DATE & TIME ❀───────────❀ Before Term Begins, Mid-Afternood

OUTFIT ❀───────────❀ Reducio

TAGS & MENTIONS ❀───────────❀ @Scarletta Davis

Books. A helpful escape from reality for Danielle. It didn't matter if It was a romance, or a thriller, or a sci-fi, or even a school book. Reading helped her live what seemed like thousands of extra lives added to her one. Initially, she had just been in Flourish and Blotts for her school books, but she'd found all of those quite easily, and now she was just browsing the different sections of books. It was tempting, to spend the extra sickles or galleons on a book for her free time, yet she knew she couldn't. She'd get in trouble with her father. They weren't financially challenged or anything, quite the opposite in fact, yet her father didn't want her or her siblings spending money unless it was "worth it." If she wanted to get a few extra things from a store or two, she should've brought her grandparents with her.

Picking up a romance novel for the fun of it, Danielle began reading the blurb and flicking through a couple of the pages before sighing and setting it back down. She'd ask her grandma for it the next time they went to a bookstore together. Moving on to another shelf, she began scanning the books, seeing if any interesting titles caught her eye. Picking up a thriller, she flipped through a few pages, debating on whether or not it would be worth the read.

Scarletta was walking through Diagon Alley. She already had her books at home, because her parents bought them for her a year early for her studies. Before that she had been traveling all around Europe, and even went to America. But now, finally, it was time for her to go to Hogwarts! She walked up the street, trying to look around everywhere at the same time; everything was so amazing here! Her parents had promised to buy her a book as a little extra 11th birthday present, as she'd be leaving for Hogwarts at the end of the month. Scarletta absolutely loved reading. It could take your mind off anything else, and suck you into the story. Also, if you liked to read, no boredom could ever come on a cloudy, rainy day.

There's Flourish and Blotts! She thought, as she ran over. Scarletta had been in this street many times, as she lived in the outskirts of London. She walked inside taking in the smell of books. Old books, new books, big books, small books, biting books, invisible books, you could find everything here.

As Scarletta looked around, trying to choose from the hundreds of books in display, she saw another girl, who looked about her same age, flipping through the pages of what looked like a thriller. Maybe she likes books too, she thought, or maybe she's just another of those people who like to browse around and then carelessly put the book they were looking at on a random shelf. Scarletta hated people who didn't respect books. I mean, I get it if people just don't like to read, but at least they should treat the books well! Most of them have been probably been around longer than they can remember. She sighed. Well, maybe she's a first year like me and going to Hogwarts. It would be nice to have some first year friends. And I guess it's also possible that she's a book worm like me! She thought, smiling to herself as she approached the girl.

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@Danielle Alden

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353 words

TAGS & MENTIONS ❀───────────❀ @Scarletta Davis

Danielle continued to browse through the seemingly endless shelves of books, occasionally picking up a book with an interesting title before ultimately setting it back down. She smiled softly seeing one of her favorite books on the shelf. Grabbing it, she flipped to a random page, reading through the rest of the chapter before she heard footsteps. Glancing up from the book she saw a girl approaching her. Danielle closed the book, placing it back on the shelf before observing the girl.

She was already dressed in her Hogwarts robes, a scarf around her neck. Dani was pretty sure she saw a silver chain visible as well. The girl also had a darker shade of blonde hair. Her eyes were a stunning green-blue, and her skin was fair. She seemed to be a bit taller than the average height (including Danielle), and she had also been browsing the books.

Danielle smiled lightly at the girl, muttering a small hello to her as the girl got closer and closer. Danielle picked up another book, reading the blurb before flicking through the pages. The girl looked like she could be a first year, and it wouldn't hurt to make a friend before school started.

"Hello," She said, her voice only slightly louder than it was before, "Are you a first year?"

The girl seemed a bit shy, so Scarletta walked a little slower, and then she stopped. It would do no good to scare her away, without even meeting her. The girl had blue eyes, that, if you looked closer, seemed like they had little gold flecks. She wasn't wearing her Hogwarts robes yet, but instead Converse shoes, and what you could call rather cute clothes. Her skin was a bit pale, if it had been a little more, it would have seemed as if she was a bit ill. But right now, she looked great, though still rather shy.

Then the girl smiled lightly, murmured something. It sounded like a 'hello', and then she looked away, back to scanning the blurbs of books, and flicking through the pages. She wondered if it had
been too much, if she should've waited a bit longer, if she should've at least said something, and just as she decided she was going to say something, the girl talked first. 'Hello', is what she said. And then, 'Are you a first year?'

Scarletta was a bit, well, surprised, after she spoke. First, she was surprised because she spoke. No, Scarletta didn't think the girl couldn't, or wouldn't want to speak, she was just not really expecting her to speak just as she was going to say something. Second, she had started off with hello, that wasn't surprising at all, but then she asked if she was a first year. It wasn't bad or rude, in her Scarletta's opinion, but it to her it was, deep down, a little strange, as she had almost never heard people introduce themselves that way before.

But anyway, she had to answer. Bewildered for a moment or not, a good impression is always important. So, without thinking any further, she answered. "Oh, um hi. I'm Scarletta Davis. And yes, I am a first year." She said, "by the way, sorry if I maybe scared you a little. I didn't mean to." And last she added, "So um, you're a first year too, I guess? What's your name?"

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@Danielle Alden

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359 words(!!)

TAGS & MENTIONS ❀───────────❀ @Scarletta Davis

Danielle quietly cursed at herself in French as she realized how upfront her question was, understanding how unusual it was for someone to begin a conversation with another in that manner. Dani listened to the girl, smiling as she mentioned she was a first-year.

"Lovely to meet you Scarletta! I'm Danielle Alden, also a first-year." she said, a small smile on her face, "And don't worry, I wasn't scared. I was more worried about seeming offputting with my earlier words."

Danielle was happy that the girl, Scarletta, was also in her first year. That way, when term started, she could have at least one person she knew. In Dani's eyes, it was a jumpstart on first-year to have at least an acquaintance or two before school started.

Deciding that Scarletta could be that potential acquaintance, Danielle decided to further her conversation with Scarletta. "Are you shopping for your school books, or are you just looking for something fun to read?" She questioned the blonde girl in front of her. Maybe if Scarletta also enjoyed reading, the two girls could potentially become better friends if they shared a similar interest.

Scarletta was really happy the girl wasn't scared or anything. And she was a first year, and she seemed very kind! Danielle, that was the girls name. It was-"Danielle? That's a lovely name! I really like it!" She said, a big smile now blooming on her face. "And you weren't offputting at all! I was afraid I was." She giggled, hoping it wouldn't be too much, as she had just met her. "Anyway, well, um, oh, right! Books! I love books. They're my favorite hobby." Then quickly added, as to not seem too strange, "But of course, when I'm going to go to Hogwarts, it will probably be learning spells and all." Then, remembering Danielle's question, she quickly answered. "Oh, I already bought my books. I got them about a year ago" She said, giggling a little. "As I said, I love to read, and my parents let me choose a book to buy, because I'm leaving soon, and as a late birthday present." Maybe Danielle liked books too. Scarletta wondered whether they might become friends sometime, if they both loved reading. That would be fun! Then she would already have a friend before she went to Hogwarts, and that was always good."What about you? Do you like to read?" She asked.

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@Danielle Alden

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228 words

TAGS & MENTIONS ❀───────────❀ @Scarletta Davis

Danielle smiled, thanking Scarletta for the compliment on her name before she laughed softly, realizing the both of them thought they seemed off-putting. Danielle listened to Scarletta talk passionately about books and how much she loved them.

Hearing her previous question get answered, Danielle's eyes widened slightly. A year ago? She was only buying her's that day. Danielle then listened to why Scarletta was in the store and how her parents were letting her buy a few more books as a late birthday gift. "Happy late birthday then!" Dani exclaimed with a small smile. Danielle then heard Scarletta's last question to her, asking if she too, liked to read.

"Oh I adore reading!" she started, "It's amazing to read about different worlds and the different lives of different characters. I think that the more I read, the more lives I get to live, see, and experience." she commented passionately with a small smile on her face. "Plus, reading is a nice way to tune everything out around you and get lost in a completely different reality, if you know what I mean." she laughed softly.

Danielle then thought of another question she could ask Scarletta. "So, what are your favorite genres?"