𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖛𝖊𝖓𝖘 𝖔𝖓 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊

24

With Christmas drawing near Circe can't help but feel incredibly nervous. Her presents to Remus, which will mostly consist of the books she has seen him looking at on a number of occasions when they visit Hogsmeade, have already been planned out but she has no idea what to get for anybody else. Not only that but she still hasn't gotten much closer to figuring out what the voices are trying to tell her whenever she is in the presence of Damocles Belby. She had thought that everything would become so much clearer when she learnt of her heritage but she still finds herself lost as to where to go from there.

Ever since the incident that had sent her to the hospital wing Remus has been stuck to her like glue and treating her like she is made out of glass. Circe doesn't deny that she doesn't find the boy carrying around all of her books for her and allowing her to tease him all she likes attractive, but she is sick of him treating her like she will drop dead if she does anything too strenuous. Lily has been almost as bad, practically mothering the shorter girl every second she gets. The ginger has been forcing her to drink tea, mixed with honey and lemon, at every meal- despite the fact that her neck had healed up over a week ago now- and took this as an opportunity to start doing Circe's hair for her every morning at breakfast. The brunette would usually just give it a good brush and call it a day (not having much talent for styling her hair) but since Lily has started doing it her medium length locks are constantly tied up, the ginger seemingly practicing a number of different styles on her. The rest of the boys continue to treat her like they always do- which Circe greatly appreciates, as whilst she definitely isn't the most mentally stable person she knows, she doesn't need to be babied all day long.

"There, all done." Lily says happily, tying up the ends of the Dutch braids. She holds out her compact mirror which she keeps in her bag at all times for Circe to take.

The brunette takes a good, long look at hair- despite knowing that the taller girl has done as flawless a job as she always does. "Thank you Lily." Circe had fought against this new morning routine at first but had quickly been bullied into submission by the taller girl.

The two of them are going to Hogsmeade together to buy presents for the boys as it's the last trip before the Christmas holidays. Lily has no idea what to get James, knowing that he could buy the whole of Hogsmeade if he wanted to with the money his parents have, so she finds herself struggling as to what to get him. It'll be the first time the two girls have ever really spent much time alone together, having mostly ever hung out with all of the marauders present, so the two of them find themselves excited for some one on one time.

Snow has already begun to fall so the two sixth years find themselves wrapped up in their warm winter coats, with their respective house scarves bundled around their necks. Circe has on one of Remus' jumpers and can't help herself from burying her face into the soft wool due to the boys scent still lingering on the material. "Where do you want to go first?" The brunette asks the taller girl as they hop off the carriage.

"Maybe we should go to the bookshop first, seeing as you already know what to get Remus." Lily suggests, linking her arm up with Circe's to try and provide some much needed warmth.

The shorter girl- who is used to spending most of the winter months in Greece- is grateful for her actions. "That's a good idea." She nods.

Circe is relieved to find that most of the books Remus has had his eye on for the past couple of months are still there. There is ten in total she has seen him looking at but the girl isn't going to spare any expense for the boy she has been crushing on for years now. They weigh a tonne, the thick heavy books have to be carried over to the counter in a few trips by the girl as Lily continues to look around the shop.

"Is there anything else?" The shop keeper asks, his tone suggesting that she is missing something from the large pile, rather than the polite customer service  voice he usually uses every time she has been in here before.