Home is where I left my heart behind

The train ride home was long and seemed to go on forever, they had even made it halfway through a wizard chess tournament before the trolley lady had even got there. Brandon awaited his turn, whoever won out of Toby and Helen would be playing him, and thought about home. His parents of course, would give him the usual lecture about spending too much time with 'that muggle boy' and not even time surrounded by people 'worthy' of his blood status. Not that Brandon actually cared about any of that. He wondered whether Danny was recovered, of he was waiting to see him as eagerly as Brandon was.

"You look sad." Rosa commented, as she and Lily shared a pumpkin pasty, they seemed to share many things nowadays.

"I'm just thinking Ro." He answered, she smiled at him. He smiled bsck, hoping to deter her from thinking he was sad.

"About home? I can't wait to get back  either." She agreed, she was showing her more emotional side, a rarity. He laughed.

"It'll be good to get home." He nodded.

"How do you convince your parents to let you hang around with so many muggles? My mum is a half blood and even still they don't let me be friends with muggles." Rosa sighed, she seemed almost resentful at that fact.

"They only know about Danny." He answered with a shrug, her eyes widened.

"They'll kill you when they find out." Rosa told him, he already knew that, if his parents didn't like Danny, and allowed Brandon to be friends with him, he did not know what his life would be.

"I know, but they won't find out. I'm careful." Brandon answered confidently. Rosa didn't look convinced, but then she nodded.

"Okay, just be safe, don't give them reason to go searching after you." She warned after a moment of deliberation as to what to say to him. He just nodded. She was right. If his parents went digging they would immediately find out about his other muggle friends. He didn't want that.

God help him of they found out.

"Yes!!" Helen yelled suddenly, she had won. Toby looked incredibly confused. He evidently hadn't seen the checkmark coming. Brandon laughed, Toby sighed and swapped places with him. If Brandon won he would have to play whoever won out of Lily and Rosa. If he lost, he... He wasn't actually sure, but would find out eventually.

He started off the game strong, whilst of course the group began talking about their favourite Christmas food.

"Hands down it's the cake." Lily announced passionately. Brandon laughed and made a move, taking one of Helen's pawns.

"You'll regret that Fawley." She said darkly, but she was laughing.

"Fighting talk from someone who can't fight." He replied. She stared at him.

"Say that again when I win." He laughed at her. "Oh and Lily the best food is the chocolate." Helen added. Lily snorted in disbelief.

"Of course."

"I like the turkey." Brandon shrugged, scowling as Helen took his rook.

"Beat that." She said victoriously. Brandon was losing and he didn't like it.

"The turkey! That's the worst bit!" Rosa exclaimed. "Nah, the cake is the best bit."

"Thank you!" Lily hugged her. Brandon laughed at them, it was then that his phone rang.

"I'll be back." He told them, before leaving the compartment. "Hello."

"Brandon!" It was Mia, he was surprised by that, he had been hoping Danny would ring him, but then Danny was in school.

"Um... hey Mia." He said. He heard her laughing at him.

"You better be coming round tonight." She said it like an order, which scared him slightly.

"I mean I wasn't planning on it... I just want to see Danny." He answered.

"He'll be there, late because he and Jay got detention like idiots, but He'll be there. And you need to be there too." She explained to him. "We miss my whilst your gone too you know."

"Thanks Mia, I'll come over later, it'll be about seven or eight, I have to see my parents." He told her. He would have preferred to just spend the evening with Danny, but the fact that she herself had told him that they wanted to see him, made him feel better about going.

"Alrighty, see you then. You'll finally be able to meet Jay!" She added. Brandon felt sick to his stomach, having to meet Danny's best friend, who made him jealous without trying, was not how he wanted to spend his evening. He found it hard enough vying for Danny's attention when his friends were there, and Danny did always pay him a lot of attention, but Jaeden. He did not want to meet him.

"Okay, see you Mia." He hung up, sighing and composing himself, before walking back into the compartment.

"Who was that?" Helen asked, he knew who they were expecting him to say.

"Mia, a friend." He answered. He swore he almost saw Helen pouting.

"Why so sad?" Lily asked.

"Danny's best friend is there." He answered through gritted teeth. Rosa gasped dramatically.

"Someone's jealous!" She yelled, squealing and clapping her hands in delight.

"Yes, thank you Rosa, I needed it spelling out for me." Brandon replied bitterly as he made his move.

"Brandon! Anger makes you a better player!" Helen complained. He managed a smile. "Why exactly are you jealous of YOUR boyfriend's best friend?"

"I just... they're close and they spend a lot of time together and I don't see him as much." He ranted, letting out all of his feelings. He saw Lily roll her eyes.

"Boy, you need to get a grip on yourself." She told him. "Danny ain't stupid, if his best friend was hitting on him, he would say something."  She was right and he knew it, but it still hurt to hear it.

"I know, but I just..." Brandon sighed. "I don't know."

"God bless you honey." Lily hugged him patronisingly. He glared at her. She patted his cheek. He ended up bursting into laughter. His friends supported him to no end and by god was he grateful.