i was nineteen

[human_girl]

"I love you, too!"

"I'm so glad you could make it!"

"I'll call you tomorrow!"

 

Her hands and arms filled with presents, her stomach filled with garlic bread, and her mind only slightly tipsy from two glasses of sangria, Maria stood outside the restaurant, thanking her friends for coming as they got into their cars or walked around the corner to catch the next bus.
 

Candlewood Apartments wasn't too far from the restaurant. It hardly seemed worth the wait or the cost of a cab or bus. Besides, she was buzzing with joy and energy from being around her friends and from all the love they had shown her with the presents and simply by being there to celebrate her special day. She wasn't quite ready for the night to end and a walk seemed like a nice idea, even if there was no more pretty snow to look at.
 

Maria looked around to see if there was anyone else who might be going her way, when she saw Harry.
 

"Hey, neighbor, are you walking? Wanna help the birthday girl carry all her presents home?"

Comments

[who_lived]

Harry, on his way home from visiting with Ron and Rosie, is lost in thought. Perhaps he should pick up something to eat on the way home for him and Sirius; pizza, or Thai food, perhaps. Or good old fashioned fish and chips, even. The night, by some standards, still feels rather young; Harry finds himself hardly in any sort of rush. Though Hedwig will probably be expecting him by now.

He manages to glance up when a familiar voice calls out to him. Maria, his neighbor. Wearing a very fanciable outfit, he thinks, grateful for the cold as an excuse for his slightly reddened cheeks. Red seems to suit her, he thinks. Gryffindor colors.

"Yes, I am. Walking, I mean," he says with a grin. She does look rather burdened with all of her parcels. He moves to help take some of them off her plate. "I would be glad to be of assistance. I didn't know it was your birthday. Happy birthday!"

He thinks he ought to at least get her a cake, or something, on the way back to Candlewood.