Kissing in the Snow

"Harry?"

He turned, trying not to trip in ankle-deep snow. It was Hermione.

"Oh, Harry!" she rushed up to him. "I've been looking everywhere for you. What are you doing out here?"

He shrugged. "Just taking a walk."

"Can I join you?"

He grinned. "Sure."

Walking down the sloping grounds blanketed with snow towards the lake, she turned to him. "Really, Harry. Why are you out here, by yourself and in freezing weather?"

He hesitated before answering. "I just needed a break, to think about things. No matter where I go, people find some reason to bother me, so I came out here."

She looked at her feet. "If I'm bothering you as well, I can go back."

"No," he said quickly. "I didn't mean it like that, honest. I don't mind you being out here."

She smiled. They kept walking towards the lake and stopped near the bank. Looking out over the frozen lake, Harry tried to break the silence.

"So... er, why were you looking for me?"

"Well, when one of your best friends disappears mysteriously, you tend to go looking for them," she grinned. "Ron was looking too, but when we went back to check in your dormitory, he fell asleep in one of the armchairs and I couldn't bear to wake him up. He's been really stressed with exams (we all have), so he deserved some rest."

"Oh," Harry replied. They stood in silence for a few moments and he saw her shiver.

"Are you cold?" he asked her.

She waved her hand as if to brush the question away. "I just forgot my cloak, it's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course," she insisted, but after a minute or two Harry did what he thought was the only reasonable thing. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. He wasn't sure why, of all things, he acted in that manner, but he knew it felt nice and that was good enough.

"Warmer now?" he asked.

She blushed slightly. "Um, yes, thank you."

They looked at each other, then turned away. Harry stared across the lake while she examined the ground as though it was very interesting indeed. It started to snow gently.

He took a breath and looked at her. Her nose and cheeks were pink with cold. A few snowflakes were settled in her hair. He brushed them away.

Surprised by his movement, she looked up at him. "You... had snow in your hair," he mumbled. She smiled slightly, and he grinned back. Her smile grew, and her eyes sparkled.

Overcome with a sudden, strange feeling, he leaned down and kissed her softly.

She seemed taken aback at first, but then leaned in and returned the kiss, somewhat awkwardly. Harry's mind was spinning. Kissing Cho had been punctured by tears and the sheer shock of it all, but kissing Hermione was warm and soft and amazingly wonderful.

He pulled away slowly, knowing full well that he was grinning like a maniac. She was smiling as well, and she reached up to brush some snow from his own hair.

Hand in hand, they walked up to the castle, snowflakes floating through the air around them and the promise of the warm fire ahead.