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Winter

Winter happily ran across the grass, laughing as she chased after the barking crup running ahead of her. Putting on a burst of speed, she lunged forward and picked up the puppy, hugging its squirming fluffy body to her chest.

"Got you Ryu!" She giggled as it licked her face.

"I still can't believe you let that thing lick you." Jacin muttered from behind her, "That's so gross!"

"It means he likes me." Winter told him defensively. Turning around, she shoved Ryu into Jacin's face. He only just managed to avoid the enthusiastic puppy's tongue. "Aw, look! He likes you to!"

Jacin glared at Ryu. "Great."

Winter fought back her giggles as she set Ryu back down onto the ground, where he immediately took off at a clumsy run. She jogged after him, calling over her shoulder, "Come on Jacin! Play with us!"

He smirked. "I'll pass thanks."

"Oh come on!" Winter cried, scooping Ryu up again and holding him up for Jacin to see, "How can you say no to this adorable face?"

Ryu whined helpfully, giving Jacin his biggest, most innocent eyes.

"Because that adorable face might cover me with spit." He deadpanned.

"He won't lick you if you don't want him to!"
"Sure he won't."

Winter threw back her head and groaned dramatically. "Why do you have to be immune to cuteness?"

Jacin grinned smugly. "I built up an immunity from hanging around you too much."

Winter stared at him, struck dumb by the unexpected compliment, before breaking out in a huge grin. "You think I'm cute?"

He shrugged. "Just sort of. You know. On a good day."

Somehow, Winter managed to keep herself from squealing with delight. Jacin thought she was cute! Sure, she got plenty of compliments on her looks from others, but Jacin's was the only one that really mattered to her. And now she had it: she was sort-of cute.

She beamed at him. "You are cute too."

He raised an eyebrow at her teasingly. "Oh really?"
"You know. On a good day."

Jacin chuckled, and a brief flash of his sunrise smile lit up his face. It was gone in a blink, but Winter saw it as clearly as she saw the crup squirming in her arms.

And as clearly as she saw Professor Park striding across the grass, his usual smug smile on his face as he eyed the students running around and relaxing.

Sucking in a quick breath of fear, Winter ran around Jacin so that she was standing behind him, hopefully tucked away from Professor Park's slimy gaze.

At Jacin's confused glance, she gestured towards the threat. Immediately, his eyes, moments ago so full of amused warmth, hardened and he slowly started nudging Winter back to the castle, always making sure that he was between her and Professor Park. But despite this, Winter couldn't relax. She felt her fear crawling like ants along her nerves, biting and nipping, feeding.

"What did he do?" Jacin murmured to her.

Winter stared at him, trying to seem confused. "What did who do?"

He sighed. "Winter, you've always hated Professor Park, but you've never been this scared of him before. He did something, tell me what."

Winter bit her lip nervously. She purposely hadn't told Jacin about Professor Park's attempt at blackmailing her. He worried about her safety enough already, and she didn't want him to get in trouble for her. Even now, with him bluntly asking for to tell him, she hesitated. Professor Park was right there! She didn't want Jacin to jinx him and get detention for a month! But then again, the only way to satisfy him without telling him the full truth was… to lie. Winter hated lying, especially to Jacin. He was the one thing in her life that she was sure wasn't a lie. To be anything but honest with him felt like a betrayal.

"It's in the past now, you don't need to worry about it." Winter said, trying to dissuade him.

"That just makes me worry more. What did Aimery do?'

Winter looked down at her feet and, in the quietest whisper she could muster, told him. She told him everything. And just as she'd feared, Jacin was furious.

Growling, he reached for the wand that was tucked safely in his pocket, glaring at Professor Park. Winter grabbed his hand tightly and shook her head.

"He tried to blackmail you into being his mistress Winter." Jacin hissed, his cold eyes still fixed on Aimery. "I can't let him go without punishment."

"You must." Winter insisted. "What if he punishes you?"

"I can handle whatever that smug grindylow throws at me."

"But I can't. Please Jacin, just let it go. Besides, he's already been punished, remember? Cress-friend used a memory charm on him."

Jacin scowled and let go of his wand. "About that Winter, I don't think that charm worked properly."

Winter tilted her head curiously. "But Aimery hasn't told on us. I know because none of our friends have blood on their faces and their hands aren't holding the knives."

"But he knows something's wrong." Jacin said, "He's been paying a lot closer attention to us lately, and he keeps frowning, like he's confused. I just thought someone put a niffler in his office and he was trying to figure out who did it, but this makes so much more sense. He knows that we did something wrong, something that he should know but can't figure out yet. Sooner or later, he'll figure out why and get his memory restored. Then we'll be in some serious trouble."

Winter squeezed Ryu nervously. Sensing her anxiety, the crup licked her nose, but for once it did nothing to relax her. "You really think that'll happen?"
Jacin put both hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Winter, listen to me. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Professor Park will never hurt you. I'll make sure of it. After all," His mouth quirked into a smile. "You're my princess, and I'm your guard."

A/N: You guys all thought that I'd have Aimery's memory wiped and leave it at that didn't you? Sorry to disappoint but this guy's going to be a constant source of worry for the gang.

Man, I don't write nearly enough Jacinter. I've got to start practicing again and figure out a way to make these two a couple already.

Please review!