Kalen laughed too, grateful that she didn’t think he was a big dweeb. She was growing on him, that was for sure. ”What else is on your list? Most of the other professors aren’t terrible, but some can be very dry.” Too bad she was a term behind him, because he could really use a study budy. It had been hard studying for everything by himself the last year and he hadn’t really met anyone he’d clicked with. Well, besides Anna. Just the thought of her made him a little bubbly. Only she was not the studious type. Not-at-all!

Terrible puns? Was there such a thing as terrible puns? ”Well, what do you have problems with? I’d be happy to work as your translator. I think the worst is when they say they’re putting a jumper. I hear that and think they’re going to leap off a cliff. And Al-u-mini-um? Nope. It’s uh-loo-muh-nuhm…” He chuckled, although a part of his brain registered that he was babbling.

Ahh, a fellow traveler. She nodded her head as he spoke, outlining the different places he had lived. She noted he mentioned his parents had moved a bit for work, so she couldn't stop herself from inquiring what they did. "What do they do? Your parents?" She thought for a moment, trying to remember much about her parent's moving patterns. "I don't remember where my mom was born, but Dad grew up in Dublin. My twin sister and I were born here in London, but my mom was offered a teaching position in the States so they relocated us to Boston for awhile. Then she got another offer and we ended up in Alaska where we pretty much stayed."

And there it was, the what did your parents do for a living. ”Mum’s a retired Ambassador for the British Ministry. And dad? Well, he ah…” Kalen rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. ”Dad was a Beater for the Falmouth Falcons. Now he’s working with the American World Cup team…so they’re living in Boston near my folks right now.” Naia herself just kept getting more and more interesting. ”Twin sister eh? I bet that’s interesting. Do you guy have telepathic abilities or is that just poppycock?” Kalen was a only child himself and therefore found relations between siblings interesting.

”We might have. But only if you spent a lot of time in the library. I was kind of a- ah- bookworm.” He coughed out bookworm as if he was a bit embarrassed about it. ”Although I spent a good deal of time at the quidditch pitch too.” With a professional quidditch player for a dad? Of course he did. He was chewing on a piece of meat while she talked about transferring. ”Sounds like you didn’t really want to transfer. My folks always said Hogwarts was amazing. Having attended both schools, which did you like better?” He’d always wondered a little if he had missed out on something by not attending his folks alma matter.

Hmm, the rest of her list? Her nose wrinkled as she tried to remember the other courses she was supposed to enroll in next term. "I am terrible with remembering the exact names, but I believe I have something specifically on the dangers of potions side effects and how to counteract, a CoMC course and probably another I'm forgetting." Not that that very vague description was probably at all helpful for him to know what she was actually taking next term. "Let me know if you ever want to meet up in the library though to impart wisdom or help quiz for exams! I'm a year behind, but I'm quite the flashcard handler if you ever need one." And also she needed friends and help herself. So hopefully he took pity on her silent plea for friendship. PLEASE.

Oh my gosh, YES. The jumper! "Biscuits still confuse me. They LOOK like a cookie. But they call them biscuits. Are they actually different or is that just a different word? Also, it's totally a non issue, but how in the world I am supposed to spell grey? Gray? Color... or colour?" It was puzzling, alright, puzzling. She laughed at his example for aluminum, nodding her head in total agreement. "It's WRONG. And then they get upset with us for our pronunciation!"

His reaction to the question of what his parents did seemed... puzzling to her. Was that a line that she had accidentally and unknowingly crossed? Was she trying to be TOO friendly and prying now? She wasn't sure if she should apologize for being nosy or not, as he was still answering the question. She decided to not make it awkward with a possibly unnecessary 'sorry'. "Oh! That's cool that your dad played Quidditch professionally! Mine would be wicked jealous." Poor Dad, Quidditch was always what he had wanted but... it would have been too complicated with his hearing and all. "Does he still play for the American World Cup or work more of an administrative type of position?" Hearing him question if she and her twin had any telepathy, Naia gave a small laugh and shook her head. "Not in the slightest, it's definitely poppycock! Regina and I don't have much in common -- sometimes I think my younger sisters Lucy and Kimberly have more of a similar wavelength than us twins." She couldn't help but smile fondly though, as it wasn't a problem to her that she and her sisters were different. "Regina IS my best friend though, and I'm immensely grateful for her. She's here in London too, working at the ministry."

"Ahh, we probably wouldn't have then. I preferred to be more social than studious. My grades at Ilvermony always suffered for it. I didn't start taking any of it seriously until about my 5th year." Ooops? At least she'd been able to get herself back on track, with PLENTY of help. "Were you on the team? Which position was your preference?" Hmm, hearing him say it sounded like she didn't want to transfer, she just gave a tiny shrug. She might not have wanted too, but she preferred to be with family so it had been the right idea at the time. But which did she PREFER? "I think Ilvermony for me... I had more friends there, there wasn't confusion over what people said and it was closer to home. Also, Ilvermony seemed calmer than Hogwarts by FAR." But, when family needed you, you went. And Regina had had a LOT on her plate their final few years. "Did you wish you could have gone to Hogwarts?"

”Deal,” he said holding out a hand for her to shake. He wondered a little if she was able to read his mind. He smiled. ”I could use a good study partner.” He was sure they would end up in a class or two together. There was usually a mix of years in his classes, well, until you got to the more advanced ones. Besides, he could really use a good friend!

”Biscuits! Yaasss! Biscuits are covered in gravy or filled with molasses. They aren’t sweet. Cookies are sweet!” Oh he was liking this girl. That was for sure. As for spelling differences? Well, ”I have no advice for you on spelling. I usually use a spell check charm on my scrolls and let that take care of it.” He’d never been yelled at for his pronunciations, but he sure had gotten some dirty looks. ”The big one is that the loo is the bathroom.”

She hadn’t crossed a line. It was just that once he mentioned his dad’s profession, people usually wanted to know allll about Tristan Wieland, star beater! He wasn’t jealous of his dad, not at all. In fact he was proud of his father’s accomplishments. His mom’s too. He just didn’t want to blather on about his dad. Sometimes it made it hard to tell if a person was interested in Kalen for himself or for his dad. ”No, he’s currently working as a coach. But I don’t know how much longer he’ll be doing that. He’s been threatening to retire for years.” He might have made air quotes while he said ‘threatening to retire.’

”Poppycock ‘eh?” Well that’s disappointing. I bet telepathy could have come in handy.” Like in tests and all that. He wondered if they were identical? Was it rude to ask? He wasn’t sure and so he didn’t. Instead he merely answered her questions. ”Oh I didn’t play. I usually just cheered on the sidelines. I inherited my mom’s lack of flying skills.” Yep, he was completely rubbish on a broom. Something his girlfriend Anna hadn’t learned yet. At least he hadn’t inherited her fear of heights as well. As for Hogwarts verses Ilvermony? ”I loved Ilvermony. I just sometimes wonder if I missed the opportunity to …I don’t know. Make a connection with my folks by attending Hogwarts.”

She took his hand and gave it a quick shake, grinning in the process. She was over the moon to have a new study buddy, or even someone not her twin in London. Not that Regina wasn't GREAT company or anything. "I could too. My sister isn't in school and I'm sure I'd bore her with mine if I tried to make her quiz me." She'd probably do it anyways though, because she was the best, but this was save her from that.

"EXACTLY. Also, thanks for the craving I now have for biscuits and gravy." Despite the delicious bowl in front of her, which she was also immensely enjoying. "And yet they look at us when we say things." Well, at least she got looked at like she was nuts. Couldn't really speak for him. "Ooooh, are the spell checks charms able to be location specific?" That was something she'd never thought on, but if so that was SO cool. "I guess in the grand scheme of things the spelling also doesn't matter, but it irks me regardless." She was only the littlest bit a perfectionist at times. But really only in her studies and papers. "Lou is a person, not a restroom." Poor people named Lou... But also, would she be using that as a joke against her younger sister? 100%.

Naia giggled at the air quotes, understanding entirely. Her parents were a bit away from retirement age, but she had a hard time seeing either of them giving up their professions. Even if Dad wasn't SUPER passionate about it, he liked his work as a wildlife ranger and he also liked to be busy. Especially with how busy her mom was. "Workaholic, then? Is your mom hoping he will retire so that they can travel or something?" That's what she would do when she retired. But also, that's what she just DID do following graduation and it was the best experience of her life. Even with all the bad memories and the fact she was now years behind in her studies.

"Telepathy would have been REALLY nice. My twin is pretty reserved and she keeps things to herself a lot..." Which she said more aloud to herself than anything, a small frown appearing on her face, momentarily lost thinking about all the things Regina had gone through. She pulled herself out of it though, focusing on Kalen again and her smile reappearing. Hearing his words, she laughed before putting up her hand for a high five in solidarity. "I understand that! I am absolutely terrible on a broom." She nodded her head, before also accompanying it with a slight shrug at his words. "It was just my experience, but Hogwarts didn't really make me feel any closer to my parents. Yeah, there was pictures of my mom a couple of places but I think I liked feeling closer in physical proximity by still being in the States. Both schools were good though."

”Ha!” He barked out a laugh. ”Sorry.” He looked only a bit sheepish. In fact, Kalen really enjoyed making people laugh. He didn’t get the same pleasure out of making Naia laugh as he did Anne, but then, Anne was his special someone here in London. He wasn’t exactly sure what they were, but hey! They were young and so was whatever was going on between the was also young. The word ‘charms’ pulled him out of his thoughts. ”What? Oh…yes. The charm I’ve been using fixes the colloquial spelling issues.” Or at least none of his professors had complained about it. ”I can teach it to you at our first study date.”

”Well, not really. The man just really loved his quidditch.” Kalen had been shoveling more stew and bread into his mouth like a man who hadn’t eaten in weeks, so his words might have been garbled again. In fact, most of his stew and the inner part of the bowl were gone, leaving the hard crusty shell. Was he supposed to eat that too? He certainly was hungry enough to polish it off. ”I think he just wants to spend more time with mom. When she was working they spent a lot of time apart. You know, his traveling for quidditch, her living in various countries for work.” It was actually kind of cute. He hoped one day he’d want to spend time with someone like that. He’d never let his folks know he found them cute though. Nope. Parental affection was supposed to be gross and off putting to offspring. ”What about your folks?” he asked. ”Are they still working?”

He decided to go for the husk of the bowl. ”Reserved huh? Funny, I’d have thought twins told each other everything.” Pause. Maybe he was being rude. ”I mean, aren’t twins supposed to be close?” Pause again. He felt like he was putting his foot into his mouth. ”I bet you hate hearing things like that.” And so he was glad that she changed the subject back to flying. ”Flying class was my worst subject in school. Really pulled my grades down, which I think is unfair. Not everyone was blessed with the ability to enjoy flight.” He tapped hands with her, engaging the high five. He nodded as she talked about school and her parents. [b]”That’s how I felt about going to school in the States. Still,” he tore off a piece of bread with this teeth and chewed for a moment. ”I don’t know…I guess there’s something to be said about tracing their footsteps. Studying from the books they might have used. I guess that’s why I came to College here. It’s where my mom went.” His dad never went to college, having joined professional quidditch out of Hogwarts. ”Well, that and so I could get to know my Grandpappy better. He lives in Banchory.”

She smiled at his bark of laughter, shaking her head at his sudden apology. "Nothing to be sorry for." She liked laughter from people. Laughing usually meant people were HAPPY, or at least having a decent time talking to her, so she was GLAD. Oooh, he could teach her the Charm too!? "Yes please!" She noted the word date in his description of their study session, but did not think anything of it. She was not getting any of that type of vibe from the current conversation, and figured he was probably just using the term because... well, people did that. "I immensely look forward to it! Should we just pick times to meet up in the library at school? Or perhaps you prefer outside of school? I usually jump between library and sometimes somewhere outside. Like St. James Park. Or even the zoo." But that was probably because she also REALLY liked animals. Choosing between pre-Healer studies and magiczoologist had been a very difficult decision.

She chuckled at his words, watching as he polished off the remainder of his stew. She took a couple of more bites of her own, realizing that as per usual she was more focused on talking than actually eating. Her parents consistently teased her on that, as she was always the last to finish and her food always cold. She really should work on that. "It's sweet he wants to spend more time with her. It's nice seeing parents still so in love after all their time together. My parents are going on... 23 years I think? And they're gross and adorable all together with how much my Da worships the ground Mom walks on." Not that she even blamed him. Mom was a force to be reckoned with and quite admirable. "Mine are both still working. Dad works as a Wildlife Ranger, although they usually have him working the desk." Which was fine by her. Less accidents from inside the building. "And my Mom is a Professor at a Wizarding Elementary in the States." And still seemed to love it.

Hearing his words, Naia couldn't help but give a small sigh as she stared at the bowl in her hands and broke off a piece of the bread to nibble on. "I think she tells me more than she tells others, so we're close in that regard but... my sister has gone through a lot. Things I can't even begin to understand. So it's hard for her to talk about it, even to me. I just hope she knows that I'd be there if she ever needed to.." She was being cryptic, and in reality probably hadn't even meant to say any of it out loud, but it was hard for to not dwell on how quiet Regina was sometimes. Even with her. Although, she also knew that was vastly hypocritical as there were things she'd been too embarrassed to tell her sister about as well. She glanced over at him as he mentioned flying had been his worst subject, tilting her head slightly, "Did people give you a lot of grief about that too? Considering your dad's profession?" People were ridiculous and always seemed to assume offspring would be just as good at everything as parents. "I... guess that's true. I had never really considered that when I went to Hogwarts but... I think that actually might be why my younger siblings transferred. Wanted to feel closer to Mom and Dad." Nods as he mentioned his Mom had gone to university in Edinburgh as well. "Mine too. She was glad to have heard I was signing up for classes. Finally, although she's too supportive to have openly said that." Soft smile. "Do you and your grandfather have a good relationship? Or... are starting to?"

”Well,” he said trying to remember his schedule for the week. ”Unless I have a game, I usually try to spend Wednesday afternoons in the library. If that works with your class schedules?” Had he mentioned he was the Falmouth Falcon’s mascot? Probably not. He was super proud of the job, and yet also embarrassed by it. After all, it meant running around in a giant bird costume for hours at a time. Who wouldn’t be embarrassed by that?

”Your parents sound cool.” he said simply. He found most parents were, even if their kids found them to be embarrassing. As for her sister though? Well, that sigh couldn’t help but make Kalen feel like he had been a big insensitive jerk. ”Sorry if my questions were rude. I didn’t mean to be. We don’t have to talk about – “ but she was busy talking about her sister now. Perhaps she just needed someone to give her a sympathetic ear. ”Well, not everyone is meant to be an extrovert. I’m sure she knows you care. You’re her twin after all.” Well, at least he imagined she would. He had absolutely no experience with sibling, being an only child himself. ”Eh, not really. I don’t think most kids in the States follow quidditch much. Quodpot is their big thing. Never really got into it though. Did you?” she did, after all, grow up on his side of the pond.

As for his grandpappy? How to explain the man. ”Welllll….” he began and then shoved a piece of bread into this mouth to buy him time to think. ”Grandpappy Ansell is …. Ah…well, you see…” half off his rocker, didn’t really come across well did it? ”A difficult man. He’s got memory issues. Half the time I think he thinks I’m my dad who he didn’t really approve of. Last week when I stopped over, he threw a bottle of lionfish spines at my head. Good thing I have decent reflexes. Still those things are sharp.” What his grandfather had been doing with the lionfish spines in the first place? He hadn’t been able to get out of Fritzy the house elf.

Aboli!
 

I'msosorrylmao
 

Aboli just last summer had ordered the pickle popcorn from this very stand with her deaaaaaar dear friend Skeet. Here she was again, wanting the same! Some people might say that it sounded gross, but the incoming sixth year didn't much care. So she got in line, trying to be patient.

It was then that she eyed the girl in front of her. Her outfit was interesting...like...skaterGIRLesque. "Your shoes are scuffed, you know. Purposely, probably. How much were they? Did you buy them scuffed?" She had many questions, and she was trying to seem like she wasn't judging when she totally...kind of....was.

Ahem.

The girl was a walking stereotype. Puuuuuhlease.

Qets was much more focused on the lining moving forward and not so much on who was getting in line behind her. So when there was a voice coming from behind her mentioning scuffed shoes she made an overly exaggerated movement in looking down at her sneakers and then over her shoulder at the girl. "Oh, well would you look at that! So they are," she replied in mock surprise as if she didn't already know how her shoes looked.

Who was this girl and why did she care so much about her sneakers? Normally questions didn't bother her at all. There was no denying that she was indeed every bit the skater girl that she looked. Boarding, blading, surfing, dirt biking, that's what she enjoyed and she was good at it. There was something about this girl's questions though that bugged her a little. Maybe it wasn't so much the questions themselves but more the way they were being asked?

Turning around a little to have a better look at the girl, she kept a straight face. "Yes, I had nothing better to do then sit around and purposely scuff up my sneakers." Really? Why did any of this matter? "Expensive." Skate shoes weren't that cheap, at least not really good ones. These ones though, well they were her older more comfortable ones. Letting out a deep sigh now, she answered the final question. "No." Each and every scuff mark was so loving placed onto her shoes as she crash landed onto the pavement or whatever else messed them up. Instant customization. Simple as that.

Aboli being met with equal attitude gave her a bit of satisfaction, actually. But she merely smiled and nodded. "Expensive..." interesting. Interesting that she bought expensive shoes and....then ruined them. "Do you pay for them or your parents? I'm sure they would be annoyed if you ruined expensive shows they bought with their hard-earned money." Unless she didn't have parents, and then Aboli would have to apologize or something.

The line moved up, and she gestured at the girl. "We should move up before the bloke behind me gets his knickers in a twist," she rolled her eyes and nodded over her shoulder, earning herself a grunt from behind her.

It made her smiiiiiirk. Why was she in such a mood to antagonize people today? Hmph.

Typically, Qetsiyah wasn't the type to randomly give people attitude. She was generally much more easy going and liked talking to people, usually making a friend along the way. There was something about this girl that just... didn't make her want to be all happy and cheerful. The questions, the mocking tone, that whole thing was off. It made her want to ignore the girl but that would have been a whole new level of rudeness that wasn't at all like herself to use.

"Yes, that is exactly what I did." Bought expensive shoes so she could have the pleasure of ruining them for no reason whatsoever. "What difference does it make who bought them? But since you happen to be so curious about it... no they did not. This particular pair was a birthday gift from my brother last year." The shoes were more than a year old and worn constantly. Her parents knew exactly what happened to skater shoes, they had raised to boys who had been into the sport before Qets herself was. It was all a part of being a skater.

Blowing out a breath, she moved forward in line. If the girl behind her hadn't distracted her with all these unnecessary questions she would've taken notice to the line moving much sooner.

Interesting. "So you're okay with letting someone's gift to you get...like, ruined? Worn down?" genuine curiosity here, somewhat. "Is that a skateboard on your back?" More questions. And her tone had taken a slightly less caustic tone, now, because the line was moving, and she thought her job and antagonizing the girl was done.

Aboli continued to smile gently. "You don't look familiar at all. Did you go to Hogwarts last year?" Because the girl looked young enough to attend, but then again, Aboli wasn't a pro at guessing people's ages sometimes.

"Name's Aboli by the way." ABOLI S. SONG. She held out her gloved hand for the girl to shake. The gloves were a leathery-black, a new item added to her daily wardrobe.

Open!
 

He had lost his siblings. Today was just going swimmingly. First -he had forgotten that he had agreed to meet up with friends but then had promised to help his siblings out in Diagon Alley. He had successfully double booked himself and NOW he had lost them. Insert a mental facepalm. He sighed. Greeeeaaaaat. He was surely going to be grounded by the end of the day if things like this continued to happen. And then that would be the end to all of his plans to visit friends in the States and see a surfing competition.

Okay so maybe Noah was overreacting. He slowed his pace as he passed some of the street stalls, enjoying the smells of food coming from various stalls. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad? Evan was a sharp cookie. Surely he had found his way back to Florean's which had become their agreed upon meeting place.

Slowing his pace, he wondered if his brother decided to stop and get a bite to eat. "Evan?" he called out but his voice didn't carry so then he began starting to ask a couple of people if they had seen his younger brother. "Have you seen a small boy that looks like me? He's about..." He moved his hand horizontally the tip of his shoulder to three inches below. "ye heigh?" Gosh. He probably looked ridiculous right now.

Why was she here? She stopped and looked around, how did she even get here? She had been walking and daydreaming, thinking about poka dots and how poka dots would look fun on the grass and in the sky. Now she was standing here in front of vendors and oh was that a shiny necklace someone was selling?

As she hurried over towards it she stopped when someone said a name, "Polo" giggling to herself a bit, she knew he didn't say Marco, but couldn't it work that way too. Then he was describing someone and Gemma realized he was lost or the other person was. Going a little closer she gave a small smile, "Maybe he is just hiding? I mean I hide from my brother all the time. Have you checked under the tables? I mean is it your brother or a dog?" Maybe he lost his pet. That might actually be harder.

Why was it that every time the Sinclair family made their way to Diagon Alley for summer shopping, her mum and dad just had to run into people they knew at the Leaky Cauldron? It seemed to be an annual occurrence. This year, it had been the chatty, ecclectic old witch that used to live down the street from the Sinclairs when Avalon was a child. Not wanting to make small talk (she was far too excited to pick up all the items on her supply list), Avalon had politely excused herself, leaving her parents in the pub to catch up with the woman. But she realized as soon as she stepped through the brick wall that she couldn't check off many items without her mum and dad accompanying her. After all, they were the ones with the galleons.

So, Avalon strolled down the street, peering at the various vendor stands and carts to pass the time. Before long, her stomach was growling from all the scents. How had she been to Diagon Alley so many times and never tried Cauldron Bread?! She made a mental note to buy a bowl later. Avalon stopped in front of a jewelry stand, peering at a gorgeous, sparkling necklace. That would look absolutely stunning with her latest dress design! But before she could ask the vendor how much it cost, she noticed a fellow Hogwarts student heading over, yelling something about polo. The Ravenclaw followed Gemma's line of sight to none othat than Noah Nam.

Breaking into a grin at the sight of her schoolmates, she gave them both an enthusiastic wave. "Hi, you two!" Avalon said as she made her way toward them. It was always exciting to see her peers in Diagon Alley. Noah seemed to have lost someone....perhaps his little brother? She didn't know him well enough to be familiar with his family situation. Either way, that was rotten luck. It was hard to find people in Diagon Alley, especially short ones. "Lost kid? Have you checked either Sugarplum's or Florean's?" A child would probably head straight for the sugar, right?

Did this girl not know anything about boarding? Messed up shoes happened. It was all a part of the sport. Qets blew out a breath slowly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "It comes with the territory." As did anything else when you were active. "Yes," she nodded ever so slightly. Her favorite board to be exact.

"I did. Three terms there and the one term at Beauxbaton." Which was where all of Hogwarts went for a year. She had a tendency to blend in when she wanted to but it wasn't at all as if she had hidden away from everyone. She simply had her own group of friends that she choose to spend her time with.

Before turning to properly introduce herself, she took a few steps forward in line. They were getting closer now. "Qetsiyah," she offered in return, taking Aboli's hand and giving it a light shake.

Aboli thought skateboarding sounded nice in theory; in practice, however, she did not think she had what it took to balance like that on anything that would roll right out from under her feet. "Interesting," was all she said in reply to the 'comes with the territory' remark. Hmph. She didn't quite know what else to say.

"Do you like....still go there? Because you really don't look familiar. Then again, I only just started there recently," she shrugged and tousled her hair a bit. It was down for now, but soon she was thinking of putting it up because it made her shoulders hot and sweaty, and she hated the feeling of sticky hair on her skin. Or was it...sticky skin on her hair???? Blegh. "That's quite a name...then again, I can't talk. I'm Aboli." She held out her hand with a smirk, her gloved hand grasping the other girl's.

All blondes sort of looked alike after a bit, too, Aboli found. That was the beauty of being naturally brunette!

Was that this girls favorite word? Interesting. It seemed like it to Qets. Whether or not Aboli was actually interested in skateboarding or not was still slightly unclear. Not that it even mattered honestly. It was what it was... and right now all that it was, was conversation.

Did she still go there? Technically, yes. "For now." Until she decided on where she would rather attend. Now that was the decision of the century. It made her almost sick to her stomach just considering her options. It was much to hard to choose. "Mm, I've been around." She hadn't hid for the past four terms. Besides lessons she had a handful of places she tended to frequent. Chances were those places probably weren't very high up on the slightly older girls list. And if they were... well then they must not have noticed one another.

As for her name, well she knew it was a mouthful but she loved it. "M' that might be so but it's mine and I'm happy with it." Never once met another person with her name. She kept the handshake simple but firm, noting Aboli's gloved hands but choosing not to question it.

The line was moving again and as she moved forward once more she found herself only one person away from being able to get her snack of choice.

The desire to be a pill was too strong. Aboli couldn't help it. She just COULDN'T, and she couldn't place why it was THIS girl she was going to be one with, but she merely smiiiiirked and nodded. "OOoooh for now? Not cut out for Hogwarts, then? Not many are." She shrugged and tried to aloof as she glanced around them at the diminishing line. "Unless it's for a decent reason or something." Maybe the girl was moving. Gets-see-uh, did she say? "Well where do you usually hang out at at school, then? Outside? You seem like an outside kinda' girl. Noting WRONG with that, of course," she shrugged again and looked back in front of her at the girl as they moved up.

"What are you going to get? And of course! Who wants a boring name like...Susan or...Alison or something..." Aboli liked her own name, too. Her middle name she could go without, but she had to admit that when she said her entire name aloud, it had a very nice ring to it. Aboli Solomon Song. "So, Gets - " she was trying to say the girl's name right - "I should convince you to try the pickle ones. They're weird, but AMAZING."

She had gotten them before, and they were weird indeeeed. Acquired taste. Some might not like them, but she would love to see a stranger try them and THEN witness their face whether they liked them or not.

"Yes, for now. I haven't decided whether or not I will be returning this term." Qetsiyah tried not to scuff and even held back somewhat of a small laugh. "It has nothing to do with being 'cut out' for Hogwarts," she replied, lifting her hands to use air quotes when she said 'cut out'. "My education, career path and level of comfort come above all else. As does where I decide to remain living after the summer comes to an end." These were all very important aspects of her decision making and she had yet come to a figure out what she would be doing.

Why did everything this girl say sound like she was being extremely judgemental? Even a question as simple as 'where she hung-out while at Hogwarts' made it sound like she was doing something wrong. It was beginning to really frustrate her but she choose not to dwell on it and answered anyhow. "The courtyard, the pond or lake, the room of requirement, the kitchen, empty corridors, the music room, astronomy tower, my common room." The list could go on and on. Especially in terms of this past year when the magic was gone and everyone was transparent and the sky had been all shades of reds and purples. Her break-up with Adrien had also played a small part in where she had spent her time as well for a short while.

With each step forward, Qets grow more impatient. She couldn't wait to be holding her yummy popcorn and be on her way to wherever she decided to go next. A small nod was all Aboli was given in reply to the comment on boring names, Qetsiyah was anything but boring. Even her middle name, Marika wasn't all that boring. When it came to names hers was a good one. "Confetti Popcorn. It's my go to snack when I need something sweet while I'm around this place." Unless she went to the candy shop or for ice cream that is. "Pickle?" There was a slight crinkle of her nose. "Umm, no thanks. I think I'll pass." Nothing against pickles. In fact she loved them but not in popcorn form.

Noah tilted his head slightly to the right at a voice. Polo? “Marco.....?” he pointed to himself, slightly confused but going along with it for a moment. “You’re not Evan....” Well to be fair her name could have been Evan.... Maybe she had been playing a game of Marco Polo that he had interrupted. He offered her a small smile, hopeful that this girl could help him. He listened to her speak, nodding when she asked a question, before pausing after the girl’s question if he was a dog or a brother. “He’s my brother. I swear he’s very human.... that I know of. Eleven years old. Super smart. He’s probably hiding in a bookshop....” He paused as realization washed over him. “Maybe Evan was in Flourish and Blotts?” It seemed like a shop where Evan would find sanctuary to avoid everyone and just enjoy learning everything about the Wizarding World. “You hide from your older brother? Is it a game?” A younger sibling game to which he had know idea because he was an older siblings. Maybe this was kept in the younger sibling handbook! Blasphemy! Oh what fun it would be to be a younger sibling.

Just as Noah was about to introduce himself, someone joined them. Oh! He knew this person. “Avalon!” he beamed, glad to see her. “How’s your summer?” He paused as she offered two possible locations for his younger brother to be hiding. Floreans or Sugarplums.... Hmmm Two viable options indeed. “I’m hoping he goes to Florean’s - I told him to go there if he ever got lost but now we have three potential places for him to be at Floreans, Sugarplums, or Flourish and Blotts.... I just hope he hasn’t gone down towards Knockturn Alley.” Nothing ever good happened down there.

Turning his gaze back to the ’Polo’, he offered her a smile. “I’m Noah but I guess Marco works too,” he joked.

Weeeelllll wasn't SHE miss formal and THOUGHTFUL. Aboli just nodded, thinking that was a whole lot of effort to think about where to go BEFORE going to Uni. She didn't want to think like that until at least after Christmas...her future and all that. "What do you want to be, then? Career-wise, I mean?" she asked curiously with a raised, pronounced eyebrow. It was probably the first genuine question she had asked during the whole duration of this conversation.

"What house are you in????" And if she said Slytherin, Aboli would feel REALLY blind and a little stupid. But then again, this girl didn't know her, either, so.....she would feel dumb too, maybe. Maybe. The school was so big, she could understand not knowing someone from another house, especially if they were in a different year, but the same HOUSE. That would be sad.

And confetti popcorn sounded pretty good, Aboli had to admit, but she wasn't sure she would ever be in the mood for something that sweet. She was usually more into savory snacks anyway. "Well. Your loss. And more pickle popcorn for me, then." She shrugged.

Options. Qets was all about options and leaving doors open just in case one door closed. There wasn't much that she was truly good at but the few little things that she did excel in she was holding onto tightly. Where she went to school was getting more and more important, in fact, if she returned to any school at all was becoming more of a serious consideration. "Professional skateboarder or a professional motocross rider." Yes, she was very serious. And Aboli was more than free to judge her for it all she wanted.

"Hufflepuff." Once a Hufflepuff, always a Hufflepuff. The upcoming fifth year was proud to be one. Yellow rather suited her nicely and it was a warm bright color too. All she could hope for now was that wherever she decided to go this coming year, that the colors wouldn't be horrible.

Finally, it was her turn! With a warm friendly smile she ordered her confetti popcorn and handed over the coins that were in her pocket. "I hope you enjoy it." Truly. Thanking the vendor owner, Qetsiyah took her bag of popcorn and stepped aside.

Lissy <3
 

Open to anyone uwu
 

Confetti Popcorn.

Quinn thought that sounded pretty interesting. His aunt had told him of the strange delights of magical foods, but Quinn didn't really know what to expect. He found that to be the case with most of the things in Diagon Alley. No matter what he was told about anything he would find here, he never quite knew what he was getting into until he was into it.

His mother had given him a couple Sickles and Knuts to buy himself a treat while she shopped with his aunt. He roamed the stalls until he found something that caught his eye. It happened to be the fizzy popcorn from Confetti Popcorn. Soda and popcorn were both things that Quinn enjoyed, and he figured that it couldn't hurt to put them together, right?

Quinn got a small bag of the popcorn, just to try it out. He examined one for a moment before popping it in his mouth. He chewed for a second; then his face went funny. The taste of the popcorn itself wasn't bad, but the fizzing sensation was so far removed from the feeling of popcorn he was used to that it undermined his enjoyment. He swallowed, shaking his head and grimacing. He looked at this bag of popcorn he had no intention of eating—would throwing it away be a waste? He didn't like it. But he bought it. So... what should he do?

have my first year :3
 

Yay, first years! :D
 

Quinn turned towards the boy, not noticing him as he arrived. "Oh, sorry, er... I got the fizzy popcorn. I don't like pickles anyway, so I wouldn't dream of getting those." He scrunched his face and shook his head.

"I was making the face because... well, I hadn't tried the fizzy popcorn before so I'm not used to the, um... fizz..?" That sounded quite dumb now that he thought about it. It was called fizzing popcorn, he knew what it would do. "I've only ever had regular popcorn. Or, uh... Muggle popcorn? Would that be how you said it?" He shook his head. "Ah, I'm rambling, sorry. I just... didn't much like the fizz. I don't think I'll eat the rest, and I don't want to waste it, so..." Quinn held out the popcorn. "Do you want it?"

Quinn was happy for the reassurances. He didn't want to seem like a bumbling idiot during the conversation, and this boy's responses gave him security, even if they didn't prompt much of a response.

Quinn's cheeks flushed light pink from embarrassment. "Oh, no, that makes sense, I'm sorry. That was silly of me to assume..." Quinn wasn't one to prod and pester after someone had already given an answer. He opened up his bag of popcorn again and peeked inside, then reached in and picked out a dried cranberry. "I guess I can just eat the cranberries out of here."

He looked back up at the boy. "And besides, I guess you have the money to buy whatever you'd want." Quinn could hear the coins clinking in his hand as he moved them. "I wouldn't want to stick you with something you didn't much like." He popped another cranberry into his mouth. They had picked up a slight fizz from the popcorn that Quinn didn't mind so much—it was like cranberry soda, but with actual cranberries instead of flavored popcorn.

Emm turned in time to have the wave catch her eyes. Adam! This was the thing she liked so much about having already had a year of Hogwarts under her belt. Last summer when she walked the alley, everyone was a virtual stranger to her. Now, she recognized a ton of faces no matter where she happened to be and it felt a little like being a celebrity. This likely wasn't the case, and her mother had helped her come to the conclusion she may have become famous for little more than...er...screaming BUT it didn't matter, because now she was IN with the crowd.

"Come look! It's SO SO SO CUTE!" Emm snatched the necklace off the table and held it up for the boy to see as he drew closer. "Kizzy would like it, too, I bet. I'm hoping he's got a second in the ba--" Right...street vendors....didn't have a back...

Oh.

"Help me pick a different one for her. Which would you absolutely kill someone for??"

Quinn considered the boy's words. The fizz was the only thing that disrupted his liking of the popcorn, so maybe he could get used to it..? He smiled to himself, thinking it was a funny allegory for his introduction to magic. He could get used to it after a while. He might even end up enjoying it.

It happened again. Something inside him shifted. 'He.' Why did Quinn feel so icky because of it? He (ugh) frowned a little, then looked back up at the boy in front of him. "Yes... you're right. Maybe I'll learn to like it." Maybe Quinn could learn to like it.

Trying to push forward in the conversation, Quinn shook his head. "No, I haven't been. I was thinking about going in, but..." Quinn figured it would be embarrassing to say I didn't know if the candy would come alive, or if one would be hexed and I would eat it and turn into a snail, so he just went with, "I decided against it." His cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

Quinn smiled at the boy's name. "Atlas. Like from Greek mythology. He holds up the heavens. I like it." Quinn held out his hand for the boy to shake. "I'm Quinn. It's very nice to meet you."

Quinn honestly wasn't quite sure what the boy was talking about with his analogy (what could be mistaken for water? Must be a magic thing), but he supposed that it fit. "Yes, like that, I guess."

When prompted to say why he never entered Sugarplum's, Quinn averted his eyes. "U-uh..." He tried to come up with a quick, believable lie. He was never good at lying. "M-my mom doesn't like me eating too much candy. I can get... hyper..." Quinn had never eaten so much candy that he got a sugar high, and it honestly sounded quite embarrassing to say it was a regular occurrence. More embarrassing than thinking the candy would eat him? He wasn't sure.

When talking about his name and, in turn, his father, Quinn noticed that Atlas didn't seem to be all too enthusiastic. Something seemed off there, but Quinn didn't want to pry. They had only just met, after all. "Honestly, I don't know much about stars and stuff, so I didn't understand half of what you just said. I know Taurus because of the Zodiac—and those are obviously constellations as well, though I didn't know there were names for stars in a constellation. But being named after a star system sounds cool! I'm just Quinn because my parents liked the name. Maybe you can tell me about the stars sometime?" Quinn also didn't know what the Astronomer Royal or Department of Mysteries were, but he was kind of embarrassed about his lack of knowledge on the wizarding world so he didn't really want to ask Atlas about those. And Atlas didn't seem super comfortable talking about his dad, so Quinn figured he would try to steer the conversation away from that. "Well, assuming we see each other again, I suppose. Do you go to Hogwarts?" Quinn sighed and bonked himself on the head. "Ugh. Sorry. Rambling again."

He suddenly had another thought—what if Atlas didn't even like him that much in the first place? He couldn't actually tell; Atlas hadn't said anything particularly mean but he never said anything particularly nice, either. And Quinn couldn't tell much from his body language. The conversation was very...neutral? Quinn could very well have trapped Atlas in a conversation he didn't much feel like having. It was presumptuous to assume that Atlas would even want to see him again. But Quinn didn't want to say anything because what if, maybe, Atlas did enjoy talking to him, and then he said something weird and made the conversation weird? Quinn's head spun and he ended up leaving his remark as-is.

"Ah, well..." Quinn wasn't sure what to say in response to that. "Yes, she's off shopping, so I guess I could have gone in, but... i-if I had shown back up with candy or obviously having eaten some, it wouldn't have gone over well." Quinn breathed a small sigh of relief, thinking he'd done a pretty fine job of covering his tracks. He'd just have to remember that he said he wasn't supposed to have sweets around Atlas. Forever. "It sucks, but I guess they just want the best for us."

Quinn blushed a bit at Atlas's comment on the names. Obviously his parents liked the names, or else they wouldn't have picked them, Quinn, he thought.

Quinn nodded. "Yeah, I'm going to be a first year as well. I've pretty much gotten everything I needed. My mom just wanted to come shop with my aunt today and I decided to come along. Anyway, I'm glad to already know someone in my grade going in, it'll make things easier." He smiled, genuinely happy with this development.

Quinn smiled more when Atlas said he didn't mind the rambling. People tended to mind the rambling. He took the paper from Atlas, not exactly sure what it was supposed to be, but knowing it was folded nicely. Perhaps Quinn could ask him about it sometime. He read the name on the paper in his head. Atlas Flamsteed. Had a nice ring to it. "I think I just might take you up on that. Well, Mr. Flamsteed, I don't want to keep you, so it was good meeting you. I'll see you later!" Quinn, forgetting that he hadn't been a fan of his popcorn, popped one on his mouth as he went to walk away. Being more unprepared for the fizz than last time, he made an Ech! sound and spit out the popcorn. "Ah, jeez, not again..!" Quinn hurried away before Atlas could say anything about the embarrassing ordeal.

and that's an official wrap :3
 

hi pat ~~~ !!!
 

Anna! and if anyone wants to crash :)
 

How-- why??

Anna didn't know how or why Kalen had so much knowledge about the most random things. She was listening, actually, hence her half-confused, half-amused expression as they walked down the street and towards some of the food stands. ".......What?" Was all she could muster at his remarks because, really... what?? "Why didn't they just take some Potion?" She asked with a confused frown, because honestly.... whaaaaa?? "Did they speak funny to ward off some kind of spirit too?" She asked with a snort. Random trivia was random. And she didn't even remember why he was going on about pirates in the first place.

Oh yeah, the book thing. In all honesty, she was kind of curious to see what he would be like reading to her. Ha! That'd be hilarious. She actually couldn't wait - which was saying something because, y'know, it had to do with books. "I'll have the clam chowder, please." She told the vendor, still arm in arm with Kalen. That was right, she was going wild and eating seafood from a potentially dodgy street vendor - le gasp. As they said, you only live once and she was a daredevil former Gryffindor who was dating a student healer, so she knew she would be fine.

Had Anna asked her question aloud, Kalen's answer would have been books. Duh...the boy read. A lot. And not just for school either. But she hadn't asked and so he focused on answering her questions about potions and incantations. "Well, A) because most pirates were no-majs and B) there are actually no records of how pirates actually talked so all the 'yo-ho-ho shiver-me timbers walk the plank stuff is all made up." He reached into his pocket and produced a few coins to pay for their cauldron breads. "Broccoli Cheese please," He said handing over the coins to pay for both of their lunches.

Hmmmm, was this a good time to tell him those had been kind of rhetorical questions? Nahhhh, look at him, all cute being an adorable geek. His answer actually made her smile, even though she didn't really care about the topic itself. So she just looked at him, paused, then chuckled. "You're cute." A cute neeeeeeerd, but still very cute.

Broccoli cheese? "Sounds nice, but too safe." She commented on his choice with a grin and in a low tone so only he could hear. No need to offend the vendor who was about to serve her potentially dodgy food. "Thank you!" She said to the vendor as she took her food. "And thank you!" Anna said to Kalen for paying. She gave him a look as she wondered if she should be doing all the paying, though, because, really, she was earning a lot more money than he was at the moment. But didn't that hurt a guy's ego or something? She was sure she had seen that in her brother. Just one of them, though, the other didn't seem to care much. So maybe just some guys really cared about that? Was Kalen one of those guys, she wondered.

She actually didn't have a clue. Great. So she looked at him to see if she could gauge his level of satisfaction for having paid for the food. Gaaaugiiinggg.

Kalen was more interested in getting and eating his food then worrying about who was paying for what. Had Anna pulled out money first he might have made a attempt to pay instead, but mostly out of good manners more then ego. And speaking of good manners, they were about to go out the window because um...bread bowl without a table to eat it at + hungry college student = delicious tummy-filling mess. "You're just saying that because I bought you lunch," he protested making a face at her as if he was (playfully) offended at being called cute. "Cute is for bunnies or puffskiens...not manly men who were chicken suits and prance around doing the hippogriff at quidditch matches." Because yup, she had learned first hand recently that that was how he made his spending cash.

As for safe? "Hey, it sounds yummy today - it's chilly out here and cheesy soups are best for cold weather. Besides, I grew up on calm chowder and well, that," he said looking into her bread bowl. "Is not clam chowder. Or at least, not New England Clam chowder." He chuckled at his joke. As for the thanks. "Your welcome," he said with a happy smile because he was well, happy to be doing something for her. "Common, let's go find a place out of the wind to eat these." He didn't make two steps before some soup was shoveled into his mouth.

lets pretend it's not been almost a month
 

Between his time spent assisting with Stark School, showing his face for the occasional quidditch event, and um.... Stemp house, Hassan didn't get to spend as much time with his children as he had liked. Which said a lot, because his children were his FAVORITE kids. So today was just for him and Jasper to hang out while Margaret went with her mum. Hm, it did work out that they only had the two, huh?

"We can get your sister whatever you want." He glanced at his mini me, amused at his attempts to keep stride and purposefully slowing because of it. It didn't surprise him that Jas was looking out for Margo even when she wasn't here. The child was just like his old man. "But what do you want, abnay? This is your day." He wanted to make sure Jasper got all of his attention today.

abnay= son (i think)

Jasper grinned widely. "It really fizzes in your mouth, baba!" He exclaimed, wiggling his fingers to try and illustrate the sensation the best he could. The excitement was clearly visible in his eyes, but he didn't let it slow him down as he tried to keep up. Jas hadn't yet realized that his baba slowed down for him, he was still thinking about how excited Margaret would be when she tried!

As for what he wanted, well, Jasper had to give it some thought. "I just want to spend time with you," he answered honestly. "Oh! Can we go to the quidditch store and look at the brooms?" Maybe they had new ones! Jasper liked looking at the catalogues plenty, but seeing them in person was way better. Maybe in two years when he was old enough to join the U14 league, he could even ask for a new broom for Christmas!

Anna chuckled at his comment about her calling him cute just because he bought her lunch, but she laughed out loud at his following remark. So much so that she tipped some of her clam chowder on him. Oops. "Oh, sorry!" She gasped, taking a step back to make sure nothing more got on him. It was probably hot and, well, that couldn't be very pleasant. Not to mention it was a waste, too.

She wiped some that was dripping from the side of her Cauldron Bread and gotten on her hand and licked her finger before speaking again. "It does suit you, though, you know that?" Anna said grinning, half-joking, half actually meaning it because it was fun and honestly, she did think Kalen was fun. And cute, as she had stated before.

The girl raised her eyebrows and nodded with a chuckle as he went on to explain his choice of Cauldron Bread filling. "Of course, of course. It does taste nice, though." She added, dipping a finger in her chowder and tasting it again, very unlady-like. It wasn't too hot after all. Then again, she was one of those people who would probably eat almost anything. Including piping hot non-clam chowders from dodgy street vendors.

And he wanted to go find a place out of the wind to eat. "Alright, and then we can go to the Quidditch shop, yeah?" Because she had endured waited patiently for him while he book shopped, so perhaps he could join her in her world for a bit? Heehee.

I <3 Anna ^_^
 

"Aiiii...eee..." He said overdramatically hoping that maybe she's feel bad and give him a kiss. Because, yep, he was not beyond tricks to get kisses from his girlfriend. Ha, girlfriend. It was still weird to say, but not bad weird good weird. He busied himself by licking the soup off his fingers and then shook his head. "I was right. That is not clam chowder." The rest he cleaned up with napkins as he enjoyed Anna's laughter with a big cheesy smile.

"What suits me?" he asked around a spoonful of soup. "The chicken suit? Dancing the hippogriff? Or being covered in chowder?" He watched her gulping down her lunch, then realized he was staring and shoveled more soup into his own mouth. How was it that even eating soup Anna was hot? He really liked that she liked food and had an appetite to match his. "Wittich shop?" asked around the hunk of cauldron bread he'd shoved into his mouth. "Course," he gave her a big smile. After all, she had been patient with his trip to the book store. "Maybe I'll even buy you a new pair of gloves." He didn't even know if she needed a pair. Probably didn't, but it was likely all he could afford.

Call her daft, but Anna was not exactly the type to understand overdramatics as a means to getting kisses. Hence her just laughing and not doing anything else about Kalen's reaction. "Sorry!" She said, chuckling because, well, he was being overdramatic to be funny, right? It worked! That and his statement about whatever she was eating not being clam chowder. "What do you reckon this is then?" Anna asked, amused, yet not less interested in eating the dodgy yummy lunch.

"All of it!" The girl replied, laughing around her own eating. She thought it was great they already felt comfortable enough around each other to speak and laugh while eating. Part of her family was too precious about meal time and manners and she wasn't that bothered. It was nice to know Kalen wasn't either. "I only found out about the latter now, though." Haha.

He'd buy her a pair of gloves? She chuckled. Aaaagain. "You're too kind." She gave him a smile before eating some more of her lunch. "Merlin, I don't care what this is, it's good!" Omnomnom.

"I don't know...maybe Old England chowder?" He chuckled at his own joke, even as he realized it wasn't that funny. Still, he was glad to see she was liking the dodgy street food. It wasn't the first time he'd eaten at this particular vendor and he liked it. Then again, it was hot and warm and cheep and he hadn't had to cook it so all of that was a bonus. As for what suited him? Well, whatever made Anna happy.

As for talking and eating and chatting with his mouthful his mom would probably smack him upside the head for it, but hey she wasn't here and Anna didn't seem to mind. "Aiii try," he said with a smile and another mouthful of bread. "So," he chewed and swallowed. "Finish up and we we can go pick you out some. Maybe something pink...with ruffles." Again he was teasing, because if there was anything Anna wasn't, it was a pink-rufflely type.

"I'll have to try the kind of clam chowder - the real kind - when we go to America then." Anna chuckled, emphasising the word with a head gesture as Kalen seemed adamant that wasn't clam chowder. Anna didn't have a problem with that as she wasn't exactly a gourmet eater anyway.

Pink Quidditch gloves with ruffles? Anna couldn't even picture that! "Oh, yes, some that'll match Frank!" She said jokingly, referring to her pink Pygmy Puff. Kalen was right in joke about it, ruffly pink things weren't really her, though her Pygmy Puff had been a gift, and she very much liked it now. Not that she'd go and buy gloves that would match it, though!

It didn't take too long for her to finish her food, and she was licking her fingers once again. "There we are, that'll keep me going for a few hours. Now chop chop, let's get going!!" She added, motioning to him and his Cauldron Bread.

"You will!" He was a bit surprised by her admission that they would be going to America. Together. He might have puffed up a little in excitement at the idea. "And I know the best place to take you. It's the oldest operating restaurant in the state. Best oysters too." Would she even eat oysters? "You have to try at least one oyster." He shook his spoon at her. Then promptly discarded it in a bin because all he had left was a hunk of bread. "You really want to see Boston with me?" he asked, unable to keep a mixture of hope and excitement out of his voice.

"Yes, just like Frank," he said with a chuckle. "Something to remind you of him while you're out on the pitch." He handed her a napkin as he shoved the last bit of bread into his mouth. "Alllmiiihhhttt..." he said around the bread as he wiped his hands off too. He swallowed. "Lead the way beautiful." He motioned in the direction of the quidditch store.

Toph went between sipping his drink and eating his poppcorn before he would glance at the records. He'd charmed them so that they would shuffle through on their own without his stick fingers having to touch any of them. The vendor's shopkeep didn't seem to mind and it afforded him time to eat his most delicious treat. It didn't even bother him that some woman was standing rather close to him. And she was rather close. Close enough to lean in and, what?

"How badly scratched?" He whispered back, eyes not moving from the records that sorted themselves for him. "Like, is it too bad to keep listening?" Cause he really wanted a record. But he couldn't justify the money spent if they only played a little. Unless it looked good on his wall.