@Calypso Starling
As soon as Ashley opened the doors to Flourish and Blotts, she felt instantly at home. She always felt that way at bookstores, magical or not. Maybe it was the old book smell or the silence that was broken only by turning pages and soft sighs. Maybe it was the piles upon piles of adventures and knowledge just waiting to be read, to be explored. To be known. Or maybe it was all of those things. Yes, Ashley decided, that was it. There was no one reason to love a bookstore. It was impossible. There were too many. Ashley had a list of all of the books she needed for Hogwarts, but didn't start collecting them right away. Instead, she ran her hand across the dusty spines, her eyes closed. Lost in thought. She could not get over the fact that she was a witch. Or the fact that her father was a wizard and had never told her. Or the fact that magic is real. She had been taught to believe in science, not magic. But now that she thought about it, magic sort of was a science.
"Can I help you?" A voice startled Ashley so much she jumped. The owner of the bookstore stood behind her.
"Oh!" She gasped, "No, I'm fine, thank you. I was just browsing."
"All right. Let me know if you need anything," they moved on to another customer.
Ashley resumed her wandering. She had never seen any of the books in the store or on her list before- A History of Magic; Book of Spells; Magical Me... The list went on.
Suddenly, she slipped. Ashley's legs gave out from beneath her and she fell. Hard. Her glasses slipped off and fell to the floor.
"Are you all right?" A girl about her own age looked down at Ashley. She had long chestnut hair and brown eyes that looked genuinely concerned.
"Yes, thank you. I just slipped."
The girl smiled and offered her a hand.

Diagon Alley was incredible. Unreal. That was the only way she could think to describe it. The hustle and bustle, the strange and wonderful wizards and witches, the excitement. There was Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Magical Menagerie, Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour and more. Calypso was looking forward to one thing in particular, however. Ever since she could remember, she had had a bizarre fascination with bookshops. Ok, not fascination, obsession. She would admit that. Over the years, Calypso had dragged her family to every bookshop and library within a 190-kilometer radius of their home; and more when they went on holiday. The dusty smell of books, the magical hush that falls over you as soon as you step through the door, the stacks and stacks of books: portals to other worlds -all of it; had Calypso hooked from the first time she had ever visited a bookshop. And Calypso had heard and read wonderous things about Flourish and Blotts, the Diagon Alley bookseller's where the Hogwarts students acquired their schoolbooks. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet in anticipation, trying to be patient while her little sister Maud visited Quality Quidditch Supplies. Finally, Maud was done. "Come on, come on, Flourish and Blotts time!" Calypso called to her family. They trailed along after her as she headed toward the shop. She stepped through the door and was greeted by the familiar feeling of being surrounded by books. Calypso felt a giant grin spread across her face. And it really was magnificent. Floor-to-ceiling shelves hosting thousands of volumes, windows through which sunlight was streaming, and large, cushy armchairs to read in. Calypso let out a little happy sigh. She wandered over to the shelves, and started browsing.

She walked around a corner, and was reaching for Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed, when she saw out of the corner of her eye a girl trip and fall to the ground. There was a loud *thump!* and Calypso winced. That looked like it must have hurt. She walked over to the girl, who was blushing in embarrassment. "Are you all right?" The girl had reddish-brown hair, green eyes, and tan skin. "Yes, thank you. I just slipped." Calypso smiled, and reached out her hand to the girl. "I'm Calypso," she said, helping her up. "Ashley. It's nice to meet you." "Likewise." Calypso spotted a pair of glasses lying several yards away, and assumed they were Ashley's, judging by the way she was squinting and seeming to be looking around for something. Calypso retrieved the spectacles and returned them to their owner. "Thanks." "No problem. Are starting at Hogwarts this year as well?" "Yes!" Asley exclaimed. "And I am so excited." Yeah, me too. A little nervous, though, to be honest." Ashley let out a nervous trill of laughter. "You could say that again." Calypso smiled. "Do you already have your books for school?" "As a matter of fact I don't." "Shall we look for them together?"

After having gathered all of their school books, and visiting several more shops together, Calypso and Ashley parted ways, having made plans to meet on the train.