Even with Ned's arms reassuringly around her, his legs propelling them through the water, Sisse still felt panic clawing at her. At any moment he could let go of her and she could sink, at any moment her weight might drag them both under. But she did her best to keep quiet, hating the fact that there was nothing she could do. She caught gasping uneasy breathes as she tried to stay calm. The furthest thing from her mind was how inappropriate this had to look from shore.

Finally after what felt like hours Ned pulled her to standing, for a moment as he adjusted them she couldn't feel the bottom of the lake and the panic rose clawing at her throat and chest. Then her feet touched the silty bottom. Ned managed to finally get them to the shore line and Sisse landed unlady like on the sand of the shore trying not to cry in relief. She looked up at Ned, fully seeing him for the first time. "Thank you." She tried to put as much meaning in her voice as the fear and sudden tiredness would allow. It was there in the sudden mess that an almost drowning created Sisse realized just how handsome and brave Mr. Moony was and just how unsuited to be a Gryffindor she was.