Daily Life (II)

"I chose this place because of that," Cassandra said. "The trees block the wind, there's a view of the lake, and the breeze doesn't hit us too directly. It's not too far from the castle either. If we get tired of walking, we can head back anytime."

She sat on a dead tree stump, leaning sideways against Harry's shoulder, her gaze resting on the lake ahead.

Sunlight filtered through gaps in the canopy, casting a patch of light across her shoulder and coating her hair in a warm golden sheen.

Harry reached out and placed a hand on the shoulder she was leaning against. She did not move or say anything, merely continued looking quietly at the lake as though enjoying this companionship that needed no words.

They sat there for nearly an hour. Several times, the wind carried over the crisp chill unique to the lake's surface. She drew her shoulders in slightly, and Harry took off his coat and draped it over her. She did not refuse, only pulled it a little tighter around herself and continued sitting against his shoulder.

"We should head back. It's almost noon," Cassandra said, getting to her feet and returning his coat.

"Next time, we can bring something to eat and sit here all afternoon."

"We'll talk about next time later." She folded the coat and laid it over her arm. "Come on. Let's take a detour by the Greenhouse on the way back. Pabbie should still be there."

They walked back the way they had come. When they reached the Greenhouse entrance, they saw through the glass that Pabbie was crouched before a row of plants, making her routine observation records. Hearing the door open, she looked up and saw them enter. First she glanced at the coat draped over Cassandra's