Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (challenges & assignments) - Assignment 11

Games & Sports with Professor Angel - Task 10: Write a fic set at an indoor or outdoor ice rink

Word Count: 417

Summary: Hermione hasn't been ice skating since she was a little girl and it didn't go well. Her husband, Sirius, is there to help face her fear.

I've Always Got You

Hermione stared at the ice her husband was currently gliding across with ease, their two year old daughter giggling in delight as he spun with her in his arms. A few of their friends were on the ice too, some with their children, some by themselves, all gliding just as confidently as Sirius, laughter filling the air.

She hadn't been ice skating since she was eight and had fallen straight on her backside, whacking the back of her head on the very hard, very cold ice, and ended up with concussion and a general distaste for the sport.

'Come on,' Sirius called, 'the whole point in us doing this was to get you on the ice with us. What is it Muggles say? Get back on the camel?'

'Horse,' Harry corrected as he skated past Sirius with his four year old son trailing after him, unsteady and giggling.

'Mummy!' Florence called delightedly, waving frantically, a bright smile on her face.

Gripping the barrier surrounding the ice rink so tightly she was sure her knuckles had gone white under her gloves, Hermione put one blade on the ice. So far so good. Then she gingerly put her weight onto the blade- it seemed to stay put as she picked her other foot off the stable floor. Next thing she knew, both blades were on the ice. The anticipation of falling not quite leaving her yet.

Sirius arrived by her side, childless, as he gave her a warm smile, gently tucking one of her loose curls behind her ear. She glanced up at him, the light hitting the ice in a certain way that made his eyes look silver. He leant in, kissing her cheek, his soft beard tickling her skin, and whispered a phrase he'd used a few years ago when he got her on his motorbike.

'I've got you,' he whispered. Putting an arm tightly around her waist, his free hand taking one of hers, forcing her to stand without holding onto the barrier. 'Ready?'

She took a breath, feeling completely safe in his arms, she let Sirius start to guide her along the ice, never straying too far from the barrier. Wordlessly, he always knew what she needed when she was struggling with a fear.

Finally Hermione started to relax as her strides slowly got longer. Sirius' grip on her was strong and assuring.

'I've always got you,' he said, watching her smile at the fact she was finally ice skating with her family and friends.

Autumn Seasonal Prompts

- Days of the Year & Religious Events - 17th October - Sweetest Day - Write about someone being sweet

- Chemistry Week (traits) - 22. Titanium - Trust

- United Nations Day - 64. Gambia - (word) laughter

December Writing Club

- Record Collection - 18. (word) Anticipation

- Time Machine - 11. (colour) Silver

- Amber's Attic - 6. Go ice skating

- Bex's Basement - 1. (word) Fallen

- Scamander's Case - 13. (trait) Protective

Hogwarts Winter Funfair

- Christmas Eve Boxes - Socks - Mistletoe Patterned: (emotion) Nervous

- Snow Globe Making - Sirius Black's Motorbike - (character) Sirius Black

- Advent Calendar - Door Pairing - 4. Hermione/? - (Sirius)

- Nativity Play - Joseph - (relationship) Husband

- Naughty or Nice - Naughty 8. (pairing) Sirius/? (restriction: Cannot be Remus)

- 12 Days of Shipmas - Dec 18. Your ship enjoys a winter activity together.

- Hot Chocolate Station - Flavour 27. Unicorn Hot Chocolate - (word) Bright

- Christmas Party - Deck the Halls by Pentatonix - (emotion) Joy