Between the Cracks // 𝓕𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓦𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓵𝓮𝔂

39. Fred's Christmas Sweater

Oh dear....

Also, long chapter ahead!

Chapter 39: Fred's Christmas Sweater

The more minutes passed, the more Leigh started to agree with Nova's request. She couldn't see herself getting any knowledge into her brain in her current state.

Still standing aimlessly alone in the common room, she brought her bottom lip between her teeth in thought. Sitting alone in the library trying to study, or staying up here in the dorms and common room both seemed like horrible ideas.

Standing around wouldn't do her any good, and attempting to sleep...– she shivered at the thought. Instead she started walking, leaving her notebook on a table in the common room and exiting through the painting.

She walked down the stairs, many of them, and started going off towards an exit. Any exit would do. She was craving some cold air and the snow crystals flowing outside seemed to hold exactly what she wanted.

The freezing cold air stung at her cheeks as she trudged her way across the grounds, no real destination in mind. The morning was still early, and she wandered over to the black lake first, gazing out at the still water, some of it frozen. She considered going over to Hagrid's, or go stay in the green houses for some peace, but the first idea most probably involved active listening, and the latter other students, none of which Leigh was particularly into in that moment.

She opted for continuing to walk, her legs carrying her in the direction of Hogsmeade after a few detours across the grounds. There really was nowhere else to go.

It was already December after all, and lights welcomed her as she neared the familiar streets. Green and red lights lined the roofs on the sides of the cobblestones, and Christmas trees were neatly placed every now and then on the path, also packed with lights and ornaments. Apart from that, each shop seemed to have their decorations up, some static while others had whole scenes and landscapes set up in the shop windows.

Many of the shops had new decorations every year, and so it was always a surprise going past them. Leigh couldn't help it when the corner of her lip tipped up slightly at the view.

She carefully made her way down the street, peeking into the windows, yet not making her way into any of the shops. Not even the bookshop, whose window was filled with flying books with bells and ribbons, was of interest.

The apothecary, J. Pippin's Potions, had a strange window containing numerous Santa Clauses drinking various different liquids, while Spintwitches Sporting Needs had a neatly arranged display of their newest brooms and equipment, undoubtedly hoping customers would splurge with their Christmas gifts. Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop had a miniature sized Hogwarts in their window, inhabited by the owner's pet rat, who diligently made its way around the miniature castle to stack small books and organise quills.

Honeydukes had opted for a complicated and detailed window attempting to show off their variety of products. Cones with sweets were arranged in patterns while what looked like fudges hovered in a small sleigh whirling around the window. Chocolate Cauldrons, containing firewhisky, were surrounded by miniature fireworks while Glacial Snowflakes fell like real snow down the length of the window. Perhaps the cauldrons were targeting new years rather than Christmas.

She wondered what Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes looked like. She remember her walk with Fred, where he enthused about the various Christmas decorations in Hogsmeade. She could practically see the excitement on his face as he spoke of their ideas for the shop.

She approached the twins' shop out of curiosity, only to see no decorations were put up at all.

She didn't even consider entering the twins' shop. She felt too...dissheveled? Dysfunctional? Out of her mind?