Chapter Three
Months had gone by, Spring turning to Summer. Things both good and bad had happened to Harry in that time frame.
On one hand, he had made significant progress in controlling his magic since working with Hobgoblin. They still weren't doing any advance spells yet but Hobgoblin promised in time that he'd be ready. He even suggested Harry may be able to practice with the Witch by next Spring!
On the other hand, Moomin and Snorkmaiden had started dating…
It was upsetting to Harry, seeing the girl he had a crush on dating his brother, who seemed like he was just going along with it to be nice.
Currently, Harry was sitting by the sea, watching the waves. He sighed to himself, trying to muster the energy to change a shell color...But he just couldn't concentrate enough.
"That's a mighty fine shell."
Harry jumped out of his skin at the sound of a voice suddenly behind him. He expected it to be Hobgoblin, the Magician had a habit of appearing when Harry least expected.
Instead, it was Snufkin. The forest-dwelling traveler lazily shuffled towards him. Harry scowled at him, "Snufkin! Where did you come from?"
Snufkin shrugged, "Oh, just out and about...Feeling more serene at Moomin house now that Mymble came to get Little My?"
It was true. Little My had stayed with them this Winter and stayed a good month or so longer than expected. She bullied Harry to do magic constantly. Admittedly, he took it as a compliment that she found his magic that fascinating.
"Yeah, It's...Quieter."
Snufkin chuckled in agreement as he sat in the sand next to Harry. "I can understand why. My sister can get bossy."
Harry let out a snort of laughter, "That's an understatement...Don't tell her I said that."
"My lips are sealed."
A comfortable silence settled between them. The waves lulled against the sand near their feet as the afternoon sun was high overhead.
"So, magic man, how's the practice going?" Snufkin leaned back to bask in the sun as he spoke, closing his eyes. Harry shrugged, "It's good. I'm learning a lot." He simply answered. Snufkin cracked an eye open to look at Harry.
"You don't seem too excited."
Harry sighed as he rested his chin on his knees.
"I am...It's just...Other things are on my mind."
Snufkin eyed him up and down before a small lopsided smirk tugged the corner of his lips.
"...You're upset that Moomin has a girlfriend?"
Harry glared as pink tinged his cheeks. "NO! I'm happy my brother has a girlfriend! Don't be ridiculous!" He exclaimed.
"Ah...Then maybe you're upset that Snorkmaiden has a boyfriend?"
Harry flinched and despite his best efforts, his face turned red. Snufkin let out an airy laugh as Harry buried his face in his knees.
"It's alright! I had a good guess a few months back."
Harry groaned in his knees, "Am I that obvious?!"
Snufkin shrugged but Harry clearly already knew the answer. An awkward silence fell over them a moment as Snufkin picked up a shell, twirling it in his hand.
"I'm not a fan either. Moomin hasn't gone on an adventure with me in weeks."
Harry looked up a moment to answer, "He and Snorkmaiden have been lounging on the couch reading fairytale books all Spring and most of this Summer."
Snufkin sighed and dusting the sand from his hands.
"Well...It's obvious, we gotta break them up." He matter of factly stated. Harry sputtered, "What?! We can't do that!"
"Why not? You can have Snorkmaiden and I can hang out with Moomin again."
Harry facepalmed as he spoke to the apathetic boy. "Because it would be wrong!... I can't do that to Snorkmaiden or Moomin."
Snufkin relented, "Alright, fine...Have you told Moomin how you feel about Snorkmaiden?"
"Of course not."
"Well, maybe you should." With that, Snufkin stood and offered Harry a hand. Snufkin was slightly older than the rest of the kids, only by a year or so. Harry noticed Snufkin seemed to have gotten slightly taller over the Summer, both boys almost the same height now.
"I know what will cheer us both up. Let's go get some honey from those beehives your Pappa built. You can even talk to the bees and convince them it's fine!"
Harry rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Snufkin, the bees told me if you go in their hive one more time, they'd attack. Stop stealing their honey already!"
"Oh, come on. They don't need ALL that honey." He started walking away, ignoring Harry. Harry shook his head as he followed, "If they sting you, you brought this upon yourself."
Their journey was cut short by a shrill scream.
"What was that?" Snufkin asked as they heard it again, shrill and close by. "That sounds like Snorkmaiden!" Harry sprinted in the direction of the noise, Snufkin close behind.
They raced towards another part of the beach near some cliff. Moomin frantically struggled at the edge, barely hanging on. Snufkin showed more emotion on his face than usual, genuine panic as he saw Moomin. "Moomin! Hang on!" He yelled as he raced to the cliff. Harry following behind, trying to summon his magic to lift Moomin.
The magic flowed around Moomin, trying in vain to lift his heavy body. "Snufkin, I can't! Hurry!"
Snufkin expertly climbed the rocks as Harry staggered to use his magic on Moomin. Moomin cried out as his fingers started slipping from the edge before another hand grabbed him.
"Gotcha." Snufkin triumphantly smirked as he hoisted Moomin up. "Boy, am I glad to see you!" Moomin exclaimed as he held onto Snufkin, getting as far away from the edge as possible.
Harry realized there was more screaming. Moomin yelled and pointed out to the ocean. "Snorkmaiden! She fell in!"
Harry didn't hesitate as he jumped in the water. He barely saw the white fur and blonde hair as she bobbed in the water, waves crashing over her.
Harry used all his strength he had to reach her, letting out a relieved gasp as his hand grasped hers. The relief was short-lived as waves crashed over both of them.
"Hobgoblin! Anyone!" Harry yelled as water crashed over him and Snorkmaiden. Despite the Summer months, the water was cool. Icy creeping down his throat and into his lungs.
A memory floated through Harry's mind as the saltwater filled his face. A lesson Hobgoblin taught him last month.
'Now, sometimes, you're going to panic. When you panic, your magic becomes erratic and uncontrollable. Relax, no matter what the situation. You have to relax and then you have to focus.'
'But my magic reacted when I was angry?'
'Yes, but you weren't in control. You want to be in control, otherwise, your magic will control you.'
Harry snapped back to the present, Snorkmaiden weakly holding onto him as waves crashed over them both.
'Relax and then focus.'
Harry closed his eyes and imagined he wasn't in the situation he was in. That he was in a bathtub, all he had to do was stand up.
Harry opened his eyes in surprise as he saw he was above the water. He focused his magic the way Hobgoblin had taught him, his feet dipping dangerously into the water with each step. Until he was 3 feet or so deep and his magic gave out, crashing both he and Snorkmaiden back in the water.
He felt hands drag him through the water and on to the sandy shore. Harry coughed a bit of water from his lungs, looking at Snorkmaiden. He crawled towards her as Snufkin and Moomin helped her sit up. She coughed up water onto the sand beside them.
"Snorkmaiden! Are you...Are you alright?" Harry gasped out. Snorkmaiden weakly batted her brown eyes at him. "You saved me, Harry…" She gave him a weak smile. Harry smiled back.
Snufkin released her before folding his arms. "What were you doing?" His usual calm tone sounding a bit high as he addressed Moomin.
"Snorkmaiden thought she saw a rare flower near the rocks. We both climbed the rocks and...And we slipped." Moomin rubbed his arm sheepishly. Snufkin let out a heavy breath.
"Can you PLEASE not do that again? I rather like you alive." Snufkin groaned. Moomin urgently nodded his head. "Of course! I'm never doing that again!" Moomin rushed to Snorkmaiden to hug her, a flush on both their white faces as Harry and Snufkin begrudgingly watched.
"Oh, Snorkmaiden! Are you okay?!" Moomin cried out as he hugged her. She hugged him back but looked over to Harry.
"Oh yes. Thanks to Harry."
Moomin turned to Harry and gripped him in a fierce hug. "Harry that was so brave and cool!" He exclaimed as Harry hugged him back. Moomin noticed Harry shiver and leaned back to look at his brother.
"Hey, are you okay? You look as white as me!"
Harry felt his teeth chatter, "C-c-cold!"
Snufkin spoke up, "Moomin, help me get a fire started. I need help with firewood."
"Oh, sure! Stay right here you two, we'll be back!" Moomin said as he quickly went to the woods at the edge of the beach. Snufkin nodded in Harry's direction as he followed Moomin. Harry sat there, shivering with a glare in Snufkin's direction. Fully seeing the delinquents game.
"Oh, Harry you really don't look good…" Snorkmaiden shivered as well as she scooted closer to Harry in the sand.
"I-I'm okay…" He stuttered, trying in vain to prevent his teeth from chattering.
"I think my fur helped me a bit...The nights have been getting colder with Autumn coming." She eyed him in concern. A blush crept on her face, "Would it help if we're closer? My fur is still wet though…"
Harry would blush if he could, but all he could think of was heat. He eagerly nodded as he held himself, Snorkmaiden shyly snuggling up to him. She fidgeted with her soft tail nervously.
"That really was brave of you Harry...And so wonderful how you used your magic!"
Harry smiled through his shivering, "Y-you think so?"
"Oh yes! I know Moomin or Snufkin would have helped as well but if you hadn't jumped in, why, I don't want to think about it honestly!"
One part of Harry never wanted this moment to end, with his crush snuggled up to him. And another part was downright hypothermic and praying that his friends got back with kindling soon!
It wasn't long before Moomin and Snufkin came out of the woods, kindling in hand.
"We got here as soon as we could!" Moomin exclaimed as he set up the wood in a teepee formation, trying to add leaves to it as well.
Snufkin knelt down near Harry, "Jeez, are you sure we shouldn't take you back to Moomin house?"
Harry furiously shook his head, "No, I'll be fine near the fire! The heat of the day is already helping!" He exclaimed. Snufkin caught sight of how close Snorkmaiden was and gave a knowing look he tried to hide.
"Alright, if you insist. Just make sure to let us know if you get even colder."
"I kind of agree with Harry. I can only imagine the scolding if Mama and Pappa found out!" Moomin replied as he tried to get sparks to the wood.
Harry's shivering started to subside the moment a fire was started.
"Oh, you seem to be getting warm again!" Snorkmaiden chimed, still sitting close to him. Harry caught Moomin eyeing them both curiously before they both sheepishly scooted a few inches apart. Bashfully uttering thank you's and apologies as they parted.
The fire grew as the sun set. Harry started to feel better as the friends started conversing. It was the first time they had all talked together with one another in weeks. Exchanging stories and laughing like they had in the beginning of Spring.
Eventually, Snufkin began playing his harmonica. The noise made a sense of peaceful warmth fall over the kids. Moomin volunteered to get more wood as Snufkin stayed and played his tune.
Snorkmaiden caught her eyes drifting to Harry curiously and he did the same before both shyly averted their gazes.
The sky was a mix of orange and dark blue as the stars soon appeared high in the sky. Moomin returned with company, "Look who I found!" Sniff followed behind him with a wave.
"Sniff! Join the party." Snufkin greeted as he stopped playing his harmonica. Sniff sat at the fire near Snorkmaiden, eyeing Harry oddly.
"What happened to you? Your pants look wet!" He nasally quipped. Harry smirked, "I felt like a swim."
There was silence before everyone started erupting in a fit of giggles around the fire. Sniff blinked in confusion, "What?! What is so funny? Come on, you know I hate not knowing the joke!"
The rest of the evening wore down after another hour or so of talking. A crescent moon was above their heads as Sniff let out a huge yawn. "Man, it sure is quiet without Little My around." He declared happily.
Snufkin raised a brow, "Uh oh...I wouldn't have said that…" He faked a fearful expression, pointing behind Sniff. Sniff gasped and turned around, expecting the 2-foot terror to be standing there. Everyone burst out in laughter.
"Hey!" Sniff bellowed with a scowl. Snufkin laughed to himself. "Don't worry, she's staying with Mymble...For now."
The kids soon packed up, extinguishing the fire as they all made their way home. However, Snorkmaiden and Harry stayed back from the group a few feet.
"Harry...Thank you." She whispered, looking towards him with a sweet smile.
"Oh, really Snorkmaiden, it was nothing."
"Don't say that! If you weren't there, I might be a goner! You're my hero, Harry! Like the knights in the stories, ready to throw themselves to danger, all to rescue their princess!" She swooned as Harry giggled softly.
"Well, I'm glad I was there then...I'd hate for anything bad to happen to you. A knight has to protect his...Uh, I mean the princess." He shyly admitted. Fireflies danced around them in the Summer air as frogs sang and crickets chirped the night away.
"Oh!... Well, thank you." Snorkmaiden blushed and hesitated before kissing him quickly on the cheek. Harry was beet red as they both bashfully averted their eyes from one another as the walked. Snorkmaiden twirling her tail in her hands with a smile on her face.
Little did they know, Moomin saw the whole thing from up ahead, even in the dark… He worriedly looked away at the awkward situation.
The kids parted at the bridge. Sniff and Snufkin going their separate ways.
"Do you need a walk home, Snorkmaiden?" Moomin politely asked. She smiled but shook her head, "Thanks but I'll be okay. Snork is probably up and waiting for me." She waved goodbye, her eyes lingered on Harry a moment before she ducked her head and hurried home.
Harry hoped Moomin didn't notice as they both went to their own home, however, Moomin stopped Harry on their porch.
"Did you and Snorkmaiden kiss?" He asked. Harry flinched, guilt already welling in him.
"Moomin, it's not what you think! S-She was just giving me a kiss on the cheek because a saved her! I didn't kiss her, she kissed me!" Harry rambled as Moomin eyed him up and down.
"Oh, so you didn't want her to?" He innocently asked. Harry felt tongue-tied as Moomin watched him. He shuffled his feet and looked down.
"W-well...I…" He didn't know what to say.
Moomin tilted his head at Harry as the realization dawned on him.
"Do you like Snorkmaiden?"
Harry jumped, as he stammered, "WHO TOLD?! It was Snufkin, wasn't it? I swear-"
He didn't get to finish as Moomin laid a hand on Harry's arm. "Well, do you?" He urged. Harry let out a heavy sigh before nodding his head.
"Yeah...I've liked her for a while...The last year or so."
Moomin glared and Harry winced, expecting for him to want to fight or be angry at Harry.
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Tell you what, Moomin? That I have a crush on a girl that has a crush on you and is now your girlfriend?"
Moomin glared a moment longer before sighing, his face looking glum. "I guess you're right...Well, I hope she's not too mad."
Harry quirked a brow at his brother. "Mad? For what?"
"Isn't it obvious? I can't date my brother's crush."
Harry was taken aback. He grasped Moomin's shoulders to look him in the eyes. "Moomin, you don't need to do that. There are other girls! I'll get over it!"
Moomin shook his head and lowered Harry's arms from his body. "No, it's what I need to do. Snorkmaiden is really nice and pretty. But I feel like I only dated her because she wanted to, not because I like her...I mean, I like her! I just don't know if I like like her."
Harry stared at Moomin in surprise and said, "Really? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure...Besides, dating her was kind of tiring. It took away from me and Snufkin's adventures together...And she seems to like you."
Harry gave a sheepish smile at the thought. "Me? N-no… Wait. Do you really think she likes me?"
Moomin grinned at him. "Yep, I do! She kissed you didn't she?"
"Well yes…"
"Then she must like you! Just promise you'll tell her how you feel after I break up with her."
Harry grabbed Moomin in a bear hug to which Moomin giggled. "Yes, I will! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Heh, you're welcome!... Now just to figure out how to break up with her nicely."
The boys thought they were alone from prying eyes but little did they know, a certain top hat-wearing Moomin was eavesdropping from his study.
Moominpappa chuckled to himself as he leaned against the window sill, hearing his sons and being a bit proud of Moomin.
"Ah, young love. I remember my own youth and all the whimsical feelings I felt. How the silliest things would make my heartbeat faster the moment my crush did them...Hey, that's good...I should write that down!"