Every move they made towards getting dressed and off the ground tugged at Edric's heart strings. If this had taken place a month earlier, they wouldn't have to be worrying about the when and the how of their next meeting, nor would the dreading possibility that they wouldn't see each other again exist at all. He found himself second-guessing his decision; he knew that he, as the newly-promoted head auror, would be getting criticism for attending no matter what, but he also knew that choosing not to go might prompt speculation.

Hearing the four little words—"I love you, too"—made all the difference, though, and it supplied him with enough hope that things would turn out well. He was a pessimist through and through, but he was also a dreamer; much of his life had been spent hoping for the best, but learning to expect the worst had long helped him deal with the disappointment when things failed to go the way he wanted them to.

He kissed her back, his hand reaching up to touch her face, before she moved away all too soon. He watched her with confusion as she reached up and began messing with her hair, until he realized she'd grabbed something instead: a necklace. His heart swelled as she placed the necklace—an amethyst pendant—in his palm.

"I'll treasure it," he responded, leaning forward to press a kiss to her cheek. He then began patting down his bunch-up robe until he found the pocket he was looking for. He pulled out a single handkerchief, which, while not as sentimental as a necklace, likely smelled of the familiar cologne he'd dabbed onto it earlier in the day. Hopefully it would be enough; being an auror meant not carrying around sentimental things all the time.

"Keep it for now," he said, similarly placing it in her hand. "And when I come back from the expedition, I'll bring you something exceedingly more valuable to take its place."

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