Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 Time: Late Morning

spacing for the space of spacing apparently

“Aren’t we going to wait for mum?” Pyce asked as Hecate opened the door to Potage’s Cauldron Shop.

“You can, I’m going in.” The boy slid into the store, leaving Pyce alone. The ginger huffed, annoyed at their brother’s antics, but what could they do. Neither child had actually informed their mother where they were going next. In fact, she likely thought that the pair had run off for sweets! Pyce wasn’t fond of the idea of leaving her to wander alone. Though she was far more likely to not care about that compared to being concerned for the twins. Or what they might do. Pyce knew that they and Hecate were troublemakers, as much as they, (Pyce, not Hecate, Hecate took pride in such a title) tried not to be.

It was inevitable. Having someone like Hecate for, not only your brother, but your twin. And Pyce didn’t mind nearly as much as everyone around them. Mischief was fun! But mischief was also tiring. Pyce didn’t want Hecate to stop being himself, but toning down the pranks and general trickery every once and a while would be a welcome treat.

Pyce crossed their arms and leaned against the building's outer wall. Whether they were hoping for Hecate to return, or their mother to find them, they didn't know. They just watched the crowds. With September drawing ever nearer, most people here today were shopping for school. Most of them were first years, who had only just gotten their letters. Other years would likely be shopping later, after all, summer had only just begun. And who would want to start thinking about school again so soon?

I would, thought Pyce, brushing aside some hair that had fallen into their face. Especially if it were Hogwarts.

WC:just a lil bit 295 o spacing	Interacting With: N/A
Extra Notes: Reducio N/A don't mind the spacing, just tidying up table	Outfit: Reducio A red sweater vest over a white collared shirt with rolled up sleeves with navy blue pants

"Katelyn" Katelyn's mother, Juliette's voice cut through the crowd as she turned to look up at her mother. "Sweetie, are you sure you can handle all this on you're own?" Her mother kneeled to Katelyn's level, worry clear as day on her face. Was she sure? Hell no, but she couldn't handle the awkward silence that persisted between them the whole time they were getting her robes any longer. Since she set the curtains back home on fire and her father walked out, things haven't been the same between them. If she could get away from her mother for just a little bit, she was willing to take it. "Mom, I'm fine. I got the list, so I just look for the shop and show them what I need, it can't be that hard."

"Go on my own, I said. It'll be easy, I said." Katelyn mumbled to herself as she struggled to move through the jostling crowd of people, parchment clutched in her hand, with a checklist of all the items she needed, wrinkled and damp from her palm. Her eyes bounced around the crowded street, shops stacked crookedly along the cobbled street, young and older people dressed up like they were going to a Halloween party, robes like hers with pointed hats. She'd see some kids come out of a shop with seemingly new broomsticks, and another shot had a bunch of owls to buy. It was her first time here, and the effect was immediate: sensory overload. There was so much going on that it was hard to keep track of where she was going and to look out for oncoming people as she bumped into some upperclassmen. "S-sorry!" She squeaked as she stumbled to get around them.

"Okay, it can't be that hard, right? I got my clothes, so then, probably the next best thing is books. Can't be that difficult, just need to find a shop called... F-flourish and...Bottles?- no, Blotts! Okay, Flourish and Blotts...." Katelyn looked around, asking a passing wizard for help, but he kept walking; either he just outright ignored her, or she didn't speak loudly enough with her meek voice being swallowed up by the bustling crowd. She attempted again to ask an older person for directions but was promptly ignored. After attempting multiple times to get some basic directions, she eventually just gave up and moved to get out of the busy crowd. She managed to find an opening and get off the busy street, ending up in front of a shop with cauldrons in the windows for sale as she slumped to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest. "What was I thinking?... I'm such an idiot for going off on my own." Katelyn muttered to herself as she watched people go about their day. "I don't belong here, I'm not like them..." She muttered to herself as she tucked her face into her knees, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. The idea of going to a school for wizards and witches, learning magic, all sounded so exciting, but now that she's here, she's never felt more out of place than she did in this moment. Even kids her age moved through the crowd with purpose, like they belonged there. She couldn't even backtrack to find her mom, with how turned around she became. Maybe her mother will find her before it gets dark, maybe she can forget about going to Hogwarts since clearly she hasn't even made it through the front doors, and she was already fumbling massively at just getting school supplies.

Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 Time: Late Morning

spacing for the space of spacing apparently

Pyce's crowd watching meant that they were aware when a distressed looking girl slumped to the ground by the shop, curling up and hiding her face in her knees. They didn't hear what she was saying to herself, but every part of her screamed lost. Pyce's first assumption was that she was a muggleborn who had gotten separated from her parents (or her parents had gotten lost as well). It happened often enough, especially closer to the beginning of a new school year. Pyce glanced into the shop, hoping to signal to their twin that something was up, but they failed to see Hecate close enough to the door or a window for it to matter. Pyce sighed and approached the girl. If Hecate decided to be a hypocrite and get on their case for leaving, Pyce would gladly remind him that it was Hecate who left first.

As they got closer, Pyce could see just how thoroughly the girl was was curled in on herself. They were almost worried for her spine. Well- they were worried in general. Diagon Alley was not the best place to get lost in. They would know, having gotten lost many times before during their younger years, as Hecate had never grown out of his need to wander, and make issues for his twin. Pyce cleared their throat, hoping to catch the girl's attention as not to frighten her.

"Excuse me?" They asked, kneeling on the ground next to her. "Do you need any help? If you're lost, or looking for school supplies, I'm sure I can help," Pyce said, hoping their voice was loud enough to be heard over the hustle and bustle of the alley, but soft enough as to be soothing.

WC: 290	Interacting With: @Katelyn Magnolia
Extra Notes: Reducio Pyce's text color is color=#ff7300. Donna, their mom, will probably show up in a couple rounds or so.	Outfit: Reducio A red sweater vest over a white collared shirt with rolled up sleeves with navy blue pants

Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 Time: Late Morning

spacing for the space of spacing apparently

Oh. She was crying. Pyce blinked rapidly a few times. They were not going to cry too. They couldn't! This girl clearly needed help, and them crying would not help the situation!

"I um...I tried to look for my school supplies on my own, but...I got so turned around I couldn't find anything." She said, handing her supply list to Pyce. They looked at it. It looked near identical to the one Pyce had in their pocket, with the exception of the name it was addressing. Miss Magnolia. Aside from that, it really was the same list. It even had all of the supplies from Madam Malkin's checked off. "M-my mom helped me get my robes but...I tried to do the rest on my own and..." The girl curled back up. Pyce fought back their own tears as they tried to come up with a response. But what to say? Pyce wasn't necessarily bad at comforting people, but their skill was based on comforting people they already knew.

"Hogwarts must've made a mistake, I don't belong here. I'm not cut out for all of this." Pyce worried their bottom lip between their teeth. They took a small breath and spoke.

"What? Nonsense." Pyce picked their words carefully. "If you got an acceptance letter, you are meant to go to Hogwarts. You have magic!" They paused for a moment. Collecting their next thought. "If it's the Alley, tons of first years find it very confusing. Even second years. Sometimes muggleborn, sometimes half-blood. I think I watched a pure-blood get lost trying to get to Ollivander's once," Pyce thought for a moment. They were almost certain that the person had been a pure-blood. They had that uppity air about them. Not that pure-bloods were uppity! Or- Not the ones that Pyce knew, at least. They were from a family of pure-bloods. Huh. Pyce remained lost in thought for a moment. Because really, they knew pure-bloods. Based solely on immediate family, they were all fine and well-adjusted people. Going even a few generations back though, they did seem to think they were rather high and mighty.

Pyce realized that they had been quiet too long and nearly startled themself when they snapped out of it.

"But, I do think you've done better than you've given yourself credit for." Pyce stood up and dusted off their pants. "Given that you've found your way to the cauldron shop unaided!" Pyce smiled and held out a hand to the girl.

"I'm Pyce and I'd be happy to help you out if you'd like!"

WC: 372	Interacting With: @Katelyn Magnolia
Extra Notes: Reducio N/A	Outfit: Reducio A red sweater vest over a white collared shirt with rolled up sleeves with navy blue pants

Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 Time: Late Morning

Location: Potage's Cauldron Shop spacing for spacing reasons

Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 Time: Late Morning

spacing for the space of spacing apparently

"Really? It sure doesn't feel like that. The only time I used magic, I set the curtains on fire and fried my parents' TV and PS5." Pyce nearly choked. What was it with first magic and fires? Maybe Pyce wouldn't go into dragon research. Maybe they'd figure out what was up with the fire thing. "Um...this might sound stupid, but uh..what is a muggleborn, and a half-blood, and the pure-blood thing you mentioned?" Oh, Pyce really was going too fast, weren't they? It was so impolite not to explain that!

"Oh- Sorry! Those are blood statuses. Each one means something different. I'm a half-blood; My mum's a witch, and my dad's a muggle. Muggles are folks who don't have magic. So, a muggleborn would be someone who has muggle parents! My mum's a pure-blood, which means her ancestors were all magic." Pyce wracked their thoughts for a moment. "There's also wizard born. They have magic parents, but there's muggle blood somewhere in their history. I have a wizard born friend. I think her grandfather- or- great grandfather? Was a muggleborn." Or something like that. Pyce wasn't even sure if Stella knew her blood specifics. Pyce's were quite simple in comparison though...

Pyce helped the girl to her feet. She brushed off her robes, they must have been new, she had mentioned getting them earlier, and this was her first time in the Alley. Should Pyce have worn proper wizard clothing? They were in very muggle attire. Not anywhere close to as bad as Hecate, but that was very much besides the point. (Pyce would be appalled if they ever even touched anything in their brother's wardobe.)

"Oh, I did. Huh...guess this wasn't a total disaster. My name's Katelyn, it's nice to meet you." Katelyn smiled and held out her hand to shake. Oh? Smiles were good! Great, even! Pyce took her hand happily.

"I'm Pyce- and I already said that." They cleared their throat. "What I meant to say was; Likewise!"

WC: 270	Interacting With: @Katelyn Magnolia
Extra Notes: Reducio Pyce is really here still with the assumption that Katelyn's a muggleborn. C'mon buddy.	Outfit: Reducio A red sweater vest over a white collared shirt with rolled up sleeves with navy blue pants

Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 Time: Late Morning

Location: Potage's Cauldron Shop spacing for spacing reasons

Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 Time: Late Morning

spacing for the space of spacing apparently

So they were both half-bloods! Pyce was a little curious on that front, but they were well aware that it'd be rude to ask about it. Besides, Pyce themself was almost entirely raised in the world of magic. What's to say a half-blood couldn't be raised almost entirely in the world of muggles?

"Is it always this... chaotic? Or is it just because school is going to start soon?" Katelyn asked, clearly seeing all the commotion. Pyce thought for a moment. While the Alley did tend to be quite hectic all year long, it did get especially rowdy during summer.

"I don't think it's ever not chaotic here. But it does ease up once school starts." Katelyn wouldn't be able to see Diagon Alley during the school year, considering she'd be attending the school. Pyce had seen it many times before, enough to where they had noticed such a phenomenon. Though, sometimes traffic picked up around holidays as well. There was one memorable Christmas week where Pyce had gotten separated from their mother and brother by a large crowd of people.

"Well, if it makes you feel better, my name was already on the list, so I guess I introduced myself twice as well." Pyce snickered at Katelyn's comment. She was right.

"Speaking of the list," Pyce pulled out their own so they could scan over it. Potage's should have the cauldron, but Pyce wasn't sure if anything else could be found there. Maybe. It was a lot of potion equipment. Perhaps phials? "We should probably work on that!" Pyce opened the door to the shop, holding so Katelyn could walk in.

WC: 233	Interacting With: @Katelyn Magnolia
Extra Notes: Reducio If you wouldn't mind it, perhaps Pyce's mom could come in next round?	Outfit: Reducio A red sweater vest over a white collared shirt with rolled up sleeves with navy blue pants

Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 Time: Late Morning

Location: Potage's Cauldron Shop spacing for spacing reasons