Chapter Text
On December 1st a small, red box suddenly popped into existence on Hermione’s desk at work. She startled at the sudden appearance before brandishing her wand to check for any tampering with it. She didn’t make it as the Deputy to the Head Auror in the D.M.L.E. for nothing.
She cautiously looked out her open office door but saw no one glance in her direction.
There was a note atop the box with a flourishing and golden bow.
‘Happy Holidays Hermione. I know they are your favourite when you get nervous and have too much work you refuse to take time off from.’
There was no sender on what turned out to be a box of sugar quills of her favourite flavour.
As she chewed on one while reviewing schedules for Auror trainees, she mentally made a list of the people who knew about her almost life-long habit of nervously eating sugar quills. With dentists for parents, it was the only sweet she allowed herself. And very rarely at this.
She wrote a list of a dozen names. When she removed the last sugar quill she revealed a hidden note.
‘I hope you won’t be too cross with me after this month.’
She went over the twelve names two dozen times that day before curling up in bed with Crookshanks and falling asleep with the strong flavour of cherry sugar quills still on her lips.
