It was the first day of Christmas break, and Hastings was up early as usual, tying her trainers so she could go on her morning walk. She smiled when she thought of what Odessa would say if she saw her up this early. "You know you're crazy, right?" Hastings fastened her cloak around her shoulders and grabbed a book off the shelf, The Werewolf and the Changeling, by N. Tonks-Lupin. She always enjoyed a well-written romance. She decided her morning would be spent with a walk around the frozen lake—while reading—followed by a huge breakfast, and perhaps a trip to Hogsmeade to finish some Christmas shopping. She'd already gotten Sirius his present—a wizard action figure that she'd bewitched to say, "I am a Dark Lord. You will never defeat me!", a stethoscope and box of Band-Aids for Gabe—who'd expressed a minor fascination with Muggle medicine, and a few small odds end ends for the other teachers. She had yet to find Odessa something.
Most of the shops in Hogsmeade seemed to be geared toward students, and it was hard to find something of a serious nature. Fun things for the guys were okay, but for her friend, she wanted something special. She didn't want to give her a restocking of potions or anything she could use for school, but something that she would truly appreciate.
After an hour of walking, Hastings was half way through her bookwhen she slipped on the ice of the black lake, landing on her hip. Her book flew out of her hands and slid across the ice, hitting someone's foot. She looked up and saw Gabe standing there, arms folded and smiling at her.
"So, that's how you treat my mother's published works?" he asked, grinning. "Throwing them across the Black Lake?"
"Gabe! Uh… Sorry about that. I, uh… slipped… and, well…"
"No worries," said Gabe, picking up the book. "Oh, this one…" he said, looking at the cover.
Hastings stood up. "What's that supposed to mean? 'Oh, this one…'"
"Oh, nothing," said Gabe. "It's a good book, actually. Well-written. One just doesn't like to think of one's own parents as being romantic with each other. Kind of ruins the story, actually."
"Oh," said Hastings, smiling, "I can see how that would be. I wouldn't want to read about how my mum and dad got together…"
"Didn't think so," said Gabe. "Have you come to the part about me yet?"
"You're in this book?" asked Hastings.
"Sure. There's a whole chapter about whether they should or should not have me. What with mum being a metamorphmagus and my dad being a werewolf. I guess they weren't sure how I'd come out."
Hastings sized him up and said, "Well, I'd say you came together very nicely." Gabe blushed and Hastings tried not to cover her face in embarrassment. "Uh, I mean… you don't seem to have any… um, special attributes."
"Oh, not at all," said Gabe with a half smile. "There's nothing special about me at all…"
"Oh, I didn't mean that either," said Hastings, "Everything came out all wrong." Gabe laughed, and Hastings joined in, in spite of her embarrassment. "So, ahem… do… do you have any… um, abilities?"
"No," said Gabe, "As normal and uninteresting as they come, I'm afraid."
"But when we met you said you were a half-wolf…" said Hastings.
"As a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, you of all people should know that werewolfism isn't hereditary," said Gabe. "I was only joking with you."
"Oh, well… I knew that," said Hastings. "I meant… I guess, well, I don't know what I meant."
"That's okay," said Gabe. Then, without warning, he said, "Do you want to have a coffee with me?"
"Um… sure," said Hastings. "Like, up in the Great Hall?"
"No," said Gabe. "Hogsmeade. Madam Puddifoots."
Hastings was the one blushing now. "Isn't that usually… filled with… like, couples?"
Gabe faltered, "Well, yeah," he said, "But it also happens to be the only coffee shop in town, though I'm sure Madam Rosemerta over at the Broomsticks would be happy to brew some up…"
"Oh, no," said Hastings, "Madam Puddifoots is fine. Besides… it's six a.m. I doubt anyone will be around. They began walking to Hogsmeade. "Oh, after eight, I wanted to do some shopping. I still haven't gotten Odessa's Christmas present yet."
"Oh," said Gabe. "That's fine. I need to get Minerva something still. I'd be happy to tag along, if… well, if you're interested."
"Oh, that would be great!" said Hastings, a little more excitedly than she intended.
By the time they got to Madam Puddifoots, they were talking about everything and nothing, completely comfortable with each other, whether they were laughing and joking, or engaging in a heated debate about the properties of certain curses.
They ordered their coffees and took a seat. Throughout the morning, they talked as old friends, and Gabe wondered if there would ever be something there other than that. Every time he mentioned something about relationships, even if he attempted to do so offhandedly, she became instantly uncomfortable, as if she wanted him to change the subject. He was beginning to think himself ridiculous for wanting there to be more than that with Hastings, after all, she did only see him as a friend. He thought that the other day, when he'd defended her against that prat Healer, Puddinghaste, it would endear him to her. Apparently, he was wrong. So, for the rest of the morning and afternoon, he decided to just enjoy her company.
Hastings was struggling was as well. Whenever Gabe brought up the mention of relationships, she had to fiercely remind herself that he wasn't talking about her—he'd made it clear that he wanted nothing more than friendship. So she tried to steer things away whenever the subject was breeched so that he wouldn't think she was dwelling on it. It became exhausting by around lunch time, and Hastings wanted to scream.
They'd decided to go to the Three Broomsticks in the middle of their shopping—neither had bought anything yet—for soup and hot Butter Beer. Madam Rosemerta stopped by their table to chat as she was giving them their order. "Here you are, loves," she said, placing hot tomato-pumpkin soup before them. "And I must say, it is good to see you here together."
Hastings looked at Gabe for an instant, he was smiling. "Good to see you too, Madam Rosemerta," she said.
"You just won't believe the fun times I've had, debating with the other teachers about how long it would take," she said.
"What… do you mean, Rosemerta?" asked Gabe.
"Oh," she said, "Isabella Vector and I have had a bet going. She said you'd never get around to it. I gave you to Christmas. Looks like I win!"
"Uh… what was the bet about?" asked Hastings, dreading the answer.
"What I really want to know," said Madam Rosemerta, "Is who cracked whom first?" She looked at Gabe, who's ears were an impossible shade of red. "Did she ask you out? Or did you declare your love in the midst of your rubber chicken debate?"
"Um…" said Gabe.
"We—we're not… not…" said Hastings.
"I think you are very much mistaken," said Gabe. "We're just friends. We've never…"
Madam Rosemerta laughed out loud, not in the least chagrinned at her mistake. "So, you haven't talked about it yet, have you?" She took their blank stares for an answer. "Well, you certainly will now, won't you, dears?" She continued laughing as she walked off to the kitchen. Looking back, she called, "You're meal's on the house… for winning me five galleons!"
Gabe and Hastings just stared at each other. Hastings felt it was her responsibility to stop things right there. She didn't want to scare him off by refusing to say anything. But when she opened her mouth, all she could say was, "Gabe… I…"
Funnily enough, that was the precise moment when Gabe said, "Hastings… I…"
Without another word, embarrassed beyond all measure, the only thing Hastings could think of to do was to leave. "I… I have to go…" she said uncertainly. She stood up and left the Three Broomsticks, leaving Gabe sitting confused at the table.
Rosemerta, who had been spying from the kitchen, said, "Well, lad, are you going after her or aren't you?"
Gabe stood up, and ran out the door in pursuit of Hastings.
Oh, you idiot! Hastings was calling herself all the names she could think of, realizing that she wouldn't be able to avoid Gabriel Lupin for the rest of the school year, and wishing she hadn't been so obvious. She should have laughed it off as a funny mistake. She should have emphatically denied it. She should have walked faster, because in a few moments' time she heard running footfalls behind her and Gabe calling her name.
"Hastings! Would you slow down?" He ran up beside her. "Geez, can we just talk about this?"
"Not just now," said Hastings. "I… have to get some curriculum planned for next term. Lots to do… Can't take any more time off. You understand."
"No, I don't!" said Gabe, grasping her arm and forcing her to stop.
"Look, it was just a mistake," she said, "We don't have to talk about this. It's only…"
"You're right," said Gabe. He turned her to face him. The snow was falling now; large, white flakes fell softly around them and on their heads. "We don't need to talk about it." His head moved toward hers, tilting to the side, and he kissed her. After a few moments, Hastings pulled away. She looked at him. "Sorry," he said, "I just wanted to see if you—"
Hastings's arms went around his neck, and pulling him toward her, she kissed him back.
Sirius and Odessa were walking down to the great hall together for some afternoon tea. "I wonder where they could have gone," said Odessa. "It's not like Hastings to be gone all day."
"Gabe too," said Sirius. "Though he did mention the need to finish some shopping in Hogsmeade. The two of them, I swear…"
"I know," said Odessa, "Both morning people. They really should get together sometime."
"Whereas the two of us are more likely to sleep till noon," said Sirius.
"That's the truth," said Odessa. "But then again, I cannot understand why anyone would give up their warm bed for a cold walk." They walked into the great hall and saw a few students sitting at the Ravenclaw table, playing Exploding Snap.
"Hello, Professors," said Cassius Weasely.
"Good afternoon, Cassius," said Odessa. "Who's winning?"
"I was…" said Cassius, "But then Olivia went and cursed the cards."
"Atta girl, Olivia," said Sirius. They watched the game for a few more minutes when Odessa nudged Sirius in the robs, "Look," she whispered. Sirius looked toward the head table and saw Hastings and Gabe at one corner, heads in close, whispering to each other and not touching their food. Their fingers were interlocked on the table.
"I knew it!" said Odessa.
"You definitely called it," said Sirius. The two of them jogged up to the head table, and noisily sat down next to Hastings and Gabe.
"Oh, hello," said Hastings.
"Well, we just can't leave you two alone, can we?" asked Odessa cheerfully.
"Well done, mate," said Sirius, patting Gabe on the back.
"Thanks," said Gabe, kissing Hastings's hand.