Warning: This chapter contains a descriptive panic attack. Anyone who is triggered by such language should proceed with caution.

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"Jack," she whispered.

She giggled as Jack looked over his shoulder, shifting his body so quickly that his quidditch robes fluttered. He squinted at the shadows hugging the corridor and it was clear that he still hadn't seen her.

"I'm over here."

Stepping around the bust of Glanmore Peakes, famed serpent slayer and former Hogwarts student, Elsa could see Jack's face light up. It made her heart skip a beat.

"You actually came!" Jack laughed, nudging her shoulder. "Miss Lindstrom, sneaking around before curfew. Imagine the scandal!"

The reminder that she was breaking the rules made Elsa's smile falter. She had thought it was a good idea earlier when she suggested they meet up here, a corridor that was off-limits to students since sections had fallen into disrepair. The privacy was welcome but the penalties weighed at the back of her mind. "...maybe this was a bad idea. Merlin, what if we get caught, Jack? What if I get detention? If my parents find out—"

"I'm just teasing you, Elsa!" Jack said hurriedly, throwing an arm over her shoulder. "No one's going to find us. Promise."

"Really?"

She couldn't hide the hitch in her breath at their sudden proximity. She could no longer be sure if the fear of being caught or the strange flutter in her stomach was making her so nervous.

"C'mon, I've done this tons of times," Jack reassured her. "I've even found passageways I bet Headmaster Moon doesn't know about. We'll be fine."

She wasn't entirely swayed but she knew Jack had her best interests at heart. Plus, if she had to trust anyone with 'rule-breaking', she supposed Jack would be anyone's best bet.

"Thanks for coming out today," he said, breaking her train of thought. He paused for a moment. "It really means a lot to me."

She was almost taken aback by how serious he sounded. She knew that today was a big deal, a summer spent training to fight for a coveted position on the Slytherin team finally paying off when he demonstrated his skill in the pitch. Without the crowd roaring and his opponents to badger him, Jack's confidence was left in the pitch where it belonged and he was suddenly that familiar bundle of nerves Elsa had been cheering from the sidelines all term.

She grabbed his hands, her own tingling as Jack's fingers tangled with hers. The familiarity of the gesture made both of them feel warm, the firmness of her grip being the support Jack needed in that moment of vulnerability.

"I wouldn't have missed it for anything, Jack. You know that," Elsa started.

"But you didn't have to be there," Jack interrupted. "I know you don't even like quidditch. You could have been studying or, you know, doing something useful. We have that essay on werewolves due Monday—"

"Jack," Elsa said, saying his name firmly. Jack faltered, looking away from her eyes. But both refused to let go.

"You were amazing out there," she continued, the wonder in her voice startling him. But she couldn't understand why he was so surprised. The way he maneuvered the broom, flying seamlessly in the air was always a point of envy for Elsa, who couldn't even get on a broomstick without bursting into tears.

"You mean that?" he asked.

She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Of course I do. You know I wish I could fly like that."

It was one of those moments where time stopped, where Elsa became aware of how nice his arms felt and how warm his body was. She became aware of her pounding heart and of the way he smelled, a mix of sweat-and-pine, the smell of a first frost as autumn faded into winter. But it was his eyes that gave her pause, made her wonder at the sudden shyness that had her almost wanting to look away. Instead, instinct overtook reason as her eyes fluttered closed and she felt his warm breath tickling her lips.

The explosion of sparks that seemed to burst as their lips brushed together was dizzying. Her hands gripped his quidditch robes tightly, almost feeling like she would topple over if she were to let go. But at the back of her mind, she knew that if she were to stumble, Jack would always be there to catch her.

"Jack…" she whispered, as they pulled back.

It had lasted only moments. Neither Elsa nor Jack really knew what they were doing so they managed to bump noses when Jack pulled back too quickly. But it was with that first kiss when things had started to change between them and Elsa began to realize there was something more than just friendship.

For the rest of the year, they were inseparable. But since both were thrust headfirst into puberty, they couldn't make sense of what was happening. All Elsa knew was that the hugs started to feel warmer and her stomach felt funny whenever Jack would smile at her.

As the weeks stretched into months, the kiss was ignored but not forgotten. It lingered as a warm, fuzzy memory, one that Elsa sometimes found herself replaying over and over in her mind. Maybe it was because of the bashfulness of their youth, but neither of them dared bring it up again. Not even on the last day she said her goodbyes to him at platform 9 and ¾ …

"I think that's your dad."

Elsa looked to where Jack was pointing. Upon seeing her father's face, the only way she could describe the strange feeling that came over her was a mix of excitement and sadness. Her father smiled and waved from across the platform and Elsa waved back.

"Three months…any plans?"

Elsa rolled her eyes. "You know besides weekends visiting my grandparents, we never do anything fun."

"Not true!" Jack argued. "Didn't you go to that place with all those animals last summer?"

"You mean the 'zoo'?" Elsa replied, making a face. It was hardly what she would call 'fun'. Something about seeing all the poor animals caged up always stirred something within her. Though she did get a dorky fox hat with ears and sent it by owl to Jack. She could barely keep a straight face when he showed up with it at 9 and ¾ last September.

"I've always wanted to go but dad won't take me," Jack said, with a slight scowl. "He says Muggle cities aren't safe. Can't use magic to defend ourselves there."

"It's no more dangerous than being in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley," Elsa said. "And a wand can be both weapon or shield, depending on how you use it. My parents were terrified the first time we went shopping for my robes and books."

It was really a fish-out-of-water moment for the Lindstroms. Although their aunt was a magic user, Elsa's mother had never been allowed to go with shopping in Diagon Alley with her sister. So when the time came to send Elsa off to Hogwarts, the Lindstroms were constantly looking over their shoulder as they went from shop-to-shop. Elsa had found it amusing at first but now she understood how scary it must have been for them.

"Trust me, I know," Jack said, chuckling. "I think my dad's old-fashioned. He's always complaining about having to get into London to go to the Ministry. He even says Muggles use these devices that run on electric power to get around."

Elsa laughed. "Cars, Jack. You're thinking of cars. And yes, we use those."

Jack studied Elsa for a long moment, as if trying to decide if she was being serious or pulling his leg. "...I think I'll stick with my broom."

"Papa!" Anna shouted, hopping off the train and running across the platform. Rapunzel was close behind her.

"Anna! Your suitcase!"

Elsa and Jack laughed, his hand reaching out to linger over hers. Elsa could feel her lips curl into a bashful smile, shyly intertwining their fingers together. It sent a warm shock pulsing over her skin and she was suddenly thinking of their stolen moment in that corridor only months before.

As her eyes reached his, she had no doubt he was remembering the same thing. The warm blush on his cheeks made her stomach flutter pleasantly. He opened his mouth, about to say something, when he caught sight of something behind her and broke out into a grin.

"EM!" he shouted, letting go of Elsa's hand and waving.

Elsa looked over her shoulder and sure enough, she saw Jack's younger sister waving back, waiting as Jack's parents emerged from the stone pillar behind her. Before Elsa could turn back to Jack, she felt his arms circle her waist and pull her into his embrace.

"It's gonna suck not seeing you every day," he whispered.

She dropped her head on his shoulder, gripping him tightly. As much as she had missed her family, she also hated the thought of being separated from Jack. Summers were always bittersweet but somehow this year, it felt even worse. "Owl me when you get a chance."

"Every day," Jack promised.

With one final squeeze, they broke apart. They stood awkwardly for a few moments, both well aware that their families were waiting for them but not quite brave enough to walk away. Elsa was never known for her impulsiveness, always methodically exploring every option before making a decision. But in that moment, she was the one moving forward, brushing her lips over Jack's cheek.

"Take care, Jack."

She knew her face was beet red as she dragged her suitcase behind her, her family oblivious to what had just transpired as Anna and Rapunzel recounted their adventures to the Lindstroms. But all she could think of was how warm Jack's hand had felt in hers and how much she was going to miss his hugs.

That was the summer when everything changed. She hadn't realized when she had hugged Jack tightly, giving him a last, lingering look as she left the platform with her family, that it would be the last time she would seek the comfort of his embrace. At the time, all she could think about was him and she wrote him nearly every day, sending her snowy-white owl, Olaf, halfway across England to deliver messages. And each time he wrote her back, never missing a beat, she would squeal with glee, throw herself across her bed, and read his messy hand over and over again, counting the days until she would see him.

But then, tragedy struck. It was on a particularly hot July evening when the accident happened. Anna and Elsa had been at home, Elsa flipping through her Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them textbook, when the police officers had shown up. To this day, she can't recall any other point in her life where she felt as scared and alone as she had in that moment.

After going through the motions and attending their parents' funeral, Elsa and Anna were sent to live with their maternal grandparents. Anna spent most of August in mourning, often going to Elsa for comfort. Elsa, however, began to shut out the entire world. Being the eldest daughter, she felt she had to be strong for Anna so she constantly struggled to put on a brave face and not let her emotions consume her. She had her moments where she would break down and cry for her parents, but they quickly became few and far in between.

She soon found that books were a good distraction. With her mind focused on problem-solving and fact-finding, she could keep herself from thinking about the shambled mess she called her life. She was tired of being asked if she was alright when she wasn't, so sick of hearing it would be okay when it wouldn't be. And when Jack's letters came, each growing more concerned for her with every failed reply, Elsa's heart would rip for being reminded of the life she lost, for the happiness she once had, back in a time when the greatest of her problems was wondering if Jack likes her back. She suddenly found it all pointless. What good was any of it when it could be taken from her so quickly?

Eventually, she didn't even bother reading the letters but threw them out. And then it was time to go back to Hogwarts.

Elsa and Anna stood awkwardly at the platform. It was strange being sent off by their grandparents but the strangeness of the situation only reminded both the girls of the presence of their missing parents. Beside her, tears trickled down Anna's cheeks and Elsa would join her if only the cold, hollow feeling in her chest would go away.

"You let us know if you want to come home," her grandmother said, hugging Anna tightly.

Less than 6 weeks since the funeral and it still didn't feel quite real. Their grandparents were against sending the girls back to Hogwarts so soon, even offering to speak with Headmaster Moon to see if an exception could be made to give them more time to grieve. But Elsa already craved the distraction of schoolwork and didn't want to deal with the pain of loss that seemed to follow her everywhere.

"We will get through it," Elsa said. She straightened her robes, already in full uniform. She could feel some of the other students glance curiously in their direction, some undoubtedly hearing of the tragedy from Rapunzel over the summer. It caused her cheeks to heat and triggered a flight response that was getting harder to ignore with each passing moment.

Don't let them see how their words affect you, she told herself.

"Papa used to tell us how much he was going to miss us," Anna whimpered into her grandmother's shoulder. A small sobbed wracked the 13 year old's body.

"It's alright, sweetheart," their grandmother said, rubbing Anna's back soothingly.

But Anna's crying fit was only drawing more attention to the family.

"Anna," Elsa hissed. "Please control yourself. People are staring."

She had seen enough of those stares in their neighborhood: the pity. Each time, it made her stomach curl viciously and a silent scream sound off in her head. She was sick of the looks, sick of the empty words. All Elsa wanted to do was find a corner to hide away until everyone stopped looking at her like a wounded animal.

"So what if they stare?" Anna cried. "What does it matter?"

"Anna," Elsa said. The panic was biting away at her resolve. "Please—"

"You won't even cry about it," she said, wiping angrily at her tears. "Don't you even care?"

It was like a knife being driven deep into her back. But for as deeply as the words cut her, the stares were making Elsa want to run. Like a fist squeezing over her throat, it felt like she couldn't breathe. She had to get away.

"Thank you for seeing us off," Elsa said, with a watery smile.

"Elsa," her grandfather started.

She picked up Olaf's cage and dragged her suitcase behind her as she made a beeline for the Hogwarts Express, willing herself to keep her composure.

And she was almost free, almost away from the stares when—

"Elsa!"

And she wished she could walk by him, wished he hadn't been standing there in front of her, blocking her way onto the train. His voice made her heart ache and as she looked into his concerned eyes, she wanted to be allowed to break down.

"Elsa, are you alright?" he asked. "You haven't been responding to my owls-"

He reached out to touch her and Elsa visibly flinched, taking a step back from him. She could see the hurt in his eyes.

"I'm fine, Jack," she said.

"I heard what Anna said," he started. As they slipped into an awkward silence, it almost felt more suffocating. Jack seemed unable to find the words while Elsa just wanted everything to go away. "I'm sure she didn't mean—"

"I can't do this right now, Jack," Elsa whispered. She could feel hot tears sting at her eyes but she blinked them back, taking a deep breath. It did little to calm the panic that seemed to explode inside of her.

"Elsa…"

She walked by him, nearly dropping Olaf's cage as she clumsily boarded the train. Once alone, the anxiety became too much. The whole compartment seemed to shrink in on her as the tears finally dripped down her cheek, her quick breaths unable to satisfy her lungs' need for oxygen. She counted down backwards from 10, gripping the seat as she inhaled slowly, exhaled…tried to calm her racing heart.

Beside her, Olaf hooted worriedly, pecking at the bars of his cage.

Releasing a shaky breath, Elsa wiped at her tears. Her father's words went through her head:

"You're different, Elsa. You don't have magical parents," her father had said the first time they brought her to platform 9 and ¾. His concern was evident, a warning well-received from their aunt, who had experienced discrimination from purebloods as a Hogwarts student, "and some of the other students may look down on you. But don't let them in. Don't let them see how their words affect you. Be a good girl and remember that we love you."

We love you.

And now they were gone.

She could feel the threat of more tears. Don't let them in. Don't let them see.

She needed a distraction.

Reaching into her suitcase, she pulled out her Arithmancy textbook. And as she became immersed in its pages, she felt the entire world slip away…

She dodged all of her friends and classmates, unable to stomach the empty condolences offered, until the train arrived at Hogwarts. For the next few months, she strove hard to push everyone out of her life by striving for the top, every spare moment now being buried in a book or completing an assignment. Nobody saw her anymore and her isolation hurt Jack and Anna most. But whereas it took until the next summer for Anna and her to mend their broken relationship, she had effectively made Jack feel so unneeded that he stopped coming to her. And until now, she had truly believed things were better that way.

That night, Elsa crawled into her bed, shut the navy drapes of the canopy, and cast a silencio spell. Without the world listening in, she finally let go and cried herself to sleep, the golden snitch clutched close to her chest.

When she woke up the next day, eyes red and puffy from crying, she washed up and prepared for another typical day, deciding to fall back into her old routine. That usually meant grabbing something quick from the Great Hall and running off to the library to study well into the evening. Since her exams were complete and it was only Thursday, she had a few days of open schedule until she would return home on Sunday. Best to start on the summer reading, she decided.

But as students milled into the Great Hall, many rushing for a bite to eat before doing last second cramming, she caught a flash of silver-white hair and completely lost her nerve. She went to the library instead and spent the next 7 hours trying to get through her readings but with only minimal success. Her mind kept wandering back to the night before. This was what she wanted so why did it make her feel so terrible?

I love you.

Her eyes blurred with tears until she could no longer read the words on the page.

The next day wasn't any better. It was the last day for exams, the last morning where the ominous quiet of the exam period permeated every corner of the school, but it brought little respite to Elsa. Where she normally found comfort in the quiet, it somehow made the replayed conversations in her head sound louder and she had less success getting anything done. She gave up by the afternoon and sought her sister.

"My O.W.L.s are doooooone!" Anna said, grinning from ear to ear. But when she noticed the look on Elsa's face, her expression fell. "Elsa, what's wrong?"

Elsa broke down and told Anna what had happened the other night. Anna held her sister for as long as Elsa needed and it was a change of dynamic since Anna was usually the one who went to Elsa for comfort.

"Elsa, you need to talk to Jack," Anna said, pulling out a black handkerchief with a golden H sewn into the fabric. She handed it to Elsa and Elsa dried her eyes on it.

"I-I know," Elsa said, shakily. "But what do I say to him, Anna? What if he doesn't want to see me?"

Anna gave Elsa a small, knowing smile, shaking her head. "This is Jack we're talking about. Trust me, Elsa. He'll want to talk to you."

"What makes you say that?"

"Any wizard who is willing to be dragged into Madam Puddifoot's to spy on one's sister is probably the kind of wizard who will stick around," Anna said, with a smirk.

"You knew about that?!"

Anna shrugged. "It was kind of funny. Kristoff and I had a good laugh over it."

Elsa laughed through her tears. But as she thought about the last few weeks and how much her life had changed with Jack in it, her expression fell once more.

"I really screwed up this time," she said, with a sigh.

Anna took her hand and looked at her sister with a seriousness that was more often than not absent from her. "Elsa…I know you never meant to do it but I wasn't the only person you hurt when you shut yourself off. I miss them too," and as she said this, tears welled in Anna's eyes, "I miss them so much, every single day, but I don't let that stop me from being happy."

The topic of their parents was still too difficult for them, even if it had almost been three years since their deaths. Anna, who wasn't quite as restrained as Elsa, let the tears slip as she continued.

"You need to let go of whatever you're worried about and just live. Have fun, make mistakes…you don't have to be perfect," and, taking the handkerchief from Elsa, Anna wiped her eyes, "Mom and Dad would want that."

Elsa pulled Anna close, hugging her sister tightly as they shared a few tears. There was so much truth in what Anna was saying and it always amazed Elsa at how her sister could be so carefree but also so sensible. "When did you become so wise?"

Anna laughed and grinned at her sister. "I learned from the best."

After sharing another laugh, Elsa smirked and asked, "So, how are things with Kristoff?"

The next few days were a blur for Jack. He could lie to himself about how much it didn't hurt but Elsa's rejection of him, her willingness to cut him out so easily, stung colder than a late winter's chill. He went through the motions, training with his teammates in preparation for the final game of the season, ignoring Flynn's teasing and putting on a strong face. But even as he raced the wind around the pitch, his joy of flying couldn't fill the empty void.

In desperation, he found himself staying late in the pitch on Thursday night, trying desperately to find the snitch he'd thrown away the day before. He had been too hasty in discarding the one thing that reminded him of Elsa and if that was all he could have of her, he would take it. But hours of searching amounted to nothing and, with angry tears, he admitted his own defeat. She wanted nothing to do with him and that's just how it was going to be.

Friday saw more spills and more close calls than he would have liked. Hans and Flynn, who were graduating, wanted to end the year on a bang and with Ravenclaw now sitting with the most house points, it would take a Slytherin win to get the House Cup. With Jack's mind distracted, he was off his game and had Hans coming down on him harder than usual. But the rumor mill may have also contributed insight to Hans' foul mood.

"What crawled up his arse?" Jack complained, repositioning himself on his broomstick.

Flynn floated beside Jack, glancing quickly over his shoulder at Hans, who was currently chewing out the Thornston beater twins. "Can you keep a secret?" he asked, in a lowered voice.

"If this is about Equus, then the whole school's one step ahead of you guys," Jack said. He had heard, with mild interest from Hiccup, that a truce had been reached after Equus sported a full mane of rainbow-colored hair 2 weeks back. Nobody had been able to look at the caretaker with a straight face until days after he had been cured of the enchantment.

"Trust me: nobody knows what really went down with him...well, except us," Flynn said, smirking. "And I can tell you, mate, it was worth it."

The smirk intrigued Jack and at least provided a momentary distraction from everything that had went down in the last few days. "I'm all ears, Flynn."

Flynn needed little encouragement, all too eager to share the latest in their prank war. "Last week, Equus admitted defeat. It was great! He was practically begging us to disenchant the magazines and take them back!"

This was a development Jack hadn't been aware of. "He gave them up?"

"Turns out you really are the master prankster," Flynn said, chuckling. "The squib couldn't disenchant them himself and he didn't dare go to Headmaster Moon. You should have seen how much porn was in his office!"

Jack tried laughing along with Flynn but as amusing as the situation was, his grin didn't quite reach his eyes. All he could think of was what Elsa would say. She'd scold me for being an accomplice to 'terrorizing the poor man' while trying to hide a smile, he couldn't help but think sadly.

"So then what's going on with Hjelmstad?"

Flynn seemed a bit uncomfortable about the question. As close as Jack was to his older housemates, a friendship that had only grown stronger after his falling out with Elsa, Flynn and Hans had a friendship that went back to infancy and he could see how Flynn struggled to decide if he should divulge something personal about his best friend. "His parents don't want him to become an Auror. They threatened to disown him unless he does something respectable."

It made Jack's problems feel comparably insignificant. Hans came from old blood and his parents were known to be controlling, only wanting Hans to associate with other aristocratic wizards. He could see why they would disapprove of Hans following Flynn into a career in the Ministry.

"Damn," was all he could really say. He had a feeling that Flynn wasn't telling him everything but Jack didn't want to push an issue that wasn't any of his business.

"If you two witches are done gossiping, we have training to get back to," Hans voice said icily, startling the two Slytherins.

Jack's broom wobbled and he glanced over his shoulder. Although it sounded like Hans had been behind them, he nearly sighed in relief. Hans was still at the other end of the pitch, wand pointed at his throat to magnify his voice, so he hadn't heard what they said.

The rest of practice went abysmally for Jack. It didn't help that he constantly had Elsa on his mind. He felt nothing short of shitty when he went to bed that evening, feeling like he had not only lost his best friend once again, but was also losing his quidditch.

By Saturday morning, his confidence was so shot that he was half-tempted to resign his position and have Jamie take his place. He barely got through his breakfast, too sick and exhausted to stomach the sight of food. After getting through only half an apple, he gave up and left the Great Hall, the chatter of students giving him a headache.

Wand in one hand and broomstick in the other, he headed to the pitch, robes billowing about him. It was the one downside to playing in June: the heavy quidditch gear was little match for the hot sun. He could already feel sweat forming on his brow and swiped it with the back of his gloved hand.

"Jack."

The sound of his name startled him out of his train of thought. He turned and swallowed hard as Elsa walked up to him. Unlike most days, she was wearing Muggle clothing for once, dressed in a white, button down blouse and a pair of capris. Her French braid was loose today, a few strands falling over her face. There was something so simple, yet so elegant, about the way she always carried herself, never really trying but always managing to shine brighter than anyone else in the room, a least, in Jack's eyes.

I can't do this.

Her words echoed in his head, causing that dull ache to thud hollowly in his chest. He appeared as indifferent as possible, leaning casually on his broomstick.

"Yes, princess?" he all but sneered.

Elsa winced visibly and he immediately felt guilty.

"…I deserve that," she said. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. For a good minute, she seemed to struggle with what to say, shifting her weight between her feet. Jack tried to be patient but already, students were walking by to fill the seats of the pitch. And, given their recent history, he couldn't be blamed for wanting to get out of there before either of them made the situation worse.

"If you've got something to say, say it," he said, failing to keep a cool tone out of his voice. "The game's going to start soon."

"About the other night—"

"SEE YOU OUT ON THE FIELD, FROSTY!" Astrid shouted, red and yellow robes billowing about her as she flew above the pair into the pitch. She was followed closely by Merida, his ex who was also the Gryffindor seeker.

"MAY THE BEST WITCH CATCH THE SNITCH!" she called down to him, laughing.

Jack grinned up at her. "DON'T YOU MEAN WIZARD?"

But once they were gone, Jack was brought back to the uncomfortable silence him and Elsa had slipped into. He was about to mount his broomstick and just be done with this when Elsa's voice cut through the tension.

"I'm sorry," she said.

And he wanted to believe her but how many times has she said it? 'Sorry, Jack, I'm busy. I need to study.' Or 'Sorry, Jack. I have too much to deal with.'

I can't do this.

For Jack, a 'sorry' from Elsa lost its sincerity a long time ago.

"Yeah, you're 'sorry'. I get it," Jack said. "We're different people and that's just how it is."

"No, I don't think you get what I'm saying, Jack," Elsa cut in. "After the accident…I ignored you. I stopped being that girl who used to laugh at your jokes and cheered at your games and it wasn't because I stopped caring about you. I…I've been so cold to you and for that, I'm really sorry. Really."

Jack wanted to stay angry with her. Because how do you forgive someone who treated you like you weren't even there for the last 3 years? But any vicious retort he had died on his tongue when he saw the tears shining in her eyes.

" And maybe the more I pushed, the colder you were to me. You would say these awful things just to get a rise out of me—"

"Elsa, you know I really didn't mean any that—" Jack protested.

"Trust me, Jack, I know," Elsa interrupted. She took a shaky breath. "What I'm trying to say is that we both made our mistakes. But you were right. I shouldn't ignore this and I can't walk away from you again."

"Elsa…what are you saying?"

He could feel his heart pound harder as he dared hope for the impossible. But even with his doubt screaming at the back of his mind, the hand that reached towards him, the fingers that tangled with his, made Jack realize where all of this would lead. Looking into her eyes, seeing the shy smile on her lips, Jack knew both of them were where they belonged.

"I love you, Jack," she whispered. "And I was so foolish to think I had ever stopped."

He didn't have time to think, to react. Because she was reaching for him, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away, and suddenly it was like he was home. As her defenses shattered with the truth she had long since denied herself, he felt her arms circle his waist, her lips press to his in a way that brought memories of earlier years. It was her warmth that made his heart beat and even as their lives changed, this was the one thing that remained constant and he swore now he would do everything to not ever lose this again.

As she released a breathy shudder, he brushed their lips together, her scent so intoxicating, Jack half wondered if he'd be able to fly straight after this. It was different from when they were 13 and he had kissed her with uncertainty. The confidence that came with time and knowing brought a hungry fever and as his hand cradled the back of her neck, his tongue seeking entrance through the parting of her lips, he became so bewitched that quidditch was the last thing on his mind.

"Your game," she said, breathless as they broke apart.

Jack sighed and rested his forehead against hers. "It can wait."

"No it can't!"

Jack and Elsa broke apart, their cheeks flushing. Hovering just slightly off the ground behind them, Kristoff, also in full uniform and clutching a beater, chuckled loudly. Jack was half tempted to pull out his wand and hex the Gryffindor for ruining their moment.

"Enjoying the show, Vanderhoof?" he asked, moodily.

"Just returning the favor. Try to stay on your broom, Frost!"

Kristoff crowed loudly and flew up through the pillars, eliciting loud cheers from the crowd.

"Guess I better get in there," Jack said. The cheering crowd was already sending fire in his veins and he could almost taste victory. But his pulse was also still racing from the kiss and part of him hated that he would have to wait 2 hours before he could see her again.

He looked over at Elsa and saw her smile bashfully. "Break a broom," she said.

He grinned and mounted his broomstick.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Elsa said. She pulled something from her pocket and handed it to him. "Here."

He looked at the golden snitch in his gloved hand. Over the years, he had attributed many of his wins to the luck it gave him. But with the way Elsa was looking at him right now, he already felt lucky. It was time to let some things go.

"You keep it," he said, grinning.

Elsa blushed. "But isn't this the one from—"

"Yeah," Jack said. "So I want you to have it."

Elsa smiled and pocketed it.

With the crowd roaring, Jack knew that if he didn't get in there, Hans would fly over and drag him in. He grabbed Elsa and shared one final, heated kiss with her, dipping her over the broom. She giggled against his lips and the awkward position had them both stumbling on their feet to avoid tripping over.

"I'll wait for you after the game," Elsa promised.

And as Jack took off into the pitch, he had a feeling this was one promise she was definitely going to keep.

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A/N: So here it is! Months after finishing the first draft, I have finally completed it! Thank you to everyone who has been following the story and for all your encouragement. I tend to be most comfortable writing smut and I really lack confidence in writing chaptered fics. Without you, I probably would have left this sitting on my laptop. So a big thank you to all the readers and I hope this met your expectations :).