Charlotte's birthday was coming up and Quirinus of course had spent most of his day planning what to give her and how to give it to her. He was too shy to give it to her in front of people; he also wanted to make it special. He pulled a piece of parchment out and scrawled a note on it, used the floo network to by her some gifts he thought she'd like and made his way to find her.

'Will she like it? Is it really her birthday? What if I make a fool of myself? Should I leave it somewhere for her...? Why is this so difficult? No, I mustn't; I don't want to see her reaction if she hates it but... what if she likes it...?' these thoughts ran through Quirinus' head since he'd lifted himself from his seat in the common room.

Charlotte's birthday was something very much important to him, seeing she was his only friend and he already cared so much for her. He found her down the corridor with Sirius and Peter as she usually was; he hesitated, although he'd met Sirius and Peter; he didn't want them to think he was some coward. He shyly walked up to her with timidness written all over him as he clutched the note in his hand. He felt like an idiot; he could have given her the present in front of everyone but he was too shy to.

"Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Char... lotte?" he stammered to get her attention.

Charlotte looked over at him and smiled, "oh hey Quirinus." she said as though he were an old-time buddy. Her gaze fell on the piece of parchment he clutched in his shaking hand, "what's that?"

Quirinus smiled timidly, "h-h-h-h-hey Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Charlotte." he replied as he fumbled with the parchment. He looked at it and shrugged slightly; the poor kid was shaking all over, "I-i-i-it's f-f-f-f-for y-y-y—y-you..." his hand shook so much as he passed her the note, he swore he were going to drop it; he could barely hold it. He looked at her and smiled weakly, 'pathetic...' his mind told him.

Charlotte took the note and read:

Charlotte; I have something for you and this does sound really stupid but please meet me down the hall... I'm too shy. –Quirinus.

Charlotte grinned at Quirinus after she scanned the note, "I will be back guys!" Charlotte called to Peter and Sirius; Sirius wolf-whistled teasingly as she linked arms with Quirinus. "Well, lead the way, Quirinus!"

Quirinus cowered slightly as she linked his arm with hers as though he thought she were going to hit him or something, he linked his arm with hers, smiling brightly. He felt rather scared but he was happy, "oh-oh-okay!" he grinned timidly, "C-c-c-c-come on!"

To Charlotte's surprise the two found themselves walking in the opposite direction to the hall, she didn't question where they were going; she was curious to find out, at the same time excited. Quirinus had lead her to the Astronomy tower where he knew there was no one around plus he liked it up there because it meant star-gazing when his thoughts were growing to be too much. He looked at Charlotte and smiled brightly as he pulled a box wrapped in shiny red and yellow paper, out of his hessian bag that hung over his shoulder. "P-p-p-p-p-please for-for-forgive m-m-me i-i-if y-y-y-you al-al-already ha-ha-have one."

Charlotte curiously took the box from his hands, looked up at him with a quizzical expression; she looked back to the box, carefully unwrapped it and opened it. "Oh my... this is beautiful Quirinus!" she beamed, as she held the golden bracelet up. She was also pleased to see he had discovered the Gryffindors' to be pranksters and gave her a book on pranks; not that she needed it when she hung out with the marauders but the golden bracelet was what really caught her by surprise; she couldn't get over it.

Quirinus smiled brightly yet timidly, "Y-y-y-y-you like it?" he knew it was a stupid question when he saw her eyes light up; he'd never seen them sparkle as much as they were right now. He beamed brightly knowing he had made the right choice. "I-i-i-i-i-i-it t-t-t-t-took a-a-a-a-ages t-t-t-to f-f-f-find; I-I-I-I-I-I f-f-f-f-found it th-th-though." he chuckled through his stammers. Another thought came to his mind as he looked at her; he grinned shyly then cowered back. 'No Quirinus. You mustn't hug her... hugging her would possibly scare her. You're not to hug...' his mind scowled.

"Really... this is amazing." she said as she lifted the bracelet from its package, "help me put it on maybe?"

"I-I-I-I-I-I'm g-gl-glad y-y-you l-l-l-like i-i-i-it!" he beamed. He looked at her, his eyes bright as he nodded shyly. He took her wrist gently, "y-y-y-you wr-wr-wr-wrap i-i-it ar-ar-around y-y-y-your wr-wr-wr-wrist and I-I-I-I-I w-w-w-will cl-cl-cl-clip i-i-it up." he told her, not wanting to fingermark the gold with his prints; it was hers only to touch. He smiled at her, deep down reassuring her he would clip it up if he didn't mind about fingerprinting it.

Charlotte smiled and draped it over her wrist, leaving plenty of room for Quirinus to close the clasp.

Quirinus looked at her and smiled as he took the clasp and closed it, "H-h-h-h-h-how's th-th-th-that?" he asked with a bright smile, i-i-i-i-it... y-y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-l-look bea..." he started to say, 'no Quirinus! You can't tell her that!' he told himself. He looked at her and hesitated for a moment, "p-p-p-pretty." he said with another shy smile.

Charlotte blushed a little; "thanks Quirrell." she smiled as she looked down at her bracelet, "well it is lovely; definitely one of my favourite presents."

'She called me Quirrell... I've only known her to call her true friends by their last names.' he thought with a broad but shy grin. "N-n-n-n-n-n-no p-pr-pr-pr-problem." he beamed, "Y-y-y-y-your f-f-fav-fav-fav-favourite?"

Charlotte nodded, "definitely, along with the gift from my parents and Marcus."

"W-w-w-w-what d-d-did th-th-th-they g-g-g-give y-y-you?" Quirinus asked timidly, 'you should know not to ask such questions.' he told himself as he looked down at his feet then up at the sky.

Charlotte smiled, "well my parents got me a broom and Marcus gave me a snitch necklace; I love Quidditch so they were brilliant gifts." she said as she moved a strand of hair behind her ear.

Quirinus had the strangest twang in his heart to move it for her but his mind told him to stay put as he ran his hand through his hair as a habit of thinking it was a sign something was wrong with his. He looked up at her and smiled timidly, having a fair idea on what to give her for Christmas; "W-w-w-w-wicked!" he beamed, "Y-y-y-y-you pl-pl-pl-pl-play Qu-Qu-Quidditch!"

He deeply wondered whether she could teach him but he would save that question for another time as Charlotte, without warning leant in to hug him. Quirrell cowered because of his own protective reflexes he had earned from his past, 'she's hugging me?' he said to himself, with a bright smile, he wrapped his arms around her and held her as though he were a little kid and she were his big sister. This was his first hug since as long as he could remember and it was from the one who he cared about most.