After a nice and hearty meal at the Leaky Cauldron - I wanted to try something local, as a genuine tourist haha ​​and tried the Jumping Peas Soup before devouring a tasty Leaky Burger - Mum said it would be good to start the afternoon with Madame Malkin's shop.
"A nice shop where you can find everything you need on your list and at a reasonable price," she said knowingly.

It's simple, I'm curious but reasonable on one point: we would surely need more than a day to discover all the corners of Diagon Alley. What we don't have. So I don't argue and nod with a smile to mom. I trust her and I know she will do her best to help me check off this list. And luckily, we already have the books and potions materials!

But there is one stage of our shopping that I am particularly looking forward to: buying my wand. I'm quite impatient. Mom told me it was the wand that chooses its wizard. I hope mine will find me easily.

But first, Madame Malkin's store. In a way, Mom is right: once it's done, we won't have to think about it anymore.
Not that I don't like clothes. But I'm not that kind of girl who can spend hours shopping. I like something, I try it, it looks good, cool, it doesn't - next ! And I'm not that picky in terms of choosing something.


As soon as we walk through the door, a soft chime rings, announcing our arrival.
As always, I turn my head everywhere looking at the decor but even if it is nice, nothing special to report.
A witch, surely Mrs Malkin, at her counter welcomes us with a smile and a word. I greet her and as Mom walks over to her, I start wandering around the shop, touching clothes with my fingertips. What do I need already ? Ah yes, three plain black work dresses, a pointy hat, a pair of protective gloves and a winter cape, my memory tells me.

As Mom and the witch talk about tags, I come to a shelf of pointy hats. By rote, I take one and put it on. Kind of strange. I turn around and notice a mirror. A large standing mirror. This might help.
I go there and look at my reflection. Yeah, definitely weird.

@Alyssea Brown

end of july 2023; interacting with @Hailey Cochran

Soon after summer camp ended and Alyssea hopped on the train, she arrived in London. Her first year at Hogwarts was certainly an experience. When her parents came to greet her at the station, Alyssea gave her the biggest hug. Her brother would join them soon; he was catching the flight to England as they spoke, Alyssea's mother said.

For now, her dad took her bag and suitcase as they headed towards Diagon Alley. Something about wanting a drink, dad said, and Alyssea wasn't one to complain. But as they sat down for a drink at the Leaky Cauldron, her mother asked, "Do your robes still fit you?"

Alyssea raised an eyebrow. "Uhh, yeah?"

Her mum only chuckled. "Right, to Diagon Alley we go. You're a growing child and new robes are a must."

Again, Alyssea wasn't one to complain, so when her dad finished his drink and paid, they left to Madam Malkin's. She didn't want to admit it, but her robes did feel a bit tight on her. Growth spurts or whatever, but she was quite small when she first fitted them. How much were robes again? She hoped they weren't too costly.

They arrived at the shop and Alyssea's mother pulled her towards the robes. Plain black work robes, Alyssea reminded her. But she only rolled her eyes and reminded her back that she had also studied at Hogwarts and knew the uniform. Right, of course.

Alyssea looked around. There was another girl standing in front of a mirror with a pointy hat. She smiled. Those hats seemed unnecessary, considering Alyssea never wore hers at school. Whatever reason she needed it in her supplies list, it was forgotten at the bottom of her closet until she cleared her room out for the end of the year.

Alyssea approached the girl and waved at her in the mirror.

As I stared at my reflection, thinking how weird it was, I was about to take the hat off.

My fingers moving up to do this, I notice movement in the reflection.
A girl waves at me.
I freeze then slowly turn to my feet to watch the brunette girl approach.
An embarrassed smile spreads across my lips as I finally take off the hat.
Did she also think that hat doesn't suit me? Does she think we know each other? Her friendly face does not come back to me.
Is she here like me, fighting boredom in this store?

Maybe she's a future student like me, I think as my eyes notice that she doesn't look much older than me.
- Hi, my lips finally articulate. Are you also looking for the perfect hat? I ask, replacing the pointy hat on its shelf, among the others. If so, I have to warn you, it can give a… certain air, I say then with a little pout. Unless it's just me.

As i await her answer, i discreetly look at her, turning to another shelf presenting accessories as leather belt and ties. Do i need to wear this too ?
With my fingertips, I touch the fabric of it before moving towards the young girl standing near a portico displaying dresses. My attention still on her.

@Alyssea Brown

end of july 2023; interacting with @Hailey Cochran

The girl smiled, likely out of embarrassment. But Alyssea wasn't there to make any comments. "Hi, are you going to Hogwarts this year?"

Bit of a forward introduction, but Alyssea wasn't the type to beat around the bush when meeting people for the first time. Besides, why else would a young girl be in Madam Malkin's store if she wasn't preparing to go to magic school?

When the girl asked Alyssea about finding a hat, Alyssea shook her head. "No, I've already got my own." Alyssea chuckled at the girl's mention about it having a"certain air". She knew what it meant. "I'll be honest, though, I hardly wore mine."

"Anyways, I'm Alyssea Brown. What's your name?"

The girl turned towards the accessories shelf with the ties and belts. Subconsciously, she raised an arm towards her neck and sighed in relief. Ties looked very nice, but some days, Alyssea just wanted to forego the accessory. Maybe she needed to learn how to tie it right.

"I don't believe you'll need a belt," Alyssea began, tilting her head in the hopes it would come back to her head. "You do need a tie, though. I can't remember when I got my Hufflepuff one, though. Probably not long after I got sorted into it."

As I greet her quickly, she asks me out of the blue if I'm going to Hogwarts soon. I nod my head before asking him about the hat.

Her turn to shake her head, explaining that she already has one. Oh, so she must already be a student at Hogwarts, I suddenly think as my lips simply articulate "Oh, I see."

His remark about the pointy hat given to the wearer - actually me, here - is quite funny and I smile back at her. I don't know if I'm right or not, but she hinted to me that she wasn't wearing her hat because of this particular reason I was talking about.

As I turn to the accessories shelf with the ties and belts, she mentions that I won't need a belt but I will need a tie soon. I look at her furtively while listening to her.
She was sorted into Hufflepuff.
Helga's house.
Mom obviously told me about the four houses. I mean, she explained to me that the school was kind of divided into 4 houses that emphasized certain personality traits. She didn't say much more even though I asked her. She did not want to spoil me on the distribution or on the values ​​put forward by these houses - so as not to "influence" my distribution, this precision had of course questioned me. But I remember the four names. I rolled them again and again on my tongue, dreamily.

I come back to reality looking at the brunette. I smile again and pretend to look at the dresses next to her on the portico.
- Hufflepuff uh ? A tie, you said ? So...since we don't know which house we're going to be sorted into...I'm guessing the school then hands out the appropriate colored tie right after ? What color is yours ? I ask her innocently. Oh, and when did you start your schooling there? Just curious.

I don't want to be a girl who's too excited and asks too many questions. I just feel like... I don't know that much.
But hey, I'm wrong, aren't I? Mom told me about the school several times – just putting the details aside for her greatest pleasure.

@Alyssea Brown

end of july 2023; interacting with @Hailey Cochran

Alyssea nodded. "Yes, after the sorting, you'll get the appropriate colour tie. And since I'm a Hufflepuff, I got a yellow one." She would show her tie and robes, but they were currently buried at the bottom of her suitcase with the rest of her items. They weren't particularly necessary during her time at summer camp. After all, everyone wore casual clothes, played games, attended fairs, and watched sports games.

"Oh, and when did you start your schooling here?" She asked.

"I just finished my first year!" Alyssea said with a smile. Gosh, the feeling of finishing her first year still didn't sink in, yet. Her first year flew by quicker than she imagined. "This September 1st, I'll be a Second Year. What about you?"

Considering the girl asked about when they get their house ties, she was probably a First Year this coming September.

When Alyssea came into Hogwarts, she didn't know which house she'd end up. Her father was a Slytherin and her mother was a Ravenclaw. She couldn't compare herself to her brother since he attended Ilvermorny. Hufflepuff ended up being a fitting choice, despite her many fears initially.

"What house do you want to be in?" Alyssea asked. "I thought I would end up in Ravenclaw like my mum. Definitely not Slytherin like my dad, though," she chuckled. "Hufflepuff ended up being good choice, though."

A yellow one? Nice color if not too dapper. I mean, I like all colors but yellow isn't my favorite. I like purple and orange... yeah, I know they don't go together.
But the yellow is pretty. It's warm, bright and makes you think of friendship.
- Cool, I answer with a smile, looking everywhere. Are you planning to buy new ones? I ask her, noticing uniforms with yellow inserts.

Then she explains to me that she is going to enter the second year, confirming my assumption, and throws the question back at me.
- Oh, well, I'm new. I'm going to start my first year in September, yeah.
I don't know what to add and I smile awkwardly. But Alyssea goes on to ask me which house I want to be in and I take a second to think about it, rolling up my eyes as i do so. Of course I've asked myself this question before but because of the very little information I received from Mom, it's quite difficult to say. You can't decide just from names, can you?

- Well... I... I don't know... I shake my head a little annoyed, I don't have much information on the four houses. My mother said she didn't want to influence me in any way on the distribution, so other than the names of the Founders and that these houses highlight certain personality traits... I don't know... Nothing.
I feel like I'm blushing as I admit the inevitable truth. I feel a little ashamed and embarrassed, vulnerable.
- Could you tell me more? I'm sure Mom exaggerated a bit. Of course telling me about these houses and their values ​​can't really spoil the sorting for me, can it?

I try to laugh and wait impatiently for her response.
She seems like the kind of person who can help me. After all, she speaks freely about the sorting of her own parents. This fact makes me vaguely wonder about Mom's.

@Alyssea Brown sorry for the delay

end of july 2023; interacting with @Hailey Cochran

Alyssea turned to her line of vision and saw the black-and-yellow robes. She nodded. "Yeah, mum says I'm growing too fast and my current robes are too small. So, we're here to buy new ones."

Anyways, Alyssea's assumption of the girl being a First Year come September was correct when they confirmed it. She remembered her first time coming to Madam Malkin's, all shy and hiding behind her mother who understood and spoke for her. Her brother laughed when they left saying she was being irrational. Alyssea just didn't like interacting with store clerks.

Still, she offered the girl a smile. "You'll love Hogwarts."

Just before she could add on to the previous statement, she jumped onto explaining the different houses for the girl. "No, telling people the values of each house doesn't change what the Sorting Hat says," she chuckled, "Traditionally, Gryffindor are the brave, Slytherin are the ambitious, Ravenclaw are the intelligent, and Hufflepuff are the loyal."

Recounting those traits didn't sit right on her tongue. She knew of Hufflepuffs who had a taste for the Slytherin ambition; she knew of Ravenclaws who got stuck in around the place rather than stick their noses in books all the time; she knew of Gryffindors who were down to earth. These people were more than the houses they were sorted into.

Alyssea added, "Of course, those are only traditional stereotypes. You can be in any house and still be you." She smiled. "Did you want to know anything else?"

I smile as she mentions her mother and mechanically and briefly look around for her. Mine is still speaking with the owner. I catch her curious look and I smile to her like "everything is okay" before looking back at Alyssea and smiles to her as she specifies to me i'm going to love Hogwarts.
I hope, I'm sure I will! This school seems incredible and mysterious and challenging, full of surprise. Yes, I'm curious about it and look forward to see it by myself. Even if that means leaving my life here. That's sad but Mom told me we'll keep contact by letters. That will be strange in the modern society we're living. Could you imagine? A castle as a school is quite impressive, a sorcery school more, but within an old style with no electricity, no internet, no phone, and only owls to post...Yeah, it'll be strange at the beginning.
But as strange it will be, I'll defenitely love it as my new acquaintance seems so sure.

As we're speaking about the four houses, her response satisfies me greatly and I listen to her carefully with ears wide open.
"Gryffindor are the brave, Slytherin are the ambitious, Ravenclaw are the intelligent, and Hufflepuff are the loyal."
Mmmh where am i gonna be sorted?
I'm not that ambitious so Slytherin may not be my destiny. I think about my previous school marks and the fact I love reading... Would I fit in Ravenclaw?
Concerning Gryffindor, I don't know. Bravery...everyone can be brave. Depends on the situation. So... i don't know but quoting this personality traits makes Gryffindor looking bright and attractive, more than the others. Then I think about Hufflepuff. What a funny name but a proud and nice valour. Loyalty. I like to think i am.
So does Alyssea who was sorted into it. I look at her closely and smile politely before turning away my eyes. I don't want to seem strange, scruting her.

I nod as she tries to assure me that these values ​​are quite streotype and answer:
- Surely. I guess you can be loyal and brave. For me, it often goes together. It's because we're loyal to someone or some ideas that we're ready to fight for it or them.

When she asks me if i wanna know anything else, i'd like to nod enthusiastically but in that precise moment, no questions crosses my mind. Still processing the information she just gave me. So I look for an answer, my eyes searching too.

- Yes, absolutely. (i take a hanger holding a black and simple witch dress and put it in front of me) What do you think about it? Does it fit me? i do ask with a playful smile.

@Alyssea Brown

end of july 2023; interacting with @Hailey Cochran

Alyssea thought back to the day she got her wand at Ollivander's. What did Ollivander say about the wand she got? Her aspen wand with unicorn hair was "pliable, perfect for wizards who are able to stick with their own convictions and be brave to be themselves". Thinking about it now, her eyes widened. Did she get sorted into the wrong house? Even if it was only one word, the whole description sounded very Gryffindor.

But now that she'd spent some time exploring what Hufflepuff really meant, she knew Ollivander was right. Being brave and sticking to one's conventions was also a Hufflepuff trait; the 'puff trait of loyalty wasn't just in her heart, but also in her wand.

Alyssea smiled. "I think so, too. Being brave and loyal really go well together."

Guess the old man could be right about a few things.

Alyssea then watched as Hailey took a black robe and dress on its hanger and put it over herself. "What do you think about it? Does it fit me?"

With another big smile, Alyssea nodded. "Like a very eager witch." Alyssea then hummed. "Honestly, colour-wise, you would look good in Slytherin. But judging from today, I'd say... Hufflepuff."

Alyssea chuckled. "Am I being biased? Of course. We'll just have to say what the Hat says about you."

Faintly, she heard her mother's voice call out to her. She turned to see her and her father conversing directly with the seamstress. Alyssea gave them a little wave before turning back to Hailey.

"Alright, that's my cue to leave. I'll see you around!" Alyssea smiled. "Alyssea Brown. Second Year. Hufflepuff. If you're ever needing details to owl me for stuff."

She gave one last wave and headed off towards her parents. The robe fitting shouldn't take long, she hoped.

action: leaving the thread