School Supplies;;Open

[alexander]

The following thread took place before the start of the school year, while the world was tucked safely in the warm embrace of Summer. Please enjoy, and follow me there...

Morning dew clung to his light shoes as he moved down the narrow, and empty, lane that led from The Leaky Cauldron to the shops beyond. It was still early for crowds which was the main reason Alexander was shopping at Diagon Alley. He had never been one for crowds. Even from his younger days he would avoid a large group of people. His comfort level was moderately low when it come to being in a group that numbered more than three or four, himself included. This would not matter today. Alexander was up with the first light, and the doors to the shops were just opening. He heard a key in a lock to hsi left as one of the shop keepers opened the small door that led to the goodies inside. In his hand Alexander held a small white scrap of parchment. The book list would not be long for his final year, yet he noted several other items he wanted to procure while he was visiting. He had no need to enter the freshly opened store so he moved on down the lane. A slight mist fell over his lean frame, but it would not stop him from gathering the things he needed, and then taking some lunch.

With a huff, Alexander moved to the large window displaying dress robes and other fine garments. Would he require new robes for this year? He knew there would be parties, a ball perhaps; but, Alexander rarely got a date for such events. In fact, he had gone last year alone. He managed to dance with a few girls, but for the most part he spent his time beside the large punch bowl with little to no hope for engaging someone in polite conversation. Alexander was not lucky in love. This is a sad fact, but one he was well accustomed to holding. He was just not brave enough to ask someone out, even if he did fancy several girls in his year. There was no time to worry about such things this morning. He wanted to finish shopping, eat, and be gone before the place became too crowded to even walk.

He moved on down the lane and paused at the doorway of another shop. Books were in short order for this term. He only thought he would need three. Yet, there were more on his list. He enjoyed reading. He often collected books, and had a whole shelf in his bedroom that he had yet to read. It was not often that one would encounter Alexander without a book open in his hand. Most were books on writing, though he enjoyed the classics. The small bell rung as someone moved out of the bookstore. Alexander averted his eyes to avoid contact. He was shy, quiet, and would rather spend his time in his head than with others. He could be outgoing around those he knew, but faced with a stranger in a crowd, Alexander was a useless conversationalist.

This was something he wanted to work on, but there was no time to think about it now. Alexander tucked the parchment inside his inner pocket, and reached out to grasp the knob on the door. He had enough gold to cover the items required, and to eat a light lunch before heading home. He had no other plans until school started in a short few weeks. This was exactly how he liked it. Nothing important to do meant there was nothing to worry about. Starting a new year without the added pressure would be an excellent idea. And now, shopping.

[Aidan Wraith]

Aidan stood within the shelves of the book store looking over the many tomes before him, he ignored the sounds of the bell ringing, he didn't really think he'd meet anyone he knew here. Despite having been at Hogwarts for six years now he could count the amount of people he 'knew' on one hand, hell even one finger and even then he wasn't sure they counted. It wasn't because he was shy, no far from it, he just found it hard to trust people, the one time he had it had backfired on him badly when they discovered his heritage as a half-blood, some of his fellow Slytherin's didn't like that

Shaking his head to removed the memories of his second year he moved further down the shelves towards the front door as he looked over the books, he already had all of his school books bought and packed, he was mainly here to see if he could find something to read in his spare time, reaching out one hand he let it drift over the spines of the books before him before resting on one in a deep sapphire blue cover, pulling it off the shelf he looked it over, the title read Tales of Beedle the Bard, he remembered his mother telling him the stories when he was little but had never seen a copy of the books in his fathers library

With a sharp nod he turned to take the book to the checkouts when he spotted a figure entering the store, pausing he wondered if he should ignore him like he had all the others he's met, but with a determined glint to his eyes he didn't

"No, for once I'm going to try and make friends again," he murmured to himself before giving a small smile to the boy entering the store

"Greetings, my name is Aidan Wraith, I'm a sixth year student at Hogwarts," he greeted, one hand slightly outstretched in an offer of friendship

[alexander]

Alexander looked up at the rows of books stretching almost to the ceiling, and piled haphazardly all over the store front. It made him uneasy, but happy all at the same time. Seeing all that unread material thrilled him. The books had information, and Alexander craved that information. It was like a fight to read. Not in a violent sense of the word, but more in a way that he felt each tome had something he needed, and he had to reach in and take all those words away. He had to fight for the knowledge, and wanted to read each book three or four times. Alexander blinked the thoughts away and almost smiled to himself. He loved books, and considered some of the best ones to be like personal friends.

He stepped into the store and was greeted almost immediately by another person. At first glance Alexander figured this male to be a bit older than him, and somewhat rugged. He was more masculine than Alexander felt himself to be, but first impressions never left much an impression on Alexander. He never judged people, nor a book by it's cover. He collected Aidan's words and tucked them safely away into his banks of memory. So, Aidan was a year older, and also a student at the school. Alexander glanced down to the offered hand, and placed his own in it reluctantly. He was never very good with meeting new people, especially strangers. He was slightly intimidated by this boy, and his glance away could show such an emotion.

Alexander's voice was soft as he replied. "H-hello." Alexander managed a half smile, his shy demeanor not as bad as it would have been if Aidan had been a female. "I'm A-a-alexander Radu Maxwell. F-fifth year, Ravenclaw." Alexander shook Aidan's hand lightly, and dropped his own hand back to his side. His free hand moved up to rub the back of his neck, as he examined the floor between them. He wished he had more courage when it came to meeting people, and acting casual. It was just hard for him. He was not afraid of people, it was more his own inadequate nature. "Shopping for school books, Aidan?"

OOC:Sorry it took so long!

[Aidan Wraith]

Aidan gave a lop-sided smile back at Alexander, gently shaking his hand before releasing it, "Ravenclaw you say? Well this place must be almost a haven for you, all these books to study, I'm a Slytherin myself, but please don't hold that against me, I'm not as mean or hateful as some of my other house mate's," he said with a friendly smile, he'd noticed how shy the boy before him seemed and despite being a Slytherin and usually one to take advantage of that he decided not to, if he was wanting to try and make friends then he would have to kerb at least some of his usual Slytherin tendancies, so he refrained from mentioning it and kept the small, friendly smile on his face, hoping it would ease some of the tension in Alex's shoulders and that Alex wouldn't hold his house against him, like others usually would, hearing the question directed at him he glanced at the bookshelves around him and then back to the book in his arms

"Hmm? No, I've already gotten all my school books for this year, I'm just looking for something to read in my spare time," he replied, slightly lifting the book in his arms he grinned down at it. "I'm thinking of getting this one, The Tales of Beadle the Bard, I remember my mother telling me the stories when I was younger and realised I don't actually have a copy of it," he said looking back up to look at Alex, "I might get something else but it'll have to catch my eye first," he grinned

"What about you Alex, can I call you Alex, needing any school books? Or are yo looking for some extra reading too?" he asked politely, genuinely curious

OOC = No worries mate, RL I expect, always gets the better of us lol

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