Madison smiled at Simon from time to time and moved a strand of hair that was in front of her face after she tried to blow it away but it wouldn't work.

"I'm gonna miss this too Ori, but we'll manage, I know we will because we always do she says with a smile as she met his eyes too. "Of course you can come back here Si, my dad loved you, as did my mother. And I definitely want to come visit you in Edinburgh, meet your parents and see your house, that would be amazing!! I've never been to Edinburgh before so that would be fun to explore somewhere new! Madi says with a smile.

Madi shook her head in a joking way and overtakes him on her turn by one square, giggling a little and smiling at him with a look of innocence but also with a game on kind of look mixed into it. When Madi heard Simon talk about snakes, her skin started to shiver and she felt the hairs stand up on her arms. Not because it was cold in her room because it was the opposite, but because Simon was talking about snakes, and not small ones but big ones, Madi started to feel very nervous. When she saw Simon move his hands forward like a snake, even though she knew they were his hands, she moved backwards and tried to find something to hold onto. "Yeah hehe, o owls can get your m mail for you but snakes can't do that, they're not as u useful as owls are" Madi says, trying to calm her breathing down and relax, but a feeling in her body made her feel so scared, she felt like she was going to be sick.

"O...Ori, c can we play so something that doesn't i...involve sn...snakes please? It's just when I was younger, I was involved in an incident with a snake at a riding competition and it meant m my horse bucked me off and I fell off, right next to the snake. Luckily my dad used his wand to kill it before it could hurt me but I've been scared ever since" Madi says, getting up and moving so that she was now behind Simon rather than in front of him as she tells the story. She'd never really told anyone that story but it felt good to tell Simon because she trusted him so much. "I know you didn't know about that so don't feel bad about what you did, i just thought I'd let you know" Madi said as she gets out another game that doesn't involve snakes, a chest with two small quaffles and a bludger in between, plus a small golden snitch above the bludger. "Ok, this is a game my dad got taught by his teammates whilst he was away playing Quidditch at the world cup and it's called Catch the Snitch. We both have cards of the England Quidditch team from the year dad played and the game ends when the snitch is released. It's basically like a card game version of Quidditch but without the flying, after I had my accident dad thought it would be a fun way for me to keep learning about the sport without actually flying Madi said with a smile.

@Simon Tilia

When Madison told him about her accident and fear of snakes, it was pretty clear that he had destroyed the game with the snake talk. Although Simon could not relate to such a strong fear since he did not have a specific fear himself, he was very humble to other people's fears. Changing the game was not a problem either, despite the fact that he was close to winning. As long as Madison was happy, he was happy too.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You've never told me that."

"I know you didn't know about that so don't feel bad about what you did, i just thought I'd let you know."

"That's good to know. Lucky I didn't get a snake for a pet then", he said and chuckled.

Madison pulled out another game instead, based on the rules of Quidditch. That seemed quite harmless in comparison. As they started playing, he found the game to be even more fun than Snakes and Ladder, and not surprisingly – Madison was very good at it. Simon enjoyed it nonetheless. Winning was never important to him as long as he had a good time, and with Madison it rarely mattered what they were doing. He always enjoyed her company. Like that rainy day when they went to the Boat House together. Not even the weather could destroy those days.

Simon came to think about their upcoming term and studies. Maybe he and Madison could repeat and practice a couple of spells when they came back to Hogwarts, just to keep the various spells and wand movements fresh in their memory. He was a bit worried that he had forgotten some of them or at least how to do them successfully.

"I don't think I've asked you this, Madi, but what is your favorite spell so far? Of all the spells we've learned?", he asked.

Madison chuckled too, though a bit nervously, but soon forgot all about the snake once they started playing the new game Madison got out. Even though Madison was quite naturally competitive, having grown up with Pureblood parents, she loved spending time with Simon and not having to compete, though sometimes she couldn't help it, especially when it came to Quidditch based games.

Whilst they were playing the game, Madison thought back to the rainy day when they went to the Boat House and how much fun it was sitting in there, talking and watching the rainfall. Even more fun was having to hide under a boat when those two older girls came into the Boat House too. Madison let out a little giggle and then looked up at Simon when he asked her his question.

Favourite Spell? Madison had lots that she'd learnt, though two instantly came to mind, so she smile, looked at Simon and giggled "Hmmm i'd have to say Rictusempra and Bullarum Immotalem, what about you Si?" Madi says as she scores another goal with the quaffle, using her dads card coincidentally.

Madison loved getting to spend this time with Simon, she couldn't wait for more of their adventures next term, any time spent with Simon, for Madison, were some of the best times she ever had! Since he was her best friend and someone she trusted explicitly, she knew that he'd always have her back, just like she would his.

Madison turned to look at the clock on her bedside table and saw that it was 9:30pm, so she turned to Simon with a sleepy smile and rubbed her eyes "I'm think we should get some sleep Ori, we have to get up to catch the train tomorrow anyway" she says as she slowly packs the game away, stands up and rubs her eyes again.

@Simon Tilia

"Hmmm I'd have to say Rictusempra and Bullarum Immotalem, what about you Si?"

"Why am I not surprised?", said Simon with a cheeky smile. "Thinking how you always tickle me whenever you get the chance, sometimes with the result of flying Fudge Flies." He chuckled. "Okay, my favorite spell... There are these the practical ones, of course, but in terms of what's more fun... I would say Fumos or Incendio. Fumos is really handy if you'd like to make a quick getaway. Like the smokescreen produced by my favorite car Aston Martin DB5. Okay, now I sounded really boyish..."

They finished the game (Madison won of course) and put the two board games back in the box under her bed. Madison checked the clock on her bedside table.

"I think we should get some sleep Ori, we have to get up to catch the train tomorrow anyway."

"Yes, I think so too. Well, I've had a good day, and a fun evening. Gonna be nice to get some sleep now", he said and got up from the bed, removing his T-shirt. "I believe I have everything packed except for my toiletry bag in the bathroom. Remind me to pack it tomorrow after we've brushed our teeth!"

He picked up the cover from the bed and shook it over the floor to rid it of any potential cookie crumbs. After he had put out the lights, he laid down on his side, pulled the cover up to his chest and looked at Madison, laying on the pillow next to him, her face towards him. Thanks to the full-moon outside her window he could see her almost perfectly.

He smiled. "I don't wanna leave tomorrow."

Madison listened to Simon and then rustled around to find one of her old family pictures. She took it out and handed it to Simon "That's my Dad Atticus when he was 19 with his dad Fabian and behind them, is an Aston Martin DB5, which can fly of course" Madi said, as she saw Simon look at the moving photo. "Grandpa Fabian died when i was young, so I only got to meet him once and we didn't get to keep the Aston Martin after he died, we found it but, the people who killed my Grandpa burnt it to a crisp and completely destroyed it" Madi says, putting the photo back as Simon hands it to her.

Madi got into her bed with Simon next to her and lays her head on the pillow, staring at Simon "don't worry about it Ori, I will" Madi says with a smile, looking at Simon though the full moon was shining on her face. "I don't want to leave tomorrow either Si, but i don't want to think about that right now, cause that means that we won't be seeing each other as much and i've really liked spending time with you Si, truely" Madi says with a sweet smile and slight blush to her cheeks. She snuggles up to Simon and lays her head on the pillow next to his "mmm goodnight Ori" Madi says sleepily with a smile as she closes her eyes with the cover up to her shoulders, one hand holding up the cover and the other beside her head. She had loose strands of hair hanging loosely on her face and her eyelids fluttered gently as she lay next to her best friend.

@Simon Tilia

"No way!? And it could fly?" Simon almost could not believe what an extraordinary coincidence it was that Madison's dad happened to have owned the rare Aston Martin DB5 model. It was a shame the car was not still around. He would have loved to get to sit in that car. "That's horrible. I'm so sorry about your grandpa, Madi. I remember you told me he's not alive anymore, but I had no idea how he died... I'm sorry."

When he laid beside Madison in the bed, the words had slipped his mouth without much thinking. Of course he missed Hogwarts, but he was going to miss all of this too; all those things that they could not do while in school.

"I don't want to leave tomorrow either, Si, but i don't want to think about that right now, cause that means that we won't be seeing each other as much and i've really liked spending time with you, Si, truly."

"Yeah, let's not think about that right now. Let's be grateful for these days, and I'm sure we can visit each other again either during the spring break or summer holidays", he said and smiled.

Madison moved even closer to him, laying on the pillow next to his just a few inches away from his face. He could feel her leg touching his under the cover. They were so close that he could feel her warm breath in his face and the scent of her toothpaste. He suddenly felt a tingle in his stomach and his heart beat a little faster. It was like that feeling when he was about to speak in front of a large group of people or hold an oral presentation. But there was no large group of people. Only Madison.

"Mmm goodnight Ori."

"Good night, Aqi", he whispered, watching her eyelids become heavier and heavier.

When her eyes shut completely, he lay awake for a while, studying her face, her eyebrows, her nose, her lips, her chin. Her smooth skin almost looked blue in the cold light of the moon. When they breathed, he realized they breathed the same moist air. He became aware of the rhythm of his own breaths and how it deviated from hers. She breathed more slowly than him. When he corrected his breath, trying to relax, his heart beat sank and eventually he fell asleep too.

–––––––––––––––––––

It was very warm when he woke up. He opened his eyes carefully, only to notice that it was still dark outside. The moon had changed its position, illuminating another part of her bedroom, giving a hint that they must have slept for at least a couple of hours. He could feel the scent of Madison's shampoo and realized she was sleeping on his chest. His arm was squeezed between her body and the mattress. When did this happen?

Careful not to wake her, he looked over to her bedside table to see what the time was, but it was too dark for him to see the clock face. It was an unusual feeling, having someone sleep on his chest, but not unpleasant. On the contrary, it was very cosy being this close to Madison. He swallowed nervously and closed his eyes, trying to go back to sleep.

"mmm of course we will Si, you're not getting rid of me that easily" Madison giggled sleepily.

Madison, though asleep, could feel warm air on her face and she smiled, she knew it was Simon because she recognised his toothpaste, and she lay beside him as the moonlight lay still on her face.
_______________

Madison stayed asleep the whole night. She knew she'd moved during her sleep and that she was no lying with her head on Simon's chest but she didn't want to move, she was so comfortable and felt so safe sleeping there that she rested her hands on his shoulder and stayed asleep.
_____________
Madison was sleeping peacefully when her clock started chiming, she groaned and rolled over, looking at the time and seeing it was 7:30. They had 3.5 hours till they had to be at Kings Cross and Madi rolled onto her back and sighed. She looked at Simon and felt these strange butterflies in her tummy and her cheeks heat up slightly, but it was a nice feeling, not a weird one. She stood up slowly and started bouncing on her bed to wake him up "I'm not gonna stop till you get up Si, it's 7:30 and we should get up now so that we have enough time to make sure everything is ready and we have enough time for breakfast" Madi says, continuing to bounce on her bed until Simon got up. Once they were both up, Madi has a quick shower and changes into a baby pink jumper, white skort, her bracelets that had Simon's nickname and constellation on, and her white sneakers with pink butterflies on them. She packed her uniform into her bag that had a Undetectable Extension Charm so that it would fit more into it than than the size of the bag would suggest.

Madi looked at Simon and then looked around her room, she wouldn't see it again for a fair few months and she sighed. She had made so many memories in this room in just a few days and she didn't want to leave those behind. "Oh Simon, here" Madi handed him a photo they took of themselves on his first day. "I've got one too, that way we can still be with each other even when we're in our dorms or in separate classes" Madi said with a smile.

As they walked out of Madi's room, they had breakfast and, by 10am, were at the firepit in the family living room. "We'll be travelling to The Leaky Cauldron via Floo powder Si, and then walking the short distance to the station, so we'll be there with time to spare" Madi said with a smile. She said goodbye to her dad with a big hug before taking some of the Flo Powder, stood in the fireplace with her bag on her shoulder and said very clearly "The Leaky Cauldron" before disappearing in the smoke of Flo Powder. Madi soon felt herself land in The Leaky Cauldron and brushed the dust off herself. Soon Simon was there with her and they walked through to Kings Cross together.

Godmodding Simon with consent

@Simon Tilia

Once again, Simon woke to Madison bouncing up and down on her bed. He smiled with closed eyes.

"You're crazy, Madi", he said. "Alright, alright... I will get up. Just give me a minute."

Madison went to take a shower. He wondered if she remembered that she had been sleeping on his chest throughout the night. Or was she even aware that she had snuggled up against him? When Madison was done, he went to the bathroom to take a quick shower himself. Before leaving the bathroom he made sure that he had not forgotten anything. He put his towel in Madison's laundry basket and brought his toiletry bag with him.

He put on a white hoodie, his grey suit pants with check pattern and pulled out his white sneakers. On his wrist he had the bracelet with the star constellation Aquila that he had got from Madison the day he arrived. When they were all packed and done, he reluctantly left her bedroom. I'm gonna miss this place, he thought.

"Oh Simon, here." Madison held out a photo for him. That was the photo they took the first day. "I've got one too, that way we can still be with each other even when we're in our dorms or in separate classes."

"Aww, that's cute", he said, looking at the picture and thinking that a printed photo somehow meant so much more than a digital photo. "Thanks, Madi."

But where am I going to keep the photo? Putting it on the wall in his dorm would certainly raise questions among the boys. He did not mind Madison putting up her photo, but that was different. It felt as if girls in general were more chill about those things, while boys could be a bit more... annoying. Although, someone like Zach would never tease him of course. But perhaps he did best in keeping the photo to himself for a while till he got back home. He would not hesitate to put the photo in a nice frame and keeping it on his bedside table in his room though. That would make the summer holidays more bearable, he thought, having Madison's face next to his even though they would be miles away from each other.

After the breakfast, he made sure to thank Mr. & Mrs. Bennett for their hospitality and compliment them for their house once more. They put their jackets on and brought their trunks to the living room where they stepped into the fireplace, one by one. Madison went first. Then it was Simon's turn.

"The Leaky Cauldron."

He felt some kind of invisible force grab his body as he travelled through time and space before ending up in the fireplace in The Leaky Cauldron. From there it was a walking distance to King's Cross Station. They talked about their days together along the way and their expectations on the term ahead. When they finally arrived, they halted in front of the magical brick wall between platform 9 and 10.

"This is it", he said. "Platform 9 ¾. Are you ready to get back to school, Aqi?"

He held out his hand for her and when she grabbed it, they looked at each other for a short moment. Then, with mutual determination, they took a step forward and disappeared into the wall.