A Dementor's Kiss - Phan

Valentine's at Puddifoot's

A totally romantic trip to Hogsmeade

New Year passed in a swirling explosion of fireworks and celebrations. The lake was glittering with the reflections of a thousand sparkling colours as Dan’s lips crashed into Phil’s and Chris’s pressed against PJ’s. At least, that’s how they told it the next day. In reality, Dan and Phil had both been so caught up in the beauty of the fireworks that they completely forgot about a New Year’s Kiss until the last flecks of gold and scarlet had faded into the smoky sky. Dan had yelped suddenly and, in such a hurry to kiss Phil, had missed his lips completely and nearly gouged Phil’s eye out.

Chris and PJ had been a little way down the jetty, oblivious to everyone else, hand in hand as they stared out across the black water. When the gong struck twelve, Chris had launched himself at PJ. He had however been expecting far more resistance, and ended up toppling them both over into the lake – crashing straight through the thin layer of ice and into the freezing water. Maybe their lips touched in the frantic thrashing of limbs and tangled fabric that followed, but it certainly hadn’t been as romantic as Chris had planned. Dripping wet, shivering violently and both slightly blue under the stars, Chris had taken PJ’s hand once more.

“Yeah, um, sorry about that. I didn’t realise you were tying your shoelace. Anyway. Will you go out with me?”

“I hate you so much.”

“Is that a yes?”

“There’s a crab in your hair.”

“Great. Excellent. Love you Peej.”

“Love you crabhead.”

~

The foursome saw in the New Year in the hospital wing, pleasantly cheerful if a little disgruntled at having missed the party. Dan hid not so inconspicuously under Phil’s blankets as madam Pomfrey made her rounds. She seemed not to have noticed, but handed the three patients four mugs of hot chocolate without a word.

“Aw, do we have to stay here? We’re fine I swear.” Chris whined.

“You two boys will have to stay at least twelve hours under observation. If you’d come to me straight away you might have been okay with a strong warming draft, but running around in wet robes in this weather! Think of your exams boys, you cannot afford to catch a chill at this crucial stage. Phil can go if he wants, but I’m happy to keep him here in case of infection.”

Of course Phil stayed, with Dan nestled comfortably pressed up against the warmth of his stomach. At some point in the night, PJ’s bed was mysteriously vacated, and when Madam Pomfrey bustled in the next day with breakfast she tsked loudly.

“For goodness sake. You could at least have put a pillow under your blankets to make it look like you tried. Boys.” With a shake of the head, she dumped four plates of steaming sausages on a tray.

“He gets nightmares, Miss.” Chris said innocently.

“Oh really?” Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow. “I have just the thing for that. Don’t worry, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’ll go get some Sleep Soother now. I’ve heard it tastes like faecal matter, and clearly you have a severe case so you’ll need at least half a flask.”

PJ paled visibly. “Has it been twelve hours yet?”

~

They had been seeing each other for several months, but for some reason Valentine’s Day descended on Dan and Phil in a cloud of awkwardness. They met in the Entrance Hall, joining the crowd of slowly shuffling crowd of students being signed out by Filch, and Phil realised only too late that he probably should have taken Dan’s hand. They’d agreed to buy presents for each other in Hogsmeade and spend the day just the two of them.