This was how it had started; her once upon a time, you could say, no matter how mundane.
Dorcas Meadowes was having a rather terrible day, one more befitting of the continuously hostile Snape.
She had woken up late and only barely managed to scoff down a biscuit, waiting in Regulus’s palm as the only thing he had managed to snatch for her.
She was grateful for that considering the strict rules the boy near-always consistently followed. Like always, the boy’s nose didn’t even scrunch in irritation nor did a single crease mar his expression despite his usual anxiety that accompanied breaking rules.
The mere sight of him spread a tingle up her fingers and cross her arms, splitting and jolting both up and down her spine, her head buzzing and toes wriggling with pleasure. So, in fact, her day started off good.
Nothing of note aside from a few laughable moments she made a mental note to tell Regulus later happened until the last period, or more accurately, when she was on her way out.
James Potter, infamous Griffindor and respectable chaser, had accidentally hexed her when she was inevitably caught in the cross-fire of whatever antic he was up to.
That had brought her to where she was now. Regulus, whom she had snuck into the Slytherin dorms and was currently wearing her green and silver tie instead of his own yellow and black, was leaning heavily on her shoulder in front of the fireplace.
They - well she - had been waiting for permission to light the fire so she could maybe not catch the flu. And her and Regulus really could be counted as a package-deal sometimes and so here they were.
The hufflepuff boy with head tucked comfortably to her neck, nodding off clearly, and with only a peek of brown eyes visible beneath brown eyelids.
Dorcas drank in his appearance.
His robes, Marlene’s years old ones, pulled against him tightly and accentuated the lines of his body.
His brownish-black hair was impeccably thick and framed his face perfectly though that could be left unsaid. Some may even consider it a defining characteristic.
His curved nose tempted flutter-light kisses, the hot breath pushing out against her neck in a welcome reminder of their proximity.
His full lips relaxed into a neutral line, content as he had been more often since he moved in with the McKinnons.
And she shut her eyes, thankful for once for the groundskeepers clear reluctance in their job. She’d be almost disappointed when the flames begin to growl.
Because this moment was endless.
This would be her happily ever after.