*James POV*

Finally, it's time for Christmas break! I ran onto the Hogwarts Express. I'd promised to meet my friends in their train compartment at 3:00. I looked through the windows in each compartment, looking for Rose Weasley, Hugo Weasley, Allie Longbottom, and Frank Longbottom. I found them and I got in the seat. I was a bit squished, but I was okay.

"What are you guys doing over the break?" I decided to ask. I always start conversations.

"Our family isn't doing much. On Christmas, we are going down to the Burrow to see Grandma though!" Hugo piped up first.

"Sounds like fun," I said. "How about you guys?" I asked Allie and Frank.

"We're just visiting my Grandpa. On my mom's side of the family," Frank added quickly. "He lives in an awfully strange house, and he is strange himself. It'll be fun though," he said, grinning.

I chuckled a bit. "Great!" I exclaimed. Then, I noticed Allie's blue necklace. It had beads, and stones. It was pretty, but looked out of place when she only wore sweatshirts, jeans, and sneakers. "Allie, what's that necklace?"

"Oh, this?" Allie asked. She looked awkward. "This is my mother's necklace. She gave it to me. She said it would keep the Nargles away- whatever that means!" Allie said foolishly.

Then there was another awkward silence, until Rose piped up. "James, what are you doing?" she asked curiously.

"Me?" I asked. "Well, I'm going to hang out with my friend," I said quietly.

"What friend?" Rose asked.

"A muggle named Evelyn Baxter," I said, even more quietly. I knew Rose heard, though.

"Oooh!!!" she perked up and said. I blushed.

"You know, James has had a crush on her for a while now," Hugo said, matter-of-factly. Allie looked down. She looked pained, but I had no clue why. Rose burst out laughing. I felt like punching her, but I couldn't. Not to a friend.

"Guys, stop!" Frank said. I was very thankful. "This is no way to act. Let's talk about something else." Frank seemed to know something that the rest of us didn't. But soon, it was too late to change the subject. The train came to a stop, and we piled out. This was no way to say goodbye. With Rose and Hugo laughing, Frank upset, Allie disappointed (for some strange reason), and me embarrassed.

We all walked toward our parents, who were standing in a circle, talking, and waiting for us.

"Hey, Mom!" I called out, "Can we go home now?"

"Not until your brother, sister, and Teddy are with us. We don't want to leave without them," she replied easily. I did this every time we got off the train.

"Are you sure we can't leave without them? They are pretty annoying, and it would do me some good to not live with them," I answered jokingly.

"I'm sure," she said, smiling. A few minutes later I spotted their group walking and chatting on their way over toward us. The group dropped Lily, Albus, and Teddy over by us and continued on their way after saying goodbye.

"Now we can all leave!" Mom said. The Weasleys, and the Longbottoms had stayed to keep us company. Frank wouldn't talk to any of us, and he was over with Allie, talking to her, and hugging her. Hugo and Rose had just as much as an idea as I did about what was happening between them.

"Well, see you all after break!" I shouted to them over my shoulder.

As I was walking out, I heard Rose whisper "James likes a muggle," to her dad.

Mr. Weasley replied with, "Is that a bad thing?" Then we drove home from Kings Cross Station.