Simple black work robes? With a striped tie? And a black pointed hat straight out of a cartoon? Honestly, Nerissa was disgraced. How could that be the uniform of the esteemed school of magic? Was it some kind of mistake? She was expecting something a little more refined, elegant. But no, it wasn't a mistake at all, and Nerissa was forced to make her departure from Madam Malkin's with the odd bunch of clothing. Well, it wasn't all that bad, at least it was a nice, clean black, but she still held her tongue when she smiled a bitter goodbye to the store owner.

Lingering outside the shop, Nerissa waited for her governess to come strolling over with the rest of her supplies. She'd been entrusted to fetch it all for Nerissa, while she went to choose her wand and get her robes fitted. Of course, her governess would have rather done it all, but Nerissa insisted on doing some of the work. The poor woman had enough on her hands. Speaking of which, where was she?

Pursing her lips, Nerissa glanced down the road. While many witches and wizards bustled through the lanes, her governess was not one of them. How long, she thought darkly, does it take to buy a few simple things? She knew she should have gone instead. Nerissa didn't understand why her father had sent the woman at all, instead of just coming himself, or sending Nerissa alone. Besides, he was just holed up at the Manor anyways, and Nerissa would have loved if he came. Alas, he did not, and she was stuck waiting in a packed avenue, alone.

Oh wonderful, someone was talking to her. A stranger? Probably. Her governess? Probably not. But a waste of her time? Definitely. It was a shame Nerissa couldn't just ignore her surroundings, but she grudgingly directed her attention to the nuisance that had interrupted her.

The nuisance was a girl, perhaps Nerissa's age, or at most a year younger (certainly not older). Nerissa scrutinized her in seconds, assessing everything from the slant of her posture to the tone of her voice. Her nervous but genuine smile indicated that she was shy (Nerissa wondered if this was a common theme, or just from the thrills of going to Hogwarts) and her big, brown eyes spoke of innocence. She looked rather like a lost puppy, looking happily into the cold gaze of Nerissa's own eyes. Perhaps Nerissa could throw a stick to send her off?

'Are you going to attend Hogwarts too?' the puppy asked, her tail practically wagging. Nerissa knew she hadn't given the girl a fair chance, but how could she? Their demeanours contrasted so sharply that it was almost comical. Clenching her teeth, Nerissa agreed silently to hold her tongue until she knew the girl better. After all, the puppy could have come from a good litter, and if she did, Nerissa wasn't about to make a fool of herself in front of another pureblood.

'Yes, that is correct,' she replied, her voice steel. Softening, she forced a grim smile and added, 'I assume you are, as well?' It was difficult for her to be so pleasant towards the puppy, but she'd had years of practice. Mostly from pulling secrets from her staff, but also from enduring weekends at her Grandparents: their friend's children were often miserable. 'Of course, I've known I was going to go since I was a child.' While this girl could be a pureblood, it was important for Nerissa to assert her dominance early on. Better the puppy know her blood, before it yaps a lie to its owner.

Where was that dammed governess? She was late by nearly five minutes, leaving Nerissa to entertain some kid. A kid that was her age, yes, but a kid nonetheless.

"Yay! We're going to be at the same school for years, isn't that so cool?" exclaimed the girl, the hints of a greek accent escaping ever so slightly from her tongue.

“So cool,” Nerissa replied. The blank expression on her face indicated that her real opinion was quite the opposite.

"Ah- my name is Elektra by the way." The girl stuck out her hand, clearly meaning for Nerissa to shake it. Elektra’s energy smile harshly contrasted the annoyed expression Nerissa wore, but this didn’t seem to mind her. After a second, Nerissa gave in, quickly shake Elektra’s hand with the tips of her fingers.

“Astor,” she muttered, just second before another voice spoke.

“Ne-ris-sa!” called her governess, her long skirt swearing against the dusty road. Even compared to the Astor standards, the woman was painfully old fashioned. “It’s time to get lunch, or did you forget?” she chirped. Of course, Nerissa hadn’t dared forget and had in fact been waiting for it, but try telling that to her governess. “Oh!” the woman said as she spotted who Nerissa was talking to, “Who is this young lady? A new friend? You must invite her over for tea sometime! Or better yet, to lunch with us right now. What do you think of that, dearie, hmm?”

Before Elektra could say anything, Nerissa spoke up for her, “Yes, well, we really do need to be on our way. Maybe another time, yes?” She looped her arm through the one of her governess and pulled her along the road. After they’d gotten a safe distance away, she glanced backward. The girl looked so small, so alone, so mercilessly oblivious.

Nerissa quickly redirected her gaze ahead, but she couldn’t stop the small twinging feeling inside of her. It was clear that she’d been extremely rude to the girl, and with Elektra being so very innocent, Nerissa wondered if she even knew.