The first thing Xin did upon receiving her acceptance letter was to pack her stuff and get out of her house. Things weren't good at home. In fact, the very worst. Father and mother are arguing again because of that Mabel, or Ms Carter as she liked to be referred to. Xin loathed that woman, and she knew mother did too, not that she would ever admit it in front of dad. But when the mother-and-daughter were alone, mother said how she wished Mr Fang would stop spending so much time with his secretary and more with his family. That was another story.

As mother still had work to do, and father went to his office first thing in the morning, Xin was all alone, except for her large trunk standing by her side. She had kindly refused her elder brother's offer to take her to the Leaky Cauldron, as it was surely to be an awful prank. She had to much experienced the darkness of Chen's soul. So here she stood, leaning on a brick wall at the border of Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley.

Enjoying every moment. No sounds of her parents quarreling angrily, no sounds of Chen's heavy metal rock music blasting from his den, no sounds of that Mabel poshly speaking in an annoying tone, it was peace. How could anyone not like this place? But her relief was soon washed away by uncertainty. Where should she go? Certainly not back to her world. So after wandering aimlessly for several minutes, Xin finally reached the place she liked the most - a bookstore curiously called Flourish and Blotts.

Xin pushed open the large wooden doors and inhaled the sweet aroma of parchment - not the same as muggle libraries but still quite preferable. As she roamed the rows and rows of books, all held in magnificent oak shelves, she looked for a desirable book to curl up in an corner and read. What would I find in a magic bookshop? she thought, Certainly not fairytales like Cinderella and Snow White?

The girl was absolutely correct. Instead of muggle tales, Xin found a variety of books with interesting but strange titles. One particular story caught her eye on the top of a shelf. On red leather cover in gold letters spelt out the words The Tales of Beedle the Bard. "Beedle the Bard?" Xin muttered to herself out loud, then lowered her voice sheepishly, as everyone was looking at her. "A storyteller like Mother Goose?" she whispered and reached upwards.

The problem was, Xin was only 4 feet 5 and not that she would like to admit it, but she is really short. Really really petite. She stood on her tiptoes reached until her arms stretched, she jumped, she even tried to climb to that shelf, but Xin still couldn't get the book out. Oh how she wished to grown taller, perhaps learn a spell that could charm it into flying safely into her hands.

Just as she thought the matter was hopeless and trundled off trying to find another book, Xin heard a boy's voice from behind her......

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"Olive- OLIVER! cut it out already!" Olivia snapped at his brother as they made their way along Diagon Alley. Oliver had been taunting his sister, especially ever since returning from his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But as the days until his second year at Hogwarts drew closer, the intensity of his desire to annoy had grown considerably. Olivia, Oliver's sister, was clearly not having any of it that day, primarily because his older brother, who had been a rambunctious mess up until the day he left for Platform 9 and Three Quarters, had been lording over her about his alleged charm expertise and flying skills, which Olivia couldn't believe for a second. It didn't help that they were walking down Diagon Alley, where her bother made a point in expressing his understanding of everything.

"Oh and that's Flourish and Blotts! but you won't need to get anything from there, Olivia. Because you can just use all my hand-me-down books."

Olivia grumbled something unsavoury and walked right past the bookstore, unlike Oliver, who was still standing there, his curious face pressed to the bookstore's glass panels.

"Hold up little sis! I still need to get my own books!"

Oliver asserted, tapping his left pant pocket. To keep her stride going, Olivia twisted her head and said, "That's great for you honestly, you go get your books. I'm going to be somewhere you won't be!" Oliver was taken aback by his sister's attitude, but he decided to leave her alone and went into Flourish & Blotts. Olivia continued to walk through the dense crowds of excited witches and wizards scurrying from shop to shop.

Oliver quickly realised that Flourish and Blotts was unusually quiet; the aroma of paper was pervasive, as was the infrequent page-flipping and interaction with the clerk. Book volumes were elegantly placed on labyrinth-like wooden bookcases. Oliver examined a bookshelf from which he was certain he had taken his first charms book. The befuddled youngster then proceeded through the aisles of bookcases, which were arranged in a way that only the owner understood. Its predecessor, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, was what he was looking for at the time, but it was impossible to locate. Oliver proceeded from aisle to aisle, examining the bookcases for any titles on his list of "2nd Year Essentials" and keeping an eye out for matching spines. Although the second-year student didn't notice much organisation in the bookstore, it was clear that he had just entered the one isle he didn't need to check, which was cluttered with intimidating creative illustrations on book covers that simply never came up in class lectures, in a variety of eye-catching colours.

A young girl, short and fair, stood in the centre, staring up at a tiny, red book nestled inside the shelf's second-highest frame. The small witch averted her gaze from the book and began to walk away, dissatisfied. Oliver was reminded of his sister, and wishing to help the girl, approached the shelf and announced his presence with a booming voice.

"Ah, Beedle the Bard, is there any other copies? No? Well count me lucky then because I might just take this for myself!”

Oliver exclaimed, pulling the book from the shelf with ease due to his slim yet towering physique. Since she reminded him of his sister, Oliver taunted the witch while examining the book in his hand and turning the pages inquisitively. Oliver sent a knowing glance at the tiny witch after closing the book to let her know she would be receiving it. As he peered down at the girl, Oliver gave her an unknowingly dismissive smile.

Xin raised an eyebrow, Who on earth is this boy? she thought while studying him from head to toe. He was really tall and slim, and seemed to tower over the girl like a... well, like a tower obviously.

"Give it back." she folded her arms firmly and glared.

Boys for some reason always seemed to like teasing Xin. Perhaps it was how she was not like those burly girls, large as giants. Or perhaps it was the fact that she was soft as a bunny and much tinier compared to the others. In her first day in kindergarten, Xin had encountered a boy who teased her and made her cry. But when she went home and told mother, the girl was met with waves of criticizing. Instead of feeling sorry for her daughter, Mrs Fang told her to fight back and soon made Xin go to kick-boxing lessons. From that point on, the girl never let a boy getting on to her nerves again.

So when this particular boy tried to tease her, Xin had a trick up her sleeve. She had had too many encounters with Chen. When Chen bullied his little sister, Xin would just stand and glare, waiting for him to stop, as if he was the naive one. If he didn't, which was the situation in most times, then the girl's kick-boxing lessons made use. She would fight. Plain and simple. Her legs were quite sturdy, considering all the practice, and was capable of delivering a strong blow.

So now she just glared menacingly at the boy, tilting her head and leaning on a shelf. Fortunately, after flipping through the book and examining it, he made signs of returning the book to Xin. In a flash, she snatched it out of his hands.

"Thank you so much," she smirked sarcastically, flipping her dark black hair as she did so. "If you don't mind, I'll have this book."

With the book safely in her hands, the girl ran her fingers down the leather covered spine and a tingle shot through her body. "The Tales of Beedle the Bard." she read out loud with satisfaction, "Written by Beedle the Bard." Xin looked up and smiled contemptuously at the boy. As she waited for the boy to reply, the girl made a mental note to thank Chen for all the practice he gave her dealing with boys, when she has the opportunity to do so.

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Oliver gave the witch, who was leaning on the wooden book frame, a mindful gaze as he watched for what she would do next. The towering student held the storybook openly ensuring the witch could see it. The witch lunged forwards at the skinny giant with amazing speed, tugging the book seamlessly from his grasp in an abrupt jab, and as if by magic, the soft, velvety leather in his grip was replaced with air. The young girl, resembling a rabbit, thanked him in a condescending manner and said, "If you don't mind, I'll have this book," while flicking her hair back irritatedly. The girl spoke in a voice and manner resembling Oliver's sister. Oliver was dissatisfied with her response, of which was mainly motivated by the similarities between her and his sister, who had abandoned him at the shop without someone to tease. Oliver resumed his barrage of taunts.

"N-now hold on! what do I get in return?"

Clearly; he had no real interest in tales, nor did he want any compensation, his mind was already occupied with the concept of reading academic texts. Oliver didn't have time to read novels for enjoyment, therefore the only amusement he needs from the bookstore was the irritation of a young girl much like his sister.

"Finder's keepers I say, return the book to me if you aren't going to pay up."

Standing high with his arm outstretched, Oliver towered over the girl menacingly, which he typically exclusively did to his younger sibling. Oliver acted haughtily, motioning for the book to be returned to his palms.

The witch realized that she had gotten quite good at ignoring stupid people, such as Chen and this idiot of a boy. Well at least for a short periods of time. It wasn’t possible to ignore everything he was saying. Well, perhaps ghosts could ignore the words coming out of his mouth, but humans certainly can't. Xin was just opening the book when the boy spoke of giving him something in return. In return? How does he come up with all this nonsense? The witch huffed quietly, and continued to flip through the pages of old parchment, pretending to be engaged in the pictures. Honestly, he was just like a... Xin thought for a moment, before scribbling, just like Chen, in her head.

The boy continued to run his mouth while she read her book effortlessly but Xin remained silent. When he didn't get any replies form the witch, the boy decided to push it further. He threatened her - exactly people with no brains only a large build would do. Namely, a troll. The boy acted as if he really loved this book. "You should really learn some drama." But Xin could see through his poor acting skills. Clearly, he just wanted to tease her and have fun. "Only a troll, and a stupid one, like you, can't see through these poor acting skills."

"You sure you want me to pay? I can deliver a strong blow if you're asking for it." The girl warned, her expression calm with a slight sneer. She inspected her arms for a moment. "Lucky you, I'm pretty good at kick-boxing so you wouldn't suffer for too long." Xin looked the boy in the eyes and raised an eyebrow, challenging him.

Glancing at her watch, Xin realized she was almost late on her schedule - it was almost 2 o'clock! She was supposed to buy a wand when 2 o'clock approached. "Sorry about this," she said sarcastically while easing around the boy and walking to the counter - do wizards call the place where people came a counter? "But I'm quite late," she put the book down and paid six sickles and two knuts. And now this book belongs to me, so no finders keepers I say."smiling scornfully, the girl opened the doors and walked out, before poking her head back in and said sweetly, "Good day!"

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"Now I'm getting somewhere!" Oliver thought as the witch first insulted his intelligence followed by threatening him with violence. The witch, who was clearly losing her temper, amused the reported Troll.

Oliver has gotten violent with his sister before, but the cautions concerning doing so with a stranger—let alone in a well-known bookstore—had slipped his mind. Oliver got ready to continue his verbal jabs despite the possibility that he might receive a more physical retort. However, before he could even say "Butterbeer," the girl stormed out and purchased the book Oliver had been using as the subject of his taunting, disappearing with a sharp remark.

Marching out of the bookstore without a second thought, his countenance changing from a cheerful, humorous expression to a persistent tone as the door chime rang intrusively in his head. His prey had escaped him, having the last laugh; he could not let this continue. Oliver hurried out of Flourish & Blotts with eager eyes, swivelling his head from side to side as he stood in a wall of enthusiastic shoppers. As Oliver had no clue where the owner of the velvet book had disappeared to, his search for the girl was a true testament to his tenacity. Oliver looked high for the back of the girl's black, silky hair, which had served as a sign that the witch had triumphed over him. It took him some time to grasp that the witch was much too short to stand out in the never-ending line of shoppers. The second-year tried a low-level look where legs and shoes moved frantically in too many directions to count, serving him a headache.

Choosing to now avoid the crowd and lingering along the edge of the bustling pathway in the hopes that his target could be doing the same. Oliver jerked his head around and began searching the streets for a young girl who was small and seemingly bossy. He watched from a distance as the girl separated herself from the flowing river of witches and wizards and proceeded in the direction of a brown, old building bearing the sign, "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC." After nearly tripping a dozen or so times, and colliding with enough wizards to warrant another headache, Oliver picked up speed and dashed towards the brown building whilst disregarding the constant barrage of witches and wizards that were between him and the book-holder. With wheezing lips and a wildly growing and contracting chest, Oliver mounted the step between Ollivanders and the witch, spreading his arms broad to block the shop's entrance.

Oliver stood unmoving like a statue, thinking of what teeth-grinding comment he could pass to his target, his teeth trembling in time with his body's booming gasps.

Thread Continuing in Ollivanders