"A Nice Gesture"

The nice thing about Lily was that she only talked when necessary.

She, like me, enjoyed the quiet shelves filled with so much knowledge, so many stories.

People undervalue the beauty of books.

That's imprecise.

"Some people" would be a better fit. If all people were included, then Lily and I wouldn't be counted as people and book shops would never had existed.

There would still be stories, however. Humans couldn't always write; stories and information traveled orally.

We were in the children's section, looking for a book to give to my little cousin Abby. Children ran around us, oohing and ahhing at the picture books. They were a colorful group. There was a blonde girl with a candy striped hat and a boy with a loud green and red scarf. I enjoyed their colors.

"What's this?" Lily asked, holding up a book called Toadstool Tales.

"Don't read that rubbish," I told her. "It's a revised Tales of Beedle the Bard."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Fairy tales," I clarified for her. "That book will make you vomit."

She looked startled, opened to a random page, read a paragraph, and pulled a face at me. I laughed.

I dislike people who take stories and destroy them. They are, after all, told the way they are for a reason.

"Why do you have that?" An indignant voice proclaimed from behind me.

James Potter stood there, staring at the book in his girlfriend's hands like it was going to bite him. Some books do bite, I reminded myself. That's why they're in the Restricted Section. Maybe that book has bitten him. If any a book deserves to be in the Restricted Section, it's that one.

"You're going to make all the children sick, just by showing them the cover!" James exclaimed, sweeping his hand to gesture towards the children.

"Had personal experience with this book?" Lily asked, amused.

"Once," James muttered. "Never again."

Lily and I laughed.

James looked at me. "Hi, Annie."

I smiled at him. He always said hi to me. It was nice that he said hi. Isaiah, who dated Cathy for a while, never said hi.

"Would you mind if I stole Lily?" he asked me. That was also nice; James asked my opinion.

"No," I answered truthfully. "I don't mind."

"Where are we going?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow. Evidently, she minded.

"Three Broomsticks," he responded. He paused before turning to me. "Would you like to join us, Annie?"

"In a little bit," I promised him. "I have to pick out a book for Abby yet. I'll meet you there."

They both grinned at me, grabbed each others hands, and walked away.

I turned back to the colorful shelves. I wished that they would carry Muggle novels- something different for an eight year old to read. Her parents didn't do much in the Muggle world, so Abby didn't know about it. I don't know why people do that- the Muggle world is full of its own magic.

I turned around to head to the Three Broomsticks after deciding to get a book in the Muggle world. Unfortunately, my robes previously belonged to my older sister Allison, and my feet caught the hem.

I wonder why sisters that are nine and a half months apart are so different in height.

I fell right into a pile of precariously stacked books, which toppled right over with me.

Maybe, I thought when I stopped falling, that is the purpose of the Muggle nursery rhyme that Mum used to sing to me...London bridges falling down, falling down...

"Are you all right?"

I looked up. A young man stood over me, auburn hair in his eyes, squashed under a canary yellow hat, so that only little ringlets escaped. He's tall and instantly, I recognize him.

He's in my year and friends with Isaiah Gladenly. He's a Hufflepuff too, but is quiet, unlike Isaiah. Though, it seems like all Hufflepuff's are quiet.

In comparison to Isaiah Gladenly, at least.

"I'm fine," I told him. "Just tripped over my robes."

He smiled and offered me his mittened hand. I grasped it and he gently pulled me up before leaning down to gather some of the fallen books.

"You don't have to do that."

As nice a gesture as it is, I made the mess.

He smiled again and said, "It's okay. I'll help."

I leaned down too and grabbed a couple books.

"My name is Annette Murray," I said. I feel like that's important for him to know.

"Jacob Branstone," he replied. "Don't most people call you something else, though?"

He paused, considering. I let him.

"Annie!" He exclaimed suddenly. I nodded.

"Shouldn't you be with Isaiah?" I asked, curious. Very rarely had I seen Jacob alone.

He rolled his eyes. "I should be," He admitted. "But Isaiah has been miserable since him and Cathy split. He's just being dramatic."

I nodded in sympathy. "Cathy's been angry, too."

Jacob chuckled. "Match made in Heaven, that one."

I laughed too and enjoyed listening to our laughter mix in the air.

"I have to go to the Three Broomsticks," I told him sadly. I did not want to leave his company. "I'm going to meet Lily and James."

"Potter and Evans?" He clarified.

I nodded. Everyone always seems to call them that. I wonder why.

"Would you care if I joined you?" He asked. "Isaiah's there too and I shouldn't let him brood."

"He might not be," I warned him. "Cathy's there, too."

Jacob's laugh was almost sinister.

We left Tomes and Scrolls bookshop and began the trek back to the inn. The heavily falling snow caused my blonde hair to fly everywhere and soon it simply hung, too heavy with wet snow.

Really, the whole issue between Cathy and Isaiah was ridiculous. Caught under a mistletoe with no choice. Besides, a kiss only matters in that way if passion is involved. And having actually seen that kiss for myself, I knew that there was nothing other than embarrassment in the air. I wonder what would happen if siblings got stuck under an enchanted mistletoe...

We entered the inn, shaking snow off of us. Jacob froze, seeming startled, eyes wide.

I looked where he looked. James and Lily sat next to Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Cathy, Isaiah Gladenly, Laura, and another ginger haired boy. James's arm was around Lily and they were both laughing at something Sirius said. Remus and Peter were laughing too. Cathy held Isaiah's hand and smiled broadly. Laura shyly looked at the boy. A Ravenclaw, I think.

"Well," Jacob muttered. "Who'd have thought we'd walk in to see so many happy couples." His eyes lingered in astonishment at Cathy and Isaiah.

Suddenly, I felt a mittened hand enclose mine. It was a nice and comforting gesture.

I followed Jacob as we walked to join our friends.