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HIRAM ISAAC KANTOR
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23 AUGUST, 2020. AFTERNOON.

"Stop moving about. If these measurements are off, you'll have to make due until next year."

Hiram found himself being handled like a doll in the hands of a rough child as his mother ushered him to the platform so he could be measured for his school robes. Gunmetal blue eyes abruptly stopped mid eyeroll as he caught his mother's narrowed amber gaze burning into his own. The threat his mother made was an empty one, devoid of any true irritation but still demanded to be heeded by her son nonetheless. If anyone else had been in the position of his mother, Hiram wouldn't think twice about making a stinging comment and although he felt a protest rise in his throat, the boy swallowed it back down. In defeat, he splayed his arms out so the tailor could stretch the measuring tape from one wrist to the other.

Hiram snuck a quick glance outside the shop's window, watching with piqued interest as the bustling crowds filled Diagon Alley with a chorus of laughter from older students, hushed whispering from those yet to find their place at Hogwarts, and the gentle scolding of worried mothers that chased after their robe-clad children. Not unlike a caged bird, he longed to join his peers and add to the cacophony of sound with his own joyous noises of freedom. But alas, his wings were bound by the tailor's tape that snaked around him like a constricting serpent. And although his mother's nudging was gentle and her voice held warmth to it, her grasp was as iron and unmoving as the shop's windowpane.

Once the tailor had jot down the measurements he needed from Hiram, the man turned away from the boy to speak to his mother about payment. The conversation drifted from payment to general chatter about fabrics and such, nothing of interest to Hiram who was already suffering from the boredom brought on by sitting as still as a dutiful soldier for what seemed like centuries to the impatient boy. After a few tedious minutes pass, Hiram clears his throat to remind his distracted mother of the other items on their extensive list that had to be completed before the end of the day.

"Ima..." Hiram addressed his mother's back that was turned to him, folding his hands in his lap patiently as he could in hopes she would turn around and their journey could continue. Yet, his mother made no motion to acknowledge his reminder and the conversation continued as if Hiram's voice belonged to the sea of children outside the shop. Just as he was about to interrupt his mother's conversation with another interjection, an idea crept into his mind before he had a chance to speak up again. The beginnings of a sly grin twitched at the edges of his lips as he stood up with great care not to bring notice to his departure, minding the little bell situated above the shop's door that would surely catch his mother's attention if he was careless. The boy dared not breathe until he could feel the cool autumn breeze upon his face that greeted him as soon as he stepped out of the shop.

Freedom!

Although he was scarcely inside for an hour, the boy felt as if a lifetime had passed while he was poked and prodded to be fitted for his robes. Now that he was free from his mother's firm iron grasp, Hiram was free to explore Diagon Alley without being dragged along by the hand like a toddler. Stepping out from under the shop's awning, Hiram donned his scarf and set off to find adventure, where it may lead. With no discernable direction in mind, the boy roamed the cobblestone streets, peering through the glass windows of stores he past. While the ice cream parlour seemed enticing enough for a boy of his age, Hiram instead found himself drawn to one particular store that had seemingly endless shelves of books. Perhaps in one of those shelves laid a book that evaded his attempts to find it for several months and would finally complete the series he had become invested in over the summer. Flourish and Blotts was the name of the store, recognisable from the list of supplies required before the start of the semester.

Stepping through the door, the comforting scent of ancient books whose age numbered in the hundreds and worn bindings stripped of their original leather greeted Hiram. For a moment, Hiram felt a twinge of longing for the manor's library, knowing it would be months before he could return to the familiar nook with stacks of unread and reread books scattered about. With a wee bit of luck, he would be able to add more to his growing collection. Upon approaching the desk, he explained his predicament to the curator who in turn motioned with a hand towards the shelf that housed a single copy of the book he had been scouring for. Finally, his search could come to a triumphant end without the fear of leaving empty-handed once again.

Hiram thanked the curator and with a ivory-flashing grin, nearly ran to the shelf to look for the elusive book, his eyes scanning the worn faces of the books for the familiar title. When his hand came across an empty space in the shelf, the grin ran away from his face and was replaced with a clenched jaw and a curled fist. Someone had stolen his reward before he could claim it. The culprit couldn't have gone far, for the curator had mentioned it had been there this morning where a void now sat. Out of the corner of his eye, a flash of a familiar faded blue cover caught Hiram's attention. There! The thief was a boy of similar age, with dark hair and inquisitive brown eyes that reminded Hiram of the fawns that would graze along the manor's hills. Perhaps the boy would be willing to part with the book or would be willing to share custody if they were to meet up again upon arriving at Hogwarts. Either way, he would not be leaving the store without some sense of ownership of the book.

"An interesting read, I'm sure? It looks like we have a similar taste in books, particularly in that book." Hiram interjected himself into the boy's previously undisturbed nook within the bookstore, "Say, that book happens to be the last in my collection that I'm looking for. If you're not planning on keeping it, I'll gladly take it off your hands in a heartbeat. If you are, perhaps we can come to an arrangement. Are you heading off to Hogwarts as well? I could bring a book from my own collection that you're interested in and we could switch. A trade of sorts, I'll even let you read it first."

Hiram was not one to beg, but the search for the book had worn out his options and simply walking away from it now would mean having to start over. While he lacked the bravado of a salesman, Hiram offered the boy his name in hopes of sparking a friendship in return for the book. "My name is Hiram and I'll be a first year student upon the start of the semester. I'm assuming you are the same year as well?"

@Cade Darkbound

Interacting with @Hiram Kantor Mentioning @Rosie Marricott Willew

As much as Cade loved being somewhat of a homebody, there was something about Diagon Alley that drew him to its charming shop windows and busy bustling crowds of curious strangers. The upcoming first-year managed to escape the townhouse via floo network. Careful to leave a note of his whereabouts should Peggy come looking for him. A pocket full of gold and a whole day to himself held a promise of fun. But where to go first?

Cade found his feet leading him towards the Wizard Wheezes joke shop. Any student his age would be drawn to the loud paint job of the building and of course the infectious laughter of the items held within. But something about it made the young wizard hesitate. Cade didn't want to spend his galleons on laughs that would only last a couple of days. Instead, he turned entering the building entitled Quality Quidditch Supplies. Inside, Cade found the dim displays of various English quidditch teams. There were kits and guide books and other bits and bobs any quidditch player would love. Above the head, a dozen of golden snitches zoomed in the rafters, a staff member chasing wildly behind with a net. Cade gathered around with other boys his age and drooled over a rather expensive broom that the pros preferred. Cade did not consider himself in any way a quidditch athlete but he did enjoy watching the matches play out. He had his own Wimbourne Wasps jumper at home.

Cade eventually drew himself out of the shop and onto the cobblestone street once more. He was feeling a little lonely, perhaps he should have taken his sister along? No, she'd slow him down and the thought of the two escaping without Peggy's knowledge would surely get himself into trouble. Cade knew exactly what would make him feel at least a little better. He made his way to the Flourish and Blotts.

The book store held a heavy scent of gathering dust and old ink. Cade perused the well-stocked store. There was a shelf specifically for Hogwarts first years, but Cade didn't pay it any attention. He passed the ruckus those excitable students made. How could they be so happy to leave home? Cade went deeper into the store, quite pleased that he already managed to grab his supplies the week before. He felt the sleek polished walnut press against him. His new magic wand was eager to perform for him. Cade had waved it around a few times at home only to be howled at by Peggy as he magicked their house-elf to become a curious shade of periwinkle. Cade tried to swallow the chuckle that suddenly tickled his throat. The coloring effects sadly have still not disappeared and every time Dusty rounded a corner in the house Cade had to duck inside his room and laugh manically under his pillow.

Cade glanced at the titles upon a stack of books in the back corner. The boy was surprised they had Mango Space Wizard in stock. The fiction title was meant to amuse kids a little younger than Cade. And he had the entire series collected in his bedroom. He vividly remembered the look on Rosie Willew's face when she admonished him for liking the series. He recalled her insulting the character Finn and how dull a villain he was. The entire series was pretty cheesy, but that's why Cade had adored them. Cade's eyes moved on to another title close to Captain Mango's series. Pesky Adventures of Pesty Pirate. That had been one Rosie adored. He wondered if she had the entire collection.

Cade remembered he needed a book to finish his collection on the space series he was currently reading. A Modern Manual on Magicial Martians by Warwick Wallace Junior. Of course, it wasn't a real manual because of course there are no living creatures on the planet Mars. But it was a mock guide and manual on how wizards would live in space. There were ten books in the entire series. Cade happened to be missing two of them. Cade pulled the faded blue-bound book from the shelf and perched himself on a pile of dusty encyclopedia volumes that looked as if they were rotting there for centuries. He opened Magical Martians and read the author's note to himself.

As he turned the page a voice started talking close by. A voice that had an underlying accusatory tone. And it was directed to him. Cade's dark chocolate eyes flashed up to meet the boy. Olive skin and piercing grey eyes. Eyes that held a twinge of manipulation in their depths though well hidden. Cade furrowed his brows and closed the book working out what sort of deal the Hogwarts student was trying to persuade him into. "I er... I was planning on buying it." Cade cleared his throat and tried once more. "A trade sounds fair, once I've finished reading it. What sort of books do you have that might interest me?" He blinked black bangs out of his eyes and chewed his tongue. If they had a common interest in Magical Martians then surely this boy would have good taste in reading material.

The boy introduced himself as Hiram and asked more about Cade. Hiram. Hiram. It wasn't a name Cade was familiar with. It sounded foreign to the British boy but Cade couldn't detect any unusual accent. "My name is Cade. I'm attending Hogwarts for the first time next month."