Princess

Lily paled as she stared at the ridiculously steep stretch of snow before them, over which a loud family of Muggles disappeared before her, laughing gleefully.

"No," she said to James, trying to back away from the edge with her skis still attached to her feet. "I'm not doing this."

Irritated with her skis, she tried to shake one off her foot, and tripped over in the process, landing in the snow. James glided gracefully over to her, laughing.

"Never took you for a klutz," he said, crouching down.

"I'm not," said Lily. "But if I manage to fall over on flat ground, what happens when I try skiing over that drop?"

"A four year old just did it!" said James. "Come on. Let's get you up."

He pulled her upright and turned to face the drop.

"You've got to enjoy this," he said. "Sirius planned out the perfect honeymoon. It's a week of bliss, then we're back to the old death and gloom everywhere…."

"This isn't bliss!" exclaimed Lily. "Can't we just Disapparate away from here?"

"No can do," said James. "There are Muggles around. Oh – look! There goes a three year old. And… she doesn't fall over."

"I'm a beginner!"

"You're a witch!"

A middle-aged couple glanced over at them, looking disapprovingly at James.

"Called her a witch," muttered the woman. "And just for not being very good at skiing, poor thing."

"I'd never call you a witch," assured her husband, as they slid over the drop.

James winked at Lily. "They think I'm a bad, bad husband."

"You are if you force your wife into going over sheer drops," she said.

"It's not sheer!" he laughed.

Then, grinning maniacally, he inched towards the drop.

"James, if you dare–"

He slid forwards and was gone, whooping at the top of his voice. Lily peered over the edge anxiously, and saw that he was waiting for her at the bottom, waving to her.

"COME ON, LILY!" he shouted. "OR YOU'LL BE UP THERE ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT!"

Lily squeezed her eyes shut, resisting the temptation to Disapparate. Slowly, she pushed her skis forwards, biting her lip in fear. And then she was shooting forwards, building up speed, unable to stop… Her eyes opened underneath her goggles and she felt her balance waver. She stumbled forwards, coughing out snow, and tried to untangle her skis. Barely a moment later she gave up, her strength drained, and lay back against the snow, looking up at the sky. She felt suddenly peaceful.

"Lily?"

James had skied up to her, his voice tense with anxiety.

"I'm alright," said Lily with a laugh. "No more skiing, though. Please?"

"'Course," said James, and pulled her to her feet. "But are you sure you're all right?"

She smiled. "I'm fine, James." Then, adjusting her woolly hat, she groaned.

"What's wrong?" said James.

"Nothing," said Lily quickly – too quickly. "Everything's fine."

James, grabbing the blue bobble of her hat, yanked it off. Lily tried to reach for it, but James skied on, laughing. She made after him, shouting for him to stop. Finally he complied, and she skied straight into him.

"Give me back my hat, James," she said as politely as she could.

"What's wrong?" he laughed. "I don't see anything wrong!"

Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were rosy from the cold, and her mouth was set in a mock-annoyed little frown. She was adorable. He still couldn't believe she had married him.

"James, my hat," she pleaded.

He leaned down and kissed her cold, red nose. "You look beautiful."

"Aargh!" said Lily. "Don't say that!"

He raised his eyebrows. "Why not? Do you prefer stunning? Enchanting? You're the Beautiful Princess of the Snow."

"Princess of the–"

"And I'm your Prince," continued James. "Bold, daring, chivalrous, dashing…"

"Did I make a mistake, marrying you?" she joked.

"No, you're not backing out now," said James. "I have the most beautiful woman in the entire world as my wife and–"

"I have hat hair," she growled. "Which is why I need my hat."

"You have beautiful hair," chuckled James. "It's all red and pretty and stuck flat to the top of your head…"

Lily grabbed her hat and pulled it firmly over her hair.

"Take me home?" she asked.

"Nope," said James, grinning. "We have six more days of fun!"