Merlin, he was such a flirt! She tried to give him a stern look, but she was unable to stop her lips from slipping into a shy, dimpled smile. She briefly wondered how many girls he charmed on a daily basis; surely his looks were enough on their own to earn him smiles wherever he went! After allowing him to take the pin, Helga went to work trying to keep her updo from falling apart altogether. Having a man with his hand on her leg was bad enough!

"I will protect your honor if you protect mine," she teased in return. The pin was sharp, but it would take more work than a pocketknife or letter cutter. Hopefully Mr. Longbottom was as skilled with his hands as he was with a beater's bat!

---