Festive cheer and contagious laughter echoed throughout the walls of the Three Broomsticks, running along the aged beams before finally escaping out of the door and filling the Hogsmeade air with merry calls and not so angelic singing. Everybody linked arms and clinked glasses, filled to the brim with foamy drink, except you and Luna, who sat tucked away in a shadowed corner, lit only by the flickering of a few sconces that shot dancing shadows across the walls. Luna held the steaming cup near her mouth, the concoction rested near her lips and every so often her lips pursed, and her cup tilted, letting a small amount of the nutmeg-imbued liquid fall into her mouth.

Due to a very risky dance move, a quite inebriated witch bashed into the side of your small table and caused your drink to jump over the lip of the mug and splash onto the table.

"It's pretty rowdy in here huh?" You tried to make conversation with Luna, but she seemed even more distant than normal, barely even responding to your question and just looking into the distance yet continuing to sip on her drink.

"Luna?" Your attempts to bring her back into reality proved futile, the only thing that snapped her out of it was clapping a few times in front of her, the loud noise must have brought her back.

"Oh sorry, what did you say?" She placed the drink on the table but kept her hands securely attached to it, one hand slipped into the handle and the other wrapped around the side.

"Nothing important... Are you okay?" Ever so gently you extended your hand and placed it on top of hers, stroked her thumb and looked into her eyes.

"Me? I'm fine, don't worry about me. How is your drink?"

"The drink's fine, are you sure you're okay? You seem... Off? Is something upsetting you? Is it the people? We can go if you want, I don't mind!"

She raised the cup to her lips once more, this time taking a larger gulp.

"Really y/n, I'm fine. Christmas was just a time I spent with my mother, it was our closest time together, so I just have a lot on my mind, but I'd rather stay than go, please."

"If you are sure that is what you want?"

"A lovely hot chocolate and a lovely person, what else could a girl want at Christmas?"

~*~

Written by Aaron.