Although Mr. Granger managed to slide down the intermediate slope without mishap, he was utterly spent. By the time he reached the bottom, his legs gave out, and he collapsed on all fours, visibly shaken.
He decided to return to the lodge to rest, and the other adults, equally fatigued, escorted him back.
Meanwhile, Crookshanks, the clever little cat, had already retreated to their room, curling up by the fireplace for warmth.
This left only Glenn and Hermione at the ski field. The two skied for a while longer, challenging the advanced slopes a few times before finally calling it a day.
Though it was late December, the sky remained bright. With at least an hour until dusk and dinnertime, Glenn and Hermione decided to take a leisurely walk to relax.
A small, thickly gloved hand intertwined with a long, slender bare hand, gently swaying in rhythm with their steps. Behind them, two sets of parallel footprints stretched across the pristine snow, accompanied by the soft crunch of boots pressing into the thick blanket of white.
Feeling the softness that could be sensed even through the glove, Glenn openly gazed at Hermione beside him. She wore a pure smile as she playfully kicked at the snow, and Glenn felt a profound sense of peace. The usual façade he maintained—the masks he wore both outwardly and inwardly—was completely shed, leaving only his truest self.
That self was someone who adored Hermione Granger, a young girl he had fallen hopelessly in love with.
To be more precise, his feelings had long since evolved from "liking" to "loving."
When understanding of something is murky, one must strive to clarify it through learning and exploration. Over these days, Glenn had learned much from books, meticulously comparing the knowledge with his own experiences. He had come to truly confirm his feelings.
Even with his emotional deficiencies, even with his unclear understanding of emotions, even though he often mimicked normal human behavior to express emotions he struggled to feel, Glenn was certain that among all the emotions humans were supposed to have, "love" was the one profound and mysterious feeling he genuinely possessed.
He couldn't articulate the depth of his feelings—his feelings of love—but he believed that this emotion held the most significant place among those he could comprehend.
Through his research, Glenn discovered that there were different kinds of love.
For Alan Hawthorne and Gwen Hawthorne, his parents, Glenn believed he felt love for them.
They had given him everything he had now—a beautiful life and a second chance at existence for the individual once known as "Number Thirteen."
They had become an integral part of "Glenn Hawthorne."
They were his family.
For Chris Granger and Tina Granger, Hermione's parents, Glenn believed he also felt love for them.
They were like a second set of parents to him. Tina was gentle, treating him and Hermione with equal kindness. Chris, though less straightforward, expressed his goodwill through actions despite his grumbling words.
Moreover, they had brought their most precious treasure into Glenn's life.
They, too, were his family.
And then, there was Hermione—the most special person to him.
His love for Hermione was different from the love he felt for others. Though Glenn hadn't fully unraveled this difference, he was certain of its existence.
He didn't want her to feel resentment, sadness, or disappointment.
He wanted her to always be happy, to smile brightly, to remain joyful.
He wanted to protect her, to safeguard her, to risk his life to ensure her safety.
He wanted to hold her, to clasp her hand tightly, to... possess her.
Though the word "possess" might seem impolite when referring to a person with autonomy, Glenn couldn't help but feel this way.
Glenn wanted to claim Hermione as his own.
But her wishes always came first.
Everything depended on Hermione's will...
"Smack."
Glenn's chaotic yet comprehensible thoughts were interrupted by the cold sensation on his face—a snowball had slowly flown over and landed squarely on him.
Wiping his face and brushing away the snow obstructing his vision, he saw Hermione not far away, crouching and rolling another snowball, her face beaming with a mischievous grin.
Ah, so Hermione had suggested a snowball fight earlier.
"What's the matter? What were you so lost in thought about that you couldn't dodge such a slow snowball?"
The tip of her nose was slightly red, and the blush spreading across her cheeks looked just right in the gradually dimming light. Her lips curved upward, revealing pearly white teeth, as she smiled innocently. At this moment, Hermione fully embodied the playful charm of a girl her age.
Yes, why couldn't I dodge something so slow just now?
Perhaps, it was because the person who threw that snowball was Hermione.
"I was thinking about you."
Glenn answered truthfully, crouching down to roll a snowball of his own.
Hermione's blush deepened, and even her hands paused in their task.
Then, as if venting her embarrassment, she quickened her movements and hurled the snowball at Glenn with force.
"Ugh! You don't have to say it so bluntly!"
Although Glenn could have easily dodged Hermione's attack, he didn't move. Instead, he slightly shielded his head, letting the snowball hit his arm.
Then came his counterattack.
A slow-moving snowball left his hand, and since Hermione hadn't yet retracted her arm from throwing her own, it landed squarely on her face.
Wiping the remaining snow from her face, Hermione grinned. Seeing Glenn expressionlessly rolling another snowball and preparing to throw it, she panicked. Muttering about his lack of gentlemanly behavior, she hurriedly stockpiled ammunition and began retaliating.
"Hmph, take this!"
"That doesn't seem particularly special... Oof..."
"Bet you didn't expect this—a second snowball following the first! Even snowball fights can employ double-casting techniques... Wait! You can't make snowballs that big!"
"This is called 'overwhelming magical capacity.' If it can be done, it's allowed."
"Wait—"
"Too late. Take this."
Hermione was buried in a pile of snow.
When she finally emerged from the snow heap, she launched a physical attack on Glenn in a fit of embarrassed anger.
The two tumbled onto the snowy ground, playfully wrestling like children.
Hermione laughed from the bottom of her heart, her joy radiating.
So did Glenn.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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