Up and Down

Burden and Gift

"Ha!"

The Quaffle flies through the hoop and Sebastian growls through gritted teeth. Anna grins at his grumpy expression.

"Don't show me all of your tricks just yet," sneering, he summons the ball back and throws it at her, "or do. But that would make the match too easy."

"Don't worry, there is a lot more where that came from."

Despite being brought up as a lady, children were children. She ran around and climbed trees and played cricket along with her cousins.

There is a soft squeeze of sadness around her chest. Amelia wrote to her in the last letter that she is getting married in May. She asked if she could come to be with her for this. But Anna cannot just run away to the Muggle world - not again. Besides, her NEWTs will be right around the corner...

Even if her favourite cousin is being given away to a man twice her senior and whom she barely met.

"You going to throw that, love?"

She blinks and smiles at Sebastian, twirling the Quaffle in her hands.

"Don't you worry, Sallow. Just going easy on you."

"How dare you," a mocking grin splits his face nearly in half, "come on, love. Give it to me."

Anna smirks and streaks forward, zigzagging rapidly, making it difficult to determine which ring she is going for, Quaffle her hand ready to fly.

"Ready to head back?"

With most of the students gone for the winter break, the Library is finally quiet. It would be the perfect time to join Ominis and catch up on some reading, but...

"I have a meeting in Hogsmeade."

Sebastian frowns.

"Wait, you're going alone?"

"To the village? Yes. But I'm meeting someone there, so-"

"Like hell you do. Not with those bastards about. I'm coming with."

"Sebastian..." she sighs. She doesn't want to be coddled. She can take care of herself, and they all have so much to do... but. Nobody can stand alone. It was selfish of her to make him worry, "very well. It shouldn't be long."

"Let's go."

He sits on the broom behind her, wrapping his arms around her as they glide towards Hogsmeade. His fingers idly stroke her corseted waist through the fabric of her coat and slide up to knead and grope at her breasts through the layers.

"Sebastian..."

His breath is hot on her earlobe.

"Shh... it's alright, love, nobody is going to see."

Asking him to keep his hands to himself is like asking a dugbog to go vegetarian. She sighs and lets him do whatever he wants.

They land at the edge of the village and walk over to the little plaza. Standing there, the place mostly empty because of students being away for the holidays, she can't help but think of a day two years ago when a troll rampaged through the place.

Sebastian was by her side then too.

"Ms Visconti?"

She turns to see Grace Aberdeen. The woman pulls the tweed coat tighter around herself. She must have apparated from somewhere a bit warmer. Up in the Highlands, winter is crisp and chilly and utterly merciless.