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Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 655

Catching Snowflakes

She knew where he'd be. She knew he'd be there even though they'd argued, because he was stubborn and he was sweet.

Climbing the stairs to the Astronomy Tower, Daphne bit her lip. She pulled her taupe cloak around her against the chill of the wind drafting through the tower.

Winter was well and truly upon them. Still, she couldn't just leave it, she had to speak to him.

Stepping out onto the circular platform, she spotted him immediately. He hadn't even covered himself with his invisibility cloak, the bloody idiot.

"Hey," she murmured, stepping closer to him.

He turned to look at her, and she barely held back a gasp at the exhaustion in his green eyes. His lips were turned down, and he looked like he was barely holding himself together.

"I… don't have the energy to argue with you today," he murmured, his voice carrying despite the howling wind.

"Harry, no," she said, shaking her head. "I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have been so harsh, I know you're only doing what you think is best."

She sat down beside him, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer until he could press his face in the crook of her neck.

"I don't deserve you."

She rolled her eyes, raising a hand to scratch at the short hairs on his neck gently. "Of course you do. You just think too much."

It was hard to believe sometimes, that he was so powerful. Sometimes—like now—he seemed more like a little boy who just wanted a little kindness, and to be loved.

Lucky for him—and her, all told—she did love him.

Snuggling closer, she smiled when he hugged her, tugging her into his lap.

"The wind is so cold tonight," he said, pressing his face in her blonde hair. "I probably shouldn't even have come up here."

"I'm glad you did," she replied softly. "I'd have been mad if you hadn't been here after I trekked up all of those stairs."

Laughing softly, Harry shook his head. "Of course you would. Oh hey, look. It's snowing."

She turned her head to see that he was correct. Snow was tumbling in the wind, and she was mesmerised for a few minutes. She'd always loved the snow, ever since she was a little girl.

It was just so… wonderful. So clean and pure and unique to anything else in the world.

She hesitated for a moment, sure that Harry's reaction wouldn't be favourable, before she straightened her shoulders decisively and leaned away from him, until her head was outside of the tower.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his grip on her waist tightening slightly.

She stuck her tongue out, waiting for the snowflakes to hit it, and he laughed when he realised what she was doing.

"You're an oddball, Daph."

Settling back in his lap, she grinned at him. "Did you never catch snowflakes on your tongue when you were a kid?"

He shook his head. "I… no."

"You've never lived. It's fun, you should try it."

"I'm already bloody freezing," he complained.

"Well then, it'll make no difference, will it?"

Harry snorted, but then she felt him moving, and she shuffled over so he could lean out of the window beside her.

Together, they stuck out their tongues, and waited for snowflakes to fall onto them.

They stayed there until Harry started shivering. Daphne reluctantly pulled back, tugging him with her. "Come on. We'll sneak down to the kitchens and get some hot chocolate to warm up, hmm?"

He nodded, wrapping his arm around her shoulders when he stood, pulling her into his side. "What would I do without you, Daph? Sometimes, it's like you're the only bright spot in my life."

"Let's just hope you never have to find out, hmm?"

He smiled, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "Sounds like a good plan to me."

Written for:

Record Collection: 9. Wonderful

Time Machine: 1. Astronomy Tower

Amber's Attic: 7. Catch snowflakes on your tongue

Film Festival: 23. "You think too much."

Marvel Appreciation: Hulk: Green / Powerful

Lyric Alley: 5. Wind is so cold

Forecast: 22. Decisive

Hot Chocolate Station: 29. Windy

Fill A Christmas Stocking: 4. "I owe you an apology."

Write Letter's To Santa: Step 3: 8. Taupe

Snowball Fights: 9. Daphne / "I… don't have the energy to argue with you today."

Big Dinner Bash: Potato: Roasties - Hugging

Toy Making: Toy: Book 5: Astronomy Tower

Pop Figures: Harry Potter: 13. Draco - A slytherin

Hogwarts Talent Show: Invisibility: "I don't deserve you." / Kindness (word)