Ashleigh breathed a silent sigh of relief when Higgs said he wouldn't force her to eat. Had she really worried that he would? She didn't think Higgs had ever forced her to do anything, and if he tried she could simply leave. (It would be rude, but frankly if they got to the stage where he was attempting to make her do anything against her will, she wouldn't care about manners.) She pikced up the coffee he brought her, sipping it despite how hot it was. It was dark and bitter and it helped.
"You're welcome," she said, pleased by his smile. Perhaps he had other friends who smoked, and the gift might actually come in handy for someone other than herself. "The other's more of a cliche, I'm afraid." It was a small houseplant, one that was supposed to purify the air in some way Ashleigh didn't truly understand. She'd chosen an attractive one, and magical wrapping meant it emerged from its paper prison largely unscathed.
Though she wondered if he really had been fine, Ashleigh didn't want to put it so bluntly. "They say moving house is one of the most stressful times in a person's life," she pointed out. "Are you pleased that it's finished?" Since he'd unwrapped both the presents, she carried her cup of coffee closer to where he was chopping. "Can I help?" She had no objection to making herself useful, even if she wasn't planning to eat. She briefly stood on tiptoe, stretching out her feet. Should she tell him about the chocolate from the fete? She'd only told Aisling so far, and then only about the weird presence of information she knew she hadn't researched in her brain. On the one hand, Higgs had enough to worry about. On the other, she doubted he'd appreciate her lying to him. She sighed, tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear and shrugged. "I ate one of the chocolates at the Godric's Hollow fete. Things have been a little strange."