"Yeah, makes sense. It's kind of like being on a team. You think it's the best and will carry that persona no matter what. Team pride, and all." He now only knew two people so far and what houses they were in. Well, knew of two people was more like it.

His mother had been in Gryffindor. They were the brave. Thought they were the best. Well, she was brave beyond measure and she had been one of the best people in Simon's life even if he couldn't remember her. To be thrown into the adult world at 17 with everything off track, raising your sister, having a baby, doing it all alone - he couldn't imagine. And then, just when she might be able to get her bearings on things, life threw cancer at her. Terribly unfair but he knew that she handled it better than anyone he could imagine. He might not have remembered her, but her love was still with him; even after all this time.

And he was beginning to know this redhead in front of him. She was in Hufflepuff. They were apparently known for their kindness and that showed within her. She had given up some of her time shopping to help his pathetic self navigate not only his school supply list but also Diagon Alley as a whole.

"So tell me, Lex, is there anything I can somehow help YOU with here?" She had been the one to help him so much and he was grateful, but he also wanted to return the favor.

Alexa nodded in agreement. “Definitely like being on the team. Everything you do well reflects on your House… But of course, so does everything bad that you do!” She laughed. This had never really been a problem for her, not much of a rule-breaker really. Except for that one time when they found the secret passage…

Simon looked wrapped up in his thoughts for a moment after his comment about the Houses as teams. She wondered what he was thinking about, but wasn’t sure if she should ask. Finally she ventured, “Is everything okay?” She said this very softly, so he could choose to pretend to not have heard it, at all.

While he was thinking, she found herself wrapped up in her own thoughts. If she was being honest with herself, and she usually was, Alexa thought it would be pretty cool to have this guy be in her House. She know so little about him, other than the fact that he was kind and smart and funny. Maybe they could be friends… She found herself hoping so.

When he asked if he could help her with anything here, she just smiled and shrugged. “Not really, thanks. I just have to pick up some books and some robes, and then I should be done with my shopping.” She didn’t mention that she would go by the Magical Menagerie once again to check out their pets. Ever hopeful of having one of her own! “What about you? Do you need any more help with your list?” She smiled.

Simon was looking over his list one more time to make sure that was everything when there was a tap on the window of the storefront near the two. He glanced up to see his aunt give him a wave, a big smile, and then come in. "I actually think that's about it," he said, double checking the entire list. Some of the items would have been almost impossible for him to find on his own and he was grateful for the help he had been given that day.

"Look at you, Speedy Simon! Already done!" he shot a look over to his aunt. She loved to do that...give him some sort of nickname that began with the letter S and then add Simon with it; like Speedy Simon, Sweet Simon, Silly Simon... she had been doing it since he could remember but something about it at that moment just seemed a little off-putting. He was slightly embarrassed by it.

His aunt seemed to pick up on that but before she could feel bad about it, she noticed a little redness to his cheeks and brightened even more. "Oh!" she said, and then glanced to the girl again. "Oooh, I'm sorry, Simon. I didn't realize you were...with such nice company. Redheads, huh? I always thought you fancied blondes. Huh."

The twenty-five year old was now implying that not only was the girl 'nice' (aka attractive) but hinting that her nephew favored redheads. Could this get any more awkward? "Aunt Maggie!" he said quickly and burried his head in his hand.

She gave an apologetic look and felt she needed to correct the situation at hand. "Hi. I'm Simon's Aunt Maggie," she said with a smile and held her hand out to the girl. Simon glanced up, knowing his aunt was trying to mend the situation here and so he'd help out. "And this is Alexa. She helped me find some of my supplies while someone I know was flirting it up," he teased.

She shrugged and smiled. "I got a phone number..." but Simon just shook his head. His aunt wouldn't USE it though. Not likely anyway.

After the two finished making their introductions, they did unfortunately have to be heading back home and parting ways. "Good luck with the rest of your list," Simon said to Alexa, hating that he couldn't help her with her shopping.

"Hope to see you at Hogwarts!" he said brightly. And as they were exiting the store, his aunt could be heard saying "I wasn't the only one flirting it up..."

When what she assumed was Simon’s aunt joined them, she saw Simon get embarrassed about what his aunt had said. The nickname, perhaps? It didn’t bother Alexa.

Then his aunt referred to her as “nice company” and she blushed fiercely. Then she made the comment about blondes, and Alexa had to stifle her laughter at Simon’s indignation with his aunt. Family often made things more complicated, she knew that for sure. But sometimes they made things funny, as well!

Alexa took Maggie’s proffered hand shyly, but still shook it firmly. She opened her mouth to introduce herself, but Simon beat her to the punch. She turned and smiled warmly at him, laughing as he teased his aunt about being a flirt. They seem to get along really well, she thought.

She made her goodbye to Simon, saying that she hoped they would be in the same House. Then he and his aunt moved away, and Alexa returned to the remainder of her shopping. It wouldn’t take long, and that she would be on the train headed for home. But it was a good day! She had hung out with Alina, and made two new friends, Henry and Simon… Both of which were quite cute…