Vincent was not used to being accepted, and frankly, it tainted his whatever-they-had with Lissington on occasion. He was ever grateful to the Hufflepuff however for seeing past it, for forgiving him when he was a little bit nasty. Vincent knew he had a propensity to be sharp sometimes, ever molded by the stressful atmosphere he was not exactly thriving in. But when he was with Lissington, everything was… easier? Softer? More like home? It helped that the red-head was so openly happy all the blasted time. Vince couldn’t help but grin a little to himself at the thought.

As the other made to remove his scarf, Vince watched with rapt green eyes. He knew better than to think Lissington was about to strip him here of all places, surely, but then what was he doing? Oh.

Oh.

A swell of warmth bubbled up like a gaseous potion in Vincent’s stomach and the Slytherin felt his face morph into something unfamiliar. He partially wanted to scream and partially wanted to hide from the embarrassment of it all, but for the first time since his mother had bid him goodbye at the station his first year, Vince felt… hopeful. Wanted. Excited. Their fingers laced together then and he couldn’t help but tip forward, dislodging Lissington from his shoulder, and burying his face in the other’s chest. He wrapped two wiggly arms around the increasingly familiar form and inhaled Lissington’s sweet scent. He always seemed to smell like pastry or chocolate.

“Thank you,” Vince managed to mumble from within Lissington’s robes. He didn’t know what else to add, so he said nothing, just buried his nose deeper like a child and screwed green eyes shut.

After a moment, Vince finally pulled away and - embarrassment heating his cheeks - he nuzzled instead into the crook of Lissington’s neck. It was remarkable how small and safe the stupid Hufflepuff made him feel. Was this what it was like to have someone love you? And love them back? Vincent sighed.

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