A tug on my sleeve made me look up at Taehyung. His focus was more on the dark forest over my shoulder than on me. A hesitant look on his normally confident persona.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Don't worry Hyung, I come here every holiday so I'm not going to exactly get us lost."

Taehyung harrumphed behind me, taking a step closer so that he was practically stuck to my back without actually touching me. Not that he needed to make me any more aware of every breath he took, or for the heat to crackle between us.

"You aren't exactly reassuring me this is safe."

His words were mumbled so close to my ear that I almost jumped out of my skin. Oh, I'm pretty sure he knew exactly what he was doing and it wasn't an utter coincidence that his hand snaked around my waist a moment later, fingers almost teasing in the way they dragged against my shirt.

His chest finally pushed up against my back as he rested his chin on my shoulder. A soft hum prodded for an answer, a smile pressed against the tip of my ear.

I had to take a deep breath, and if I crushed the fingers of his hand that still held on to mine, it was his fault.

"We both know that the Forbidden Forest is as dangerous as the Hogwarts grounds can get, Hyung. Why would I lie to you when we can very well walk right into a beast that resides in the forest?"

I rejoiced at how stable I managed to keep my voice. Talking made me forget my predicament for a moment there.

He was more than happy to remind me of his proximity.

"Hmm, true."

Was it really necessary for him to blow on my ear before he pulled away? And he had the gall to laugh when I jumped.

"So, Mooncalfs was it?" He asked. An innocent smile formed on his lips at the glare I shot him.

Pouting, I nodded my head. "Yeah, they only come out during the full moon and their mating ritual is something to behold."

I started walking as I talked, Taehyung offering no protest as he fell into step beside me. He knew better than to make too much noise once we entered the forest. At least not until we were hidden away as high up in the tree we decided to sit and wait on. The canopy of leaves gave us good cover from anything that would be lurking around on the ground. It's not like we both didn't also have our wands within easy reach of our robes. It would not only be stupid but also suicidal to even think of entering the forest without being ready to face anything.

He waited for me to settle down before he took my hand back in his. Hooking his hand around my arm and pressing his side flush against mine, his head fell to rest on my shoulder. As surprised as his sudden show of affection made me, I was starting to get used to having him close.

It had barely been two days since we started hanging around and I was quickly learning how much of a touchy person Taehyung was. Honestly, when the two of us were alone together like this, I sometimes even questioned why he was called 'cold'.

Then we got back to reality and I was hit by how quickly he could wear that perfectly indifferent mask, a dead look in his eyes as he stared down at anyone who got in his way.

"Is there something on my face, or are you admiring how beautiful my side profile looks?"

Face heating up, I quickly averted my eyes.

I need to stop doing that. Getting lost in thought while staring at him. And I kept questioning how he knew that I have the biggest fattest crush on him? Like I wasn't making it so obvious.

Laughing, he leaned closer until his nose brushed against my cheek.

"You don't have to be shy about it, I know I look pretty."

His words were soft, barely a whisper against my cheek.

When I snapped my head towards him, if our lips had brushed the barest of bits and that had sent sparks flying so hot it burned, then it was no one's business but mine.

I mean, considering that he had his nose pressed against my cheek, I should have known that would happen. But I'd been too surprised by his words to give thought to my actions before doing it.

It was I who pulled back at the almost kiss. He stayed perfectly still, staring me down with hooded eyes. Not moving back a millimetre.

"Am I not?" He questioned when I gaped at him in silence, head tilted and eyes blinking at me with an innocence I knew the action did not hold.

This boy was a devil in disguise.

He was on a mission to figure out how quickly he could make me combust. Or make my heart explode. Whichever of the two that came first.

I'm sure one or the other is bound to happen if he keeps doing this to me.

Because despite the cold I was feeling hot. Too hot.

I was also positive I was resembling a very unattractive tomato by now.

"I - ur - you... what?" I stuttered.

He chuckled, bending to press closer to me, forehead falling against my collar bone and effectively pushing me against the trunk of the tree so I had nowhere to back away any more as he laughed softly.

"Oh Jungkook, you -" He cut himself off, wrapping both his arms around my waist and hugging me tightly.

I hesitated only for a moment before wrapping my arms around him, tucking his head under my chin. We never said a word as we readjusted our position so both of us would be more comfortable than hanging there awkwardly. It didn't feel necessary to ask. Not when both our bodies moved in sync.

I never got the chance to second-guess what happened - at least not while it was happening. For, a moment later, the mooncalves were filling the clearing and we had to be quiet so we wouldn't scare them away.

I have no idea how long we stayed there. Not daring to move a muscle or make a single sound. The mooncalves' dance was mesmerising to look at, but it was something I had seen before. Taehyung, under the moonlight, tucked in my arms was a much prettier sight to look at.

Maybe it was just me, but the mooncalves' dance seemed to last for much longer than usual. Yet at the same time, it felt like no time at all had passed before they were slinking back through the trees. The strange markings in the grass was the only sign they were ever there.

Then we had to wait for longer until Hagrid got their dung (which helped magical plants grow) before we could make our safe escape back to the castle.

Or at least we were supposed to.

Before we ran into an Acromantula that was out of its territory.

It wasn't supposed to be anywhere near where we were. This one just popped from nowhere.

Or rather, dropped down.

Right on top of Taehyung.

The only reason we weren't killed on the spot was that both of us had our wands at the ready and attacked it as soon as it fell on Taehyung.

" Arania Exumai!"

"Expelliarmus!"

The blue light from my wand shot straight at the creature's head, knocking it clean off Taehyung, while the brighter red light from Taehyung's wand just barely grazed its leg (yet, enough to stun it for us to get away).

You couldn't exactly complain about his aim considering the spider had fallen right on his leg.

He hissed as he scrambled to his feet, falling right back on his knee, hand clutching the calf of his right leg. One eye on the Acromantula - that was thrown a good foot away from us and was struggling to get up as well - I rushed to Taehyung's side.

"Hyung," we couldn't shout. Not unless we wanted to get attacked by something else as well. Didn't stop the worry from seeping right into my voice as I caught his elbow and crouched beside him.

Taehyung cursed, before bracing his hand on my arm and with gritted teeth stood up.

"We can't stay here. Where one Acromantula is, there is bound to be more. Let's go."

His bravado aside, he could barely take a step before he stumbled right back down.

"We aren't going anywhere with your leg, Hyung," I whispered before kneeling in front of him with my back facing him. "Get on, you can protect us."

Taehyung hesitated for no more than a second before he got on my back. The direness of our situation was the only thing holding his tongue from refusing. There was no way he could run. I had no idea what was wrong with his leg and it wasn't the time to be slow on our escape. We couldn't fight off the giant spider all by ourselves. Not if we were going to be swarmed with the rest of them soon.

Hefting him to get a proper hold around his thighs, I barely cast a glance at the Acromantula before I started to run in the direction of the school.

Taehyung had to spell it away two more times before it gave up the chase. Even then, it was only because the tree-line was thinning as we got closer to school grounds. We got lucky that only one started chasing us down and not a whole horde of them.

It was only after we stumbled out of the forest that I dared to slow down. Sweat streaked down my face despite the winter chill. The fear, adrenaline and Hyung's weight all worked me up.

Now that I could finally worry about his leg in peace, I slowed down my pace and hefted him up my back into a comfortable position and started my trek to the infirmary.

"How's your leg, Hyung? Did you twist it? Is it bleeding? Is it broken?"

Taehyung laughed at my barrage of questions, the sound as breathless as my voice, with a touch of pain.

"I think it's bleeding, but it's more numb than anything." He sounded breathless as he spoke, his cheek resting on top of my head and finally relaxing his weight on my back. His hand snaked around my neck and he snuggled to make himself comfortable.

"Okay," I whispered, nodding my head. "Madame Pomfrey will fix you up in no time."

This time his laugh was a bit more genuine, his wandless hand ruffling my hair - not lifting his cheek off the crown of my head.

"I know little bunny. So you don't have to worry that pretty head of yours over this."

How he guessed I was worrying was beyond me.

I whispered an 'okay' that I knew he didn't believe. He rubbed a hand over my heart, palm hot against the cold that had been quick to seep right back. I'm not sure if the gesture was supposed to soothe my nerves. It did anything but that.

My nerves crackled and my heartbeat only got louder under his touch. It did, however, make me warm, a blush crawling from my neck upwards. I could only hope it was dark enough that he couldn't see just how red my face got.

"My strong little Bunny," He said with a sigh. There was an appreciative squeeze on my arm. Hand lingering, his fingers wrapped around my bicep in a loose hold. "Who would have ever guessed my skittish Bunny was so strong huh?"

I looked down, a smile breaking through despite me fighting it back.

"Shut up Hyung," I grumbled. If my face wasn't hot earlier, it most certainly was right now.

Taehyung laughed merrily at my misery. The hug he gave me was a not-apology for the teasing. At least he stopped teasing, I guess the pain in his leg getting the better of him.

We reached the hospital wing without much incident.

One good thing about Madame Pomfrey is that she never questions how the student came to her got injured. Which was a blessing as neither of us wanted to explain why an Acromantula attacked Hyung.

I'm sure Taehyung could have lied through his teeth if she asked, but I sure as Morgana wasn't the best liar.

It wasn't until Madame Pomfrey had patched him up and left the two of us alone in the infirmary that Taehyung talked to me again.

I was sitting by his hip, chewing my bottom lip with guilt consuming me whole. I couldn't help it.

It had been my genius idea to show him the mooncalves. If I hadn't taken him to the forest, or even turned back when he asked to, he never would have gotten hurt.

"Jungkookie," he sighed. His larger palm covered mine - effectively putting an end to them fidgeting. "Stop overthinking everything. I can feel the gears of your mind overworking from all the way here. I already told you Little Bunny. It wasn't your fault."

I lifted my eyes to meet his, the gentle smile on his lips conveying how much he didn't blame me better than his words ever would. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. It was an assurance that followed the truth behind his words.

When I remained silent, he sighed and reached up, cupping my cheek. Leaning into his touch was an automatic reaction. His lips lifted back at the unconscious gesture, hands remaining gently as he tugged me down. Pulling me until my forehead rested against his. Until our breaths mingled and I was going cross-eyed trying to keep eye-contact with him.

He took in a deep breath, eyes fluttering shut.

I took this moment to study his face in such close quarters. I could have counted his eyelashes if I had enough time.

His thumb swept under my eye as he released a slow breath.

There was an intensity in his eyes when he opened them again. The kind of intensity that pinned me in place, made me stare at him in wide-eyed fascination, but also a dominance that made me compliant to his every whim.

"Can I kiss you?"

It was the last thing I had expected him to ask of me. All I could seem to do was blink at him in bewilderment as the words refused to register in my mind.

There was no way I heard that right. No way he just asked if he could kiss me.

I must have been dreaming.

Kim Taehyung did not just ask whether he could kiss me. He did not!

What in Merlin's underpants is going on?

As if he had not just short-wired my brain, he laughed, brushing a thumb under my eye. Impatient, but waiting for my answer.

"I - uh." Unable to form proper words, I could only nod my head in consent.

His lips pulled up in the most dazzling smile, hand slipping from cupping my cheek to my jaw. He tipped my head up before he pressed his lips right against mine.

Our eyes fluttered shut at the same time. His finger tightened on my jaw, hand wrapping around my waist, pulling me closer. My own hands were stuck between our bodies. I could only curl my fingers on his shirt, clinging on to him like a lifeline that was going to disappear any moment now.

His lips tasted like the chocolate he just ate (he couldn't stand the medicine Madame Pomfrey had given him and had gobbled up a chocolate frog immediately after). They were soft, like satin against mine. His hand was a grounding weight against both my jaw and waist.

There was nothing heated in the way we kissed. It was a slow lazy press of our lips moving against each other. Even if the way he held me (cradled me) felt like he was holding on to something precious, something that needed to be handled with care.

It wasn't long before he was pulling away, our breaths heavy, chests heaving.

His fingers combed through my hair, one hand around my waist keeping me in place, refusing to let me pull away. Even when he pushed both of us to a sitting position.

"I've wanted to do that for years," he said, a lazy smile on his lips as he gazed down at me with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"Huh?"

Seeing the utter confusion with which I blinked at him, he let me pull back just enough so we could look at each other without going cross-eyed.

He chuckled, the sound almost dark, at my confusion.

I couldn't help it if my mind hadn't quite caught up after having kissed him. I could still feel the phantom touch of their softness right against mine. I could still taste the chocolate, mixed with something that was solely Taehyung, on my tongue. Of course, I was being slow.

He pressed his thumb against my lower lips. The touch was barely present, but there was a look in his eyes as he stared down my lips that made my insides churn. In a way, that very much turned me on.

"You aren't the most subtle thing out there little Bunny. And I've been wanting to kiss you for a very long time."

I blinked at him, not fully comprehending his words. Did he just admit that he wanted to kiss me for a long time? Also that he knew I've had the biggest, fattest crush on him?

WAIT!

"I - you... You knew?"

My tone was incredulous, pulling away from him with wide eyes. He let me go with a touch of reluctance. It was something I would have noticed if I wasn't turning into a bright red tomato.

Taehyung laughed, reaching right back to cup my cheeks despite letting me pull away. He didn't pull me back to him, just held me, like he couldn't bear to keep his hands away.

"As I said, you aren't the most subtle thing around sweetheart. It was adorable, watching you trying to pretend to not be as infatuated with me as you are."

"You - I'm not... What," I spluttered, too mortified by his words to form a proper response. "HYUNG!"

He laughed again at my indignant tone, eyes twinkling with such fondness that I felt blind to never have noticed it before. This time he did pull me to him. His hand circled back around my waist, to my surprise pulling me right on to his lap.

My fingers pressed against his shoulder, dark eyes staring right into mine. His smile was small but filled with fondness.

"Ever since you stumbled into that compartment in all your clumsy glory, with that bright bunny smile and the cutest scrunch of your nose." He paused to laugh at the memory, hands tightening around me as if to assure himself that he truly did hold me. "I was having the shittiest day and you simply waltzed into our compartment, barely acknowledging I was even sharing it with Jimin. You with all that dazzling affection and that soft giggle that can light up the room, who hugged Jimin with the warmth of the sun and made even Yoongi Hyung smile go all gummy,

"So tell me, how could I never have irrevocably fallen in love with you, Bunny? You with your softest, most precious giggles, holding a galaxy full of stars in your eyes. Something impossible for anyone to not achieve."

And I...

All I could seem to do was gape at him. His words left me breathless, my heart thudding painfully, trying to jump out of my chest. My brain short-wired, nothing made sense any more.

He said he was in love with me, did he not?

This wasn't some fever dream, right?

Taehyung laughed at my lack of a reply, thumb brushing under my eye again as he gave me that full-blown boxy smile. His cheeks blew out so much so that I had this urge to take a bite. Happiness made his eyes sparkle.

"So, do I get the privilege to call you my boyfriend?"

Despite the teasing tilt to his voice, he looked very much serious. The blazing look in his eyes spoke volumes for how he wasn't joking around.

"I, what? Yes, of course... um," I stuttered, eyes wide as I stared at him. I was in too much shock to even care for how eager my words came off (did it matter? He was already well aware that 'boyfriend' was something I was dying to call him).

A/N~

And we are done. Do let me know what you thought. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Lovely Reader.

P.S. I was supposed to post this yesterday, but if you have followed me you will already know i have zero sense of time and date so wishing all of you a late christmas.