@❛ hunter ripley。 Hecate subconsciously winced at the sound of the bell above the door ringing, rushing to face away from where he guessed the shopkeeper was and quickly busying himself with pretending to analyze what was on the shelf closest to him. Even in his alerted state, however, the myriad of ingredients and plants he’d never seen before that were neatly displayed caught his curiosity — if only the slightest bit. The shop had quite the cozy interior, and an atmosphere that helped him soothe his nerves, with rays of spring sun casting a soft lighting onto the ambiance. His shadow was dark against it.

He was interrupted in his idle actions by the feeling of something brushing around his ankles — something warm, alive, soft to the touch. Hecate’s normally neutral expression were painted over with surprise when he looked down and realized just who the presence was — of course, there was only one animal who ever had the courage to approach him. “Starlight?” He thought to himself, fond memories resurfacing in his mind as he kneeled down to pet the cat’s soft, well-groomed fur. But if Starlight was there, then that could have only meant…

“Hunter?” Hecate spoke up without a second thought, his voice laced with the raspiness of not being used in a while. His heart hammered in his chest as he found the courage to fully turn around, the stream of memories erupting at full force in his mind as soon as he saw him — he wasn’t sure on how to react, on what to say. But somehow, as it always did with Hunter, actions came spontaneous and natural.

“You grew up, too.” He responded, not missing a beat, having already taken note of how the other had now fully developed into his features, their height difference more noticeable than when they were kids. “I… was looking for something,” he admitted, suddenly hyperaware of every trait of Hunter’s face — what was still familiar and what had changed, shaped by adulthood. He immediately forced himself to pry his eyes away. “But it doesn’t matter. I’m… glad...” he trailed off, “that I found you again.”

I missed you.

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@❛ hecate lytras。 the sweet scent of lilies was brought in by the shy sunrays and a spring draft. the windowsill covered in earth-coloured pillows was hot. starlight was perched on top of them, bathing in every bit of sun, scrunching her nose at the strong scent and curling up to hug her own tail. hunter was flipping through the pages of the latest edition of a herbology magazine, trying to find information on an herbal tea to cure melancholy. it was a lazy day for both him and starlight, but he didn’t mind it. he knew sooner or later business will pick up, so he was grateful for the small moments of silence. the plants on the shelf behind him were bowing their heads at the soft chimes spring, and starlight yawned before stretching fully on top of the pillows.

the sudden ring of a bell made starlight perk her ears, curiously checking who was at the door. she usually didn’t bother with strangers, and she would make it very evident that she doesn’t want to be touched or disturbed. hunter lifted his head up from the magazine and placed it on the counter before standing up. it was a custom to greet newcomers, he was so used to it he didn’t even think about it anymore. he approached, but only just, not wanting to disturb the silence of spring. it took him a moment to frame him in his memory, but once he did, he felt overwhelmed by the bits and pieces they shared together. and there were many, as many as there were days in a school year. he could almost not believe his eyes – for a second he even thought it might be an illusion created by his tired mind or by some hex. but no hex could enter the shop, and he wasn’t that tired.

starlight zoomed from her seat and found herself between and all around the customer’s legs - a very unusual reaction. hunter couldn’t help but smile, she remembered him too, otherwise she wouldn’t be so happy. “you grew up,” hunter broke the ice, without a pang of awkwardness ruining his confidence. “did you intend to find me, or was it just a coincidence?” there was a meow of approval (or disapproval), followed by two pretty cat eyes looking up, waiting to be picked up. for a second, one second alone, hunter feared he might not remember them.

@❛ hunter ripley。 Diagon Alley is a place Hecate attempts his best to avoid visiting.

The bustling atmosphere, the excitement of children running off to buy their supplies, the liveliness of countless shops all facing the same road… it feels too suffocating to be around for too long. Whenever he’s in a remotely social setting, the dread of ruining it all grips at his heart each time; the awareness that, be it because of pure coincidence or something else he cannot quite put his finger on, his presence tends to ruin the peace of such moments. He briefly wonders if perhaps, had he brought up differently, he would have been the kind of person to enjoy the lighthearted pleasure of grabbing a meal with friends at a restaurant, or wander around little shops looking for the best trinkets to decorate his studio with. He does not dislike people per se, after all — he’s simply learned that there are just… places and settings he does not belong in.

Thoughts of such caliber accompany him throughout his entire walk around the busy street, almost making him forget his initial intentions: acquiring Draughts of Peace potions. The art of brewing has always been something Hecate had never managed to get a good grasp on, always on the verge of failing the class during his school years — and with the luxury of potions shops now available, making them out of scratch seems like a perfectly avoidable waste of time, to him.

Clutching his dark coat a bit tighter, he wanders further until he enters a door underneath a sign reading out “The Green Thumb” and slowly exhales, relieved to have reached his destination. Perhaps, if he is lucky enough, the shopkeeper won’t even notice him and he’ll return to the comfort of his little studio in the next fifteen minutes.