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"Irina! For the tenth time already, are you coming or not?" She heard her mother call from downstairs. She had been painting on her canvas all morning. Oil ink was scattered all over her studio's floor and on herself. She was a mess! Her studio was placed on their family house's attic, a tiny place with a small window looking at the backyard.

"I'm coming mum! Just a second, please! I'm sorry!" the girl shouted back. She had to clean herself and change first, before went to Diagon Alley. She was so carried out by her painting and by the music that she was listening on her radio that she missed time. She forgot completely her appointment with her parents after lunch.

Once she got ready, she went down the stairs reaching for her coat on the hanger by the door. Her parents were already waiting at the old dad's car. "Come on now, hurry! I got more things to do, you know?" Her mother was clearly upset with her. Her father just sighed and winked at her. He was always the calming presence at home, many times I admired his patience, between me and mother was always a storm coming.

Finally we got to the Leaky Cauldron, my father waved at the bartender and went for the back of the pub. Me and my mother fallowed behind, she was still getting her hands on my hair trying to make it more...well...like it has seen a hairbrush. "For Merlin's sake Irina! You knew where we were coming! If you want to buy a dress you need to look at least more presentable! Frogs don't wear dresses!" I rolled my eyes and sighed heavily "Mum, please! I'm not even sure if I want to go to the ball" Ingrid Sousa caught her daughter's shoulders then, turning Irina around to face her "Nonsense!" she said looking hopelessly to the girl's long dark brown hair and shaking her head slightly.

Passing throughout the brick stone wall they hurried into the cobblestones street. The wizarding alley welcomes its visitors with all kinds of shops, restaurants and other businesses. All of her items to attend Hogwarts were already bought. Today Irina and her parents went straight to Madam Malkin’s shop. It was a tall building, it's facade was made of grey brick tiles. It's doors and widows were made and decorated with lilac painted wood. Golden letters were written advertising what one could find inside that famous shop: Fine Robes and Gowns, School & Formal Wear.

Since this was her first year attending Hogwarts, she had to buy her dress before went to school. First years are not aloud to live the castle's walls until Christmas break. So she went from hanger to hanger, fabric to fabric...while her mother was talking to the shop owner. Mrs Sousa obviously already had the right idea for a proper dress. Irina sighed for the millionth time that day and turned towards another line of clothes. Was when she noticed the ebony black haired boy. He was taller then her but by his features she thought he must be her age. Is he here to buy his attire for the ball too? Irina was a very shy young girl, she had never been in a muggle school, so she's not used to make new friends. She wished she had enough courage to say hi, without feeling to embarrassed and to nervous. Just the idea of saying a simple greeting made her anxious and her heart beat a little bit faster. However, while she was pondering if she could get through her insecurities, the boy looked up at her through his long slender lashes, and was when she noticed that she has been staring at him for some time now, he must have noticed of course. "Good job into not making it weird! How embarrassing” she said softly to herself. She could feel her cheeks getting warm, she could almost see the deep blush on her face. Well...now you have to say hi! she thought encouragingly fiddling with her fingers nervously. Breathing a long and calming breath through her nose and shyly raising her hand, she finally spoke, giving the boy a timid smile "H..Hi!" Her mouth was dry and her words came out in a almost soundlessly thin voice. If it was physically or magically possible, she would have disappeared in that moment.

”Aw, sweetie, this elven prince outfit would look absolutely dashing on you!” Somehow, even though it was Wynn who was the Fall Ball attendee, his mother was more excited than him. ”This one does fit the fairytale theme. Our Nini would look handsome in any outfit, don’t you think?” His dad remarked. Correction, both his parents were more excited than him.

Wynn, on the other hand, wasn’t as thrilled. Even in a school of 656 people, he only managed to forge a friendship with two, and that was because he got lucky and they approached him first. How was he supposed to find a date for the ball? He knew that lovers often went together, but he had no plans to find a significant other any time soon. Not to mention that he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of having a significant other, he couldn’t possibly be able to be a proper boyfriend when he couldn’t even initiate platonic relationships.

”Do you like this one, Wynnie?” asked his mum, holding up a navy blue tunic-esque shirt, with a silver sash and intricate lining. ”I’ve gone through the whole shop, and this elven one still looked the best.” Wynn had to admit, the attire looked dazzling enough that he would probably want to wear it even if it weren’t for the upcoming ball. A smile blossomed on his face, and his mother was elated, glad that he seemed to like her choice, and ushered his dad to checkout.

As he waited for his parents, he aimlessly wandered along the racks, admiring the clothing unique to the wizarding world. But he couldn’t help the feeling that something was… off. He could faintly feel a gaze on his neck. Should I turn around? What do I do if I do? Okay, what if I pretended to glance over to see who it is…ok, yeah, that would probably work.

And so he did. A brown-haired girl was staring at him with a blush on her cheek. “H..Hi!" the girl breathed. A reddish blush of his own crept on his face, and he squeaked out a few words, his voice stuck in his throat. “Oh! Ahem, h,,hi!” His eyes darted to the side, too shy to look at the girl he had exchanged greetings with. Unconsciously, he raised his hands near his chest and put them together out of a nervous habit.

“Um,” Wynn paused, racking his brain trying to think of something say. “I uh, are you going to Hogwarts too?” That was such a lame question, he thought to himself.

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Irina felt a mix of things. She was so embarrassed and nervous when the boy looked at her. She was afraid that he would see how weird she is, thought he wouldn’t answer to her. But he did…he did and looked as embarrassed as herself.

When he avoided her gaze, she looked dawn at her feet, putting her hands on both sides of her face trying to make her cheeks feel less warm with her cold touch. Now she felt also bad for putting him in a position he couldn’t ignore her, even if apparently, talking wasn’t also he’s first choice. Would he have said something if I choose to ignore him in that awkward moment? Would he felt better if I just did? Irina didn’t what to feel like she was putting another person in an unwanted situation. Maybe this wasn’t the smartest way to make a new friend! But then she heard him, for her surprise and some relief, he seemed to want to keep talking with her. Or was he just being polite? Putting her drowning thoughts aside and gaining some courage again, she looked up to him, she searched for his eyes, she always talked to people looking them in the eyes...but he was keeping looking at something else trying obviously to avoid her gaze as much as he could. Yeah...definitely he didn't want to talk to her. She felt sad, insecure and like...well...like an idiot. She decided to answer him quickly then, saving both from that uncomfortable circumstance. She took a breath again, cleared her throat while straightening her shoulders in hope of gaining herself some composure. She tried then, to make her voice sound more confident then what she was most certainly feeling, "Yes, It's my first year!" She made a half smile, feeling good at herself for not acting frightened again. Although, her heart kept racing like it had his own will to get out of there. She made a glance at the dark haired boy, she wanted to know if he was looking at her now or if she scared him even more. "Are you buying your outfit for the ball?" she decided she should also be polite by showing him that she was also interested in getting to know him too. She wanted to look up at the boy...but thinking that she was imposing herself to much at him, she kept her eyes on the line of clothes, picking up one dress that called her attention. Its fabric was a black chiffon with little shinning stars. She thought it assembled how she felt right now, someone getting out of her shadows of comfort and having a little shine of hope.

Wynn was doing everything in his power to stay calm, control his breathing, and stop his cheeks from adorning a bright shade of crimson.

"Oh, cool! It's going to be my first year too." He shifted his weight from one leg to another.

It seemed like talking to someone new without anyone he knew accompanying him was still too far out from his comfort zone. Sure, this wasn’t as bad as the mandatory self introduction on the first day of primary school, but it was getting pretty close. He still remembered the embarrassment he felt when he was forced to introduce himself in front of the whole class. The heat on his cheeks that day was a feeling he would probably never forget. Thankfully, he was still able to make a few friends after that horrifying experience.

Okay, you can do this. You have to face these kinds of situations eventually, it just happened a bit earlier than you expected. You can do this. It’s just small talk, chatting. You’re fine. You've done this before, you can do it again.

After the small pep talk he had in his head, he felt a bit calmer, and his heartbeat wasn’t racing as fast as it was before. Maybe he really could do it this time, successfully holding a conversation.

"Are you buying your outfit for the ball?" He heard her ask.

“Yeah!” Wynn replied, strengthening his voice as best as he could. “Well, my mum did most of the picking and buying, actually,” he added with a slightly nervous chuckle.

“That’s a beautiful dress!” he said a bit too fast, looking at the gorgeous chiffon garment the girl picked up from a nearby rack. “Are you going to get that?” He asked, trying to keep the flow of the conversation. His nerves still felt like they were bouncing on a trampoline, and the awkwardness he emanated didn’t dissipate one bit, but he felt like he was getting less nervous, slowly but surely.

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Irina heard him say that it was also his first year at Hogwarts. Perhaps his experience in making new acquaintances were the same as her own...perhaps he was having the same feelings, the same thoughts? She thought if in his place, if someone was starring at her at a store, she would think that that person would had a problem or would be really weird...was he thinking that of her? She almost wanted to shrink on her place...but when she asked if he was buying his outfit for the ball he answered her in a nicely and kind way. He said that his mum did all the work for him, he even laughed a bit. That made her relax...kind of! She was still feeling insecure and her mind seams to lost its thoughts when she let the nerves taking care of her.

When she picked up that piece of fabric that called her attention, the boy was finally looking in her direction. Not at her, but to the gorgeous dress she was holding in her hands “That’s a beautiful dress!” She heard him say, his quick words caught her by surprise, what made her look back at him. “Are you going to get that?” He asked then.

In that moment a thought came to her mind...if she was bold enough, she would have made this conversation went in a way that could spare her from getting into the ball alone and from days of nervousness any time she would thought a boy would try to invite her. The second part being most unlikely to happen! If she had enough courage, she would have told him that she hadn't been invited yet and if he was alone too, they could went together...all of that, if it was not for all the "ifs". She didn't felt remotely that confident, she was to shy and to awkward, she would probably never say the right words, she would appeared even more like an idiot. So she decided to go for the safest way, "Y...yes, I think I will! If my mother agree I guess..." She told him looking at the boy's almond-shaped eyes, she noticed they were of a deep brown color. She said it with a softly voice and a half smile. Then she heard some sweat voice calling. She couldn't pick up the name but by the boy's expression must have been his mother. "Well...see you at Hogwarts then..." She told him waving shyly still with her cheeks in a slightly pink shade. She was left with a feeling that hopefully, she would see him again and hopefully he wouldn't leave with the wrong impression of her.