H:TEC: Learning to Love Chapter 10: Old Man Winter's, a harry potter fanfic

Old Man Winter's Whispered Lullaby

Sabine:

She had left the Hospital Wing early, much earlier than she was accustom to doing. Instead, she had left it to Jackie and Bella to close up the wing and finish up on the late evening duties. For once, Sabine did not feel guilty about leaving the duties to the other two ladies. She could not say why she didn't feel the guilt but she didn't. Maybe it was due to the life form growing inside her, but then again maybe not.

As it was, the Christmas break had just finished and the students who had gone home for the break had now returned to the castle. Even if the members of the Hospital Wing did not keep track of such things they would have realized it. There was a rush of activity in the wing. There was once more a student in there at every hour and more. The brief respite the break had afforded the three witches had come to an end and things would need to fall back into place.

But Sabine was tired. It seemed she had been causing more hinderance than help in the wing so she had left early. However, the healer neither wanted to return to her quarters or rather Mark's, nor did she want to go wandering the castle. Her mind was in a slight fog as to what she wanted to do. However, eventually the woman had made up her mind and magicked to winter cloak with her wand.

Taking the steps slowly, she gradually arrived at the Astronomy tower. It was still early in the second half of the term that there would be no classes that night. Halting before the door that led outside, Sabine wrapped her cloak around her form before opening the door and stepping onto the abandoned platform of the tower that was open to the sky. A gust of cold air hit her face and twirled the loose strands of blonde hair between their clear, icy fingers. Sabine took a deep breath, relishing the cold air before she stepped completely onto the opening, closing the door behind her.

She adjusted her cloak before she brushed away some snow and took a seat on one of the benches that was stationed in a corner against the stone barrier that kept students from accidently stepping off the tower. Once she had comfortably situated herself, she turned her gaze to look towards the sky. The sky was clear in its black abyss, broken only by the pin sized lights that speckled it and the glow of an almost full moon. Only the wind moved with life, reminding one of the cold and of Old Man Winter's presence.

For a moment Sabine closed her eyes. Well, it had felt like a moment. It seemed that she had just closed her eyes to feel the touch of the wind on her face when she felt a soft touch to her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open to note the moon's changed position, it show that more than a moment had passed, and the face of the person on the tower now with her.

Mark:

"You look gorgeous." Mark's voice filled the air when he noticed Sabine waking and find him standing there. For such a nervous wreck, Mark seemed pretty confident as his body stood in silhouette from the darkness of the room and soft moonlight that came in through the window near the entrance of the tower. From the light, you could see he was wearing a tank top and a pair of plaid sleep-pants.

Mark had woken up in his quarters to find himself alone. School was back in session, but it was rather late and Mark knew Sabine had to be done in the Hospital Wing. He tried to shrug it off, but after he fell asleep and had a dream that Sabine had fallen or something Mark woke up and went on a search for her.

He first stopped by her own quarters. They were mostly empty and that counts for Sabine's presence. Closing the door, he walked toward the only place he could think of. The Hospital Wing. He ran into a few students but when they didn't know what he was talking about he sent them to their dorms.

Jackie was closing up the Hospital Wing when he arrived. He was in hyper-drive as the woman spoke. She left a few hours ago. She didn't say where she was going. But Bella said she magicked herself a cloak. Mark smiled at her and before she could say anything else he was walking/running down the corridor.

After an hour of searching the grounds in nothing more than a tank top and a pair of sleep-pants and no shoes, Mark walked back into the school and sighed. Closing his eyes, he got a flash of the towers. Opening them up, he began the walk to the towers. He search four, but it was on the fifth that he found her.

He just stood there and allowed his breathing and heart rate to get back under control. He felt a tear escape his eye from the relief that she was safe and still here. His eyes washed over her body. She looked like an angel, almost not real. He would have approached her, but she looked to be asleep.

It wasn't until after she stirred and he spoke his first few words, he continued to speak. "I thought you ran away."

Sabine:

A light smile had touched her lips at his first comment. However, she had quickly noticed what he was wearing and frowned. It was her first clue that he wasn't as nonchalant as he was letting on. Sabine knew that Mark would not walk around like that in the dead of winter. He wasn't that crazy. He had to have been worried about her ... why else would he be here and dressed so? The next words to be released from his lips just confirmed her suspicions.

A gentle smile touched her lips and Sabine held out her hands to him to pull him down on the bench next to her. "Sit down you goose, before you freeze," she stated in a gentle chiding tone, as she opened her cloak to share with him. Neither would mind the close proximity they would be forced to endure in result of sharing.

Sabine wanted to make light of the situation but she felt that it would not be the wisest course. She had remembered an earlier talk about previous relationships for Mark and it made sense in her mind why he would fear she had ran away. It hurt her a little to think that he would even contemplate it of her. That she would be so heartless to run away from him ... without even telling him. Sabine could never do that.

"I have no reason to run away," she stated after a moment, her voice soft. "And even if I had, I would have spoken to you before I left," she then stated. Sabine was sure she would never be able to put to rest this fear of his. After her words, her mind couldn't but wonder if she had left without saying anything, would Mark had gone after her? Would he attempt to get her back?

She wanted to ask that question but she held off on it. She almost feared the response. What if he said no? That he would not come after her? It was a terrible thing to think at times. However, her mind felt some reassurance at the fact he had came to find her this night. It gave her hope that the answers to those questions would not be no.

"I didn't mean to worry you," she then stated softly, a small frown gracing her lips. She hadn't meant to lose track of time and yet she had. Although even as she sat there, she could feel the cold seeping into her bones from sitting outside so long. The wind had died down only a little and even now it was starting to pick up again.

Mark:

Mark didn't have to be told twice as he walked over to her and wrapped up in the cloak. He wasn't going to lie if Sabine asked him if he was cold. He was freezing and now that his body was more relaxed his feet were starting to hurt. He looked down at them as his body started to warm up and noticed that they were red.

"My poor feet." He bit his lip and felt the pain start to move up his legs. He would ignore it, but yet he knew Sabine would get angry if he didn't share. He was about to ask, when she began to speak again.

Mark gave her a slight kiss on her neck and leaned in closer to her so his hand could rest on her stomach. "If you ever left, I don't think I would be able to go on." His voice was barely a whisper as his mind worked around the concept of losing Sabine.

"I didn't mean to worry you."

"I know," he spoke, sitting up and allowed his hand to fall away from her stomach. "But can you look at my feet and tell me if they are going to ever regain feeling?" By the time he ended his question, his foot was hovering in front of them. He noticed his usual 13" foot looked smaller in the moonlight. However, you could see how red it had gotten.

Sabine:

"What am I going to do with you," Sabine clucked good-naturedly when he had asked about his feet. However, she soon turned her attention to them for a few moments before she drew out her wand and summoned a hot footbath that appeared under his lifted feet. The water would continue to remain a bearable heat until it was magicked away. Also magically, the cuffs of his sleep pants had rolled up.

"Put them in," she ordered him. She would worry about them more later. For now, they just needed to be warmed up.

"Next time, put shoes on," she then chastised him before giving him a soft kiss. She made no mention of the fact he was without coat or winter clothing. She didn't want to heckle him too much for being worried about her. It was partly her fault anyway for his walking around in the cold. Before returning her wand to the folds of her clothes she also magicked a pair of his shoes for when they walked back.

After his feet were taken care of, Sabine turned her mind back to his earlier statement. He would not be able to go on if she left him. Sabine wasn't sure what to make of it. Did he mean it literally? God, she hoped not. She didn't even want to think about that. Instead of thinking on it, she adjusted the cloak around them, which seemed to automatically become larger, before resting her head upon his shoulder, her hands taking up one his larger ones.

"Your feet are going to be sore for a few days," she finally commented at length. It was easier to think of his current health than a possible future that may or may not happen. It was easier to contemplate the present than something that was so questionable. It was like the wind. One could never be completely sure which way it would blow and for how long. Could things ever be predicted to a 't,' as the expression goes? Sabine didn't think so.

Mark:

"I can think of a few things," Mark stated with a smile as he placed his feet into the water. He sucked in some air and exhaled with a smile. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them when Sabine laid her head on his shoulder and took his hand.

"Your feet are going to be sore for a few days."

"Thank you, Healer Jayson," he joked, kissing her forehead slightly and pulling her closer to him. He switched hands with her so he could rest his other hand on her stomach. "When I woke up and you weren't there I lost my mind. I jumped up and went looking for you. I didn't know if you were hurt or what." Mark ran his hand up and down her stomach, allowing his fingers to trace slightly as he spoke.

"I ran into Jackie who was locking up. She said you left and that Bella saw you magic a winter cloak. So I thought you were outside walking around. I wasn't thinking until I was knee-deep in snow," he finished, kissing her temple and then her forehead.

"I love you."

Sabine:

Sabine had chuckled softly when he had replied to her earlier statement. She was pretty sure he could think of a lot of things and yet they had no presence in the here and now. She had merely shook her head lightly and continued with her task.

She made no comment when he had said thank you, merely smiled lightly. She did not put up any fuss when he switched their hands about. She had almost been expecting it. Ever since he had learned about her being pregnant his hand had always found a way to rest over her stomach and the life form that was growing inside her. Sabine didn't mind it.

However, as he spoke a grown graced her lips. She felt terrible that she had worried him so. She knew it was an accident and he didn't hold it against her but she still bad about it. How could she not? "I'm sorry," she murmured before kissing the side of his neck softly. "I didn't mean to stay up here so long." She knew he under stood but she couldn't help apologizing again. It was true, though that she had not meant to stay on the tower so long. She had planned an hour at most and somehow she had stayed far beyond that... enough to make him worry.

She closed her eye briefly when he spoke the last three words, just dwelling in their meaning. Her own mouth had echoed the same words back to him, the feeling the same as when he spoke it. Sabine could say that if asked when she first started working at Hogwarts that she would ever come to say such words easily and mean them to someone she would probably think the person was crazy.

Sabine had not asked for this and yet it had happened. Each day she was cherishing it more and more. For her it was to the point that if Mark had asked anything of her, she would probably do it. Even if he asked her to quit being a healer, as unlikely the scenario was. Mark knew better, it was her element just like his was with animals. It was crazy to even contemplate such a notion as give it up.

Mark:

Mark felt his entire body slow down when Sabine echoed the three words he had just spoken. A smile danced onto his lips when he gave her a meaningful kiss on the lips. He let his forehead met hers before he opened his mouth to speak again.

"Sabine, you don't know how lucky I feel to have you. Everyday, I thank the stars that we met and that I was given the chance to love you. And that you love me." Mark stopped his hand on her stomach and pulled her so she would sit on his lap. She wasn't much heavier than when he picked her up before she was pregnant, but Mark wouldn't and didn't care.

Mark stopped speaking after he tried to settle her onto his lap. He rested his head onto her shoulder and sighed. "I can't believe I am going to be a father," he finally stated as a swift wind blew through the tower. It wasn't something that he had really thought about and yet he had.

"Oh! Sabine. I meant to tell you. My parent's are coming for a visit. When I say visit, I mean they are coming here to Hogwarts and will be taking us out to lunch at Hogsmeade." Mark looked up and blinked at her. "They are coming next weekend, so if you can make time I will greatly appreciate it," he added, before pulling her closer and kissing her neck.

"When is your next doctor appointment?"

Sabine:

At his confession of his feeling, Sabine merely smiled. Her thoughts weren't directly on it as shortly after he had pulled her on it lap. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders after adjusting the cloak around them again after the movement. She didn't want neither of them to freeze. She knew Mark would think of her first more now with the baby.

She blinked when he spoke about his parents. It drew to her mind that she had not even informed her own parents she was pregnant, let alone that she was dating something. The last she had seen them had been before she started working at Hogwarts. Her mother had been happy that her daughter would be working as a Healer at both of their old schools. Her father still worried that she worked herself too ragged but hoped the school would prove less busy.

How had she managed to forget to write or visit them? How had they allowed her to do that? In thought she had started to bite on her bottom lip. After a moment she spoke. "That's fine," she stated in response with a smile. She was sure Mark would worry if she continued to frown, thinking perhaps she didn't want to meet his parents, which was not the case at all!

She turned her mind to his last question. "Whenever Jackie corners me next," she replied lightly and with a smile. She had started to see Jackie more than her normal doctor since Sabine had the feeling their child would be born at Hogwarts. It was where she spent all her time. She was pretty sure even in June she would still be around the school. It made sense in her mind.

Mark:

Mark noticed her frown and was about ask her if she was okay when she spoke and smiled.

That's fine."

"I do have to warn you. My mother is a Jewish mother. So, she is going to be asking you fifty different questions. If you get uncomfortable, then just let me know. My father is the only one who can divert her attention away for a moment." Mark shook his head and laughed. He rested his head against the cold stone wall and looked up at her.

"Whenever Jackie corners me next."

"Oh. Well tell Jackie that she needs to give me a timetable of her cornering attacks. Last time, I was in the middle of a lesson when she ran into the classroom and pulled me out. It was an advanced class." Mark laughed when he finished and winked at her to show her it was alright. "Have you ever seen her run?," he added with a hearty laugh. He started to laugh a little harder and took a deep breath. "Woo."

"No. But back to us. If you wanted to invite your parents up, then maybe we could all go out to lunch. But your father is a muggle, right? We may have to go somewhere besides Hogsmeade." Mark's hand left hers to scratch at his head. He wanted to have all of the families come together so they could discuss the child that Sabine was carrying. However, trying to make plans when one of the parents were muggle made it just a little bit harder.

"Maybe someplace in London."

Sabine:

"I'll keep in mind to let her corner me when you aren't teaching a class," she teased him lightly with a smile. She had forgotten about that one encounter. However, neither witch could ever say when they would decide to do the appointment. It tend to be when they had time and when no students were around needing their attention. That had been what happened when Jackie had pulled Mark from his class. Sabine had been adamant about the fact he be present. She had not forgotten his request when she had told him she was pregnant.

However, when he spoke about her parents, the frown returned to her features. "Next week would not be best for them," she stated after a moment, guilt in her voice. "I don't need to be attacked on both sides," she then said, all but saying she hadn't told her parents anything yet. She left it to Mark to figure this out. She felt bad enough without wanting Mark to feel hurt over the fact she had yet to tell them about him or the baby yet.

She was still amused by the fact she had forgotten to inform them. How could it had happened. It floored her. Although, it never bothered her before .. but then she never had such news. Her parents were used to not hearing from her for a while. She was always so busy at the Hospital.

"But Hogsmeade isn't hidden to muggles," Sabine stated going back to the start of the subject, knowing Mark would draw things back to her last statement. "He just can't come into Hogwarts." She felt bad for her dad on that front. It was terrible that he couldn't see the school his wife and daughter had attended and now where her daughter worked.

Mark:

Mark noted the guilt in her voice, yet his mind couldn't fully wrap around the reason why. He knew she had told her parents that sh was pregnant. Right? How could she hold that nugget of information from two people who probably waited for this moment since Sabine was born.

He almost voiced his question about her telling them, when she spoke about Hogsmeade. He knew it wasn't hidden, but yet he didn't know if being around all those magical people would put her father out of place. "I was just saying because I don't know if your dad would be out of place. I know he has been around you and your mother, but I was just suggesting it." His voice drifted off at the end and he shrugged his shoulders. His mind was still on the whole parent's issue.

He didn't know how he would feel if Sabine hadn't told her parents. He wasn't exactly sure if he would yell...but he knew he would be shocked at how she could keep that important information from them. Sighing, he decided to ask.

Mark looked up at her and blinked. "You did tell them you are pregnant, right?" Mark smiled and shook his head. "Of course you did," he quickly added with a soft chuckle. "Sorry, that was so stupid of me."

Kissing her softly on the neck, he sighed. "I mean, how could you not tell them? This is the biggest thing to happen to me. The day I found out I sent my parent's word. And I know you did the same." Mark ended the statement with a kiss on the temple and smiled.

Sabine:

Sabine didn't say anything in response to his statement about Hogsmeade. She would leave it up to him. He would say something and even if he didn't her mother would know it. Her mother could read her father like an open book. When she had been younger, it had always amazed her when her mother could predict her father's reaction almost to a 't.' Now she knew it was because her mother loved and knew her father so well. She was an observant woman.

However as Mark continued to speak she felt her heart drop out of her chest. It was as if he was just rubbing it in. She always felt terrible and he was making it worse. Sabine closed her eyes and dropped her head to lean against Mark's shoulder. She had to tell him that. She couldn't avoid it.

"I haven't told them." There was pain in her voice. It was evident even to the blindest person it tore at her. "I haven't talk to them since I started working here," she whispered quietly. "I'm horrible!" she stated almost sharply but still with a sinking expression. Tears had sprung to her eyes as she had spoken.

Sabine didn't dare lift her head to look at Mark's face. She didn't want to see the hurt that she was sure it was there. She had not kept it secret intentional. It had just happened. She knew she would get an earful from both her parents and she was sure she would get one from Mark at any moment now. The woman certainly would not blame him for berating her oversight, for thats what it was. It was a huge oversight on her part.

Mark:

Mark knew when she laid her head on his shoulder that something was wrong. His mind didn't really center on the fact she hadn't told them until she spoke it. He didn't really know what he thought was wrong until she spoke the truth. A truth he didn't think he would be able to handle.

What did all of this mean? She hadn't spoken with them since she started her. Did they even know Mark and her were dating? And if Sabine hadn't told them...was she ashamed of him? Was it the fact he worked with animals? She never seemed to mind before, but maybe her paretns were expecting her to marry someone who made loads and loads of money.

It wasn't in Mark's personality to push Sabine away and ask her all of these questions. And he knew Sabine would know that. It nearly broke his heart when she said she was horrible and started to cry against him. He kissed her head and tried to sound like he wasn't hurt.

"Sabine. It's alright." Yet, Mark was unsure of the tone of his voice as he let out the simple statement. He heard it creck on the 'it's', but he couldn't take seeing her upset. "You have been busy. Maybe...you...we could write them and tell them," he added, trying to sound cheerful.

Mark was thankful for the dark that shadowed his face. Because he was sure the confusion and hurt was showing clearly.

Sabine:

Sabine's mind was focused on the fact she had hurt him. she may not have been looking at his face she she felt the change in his body and then the crack that had entered his voice when he had spoken. It just made her feel even more horrible. Perhaps if she didn't have more hormones flowing through her system she would have been able to see things more clearly. However, for the moment her mind just wanted to rest on the negative aspects of the situation.

"Don't lie," she stated, "you're not happy about the fact." She sniffed. "I just forgot all about writing them and they haven't written me," she paused. "I'm gonna be a rotten mother ... I can't even stay in contact with my own parents!" She buried her face against his shoulders.

Perhaps it was a leap only a future mother could make. She was still insecure about becoming a mother. It was terrible to think that she could not even keep in contact with her own parents, how will that reflect on the fact that she will have a small life depending on her? Granted, the child would be constantly in her presence where as compare to her parents who were miles and miles away.

She pressed her eyes closed as her mind turned everything over. This night was just going worse and worse. First she had worried him and now she had insulted him about having yet to speak to her parents about him and the baby. How would this night become any worse?

Mark:

"Don't say that. You are going to be a great mother." Mark knew this was the obvious statement to someone who said what Sabine had just said. However, the way Mark said it...he felt Sabine would have no other choice but to believe him.

"I won't lie to you. I am hurt that you have not told your parents about us. About all three of us," he stated, his hand on her stomach again. "But I still love you. And I know you are really busy," he sighed, nudging his shoulder so he could look at her face.

Mark knew he couldn't stay angry at Sabine for long. He could feel his hurt melt away as the tears ran down his shoulder. "Come on, love. Why don't we get a late snack from the kitchens and go back to my..no...our quarters?" It wasn't really a question when Mark finished. It was more of a plea. He wanted so much to feel her body next to his...even if they weren't touching.

He laid his head on the woman's neck and kissed it twice. His mouth lingered for a moment before he rested his forehead there.

Sabine:

Sabine didn't want to dwell on his reassurance. That she would be a great mother. She couldn't help but feel the opposite. Her emotions were such a mess and they would only continue get worse as the pregnancy continued onward. She felt the truth in his words but the human mind and emotions tended to believe what they wanted to believe.

"It wasn't intentional," she whispered as she raised her head away from his shoulder as he nudged it. "I'm sorry," she murmured, blinking her eyes to allow a fresh set of tears to escape their caged on her eyelids. She knew it was going to haunt her until she rectify the situation. At least she wasn't one to go off at that very moment to do it. She was still rational in some sense.

After his small plea, Sabine nodded her head mutely. Even on his lap and wrapped in the cloak, she was feeling the cold as the night progressed around them. She slipped from his lap to sit on the bench next to him to allow him to place the shoes on his feet. After she was seated again, she took her wand from her pocket and murmured a spell that caused the hot water to disappear and dried the water from his feet.

As she waited for him to finished, she brushed the remainder of her tears from her face. She knew if she was reminded again by it a fresh wave would start. Sabine could feel them on the edge of her mind.

Mark:

Mark blinked and bent down to put his shoes on. He would have sat up sooner if it wasn't for the tear that fell from his eye. Mark didn't exactly know why that came or where it came from, but he knew Sabine couldn't see that. Wiping it away, he let out a cough and sat up.

"Let me see a smile," he stated, searching for her hand under the cloak. When he finally found it, he squeezed it and smiled up at her. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Sabine, I know that you are a wonderful women. You don't know how happy you have made me these past five months." Mark ended his speech with a kiss. The kiss was quick, yet passionate and when he broke the kiss the quiet of the tower was filled with the noise of their lips pulling apart from the kiss.

Mark ran his hand up her arm and smiled. "I love you, no matter what," he whispered and stood up to show that he was ready to get out of the tower. He stood up and made a muscle before smiling. "We better be careful walking around this late...with these guns," he joked, kissing his right arm and then his left.

He allowed the smirk to play on his lips, when he held out his hand to her. "May I escort you?"

Sabine:

At his request for a smile, Sabine gave him a weak one before he kissed her. Her eyes closed for the few brief seconds the kiss had lasted. At his words, she smiled lightly. It wasn't as weak as the first but it wasn't her normal cheerful smile.

She gave a small laugh as he joked, a smile gracing her lips once more. "Of course," she stated when he asked if he could escort her. She accepted his hand and stood up from the bench allowing him to help her up if he had so chose.

"Where to?" she murmured when they had left the Astronomy tower. He had listed two possibilities. She was fine with either and was content to allow him to choose. She was still down about her mistake, however she tried to push it from her mind. She didn't want to upset Mark again. It seemed when she became upset, he did as well. It was comforting in a way.

As they walked, Sabine slid her other hand to the one they had clasped together, holding his hand between both of hers.

Mark:

"Where to?"

Mark smiled at her as the left the Astronomy Tower. He was, personally, feeling a little better and he only felt better when Sabine slid her hand to the one that was already clasp to hers. He looked down at them and looked back up, ready to answer the question.

"I am kind of hungry, so what say you to a midnight kitchen rendezvous?" His question fell from his mouth as his hand came to rest over his stomach. He didn't get a chance to eat dinner the night previous and his stomach had been acting up in the tower.

"If you are tired, we can go back to our quarters," he said, before placing his available hand on the back of his neck. He smiled at her as they turned a corner to come face-to-face with two students. By the way they looked they had just come in from outside and been playing in the snow.

However, Mark knew they were more horrified to see a male professor in a tank top and pj pants that weren't very concealing and a female staff member walking hand-in-hand. His suspicions as to what was going on in their mind was confirmed from the smile and blush of the students.

"Get to bed before I give you detention." He knew the excuse held no real punishment, but only himself and probably Sabine knew that. So, as the boy and girl ran toward what had to be either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw the latter would have been confirmed if Mark would have looked at the scarves, he turned toward Sabine.

Before he spoke, he looked down at himself and back up. "But if we go anywhere else in the castle, I am going to need to change."

Sabine:

Before Sabine had been able to make any answer to Mark's inquiries as to her preferance they had turned the corner to come face to face with two students. Sabine watched as the two had looked uncomfortable as they looked at the two staff members before them. Sabine noted the slow smile and blush that had spread over their already rosy countenances.

A light smile touched her lips when Mark told them to get to their common room. She felt that there wasn't much threat in his statement and yet it had done the trick. Perhaps the students thought it better not to press their luck with the two staff members. Either way, it did not matter much since they had hurried off.

She chuckled when Mark stated that if they went anywhere he would have to change. "Well, we could do both things," she stated. "We can stop at the kitchens and bring it back to our quarters," she continued. Sabine was in fact feeling a bit tired but she didn't want to deny Mark his food since he was a bit hungry, despite the fact he wouldn't put up much of a fuss over it.

Sabine wasn't feel particularly hungry, but she wasn't full either so a snack didn't seem such a bad idea however her mind was drawing a blank as to what she would prefer to eat. It would be simplier to let Mark decide what they got if they went.

Mark:

Mark grinned at her and kissed her slightly. "I don't know what I would do without," he stated as he started the walk back toward the kitchens. Even as Mark spoke about the animals and his classes, his mind was wrapped around his exact statement. Where would he be right now, if he hadn't met Sabine? Would he be in bed? Would he be in the Beastary? Or would he be in his office grading the mounds of parchment that sat on his desk?

As they turned a corner, Mark dismissed every question that had filled his mind and focused on the task at hand. "I want a mug of butter beer and a hamburger." Mark finished his order with a lick of his lips. He blinked as he reached the tapestry and ticked the right fruit. It wiggled to reveal the way to the kitchens.

The passageway to the kitchens was well lit and Mark only released Sabine's hand to gain his balance as the stepped on a lower level of the area. He blinked as the light grew and showed the way into the large kitchens. Mark was shocked to find it bustling with activity this late at night.

A house elf, one short and fat and wearing a hat that kept covering his eyes came up first. "Hello. Food you want? Food you get," the creature stated, his voice deeper than most of the other creatures that filled the room. "Yes, I will take a hamburger, cooked well, and a mug of butter beer," Mark ordered, before turning to Sabine.

"And whatever she would like."

This thread is still in progress (if I ever dig up muse to reply with Sabine)… so check back later to see if it gets updated!