On the first of December, it snowed eight inches. Gigi woke early to find the flakes spiraling past her window, sticking to the trees outside. She got up and padded over to the window and pressed her face to the glass, so she could look out onto the street below. On the sidewalk, slick patches of ice were just visible under the thickly falling snow. Funnily enough, the snow didn't seem to reach Gigi's front steps. She sighed and turned away from the window, heading for her bathroom.

Ever since her house had been broken into, extra security measures had been put into place. Gigi's house was now surrounded by a security bubble, and only those approved by her could enter. The first few days after the break-in, Harry had insisted an Auror stand outside, just to be safe. He had even come to her house a few times, just to check on her.

However, Gigi wasn't scared anymore. While it had been shocking and yes, frightening, at first, Gigi relied heavily on Harry's philosophy. She wasn't going to stop living because someone scared her. She had come home from Harry's house the following day, and began to tidy her room. Magical Law Enforcement had taken a few of her things for evidence, but Gigi was able to piece back her room, for the most part. By the first of December, Gigi felt secure, as secure as could be. All she wished is that she could watch the snow stick to her windows, feel the cold as the flakes piled up on the glass. She couldn't wait until the person who had broken into her house and committed all the murders was caught. That way, she could go back to living without the security measures.

While Gigi struggled to return to normalcy, Harry struggled with his ever-growing frustration with his job. When Gigi's house had been broken into, Harry felt his first pang of fear. He knew, deep down, that whomever he was dealing with was far more dangerous than he had originally thought. The killer was calculated and cold, but he was also extremely observant. He had known that Gigi and Harry were involved, obviously, which meant he had been watching Harry and Gigi for months.

The attention around the break-in hadn't been easy to control. The note the intruder had left had been tested for any type of DNA or fingerprints or magic, but no one could find anything. The public was in uproar about the case, completely terrified that a dangerous murderer walked amongst them. Everyday, hundreds, if not thousands, of letters poured into the Aurors office about the case. Some contained useless hints, tips, and leads that ultimately lead nowhere, and some contained the anger and concerns of the wizarding world. Harry felt as if the weight of the world was upon his shoulders.

On top of this all, Harry and Gigi's relationship had become somewhat strained. Because they were both so busy with work, their time together became limited. And when they were in the office, Gigi insisted on a stiff decorum, so that their co-workers would be unaware of their relationship. While both Harry and Gigi agreed that their co-workers shouldn't know of their relationship, at times, Harry wondered if it would all just be easier if everyone knew, that way, he and Gigi could act normally and happy and spend more time with each other without the awkward stiffness that lingered whenever they chatted in front of others.

Gigi could also feel the strain in their relationship. She loved Harry with all her heart, and yet, she didn't have the courage to tell him. As things became more serious, and therefore, more complicated, she felt her courage dim. She still refused to tell her co-workers about her and Harry's relationship because she didn't want to be ocstracized. Gigi had worked hard to get the job she did, and as much as she loved Harry, she didn't want to lose her job.

On December 1st, however, Harry decided that this would change. He apparated to Gigi's house at ten 'o clock in the morning. He had worn his heaviest coat and a scarf that was bundled around the length of his whole neck, to stop the biting winds from nipping at his skin. He knocked sharply on Gigi's door and then tucked his hands in his pockets, waiting for her to answer.

Gigi answered the door a few seconds later. She looked surprised to see Harry, but smiled when she saw his face.

"Hi," she said brightly. "I…I didn't expect to see you this morning."

"I had an idea," Harry told her, stepping over the threshold and shutting the door behind him. He couldn't help but smile as he saw her. Even though he wished dearly she wasn't always so stubborn, he couldn't imagine being happier with anyone else. He leaned down and cupped her jaw in his hands, kissing her deeply. Gigi closed her eyes in ecstacy and let her head roll back. When Harry began to pull away, she grabbed his scarf and yanked him closer.

"Was that your idea?" Gigi asked. "Because if this is your idea, we could put it into motion."

"No," Harry said with a smile. "Though, I don't mind doing that either." He pulled Gigi's hands into his. "I thought we could go out on a date."

"A date?" Gigi said incredulously. "It's ten in the morning."

"So?" Harry replied. "I heard you telling Effy this week that you wanted to go ice skating when the pond in St. James's park froze over. And guess what? It did."

"Someone's certainly eager," Gigi said with a smirk, her mouth curling up at the corners.

Harry shrugged. "I can't remember the last time I did something like this. It must've been my first or second year. Come on, indulge me. It will be fun."

Gigi tapped her lips with her fingertips, and then smiled.

"Alright," she agreed. She beckoned Harry forward, and then said in a small voice: "Just get ready, Harry James Potter. I am going to outshine you. You are looking at the Junior Skating Champion of the Boston Region for the 5-10 age group."

"Damn," Harry said with a low whistle and a sneer. "I have some tough competition."

"This isn't fun and games," Gigi called over her shoulder as she ran upstairs to change. "I'm going to destroy you."

20 minutes later, Harry and Gigi sat on a log on the edge of the lake in St. James's Park, putting on their skates. Gigi's were bright green, and rather beat up. Harry had laughed when he saw them, and Gigi had punched him on the shoulder.

"Shut up," she had warned. "I wore these when I was a teenager. They were really cool back then."

"That color?" Harry teased.

"They match your eyes," Gigi retaliated, and Harry stopped laughing at once.

"So you were a skating champion?" He asked. "A woman of many talents."

"For a bit," Gigi replied, lacing up her skates, knotting them extra tightly. "Back before I went to Salem. When my mum hadn't told me I was…special. Still a muggle."

"Ah," Harry said lightly. "Well, if it makes you feel better, I was a 'muggle' up until age eleven, and I still don't know how to skate."

"I'll teach you," Gigi laughed. "Come on, put on your skates." Harry tied up the skates he had rented from a small boathouse near the end of the pond, and then grabbed Gigi's hand. Gigi shuffled out onto the ice, and tentatively touched a blade to the surface. She began to move backwards, her skates gliding effortlessly over the ice, pulling Harry along with her. She let go of his hands and Harry nearly fell over, but quickly regained his balance "You're not bad," Gigi said, as Harry skated forward a few feet, shakily, but successfully.

"You're brilliant though!" Harry pointed out as Gigi moved easily through the other skaters. She wiped her hands on her jeans and then circled Harry, causing him to nearly fall over. She laughed as he reached out to grab her. "That wasn't funny," he said, but grinned, as she held onto his arms. Gigi released him and said:

"Wait here for a moment." Gigi skated away, towards the center of the pond, her eyes closed. Her body moved somewhat in time, as if she was dancing to music only she could hear. Harry watched her move away, her skates a flash of green in the white. Gigi slowly tensed her body, and then began to spin, her skates slicing into the ice. Her body was like a whirling top, a blur of movement, her hair flying out as she turned. Slowly, Gigi raised her arms, and then, concentrated, slowly lifted one leg. Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing. Gigi had raised her leg nearly parallel to her face. Without really thinking about it, Harry slowly skated towards her, his skates stuttering a little as he went. He reached out for Gigi as he came, slipping a little, and she grabbed his elbows before he could fall. She laughed.

"Did you see that?" She asked gleefully. "I can't believe I can still do that."

Harry didn't reply, he just leaned down and kissed her, right there on the ice, even though he was slipping a little. When he pulled away, Gigi's face was red and her skin was hot. She bit her lip and looked around, but no one seemed to mind. She tried to fight a silly grin from spreading over her face.

"I love you," Harry said. He tucked a strand of hair behind Gigi's ear.

"Oh no," she said, backing up a little. Gigi held a hand over her mouth, and Harry panicked.

"What?" He asked, his insides churning. Was it too soon? They had only been dating, what, a month? But Harry had loved her from the moment he saw her, and he had a feeling she felt the same way.

"I was going to tell you that," Gigi said, stomping her ice skate into the ice. It left a sharp groove and she had to yank up her leg. "But you beat me to it."

"Are you seriously mad?" Harry asked, his heart beating loudly. He tried to conceal his smirk.

"Far from it," Gigi retorted. She threw her arms around Harry's neck and kissed him as passionately as she could. Harry wrapped his arms around her waist, and in the moment, he lifted her up slightly, so her skates just left the ground. Gigi nestled her hands on the back of Harry's neck, beneath his scarf and jacket collar, so she could feel her fingertips against his skin. His skin burned red-hot at her touch. Harry slowly let her back down on the ice, his breath ragged. Gigi stuck the tips of the skating blades into the ice, and leaned her forehead against his.

"I meant it," Harry said, his lips skimming against Gigi's upper lip.

"Obviously," Gigi replied. She rocked back onto her skates and grabbed Harry's hand in hers. "Can we take a walk?"

"Anything," Harry replied, happy just to spend time with her.