made by Ellie randensmith


I bite my lip as I head towards Potages Cauldron Shop. I sighs slightly annoyed. My mom realized that we forgot to get my cauldrons so we had to come back. Also by we it meant me. My mom decided that she was tired and didn't want to go. And my grandma was sadly visiting a friend. Originally I was supposed to go with her but the plans changed.

I push open the door and look down at the piece of paper in my hand. Copper scales, standard size 2 cauldron, and glass phials. I groan in annoyance. She's a liar we forgot more than just my cauldron!

Thinking of my last trip to diagon alley I remember what happened in Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. I smile to myself. That was fun. The snowball fight and everything that happened. I hope I could meet him again. Maybe we could become friends at Hogwarts. What was his name? I think to myself. Something with an e. Evan? No, maybe Eli? No that's not right either. I remember that his name reminded me of a tree. Suddenly it hits me. Elm! Yea that's right.

I look around the store and head to the glass phials. Then I see him. Speak of the devil and he will appear, I think. I smile brightly as I walk towards him.

"Elm! It's nice to see you again! How are you?"

{Word Count: 271}

Elm was busily scanning the display windows for glass phials, when he happened to see his friend, Bree. Without hesitation, his lips spread into a large grin and he jumped up waving. "Hello Bree! It's wonderful to see you! I'm doing fantastic! What brings you to the cauldron shop?" He placed his galleons on the counter, taking the change from the shop keeper, before heading over to Bree's side.

Peeking over her shoulder, he spotted the list on the white paper. His eyes lit up with recognition and he began to chuckle, "Same reason as me then. I've just bought my things so I know where everything's at. Would you like some assistance?" He bowed in a playful genteel manor. Leading her to a shelf, he picked out some beautiful, translucent, glass bottles. "Here's the phials." Then, he helped her find a standard size 2 cauldron. "Make sure you don't buy size 1 accidentally. Maple did that when he was a first year and our Da got pretty mad." Lastly, he snatched the copper scales, testing their weight with some small, green, magical weights. The weights jumped about on the scales then glowed. Nodding to himself, he took his tiny weights off and placed them in his satchel and handed the girl the copper scales. "They work. Let's go to the checkout." As he walked with Bree, he asked a bit shyly, "When we go on the boat to the school, after the train ride, would you like to meet me there? I'm afraid Maple might abandon me since he has so many friends." He let out a small, lonesome, sigh.

made by Ellie randensmith


I smile and wave back when he waves, "Thats good to hear! And its wonderful to see you too! My mom forgot to buy some things." He buys his stuff, takes the change and then heads towards me. He peeks over my shoulder and sees the list on my paper. He laughs and says hes hear for the same reason too. He bows down to me after he offers to help me find everything and I laugh. I do a slight curtsy in response and say yes.

He takes me towards the glass phials. I grab them and then follow him towards the cauldrons. He shows me which one to grab and makes a remark about his brother grabbing the wrong one. "Oh no! We wouldn't want that to happen!" I say.

He grabs the scales and then tests them out for me. Then he hands them to me, "Thanks Elm! You've helped a lot." I smile at him in thanks as he says lets go to the check out. While we were walking he asks me, kinda shyly, if I would like to go on the boats with him after the train ride.

I smile at him and try to hold in my excitement when I answer which ends up failing. "I'd love to go with you! I'd be really happy to do that to be honest! And sorry bout your brother. I can relate to that but it must really suck."

As I say that it crosses my mind that he's not there, "Where is Maple anyways?" I pay for the items and see that I have enough change for ice cream. Maybe he'd want to go? I turn towards him and ask, "If you're not busy would you wanna get ice cream? I could pay." I smile and him and hope he says yes.

The moment Bree said that she would love to sit together on the boat ride, Elm brightened up. His voice squeaked out, in undisguised joy, "R...Really!? I mean, that...that sounds...that sounds awesome! I'm glad you understand where I'm coming from. It's not that he's mean he just...he's always been very social and I sometimes struggle making friends besides him and my plants. Especially, when I'm somewhere new."

Prancing happily about while walking, he replied to the question about Maple. "He would have come but I forgot to get my supplies here earlier which means we are struggling to get all my school stuff before the train. He said it would be a better idea for me to just buy the cauldron while he gets the tickets."

At the mention of ice cream, his jaw dropped. "Sounds like a blast! I'm more of a popsicle kinda guy so I think I'll get one of those from the ice cream parlor. Don't worry about paying for me. I can pay for myself but thanks for the offer! It's very sweet of you." He smiled genuinely. Walking out with Bree, he paused shortly to gape at a bubbling potion inside the shop. "Hehe sorry, it's just so...cool looking. My Da rarely makes potions at home and same with Mum. Mum writes history lectures and books and encyclopedias for Wizarding Schools Inc. and Da has a major in Herbology. Maple says he thinks he'd like to do Astronomy. What classes do you think you'll like? I'd wager Study of Magical Creatures for you. Am I right or am I wrong?" He skipped beside the girl before hurriedly running in front to open the door for her into the parlor. The bell ringed as they came inside. The air was quite cool and there were multiple small families and friend groups, hanging out at the counters while their milkshakes and popsicles were being scooped. Elm's attention was sealed onto the popsicles, looking from one to the other, completely indecisive.

made by Ellie randensmith



I laugh as Elm talks after I said I would sit with him on the boat ride. When he says that he has a hard time making friends other than Maple and his plants I raise my eyebrows. "Really? I don't know why but you seemed like one that makes friends easily."

He answers my question about Maple. I nod, "Oh okay." I smile when he agrees to ice cream. He tells me that I don't have to pay for him. As we were walking out he paused to look at a potion inside the shop. He apologized for stopping and explained why he stopped, "Its alright. No need to say sorry. I understand about the parents rarely making protons. Mine aren't even home half of the time."

We continue to walk towards the ice cream parlour. Well I walked he was skipping next to me. He rushed to the door once we got there and held it open for me. I smile at him and say thanks then walk inside. Immediately the cool air from inside hits me. I shiver slightly and look around. There were kids and people laughing, talking, smiling, and having a good time. Families eating ice cream and spending time together.

I look over at Elm and he was staring at the popsicles. I laugh slightly and grabs his hand and leads him towards the line, "Come on. You could stare at the popsicles while we wait!" I laugh again and look at the ice creams while we wait.

Elm sighs as the girl drags him off to the ice cream section. Just then, he spotted 3 popsicles: a blue one, a pink one, and a rainbow one. Completely indecisive on which to choose, he tapped Bree's shoulder, "Which one should I buy? They all look so good. I'm guessing the blue is blue raspberry and the pink one is strawberry. The rainbow looks like it has a lot of different flavors though so I might go with that one and find my favorite flavor by doing that."

He practically waltzed over to the counter with awe at the popsicles, before warbling his pick to the shopkeeper. "I would like the rainbow popsicle please!"

As Elm happily collected his prize, the shop door opened and Maple strode in looking completely drained. He spotted Elm and plopped the tickets on his head. "You would not believe how long the ticket line was. My legs almost fell asleep from standing in the same place for an hour." He crashed onto a stool with a sigh. Elm plopped next to him and asked in a confused manner, "I thought you said you'd be back in a half hour to pick me up at the Cauldron Shop? Hope you didn't mind but I met Bree at Potage's so we decided to get ice cream."

"Oh well, good for you two." Maple muttered under his breath, checking off the tickets and cauldron from Elm's list. "Welp, we should be all set to go tomorrow. Just don't forget to bring everything you need, yeah?" Finally spotting Bree, he smiled apologetically, "Oh hello Bree! Sorry I...er...didn't see you there. Do you have all your supplies yet? We've just finished."

Meanwhile, Elm was enjoying his popsicle. Remembering Bree had not got her ice cream yet, he paused. "Maple, do you want some ice cream? I can pay."

Maple paused with a frown. "No thank you. I am quite old enough to pay for my own."

made by Ellie randensmith


After I dragged elm into the line I look at what they got. I decided I will get the crunchy baby cone. I continue all the treats just in case there was anything else that looked or sounded good. Elm taps me on the shoulder and goes off on something about popsicles and asking which one her should get.

“Umm I don’t know. Maybe you should get the rainbow one like you said.”

He ends up getting it. Right when I’m about to order Maple walks in. He looks tired. I smile and wave at him but he doesn’t notice. He goes to Elm and puts the tickets on his head. They chat for a little. I turn back towards the counter but the shop owner says he’ll be right with me. He disappears. I turn my attention back towards Maple and Elm when Maple finally notices me.

“Hi Maple! I got the last bit of supplies with Elm at the cauldron shop. My mother forgot to get them yesterday so I was buying them when I saw Elm.”

I order my ice cream and go sit next to Elm and Maple. When I finish it I realize that I have to go. “Bye guys! Nice seeing y’all again but I got to go home now! Talk to you guys later!” I wave bye to Elm and maple as I leave.