6 YEARS LATER

Perhaps, it was in my blood to have gone off to study magizoology after having finished Hogwarts, the way it was in Lorcan's blood to do the same. Of course, I'd specialised in winged horses and he had gone on to study creature conservation. It seemed, I spent my every spare moment working on the family farm, making sure that all our winged horses were healthy and importantly, that they were happy. Somehow, despite having dated Lorcan for 6 years now, he had never once set foot on our family farm and had never seen a winged horse either. Maybe it was because I wasn't too sure of letting Lorcan meet my parents – but that was a secret I kept to myself.

Although, conceding to his pestering, I'd given in to his badgering and he was spending a couple of weeks of the summer holiday at our farm. I'd watched cautiously from the side lines as my parents were properly introduced to Lorcan, with me actually using the b word to describe him. My anxiety was proven pointless, given the easy way he'd hit it off with my parents. At first, my parents had wanted to keep him like a guest, not wanting him to experience any trouble during his stay. Their wishes were promptly abandoned when, the very next morning, Lorcan was awake at the crack of dawn and helping me feed the horses. Despite it all, they were grateful for his help.

It seemed, that Lorcan was willing to help me with all my work, continuing to trail me around the farm. This morning, I needed to check on one of the expectant mares, who was sure to pop any day and Lorcan, so excited about the possibility of witnessing a birth, was quick to follow. On his first day, he'd listened to my instructions about remaining behind the fence so she could get a good look at him and learn to trust him. Eventually, now that we were days on, they had built up enough trust for Lorcan to be inside the fencing with the mare and to even stroke her large belly. He had such an easy way with animals that I was certain there was something in Scamander DNA that meant creatures took easier to them than to anyone else.

"What are the chances that she'll give birth today?" Lorcan asked as we walked.

"I have no clue." Abruptly, I caught myself short, realising she was lying down and even from a distance she seemed to be sweating; she was likely in labour. "I've changed my answer – she's birthing soon. This mare in particular is known to give birth quickly."

"How quickly?" Lorcan asked, quickening his paces as I raced towards the enclosure. The last time, the foal had gotten stuck and she'd needed help; we'd almost lost her in the end.

"An hour." I hesitated on the outside of the enclosure, not wanting to interfere unless I didn't have to. "Rowena, the last time she had a complicated birth." My eyes flickered hesitantly back towards our home, "I think I need to get dad. By the time I run back, it might be too late?"

Lorcan considered me for a long moment, reaching out to grab my hand steadily. "Apparition?"

"No; the sound scares the horses." Shaking my head, I looked contemplatively between Lorcan and our home.

"Go," he said instantly, eyes rooted to the mare. I watched, wide eyed as the first signs of the placenta appeared. Lorcan clambered the fence, perching on it and watching her closely. "There's no time to wait, sweetheart. Why don't you go get your dad and I'll keep an eye on her? You know your way home better than I do."

"Thank you," I said, rising to my feet to press a quick kiss to his cheek. Lorcan lowered his head to make it easier on me before gesturing me away.

I set off in a dead run, wishing more than anything we could just apparate without setting the horses off. My lungs burned, thighs aching as I pushed myself to run farther and faster until I reached our family home. Pausing in the front door, I took some time to catch my breath before hurrying inside and calling out for father. Worried at the sound of my voice, he appeared from the kitchen, holding his mug of tea. Struggling to form coherent sentences, I managed to get my point across and then we were both running back to the enclosure. I ran ahead of my father, making it back before he did.

Holding onto the fence, I found Lorcan kneeling beside the mare and holding carefully onto the front legs of the foal. At my concerned eyes, he assured me, "It's fine, the foal is a bit stuck but it's alright, I can help."

Nodding and unable to word my concern – because I was struggling to speak at the moment – but also because I was terrified, I watched as my father clambered over the fence to help Lorcan. Under their careful watch, the foal was born, healthy and safe. They finally stepped aside as the mare began to carefully clean the foal. I continued to watch the foal for a moment longer, checking that nothing was wrong when my father and Lorcan pitched over the fence to join me.

"You know," I murmured, turning to Lorcan as father headed back to our home to clean up, "most people would balk in that situation."

"Well," he started with a smile that I swore was the best of any I'd ever seen from him, "most people aren't Scamanders."

And then he was leaning down to kiss me. But I dodged away, holding my hands out in front of me to prevent from him coming anywhere near me.

"No way." I ignored the frown he threw my way. "As much as I love you, I am not going to kiss you whilst you're covered in horse placenta. No way."