Henry ended up leading the way outside of the castle as they were able to sneak out from the hall undetected by any of their families or friends. Just walking outside and being greeted by the cool evening air, sent a sense of relief over Henry as he relaxed slightly. But as soon as he felt Hope's hand move in his, he was set back into his flustered state. Hope didn't seem to take notice or if she did, she wasn't going to bother mentioning it. He felt like at any moment he was just going to blow his chance at his plan.

He really just wanted Hope to have a nice evening, and already he had taken her from the ball, making her believe that he needed to get in the water. Which made him feel like a total git for lying in the first place.

He was sure that Hope would have much rather stayed inside and enjoyed the music and fun that was taking place.

"Ugh, I-"

"Aren't you going to get in the water?" Hope's question dragged him out of his thoughts as he turned around and saw that she was already seated by the edge of the lake. Henry eyed the lake before back down at her, he let out a heavy sigh as he threw his head back.

"No, I'm not going to get in the water." He said.

"Henry, this is no time to be stubborn.' Hope told him. "If you're not feeling well, you know very well that you need to get in the water. I won't have you getting sick on me, waterproof or not, I really don't need you throwing up on my dress."

"But I'm not sick because of the water!" Henry said in a whining tone.  

"Then do you need to see Madam Liddell?" Hope asked. "Because we can-"

"No, I'm not that kind of sick!"

"Then what-'

"I'm feeling sick because of you!"

Henry's mouth dropped in shock as he heard his own words play back in his head. His eyes widened in utter horror and he clapped his hands to the side of his face, wanting to walk over to the lake and drown himself right then and there.

"No, no , no!" He shook his head left to right, not allowing Hope to speak. "I didn't mean that! I meant I'm sick of you...OH SWEET MERLIN, STOP TALKING!" He yelled at himself.

Hope watched in silent amusement as Henry pulled at the ends of his lovely hair, internally kicking himself for his poor choice of words. However, she was far too kind to let the boy continue punishing himself as she pushed herself up and walked over to him.

"Henry, I'm beginning to think that you're going completely mental. You've been acting half crazed the whole night. You were fine just this morning...what's wrong?"

"I was fine this morning..." Henry admitted," because up until this morning, things haven't really changed between you and I. Ever since I told you that I liked you more than a friend and you told me that the feelings were mutual, nothing has changed between us. We've been carrying on as we've always done.  But then I was thinking about the whole Yule Ball thing and how it was like an official date, you know? I saw you wearing your dress and...I couldn't think straight, and I'm still breathing like asthmatic hippogriff over here. And of course, it just makes it all worse because you're so calm and collected. You're always so collected, as if nothing bothers you and...please just put me out of my misery."

Hope took a couple of steps towards him so that they were standing with little space in between. She grabbed his hands and lowered them from his hand, down to his sides, so that he was no longer pulling at his hair. Her hands found the sides of his face and held his head still so that he would look at her.  

"An asthmatic hippogriff...the mental image will forever be instilled in my mind. Thank you for that." She told him, trying to bring him to smile but Henry's gaze focused down towards their feet.

"Come on, Guppy Puppy, what do I have to do, in order for you to feel alright? I do really like you, more than a friend. I think I always have, even when we were really little. We've grown up side by side and no one knows me better than you do, that has to count for something. That's why I'm always so calm and collected around you, because I know I can always be comfortable around you. I'd like for you to feel the same way when you're around me-"

"And I do." Henry said placing his hands over hers. "For the most part, it's just when I look at you like tonight, I suddenly can't breathe, I'm sweating terribly and I can't get my thoughts straight enough to form co..co...coh...ugh."

"Coherent?"

Henry looked up at her as she finished yet another word for him. It couldn't be a coincidence that she was able to pick up on any word he struggled with. There had to be some sort of deeper connection and he knew it, even his parents couldn't pick up on some of the words he struggled with when he was younger, but Hope always could. 

He felt her hands drop from his face and allowed one of them to run through his hair as she looked at him.

"Everything is fine between us, isn't it, Henry?"

He nodded his head.

"Good," she smiled. "Then why don't we head back up to the castle and-"

She began walking away but Henry grabbed her hand, dragging her right back into him.  The entire scenario had played out completely different in his head, now making the situation awkward. He had pictured pulling her right back into a kiss, under the stars and the half-moon.  But he had pulled her a little too hard, causing Hope to lose her balance and crash into him , making him fall back.

The two lost all balance and landed on the cold ground. Henry had Hope on top of him, and was so thankful for the night covering up how truly red he was. He wasn't going to make it to his seventh year of Hogwarts because he was going to die of embarrassment that night.

"Hey Henry, I think we're falling for each other, get it?"

The two burst into giggles, and while Hope was distracted, Henry looked around for any distractions, whether it was people or anything that could interrupt, he made sure that the coast was clear.

"What are you looking for?" Hope asked him suddenly. 

But Henry didn't bother with an answer because it would waste too much time. Instead, he grabbed the sides of Hope's face gently and pulled her right into a kiss.