Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Christmas arrives, or well Christmas for Josie and her friends. With care and precision, she meticulously wrapped each present for her friends.
Before the dawn's light has fully embraced the day, Josie's wakefulness prevails, a common occurrence. Her voice, a delicate whisper, reaches Dorcas' ears in an attempt to preserve the slumber of their dorm mates.
"Dorcas," she calls, her voice a gentle hush.
Dorcas' response is a mumbled, sleep-laden protest. "Shut up, Jo."
A teasing smile tugs at Josie's lips. "Fine, I suppose gifts don't interest you," she playfully laments, immediately rousing Dorcas from her drowsy state.
"Gifts!" Dorcas exclaims, her enthusiasm bubbling over. The urgency to keep quiet only slightly subdues her exclamation, lest they awaken the others.
Their preparations commence, punctuated by Dorcas' whispered anticipation. Josie opts for a small touch of makeup and selects an outfit.
The common room, at this early hour, is blissfully devoid of the usual hustle and bustle, allowing Josie and Dorcas to transport their gifts downstairs with minimal disturbance.
Pandora soon joins them, adding her own contributions to the growing cache of presents beneath a small, festively adorned Christmas tree. Gathered in a corner, their holiday offerings form a colorful pile.
Dorcas' impatience creeps in as they await the boys' arrival. "When are those boys showing up?" she groans, her head resting on her hand.
"They should have been here by now," Pandora grumbles.
Josie's sigh is laced with mild frustration as she ventures to the door, her curiosity piqued. The trio of boys stands outside—Evan and Regulus embroiled in a passionate disagreement, while Barty offers an exasperated eye roll.
"No Reg I told you I can do this okay? it's not that hard to answer a riddle!" Evan yells.
"It must be pretty hard for you since we've been out here for ten minutes!" Regulus yells back.
Amused, Josie interjects, her laughter dancing in the air, "You've been out here for ten minutes, trying to solve the riddle?"
Evan's glare meets her amusement. "Save it, Josette," he retorts, brushing past her with an armful of gifts, making his way inside.
"Get me away from them," Barty's plea is met with laughter as he bypasses her and enters the common room.
Regulus, however, fixes her with a smile that plays a rhythmic melody on the strings of her heart.
"Hi," she murmurs, her voice barely more than a whisper, laced with a mixture of nerves and excitement.
"Hello, Josephine," his greeting feels like a gentle embrace, igniting a flutter of emotions within her.
