Jinx was crouching behind a large oak tree, looking up at the window above her. There was a large rope hanging from the windowsill to the ground, and she saw as it began to grow taut. Jinx saw a figure slide down the rope with ease and a pair of warm brown eyes looked back at her. Jinx grinned, climbing out from behind the rock. She wrapped her hands around the Gryffindor’s neck and pressed their lips together for a brief moment. “I missed you,” Jinx whispered. 

Charlotte pulled away, smiling. “I missed you too.” She entwined her fingers with Jinx’s and the pair snuck out to the Great Lake, trying to be as quiet as they could. After all, it was past curfew and being caught would mean detention for a long time. 

“Here it is,” Jinx whispered, stopping in front of a large tree. It must have been tall once, but now it’s branches curved forward until they were hovering above the lake itself. Jinx climbed up the trunk with ease and gripped Charlotte’s arms as she helped her up. They snuck across the branches and soon stopped when they started to thin. 

“This is beautiful,” Charlotte looked at the view in wonder as she leaned back against a tree branch. They were perched above the lake on a pair of thick branches. 

“Stunning,” Jinx responded, but she was looking right at Charlotte. When she looked over, Char blushed and looked away. The simple locket Jinx had given her was clasped around her neck, and it made Jinx smile every time she saw Charlotte wear it. 

“You’re so cheesy, Jiji,” she teased, poking her arm.

Jinx laughed. “Only for you,” she smiled at Charlotte, who returned it with equal warmth and entwined their fingers.

But Charlotte’s blissful expression gave way to sadness as she looked over at Jinx. “Don’t you hate it?” she asked. “Having to hide this from everyone?” Char gestured to their clasped hands. 

Jinx sighed. “Of course I do. But do you know what would happen if anyone found out?” Jinx looked up at her secret lover with sad eyes. “A Gryffindor and a Slytherin couple is one thing, but the fact that we’re both girls…” she trailed off.

Charlotte nodded. She knew that Jinx wasn’t ashamed of her, and Char wasn’t ashamed of Jinx either. But she hated having to hide who she was from the rest of the school. 

“I love you,” Jinx whispered, smiling at Charlotte. “No matter what, I’ll always love you.”

Charlotte blushed, leaning her head on Jinx’s shoulder. “I love you too, Jiji. Forever and always.” 

Jinx tilted Char’s head upward and gently pressed their lips together. Charlotte wrapped her hands around her lover’s neck while Jinx’s went to Charlotte’s waist. “You’re the best secret girlfriend ever,” Jinx whispered against Charlotte’s lips.

Char hummed, pulling back from the kiss and burying her face into the crook of Jinx’s neck. “You’re an even better secret girlfriend,” was the muffled reply. Jinx chuckled and wrapped her arms righter around Char’s waist. Charlotte looked up, smiling sheepishly. “I’m cold; I’m going to go change into some warmer clothes.”

Jinx smirked. “Can I watch?”

Charlotte laughed. “You wish!” She jumped off of the branch they had been perched on and grabbed the bag sitting by the tree trunk. “Now turn around,” Charlotte gave her girlfriend a pointed look and Jinx turned to face the distant mountains. 

However, she was beginning to grow impatient and started to wonder what was taking so long, so Jinx turned around. And her heart stopped. 

Charlotte was gone, and the last trace of her was a silver locket, lying in the grass.