The boy who loved

Chapter 6.12 (The rings)

The walk into Hogsmeade was not enjoyable....at all. It was cold and wet and grey. Aurora, who had wrapped her scarf over her lower face, had to bend double against the bitter wind of late October. "I really do hate autumn in Scotland." She complained.

"You know, we could share body heat to warm you up. But don't forget it works better if you're naked." She heard a teasing voice say from behind her. Caspian had been following her from a distance ever since they left Hogwarts.

Neither of them had mentioned the last time they spoke and it seemed as though Caspian was desperate to forget it ever happened at all.

"I'd rather jump in the Black Lake," bit Aurora back as she changed the position of her scarf in such a way it covered the top of her head too.

Then, as if the weather was not yet bad enough on one of their few Hogsmeade outings, it started to rain too.

Freezing cold rain, almost closer to hail than water fell down on her head, causing what felt like brain freeze without the delicious ice cream part.

Aurora looked back at Caspian. His face was uncovered and he didn't seem to be half as cold as she was. He walked straight, hands in his pockets, looking at her with a selfsatisfied grin.

"How are you not freezing!" She exclaimed in annoyance. Almost running into another student who was also holding his head low against the wind.

"I'm too hot to get cold," he shrugged like it was the most normal thing in the world.

She raised an eyebrow at him although she doubted he noticed since her face was covered with the scarf.

"And...I might know a heating spell." He said cheekily.

"You what!" Growled Aurora, stopping as she rounded on him.

He wasn't bothered by the furious look on her face. "What? I had to at least try get you naked first," he shrugged, a naughty sparkle in his eyes. He went to stand very close to Aurora, eyes locked. There was a very satisfied smirk on his face as he lifted a hand and gently laid it on her frozen cheek.

Aurora's heart hammered and the rushing of her blood through her veins made her body quickly heat up.

Caspian went to stand even closer. She could feel his warm breath on her cheeks, tinging them with sharp heat.

Aurora's breathing came in shallow pants but fortunately it was unnoticable over the roar of the autumn wind.

"Just ask, princess," he whispered, lips hovering by her ear.

"Ask what?" She breathed, stumbling a bit when he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Caspian let his hand fall and instead used it to wrap an arm around her and pulling her into him. Her face was pressed into his warm jacket-clad chest. He wrapped his other arm around her as well and hid his face away in her hair. His warm nose against her cold cheek.

He never said a spell, never even pulled out his wand but still Aurora quickly felt his warmth pass over her own skin. It seemed to seep into her bones, taking the place of the freezing cold that had settled there before. Every part of her was warm and comfortable. Completely content and at home in his arms.

"Anything," he whispered, his breath causing Aurora to shiver. "You can ask me anything, Aurora."

They stood there like that for a few minutes. Caspian's embrace warming her from top to bottom. She had her arms wrapped around his waist, pressing her face further into his chest.

She often thought about the strangeness of their situation. Caspian could touch her whenever he wanted to. She had never really pulled away. And he knew she wouldn't. But still he never really pointed it out.