The Threads That Bind Us

Chapter 14

As November neared an end, a blanket of snow hugged the mountains in the Scottish Highlands. Fidelity sat in the Great Hall, watching snowflakes drift toward the ground, admiring the beauty of the scenery behind the frosted windows. The sight filled her with a quiet warmth, contrasting the crisp chill that awaited outside. Hogwarts had turned into a winter wonderland overnight, and while the cold usually made her want to curl up inside with a book, there was something exciting about the first real snowfall of the season.

Noah appeared by her side and plopped down next to her. "Admiring the snow?" he asked with a grin, his chocolate eyes glinting mischievously.

Fidelity turned to him, her cheeks already flushed from the warmth of the hall and maybe just a little from seeing him. "I love it. Everything looks so peaceful under all that snow."

Noah raised an eyebrow, leaning back on the bench. "Peaceful? I was thinking more like... perfect snowball fight weather."

Fidelity laughed. "Of course, you would."

"Well," he said, nudging her playfully with his elbow, "care to join me? We could put that peaceful view to good use."

Fidelity pretended to think about it for a moment, tilting her head. "Hmm... maybe. If you promise not to go too hard on me."

"I can't make any promises," Noah smirked, standing up and offering his hand to her. "But I'll try to go easy. You ready?"

With a smile, Fidelity took his hand, feeling a spark as their fingers intertwined. They quickly made their way out of the Great Hall, the chilly air biting at their faces as they stepped into the snowy courtyard. The fresh snow crunched beneath their boots, and the air was crisp, carrying the unmistakable scent of winter.

Fidelity inhaled deeply, her breath puffing out in little clouds. "It's colder than I thought," she said, shivering slightly despite the warmth of her scarf.

Noah, however, was already kneeling down, scooping a handful of snow into his gloved hands. "Perfect snow," he said, inspecting it as if it were something precious.

Before Fidelity could react, a soft ball of snow hit her on the shoulder, leaving a light dusting on her cloak. She blinked, stunned for a moment, before narrowing her eyes playfully. "Oh, you're gonna regret that."

He laughed, backing away with his hands up in mock surrender. "Sorry! Couldn't resist."

But Fidelity was already reaching down to gather her own handful of snow, forming it into a compact ball. "No mercy," she declared, launching the snowball at him.

It hit him squarely on the chest, and he let out a surprised yelp, his grin widening. "Alright, I see how it is!" Noah quickly scooped up another handful of snow, and the playful war began in earnest.

They chased each other around the courtyard, dodging behind statues and trees, flinging snowballs with laughter echoing through the otherwise quiet grounds. Fidelity couldn't remember the last time she had this much fun, her heart racing not just from the cold or the chase but from the sheer joy of being with Noah.

After several rounds of back-and-forth snowball throwing, Noah finally managed to catch her, pulling her gently into a snowbank as they both tumbled into the soft powder. Fidelity landed beside him, breathless and laughing, snowflakes catching in her hair and eyelashes.

"You're relentless!" Noah said, still chuckling, his breath puffing in the cold air.

"You started it," Fidelity teased, brushing snow from her face as she lay on her back, gazing up at the soft gray sky. Snow continued to fall gently around them.