Alex doesn't normally go out of the bookstore, but since things were different this time, she wasn't keen at all.

"Alex, look, the pictures are moving here. Wow."

Alex felt even more overwhelmed by her mother's speech. She was not an innovator, and it still shocked her to learn that she was a witch.

"Mom, I'm not feeling well at all. Can I go out?"

Her father speaks in a more understanding voice.

"Honey, sometimes change is good. But you're right. Okay, go out and breathe. Next to the pills. "

Alex nodded yes. She was carrying medicine with him in case his panic increased.

She was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when she got outside. She sat on the benches by the shop and thought about what had happened during those two weeks.

She learned that she was a witch, that magic was real, and they were now shopping for a school in the enchanted realm.

If only I'd been given some time to digest this, Alex thought

She picked up his mp3 player and opened the song. She began to sing softly as the music began to play. Songs is Alex's voice. It's inside Alex.

@Almo Stoll

The bookshop was…disappointing. Alma expected it to be amazing; she always loved books. She found them fascinating. Entranced in a storyline, twists and turns at every page, heart racing at a thrilling chapter and tears welling at a sad one; it was incredible.

But Flourish and Blotts…she found it somewhat uninteresting. Books lined the shelves but she couldn’t seem to find one she liked; maybe it was because of all the people here. It was way too crowded.

She walked over to her mom, who was currently looking for a book under the name of ‘History of Magic’.

“I have to use the bathroom.” she said, already turning around and leaving when her mother half-mindedly hummed in approval.

Instead of using the bathroom like she said, she opted for stepping out of the bookstore to get a breath of fresh air. She spotted a girl sitting by herself just outside the window. She had her headphones plugged into a small mp3 player, quietly humming to the song playing.

It’s okay Al, her mothers voice rang through her head. Just give it a chance, I'm sure the people here are lovely.

She decided to walk up to the girl and tap on her shoulder.

“Hi, my name’s Alma. Can I sit with you?”

@Alex Are

Alex came back to real life with the hand touching her shoulder. She took off her headphones, turned to the girl and replied In a low voice:

"Hi Alma. My name is Alex. Yes, you can sit here."

Alex studied Alma with a scrutinizing gaze. A sweet girl with brown hair and green eyes was sitting. On the contrary, it was very colorful.

Alex's panic had subsided a little with the arrival of the girl. Normally it was just the music that made it that way. She began to speak a little more easily.

"It's getting very depressing around here, isn't it?"

Alex didn't know what to say, or rather what to do. It cannot be said that she spoke to many people other than her family. That's whys he was ashamed of herself.

"So what's your story? Actually, isn't it a little weird?"

No matter how easily Alex said it, there was still something wrong with him. She wanted to be normal.

'But life is full of surprises. Think about your life. When did you become normal?'

'But you know I'm doing my best to be normal inner voice and being a witch doesn't mean being normal.'

@Alma Stoll

She plopped down next to Alex at the confirmation.

She felt herself being studied silently by the other girl. She should be nervous right now; being closely watched by someone she didn’t know. However the presence of Alex calmed her. She seemed like someone Alma could trust. All she could hope for now is that she didn’t have a zit on her face.

Alex broke the silence with her question. She looked around at the rest of Diagon Alley, or at least the expanse she could see of it. It wasn’t as busy as it would have been early morning or afternoon, things were quieting down and there weren’t as much people shopping and walking.

“I guess it is, isn’t it? I much prefer it this way though. You know…not as many people.”

Comfortable silence filled the air yet again and Alma found herself thinking back to a time that was this calming. Usually, she hated silence with strangers. It made her feel isolated and awkward, wanting to say something but words not being able to scratch their way out of her throat.

Thats when Alex asked for her story. No one had ever done that before. Her story? Usually all the talk was about the other person; what they wanted to do, what their life was like. Alma didn’t really talk about herself with other people.

“Well…um…where do I start…” she trailed off, trying to think of something to say.

“Let’s just say I didn’t really expect to be accepted to Hogwarts.” she decided. “I was always just a normal little kid; always happy and smiling, shy, but loved to talk with the friends I had. I had no idea i’d be a witch.”

She paused, waiting for a reaction from the other girl.

“Then I accidentally pushed a bicycle into a tree.”

@Alex Are

@Alma Stoll
Alex looked around. There weren't that many people, but he was a fan of not having them.

"I actually prefer not to have it. Even this image is too much for me."

Alex was listening carefully to what Alma was saying. In fact, she even looked a little like herself.

"I've never been normal anywhere in my life. But believe me, I've never been open to new things..."

Alex stopped talking for a while because he didn't want to tell Alma the rest of the story. Every possibility was going to her infancy.

"So what are your hobbies, Alma?"

'How nice of you to get into another subject, Alex.'

'I know inner voices I know'

Alex starts scrutinizing Alma as I realize she's trying to change the subject. I wonder how we look from the outside can not help thinking.

Alex felt even more stress. He opened his little bag, took out a small pill, and quickly popped it into her mouth. It can be bad sometimes when there is too much stress.

"Well, do you like to listen to songs? Which song do you think defines it? What do you think about here?"

Alex was looking excitedly at Alma for answers to her questions.

Alma could sympathize with Alex. ‘Normal’ can be a very hard thing to decipher, whether it be going Alma’s way or Alex’s. It made her feel a little bit better knowing that they were going through somewhat of the same thing, being thrust into a new world with no direction. Well of course, other than the careful watch of your outdated witch mother.

“My hobbies? Well, I always liked to draw, do art. I’ve gotten pretty good at it for an eleven-year-old; or so my dad tells me. Sports were never really my thing, but my mom tells me they have a dueling club here. Maybe if I get really good at magic I might try out for that. I did piano lessons for a while, but all I really remember by heart is the Adams Family and Phantom. I’d have to look at sheet music for anything else…”

She trailed off embarrassed as she realized she was rambling. Shoot, i’ve ruined it by talking too much about myself.

She looked over to Alex again and saw her nervously pop open a pill bag and swallow a small tablet. Maybe it was for anxiety; well, I guess we’re going through the same thing.

The pill seemed to gain effect quickly, Alex now looking excitedly to Alma for answers to all her questions.

“I love music, I haven’t thought too much about my favorites though. Here…I don’t quite know. I guess I really liked Ollivanders! He seemed like quite the character, and incredibly friendly! I’ll have to wait until the sorting ceremony when school starts to really make a judgement I suppose. I assume i’ll get Ravenclaw, based on my…uhh…brain. I don’t know though, maybe Hufflepuff would suit me better.” She said that all at once, trying to answer all of Alex’s questions in one breath.

“So what about you? I’m tired of talking all about myself, what’s your story?”

@Alex Are

Alex was listening intently to Alma. She couldn't say anything about school. But she could understand music.

Alex's eyes widened in horror when Alma said she wanted to know her story.

Alex begins to speak without speaking her inner voice.

"I never knew my real parents. They don't even care. They left when I was a baby The reason is very confusing, so my uncle's friend and husband raised him."

'Alex stop.'

'NO'

'I SAİD STOP'

Alex was playing with her fingers without realizing it, she didn't feel comfortable, she was stressed again.

"They never made me feel that way, but I always knew I was different, but that New Year's Eve changed everything..."

Alex fell silent, felt his heart pounding, felt that she couldn't breathe properly. She took out another pill and drank it.

Alex took a deep breath and said:

"I'm sorry if I bore you, I think I spoke too much. Anyway, I'm sorry you're so colorful by the way."

Alex blushes slightly as she misunderstands what you said. She could only see the color red in her own body. That's why she called herself the ice queen.

"What kind of books do you like to read, then?"

@Alma Stoll

Alma felt tears begin to slowly well in her eyes as she listened to Alex’s story. She had always been a very sympathetic person, and listening to this…

She turned her head the opposite direction as to not expose her empathy. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.” she offered. Alex probably heard that all the time; she didn’t need to hear it from Alma too.

“Oh you don’t bore me at all! I find it refreshing to just sit and have a normal conversation anyways.”

Alma turned her head back and cleared her throat to try and compose herself.

“Y-Yeah, I like to read. Mostly fantasy though, these aren’t exactly my type..” she gestured to the bookstore behind them. Alex seemed to be even more filled with anxiety now. If only Alma could do something to console her. Maybe…

She very slowly, very cautiously reached her hand out. She brushed her fingers against Alex’s hand, waiting for a reaction. She had no idea if Alex was actually okay with physical touch; just testing the waters. She was only trying to make her feel better.

That’s when she heard the very loud opening of the shop door, bell jingling as someone stepped out.

“Alma! I’ve been looking all over for you, where’ve you been? Come on now, we only have one more shop to hit before we can head back.”

Her mothers voice hung heavy in the air behind her. She had to leave now; shame, she really liked Alex.

“Well…it seems I have to go now. It was lovely meeting you, i’ll see you around school!” she gave a sweet smile to Alex before getting up and skipping back over to her mother. She really did hope to see Alex at school.

@Alex Are