(Here's a short little song but I was listening to it on repeat while writing this chapter so I thought I would include it. Hopefully you are liking the addition of these songs every now and then :) Interlude - Hollow Coves.)

Sebastian insisted on walking me back to the Gryffindor common room, my heart skipping with every press of my feet against the hallway floor. The heat between our hands felt like a magnet and my fingers ached to touch his, but my thoughts tied knots around all rationale.

I was glad that most of the students had climbed in bed by now, I imagined the sight of us was incredibly... surprising to say the least. Sebastian had been pulling small chunks of tomato from the creases in his shirt the entire walk back and tossing them over his shoulder, only stopping when I had scolded him for leaving them on the floor. He would then make a rather dramatic show of taking a handful over to each waste bin we passed, making sure I watched as he dumped them in.

We turned the last corner, stopped just at the edge of the portrait hallway and I could have sworn the sound of my heartbeat was loud enough to hear from across the castle.

"Well, this is me." I bounced my weight between the balls and heels of my feet and swung my hands nervously. 

When did I become this awkward?

Sebastian's throat bobbed as he smiled back, eyes drifting up to my hair, over my face, down to my shirt. His eyebrows scrunched together and he took a step forward, pointing to my chest.

"You've got a little something right here." His lips slipped to a grin. "And here." 

His fingertip brushed my neck. 

"And here." His voice softer with each.

The warmth of his skin heating the left side of my face as he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

"And here." A whisper as his thumb wiped against my bottom lip and I watched his breathing stop.

My eyes were on his lips but flicked up as he hooked a finger under my chin and lifted my face to him.

He let out a shuttered exhale as he smiled, voice still soft. "Merlin Barlowe, even covered in tomatoes... you're beautiful."

There was no way I was still breathing.

I bit my lip and managed out "You're not so bad yourself Sallow."

He grinned. "I know."

His lips crushed mine and I never knew the hunger of a kiss could still feel so gentle. Our hearts pounding and bodies pressed close together, but through it all, the kiss was kind.

The kiss was desperate but not consuming.

The kiss was vehement but soft.

The kiss was ours.

My cheeks flushed and nose warm, we reluctantly pulled away, my heart still thrumming through my blood. He smirked softly down at me and blinked slowly as if in a sleepy daze, murmuring

"Goodnight Atley." His hands slid down my arms and squeezed my hands.

I mirrored his whispers. "Goodnight Sebastian."

----

The next morning I woke to a thick scratching against the glass of the window above my head.

The air felt thick and assaulting against my eyes but I managed to squint upwards. A fluffy brown owl was perched on the ledge and watching me with angry eyes.

I scrambled up, tossing my blankets back and opening the window for the frazzled creature.

It flew in with a side glance at me, dropping two letters in my lap and landing on the little rest near the stove in the center of the room. It ruffled its feathers and sunk into the warmth.

It was early enough that the other girls were still sleeping soundly in their beds, blankets pulled up tightly over their shoulders. Light oranges, deep purples and pastel blues rose from the sky just outside. Light bounced off the glass of the windows and twisted around the cool breeze that crept in. 

I shut the glass and crawled back on my bed, sitting cross-legged and examining the letters. One was a slightly darker hue of beige and brown with a little red wax seal on the back and my name scrawled in pretty cursive across the front. The other was lighter and a familiar semi-neat, semi-sloppy set of words were scribbled over the back flap.

To, the only person who could make spaghetti a fashion statement,

aside from me of course

He had even drawn a little plate of spaghetti above that, noodles falling off the side, covered in sauce and a little witch hat sitting atop everything. I gently opened the envelope, careful not to rip a bit and untucked the parchment.

It has been nearly ten minutes since I last saw you and it has already been far too long.

Ominis and I would like to invite you to our lake spot after classes tomorrow (well, today actually) to practice more spells and charms.

(Ominis is sleeping,but I took the liberty of including him in this invitation as I know he is partial to your company - by the way, did you know that he talks in his sleep? Said something a moment ago that was mostly jumbled english, maybe a bit of parseltongue too, but I did make out the words 'lemon drops' so I think the poor chap is in need of another bag from Honeydukes.)

Anyway, I shall expect your glowing presence and attendance to this conference promptly following your last academic lesson.

Sincerely,

The incredibly dazzling and clever Slytherin

I rolled my eyes and tucked the parchment and envelope carefully below my thigh before tracing my fingers across the second letter, mind tumbling over who it could possibly be from.

The little red wax seal featured a small curly 'A' surrounded by a small wreath of leaves.

I tucked my finger beneath the edge of the envelope and carefully worked it open. Unfolding the parchment, I was surprised to find it nearly completely blank except for two words in the very center, written in incredibly neat cursive.

Thank you.

A little heart drawn below that.

I traced my fingers down and found one more word under the final fold.

-Anne