Chapter Text
April 12, 1892
"Are you insane? It's freezing cold in there!"
Lyra laughed. "Don't be such a baby, Seb!"
She quickly took off her dress and revealed the swim suit she was wearing underneath. Sebastian tried not to stare too much, but couldn't help a fleeting thought about her undressing in an entirely different setting ... Stop dreaming, Sallow!
Lyra looked at him. "You coming or not?"
I wish.
"Definitely not."
Lyra shrugged. "Fine."
With that, she marched right into the lake. Sebastian watched equally horrified and amazed as she let herself sink into the water. It was the first warm day of the year, there was no way it was warm enough to swim in there. But she didn't seem to feel the cold.
"Cowardly Slytherin! You don't know what you're missing", she said playfully.
Sebastian sat down by the lakeside. "Let's see if you're still laughing like this when you have a cold tomorrow." The adoration in his eyes betrayed the light scolding in his words. He loved seeing her like this: carefree, joyful ... happy.
After 15 minutes, Lyra came out of the water again. She shivered in the light breeze.
"Told you so", Sebastian chuckled. He offered her his hand. "Come here!"
She let him pull her into his arms. He embraced her tightly, not caring that his clothes were getting wet. With his wand he produced a stream of hot air to help her get dry.
"Stupid prideful Gryffindor", he whispered softly in her ear. She hummed lightly, clearly content with her position. Sebastian could feel the shivers slowly easing.
"I love you so much, you know?", she murmured. He smiled. "I love you too, sweetheart."