Pure

The Shrieking Shack

With a satchel stuffed full of clothes and books, I set off towards Hogsmeade. Thunder still rumbled through the castle and made my head pound. I bundled myself more in the thick grey coat I was wearing, and left the safety and warmth of the castle. My hair got quickly drenched in the rain and what was left of the phantom sensation of Riddle's hands in my hair washed away. The warmth that my body had been emanating since our encounter dissipated into the howling wind, and I was left alone with an empty chill. I threw the memory from my head as best I could and pushed on into the village.

My first stop was Gladrags Wizardwear, where Abraxas and I had collected all of my green attire that I had worn despite being a Gryffindor. At the time, I was wary of letting myself wear green, but now I felt odd adorned only in my grey coat and black dress underneath. The most neutral thing I owned. The shopkeeper gave me very little for all of the clothes and shoes that I brought in, but still offered a few sickles for the fabric that she could use. Apparently these dresses "went out of style over a month ago," as the clerk said as she started berating me to buy the latest shoes that came in. I left as quickly as possible.

Soon, I had gone to Dervish and Banges to sell back couldrons and other miscellanious items, and Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. All that was left was the item that I least wanted to deal with. The enchanted book that I never found a name for. It was still such a mystery to unfold, and I hated that I would never discover the secrets it held.

I contemplated taking it back to the horrifying shoppe I had found it in, but before I made a final decision, I saw The Three Broomsticks, where the warm fires and heated butterbeer won me over for a moment. I walked quickly inside and at once the loud chatter of travellers and scattered Hogwarts students rang in my ears. I ordered a hot butterbeer and enjoyed my surroundings and the heat that warmed my hands and nose.

I wanted to stay nestled in the pub indefinitely, but as soon as my drink was prepared, I opened the pub door to the irritation of everyone inside, and invited the bite of winter to numb me again. The rain finally stopped while I was inside, so at least I wasn't being drenched, but the wind had gotten even colder, and instead of rain, it started snowing. Where there was mud on the ground from all the rain, there was now frost, which was so delicate that every time I took a step, I left a muddied footprint where the intricate white had been forming. The temperature had probably dropped significantly since I had left the castle.

I was still at a crossroads about what to do with the book. I halted in my steps to try and decide if I really wanted to brave another trip to the frightening shoppe, and I even felt a little uncomfortable leaving my special book with the frightening old woman. I finally forced myself to move towards the shoppe, but stopped again when I heard the slight crunch of a second pair of footsteps breaking the thin veil of frost behind me. Before this, I had been the only person braving the cold outside.

I walked faster, but the crunch got louder and louder. Whoever it was, was running now. At this point, I could see the shoppe in the haze of snow before me. I could probably get there before the footsteps reached me. This is ridiculous, I thought. So I planted my foot in the thin layer of snow that was gathering on the ground, and spun around.

"Abraxas?" I called out when I saw his tresses of hair almost blending into the pale backdrop. I couldn't see the features of his face, but his long alabaster frame was a dead giveaway.

"Wait!" he called through the wind. I started walking towards him leisurely while he was still running, and when he reached me, I hugged him tightly. He wasn't even out of breath. The moment we touched, I felt completely comfortable, which made me suddenly whimper into his snowy shoulder.

His arms tightened around me when he heard my cry, and he made no move to end our embrace. I was the first to speak, trying to sniffle away my outburst in the process.