The courtyard sparkled under the fresh snowfall, tiny crystals settling on the stone like sugar dust. Dionida laughed as Luna grabbed her hand and spun her around. The cold didn't matter—every step left perfect little prints in the snow, and the quiet magic of Hogwarts made the world feel softer, suspended in silver light.
"Catch me!" Luna called, sprinting a few steps ahead. Her robes fluttered like wings, and her messy hair sparkled with snowflakes. Dionida chased her, skidding once and laughing when she almost fell, only for Luna to reach out and steady her with a warm hand.
They flopped down in the snow together, giggling, and began packing snow into tiny balls. Dionida made a deliberately clumsy snowball, tossing it toward Luna, who dodged it with dramatic flair.
"You're too slow, Dionida!" she teased, her voice bright and airy.
"I am careful! You're too quick!" Dionida countered, laughing. She tried to scoop a bigger snowball, only to watch Luna jump up and toss a flurry of snow directly at her face.
"Ah!" Dionida squealed, wiping snow from her hair. "You're impossible!"
Luna fell back, rolling in the snow with a delighted laugh. "No, I'm just… magical!" she declared.
After a while, they collapsed, puffing and smiling, cheeks pink from cold and laughter. Luna reached into her cloak and pulled out a small thermos, steaming gently in the snow-dappled moonlight.
"Hot chocolate," she whispered, tilting it toward Dionida. "I made it myself. With extra marshmallows… because some magical creatures love chocolate, you know. My father told me."
Dionida took a careful sip, and warmth spread through her body immediately. "Mm… that's amazing. You're amazing."
Luna's golden eyes glimmered in the moonlight. "Maybe that creature I mentioned… loves chocolate so much it sneaks into kitchens. But only when someone kind is nearby." She giggled softly, nudging Dionida with her shoulder.
They shared the thermos, taking turns sipping, and Dionida noticed how small Luna's hands looked against hers, delicate and warm. Their shoulders brushed, and neither moved away.
"Do you think the wrackspurts like snow?" Dionida asked, trying to keep her voice casual.
Luna leaned against her lightly, thoughtful. "I think they do. It makes the world quieter, easier to see… and maybe they like watching us have fun." She glanced up at Dionida, her expression gentle. "I like watching you have fun."
Dionida's heart skipped. "I like being with you."
For a long moment, snowflakes fell around them, and Hogwarts felt infinite and still, wrapped in soft white magic.
Finally, Luna stood and extended her hand. "Come on. We should head back before someone notices two girls covered in snow and… chaos."
Dionida took her hand, smiling, warmth spreading through her chest in more ways than one. Together, they ran back toward the castle, leaving footprints and laughter behind, the glow of Hogwarts welcoming them home.
Later that evening, Ravenclaw Tower was quiet, the snow outside muffling every sound. The fire in the hearth crackled warmly, casting flickering golden light across the cozy common room. Dionida and Luna settled near the flames, stretching their legs onto a soft rug, their wet scarves and snow-dusted cloaks draped nearby.
Luna's Spectrespecs sat forgotten on the table, replaced by her usual dreamy gaze as she watched the fire dance. Dionida wrapped her fingers around a mug of steaming hot chocolate, the rich aroma mingling with the faint scent of Luna's cloak, faintly like lemon and herbs.
"I think the snow made everything feel… softer," Dionida said, voice low, almost a whisper.
Luna turned to her, her eyes reflecting the flames. "Yes. The world feels slower, calmer. And you were very brave out there, chasing snowflakes with me." She tilted her head, hair falling in a golden curtain. "Brave is… very attractive."
Dionida's heart stuttered. "I wasn't so brave. I just… had fun because you were there."
A soft silence followed, broken only by the fire's gentle crackle. Dionida felt the warmth of Luna close beside her, not just from the fire, but from proximity, from the easy intimacy of shared laughter and quiet moments.
Without thinking, she reached out, brushing a stray snowflake from Luna's hair. Luna's eyes softened, and she leaned just slightly closer. "You always notice things," she whispered, voice light and airy.
"I notice you," Dionida admitted, her breath catching.
For a heartbeat, the world shrank to just the two of them—firelight, soft warmth, and a gentle thrum of something unspoken but understood. Luna shifted closer, resting her shoulder lightly against Dionida's, their hands brushing until Dionida finally intertwined her fingers with Luna's.
"Dionida…" Luna murmured, cheeks faintly pink, "I like being near you like this. Quiet. Warm. Away from everything else."
"I like it too," Dionida said, voice barely above a whisper.
They stayed like that for a long while, simply holding hands, watching sparks dance up the chimney, letting the quiet settle around them. Luna occasionally traced idle patterns on Dionida's hand with a fingertip, each touch sending soft shivers of warmth.
"You know," Luna said softly after a few minutes, "if we ever get lost looking for creatures again… at least we can always find each other by firelight."
Dionida laughed lightly, a soft sound that made Luna smile. "Yes. By firelight. Or in snow. Or… anywhere, really."
The fire crackled again, and they leaned back, shoulders touching, hearts quietly syncing in a way that made the world outside the Ravenclaw Tower feel distant and unimportant.
For that night, there was only warmth, only laughter, only the gentle thrill of shared magic, and the quiet certainty that they had found something rare and precious—not just creatures to study, but each other.