This is what she couldn’t wait for, not the wand shopping, not the potions… the BOOKS. So many books! Aelis’ parents letted her shop alone… for now, they said. She couldn’t wait to read the book for Care of Magical Creatures classes! Also if she’s lucky, she will find a book about dragons. These beasts are magnificent, she always loved to learn about them. She checked her purse, only to see she has enough for her classes book… but not for more. “Well shit…” she mutters. Not even enough for a small novel! The tragedy, the horror, how will she survive!? A small part of her brain whispers to her she already have tons of book she didn’t read. Her brain is not wrong… but still. What if she finds a limited edition? Or a book she’s been looking for since childhood? Aelis, dramatic? Never… She sighs and walk in the bookstore, all sadness dissipates when she spots them. The books. So many! She decides to start with the Defense against the dark forces book, not her favorite subject… she likes it. Nothing more. She searches for it, some seconds… becoming minutes… and that’s now she thinks; “wait, there’s books up.” She looks up and… ah! There it is! She tries to grab it on her toes… not working. Well, she has no other choices than jumping. She grabs the book and land on her feet. Ouch… her right foot didn’t completely healed it seems… that sprain still hurts. Thankfully she can finally do sports again! She walks to another shelf, and then she sees it. A dragonology book. Even if she can’t buy it, she can watch it… with envy. She should’ve watched where she was going because she just bumped it someone… “sorry—“ she starts.

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Nicandro speech hex code: #003dod
Word count: 510

Flourish and Blotts was a miracle. The shelves occupying the shop were filled all the way from top to bottom and must’ve contained every single book the heart could ever crave, or rather a head thirsting for a good story and information.When entering, Nicandro actually hadn’t had the intention to buy anything more than the necessities written on the list he held loosely in his hand, but considering the fact that he had more than enough money left to get something that he actually wanted, that was worth his time, so he searched the shelves for a title that piqued his interest. Slowly, he pulled out one book from the shelf that he was standing in front of, mindful of not causing any damage to it.

Just when he turned it around to read the backside, he heard a dull thud that sounded like someone had jumped or dropped something. His eyes were pulled away from the text and he squinted at a figure a few aisles further down, cradling a book to their chest. It was difficult for him to make out much more than a blurred image. So much for not needing glasses outside from class… As far as he could see, she was also fairly young, probably around his age, with long platinum blonde hair and apparently a height that didn’t make it easy to go fishing for books in this shop. She could’ve simply asked a shop assistant, but apparently was either too excited or forgot to ask, or too proud to not do it herself.

With a sigh, Nicandro redirected his gaze and held the book slightly closer to his face. It didn’t seem that interesting, so he placed it back in the shelf. He didn’t know how much time he’d already spent in here, and he couldn’t stay all day. A final gaze on his list told him that he was good to leave. He would come back another time. Also, didn’t Hogwarts have a library? Looking there for something to read would always be an option and if he found a book that he really, really wanted, he could still buy it anyway. This was just a waste of time at this point.

The mandatory books stacked in his arms, he started making his way towards the cashier, just until someone bumped into him, causing him to stumble slightly before catching himself. He lost his grip on the books that troed making a beeline for the floor, but right on time, reflexes kicked in and he managed to save the fall. Only his shopping list sailed to the floor.

”Merlin! Watch where you’re going, you idiot! Can’t you see the is room hardly any room?! Obviously you can’t just squeeze past other people or glue your eyes elsewhere,” he hissed, looking up to seize the person up. It was the girl he had seen earlier, jumping to reach for books. Apparently, her head had gotten stuck mid-flight and escaped her body, considering the lack of attention she had clearly paid to her surroundings.

Aelis could feel her face turning red, she just bumped into someone. The idiot she is! But that dragonology book looked so interesting… and here we go again. Concentrate on the person you just bumped into, dumbass!

She looked at the boy, probably five inches taller, she assumed. She saw him squinting his eyes, “bad view?” She thought. He was the complete opposite from her, dark eyes and even darker hair. His eyes had a sort of… anger? Not at her… she didn’t know at what… maybe the time she made him lose? He clearly didn’t saw her if she somehow succeeded to bump into him, like the idiot she is.

She finally noticed the list who fell from the boy’s hand, she leaned to pick it up and handed it to him with a shy smile, all of this was her damn fault. She wanted to know more about him, but seriously? Who would want to be friends with a stupid girl like her?

“I am so sorry… I didn’t saw you at all. What could I do to redeem myself from this situation? I once again apologize, my name is Aelis.” she said shyly hoping he wouldn’t tell her to get lost…

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Nicandro speech hex code: #003d0d
Word count: 425

Nicandro rolled his eyes as the girl turned red. Not much confidence, noted. His first instinct was to snap further at the girl, but her apology actually seemed genuine. The smile she had to offer wasn’t laced with the usual venom he was used to from other young wizards that forced politeness while coming up with twenty ideas to make your life more miserable, nor the one people had when they were convinced they were talking to someone inferior to you. She actually did seem to regret bumping into him, without much of a hidden plot. Well, he knew better than to trust that. Everyone has their own agenda.

He watched as the girl plucked the list from the ground to hand it back to him and took it from her hands, folding it in the middle with a slight sigh of annoyance and resignation while putting it into the pocket of his jacket. “How you can redeem yourself?” What a strange reaction, he thought, almost a little bit like a house elf. Pathetically nice. A small smile tugged at his lips. He wasn’t really amused, but the sentence had been so absurd that he simply couldn’t help it. No, actually, the girl seemed to be friendly, and maybe he didn’t have a real reason to be pissed at her. Mistakes could happen after all, right? And god knows how many times he hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings, much to the scolding of his parents warning him to always be wary. A person not questioning intentions is a dead person stabbed in the back. Perhaps he could use this to his advantage? Plus, if he wanted to ever make connections, he’d might as well start now.

“Well… if you’re serious, you can start by carrying those books for me”, he answered casually before shaking his head. “I’m joking. It’s fine, really. Happens to the best of us. You’re also preparing for Hogwarts, I assume?”The words rolled easily off his tongue and he tried to look as little annoyed as he could manage.

His eyes strayed from the girl’s face to the shelves. “Aelis, you say? Can’t say I’ve heard of y—“ He bit his tongue and cleared his throat, catching himself just in time. “Nice to meet you. I’m Nicandro. There must be something very fascinating in here to get you distracted enough and almost lured in like a spell to walk straight into people and make a bad first impression? Or is it like an everyday trick of yours to initiate conversations?”

Tricking people into talking to her!? Absolutely never! She hates human interactions, they’re so exhausting! Last time her parents hosted a party, she sneaked out because she didn’t want to show these polite smiles and have interest in potions or charms the guests were talking about. She only likes people she knows well and show affection in her own terms. That’s why her friends say she’s more a cat than a human, they’re not wrong honestly, she’s not sociable.

Wait a second… did he said she made a bad first impression!? Merlin no! That’s it, her life is over, she ridiculed herself, what a talent. She would thankfully carry his books to the end of the world if it meant he wouldn’t be mad at her… she saw his clenched jaw, even if he tried to appear neutral. He was angry.

“I am so sorry again, it won’t happen another time… but yes, I’m preparing for Hogwarts, like you. I assume?” She said, trying to ease the tension “And… to be honest… I wouldn’t bump into someone to make conversations… My eyes were caught by something else…”

Did he said he never heard of her? Oh thank God! That means her family name won’t become dirty because of a little mistake! She opened her mouth to apologize again, but closed it just in time. She’s going to annoy him to death if she keeps apologizing. She just didn’t know what to say…

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Nicandro speech hex code: #003d03
Word count: 323

”I do hope it won’t happen again. For my sake, your sake and everyone else’s.” For a moment, he let the silence do the job before running his free hand through his hair. The books in his arm were starting to get more and more heavy by second. Better end this conversation quickly.

“Yeah. Obviously. Can’t wait to learn all those great spells to hex innocent people with that crossed my path. A certain Aelis that comes to mind. Do you know her? It’s going to be real fun.” He didn’t actually mean it, and even if, he wasn’t going to risk detention over such a small incident. It took more to cross him enough to get on his bad side. And honestly? He was slowly starting to think he could actually tolerate her if she wouldn’t apologise so often.

“Pro tip,” he said, “be a bit more confident. No one can tolerate an overly apologetic person. It’s annoying and paints a massive target on your back. You’re basically screaming: 'use me' or 'bully me' without consequences. Unless of course you’re aiming to get sorted into Hufflepuff, which means you’re already lost.”

He shook his head at her defense. “It was sarcasm, girl. Sarcasm. But I’m glad you bumping into others isn’t your preferred introduction, it’s highly inefficient. And conversations suck, truly. I hope whatever caught your eyes was worth both our precious time. But if you’ll excuse me before my arms fall off, I better get going. Do you mind?”

He placed a hand on her shoulder after pulling his sleeve over it to relocate her surprisingly gently to stand as far against the shelf as possible so he could move past her more easily and make his way towards the cashier.

“Good luck then, Aelis. Try not to kill anyone or walk straight into a wall before you even reach Hogwarts. It would truly be such a pity. See you around.”

He didn’t assassinate her! That’s a good new. She was glad he didn’t hex her, honestly. If we ignored his first sentences… he was actually kind of… gentle? He didn’t scream at her… that’s what she hopped he wouldn’t do.

She indeed acted like an Hufflepuff. Hopefully she will be in Ravenclaw, if she isn’t sorted into Hufflepuff… it wouldn’t be surprising. She’s not intelligent enough to be a Ravenclaw… she loved to read… but not those documentaries… more like Sci-fi or Fantasy. She’s a dreamer. That’s what her father always told her.

She letted him push her against the shelves to let him pass by her to pay. It was the minimum of what she could do to apologize. Oh no… she’s indeed a perfect victim for bullying and harassment… just like in community school. She’s weak. WEAK. She has a target painted on her back. Maybe she will get harassed just like then? Maybe she would get sick just by thinking of walking into school again? Maybe she will stop eating again… or freeze like every time she saw people looking like them?

Nicandro’s sentence dragged her out of her spiraling, she blinked twice and shaked her head. Damn brain, thinking and thinking again. She turned to him and tried a small shy smile.
“See you around and have a good day.”
Hopefully her smile won’t seem too anxious.