The Smallest of Glances

Hogsmeade was especially beautiful at Christmastime, the snow settled on all the roofs and made each house look more like an elaborately iced cake. Ron had left Harry and Hermione in The Three Broomsticks while he went to Honeydukes to get something nice to send to his Mum, as she was feeling poorly. The shop was crowded as usual, but much warmer than the freezing cold outside, and Ron hurried through the door.
He soon spotted a gorgeous box of violet-decorated chocolates in a purple box with a ribbon, he was feeling generous at the moment, Mrs Weasley was very unwell, Ron thought it was all the stress with You-Know-Who causing so much destruction – so he reached out to pick the up the box… and brushed a hand that was reaching for the same box.
“Sorry,” began Ron, looking up, “oh, hi.” He said to Silas Slash, a former pupil of Hogwarts a few years older than him. Ron remembered him from school
“Hi,” said Silas, picking up the box and giving it to Ron, “here, you take it, it’s the last one.”
“No, no,” protested a red-eared Ron, “you take it, you were here before me.” Ron was aware that he wanted to impress Silas, and that he wanted Silas to like him.
“Really, you take it.” Silas pressed the box into Ron’s hands, and again their fingers touched, Ron’s ears burned and he lowered his gaze. Silas was still holding one side of the box while he held the other, Silas’ fingertip was still touching Ron’s index finger. He wondered how such a small area of skin could somehow become so sensitive.
“Well, I’d better go,” said Silas, “I’m meeting some friends for lunch.” He let go of the chocolates. Ron said,
“Bye.” Before be could help himself, he didn’t want Silas to go so suddenly.
“Bye, Ron. Enjoy the chocolates.” Said Silas, buttoning his cloak shut and opening the door. Ron stood there, furiously red ears glowing, and his mouth opening and closing. Silas had shut the door, and now stood in the road with snowflakes swirling lazily about him, he turned to look back at Ron in the shop, smiled, winked and was gone.
Ron felt… he didn’t know how he felt, flat, he supposed, maybe a bit sad without really realising why. He turned to the counter to pay for the box of chocolates, wondering how Silas Slash knew his name.