It's Frozen Depths

Weeks had passed since the Hogsmeade trip and there hadn't been any more interactions until on a cold December evening class had been canceled due to the massive amount of snow that had fallen overnight and there were only two people who dared go outside in the freezing temperatures. Albus was making his usual rounds around the grounds, while Quinn sat strapping ice skates to her feet. She stepped onto the solid ice that coated the lake's surface and began gliding gracefully over the lake. Meanwhile, Albus, who soon spotted the only other person in sight, was heading back to the castle. A young woman who was sliding gently over the lake's frozen water. Her nose was glowing pink as she smiled to herself. Albus approached the lake's edge watching her. The cold breeze pushed her hair off her shoulders to flutter gently behind her as she soared delicately on the frozen surface. She stopped at the center of the lake, looking up, she noticed Albus. She smiled, waving merrily. Albus smiled back, his lips cracking in the cold air, and began heading up towards the castle entrance. He heard a loud crack from behind him. He turned in time to see Quinn look down at her feet then gasp as she fell through the ice into the lake's freezing depths.

Albus' heart leaped into his throat. He sprinted to the fall site his legs screaming as he went but it felt to him as though he were moving in slow motion, taking an eternity to reach his destination. Meanwhile, Quinn could be hurt or… or... No. He forced himself not to think that he couldn't let himself think that. Because if she was gone he'd be too broken to carry on. He slid onto the lake's slick surface next to the hole where she fell. Holding his wand tightly in his hands, he plunged into the dark water. Pins forced themselves into his skin, causing him to shiver violently.

"Lumos," Albus said, a stream of bubbles issuing from his mouth.

The narrow beam of light illuminated the murky water, revealing Quinn, pale as the ice that blocked her escape, with billowing hair swirling above her as she sank, gently toward the lake's floor. He dove and was quickly pulling her to the surface. His face broke the water as he gulped the air gratefully. He clambered clumsily out of the water and pulled Quinn out and onto the ice. He watched her anxiously, waiting for her to awaken.

"Come on!" he begged, shaking her shoulder slightly. Her head merely flopped to one side. Taking a deep breath as the realization of what he had to come upon him, he lifted her face toward his and pressed his mouth against hers, forcing air into her body. Her lips were numb to the touch and he felt no air from her nose blowing onto his. He repeated this process three times before anything happened. As he knelt to breathe into her for the fourth time she gasped, sucking in air. Albus' dark hair was plastered to his forehead as he gently cupped her face. She stared into his eyes. He wasn't sure why but this action made his heart rate accelerate dramatically. She gave a violent shiver.

"I'm sorry." He said gently helping her to her feet.

"What happened?" said Quinn slurring slightly.

"You fell through the ice; All I did was pull you out." He said shifting his gaze away from hers.

"No, no, someone was there." She said confusedly

"Then a light, it was so pretty it." Her eyebrows knitted together as she touched her heart lightly.

"Come on you need the hospital wing." He said pulling Quinn to her feet.

They walked side by side in silence as they continued up the snow-covered lawns, back up to the castle. They entered the hospital wing a few moments later, Madam Pomphrey bustled up to them in a business-like manner.

"What seems to be the matter?" she said accusingly.

"Well you see um she well fell into the lake and she--" he trailed off as Madam Pomphrey gasped.

"Into the lake you poor dear. I'll get you some pepper up potion right away"

Madam Pomphrey soon returned with a thick blanket and a small, fiery-red bottle.

"You drink all of this then you can go to bed dear."

Quinn pulled the stopper out of the bottle and gulped down the potion, steam flooding from her ears as her skin returned to its natural color.

"Do you want to watch a movie with me in the Gryffindor common room?" Albus asked her, sliding his hands into his pockets as they walked up the marble stairs. Quinn turned to look at him questioningly.

"But we're not allowed in each other's common rooms."

"Eh, people break that rule all the time," Albus said with a noncommittal wave of a hand. "Besides it a lot cozier than the Ravenclaw common room."

"Fine. How are we going to watch a movie anyway? I thought magic messed up technology."

"It usually does, but George designed a protective charm that makes it possible. He's selling it at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes"

They faced the portrait of a rosy-cheeked, fat woman. She glared at Quinn sternly.

"Password?" She said, clearly trying to tell Albus off.

"Bells." Responded Albus.

The fat lady swung open, revealing the circular common room.

"I'll go get my laptop. You can wait on the couch." He said as he rushed up the staircase to his dormitory. Quinn plopped on the couch, watching the fire crackle merrily.

"Well, well, well if it isn't a little Ravenclaw." Said a voice from the shadows. Quinn jumped looking up at the boy.

"The name is Teddy, by the way, Teddy Lupin, who might you be." He said as she sat on the couch next to her.

"Mmmm my name is Quinn" she stuttered, scooching across the couch as Teddy drew nearer. Her back reached the end of the couch, he put his hand on the chair arm, preventing her from standing.

"Well, Quinn." He said tilting her face up towards him "If you ever want to share your secret you can trust me."

"OI!" said a voice from the bottom of the stairs. Teddy looked up at Albus, framed impressively in the doorway. He smirked lightly and looked back down at Quinn.

"You know where to find me Eldens." He said then he tucked a strand of Quinn's hair behind her ear, stood up and went up the spiral stairs. Albus came over to her and sat down next to her, placing the laptop on a small, round coffee table.

"You okay?" he asked gently.

"I'm fine." She cleared her throat "So let's start the movie shall we?"

"Sure." He pushed the screen up, typed for a bit, then Disney's Hercules began to play.

"I love this movie!" said Quinn smiling broadly.

"I thought you might."