𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖙 𝖘𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖆𝖙 𝖇𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖛𝖚𝖊'𝖘

─── ‎ ‎ ‎★ ‎ ───

THE LAST OF THE LIGHT SNOW FELL for the winter season that morning as Mila stood in line for a carriage, hands delved deep into the pockets of her wooly black coat. She had awoken super early for a trip down to Hogsmede as to not be distracted by her friends, yet she had failed her mission. Closing in on grabbing a carriage she noticed Lily Evans next inline to ride. Quickly stepping out of line she made her way to Lily. Snow crunching beneath her shoes.

  "Oh, good morning Mila!" Lily yawned, tugging her red and gold scarf tighter around her neck. "Morning Lily!" Mila smiled, "do you mind if I take this carriage with you?" she asked, after all it would be very awkward to ride alone. She watched as Lily turned around towards Mary MacDonald and Marlene McKinnon waiting for their approval before turning around, "We'd love that!"

  Professor McGonagall ushered them into the carriage, the door shut as a rumble came as the vehicle began it's journey. Lily and Marlene sat together across from Mila and Mary. "I can only be down at Hogsmede for so long, I have quidditch practice today!" Marlene complained, Mary rolled her eyes, "Yes, yes, we know you bugged us about it all night yesterday! We'll make it back in time!" she quipped back. Mila adjusted her position in her seat, taking of her fiddler's cap. "Oh, is there a quidditch match soon?" she asked, Marlene puffed out air, the question seemed was about to start her off.

"Yes there is! These girls begged me come down here knowing that I need all the practice I can get as we're going up against Ravenclaw, do you know how vicious they? And their seeker is brutal! We always loose against them and I'm not taking any shit against them any more,-" she abruptly stopped talking after being hit by Lily, "You're going to psyche her out if you continue on going Marls!" she scolded. "Basically all you need to know is that Marlene hates anyone on the Ravenclaw quidditch team!" Mary giggled.

"What are you girls going to Hogsmede for?" Mila questioned, Lily jumped ecstatically at the question, "Do you remember when I was talking about a ball? Well I brang it up to the Head girl who then brought it up to Professor McGonagall, so she said as long as I can get some decoration as a demonstration for what I'd like to do she'd bring it up to Professor Dumbledore, and he might pass it!" Mila smiled at the girl's enthusiasm, "Well that's great Lily!"

  An awkward silence passed over the girls for a few seconds as you could hear the wheels rumble over of the cobblestone of the road. "So, what are you doing at Hogsmede?" Mary tried asking, turning her head to look at the girl. "Oh well, I'm actually need to get a birthday gift for someone, I actually didn't know their birthday was soon until about a week ago," Mila answered. Lily tilted her head slightly in question, loosening her scarf as it got warmer enclosed, "Who's birthday?"

  "Remus Lupin's, it's next week actually."

  "Oh that's right isn't it? Peter invited me to a celebration he'd planned, we're going, you should come with us!" The ginger offered with a warm smile, "I'm sure he doesn't want a party, but everyone deserves one." Mila nodded her head before turning her attention to the window as she looked at the tree filled land for the rest of the way.

  Mila parted her ways from the three girls, waving a small goodbye before she looked at the many shops ahead of her. Where to start? What would he like, use, or want? She walked her way to quick tourist shop to grab a quick look at a map, an overview of insight. She could go anywhere from Zonko's Joke Shop to a quill shop. She needed something that was thoughtful, and showed she payed attention.

  Wet leaves squished beneath her boots as she made her way to a small book shop, located at the edge of a block. The tiny bell rang from the door as she opened it, a greeting from the person at the counter washed over as the aroma of paper, books, and burning candles filled her nose. She had been to Bellevue's Novels and Tomes quite a few times before, when she was in need of something new. 

  She made her way over to the counter as she called the store clerk over to her. A lovely old woman, with the most darling of a dress greeted her, "How can I help you?" she asked, the shine of her name Rita shined of her named pin. "I was wondering where your mystery section is?" Rita pointed her finger towards Mila's left, "Right in the back over there, love!" Mila appreciatively nodded, making her way towards the back as she then on continued to spend 30 minutes looking over the ones that caught her eye, reading the back, then reading the first chapter. Eventually she has finally picked one out, the letters glowing on the cover titled 'Peril at End House' as she placed it on the counter, "Ah, a lovely pick!" Rita smiled, Mila returned it before saying "It's for a friend."

  She looked as the price showed up on the antique register before grabbing her wallet.

  "Are you a Hogwarts student?" The woman asked, eyeing Mila's scarf.

  "Yes I am!"

  "Oh dear, I'm afraid I forgot to give you your student discount, give me a second, love," the woman pushed up her glasses before the price the register flashed to a new one.

  Mila grinned, "Thank you miss," placing a galleon and a few sickles on the surface, then grabbing the paper bag that held the new gift.

  As she walked out of the store she could hear and see the bustle of the town, people in robes and large coats walking extremely fast to their destinations to be. Groups of students and kids giggled and gossiped as they walked, bags and drinks held in their hands. People's bellbottoms and flairs damp from the melting snow as they bundled up in scarves and sweaters.

  She knew a book wasn't enough for a present, so as she went to more shops, and as she walked back to the castle she enjoyed what seemed to be the last day of winter for the semester. The smell of snow, hot drinks, and mint, cotton and wool, even the breeze from the air. Mila was double checking all the items in her shopping bags as she walked the hallways of the school, headed back to her room, before catching herself from bumping into a wave of yellow and blonde. She looked up to see waves of light blonde hair, and freckles that danced along a doe eyed face, full lips parted in a gasp.

  "Oh, Mila I'm so sorry I almost rammed into you there!" the girl said apologetically. "Oh- Daphne! It's my fault I wasn't paying attention," Mila explained pursing her lips. Daphne helped her regain control of her shopping bag.

  "How are you doing? It's been a bit," Daphne inquired, entrapping Mila in small talk.

  "I'm good, just done a bit of shopping, I was just about to go relax for a bit, then I needed to do some last touches for a project," Mila replied.

  "Ah, sounds like a good plan...how's Ida?" she continued on.

  "Well, she's good as well, I know how you're all best friends and all," Mila smirked amused at the sudden change. Daphne's pale cheeks slightly flushed a soft pink, "Well, I don't know, she's very close to me yes, but we can't always hang out all the time due to our houses, and she's always sitting with you during lunch, but she's very dear to me, so I guess it would be able to consider each other best friends, yes?" Mila wanted to giggle at how much a fuss being called best friends seemed to be, how badly she wanted to tell Daphne her friends secret, but she knew it was best for them to figure out on their own.

  "Of course it is! And you can always borrow her to sit with you anytime, I know she isn't totally jazzed around my other friends, I think she really enjoys to sit else where sometimes, especially with you!"

  "Really?"

  "Really," Mila smiled, patting her on the shoulder before heading off in the opposite direction.

  It was a late Monday afternoon. Mila quickly walked up the upper levels of the castle, a giant roll of paper under her arm, and one piece of parchment in the other. Tomorrow the Moon phases project was due, and the group had finished their project a week prior. Sirius had given Mila their project since then, trusting her most to keep it safe. At this time Mila was off on her way turn it in. She didn't want to deal with lugging them around all tomorrow morning in embarrassment, so she planned to deliver them today.

  Her steps echoed and clacked on the marble steps as she knocked on a rustic wooden door. "Come in!" A voice ushered in side. As she opened the door she was welcomed to her astronomy classroom, just under the top floor of the astronomy tower. Posters and empty desks were left as Professor Sinistra sat at her regular desk preparing lesson plans. She looked up from the papers as she greeted her student, "Hello Ms. Luna, I'm assuming that's your groups project?" she asked looking down the giant rolled up parchment resting in Mila's arms. M' huffed triumphantly as she bestowed it upon her Professor, "It is! Decided to put it here so I didn't need to carry it around." The Professor adjusted her robes, "Smart choice young lady."

  Mila then placed Sirius' written report on her desk, "And this is the agreed on extra credit for Sirius Black," Professor Sinistra nodded placing it into another pile, "I'll remember to take this into account."

  Mila still begged question, "Professor, could I use a bit of your large brown paper? I need it wrap a gift." Her Professor nodded her head as Mila made her way by the door, quietly ripping what seemed to be enough paper to wrap the items she had gotten.

  She uttered her thank you as she was about the turn the door knob to leave. "Ms. Luna," Professor Sinistra stopped her, Mila turned her head around, "Yes, Professor?"

  "Thank you for taking and doing the project, I know you were resistant with the choice of group at first, I admire your perseverance," she praised her student.

  Mila smiled happily, "Thank you, turns out I was able to make a new friend out of it!" A slight shock came over her professor, "Really? Well that is quite wonderful, and what I was hoping to achieve with some of you."

"Wonderful, have a nice evening Professor," Mila gave her farewell, leaving the room rushing down the open stairs ready for a delicious warm dinner.

  Her hair flowed behind her as she walked quickly, the wind blowing the opposite direction of her stride, her smiled echoed her fulfillment.

  Remus Lupin's party and birthday was on Wednesday, only days away. He sat eating his dinner complaining to his friends on how he didn't need a party, or presents, and how it wasn't such an entirely large deal. Though he secretly kept it to himself how much he enjoyed their care for him, and how he secretly enjoyed the fact of a new party to attend to.

  He watched as a whisk of two deep brown headed girls made their way to the end of the table to their seats, and how James kept on having to push his glasses up each time he looked down to grab a bite. He chuckled as Peter next to him flaunted his new A on a test, and how Sirius countered, daring how he was going to score higher for the next test to come. Those secret feelings didn't matter, because it was true, he was fine with what he had right here.

A/N

REAAAALLY short chapter and fast paced, and I hate this chapter. I feel like I hate every chapter, but this one is just like not it, im sorry to dissapoint :') but it's important to move this along. NEXT CHAPTER THO... ya'll gon be happyyyy.

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