She liked the slow burn.

Liked it as surely as she knew in her heart that they were meant to be together. It was right. Just not right now.

It was frustrating as hell sometimes. He was arrogant and proud, and never passed up a chance to harass her, or anybody for that matter. But even through the tears and the anger, she still knew.

One day; maybe not today or tomorrow or next week; but one day, they would be together. There was no fighting it, they were meant to be. They both had growing up to do first, especially him, but there was always a glimmer of the future in her mind. A brush of the fingers that made her alert with anticipation; a moment of eye contact that crackled through the air; a realisation that he was watching, making her giddy.

She cherished the tension, the electricity, because she knew that it was just theirs, and that this was what the beginning of forever felt like. There was nothing like the feeling of what was to come. Because it would be right. Just not right now.

A passing of the potatoes in the Great Hall. A joke shared down by the lake. A sidelong glance in the Common Room.

And when she looked at him, she knew. Knew it was right, knew it would happen and even knew that he knew, too.

They laughed and broke the eye contact, looking down at the table. But the spell, and the effects of that stare would never be broken.

They lived the slow burn. And one day their flame would ignite, brighter and hotter than anyone could've imagined. A flame that could never be extinguished.


A/N: Not exactly extensive, I know, but I was in a sort of flowery, drabble-y mood. I'd love to hear what you thought, but otherwise, I just hope it brought you some momentary enjoyment!