Diagon Alley(#22RJ)
People
mill about this twisty cobble street, chatting and shopping, and passing the
day away. The street is packed with shops. Shops selling robes, shops selling
telescopes and strange silver instruments, windows stacked with barrels of bat
spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of
parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon, and more, as far as the eye can
see.
--
Nuala
wanders in with a spring in her step. She takes a look around and fiddles a bit
with the braid in her hair. She narrows her eyes and then offers a wave when
she sees Ron and Harry. A smile creeps across her face as she walks over,
"Hello Ron, Harry." She nods to you both in turn.
Noticing
Ron and Harry's waves, a small, hesitant smile forms on Rowan's lips, and she
turns to move towards them. The girl looks a little bit rounder in the face
than she had during the school year, and there's a hint of puffiness to her
eyes, but she seems genuinely happy to see friendly faces. Until, of course,
Nuala turns towards the two boys; immediately, Rowan blushes, embarassed. Oh.
It wasn't her, after all. Biting her lip, she looks down at her feet, and
starts turning away.
With
the usual routine, the wall behind the Leaky Cauldron opens and Avery steps
through, waving off the attentions of two older Hufflepuff boys and an adult,
motherly-looking woman who accompany her. "Yeah, I /know/," she
responds huffily to something said on the other side of the wall, before
breaking away and heading clear in the other direction of the three, a bit of a
scowl on her face.
Ron
blinks at Nuala, looking embarrassed for a moment while he struggles to think
of her name. "Er, 'lo ... " It'll come to him, give it a moment -
"Whalen. Alright?" He gives the Hufflepuff a quick smile and a nod,
then frowns faintly over her shoulder at Rowan's retreating form. "Hey,
Rowan!" It's up for heavy debate as to whether or not she'll hear him all
the way across the Alley and moving away like she is. After a second, he steps
backwards a step and frowns faintly, then digs into his pocket. "Harry,
would you mind ordering? It's getting full in there already, and I don't much
feel like squeezing in." He extends his hand toward the Seeker, jingling
the coins in his loosely closed fist.
Nuala
nods to Ron, "That's right...How's your summer been so far?" She tugs
at her braid a bit more, her voice still quiet and softspoken. She blinks as he
yells to Rowan, looking back at the retreating girl. "If you want her
attention you'll probably have to go after her."
Diego
ducks out of a shop quietly, a beaten-up, nearly loose-leaf sketchbook tucked
underneath one arm. He pauses to smudge the palm of a sweaty hand on his thigh
and glance around casually.
Diego
eases into a lopsided grin when he spots a member of his house, teeth flashing.
Absently he flicks some hair out of his eyes and strolls over to incline his
head in greeting to Rowan.
Harry
smiles at Nuala uncertainly, though it's friendly enough, it grows quite a bit
less uncertain when Ron manages to think up her name. "'Lo Whalen.".
He's about to say some more, probably other random pleasantries, but Ron
interrupts first by calling Rowan, and then by asking Harry to go order. At this
the Gryffindor seeker looks curiously at the retreating Ravenclaw girl before
nodding at Ron, "Sure, A chocolate malt right?". And he's already
angling himself to get into the store, seeming to miss Ron's jingling hand as
he turns.
Turning,
Rowan blinks as she hears her name called - which causes her to notice Diego.
She gives him a slightly hesitant smile, offering him a nod in return.
"Garcia, right? Err... hello." Then she stiffens, gaze going past the
younger Ravenclaw boy, and her eyes go wide with incipient terror. Apparently,
Avery is something which makes Rowan back up with an involuntary squeak.
Ron
rolls his eyes and pegs a knut at Harry's back, then turns to give Nuala a
startled look. "What? No, she's ... well, I don't know what she's running
away for, but - " He cuts off as Rowan turns, giving her a slightly more
pronounced wave that ends rather quickly as she turns to talk to Diego. He
drops his hand to his side and gives Nuala a quick smile and a shrug of one
shoulder. "See? She's talking to someone else, that's all." He drifts
back another step, bumping lightly into a chair that he then pulls out from
under the table.
Diego
is taken aback by Rowan's appalled look at first, but follows Rowan's gaze and
realizes it hasn't to do with him. Relief turns to curiousity and he furrows
his brow. He approaches Rowan's side. "Eh. Something I can help you
with?"
Diego
pulls up at his sleeves reflectively, glancing over at the younger Slytherin
boy.
Avery
studies Rowan rather curiously and unabashedly, eyebrow arching as she gives
the older Ravenclaw a once over; then the other as her gaze shifts towards
Diego. After a beat, she just shrugs her shoulders limply and slowly turns to
look into a nearby shop window, doing her best to appear casual, although her
attention clearly keeps drifting back to Rowan. Outnumbered and the youngest
present, she refrains from saying anything just yet.
Harry
does a matrixy sort of twist in mid-air, catching the knut before it can impact
his back.... Alright, fine, so the thing just sort of bounces off his back and
tinges away under some random table or other. Harry turns for a moment to see
what had hit him... but seeing nothing, he shrugs and enters the shop, joining
the line within.
Diego
sort of pauses in the middle of this entrance and exit sequence and rubs at his
elbow, glancing around.
Nuala
nods to Harry's back as he leaves, then smirks to Ron, "You're right
though." She peers over at Diego and Rowan, and if they should happen to
look over she waves them over. Being the friendly bubbly type that she is,
"So did you see the Help Wanted ad in the Daily Prophet? About the Frothy
Butterbeer hiring?" Her cheeks turn just slightly pink with excitement as
she mentions it.
Ron
raises an eyebrow at Nuala and smirks faintly himself as he settles into his
chair. "I know I'm right." He quirks a quick grin, then shrugs a
shoulder and rummages aimlessly through the paper sitting on the table.
"Not really - I hardly ever pay attention to the classified papers."
He abandons finding said section of the paper before he even comes close to
uncovering it, then glances at Rowan and Diego for a moment before looking up
at Nuala again. "Suppose you're going out for a job, then?"
Rowan
shakes her head, murmuring a soft negation to Diego's question. "N-no.
Thank you, but ... there's nothing anyone can do to help me." Her face has
gone ashen, and the look she gives Avery is one of fear and despair. "I
..." She swallows, looking over to where Ron and Nuala are, eyes wide, and
she then shakes her head again, voice dull. "I've got to go send an owl,
I'm afraid, in just a few minutes. Are you having a good summer so far?"
She gives the younger Ravenclaw a small, hesitant smile, trying to show
interest.
Diego
says casually to Rowan, his voice soft, "Oh, it's been alright." He
examines Rowan's eyes with a gently probing gaze and reaches to take the girl's
hand. "May I walk with you if you're to send mail?"
Feeling
more than a little awkward, Avery moves down the length of shop window
somewhat, although she can't help but continue routinely glancing over at the
Ravenclaws every few moments. She looks down at herself, as if casually trying
to figure out just what it is that Rowan seems to find so offensive.
Nuala
nods, "Already interviewed and everything. If I get the job, I'll be
working in the kitchens, but I love cooking. How cool would it be to just have
a job doing nothing but what you love? Would you mind if I joined you
guys?" She cocks her head to the side.
Rowan
smiles ruefully to Diego, pushing her fringe back a bit. "I .. I suppose,
if you like. I've got to write the message first, but actually," her
glance darts nervously in Avery's direction again, and she hunches her
shoulders, "...If you could make sure that ... well. Never mind that. If
you like, you could, certainly. I don't -think- there'd be anything wrong with
it."
Ron
peers intently at Rowan and Diego, squinting his eyes a bit as he tries to see
around the people moving along the Alley. After a moment, he shakes his head
slightly and leans back in his chair, straightening up the paper a bit as he
answers Nuala. "So you ... want to be a cook?" Ron's eyebrows arch,
but hey - someone's got to cook so he doesn't have to. "And, er ... I
suppose you could have a seat, sure. You'll have to pull up another chair,
because Hermione'll be along in a minute or two."
Diego
smiles at Rowan, inclining his head again at Rowan in response to her
acceptance. "Thank you, Rowan." He says, gallant. "It is.. an
honor to have your company." He glances over his shoulder at Avery and
then looks back to Rowan with furrows eyebrows. "I am at your disposal.."
"What?"
Avery finally blurts out, her voice not quite as strong as she intended it to
be, as she whirls around to look at the Ravenclaws, hands held out to the
sides. She stares for a beat, gaze stormy, before giving a small 'hmph' and
dropping hands to her sides.
Melony
makes her way from Knockturn Alley, swinging a leather black purse with a
rather contented look. Money, shopping, what could be better? Of course, upon
spotting those who have flooded the Diagon Alley. Despite those there, Melony
/does/ manage to pick at Avery, as well as Rowan, who earns a critical
look-over as the blonde makes her way towards her housemate.
Nuala
shrugs, "It's at least something to get me started. There are so many
skills you can learn on the job." She nods, "Plus it's a few mor
knuts and sickles that I don't have to beg off of me Mum and Dad." With
this she goes off in search of an extra chair. Reappearing only moments later
scooting said chair.
Rowan
glances furtively past Diego again, giving him a small, nervous smile at the
same time. "Oh, it's no trouble, really, I..." Avery's outburst makes
her jump slightly, and then she spots Melony. The girl goes bright red, and
turns, fleeping into the Owl Emporium, no longer even looking to see if Diego
follows her or not.
Rowan
pushes open the door, stepping into Eeylop's Owl Emporium.
Diego
scurries after Rowan, glancing over his shoulder at Avery again before ducking
into the Emporium.
Diego
pushes open the door, stepping into Eeylop's Owl Emporium.
Ron
idly taps his heels againt the stone of the patio, and for posing's sake, he'll
pretend that Harry's brought out his milkshake and disappeared back into the
store to get his own. Ron holds the glass for a moment, then brings it up to
press lightly against his cheek, sighing quietly as the cool eases his bruising
a bit. "Suppose that's true enough, sure. Surprises me that they're
letting people our age cook, though." He straightens a bit as Rowan makes
her hasty exit, letting his glass rest on the tabletop as he follows where her
gaze last rested. "...Odd, that. Isn't it?"
Very
odd; so says Avery's expression as she stares after the retreating Ravenclaw
with a look of utter bewilderment and a bit of frustration. She's so caught up
in that little bit of drama, it takes her a moment to spot Melony, but her
older housemate gets a grin and wave the moment she does; quickly, though, her
expression returns back to looking confused.
Melony
looks a little taken aback as Avery blurts out something, and a little miffed
as Rowan storms off. "Really, I need to corner that girl and find out
what's up with her. Anyway, hello, Avery. How've you been?" A smile is
given to the younger girl, as Melony tosses her hair and stops before her.
"Having a good summer?"
Nuala
nods, "I thought the same thing as well, but it's almost like an
apprenticeship. I'll be starting off with baking and other simple things."
She smirks a bit, her cheeks blushing a bit more, "Besides, we have to
learn somehow..."
"I
didn't even /do/ anything!" Avery exclaims, none too quietly, as she turns
to Melony. But, after a quick moment, she just shrugs it off, returning to a
grin again. "Hullo Melony. Oh, I've been all right. Summer's been so dull
so far, though. ...And strange, just now." She looks towards Eeylop's for
a beat, before returning her gaze to Melony. "How's yours been, then? Done
anything fun?"
"Suppose
so," Ron answers with a nod, taking a sip of his chocolate malt. He leans
back and kicks a foot up on the chair that they're reserving for Hermione so he
can stretch out a bit. "Well, I hope you have fun with it, then. I never
really go there myself - Fortescue's is just easier to get to, I guess. And
they've got some butterbeer-honey sauce on some of their sundaes that's just as
good as drinking butterbeer."
"Aside
from shopping every day and looking into slaughtering the next Ravenclaw I
see...." Melony says, smirking slowly, "No, really nothing fun. I
mean, I love shopping, but I wonder if Malkin's is just going to forbid me to
enter sometime soon. That, and I'm tempted not to come to Diagon for the rest
of the summer. As I said," and her free hand directs to Eeylop's,
"Ravenclaws. Oh, and don't mind Dyer so much. She's gone all... psycho.
It's terribly odd, and almost worrisome." But of course, worrying would
actually mean Melony cares about someone other than herself and a few
housemates, and that's a no-no.
Returning
from the direction of Tanjhenge Alley, Hermione's got a parcel wrapped in brown
paper and tied with string tucked under one arm. With a slightly energetic
spring in her step and a decidedly pleased smile on her face, she works on
making her way through the crowded streets back to where she left Ron and
Harry.
Nuala
nods, and smiles, "The Frothy Butterbeer is more of an Inn really, with
full meals. I can understand what you're saying though as it is truly
easier." She nods sagely.
Ron
once again lifts his glass to press lightly against his cheek, giving Nuala a
crooked smile. "Well, like I said. Hope it works out for you, or you'll be
miserable all summer. That'd be rotten." He gives Hermione a wave with his
free hand, kicking his feet off of her chair as she approaches. "Harry's
still inside - looks like it got really busy just when we got here, so he's
having to fight through a whole lot of people just to order. Get everything you
need?"
Avery
offers a low chuckle, nodding her head. "Least you get to go shopping.
Can't be too bad, in that case. I've been locked up all summer with - well,
it's driving me nutters, in any case, but apparently, that's going
around." She smirks, glancing at the direction Rowan went again. "I
can see why you'd be willing to give up Diagon Alley to avoid that sort of
thing, yeah. Where would you go instead? Hogsmeade?"
Hermione
makes her way over to the table, giving Nuala a quick, politely friendly smile,
then sits down next to Ron, elbowing him deliberately. "Almost. There's
one or two items that I'll still have to figure out a way to get hold of. I'm
glad Harry's getting the ice cream, of course, but don't think it's going to
make me forgive you two any more quickly!" She reaches up, though, to
ruffle the redhead's hair - she's not -quite- as angry as her severe tone might
suggest. "Sorry that it took so long, but I ran into one of your brothers,
and, well, there were all sorts of questions."
"I
don't know - maybe. There're other Wizarding places, though, certainly,"
Melony says with a shrug. "I'm waiting for word from Montoya and Ellis -
we're to go searching for flats for Montoya sometime this summer, and /that's/
something I'm looking forward to. I love looking at places to buy!"
There's a moment of silence, as the girl eyes Eeylop's, before she releases a
sigh and shrugs. "Not just Dyer. More like several others. I think I've
only met up with one /sane/ Ravenclaw all summer... but then again, that's
Marsters. We don't want to put too much sanity on him, I think."
Nuala
nods, "Hey Hermione." She doesn't even ask about what she might be
angry about before popping out of her chair. "Well, I should really get
going. Hopefully you guys'll come and visit me at least once this summer?"
She offers a half-cocked smile.
Ron
tries to deflect Hermione's elbow but fails, rolling his eyes good-naturedly at
the girl. "But it's ice cream, and extra cherries, and that's enough to
forgive us, right?" He grins as brightly as his swollen cheek will allow,
then snickers and ducks away from Hermione's hair ruffling. "What sort of
questions?" He gives her a curious look, then looks up and gives Nuala a
quick wave. "Sure, we'll try to remember to stop by there instead of just
stopping here like usual. See you!"
Avery
perks at the mention of meeting up with further housemates. "Oh, that
should be fun. I've never been looking for places at all, but I imagine it
would be. Have you looked at lots of them before, then?" She rubs idly at
a spot of dirt near her elbow, looking faintly wistful. "Seems there's
only one sane house at all these days." She smirks faintly, shaking her
head, as her eyes deflect briefly over at the other small group of students.
Hermione
grins at Ron ruefully. "Oh... you know. What am I buying, why am I buying
it, that's a funny sort of list, what's it for, you're not up to anything
strange, are you, Hermione? I explained it's for 'women's complaints'. He
left."
Ron
knows better than to believe Hermione's explanation, and he /still/ blushes
faintly. "Well, if it works." He takes a sip through his straw, then
offers the glass to Hermione. "While you wait, we can share. So did you
find everything you needed?"
Snorting,
Melony nods and lets her own gaze skim over the faces swarming throughout
Diagon. "I've seen some places - bigger houses, though. Grandmother was
looking into a house somewhere in Britain - she lives in Switzerland and wanted
to be nearer to mother - and I went along with she and mother one time."
The blonde tosses her hair, looking down at Avery with an arched brow and grin.
"And yes, Slytherin seems to be keeping sanity in check. Lucky us, right?
Though, as I said, anything less than pure and beyond Slytherin, and I might--
oh, damn, Granger's around. Well, that just shoots /that/ statement all to
hell, I think," Melony says sullenly, spotting Hermione.
"Thanks."
Taking a sip of Ron's drink, Hermione then offers it back, answering, "Not
quite everything, as I said - there's a couple of ingredients which are just
going to be tougher to get hold of, I think. It's a pity, but there you've got
it." She sighs, shaking her head. "I'm not sure how we're going to
get those - I may have to try going to L'Oiseau when mum and dad take their
trip to France."
Avery
nods to Melony's words, looking curious as always at the answer. "Yeah,
think that'd be fun. So would looking for a flat too, I think." She shrugs
a bit, finally giving up on the dirt-smudge on her arm. "She is?"
Avery asks, her nose wrinkling faintly as she glances over at the Gryffindors,
then reaches out to consolingly pat Melony on the arm as she turns back.
Ron
takes his glass back, then peers inside the shop. "I think I'm about to go
save Harry," he decides, setting his drink down on the table as he gets to
his feet. "He's been in there way too long, I'll just bet he's got some
first year trying to latch on to him or something." He pauses, giving
Hermione a curious look for a moment. "You don't think mum might have any
of it around the house for something, do you? We might need to look - this
could be easier than we think it is. I'll be back, alright?"
Melony
sighs and nods, "Yes, she is. Ah well. Anyway, do you want some ice cream,
Avery? My treat? I need some, now, I think." She eyes Ron and Hermione
with a sneer, though then looks down at the younger Slytherin. "Oh, the
flat-searching will undoubtedly be highly amusing and entertaining, or severely
annoying and irritating. Given the company I shall be with, of course.."