Got Money? [Ben+ anyone else]

James Wake was taking an early morning stroll down Diagon Alley. It was not a new fling of his- he preferred the company of complete strangers to his uncle, a reclusive old man who liked to talk about battles from way back when. He was bored of those stories. His alchemic arm silently rubbed two fingers together, his right arm, the REAL arm held a piece of chalk within his pocket. He was ready to perform any form of alchemy he required, though he willingly admitted that doing such acts for personal gain was dubious.

He sighed as he pulled his gloves on even tighter. The black cloth was uncomfortable, even in winter. But during the summer, it was like broiling his real hand. He wasn't sure what he felt in his left arm though- the arm was very useful, but it did not allow him to feel. He flipped his wand between the fingers of his right hand as he sat down at a familiar ice cream parlor, wondering if anything interesting was going to happen on that blistering summer day.

Ben was alone in Diagon Alley. His mother and sister were in Madam Malkin's taking forever shopping for clothes. He was allowed to wonder off. Thank Merlin, he thought. He couldn't stand around in a stuffy shop looking at robes all day. He had already visited Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes', but since he had next to no money he hadn't spent much time in there.

Ben absent mindedly wondered up the Alley. He had a few sickles left. What could he buy with that? Not much, admittedly. He looked around at the shops. Floreans might have some cheap ice cream, he thought. He walked over to the sign. He could just afford a small one. He bought it. He went and sat down next to a boy he didn't know. He looked roughly his age. "Hi, I'm Ben." he introduced himself, offering his hand.

"Hey," James said as a younger boy sat beside him. "I'm James." He took the boy's hand. He seemed like he was two or so years younger than him, and looked alright. But James had learned painfully that looks didn't define the person.
"What flavor did you get?" James asked him as he got a medium-sized bowl of Vanilla ice cream. He smiled as he remembered a man he'd met once. He had believed that the ice cream a person ordered could be used to psychologically profile the person.

Ben smiled as the boy shook his hand. Maybe the boy was older than him. He was never any good at telling people's ages. James. Not an unusual name. He seemed like a nice guy. "I just got strawberry. You?" he asked, not making much of the question. It seemed a normal quetsion to ask, after all. "You bought anything else today?" he asked, continueing the conversation.

"I just get the vanilla- it's not one of those crazy flavors they offer. I mean, Phoenix Fudge? Does it burst into flames or something? Nah, I like sticking to constants."
James paused, realizing that he'd just said a lot. He'd been so deep in thought as to how personality could be determined through ice cream flavors, that he'd just profiled himself. How strange... Then the younger boy asked him if he bought anything else.
"Nah, I was supposed to get my school books the other day, but I keep forgetting my galleons. Why are you here? Visiting or buying?"

Ben listened to James talking about ice cream flavours. James had just gone for vanilla, because he liked sticking to constants. It was odd, Ben realised, James was determining characteristics through ice cream flavours. Profiling through ice cream. That was a new one, he thought. "I'm supposed to be getting my school stuff. My mum and sister are taking forever in Madam Malkin's though, as always, so I'm just wondering around waiting for them." he answered. "Are you here with anyone?" he asked. He then realised it may sound slightly rude. He hoped he didn't come off as rude.

"Nah, my uncle and I live down the street from the Leaky Cauldron. It's easy enough to get around," James casually leaned back in his chair. "I come here when I get really bored- TV never has anything interesting, all the books are notes on Alchemy, and the food, well, for a rich man, my Uncle spends very little." Ace took another spoonful of the ice cream.
"You're in Hogwarts, right?" he asked wondering more about the legendary school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "What year are you in?"

Ben listened to James talking about himself as Ben ate his ice cream. He nodded, as his mouth was full of ice cream. He swallowed, then spoke. "What's it like living in the city? I live in a small village, we have to floo everywhere, which is annoying." he asked, curiously. "Yeah, I'm in Hogwarts. I'm a second year." he replied. James looked older than him, he guessed. "You?" he replied.

"Just transferred in, fifth year. As for the city, well.. it's a lot noisier than a little town. I used to live in a vale myself, so I kind of understand what you're talking about. The city is more... exclusive. Your neighbors don't really get to know you unless there is a solid reason, and friends are really hard to come by. Everyone is afraid of trusting each other, for some reason or another, and their faces are more worn." James looked down at his empty bowl. It seemed to feel as empty as he did when he was alone at home.

"Whereabouts do you live?" he asked on a higher note.

A transfer student? Wow, that was awesome, Ben thought. "Where did you transfer from?" he asked, curiously. He didn't like the sound of the city much, he preferred knowing his neighbours. In his village, everyone knew everyone. It was quite small, but there were a lot of fields and parks, which were good for children. He liked it there. "I live in Sonning, it's a village not too far from here." he told James. He didn't actually know the exact distance, as he almost always travelled by floo powder, which gave no idea of distance. "I like it there, though you can't keep anything secret from anyone." he added.