This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Word Count: 758

Title: Heart's Fire

Note:

Warnings: Suggestive content and nudity.

Beta: Ash Juliet

Hogwarts

Assignment 4: Survival Skills: BYOBOB (Bring Your Own Bug Out Bag): Task #3: Firestarter: Write about someone keeping warm.

"I'll chop some wood for a fire," Harry suggested. Harry figured Kingsley was lucky to have someone around that was so comfortable using Muggle methods because unlike him, Kingsley wouldn't have been able to survive without using his wand in the wilderness.

"It looks like it's going to rain," Kingsley said, looking out of their small tent as the clouds started to gather overhead. "Good idea," Kingsley added. "It would help keep us warm."

"We can't keep the fire on all night though and if it rains…"

"Oh, right, no magic," Kingsley said, realising the flaw in the plan. They had been prohibited from using magic in the forest as it could alert their target. And a fire wouldn't be able to burn in the middle of a rainstorm.

"Yeah, sorry," Harry said, grinning at the naivety of his older companion. He admired Kingsley; to himself, he could even admit he had feelings for the older man, but he had never considered ever confessing them, or acting on them. The two Aurors were partners, and partners were supposed to be professional.

He walked over to a nearby bush and started chopping off some of the branches while Kingsley watched him. A cold wind blew through the campsite, almost yanking the axe from Harry's arms. Lightning flashed in the distance, and they heard the roar of thunder as the dark clouds crept closer and closer to the campsite.

"Merlin," Kingsley said. "The storm must be closer than we thought."

"No, I counted the seconds, it's still about half an hour away, we have time to make some coffee before it hits." Harry was trying to ready a fire by breaking some twigs and using a lighter as he wanted to be able to have a drink before the storm hit. "I can hit it with some Firewhiskey." Harry took out a tiny flask from his clothing.

"A man after my own heart," Kingsley said, grinning. Harry's heart fluttered at his teasing remark, but he tried to contain it.

Soon, the two men were inside the small lime-green tent, and the only noises that could be heard were the gushing of the wind that threatened to unroot the tent and the splashing of the rain against the roof and on the sides of the tent. Harry saw Kingsley starting to shiver, and Harry wrapped the one sleeping bag around him.

"Thank you," Kingsley said with a shiver.

"You're welcome," Harry said, sitting close to him.

"Harry, don't you know of a Muggle way of warming up our cores? We really could freeze to death here."

"I—" Harry gulped. "We could get naked and conserve our body heat."

Harry saw a blush rising in Kingsley's cheeks. Harry wondered if it was because he was self-conscious, or if Kingsley had heard about Harry being gay.

"You want to get naked with me?" Kingsley asked with a gulp.

"I don't really want to," Harry muttered.

"Oh."

Harry thought that Kingsley sounded oddly disappointed at his response.

"Only because I find you really attractive, and I don't want to cross that line because I know it would change how you look at me." Harry tried to explain, his cheeks darkening with mortification.

"You think I'm attractive?" Kingsley asked, grinning.

"Of course, I—" Harry paused. "You mean you don't mind?"

"I find you handsome too, Harry," Kingsley admitted.

"This is just to warm us up, though, I don't want to…" Harry trailed off.

"Of course," Kingsley said. "I suggest looking away then, and I'll get into the sleeping bag, and then you can…"

"Um, yeah, good idea." Harry looked up at the tent, watching the rain casting shadows on it, while Kingsley undressed and got into the sleeping bag. Harry placed the other sleeping bag over him, before stripping down and getting into the sleeping bag in front of Kingsley.

Kingsley's body pressed against him, and he felt one of Kingsley's arms cross over his chest, pulling him closer. Harry felt warm all over, feeling the man wrapped around him, and the two managed to fall asleep, listening to the storm outside the tent.

Harry awoke the next morning when he heard birds chirping outside the tent, and the sun was casting light into the tent through the lime-green material. He felt the warm body of Kingsley pressed up against his, feeling his breath against the back of his neck, and felt thankful they had been caught in the middle of a storm during one of their missions because his heart had never felt warmer.