You haven't seen Natty all day today. Logical, after all, it's the holidays and most Hogwarts students are home about this time.

Only you and a few others from your house haven't.

Natty was supposed to come back today, a day later than you.

For a few days you visited London, went exploring and brought something for each of your friends. You have already given your presents to Ominis, Sebastian and Poppy, only Natty is missing.

Nervously you chew the inside of your cheek. You've bought Natty something unique too, only you're not quite sure if you really want to give it to her anymore.

The latest fashion trend in London is a Muggle invention; lip gloss. It's a sticky liquid, or cream, that you smear on your lips to give them a different colour and make them softer. It is also supposed to have a different taste, depending on the colour.

The Muggle salesman who sold you this good piece swears (on his mother's grave, his words, not yours) that the lip gloss is supposed to have a 'magical effect' (also his words). Amused, you just raised your eyebrows when he told you this. Nevertheless, you bought the little jar with the lip gloss in it and you really regret it right now.

What if Natty doesn't like her present? Or, what if she is allergic?

Before you can think any more, the portrait of the Gryffindor common room opens and Natty comes crawling through.

When she sees you, her face brightens. She pulls a large suitcase behind her.

"Natty!" you greet her enthusiastically and rise from your position at one of the tables.

Your housemate leaves her suitcase and comes up to you, hugging you fiercely.

"It's so good to see you!"

"Likewise!" you retort with a grin, breaking away from her.

"How was it?"

She shakes her head slightly at your question and sighs heavily, rolling her eyes. "My mother was a bit of a handful, but I survived, as you can see. It was nice to be away from it all, but I'm glad to be back. How was London?"

You tilt your head slightly to encourage her to keep talking, but as nothing else comes from her, you tell her about your trip to London as you both sit down at the table you were originally sitting at.

"Sounds exciting!" You nod to Natty in confirmation.

"Ah, I have something for you." Now shyly, you take out the jar of lip gloss from your bag and hand it to her.

"What's this?" asks Natty, curiously opening the lid of the jar.

"Lip gloss. A muggle invented it. Supposed to soften the lips and supposed to taste like fruit. That one's blackberry. You just smear it on your lips."

Natty's eyebrows furrowed in concentration at your explanation, nodding every now and then to let you know she's listening intently. After you have finished your explanation, she tries the lip gloss directly. She dips a finger into the sticky liquid and spreads a soft layer on her lips, which instantly take on a dark bluish shimmer. She licks her mouth briefly with the tip of her tongue.

"Well?" you ask excitedly.

"It really tastes like blackberry."

"Seriously? I really didn't expect that!"

Natty giggles. "You bought it without trying it yourself?"

You blush and look away.

"Do you want to try it too?"

"Sure!"

You slide your chair closer to your friend so that she can also smear a thin layer of lip gloss on your lips.

She spreads a thin layer and then looks at you expectantly, her eyebrows raised questioningly.

You let your tongue slide over your lips as well.

"By Merlin! Blackberry!"

Natty nods at you a few times in confirmation, then clears her throat. Confused, you tilt your head and look at your Gryffindor comrade. "What's up?"

"Did you know that things always taste better when you share them?"

Irritated, you furrow your eyebrows. Where did that come from all of a sudden? Yet you simply nod.

Again, Natty clears his throat. "Good, then surely you don't mind if we share the lip gloss?"

Now you are a little more confused. "Um, no?"

Your friend grins and stands directly in front of your chair. Then she leans forward and before you know it, she's kissing you.

Your eyes widen. Her plump lips are soft from the lip gloss and taste of blackberry. Her tongue, which has gained entry into your mouth through your shock, fights with yours and her fingers press into your cheeks so you can't pull your head away.

Abruptly she lets go of you again.

"Eh, Natty, what...?"

"I've been wanting to do that for quite a while now." With that she turns away and goes back to her seat.

What?

-

Later that day, as you're practicing some new spells with Sebastian and Ominis in the Undercroft, you receive an owl. Sebastian curiously leans over your shoulder to check on the sender, but you protectively hug the letter to your chest. "Piss off, Sallow, this is private business!" He chuckles, raises his hands and turns back to Ominis to continue practising with him.

You open the letter after making sure Sebastian is really not behind you anymore.

I would like to invite you to a butterbeer at the Tree Broomsticks. Interested?

Tomorrow evening.

N. O.

Oh good, so you can pay her back for the kiss. How was that? When you share with others, it tastes all the better.