The cold burned her lungs with every breath, snuggling her chin deeper into the red and gold scarf around her neck.

"Come on!" Ewoyn urged her on, her friend' gloved hand pulling her tightly by the arm and almost dragging her down the sloped snowed grounds.

It was hard to walk, the snow had piled up through the afternoon, leaving a thick layer of white powder that clawed at her cloak and robes. The castle grounds were already filled with students, a hushed chorus of excited chatter bustling nearly all the way to the edge of the forbidden forest. The whole school seemed to be out here. It would be a miracle for them not to get caught.

The moon was large and full above their heads, reflecting like a silver balloon over the black surface of the frozen lake. There were a couple of students there, over the lake, walking and jumping over the ice and daring others to follow their example.

"Sig! I thought you would chicken out!" Elladan laughed as they reached his sides, and she had to narrow her eyes back at him. His twin was standing next to him, both equally wrapped up in their cloaks and scarves and gloves.

"I would not." She hissed, even though both the twins ignored her, turning their grinning faces to gaze at the crowd of students around them.

"Have they gone in yet?" Eowyn asked, almost jumping on her place, and Sigrid could not decide if it was in order to stay warm or in anticipation.

"No, there's a few sixth years who haven't shown up yet." Elrohir was the one to answer, breathing into his gloved hands to fight of the cold.

She shuddered. She did not even want to imagine the temperature that water must have. It was madness jumping in the lake right now.

A loud 'thud' echoed through the air, following by a couple of surprised screams and a louder shushing sound from the rest of the crowd. She jumped a little in order to see over the students heads and shoulders, only to find the few students on the lake running over the ice in the direction of the shore. They stopped midway, once the initial scare had passed, only to bend over with laughter, a couple of boys and girls in the crowd pointing at them. It seemed the giant squid had noticed them, and had hit the thick ice with one of its long pale tentacles.

She could see Eddelina and Saturna, not too far away from where they stood, both girls laughing and most certainly gossiping over something or someone. The Ravenclaw girl that had so clearly been against Sigrid coming to this gathering, Dahpne, was with them, partaking in the gossip.

"Are you going in, Elrohir?" A giggling voice sounded from her left, and she found the Ravenclaw Chaser, Sofina Wyne, appearing just behind the younger twin's shoulder, who had instantly turned red.

The girl did not stay, not waiting for an answer on the younger twins' part before continuing her march with a dark haired Ravenclaw girl who giggled beside her.

"Don't be stupid, Ro." Eowyn rolled her eyes at the younger twin, who suddenly seemed eager to jump in the lake as well, if only to impress the girl. "Come on, let's get closer!"

They had to fight their way with elbows and shoulders through the crowd, Eowyn leading them like a herd. Once or twice someone stepped on her feet as they managed to squeeze through, but her feet were so numb from the cold that she barely felt it. And yet, surprisingly they managed to make it to the very front row. She nearly stepped into the ice, quickly taking a step back as she realized they were at the very edge of the lake, with a perfect view of the few students standing proudly and daringly in the center of the hard black mirror.

"Gryffindors! Stand here!" A tall brown-hired Gryffindor boy with stunning grey eyes and a long thin nose was calling from the middle of the lake, seeming to be the one leading the event. She had seen him around in the Common Room, and now felt bad that she could not remember his name.

There was cheering form the crowd as the Gryffindor sixth years standing on the lake all gathered at the indicated spot, some waving their hands up daringly. She could see the black curls of Eliza Thompson, and the bulky short figure could only belong to Oliver Bones. There were two more, Lyra Stone and a dark haired boy with glasses whose name she still ignored.

"Hufflepuffs!" The Gryffindor boy in charge called out next, and another section of the crowd cheered as loud as they dared to without waking anyone in the castle.

Just like the Gryffindors, there four sixth year students gathered over the ice, two girls and two boys, but she could only name Ariana Schneider, the Hufflepuff Seeker, looking slightly nervous as she brushed her golden curls from her face.

"Ravenclaws!"

More cheers from the crowds, and she was forced to admit she did not know any of the sixth years in that House.

"Slytherins!"

The last section of the crowd cheered this time, the one closer to the castle, and the other House's seemed to boo them in return. But she was not paying attention to the crowd, her eyes focused on the two boys and girls standing over the ice.

The first thing she felt was relief, not finding those ice blue eyes or silver hair she had momentarily feared to see. At least he was not being reckless, deciding to jump into the frozen lake. She had almost feared he would be fool enough to do so. But she found him nonetheless, standing at the edge of the lake, almost across from where she stood. His younger brother was beside him, looking like a tiny replica of him.

She saw him give his younger brother a playful shove, pushing him towards the lake, the latter letting out a frightened squeal as one of his feet stepped on the ice in order to keep his balance before quickly stepping back on the shore, as tough he had expected the ice to break underneath him. The younger Lasgalen said something, although she could not hear in the distance, glaring at his elder brother who was now laughing in amusement, his little legs aiming a playful kick at his older brother, telling him off.

She found herself smiling, despite herself, her eyes returning to the four Slytherin students standing on the ice. And the second thing she felt…the second thing she felt she could not name, for she was not even sure what it was. Her eyes danced over the four Slytherin students, fixed on one particular figure. She was laughing at something the golden haired girl next to her said, shaking her midnight waterfall of perfectly straight hair in the process. Alexis Sonnet turned her pale green eyes towards the shore, waving at him with a graceful movement of the hand and a perfect pearly smile, and he rolled his eyes with a laugh, waving back.

The brown-haired Gryffindor leading the challenge aimed his wand towards the ice, just in the center of the circle the sixth year student's had formed.

"Diffindo" He muttered, and a loud crack erupted from the lake. A large chuck of ice had broken from the rest, creating an insanely long rectangle that resembled in her opinion a small Olympic swimming pool. Its edges smooth, as If cut with a perfect sword, and even from the distance she could see the black ripples of the water slapping at its edges.

There was a collective gasp, the students gathered at the shore suddenly huddling closer together, pushing their way to get a better look. One of the Ravenclaw boys on the ice seemed to be having second thoughts, suddenly looking sickly pale at the sight of the black deep water he was about to jump into.

Her eyes travelled almost on their own once more to where Lasgalen stood, noticing that the previous smile had suddenly vanished from his face. His expression was once again blank, serious, and even through the distance she could make out that he looked exhausted. He looked paler too, paler than he had only seconds ago. She saw him mutter something to his younger brother, the boy not even turning his head yet only acknowledging him with a nod of the head. And then he turned on his heels, easily slipping through the excited murmuring crowd, disappearing from view.

"I forgot something upstairs." She found herself whispering to Eowyn before she could stop and think what she was doing. Her friend's puzzled eyes turned in her direction, and she could see her opening her mouth to speak, but she did not give her the chance, turning around and fighting her way through the tight crowd, away from the lake.

What was she doing? She did not want to see him, did not want anything to do with him. Why was she following him? And yet her eyes stubbornly searched through the mass of students, easily finding him after a couple of seconds. He was far away from the crowd by now, only a black silhouette making his lonely way back towards the castle's main steps.

She hurried after him, her feet sinking on the snow clumsily, almost making her trip a couple of times. But she could not shake away the feeling that something was wrong. She almost sighed in relief once her feet found the first of the stone steps, finally able to take a proper step, hurrying up the stairs two at a time. He was no longer in the Entrance Hall, and for a second she thought she had lost him. The castle was immense, there was no way of guessing which way he had gone.

But then she saw him, turning a corner at the end of one of the corridors to her left. She followed his disappearing figure, for once not thinking or worrying that she might run into Filch, or Mrs. Norris, or even Peeves. She turned at the same corner he had, and suddenly stopped, momentarily frozen on her feet. He was there, not too far from her she was, standing in the middle of the corridor. He used one of his hands to lean against the cold stone wall resting his forehead against it, and for a second he looked as though he was about to collapse or be sick at any moment. She rushed in his direction, her steps echoing on the thick walls.

Ice blue eyes darted up, finding out he was not alone, suddenly straightening up, his face hard and blank, a perfect mask.

"What is it?" She breathed out in a rush, fear rising of her too quickly for her to care about the fierce glare his eyes were throwing her. She was used to that glare anyway.

"I thought you didn't want to talk to me ever again?" He spoke, and even though she could hear the venom in the words his voice was not as strong as it should have been.

"Yeah, well….people can change their minds." She shrugged, trying to ignore the annoyance she felt at his glaring eyes, her hands almost immediately reaching out to touch his forehead.

"In a matter of hours? You seemed pretty set on your decision." He tried to pull away from her, but she was quicker, only half-way deflating in relief as she found his skin as cool as the stone.

"You don't have a fever." She breathed out, stating what she was sure he probably already knew, ignoring his previous bait. He was in a foul mood, no surprise there.

"Do you need to go to the Hospital Wing?" She offered, trying her best not to react as his eyes glared at her fiercely once more.

"Why don't you go outside with the rest of the school and leave me alone, Bowman?" He snapped, but once again his voice lacked the strength it should have carried.

"I'm trying to help you." She tried, oddly no longer feeling the need to fight, her worry taking over. She could see him trying to look strong and steady, and yet he looked as though he would fall over at any second.

"I didn't ask for your help." He spat, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes at him.

"You need it."

"I don't want it"

She bit back the reply she had thought of, forcing herself to swallow and ignore his once again glaring eyes. He was always like that. He could be kind and friendly and gentle and then he would turn sour and would push her away or try to bait her into a fight. But this time, she found that his behavior, his glares, his snaps, did not angered her. They saddened her, her heart feeling suddenly heavy inside her chest. He was miserable, he looked miserable. He was trying to hide it, but she could tell that he was feeling as far from well as was possible. She could also see the pain in his eyes, deep, but still there, trying to hide behind the ice cold glares.

He was angry, but it wasn't with her. She just happened to be there and provide someone for him to try and let out some of the frustration and despair he himself felt. It was a pattern she could now see very clearly. He had been furious too during the Christmas break, when he had caught her inside his house, but then too he had been feeling awful. It wasn't fair, she knew it, but she didn't have the heart to fight him about it at the moment.

She opened her mouth, about to say something when he closed his eyes, his façade momentarily falling, once again leaning his right hand against the wall for support. His left hand she noticed that he kept tucked close to his torso, not moving it much.

"I feel faint." He whispered, so low she barely even heard it. His eyes had not opened as he spoke, and that was enough to have her moving, one of her hands curling around his right arm, as ready to catch him should he fall.

"Sit down, rest your head on your knees." She coaxed, although he did as instructed without protest, slowly lowing himself to sit on the stone corridor.

She lowered herself next to him, watching him take in shaky breaths. He looked so tired, beyond exhausted, as though he had not slept well for months. There were dark shadows underneath his eyes, she could see them now that she was so close, and his skin had turned so pale he could pass for a ghost. He looked thinner too. She wondered if he was even eating. She had not seen him at the Great Hall at all, and even during Christmas dinner he had barely touched his meal, and had drank nothing but water. For a moment she debated whether or not to just run and get a Professor, never mind if she was awarded detention for being out of bed at night.

"Is this supposed to help?" He asked weakly, not yet opening his eyes.

"I'm not sure." She admitted, fingers toying with the hem of her black winter cloak. "It did help me when I almost fainted during a family Holiday, though. An old witch told me to do just that."

"Why did you almost faint?" He sounded curious, his head still pressed to his knees. He didn't look well.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the Hospital Wing?" She tried once more, only watching him give the most minimal shake of the head.

"I'm sure." His voice was only a little more than a whisper. "I know what this is. Just…. Give me a minute."

"Ok." She conceded, and a comfortable silence settled around them.

Out in the distance she could hear some loud cheering on the castle grounds. Had the sixth year's already jumped in the lake? There was no possible way none of the Professor had heard their noise. Were they letting them get out with the games for just a little longer before having to step in a send everyone to bed?

"Why did you almost faint?" His voice brought her back from her wondering thoughts, repeating the question she had failed to answer.

"I got dizzy because of the height." She shrugged, watching as his lips curled into a small smile, a single chuckle escaping his mouth.

"Of course you did." He teased.

"Are you feeling better?" She asked, noticing how a faint color had slowly started to return to his hollow cheeks.

"A little." He offered, although he did not sound very convincing.

"What was it?" She studied him carefully, watching him as he slowly lifted his head to look up at her, his ice blue eyes no longer cold and hard.

"Nothing." He shook his head lightly, brushing a strand of silver hair from perfectly angled face. "Just….some potions the medics are trying now."

"They make you ill?" She couldn't contain the question, almost expecting he would not answer.

"Sometimes." He shrugged, as though it was nothing out of the ordinary for him. "It comes and goes."

She wanted to tell him that it was not ordinary, that nobody should be taking anything that made them ill. But she guessed that if he was taking them, it was because he needed them. He was dying. Not tonight. Perhaps not tomorrow either, or this year, or the next. Perhaps not even for five more years, or ten. Nobody knew when it would happen. But he was dying, slowly and extremely painfully. The curse would fight back until it was free to burn and consume him entirely.

"You know…" She started, her voice so low it could have only been a thought. "I've found that, when one is angry or hurting, lashing out at others in return does not really help make one feel any better."

His eyes met hers at those words, and she found that they were soft, and welcoming, and yet she could read nothing in them.

"I do not mean to snap at you." He confessed, his voice barely audible. "I'm sorry about that."

"I know." She did. "I know you are angry as well."

"I'm not angry with you." He said quickly, his brow furrowing slightly.

"I know." She nodded her head, unable to look away from his face. She could see his wall's tumbling down, and she knew she had hit just at the right place. "But you're still angry."

"I guess." He said at last, after a long minute of silence, his eyes looking down at the stone floor, and there was so much pain there that she almost looked away. He was in a dark place, had lost all hope. He was tired and in pain and angry and just hurting all over, inside and out. She could see it so clearly now, that she wondered how should she had ever been so blind in the first place? She should have noticed on the train the day before, the way spoke, what he said, how he said it. "It's not fair."

"No, it's not." It wasn't fair. It would never be fair. He had done nothing to deserve what life had thrown his way. But life always worked like that. No one ever got what they deserved. "But it is that way."

"It is."

Silence settled once more, only broken by another round of cheers from the grounds outside.

"I wanted to apologize." He started again, his eyes once again gentle yet unreadable. "For who I acted yesterday, on the train. But you wouldn't hear it."

"It's alright." She found herself saying, suddenly feeling a little foolish and selfish. He had hurt her. He had been mean to her, but she could not imagine if she would have been any better had she been on his shoes. Had he merely been crying out for help in the only way he knew how to? "Did you really mean what you said?"

His eyes fixed on her, momentarily frozen.

"I'm not trying to pick a fight." She elaborated, the sole tone of her voice proving that. "I just want to know if you truly think that nothing you do matters, that you only have to sit and wait until…you know." She couldn't say it.

He looked down for a long moment seeming to be thinking about her question.

"I don't know." He said at last, and she only nodded her head. There was nothing she could really say to that. "Sometimes I do….and other times I feel ashamed of thinking that."

"I'm sorry too." She added, pressing her knees to her chest and hugging them tightly. She suddenly felt that all of her problems were stupid and simple in comparison. "For pestering you for not caring about school or your marks."

"Don't be." He said quickly, shaking his silver head. He had regained most of his color by now, no longer looking on the verge of passing out. "You're the only who knows about it and still does, Bowman. It's annoying and ridiculous, but it almost makes me feel normal."

She let out a laugh. Another cheer exploded outside on the snowed grounds. Almost involuntarily her head twitched in its direction, but there were no windows to look out through in this particular corridor, only stone.

"Do you think they jumped?" She found herself asking, watching as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Why don't we find out?" He proposed, suddenly rising to his feet, looking tired and worn, but steady. He offered her his right hand, and she took it, allowing him to pull her up.

"I was surprised you weren't in the group that was going to jump." She teased, just as she followed him down the corridor, not the way they had come. He was not heading back to the Entrance Hall, that was for certain.

"My father would have murdered me if I did." He chuckled, turning around a corner and heading up a spiraling staircase. They were going up a tower, but she could not recognize this one. She had never been there before.

They landed on another corridor, and she was surprised to find that it was an archway, full with a spectacular view of the lake outside. She could see the crow of student's gathered there, jumping on their feet and cheering as loudly as they dared to- which consisted in hushed mutters and claps.

The sixth years had jumped in. She could see their figures, small in the distance, swimming along the narrow and long rectangle that had been cut on the ice. It was a race. How they had not yet frozen to death, she could not tell.

"They are insane!" She muttered, not understanding how they had even wanted to jump in in the first place.

"I think it looks fun." He contradicted her, cocking his head to the side. His eyes were focused on the grounds below, where the snow looked silver and blue underneath and ink-black sky.

"Would you do it?" She lifted her eyebrows, turning her back of the view in order to face him properly. He was taller than her, she was reminded of it now that they were standing; almost a full head taller. And handsome too.

"If you could," She added, interrupting him before he had the chance to speak. "Would you do it?"

"I would." He chuckled, sounding convinced, and she threw him a look that meant to say just exactly how insane she believed he was then.

"Are you sure you feel well?" She mocked, laughing as he rolled her eyes at her and gave out a sarcastic laugh.

"Would you do it, Bowman?"

"No!" She replied almost the same second he finished his question, her voice letting him know how ridiculous she found that notion.

"I say we make bet." He suddenly said, turning his back at the view in order to sit over the stone railing. His body fit perfectly under the narrow pointed arch, making him look like one of the statues and gargoyles that lined the castle's corridors. An exceptionally handsome gargoyle.

"Bet on what?" She narrowed her eyes, not fully trusting what he had in mind. She could smell danger.

"Who do you think will win the race?" He nodded his pointed chin towards the frozen lake, and she had to pay close attention to make out the figures still swimming there. They were on the first lap, they still had to return to the shore.

She took her time analyzing the odds each student had. She had the nasty feeling that she was about to be outsmarted.

"Schneider." She made her decision. The Hufflepuff Seeker seemed to be the fastest of them all. She should have no trouble winning the race. "You?"

"I say they don't finish the race." He made his bet, and she narrowed her eyes again, studying him. Did he know something she didn't?

"How so?"

"I say, that before they have a chance to finish, someone will come down from the castle to send them all to bed." He explained, and she took her time considering his words. Should she accept the bet? Would she have a good chance of winning it? She could not tell.

"Fine." She said at last, crossing her arms over her chest.

Up here, in the open corridor, the wind felt colder than in the secluded stone corridor only minutes go, and she wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck. He did not seem to be having any trouble with the cold, seeming to be at ease with it, to even like it. There was no surprise there either.

"What are the stakes?" She asked the part she was most worried about. She feared he already had something in mind.

"Well, if I win, " He started, and there was a gleaming tease in his smile. It did not bode well. "You have to jump into the lake."

"Fine." She said almost instantly, looking up at him daringly, not wanting to show fear. She had known he had something in mind.

"But if I win, you will write all my classes' essays for a month. And I want a perfect mark on each one." He seemed to consider it for a minute, before finally nodding his head.

"It's a deal."

Both of them turned to gaze back at the lake below, their eyes as concentrated as the eyes of all the students piled at the shore. Except there was a knowing smile on his lips that she did not trust.

They were close to finishing, Scheiner was at the lead, only a couple of more minutes, and she would win…and then…

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"

The students at the shore cried out in surprise and fear, jumping back, some trying to hide behind others. There was bright light coming from the castle's Entrance Hall now, someone had lit all of the torches, and she could she McGonagall's tall and stern figure crossing the sloping snowed grounds in long strides, still in her night robe.

"WHY IS HALF THE SCHOOL OUT OF BED?"

She looked positively frightening, and for once she was glad that she was no longer out there, even though she was not safe where she was either. She was still out of bed, and in the corridors. She could see the students trying to make a run for the castle, scurrying out of the Head of Gryffindor's view.

"TO BED! ALL OF YOU! AND DO NOT THINK THERE WILL BE NO CONSEQUENCES!"

The grounds were quickly emptying, McGonagall reaching the edge of the lake.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! SCHNEIDER! BONES! SONNET! GET OUT OF THERE BEFORE YOU FREEZE! YOU WILL ALL GET SICK! YOUR PARENTS WILL ALL HEAR ABOUT THIS!" The Professor kept yelling the names of those who were quickly getting out of the lake, still dripping freezing water.

"You knew!" She slapped his right shoulder, feeling cheated as he only laughed in victory. "how?!"

"I saw Filch on our way up here." He explained, both of them suddenly dropping to hide behind the thick stone railing as McGonagall's eyes looked up in their general direction. "He was too far away to see us, but I knew there was no chance of him not hearing the crowd."

"You cheated!" She slapped his shoulder again, unable to contain a laughter at how naïve she had been. She had fallen completely for it.

"Perhaps." He shrugged, not looking remorseful in the slightest. "But you still made the bet."

"There's no way I'm jumping in that lake." She hissed, and one of his eyebrows arched high on his forehead.

"You agreed to it." He reminded her.

"Ugh. Fine." She snapped, venturing a look over the railing to see what was happening out in the grounds. There was nobody there any longer, McGonagall had been quick and efficient in making everyone run back to be in fright. "Let's go."

"Now?" He sounded surprised, his smile vanishing for a second.

"What? Do you expect to hold it over me for a long time?" She rose to her feet, placing her hands on her hips. She had no intention of listening to him reminding her that she still owed him after a bet. And she did not wish to lengthen her suffering any longer. Might as well get it over with now. And conveniently there was already a whole in the ice. She did not think McGonagall would come back outside, not so soon after she had already cleared the grounds.

"No. Fine with me." He shook his head, looking almost too amused and excited. She hated that he was about to have fun and laugh at her expense.

The way down to the lake was trickier than their way up the corridor had been. They had to be extra careful with any sound that might resemble footsteps or any shadow that might belong to a Professor. But in the end they managed to step out into the snow, crossing the slopping grounds. The snow was easier to walk on now, being trampled on by so many students running back to their dormitories.

They reached the lake in record time, choosing the edge of it that was just under the shadow of the castle, where the giant stone wall behind their backs felt like a sort of shelter from view. It was darker here, with less chance of being seen. Gingerly, she made her way across the ice, partially surprised to find him following her, instead of staying at the shore. She guessed he wanted to take a close look.

She stopped at the edge of the hole that had been enchanted on the ice, looking intently at the black rippling water there. Tentatively, she reached with a hand, sinking her fingers in the lake before pulling away quickly with a squeal.

"It's freezing!" she hissed, watching as he chuckled in amusement.

"Of course it is." He rolled his eyes at her. "So? Are you going to jump or not?"

She did not want to. Merlin, she was scared of that water and how cold it was and of all the creatures that she knew resided in that lake. But her pride was larger. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her cower away. Instead, she braced herself, swallowing her fear and taking a deep calming breath. Just one jump. She just needed to jump, once she did there was no going back, no time to back out, and she would simply fall into the lake and would then get out. She just needed the courage to take that one jump. She was a Gryffindor, for Merlin's beard! She was supposed to have courage!

One….two…..three. She jumped. Her feet were on the air for a split of a second and then there was a splash, and a cold so brutal engulfed her whole body feeling almost like knives on her skin. Her head broke the surface, shaking away the freezing drops that ran from her hair an into her eyes. She found his face, looking at her with an expression of wonder and disbelief. He had not believed she would actually do it.

And now that she had done it, now that she was here, floating in the middle of the lake, she could not really name the rush of feeling that coursed through her. She had never done anything like it. She never dared. But now, after the initial fright, she felt incredibly alive. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. She had jumped in the frozen lake at Hogwarts!

"How does it feel?" His soft voice called teasingly from the edge of the hole, his smile wide on his face.

"Cold!" She replied, her teeth chattering, but she did not mind. She had jumped inside the lake!

"Come, I'll help you get out." He called out, stretching his right hand for her to take, and she started to waddle in the water in his direction.

Something brushed her right foot. She froze, her heart giving a flip. She turned on her spot frantically, trying to see what it was that had touched her. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see his smile disappearing, only to be replaced by worry. But she didn't have time to say anything, something suddenly curling around her leg, pulling her under the surface.

She trashed around, the freezing water not letting her open her eyes. Desperately she reached for her wand, trying to pull it out of her robes. She could not tell how deep she was or in which direction she was being pulled. She felt arms around her from behind, someone fighting with her against the thing that had her trapped. She managed to pull out her wand, and she send sparks through the water aimlessly. It seemed to work, for the next second she was free, and arms were helping her to the surface.

She took a large gulp of air the second her head broke through, coughing at little amount of water she had swallowed in the struggle. The ice was colder than the water as she pulled herself onto it, still coughing and panting, noticing Lasgalen doing the same next to her.

"Are you alright, Bowman?"

Her eyes snapped up in his direction, taking in his soaking black cloak and uniform, his silver hair looking darker now.

"You are freezing!" She said in a single breath, rushing up to his side, fear suddenly pooling inside her stomach. Merlin, this was bad. He had jumped in after her, to help her. "You need to change into something dry. Quickly! Let's go back inside the castle."

She saw straight into his eyes, the color as pace as the ice, and in them she could see reflected the fear she herself felt. He was scared too.

"It's alright." He said, as if trying to convince the both of them. Nonetheless he got to his feet, helping her along, already starting their way back to the castle.

"No, it's not!" She whispered in rush as they nearly ran back through the snowed grounds. "You need to get warm and dry."

"It'll be alright." He repeated, although she could no longer tell if it was for her sake or his. "I might not get a cold."

But the odds of that happening were slim, and they both knew it.

Here's another chapter! I hope you enjoy reading it! It's makes me really glad to hear that some of you are still following this story even after all this time. I'll try to do my best to update as soon as I can.

Love,

Elena