Percy's Prefect // Percy Weasley

Chapter Twenty Six : The Better Days

"Because if you do, you'll know what you're going to get for Christmas and you'll tell everyone else what they got aswell." I stated.

"Fine!" He wined.

"We'll meet here in an hour to get Butterbeer together?" Callum asked.

"That's the plan." George added.

"Ok then, bye guys!" I smiled and walked a different way to the rest of them.

I shivered a little in the cold, but I didn't mind that much. After all, I managed to stay relatively warm with the many layers I had on.

The winter snow was practically beating down in buckets and the layers of clouds where quick to hide what was left of the little sunlight we had. The pathways where covered in snow; there was not a place undetected that hadn't piled with it. The only things left where the trees who had managed to brush off a fair amount thanks to the strong winds.

But it was nice to get some solitude once in a while. I never really liked socialising, it always drained my energy somehow and because I didn't exactly have a room to myself, you guess you could say I didn't get alot of well deserved alone time either.

But I was just glad to have a couple moments alone.

I took my time, walking around a little and admiring the birds, trees and the small daises that still managed to pop out of the snow here and there. This was nice, I thought to myself, why don't I do this more often?

I quickly spotted a small shop to my left and decided to check it out. It seemed nicely maintained and had some lovely Christmas decorations hanging around. I was surprised to only see a few people hanging around.

"Oh a new customer! It's lovely to see you dearie. Here, let me take your coat." A woman said. She a little shorter than me, about an average height and had wild black curls and golden glasses that sunk a little on her freckled nose.

"Oh uh- thank you." I smiled as she was already removing my coat.

"I don't tend to get alot of customers you see. Have you been here before?" She asked sweetly.

"Uh no I haven't actually. I've seen your store before but never actually come in. It's beautiful in here." I replied.

"Well thank you. And if you need help with anything feel free to ask me, I'll be right over there." She pointed to behind the counter. "But right now I've got to continue to help another customer."

I nodded, showing her I understood. She quickly hung up my coat and continued helping the other customer. I took a look around, admiring the small fairy lights that hung on the ceiling and the assortment of candles that floated around.

"Oh and don't worry about the candle's dear, they're not actual flames." The woman added.

"Oh good." I chuckled.

I quickly brushed off the snow and other stuff from the soles of my shoes on the rug by the door. I then turned to the left, noticing it's nice assortment of books and j decided to check it out. I brushed my fingers along the spines of the books until picking up one I found rather interesting.

The cover was a nice black with the title 'The handmaid's tale." written above the main image in white. I smiled faintly at a memory in which this came to mind.

It was around late September, Aria and I where sitting at the Griffindoor table for lunch, waiting for everyone else to join us. I had asked her what she would have wanted for Christmas this year and she told me the story of this book called 'The handmaid's tale'. It was a famous classic but her parents wouldn't let her buy it. She had really wanted to read it and practically begged me to get it for her on Christmas. Little did she know, she wouldn't be awake to receive it.

I sighed solomly, running my fingers along the cover. She would have been so happy to get it for Christmas. I hesitated slightly before bringing to book the the front desk to pay for it.

The lady smiled, almost as if she knew exactly what I was thinking just by the look on my face and said. "You know what, take it."

"What? I can't possibly-"

"Giving out a single book for free isn't going to ruin my business. And besides, I can tell this book means alot to you. So please, just accept it." She pushed back the book to me on the counter.

Tears brimmed in my eyes but I quickly wiped them away. "Gosh thank you so much. I can't explain how thankful I am and I am 100% coming back here. This place is beautiful, this won't be the last time you'll see me."

"It was lovely helping you today dear and I hope you have an amazing Winter Break."

"You too uh..."

"Mrs. Olivander but please call me Marta." She smiled.

"Of course. I'll see you soon Marta." I waved a goodbye, clutching the book in my hand. I placed it in my jacket pocket before pulling the coat over me and stepping outside.

What a beautiful day.

Word count: 1407