#anne askew

[lilithsaintcrow]

"She said that one man confronted her, but he had said so little of significance that she could not recall his words."

[thedudleywomen]

ON THIS DAY - 06 October 1536

On This Day (06 Oct) 1536, the execution of English Reformist Scholar and Translator William Tyndale at Vilvoorde, near Brussels, is commemorated.

Tyndale began his English translations of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek c.1522, being influenced by Martin Luther's earlier translations in German. His work included the New Testament and the historical books of the Old Testament, which were subsequently published between 1525-1534. They were subsequently condemned and banned in England'; however, copies continued to make their way from Europe, where translated works were not illegal.

In 1543, English Parliament passed 'The Act for the Advancement of true Religion', which attempted to control and reduce the possession of these translations. Restrictions were placed on the reading of the Bible: only clergy were permitted to read aloud and in public  'authorised' copies, with possession and private readings only permitted by members of the clergy, nobility, gentry and upper classes. Reformist preacher Anne Askew defied this new Act, being in possession of Tyndale's translations and reading from the Bible in public.

In 1528, Tyndale published 'The Obedience of a Christian Man', which included the advocation for the right of the head of state to also be the head of the church. This work reportedly influenced Henry VIII with his 'break' from Rome, and the passing of the 'Act of Supremacy', placing himself at the head of the newly formed Church of England, in place of the Pope.

Despite this, Tyndale published further works which condemned the actions of the king regarding the dissolution of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, arguing that it was against Scripture; it was this open defiance that led to Tyndale's arrest and subsequent conviction of 'Lutheran heresy', which included accusations of insurrection against Henry and England.

Tyndale had been arrested in 1535, and held at Vilvoorde (Filford) Castle for 18 months prior to his death. On the morning of his execution, he was escorted from the castle, into the town, where a pyre had been erected. Whilst tied to a stake, Tyndale was strangled to death (reflecting his status as a scholar), and his body then burnt - the fate of those convicted of heresy.

Tyndale was commemorated by John Foxe in his 1563 publication 'Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, Touching Matters of the Church', also known as 'Foxe's Book of Martyrs'. It was Foxe that first commemorated his death on 06 Oct, although it has been documented that it took place "in the early days of October". Foxe also alleged that Tyndale's last words were “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes".

[tudorblogger]

‘Tudor Feminists: Ten Renaissance Women Ahead of Their Time’ by Rebecca Wilson

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction – History Published: 2024 Format: Hardback Rating: ★★★ I enjoyed this book – it was good to learn more about some of the people I knew less about like Arbella Stuart, Grainne O’Malley, and Aemilia Lanier. I had only heard of Lanier in passing, knew she was a poet, and O’Malley I largely knew about through Greg Jenner’s excellent episode on her on his ‘You’re Dead to…

[intriguingpeoplebyangelafloyd]

ANNE ASKEW

ANNE ASKEW 1521 - 16 July 1546 English writer who was tortured and burned alive for being a Protestant Anne Askew was an English writer, poet and Protestant. She was the first female poet to compose in the English language. Askew was born in South Kelsey, Lincolnshire, England. Her father was a wealthy gentleman at the court of King Henry VIII of England, he was the juror during the trial of Anne Boleyn’s co-accused. Anne Askews older sister Martha was married to Thomas Kyme, a Catholic, when Martha died, her father had Anne, 15, marry him to save money. The couple had two children, Thomas kicked her out for being a outspoken Protestant, and she became the first Englishwoman to ask for a divorce. Her outspoken Protestant beliefs caused her arrested. Anne was imprisoned in the Tower of London. She was subjected to a cross examination by four men including John Dudley (Robert Dudley’s father). The men threatened to have her executed, if she refused to name Protestants. The men ordered her torture, she was taken from her cell to the lower room in the White Tower. They made her remove her clothing, except for her shift. She was placed her on the rack, her wrists and ankles were fastened. The rack slowly pulled on her limbs, which caused her to faint from the pain and had to be revived. She was racked once more, her shoulders were pulled from their sockets and her elbows and knees were also dislocated. She was racked till ‘the strings of her arms and eyes were perished’. Despite the suffering she continued to refuse to give names, and she was returned to her cell. On 16 July 1546, Askew, 25, was burnt alive for heresy with three men. She had to be carried to the stake in a chain wearing just a shirt. She was unable to walk and any kind of movement caused her serious pain. She was fastened upright to the stake by a chain around her waist. Protestant martyrologist John Foxe hailed Askew as ‘a singular example of Christian constancy for all men to follow’. Anne defied her gender by portraying herself as an ‘armed knight’ fighting the papist foe with faith as her shield.

[tenth-sentence]

Lady Katherine Willoughby, wife of Charles Brandon, was closely knit into the Parr-Askew reform circle.

"Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History" - Philippa Gregory

[poemoftheday]

Poem of the Day 9 September 2024

The Ballad which Anne Askew made and sang when she was in Newgate

BY Askew, Anne (1521 - 1546)

Like as the armed knight

Appointed to the field,

With this world will I fight

And Faith shall be my shield.

Faith is that weapon strong

Which will not fail at need.

My foes, therefore, among

Therewith will I proceed.

As it is had in strength

And force of Christes way

It will prevail at length

Though all the devils say nay.

Faith in the fathers old

Obtained rightwisness

Which make me very bold

To fear no world's distress.

I now rejoice in heart

And Hope bid me do so

For Christ will take my part

And ease me of my woe.

Thou saist, lord, who so knock,

To them wilt thou attend.

Undo, therefore, the lock

And thy strong power send.

More enmyes now I have

Than hairs upon my head.

Let them not me deprave

But fight thou in my stead.

On thee my care I cast.

For all their cruel spight

I set not by their haste

For thou art my delight.

I am not she that list

My anchor to let fall

For every drizzling mist

My ship substancial.

Not oft use I to wright

In prose nor yet in rime,

Yet will I shew one sight

That I saw in my time.

I saw a rial throne

Where Justice should have sit

But in her stead was one

Of moody cruel wit.

Absorpt was rightwisness

As of the raging flood

Sathan in his excess

Suct up the guiltless blood.

Then thought I, Jesus lord,

When thou shalt judge us all

Hard is it to record

On these men what will fall.

Yet lord, I thee desire

For that they do to me

Let them not taste the hire

Of their iniquity.

[snapheart1536]

God rest her soul.

BIOGRAPHIE D'ANNE ASKEW

Anne Askew (née Anne Ayscough ou Ascue - Anne Kyme par son mariage) est née en 1520 ou 1521 et morte le 16 juillet 1546. Cette poétesse anglaise protestante fut condamnée pour hérésie. Elle est la seule femme dont on ait trace qui ait été à la fois torturée dans la Tour de Londres et brûlée vive sur le bûcher.

Anne Askew était la fille de Sir William Askew, de South Kelsey, (Lincolnshire), qui avait participé au procès d'Anne Boleyn. Mariée malgré elle par son père à 16 ans à un gentilhomme catholique, elle donna deux enfants à celui-ci. On dit qu'elle était une suivante de la reine Catherine Parr, la dernière épouse d'Henry VIII avec qui elle aurait correspondu.

Anne Askew, de tendance réformée, niait la doctrine de la transsubstantiation, la transformation lors de la communion du pain en chair du Christ et du vin en son sang. Son mari la dénonça comme hérétique. Elle fut alors jetée en prison. Depuis le bill d'Henry VIII, tous ceux qui niaient la doctrine de la transsubstantiation étaient convaincus d'hérésie. Anne fut interrogée par des inquisiteurs dont Christophe Dare, le lord-maire de Londres et le chancelier de l'évêque, et elle refusa de répondre à la question de la transsubstantiation. Lui furent également reprochés ses propos et ses écrits selon lesquels Dieu ne serait pas dans les temples et la Bible vaudrait mieux que la messe. Elle fut cependant libérée grâce à des amis, peut-être indirectement la reine elle-même ou Anne Stanhope.

Mais elle fut à nouveau arrêtée et transférée à Newgate où on lui ordonna de se rétracter sous peine d'être brûlée vive ; aux termes d'interrogatoires qui l'avaient poussée à bout, elle affirma que ce que l'on disait être le corps du Christ n'était qu'un morceau de pain. Et elle refusa de se confesser à un prêtre. Seul Dieu, affirma-t-elle, l'écouterait et lui pardonnerait.

Elle fut alors envoyée à la Tour de Londres et mise à la torture (elle fut la première femme ainsi torturée pour sa Foi) afin qu'elle dénonce ses soutiens, la reine peut-être, le comte et la comtesse d'Hertford. Sur le chevalet, bien que toutes ses articulations aient été disloquées, elle ne dénonça personne mais s'évanouit. Elle fut condamnée à être brûlée vive.

Elle mourut le 16 juillet 1546 à 25 ans. Ne pouvant marcher tant la douleur était forte au moindre mouvement, elle fut conduite au bûcher dans une chaise à porteurs et il fallut l'enchaîner au poteau par les bras.

[rahabs]

The Tudors ran so Wulf Hall could shuffle awkwardly around reiterating the same tired old Tudor stereotypes while claiming to be something new.

[voluptuarian]

I really want to watch firebrand but everything I'm seeing/hearing about it is making me think it'll remind me uncomfortably of growing up with my dad

[brucedinsman]

Fox's Book of Martyrs

https://www.biblestudytools.com/history/foxs-book-of-martyrs/ Edited by William Byron Forbush This is a book that will never die — one of the great English classics. . . . Reprinted here in its most complete form, it brings to life the days when “a noble army, men and boys, the matron and the maid,” “climbed the steep ascent of heaven, ‘mid peril, toil, and pain.” “After the Bible itself, no…

[thedudleywomen]

National Poetry Day 2024 (03 Oct 2024)

On National Poetry Day, I wanted to highlight the 'Hecatodistichon': a poem written in Latin, reportedly composed by the young daughters of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset - Anne, Margaret and Jane.

This poem, the first published by collective Englishwomen (in any language) prior to 1560s, was dedicated to the recently deceased writer, poet and literary patron Marguerite d'Angoulême, Queen of Navarre, whose work the young girls were taught by their French Humanist tutor, Nicolas Denisot.

I also need to acknowledge Anne Askew, Reformist preacher, poet, writer and eventual martyr, who openly and repeatedly defied religious policies of the time, including reading the Bible aloud.

Whilst imprisoned at Newgate Prison in 1545, Anne composed her 'Ballad'; she was one of the first women to have original work published in English. She continued to write poetry, in which she reflected on her 'mission' to spread the Protestant word, which would eventually lead to her death.

[tudorblogger]

Book Review - ‘Heroines of the Tudor World’ by Sharon Bennett Connolly

Thanks to Amberley Publishing for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a review. I loved this book! It doesn’t just cover the people you’d expect like the six wives and the queens, but other women who were executed, who wrote, who were mistresses, and pawns, and warriors. There are also women covered from outside England, from Scotland, Ireland, France, and Spain. These international…

[neil-gaiman]

Hi Neil! I don't know if it was asked before, but was Anne Askew an inspiration for Agnes Nutter? I see similarities between them, like they both wrote successful books, were burned at the stake and there was gunpowder involved. I listened to a podcast about Anne Askew, and her story reminded me of Agnes so I was wondering if it was a coincidence or not.

No, Agnes's story and name were inspired by Alice Nutter, one of the Pendle witches.

[fideidefenswhore]

'Inside the REAL Wolf Hall: From the murderous Henry VIII to the ruthless Thomas Cromwell and the 'violent woman' Anne Seymour', huh, yk...i don't really think we should be equating anne stanhope with thomas cromwell and henry viii. just thinking aloud.

latest promotional article for the tmatl production referring to anne stanhope/seymour as 'violent'...booooooo

[hogwartslegacyreactions2]

Hi, I’m so glad that you’re back, I absolutely love your work!

Can I make a request where the HL students and MC are talking or doing something and suddenly MC kiss them on the cheek.

I hope I make myself understand, english isn’t my first language 🥺

In advance than so much and welcome back! ✨

A/N: not to worry, your english is fantastic! I know plenty of native speakers that don't write that well LOL!

HLC REACT TO MC KISSING THEIR CHEEK

MC: as an agent of chaos, they must kiss their best friends for no reason. They'll lull their friends into a false sense of security with pleasant conversation and then strike!

SEBASTIAN SALLOW: "See, I don't understand how they-!!" He flinches but MC still got him. He puts his hand over where they kissed him and smiles, confused. His cheeks tinge pink. "Wha- *ahem* what was that for?"

OMINIS GAUNT: He jerks his head away. He didn't have his wand active during the conversation so he was caught completely off guard. "What in blazes!? Did you...did you just kiss me??" It doesn't matter what their answer is, grumpily huffs at them while his face slowly goes pink.

ANNE SALLOW: "Oh my..." Her face flushes and she avoids eye contact. "How scandalous." She covers her mouth to hide her smile.

IMELDA REYES: "Woah!" She dodges MC. "What the hell are you doing!?" She wrestles with MC as they continue to attempt to kiss her cheek. They win eventually, but at a cost.

NATSAI ONAI: She catches them coming in and turns her head towards them to catch their lips with her own. She's the one to make MC blush. "Care to try that again?" She giggles.

GARRETH WEASLEY: "Thank you, but I asked if you'd pass me the leech juice." He doesn't skip a beat and continues their conversation as they brew. He kisses their cheek in return when they hand it to him.

LEANDER PREWETT: He blushes so hard he looks sunburnt. He's completely forgotten what they were talking about and stares wide eyed. "Did you mean to do that..? Why did- um...was that a one time thing or..?"

AMIT THAKKAR: *Amit.exe has stopped working* He's unresponsive.

EVERETT CLOPTON: His glasses are pushed askew when MC kisses him. He readjusts them with a shaky hand. "Wow, that was... unexpected." He has the goofiest grin on his face the rest of the day.

POPPY SWEETING: She lets out a surprised squeak and turns a brighter shade of red from embarrassment. She hides her face behind her hands and swats away at MC. "Stop laughing!"

[blueraineshadows]

Am I Forgiven?

Sebastian x MC - fighting, forgiveness, and nightgown kisses

MC sighed at the open tomes spread out before her and rubbed a frustrated hand across her brow. The aged script was beginning to blur into a mass of sliding characters and there was a dull ache growing behind her eyes. Goblin lore was bad enough during History of Magic lessons, but to sit here in her own time scouring pages upon pages of it was bordering on torture. However, Sebastian's words still stung, they had wormed their way under her skin and she hated how much it bothered her.

"Ignorant."

MC had reeled at his jibe, the fury on his face and the way he spat the word cutting her deeper than she could ever have imagined. Since when did she care? She had never cared about what other people thought of her, never let it stop her going after what she wanted, she was tougher than that. Sebastian was useful, he taught her things, he was handy in a fight, it was never the plan to grow fond of him. She shouldn't care what he thought of her.

But his words had eaten away at her all day, frustration making her sneak into the Undercroft to dig out the books stashed there, books that were not on the school reading list. The idea that she was not smart enough for the likes of him irked her almost as much as his insult. She would prove him wrong.

Maybe not tonight though. She yawned and stretched, time to sneak back to bed. As she was about to begin collecting the scattered texts, the grate of the Undercroft entrance groaned signalling the arrival of one of the boys. MC shot to her feet. Please be Ominis she silently begged.

Sebastian strode in, fully dressed but tie askew, his hair unruly. He halted in surprise at the sight of her, his eyes widening as he took in her ankle length nightgown, feet clad in nothing but her stockings. MC lifted her chin a little, her eyes skipping to where her Slytherin robe was slung over a crate, her boots abandoned beside it.

"MC," he said. His voice sounded deeper, slightly hoarse. Again, his eyes moved over her and his cheeks reddened a touch. "I didnt think anyone would be here."

"Dont worry, I was just leaving," she said coldly. "Wouldn't want to crowd you with my ignorance."

He sighed. "I didnt mean it. What I said...I was angry. You are from ignorant."

No. Don't look at me with those eyes she thought, and turned to snatch up her robe. She had to stay mad, she couldn't let him lure her in. Her fingers shook, much to her horror. She flung her robe about trying to get it the right way round to put on, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment and fury at herself.

"What are you reading?" He asked. His voice was closer, she spun on the spot, eyeing him as he bent to pick up one of the books. He raised an eyebrow. "Goblin lore? You don't give up, do you?"

Her fingers clenched tighter around the cloth of her robe. "Never," she said firmly. "If Lodgok can get me information, get me closer to Ranrok, then he is useful to know."

He met her eyes. "Is that how you see me too? Useful for your own ends?"

MC opened her mouth but no words came out. Sebastian looked away, but not before she saw a flash of something like hurt in his eyes. He nodded as he slapped the book closed in a puff of dust. MC felt something twang in her chest but she shoved it down. She couldn't afford to care, she couldn't let him get close. Closer meant it hurt more when they were gone.

"When I said I wasnt prepared to get involved with whatever this Lodgok wants, you were quick to start severing ties with me," he said. He turned to face her again. "I figured my usefulness had run out. I am not a fool, MC. You forget, when it comes to manipulating people to get what I want, I'm an expert. I know a schemer when I see one. You've got Ominis wrapped around your little finger for a start."

MC felt heat flush her face. "How dare you! As if you're not doing the exact same thing to me! The only reason you help me is because you want me to cure Anne, otherwise you would have had no issue with leaving me to rot inside that scriptorium. You certainly had no difficulty casting Crucio on me and we both know you have to mean it."

"Only because you didnt have the nerve to cast it yourself!" He snapped back. His brow furrowed as his anger began to bubble up. "You had me teach it to you only to chicken out at the last moment. I mean, you're hand was shaking like a fucking leaf as you pointed the wand at me. So yes, I do try to help you. Not just for Anne, but because if I didn't, you would go out there to fight Merlin knows what, unprepared and alone and likely end up dead for your efforts."

MC remembered facing him down, wand up, the word Crucio on the tip of her tongue. He was right, she hadn't been able to do it. It infuriated her no end that she hadn't been able to. Because she couldn't do it with meaning. All she could see was his cheeky smirk, the way his face would get all intense when he was reading, the day he took her to meet Anne and the playful way he had been with his twin. She remembered the feel of his hand against the small of her back, the way he had helped her get to her feet when she stumbled, and he always had her back in a fight. She had come to rely on his presence, couldn't wait to tell him about something she had discovered, felt delight at drawing out a smile from him, and it scared the absolute shit out of her. There was no way she could cast an Unforgivable on him but there was no way she was going to admit all of that to his arrogant face.

With a growl of frustration she shook out her robe, determined to get it back on and get out of there, but her hands were still shaking and the blasted thing would not obey her. "I don't need you to save me," she insisted. "If I can face the Keepers trials alone, then I'm fine with everything else. I don't need a baby sitter."

The robe seemed to have a mind of its own. She threw it to the floor and yanked on her boots instead.

"I am under no illusions about your need for a saviour, I've seen you bring down mountain trolls after all, and I definitely have no plans to be your baby sitter," he snapped. "But if you think that I am going to stand by while you walk into some sneaky goblin trap, then you are sadly mistaken. Goblins cannot be trusted."

"And you can?" She spun to face him, her hair flying against her flushed cheeks. He had her robe in his hands and he was even closer, close enough the see the fire light from the candles flicker in his brown eyes. His anger disappeared at her words. A look passed across his face and it looked like sadness. She swallowed down the fear clawing up her throat. "I've told you more than I have ever shared with anyone else. I've put my trust in you and I don't know if that was the right choice."

Her voice cracked on the last word and her chest tightened with the raw honesty she had spilled. She felt horribly exposed to him and she feared that he could see all the other feelings that were swirling around those words.

He stepped around her and placed her robe gently over her shoulders. Of course, the fabric behaved in his long fingers, draping perfectly around her. He spun her to face him, the press of his finger tips a delight and an agony, and he fastened the robe against her chest. She stared at him, her eyes scanning his face, waiting for a smart comment, the arrogant twist of his lips, but all she could see was sadness. Just like that her anger melted, slipping through her fingers and she had nothing else to cling to. Nothing to use as a shield against her vulnerability. How the hell did he do it?

He met her gaze and she was trapped in it. Her eyes were fused with his. "If you want, you can walk out of here and I will not trouble you again," he said softly. "But I meant what I said. I would never let you walk into danger alone, or unprepared. I will always have your back, just as you have had mine."

MC felt a stinging at the backs of her eyes. She never cried, refused to. Weakness was never an option. Sebastian lifted his hands either side of her face, she could have sworn his fingers were trembling as he cupped her jaw, the pad of his thumb grazing an agonising sweep near her mouth. "If you do walk out of here, I will respect your choice. But if you want, I can be whatever you need me to be, I can teach you more spells, I will fight whatever battles I can alongside you, but above all of that, I would be honoured to be your friend. The friend you have put your trust in."

The sting behind her eyes became a burn and her vision was getting a little blurry around the edges. It was tiredness of course, that's all. She was tired. Her body betrayed her and a hot tear escaped to slide down her cheek. Sebastian caught it with his thumb. "I'm sorry that I hurt you," he whispered.

MC pulled in a shaky breath. Merlin damn this boy who refused to give her heart a moments peace. The eye contact was becoming too intense so she dropped her gaze, but that was a mistake. His mouth was so close and those fluttering feelings took a dive southwards to torment her abdomen instead. Her heart thumped madly against her ribs. Fury had become this flaring need and she needed to get back to more familiar ground before his touch drove her crazy.

"For the record, I do not have Ominis wrapped around my little finger," she said.

There was the familiar little smirk on his lips. "Oh yes, you do," he said. His hands were still holding her face. "In fact, I could list a few others who would drop everything and come running for you."

"Like who?" MC said doubtfully.

His thumb gave another sweep across her skin sending sparks shivering down her spine. "Garreth, Poppy, Amit, not to mention Leander..."

MC screwed her nose up. "I highly doubt it."

"Believe me, you have no idea." A scowl flashed on his brow.

MC arched a brow. "Really? You almost sound jealous Mr Sallow."

Teasing was definitely more familiar territory with him, but MC found she was holding her breath.

"Of course not." A glorious blush spread across Sebastian's cheeks and he let go of her, pushing his hands through his hair and turning to pace before the scattered books. Her skin felt strangely chilled without his hands gracing it. "You said it yourself, you reveal more of yourself to me than anyone else. I have no reason to be jealous."

Oh, she was already regretting those words, he was going to be awfully smug now. She folded her arms. "So, you wouldn't mind if I asked Garreth to help me with an extra assignment instead this weekend?"

"What assignment?" He asked, spinning back to look at her.

Her lips twitched with the need to grin. "Oh, you know, the usual sneaking about after dark. I reckon Garreth won't mind breaking a few rules with me."

Sebastian's jaw tightened. His eyes travelled down the length of her before gazing at her face. "Will you be sneaking around in the dark with Garreth dressed in nought but your night gown?"

Embarrassment swirled with a pinch of excitement in her belly at the way he stared, but she covered it smoothly with more teasing. She gripped the white cotton of her nightgown, spreading it slightly as if to curtsey. "Oh, I don't know, do you think he wouldn't approve?"

Sebastian looked as if he was about to step towards her but he hesitated, bringing both of hands to his mouth as if praying. "I think he would be far too over excited at such a sight," he said tightly. "Perhaps not such a good idea."

"No?" Her heart thudded in her chest. "What about you? Are you 'over excited'?"

His eyes widened and another flush spread up his neck and face. He opened his mouth to speak once, twice, and MC felt a giggle bubble up her throat. Oh, but she was being most horrid and scandalous! And it would serve him right after the way he made her heart jump and twirl in her chest at times.

She almost skipped as she moved towards him, her hands reaching for his wonky tie. He had so gently wrapped her in the robe, it would be rude not to return the gesture. She straightened the tie up, slowly and deliberately, hearing the soft intake of his breath between his teeth. She met his eyes, those beautiful brown eyes, and gave him a soft smile. "Its late," she whispered. "We should return to the common room."

He cleared his throat. "Does this mean I am forgiven?"

She stared up at him, her hands resting lightly either side of his tie. She could feel the rise and fall of his breathing, see the way his pupils were reacting to the candle light, and she knew, deep inside her, that he was the biggest distraction in her life but she didn't think she would ever be able to breathe properly again if he disappeared. It was frightening, how quickly he had wrapped himself around her like that. Her own feelings for this boy scared her, more than any monster this new magical world could throw at her, but Merlin did it make her feel alive.

Her lips curved upwards as she gripped hold of his robe, pulling him downwards as her heels lifted. She pressed her mouth against his in the softest kiss, a brief but warm sign of affection that made her blood sing.

"For now," she said cheekily. She let him go. He couldn't look more stunned. "My my, Sebastian, you look lost for words."

She didn't get a chance to step too far back from him. His hands reached for her, snaking about her waist as he pulled her back against him. A gasp burst from her lips as their bodies were pressed flush against each other. One of his hands slid up her spine, his fingers entangled in her hair as he stole another kiss from her mouth. This was no soft, delicate touch, this was a firm declaration that stole the very breath from her lungs. When he pulled his face back a little, their hot breaths mingled as they stared at each other.

"From now on, the only boy who gets to see you in your nightgown is me," he said gruffly.

"Is that so?" She breathed.

"Oh, I am insisting on it."

She smiled. The pendulum of emotions inside her took another swing. Less than an hour ago she had wanted to smack him one on his cute, freckled nose. Now, she never wanted him to let her go.

He slowly, reluctantly, released his grip on her. But, his fingers found hers and they interlinked. "Now, allow me to escort you back to the common room. You never know who could be prowling the halls at this time of night."

His smirk was a mirror of her own.