Sophia sat in the ice cream parlor. She didn't expect much, but it was awesome. The ice cream was on display in the little wooden shop. It was cozy, but loud with people talking nonstop. Since it was summertime, it was bustling with wizards needing something to help them cool off. Sophia had just popped in Diagon Alley with her parents to get some stuff for Hogwarts early, they were getting her books for her while she walked around, slightly lost. Now she was using their money to buy herself some ice cream.

"Can I get two scoops of chocolate frog ice cream please?" She asked politely and then handed the shopkeeper 4 sickles.

"Thank you, come again!" the owner said, giving Sophia the ice cream.

She sat at a table licking her ice cream happily. She glanced around the room, it was just people chatting away and complaining about their small worldly problems, but it felt like they were staring at her and judging her. One thing she thought might help was talking to people her age. One on one talk helped her with her nerves, so she scoured the room for someone that could hold a conversation with her.

This was the second time Sylvie had been to Diagon Alley, and it seemed to be just as magical as the first time. Witches and wizards were everywhere, some getting supplies for the new year, others getting things from Gringotts bank, and others just hanging out. Sylvie had asked her father if they could stop by since he had a business trip there anyway, and he'd agreed.

He was talking on her phone while Sylvie and her sister, Crystal, ran up to store windows to look at the different displays. "Wow, why does that broom look to fancy, and what are those... pedal looking things for?" Sylvie smirked at Crystal, ready to share what she'd learned from her first year. 

"Well, you see those brooms are made for flying. These are the newest models!" She said, pushing her glasses up her nose. When she looked to where Crystal had been standing, she was gone. "Well shoot." She thought, the smirk vanishing from her face. Sylvie looked around but didn't see her sister or father anywhere. "Okay, okay Sylvie don't panic! Where would you go if you were Crystal??" She looked around and spotted an ice cream parlour in the distance. "I should check in there, and maybe get something while I'm at it..." She thought, making her way over.

As she stepped inside she saw the shop was pretty crowded. To her disappointment, she did not see anyone resembling her sister or her father. "Well, while I'm in here might as well get something~" She pulled out 4 sickles and asked for a scoop of vanilla and a scoop of strawberry. As she ate the ice cream she completely forgot about losing her sister and father. She sat down at one of the few empty tables and smiled to herself, tasting a mix of the flavors of vanilla and strawberry in her mouth.

Ever since Sophia found out that she had magic, she begged her mom to bring her to Diagon Alley to get used to being a witch and get to know the completely different culture right under the Muggle's noses. She finally got to go for the first time and she'd gotten used to it for the most part, but she was learning so many new things she would've learned if her mom didn't hide her magical past. And she still had a lot of questions. Her mom was at Gringotts bank while Sophia wandered around. It seemed like her mom was getting used to the wizarding world just as much as Sophia was since her mom pretended to be a muggle for so long.

Sophia was almost finished with her ice cream and she was going to get up and leave when she met a blonde girl's eyes and smiled. The girl seemed nice and about her age, and it felt comforting that she wasn't the only kid alone here.

"Hi," she managed to say. "I'm Sophia, what's your name?"

Sophia slowed down walking, she was curious. "Hey, by the way, where did your family go. My mom is at Gringotts right now."

Thus far this summer, Illowy was nearly about to keel over from boredom. One could only study and practice hobbies so much before it got oddly boring. At least, it was odd for her. The child was having trouble acclimating back to being by herself so much. Before Hogwarts, she was always on her own and had been quite content with that. Now, she'd become so use to constantly having people around her, constantly having chatter in her background noise and having someone to talk to if she wanted. Being home... it was just too quiet.

Today, she hadn't been able to take it anymore. While it wasn't often she used the Floo Network without at least asking her mother first, today would have to be an exception. Fist full of floo powder in her hand, the girl took ducked into the fireplace, "Diagon Alley." she spoke clearly, tossing the powder down, letting it engulf her in bright green flames.

In moments, the girl appeared in her intended location. How refreshing to be around people again, she thought to herself, looking around a moment before starting off to walk around for a bit. Bright, icy hues looked around, and she only stopped when she spotted a familiar face, and a housemate to boot; Sylvie Maple, along with a more unfamiliar face. Certainly a girl not from their class.

Illowy smiled to herself before walking in, directly walking towards to pair, "Sylvie!" had she ever spoken so cheerfully to the other? Possibly not, Illowy couldn't quiet recall, but all the same she was happy to finally see at least one person she knew.

The girl was hardly dressed the way some might expect the often cold and cynical snake to dress. The girl had her hair pulled up in a tight bun, a bright green satin ribbon adorning it. Though it was warm, Illowy wore a thin, slightly over-sized, white sweater who's sleeves easily covered her hands, as well as a light pink skirt and plain white flats.

A girl Sylvie didn't recognize from school approached her and introduced herself as Sophia after the two of them had made eye contact. It seemed she was also alone at the Ice Cream Shop. "Oh, um, hello. My names Sylvie." The girl seemed friendly enough. Sophia slowed down a bit and asked about where Sylvie's family was. "Oh, I'm not really sure. They kinda ditched me.." She said, laughing at her self. It was one of those awkward laughs that she did a lot. 

The girl mentioned her mother was at Gringotts."Oh cool! I only have gone their one to exchange Muggle money for knuts, sickles, and galleons to buy my school supplies with last year." She assumed that Sophia would know by this sentence that she was a Muggle-born. During her first year at Hogwarts, it seemed like others could tell right away she wasn't used to the wizarding world. 

"Sylvie!"

Sylvie heard a familiar voice and whipped her head to face the direction where the voice had come from. "Oh, hey Illowy! Didn't expect to see you here!" She said happily, standing up and hugging the girl. Illowy's outfit looked much better put together than Sylvie's simple T-shirt and shorts. "How's your summer been?"