a dash of whipped cream

                                    

                                          

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was how light I felt. It wasn't just the sunlight streaming through the tall windows of my Ravenclaw dorm, casting golden streaks across my bed - it was something deeper. A warmth had taken root inside me, unfamiliar but welcome, making my chest feel like it might burst. It settled there, radiating outwards, until it was nearly impossible to wipe the grin off my face.

I stretched under the soft covers, letting out a contented sigh. Last night had been... unexpected. Felix's invitation to Hogsmeade had caught me completely off guard, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized just how happy it made me. There was something about his earnestness, his quiet kindness, that stayed with me long after we parted ways. For the first time in weeks, the heaviness of the past didn't press on me as sharply. Instead, there was something new - something that felt like hope.
The rustling of sheets pulled me from my thoughts. Across the room, Avery was stirring, her hair a wild halo around her head as she squinted blearily at the morning light. She stretched, her movements slow and exaggerated, before flopping back against her pillows with a groan.
"Ugh, mornings are the worst," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. Her voice was thick with sleep, the kind of grogginess that made me bite back a laugh.
She turned her head to look at me, her gaze narrowing as a smirk tugged at her lips. "Alright, spill it."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Spill what?"
"That grin," she said, pointing a finger at me. "You've been lying there looking like you just found out Christmas came early. What's got you so giddy?"
I rolled onto my side, propping myself up on one elbow. "Nothing," I said, though the smile tugging at my lips betrayed me.
Avery sat up fully, crossing her arms over her chest with a mock-serious expression. "Oh, don't you 'nothing' me. You've got that look."
"What look?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, though I couldn't help the laugh bubbling up.
"That 'I just got asked out by a cute boy' look," she teased, her smirk turning sly. "Come on, Cat. Who is it?"
I grabbed the pillow beside me and hugged it to my chest, laughing softly. There was no point in denying it; Avery had always been able to get me to confess. "Alright, fine. Felix asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him this weekend."
Her eyes widened, and then a delighted grin spread across her face. "Felix? Seriously?"I nodded, feeling the blush creep up my neck. "He asked me last night on the way back to the common room."
Avery threw her hands up in mock outrage. "And you waited until now to tell me?"
I laughed, tossing my pillow in her direction. "I was processing, okay? It was kind of a big deal."She caught the pillow with ease, shaking her head dramatically. "Unbelievable."
"Oh, come on," I said, rolling my eyes. "You're not seriously mad."
"Of course I'm not mad," she said, flopping back against her pillows with a grin. "Felix is... he's good. He's solid. And it's about time someone treated you properly."
Her words struck a chord, the warmth they carried settling deeper in my chest. "Yeah," I said softly. "He really is."
For a moment, we sat there in a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes with years of friendship. The sunlight streamed through the windows, catching the dust motes in the air and making the room feel even cozier. I could hear the faint rustling of the other girls still sleeping in their beds, their breathing slow and steady, adding to the tranquil atmosphere.