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"Keenbridge? What the hell is all the way in Keenbridge that we need to rush there so early in the morning, Sebastian?" She asked, irritated, as the boy in question dragged her by the hand at a near-sprint down the winding dirt pathway south of Hogwarts.
Despite the fact that the rapidly darkening sky looked like it was about to unleash, Sebastian had all but ripped her from the castle with an urgent insistence that they simply needed to visit Keenbridge as soon as possible.
Right that very moment, in fact.
She could tell from his wildly messy hair and the circles under his eyes he'd been up all night reading yet again, and assumed he'd caught hold of some scrap of intriguing information about the tiny hamlet and latched onto it like a hound dog with a rabbit.
"There's just something there I need to see - I need to confirm it for myself." He replied, panting slightly while they walked.
"And you need me to come with you? Keenbridge is safe - why am I up at the ass-crack of dawn to satiate your curiosity, Sebastian? You're capable of slogging through this impending thunderstorm alone while I remain warm and dry in the castle." She pressed, hoping against all odds he might be swayed.
Of course, he wasn't, though. He never was.
He replied by simply pulling her along harder, and she groaned, exasperated, eyeing the growing clouds with a sense of dread.
Sebastian was always like this. A whirlwind, refusing to provide explanations of any sort while he was caught up in his own manic ideas. In a way, this side of him had always been endearing to her.
That said, it was also one of his most infuriating qualities as she was reminded by the way her friend hauled her further down the hill, deaf to her protests and pleas.
Eventually, he cast a sly glance over his shoulder to look at her. "Just trust me. You need to come along."
Something about the way he spoke - quiet and low, like he was hinting at a deeper meaning for their spontaneous trip - piqued her curiosity just enough that any further complaints fell silent on her lips.
By the time they'd made it to Keenbridge, a slight drizzle of rain had begun, and she glanced around the vacant hamlet - all of its residents taking shelter indoors from the impending storm. Wishing she could join them, she instead followed Sebastian as he dragged her along toward the little river.
Then, he stopped at the entrance of the weathered, old wooden bridge, staring at it as if searching for something.
"Sebastian, what is it you need here? If you just tell me already, perhaps I can assist you better. We're both getting drenched." She gently squeezed his hand, which was still clasped tightly around her own.
It was true - they were both getting soaked as the downpour continued, chill gusts of wind tearing through their wet robes and making her shiver. Sebastian must have been cold as well, she reasoned, as his fingertips were like ice in her hand.
When he turned back to face her, though, expression resolute and stoic, it didn't seem like he'd even noticed the disagreeable weather. Rather, his cheeks looked warm.
She'd never seen him with a look like that, and it made her breath catch in her throat. Handsome as always, there was something about his unusual stoicism, and the way his hair plastered to his forehead in the rain and his skin paled in the freezing spring wind that made Sebastian even more breathtaking than usual.
Normally, she could bury her less-than-platonic feelings for Sebastian under a mountain of sarcasm. At that moment, however, she suddenly felt positively scorching despite the chill air and was certain if he scrutinized her enough, her observant companion would be able to read her infatuation as easily as one of his books.
"Just... just trust me a bit longer. Please. I need a moment to think. I'll get you somewhere warm and dry shortly." He said softly, looking at her with sudden conflict in his eyes as he took in her sopping wet form, petite and shivering, with pity.
"Alright." She replied simply.
Clearly this was something that held a bit more weight than she'd initially realized, and so she waited for a long several minutes, both of them silently standing in the growing puddles of rain, while Sebastian deliberated over what to do next.
Just as she was about to speak up again, discomfort from being miserably soaked finally growing intolerable, Sebastian let loose a very heavy sigh and slumped his shoulders before dragging her toward the little tavern, sloshing through mud puddles and looking positively dejected.
"Sebastian, what's wrong? Did you not find what you were searching for?" She asked, worried now by his sudden change from chaotic optimism to defeat.
Pausing under the tavern awning, finally out of the pelting rain, he released her hand and stared at the ground.
"It's nothing. It was a stupid idea in the first place. I'm sorry for subjecting you to my ridiculous whims yet again." Utterly downtrodden, he continued looking at his shoes, squelching in the mud as he shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.
Ah, there was that self-loathing she had grown so accustomed to over the years.
Just as she opened her mouth to console Sebastian, however, her eyes flickered to the plaque hung next to the tavern door.
'Keenbridge Tavern - named for the mythical bridge of lore where one might bring the person they're keen on to cross in the hopes their feelings will be requited thanks to the bridge's ancient magical properties.'
Looking from the sign and back to the bridge Sebastian had lingered in front of for so long, and eventually down to her hand which he had held until only moments ago, she quickly pieced together what he'd been up to.
It appeared he also realized the conclusion she was able to arrive at based on the look of abject horror on his face while he stammered out panicked noises, choking on the words before they could even exit his mouth.
"Sebastian... " She began slowly. "Were you intending to win my affections by way of magic?"
"No!" He said quickly and then looked rather guilty. "I mean, yes. I was. But I thought better of it. This bridge isn't even the real bridge - it's just a replica of what they think it could look like, and I'd thought - nevermind, like I said the whole thing was stupid and I realized that even if there was a miniscule chance it might work, I couldn't manipulate your feelings for me. I'm sorry."
Stunned speechless as the rainstorm around them reached deafening levels and the winds whipped rain onto them even under the little wooden awning, she snatched his hand back up and dragged Sebastian into the mess again, spattering them both in muck as she all but ran with him back toward the bridge.
His stammering, barely audible over the whipping wind, didn't matter when she turned to look at him at the threshhold of the crossing and yelled over the noise.
"Nothing is ever simple with you, is it? Let's go - we came all the way here. We're crossing this damn bridge!" She said, face practically in his to ensure he heard her.
Perhaps he didn't because the look he gave was nothing short of perplexed. With an exasperated groan, she grew tired of waiting and squinting to see in the downpour and simply resumed tugging him by the hand across the bridge until they reached the very center where she turned to face him yet again.
"Of course I like you - don't need a silly bridge and its folklore to get it out of me, you know." She told him, determined.
He gaped down at her - this fiery witch who boldly declared what he hadn't had the guts to say for so long. Still, he didn't speak or act, and she groaned again, frustrated.
Both hands on his shoulders, she leaned in to kiss him, reveling in the way his eyes widened in surprise before fluttering shut in eager anticipation before -
Crack
The soggy, ancient boards beneath their feet splintered and broke apart beneath them, plunging them both into the water below.
Briefly panicking, Sebastian took hold of her to keep her above water until he realized - they both realized - the body of water was barely a shallow stream, even in the center.
There they sat, huddled together and teeth chattering while they sat in the cool stream, further drenching their ruined clothing as the rain continued hurtling down on them.
And then, they looked at each other and simply laughed.
"What a fucking nightmare this whole morning has been." Sebastian said, collapsing against her in a fit of laughter. "You look like a drowned kneazle."
She howled at the comparison, delighted considering he didn't look much better at the moment.
"You're the one responsible for this hellish journey, you rascal! Could've just kissed me senseless in the warm castle, but no - we had to come to some bridge of misfortune just for you to get cold feet in the end - literally and figuratively, might I add."
Sebastian paused for a moment, giving her a strange look.
"Well, I could still kiss you senseless." He answered slyly.
"Could you? Or will you chicken out again?" She challenged, leaning just a bit closer and tilting her head ever-so-slightly.
Sebastian didn't need any further invitation before leaning forward as well, bridging the meager gap between them and capturing her lips with his own. Never mind the fact that both their lips were numb with cold or the rainwater mingling with the taste of their kiss - it was still perfect.
Until that is, she sneezed.
Directly into his face.
And then the laughter kicked up, yet again.
The only one not laughing much that day would be Ominis, who would soon have to deal with two best friends, miserably ill in the Common Room with colds, nauseating him with their snot-filled tissues and sickeningly sweet affections.