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Post by Hannah Abbott on Sept 18, 2009 21:27:58 GMT -5
The sun shone overhead, and it was a busy day in Diagon Alley. It always managed to be busy whenever Hannah would travel down to the magical location. Hogwarts wasn't anywhere near starting just yet, but it appeared as if half of the magical community was shopping in Diagon Alley already. If that was true, she could only imagine how busy it would be closer to when Hogwarts actually finally began. But, she wasn't going to dwell on what hadn't even happened yet, since she hoped that she could get her school shopping done way before Hogwarts started. Well, she actually didn't even start it yet, but she would soon, hopefully before the rest of the students would all converge on Diagon Alley all at once.
Hannah had turned 11 only two months prior, and she received her first letter from Hogwarts. So, she had about a month yet to get herself completely ready for Hogwarts. Because of that, she didn't really know anyone else apart from who the rest of her family knew. But, even if she had someone to confide in, she wouldn't admit how apprehensive she actually was about starting Hogwarts. Just like starting any school for the first time, she worried about making friends, and doing well while at the castle. Oh sure, her mother told her plenty of stories, but that didn't mean that she was any more prepared. She could only hope to have a good first year at the castle.
Despite being unprepared, Hannah was in Diagon Alley just to look around for a bit. Just because she wasn't school shopping yet, did not mean that she couldn't just look around for a bit. Well, she wanted to go look at the brooms from Quality Qudditch Supplies. She liked the sport, and she liked flying. However, she had no idea if she would be good enough, or even have the confidence, to try-out for her house's Qudditch team when she finally went to Hogwarts. But, she wanted to look, even if she wasn't going to buy anything. It couldn't hurt anyway. She pushed open the door to the store, and immediately walked over to where the brooms were. She began to look at the various models of brooms. |
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Post by shawn on Sept 18, 2009 21:42:30 GMT -5
    For the fourth time already that week, Shawn found himself walking up and down the streets of Diagon Alley. The shopkeepers in his favorite shops were starting to smile in good humor each time he returned for a look around, and he was growing used to the attention. His pocket money was long since spent on a few extra things he needed and didn't want to ask his parents for, so he had no real reason in his searching. Extra preparation was going into this particular school year, far more than even for the previous year, his first. Of course, when there was the rumor going around that Death Eaters were moving out in the open again, it was a cause for extra caution.
Heaving a sigh as he passed Florean Fortescue's for what seemed the hundredth time, he didn't even bother going in to look around - there was too much he wanted and couldn't get. Flourish and Blotts was also out of the question, as he'd literally poured over the shelves many times over. He had a good general idea of what was for sale, and saw no point in going through with that routine again. Coming to Quality Quidditch Supplies on his way to turn around and head for the Leaky Cauldron - to look for his twin sister - he decided to stop in. That was one store he hadn't visited yet that day.
Experiencing the same sort of amused greeting from the saleswitch at the counter, he gave a smile that was a bit sheepish and walked past, looking around at the various supply racks. Quaffles and bludgers, bats, boots, robes..they were all things that he didn't need. His eyes went to the various brooms on display, and he went over to study them - again. It took a moment for him to notice a girl that he hadn't seen before - coming to the same shop frequently had given him a good idea of who returned to dream and drool over the brooms as he did.
"Getting ready to go to Hogwarts?" He asked, approaching the Nimbus 2000 to get a better look at it - and also at the girl he was addressing. There would be no mistaking who he was speaking to, as the other customers in the store were looking at other supplies.
TAG TO: Hannah Abbott
WORD COUNT: 393
MUSIC: Crownless - Nightwish |
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Post by Hannah Abbott on Sept 21, 2009 21:23:46 GMT -5
Even though Hannah was new to Hogwarts, and thus would be starting her first year at the castle, she was aware of flying and Qudditch. Her favorite memory, so far, was her first flight, and she doubted that that would change anytime soon. However, she didn't practice Qudditch that much at all. She was shone a little about the sport, but most of the little knowledge that she knew about it came in the form of books, or the rare issue of the Daily Prophet that talked about Qudditch. But, at any rate, she would love to see a match up close, just as she hoped to when Hogwarts began the annual Qudditch matches.
Thus, the young girl's reason for walking into the Qudditch supply shop was mainly to look at the brooms that were in stock. Naturally, Hannah did not plan on buying anything. Her parents would probably be angry if she did try to buy anything. Besides, coming to Diagon Alley did have its benefits at times, especially when it stopped impulse shopping. Besides looking at the brooms in awe, she would probably look at the other Qudditch supplies that were in the store.
While looking at the brooms that were on the shelves, Hannah was unaware of anyone that was near her. Yes, that did happen to her occasionally when she was preoccupied with something. When she heard that someone was talking to her, she was startled at first, and turned around to see who was talking to her. Noticing that it was a boy, who looked like he went to Hogwarts. She nodded to his question. "Uh, yes. I'll be gathering my supplies later. I just stopped in, to take a look around. What about you?" she asked him. |
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Post by shawn on Sept 22, 2009 14:26:23 GMT -5
Giving a nod of acknowledgement, Shawn gave a slight grin. She didn't seem to have noticed him at first, which wasn't all that surprising. When he got to looking at something that interested him, he could do the same thing of forgetting everything else around him. "Yeah, I'm going into my second year. Been shopping so much lately that I just keep coming back to dream over the model I want." He motioned to the brooms, particularly the Nimbuses. In spite of 'advice' from a few knowledgeable people to not get that model, he still planned on it - provided he was ever able to save up enough money.
"Sorry to sneak up on you like that." He went on to apologize, realizing it had been a bit out of place. "I just haven't seen you around before. Coming here so much is starting to make recognizing everyone pretty easy." Belatedly remembering his manners, he held out a hand, "Shawn Lupin, by the way."
TAG TO: Hannah
WORD COUNT: 164
MUSIC: Several Battlelore songs.
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Post by Hannah Abbott on Sept 22, 2009 20:04:20 GMT -5
Looking once more at the brooms that were the closest to her, Hannah knew fully enough that she wouldn't be buying a broom anytime soon. It would take her a way too long time to save up for the broom. In addition, there was that idea of practicality. She was an only child, and thus had no siblings to play with. As a current first year, she didn't exactly have any friends yet that were in Hogwarts to play with. Plus, Hogwarts didn't let first years play on their house's Qudditch teams anyway, thus making any thoughts of buying a broom null and void.
Turning her attention back to the boy that had started their conversation together, Hannah listened to what he said. "Oh. On your opinion, which broom do you think is the best one?" she asked him, gesturing to the brooms. She smiled lightly to him as he apologized, "Don't worry about it, it's fine." She didn't really mind the random conversation, although she wasn't expecting it at all. "Oh, well, I'll be a first year this upcoming school year, and I have only just began to come here," she explained. Shaking his hand, she introduced herself, "I'm Hannah Abbott. Nice to meet you Shawn." |
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Post by shawn on Sept 22, 2009 21:12:37 GMT -5
"My opinion? Well, I'm not any kind of expert on the models, but the best available right now is the Nimbus 2000. Second to that would be the Comet 260, but it all really depends on what you're going for..and unfortunately what you're willing to pay." Shawn shrugged slightly, eyes going to the nearest Nimbus. He looked away just as quickly, remembering the conversation.
"Nice to meet you too, Hannah." He smiled and leaned against the nearest steady surface, looking over it first to be sure it wouldn't fall over. He'd knocked a couple of displays over once when he was younger, and had vowed to never do that again. "First year, huh? Always the most exciting. Any idea about what house you want to be in?"
TAG TO: Hannah
WORD COUNT: 127 |
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Post by Hannah Abbott on Sept 26, 2009 20:43:28 GMT -5
Looking over at Shawn, Hannah listened to what he was saying. Naturally, she had no idea if he was an expert with brooms, or Qudditch for that matter. Beside the fact that he was older than her, he was already a student at Hogwarts. Thus, it was possible that he would know more than her. But, she would have no idea, until she tried. Thus, she did not think that it was that much of a bad idea, from her stand point. "I see. Besides how the Nimbus 2000 is a better broom then the Comet 260, are they both reliable brooms, in your opinion?" she asked him. Yes, the price factor was always a big problem, especially for someone at her age.
Hannah smiled back to Shawn. Yes, it was a good thing for her to at least know someone that was already at Hogwarts. Of course, she had no idea if she would even be in the same house as him. Well, she didn't even know what house he was even in, but that didn't mean that she would be any closer to be in the same house as him. Tilting her head to the side, she shook her head. "No, I have no idea. I have no idea which house would even fit me best," she acknowledged. That face played into her apprehension over starting the new school year at Hogwarts. "Which house are you in?" she asked curiously. |
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Post by shawn on Sept 27, 2009 23:57:37 GMT -5
"Yes, both are reliable, but in their own ways. The 260 has excellent control and the braking charms on it are reliable and hard to break. The Nimbus, on the other hand, has always been one of the best brooms for Quidditch. Steering is second to none, it won't warp under high speed, and if you're talented enough at handling it, you can really just guide it with your knees." Mostly speaking from a research standpoint, Shawn made it clear that he made a habit of looking into brooms and figuring out what was the best. He really was serious about sorting through the different models and finding out what was best, in spite of the price tag that would go with it. A dream was a dream, after all.
"I had the same problem going into school, no idea where I'd fit. I ended up in Hufflepuff, though." Wondering how much she knew about each house and with no way to know that without asking, he decided to make a point about his own house clear. "And no matter what you hear about Hufflepuff, the people in it aren't inferior or pathetic. We just..didn't fit perfectly anywhere else."
TAG TO: Hannah
WORD COUNT: 199 |
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