very much appreciate your feedback. :)