Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reviewing my story guys. I really appreciate it. This chapter is specially dedicated to all those who read and reviewed my story. Enjoy!

Chapter Three:

Standing in the shadows past the road, Howl watched Sophie as she entered her Shop, judging from her appearance she looked tired and sleepy. Safely entering her shop, she locked the main door. Howl walked past the road and stepped on the wooden veranda of Hatter's Shop, he observed the entrance door and smiled. She's an interesting one, he thought.

"Sophie , I can't wait to meet you again", he said to no-one in particular and turned around, he quickly examined his surroundings to look for anything suspicious but found none. After thorough examination he walked across the road and went on his way to his Castle.

... ... ... ... ... ...

"Markl! come here! get me some logs, my fuel is almost out!", shouted Calcifer who was a fire demon. He was saved by Howl when he was cursed by the most powerful demon of his kind. Howl saved Calcifer on one condition that from that day onwards he would stay by Howl's side for eternity, Calficer had no choice but to accept his offer. He kept his promise and now he was in-charge of moving Howl's Castle and preparing hot water for his bath.

"Coming!" said Markl from upstairs. Markl was a 10 years old boy with messy caramel colored hair and chocolate eyes, dressed in a white shirt, green sleeveless coat and matching green shorts with a red bow tied around his neck. Howl took him in when he lost his family at the age of 7 , magic fascinated him so he became Howl's apprentice.

"Here you go Calcifer", said Markl as he threw some logs in the hearth. "Oh thank goodness! I almost died Markl", said the demon, "Be careful kid, I'm the one running the house so keep me alive at all cost understand?" he continued. "Yes Calcifer" said the innocent child and went upstairs in his room.

"What is taking that wizard so long?", said Calcifer, "I believe a young maiden captured my attention", said Howl as he came in through the brown entrance door and reclined on the chair near the hearth.

"Think of the devil", said Calcifer while shaking his (so called) head. Howl laughed, "aren't you the 'devil'?" said howl teasingly while rubbing his temples. "We all know exactly who's the devil here. Anyway who's the unlucky girl now?" asked Calcifer nonchalantly.

"Unlucky? I wouldn't call her that", said Howl. "Yeah right", Calcifer rolled his eyes. "She goes by the name Sophie", Howl told Calcifer. "Sophie? hmm never heard of her", Calcifer shook his head while pondering, "so how long did it take her to fall for you?", he asked.

"She didn't fall for me", stated Howl as he straightened up.

"What? that's impossible, Stop joking", Calcifer shook his head, "No one's safe from your charms. You spend half your day making yourself look 'pretty' in that bathroom of yours", he looked surprised.

"That's the thing Calcifer, She even called me Mister Pendragon! She looked like a grandma but beneath her facade was an innocent and beautiful girl. She had an angelic face Calcifer, she was different from all the ladies that I've met. She looked so pure and fragile. I don't know why but I felt so attracted towards her maybe because her simplicity was very enchanting", said howl while smiling.

"Hold it right there. Aren't you the one who fell for her?", Calcifer appeared amused.

Howl became stiff.

"Calcifer, move the castle sixty miles west", Howl said dodging his question and started going upstairs, "And while you're at it, make hot water for my bath".

"Fine, like moving the castle isn't hard enough!", said Calcifer annoyingly.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

The chirping of birds woke Sophie up from her deep slumber, she stretched in her bed and got up. After making her bed she went to the bathroom to take a bath. She took a quick bath and wore a dull blue gown and left her hair untied to let them get dried. She quickly made breakfast in her kitchenette, ate it and went downstairs to fix up her shop for the customers as she still had an hour before she opened it. She was busy sweeping the floor when she heard a knock on the door.

She went through the gallery and opened the door, to her surprise she found Howl standing there with a smile plastered on his face and roses in his hands, clad in a white frilled shirt, black trousers and a purple coat, a single purple ear-ring dangling in his right earlobe while a blue pendent hung elegantly around his neck. "Mister Pendragon, I wasn't expecting you so early" said a surprised Sophie.

"You weren't?", asked Howl as he raised his eyebrow and grinned, he extended his arms to present her the roses, "I brought flowers for milady", he said teasingly. Sophie looked at the flowers and then at Howl, "I-I'm sorry but I don't like roses", said Sophie bluntly.

"Oh I didn't know that", with a swift movement of his fingers, Howl changed the roses into lilies, "I hope you like lilies", said Howl and smiled. "Thank you", although I don't like lilies either, thought Sophie as she took the flowers nervously and placed them on the side table. She wanted to ask him how he knew that she lived here but stopped, he's a wizard, its not a problem for him to find out about me, she thought. "Umm please come inside" She stepped aside, "You wanted to buy a hat Sir?" she inquired. Howl sighed, "Will you drop the honorifics please?" he said politely and went inside, "And yes I'm here to buy a hat...for now".

Sophie observed him for a while before saying, "Give me a moment please", she went near the side-table and picked up a hair-band to tie up her hair. Howl watched her as she gracefully held her hair and tied them in a messy bun. After tying up her hair she said, "This way please". She took him to the shop and showed him the hats on display. Howl was secretly observing her when she asked, "What kind of a hat would you like?"

"I'm looking for a Top Hat"

"Excellent choice Sir, we have an excellent collection of Top Hats"

Howl frowned at the honorific and nodded.

Sophie turned around to look for the catalog. She looked unusually attractive in her dull gown and her loose wet bangs which caressed her face softly, made her look angelic.

Howl awed at how she looked so extra-ordinary in her ordinary attire. Sophie suddenly turned around with the catalog in her hands, the sunlight from the window dimly lit up her pale face making her look truly like an unearthly beauty. Howl gasped inwardly she's magnificent, he thought and took a step towards her. Sophie was busy going through the catalog when she felt a presence near her, she looked upwards and found Howl standing merely inches away from her, she unconsciously took a step backwards.

"Umm i-is there a p-problem Sir?" asked a nervous Sophie. Howl said nothing, his expression was intense, almost threatening. He again took a step forward and Sophie took one backwards until she was trapped between Howl and the wall. Sophie's heartbeat quickened and she became afraid. Howl looked in her caramel orbs and released the breath he didn't know he was holding, he placed both his hands on her sides.

"Only Howl would have sufficed" saying that he captured her rosy lips. The catalog fell on the floor and Sophie went still unable to comprehend what was happening, she could feel his hot lips on hers. Goosebumps shimmered across her skin and butterflies danced in her stomach. Her head started to spin and her knees went shaky. Howl cupped her face and tilt his head to deepen the kiss. Realization suddenly struck her and she quickly pulled Howl away from her, breaking their contact.

"What do you think you're doing?" Sophie asked with piercing eyes and hostile tone, flushing furiously partly because of the kiss and partly because of anger, her heart pounding in her chest and her breath uneven. Howl studied her intently for a short-while then chuckled at her expression dismissing her question and turned around leaving her dumbstruck, he picked up a simple black Top Hat from the display cabinet, "I like this one" he said and looked at the price tag, it read 70 $.

He wore it and placed 70 $ on the counter while Sophie stood there stupefied. Without turning around he said, "See you around my sweet Sophie", and then exited the shop. Sophie watched him exit and then slowly fell to her knees, hands on her lips which still tingled due to the close contact, what just happened?, she asked herself even though she knew the answer.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Howl exited the shop and after taking a few steps forward he placed a hand on his heart, it was beating furiously. I never had this type of feeling before, he thought and sat down on the steps. He looked at his hands and then clenched them, I never lost control with anyone yet why did I lose myself with her?, he thought and sighed. He rubbed his temples trying to clear up his thoughts but his mind was a mess, he kept remembering the feel of her soft feathery lips and her innocent yet beautiful face. I need to clear up my mind before I do something stupid, he told himself and started walking down the long road.

AN:

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