Tuesday, August 24th, 2021
Potage's Cauldron Shop

Traveling by floo powder wasn't the blonde duos favorite method, but it was an efficient and quick way to get around the wizarding world. A young blonde witch and her daughter, who was nearly identical to her, emerged into Diagon Alley for the second time this month. Last Tuesday, they had only made it to a few shops to knock off some items on Rora's school supplies list. Likely because they were meeting some family friends to jointly pick up supplies and everyone knows how that goes - one hour turns into twelve quite quickly. Today they would pick up the remaining items and be on their way, hopefully in much less time than last week.

The two wandered toward the North Side of Diagon Allley to Potage's Cauldron shop. Rora had a few items to pick up here. She unfolded a piece of parchment from her pocket and read aloud: "Hey mum, looks like I need a standard tin model cauldron, size 2, a box of crystal phials, and copper scales." As the youngest of four, it wasn't uncommon for Rora to get hand-me-down objects, books and clothing from her siblings so she wasn't sure what all her mum was ready to purchase. "You'll need everything on that list. For potion making, you don't want pre-used. Merlin knows your brothers didn't take care of their cauldrons. For all we know, it could explode during your first lesson if you used theirs." Rora's mum, Rose, said with both a chuckle and a wince.

A shop came into view down the cobblestone street and it was obvious they had reached their destination. There were stacks of cauldrons lined outside of the shop in all sizes and metals. A sign hanging above the door read "Cauldrons - All Sizes - Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver - Self-Stirring" Without hesitation, Rora pushed open the door and sauntered in. She already knew potions would be one of her favorite subjects, if not her favorite. Her eyes widened with awe as she watched a self-stirring cauldron in action on one of the shelves. She caught a glimpse of a sign for standard tin cauldrons and went over to collect one. Right beside them were copper scales so she added those inside her cauldron, as if it were a shopping basket. Lost in thought, Rora started roamed aimlessly through the shop, not paying much attention to her surroundings or the other wizards and witches occupying the space.

Word Count: 406 | Featuring @Adelaide Barlowe

Interacting with: @Aurora Accola Mentioning:

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Date: 24th August 2021 Time: Afternoon Outfit: x

Adelaide had been to Diagon Alley plenty of times before, but this particular time was different. This time, Adelaide was going to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies for her first year at Hogwarts! The young girl was walking with a pep in her step today, the welcome letter from Hogwarts clutched tightly in one hand as the other hand was grasping tightly onto her mother's. As the Barlowe family walked through Diagon Alley, Adelaide read the list of supplies that she needed to buy. Her wand was the most important thing on the list, but the girl wanted to save the best for last. "We should probably get your books at Flourish and Blotts first," said her mother. Adelaide nodded, allowing her mother to lead her in the direction of the shop.

After Adelaide had bought all of the books she had needed and had also gotten herself a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the girl exited the shop with all her books clutched tightly in her hands. She had abandoned holding her mother's hand to hold onto her books. "You really look like a nerd right now," Eloise piped up from beside her, "You could've just put them in a bag." That was true, but it also wouldn't give Adelaide the chance to admire the beautiful covers.

Adelaide narrowed her eyes at her sister, "Holding books does not make you a nerd," she snapped, "But, getting a P on your DADA end of year exam does makes you stupid." She smirked as Eloise scoffed, trying to act as if she didn't care, but Adelaide could see her jaw clench slightly in annoyance.

In an attempt to make sure the two wouldn't start fighting again, her father asked her, "Alright, where do you want to go next? Should we go to Potage's Cauldron Shop to get your cauldron?"

Eloise sighed, "I don't need to get a new cauldron but I do need new robes. Can we go to Madam Malkin's first?"

"It's not our fault you ruined your robes. We're going to get my cauldron first." Adelaide declared.

Her mother sighed before placing a hand on Adelaide's shoulder, "Adelaide and I will go and get her cauldron while you and your father go and get you new robes, deal?" Her mother raised an eyebrow at Eloise, her tone leaving no room for argument. Seemingly happy with that idea, Eloise nodded and turned to walk in the direction of Madam Malkin's.

Adelaide and her mother entered Potage's Cauldron Shop, seeing all of the cauldrons just made the girl more excited for Hogwarts. She knew she would enjoy potions, but if she had to guess she would put a bet on DADA being her favorite subject. Her mother went off to find the glass phials that she needed while Adelaide was busy looking at all of the available cauldrons. She checked the letter again for her supplies, which she had left open on top of her pile of books for easy access, Standard tin model cauldron, size 2. If Adelaide had looked up just in time, she might have seen a young girl walking directly towards her, carrying a cauldron and seemingly lost in thought.

The two collided, Adelaide's books falling out of her hand and dropping all over the ground as she nearly lost her balance but was able to right herself at the last minute, "Ow!" She yelled as one of her books landed directly on her foot. "Oh gosh, I am so sorry!" She frantically apologized to the other girl as she bent down to pick up her fallen books and letter.

Tuesday, August 24th, 2021
Potage's Cauldron Shop

There were cauldrons everywhere, naturally. Rora's eyes darted from the copper to pewter to silver to brass cauldrons. She had decided her favorite shade was copper, as it gave off a slightly rose gold finish that she thought looked both feminine but fierce. Imagine the potions I could brew in that thing.

Her thoughts were broken as another person collided with her, causing her new cauldron to fall out of her arms and roll onto the ground with a loud bank. "Erm, oh, owwww!" The force had been so strong that Rora found herself on the ground with a copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander sprawled open on her head. Shutting the book, she grabbed another stray book, which happened to be a copy of Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger. Forgetting all about the throbbing on her bottom and head, she sprang up and looked at the girl. "Sorry but will it be your first year at Hogwarts? I bought these books last week!" Rora had memorized every book she needed and had already gotten a head start reading a few of them.

The girl who she had collided with looked like she was around Rora's age. Her hair was blonde and she had brown eyes. And her fashion sense... well, Rora absolutely loved it. The girl's outfit was all black, chic and tailored well, definitely something Rora personally would wear. "By the way, I'm Aurora but I go by Rora for short." She stuck out her hand, excited at the possibility of meeting a fellow classmate. While she had been ready for Hogwarts for years now, it was still nerve wracking to think about making all these new friends in a foreign place. It would be nice to have a friendly face outside of her family and family friends when she got there.

Word Count: 312 | Featuring @Adelaide Barlowe

Interacting with: @Aurora Accola Mentioning:

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Date: 24th August 2021 Time: Afternoon Outfit: x

Adelaide cringed as the other girl fell onto the ground with Adelaide's copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sprawled open on her head. The cauldron the girl had been holding fell onto the floor with a resounding bang. "Sorry," she grimaced, she was about to help the girl up until the girl sprang up so quickly she nearly gave Adelaide a heart attack. "Yes, actually," Adelaide smiled at the girl, "I am actually a first year! I'm assuming you are too?" She asked as she took Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Magical Drafts and Potions and placed them gently back on the pile in her hands. Thankfully, none of the books had been severely damaged. It would've been rather unfortunate if she had to go and get a new copy a couple minutes after buying her first, her mother probably wouldn't of been delighted at that.

The girl Adelaide had bumped into looked around her age, so Adelaide's assumption that she was also a first year was most likely correct. Adelaide smiled before accepting the hand the girl, who had introduced herself as Aurora, held out. She shook Rora's hand, "I'm Adelaide, it's really nice to meet you! Even though I wish we met in a less... painful way," Adelaide chuckled awkwardly, "Are you alright though? You kind of took a bigger hit than I did." It seemed that the universe was so eager to let Adelaide make some friends that it just had to have made her walk right into what could potentially be her first ever Hogwarts friend. Noticing Rora's cauldron on the ground that the girl had forgotten to pick up, likely from the excitement at the possibility of meeting another first year, she bent down and grabbed the cauldron with her free hand. "Here." She held the cauldron out for Rora to grab.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother walk towards her holding a box of glass phials and some copper scales, "Alright, so here's your glass phials and copper scales," Adelaide's mother began before she caught sight of Rora, "Oh, hello," she looked at Adelaide quizzically. "Oh yeah, this is Rora, we kind of... bumped into each other." Adelaide explained.

Her mother smiled at Rora, "Ah, well it's nice to meet you Rora. Are you a first year as well?" She handed the glass phials and copper scales to Adelaide, who had to try and balance them precariously on top of her pile of books. Noticing Adelaide's slightly dangerous pile with incredibly fragile, breakable items stacked on top, her mother said, "I suppose I'll go and get your cauldron for you so you can set some stuff in it. Try not and break anything until I get back, because I'm going to assume that the bang that just resounded through the entire store a couple of minutes ago was one of you two." She laughed slightly before saying a goodbye to the two girls and walking away to get Adelaide a cauldron.

Tuesday, August 24th, 2021
Potage's Cauldron Shop

Rora was the least bit subtle in almost every aspect of her life, except with school, riddles and wizard's chess. You couldn't get a sly move past her in that game, she always seemed to be several steps ahead. Her gears turned differently than most children around her age. "How wonderful! Yes, I am a first year too. I've been counting down the days and this is actually our second trip to Diagon Alley. My mum got too carried away with one of her friends... You probably know how that goes." Rora rolled her eyes and folded her arms, remembering the hours that she had been trapped in Diagon Alley last week trying everything to signal to her mum that it was time to leave. Once that woman started talking, she never stopped. Guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree with Rora.

Shaking off the awkwardness, Rora shot Adelaide a friendly grin and waved her hand nonchalantly. "Oh I've got three brothers. This was nothing compared to the rough housing they do! Might as well add to the many battle scars." Chuckling, she took her cauldron back from Adelaide and examined it. It was beautiful and looked just like all the others on the shelves, surprisingly. "Honestly lucky that there aren't any bumps and bruises on this thing!" Rora would have been devastated if her brand new cauldron for her favorite subject was in shambles. Rora: 1; Diagon Alley: 0.

A woman appeared and Rora assumed it must be Adelaide's mum. She gave her a friendly nod and wave. "Yes, hello! Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. .. Adelaide's mum. Sorry, didn't quite get her last name yet. I am a first year. Cannot wait to get off and learn the tricks of the trade!" Wizarding parents fascinated Rora. She wanted to know all about their professions and enjoyed guessing what house they were in, usually she was pretty spot on. Now was not the time though, or else Rora would be stuck in a similar scenario to last week where the conversation went on for hours. Once Adelaide's mum disappeared, Rora continued their conversation. "So did your parents go to Hogwarts? What house were they in?" Possibly a little intrusive but on-brand for Rora. She was naturally inquisitive and always wanted to know what made someone tick.

Word Count: 388 | Featuring @Adelaide Barlowe

Interacting with: @Aurora Accola Mentioning:

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Date: 24th August 2021 Time: Afternoon Outfit: x

She hadn't even attended Hogwarts yet and she had already met another first year, Adelaide could count herself quite lucky. Hopefully this meant that she'll have a friend during the first week and won't have to spend said week standing around, not really knowing who to go over to and talk to. Adelaide wouldn't call herself an extroverted person, sure she would talk to someone if someone started a conversation with her and Adelaide liked them, but she would never really be the one to initiate the conversation, unless you really intrigued her. So, honestly, bumping into Rora was possibly a good thing for her. She let out a laugh at Rora's comment, "Yes, I do know how that goes. Parents always talk for hours when they say they're only going to be 10 minutes! This is my first trip to Diagon Alley, well, first trip to get my school supplies. I've been here plenty of times before but never to get supplies for my first year, so this one is an extra special trip. I'm sure you understand."

"Three brothers?" She gasped, she knew how rough and annoying young boys can be so she felt incredibly sorry for Rora, "I feel so bad for you!" She laughed, "I'm glad I don't have any brothers." Adelaide did have a sister, who in her opinion was pure evil, but at least the two had never actually physically fought before. Unless you counted the time Eloise had pulled Adelaide's hair when she was 6, and Adelaide stabbed her arm with her nails. "Yeah, that's good that there's no bumps on it, wouldn't want to damage a cauldron before paying for it. I don't think the shopkeeper would be too happy about that."

Adelaide had completely forgotten she had failed to mention her last name to Rora, and she was also certain that Rora never mentioned her last name either. Chuckling slightly at Rora's awkward 'Mrs... Adelaide's mum', she waited until her mother had left the two alone before telling her. "I completely forgot I didn't tell you my surname! It's Barlowe. I'm also certain you didn't give me yours though, so I'd say it'd be fair if I got yours in return." Adelaide was a bit unsure about why Rora was asking about her parents' Hogwarts houses, but she didn't let it show. Some people are just naturally curious, so is Adelaide, but on subjects that actually interest her. You'd probably never find her asking her friends what Hogwarts houses their parents are in. Still, she responded with a smile, "Yes, both of my parents attended Hogwarts. My mother was a Ravenclaw and my father was a Slytherin. I'm not sure what house I'd be in though, I'm thinking Ravenclaw because I do take after my mother a lot but Slytherin is also a likely possiblity." The topic about what Hogwarts house you think you belonged in was a topic Adelaide could go on about for ages, she couldn't wait to actually find out because she was practically dying from not knowing her Hogwarts house yet.

Tuesday, August 24th, 2021
Potage's Cauldron Shop

Playing into Adelaide's description of parents, Rora let out a very dramatic sigh with a smile spread across her lips. Parents know kids just want to have fun and get into mischief, so why did they always rattle on for hours about boring things like work and the latest hot gossip about other adults? "Oh yes, I can't describe the feeling I have today picking out my supplies but it is so much different than all the other times I've been. I guess it is just starting to feel real." Adelaide must have been from a wizarding family if she said she had been here loads of times before. Rora glanced around, it was usually obvious who was part of a muggle family and who wasn't. Her dad often looked very out of place but it was hard not to giggle at him. He was always envious that he didn't have a magical bone in his body and found the wizarding world extremely fascinating.

Amusement spread across her face as she raised her eyebrows at Adelaide. Brothers weren't that bad. "So no brothers for you. Noted. Do you have any sisters? I've got one. She's going to be a second year Hufflepuff." Her head tilted to the side. Rora knew loads of kids who were only children and felt a pang of sympathy for them. Thinking back to her favorite memories in life so far, they all included playing with her siblings during their childhood in Scotland.

Grimacing and cringing, Rora thought of her mum's reaction if she had already broken her new cauldron before it was even purchased. "Mum would have sent me a howler before school even started, just to prove a point of taking care of my things." She shuddered at the thought. The Barlowe name didn't ring a bell to Rora but the wizarding world ends up being quite small so who knows if they had mutual family friends. "My last name is Accola! My muggle father ended up taking my mum's surname. If you ever have been to Knockturn Alley, you may have come across my aunt and uncle's shop, Accola's Artificer Antiques." While Knockturn Alley had quite a low reputation and was frequented by dark wizards, Rora found her family's shop inviting and intriguing. It was full of trinkets and trifles from all over the world.

She clung onto every word Adelaide said about Hogwarts and houses. As a dreamer to her core, she fantasized on a daily basis what it would be like to be in each of the houses. "How wonderful! My mum was a Hufflepuff and her siblings were Slytherins. Four of my siblings are Hufflepuffs and one is a Ravenclaw." She stroked her chin, trying to picture what the sorting hat will blurt out when it's her turn to be placed. "I really have no idea where I'll be placed. Each house has wonderful traits that I'd love to embody. I would be especially honored to be in Ravenclaw, though. A lot full of wisdom and creativity sounds the most exciting to me." Her bias was shining through and she tried to catch herself. Wherever I am placed, I will be content. Stop over-fanaticizing, Rora.

Word Count: 535 | Featuring @Adelaide Barlowe

Interacting with: @Aurora Accola Mentioning:

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Date: 24th August 2021 Time: Afternoon Outfit: x

"I know, right? This time feels so much more real now that we're actually picking out our own supplies!" Finally someone else who understood how exciting this time was. Going to pick up her own school supplies was so much more exciting than having to follow Eloise around while she's picking out her supplies. Adelaide hated that, and Eloise knew it. She always used to tease Adelaide that she was too young to attend Hogwarts, and to make matters even worse Adelaide had barely shown any signs of magic until she was 10. Eloise had really teased her about that. Anger flared up inside her at the thought, but she shoved it down quickly and refocused her attention back on the girl in front of her.

As if on cue, Rora just asked Adelaide if she had a sister. "Oh yeah, I have a sister," she scoffed, the corner of her mouth turning up in disgust, "I'd rather not talk about her though." Hopefully Rora would take the hint and not ask Adelaide anymore questions about her sister. She would rather not have her mood ruined by having to talk about her, if she didn't have to see her while Eloise was away getting new robes, she definitely didn't want to think about her.

Adelaide's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of Knockturn Alley, but she quickly schooled her face into neutrality. Could she possibly be talking to someone with dark wizards in her family? She had never been to Knockturn Alley before, her parents forbade it. The place had a terrible reputation, known for the dark arts, so she was never interested in going there anyway. She looked Rora up and down as if analyzing her, the girl didn't look like she could be associated with dark wizards, so maybe her aunt and uncle's shop was an exception. "Um, no," she answered after a couple seconds of awkward silence, "I've never been to Knockturn Alley before. What does your aunt and uncle sell in their shop?" Best to ask, Adelaide would rather be safe than sorry.

"Wow, you sure do have a lot of Hufflepuffs in your family," she let out a laugh, "Ravenclaw would be a pretty cool house," she agreed with Rora, "but I also feel I have some Slytherin qualities as well." The bad reputation Slytherin gets about being associated with dark wizards is idiotic, in Adelaide's opinion. Dark wizards can come from any house, it doesn't matter if you were sorted into Slytherin or not. Her father was a Slytherin, and he's the farthest thing from a dark wizard you could possibly be. Honestly, some people probably don't even look at the traits associated with each house before labelling all Slytherins as evil. "I'm honestly glad the sorting hat does the sorting and we don't have to do it ourselves, because honestly, I would be lost on where to put myself." Are you even a child of wizarding parents if you don't think about what Hogwarts house you would be in constantly? It was a thought that ran through Adelaide's mind nearly every day.