Shopping time

It was rather smoggy outside at the Diagon Alley by the time Leanne got there with her parents and her older brother Brian that was in town for a couple of days. Brian saw some of his old friends from school so he took off in a great speed to meet them. Leanne's parents stayed behind to have a cup of firewhiskey at the Leaky Cauldron while Leanne moved forward to buy and replace her old school material.

Firstly, she only observed her Unicorn tailed broken wand with a little sigh. She was too occupied counting the coins in her pocket that by the time she got to the next corner and stopped counting she literally bumped into a guy which almost gave her a heart attack before she had even a little time to think about what just happened.

Desmond began to explore Diagon Alley, feeling familiar with the sights and sounds. He had been scared to pieces when he had first explored it 3 years ago, yet now it was just annoying to travel through. Too many new shops were opening up, leaving him to wander around aimlessly again until he could find his destination. It was a nuisance to Desmond, always having to shove people out of his way so that he could inch another step closer. The streets were packed, and he wished he had a broom so he could point and laugh at the other wizards as he flew by.

Looking around, he noticed some unfamiliar signs, which made him glare at it. Bistros and even MORE bookstores. Wasn't there enough already? Suddenly, he felt himself run into someone, yet from the first touch he could tell that he had run into a girl. It wasn't a hard thing to deduct, as he could tell by the different body structures. He turned his head back towards the girl, immediately feeling his body grow rigid. She was almost the same height as him, something Desmond didn't feel comfortable with. "Oh," he said awkwardly "hi"

What Leanne thought was a wall or a market stall now seemed to be a boy, a tall boy. Her own height didn't go much lower then him because she was rather tall for a girl in general. She took a little step back because staring into someone you bumped in wasn't a particulary good idea right about now. Her eyes now passed up and down to check the right identity of her road obsticle.

It was a boy, he looked familiar from somewhere. Probably Hogwarts, because people that usually buy supplies here are on Hogwarts. "Oh good day to yourself. It's not everyday i run into people." Leanne said trying to put a grin though it was easier for her to blush a bit right now. "Are you from Hogwarts?" she asked when she took a deep breath trying not to embarass herself very much in front of a stranger.

Desmond looked at the girl, feeling a little embarrassed. He had run into her and now they were conversing, hating the fact that he did not know what to say. At first, he thought he should have said something about pranking, yet realized that wouldn't have been the best solution. She didn't seem like the person who would like pranking others. Unlike Jack, whom had labeled herself as his mentor. He hadn't seen her in a while and felt a little concerned about her sudden disappearance.

"Yeah," he said, trying to keep his voice from cracking. He was hitting that stage in puberty where his voice would begin to crackle and change pitch, without even noticing it. At points, it sounded cool to have a deep voice, yet he hated having to wait a couple of years for it to wear off. "I'm a Gryffindor Fourth year...how about you?" That seemed like a good way to start a conversation.

Leanne observed the boy hoping she didn't start this conversation incorrectly because that would mean she didn't leave a rather good first impression. Her mood was not changing at this stage of her life, she was a cheerful girl that rarely had problems which could actually be called problems.

As the boy started to talk to her, she felt a bit relieved though she didn't change her stance much. "You too? I am on same year at Huffelpuff isn't that awkward.My name is Leanne by the way what's yours?[i]" she asked finally remembering he was still just another boy for her, and she was still just another random girl from this point of view.

Desmond stood there, trying to remember why he had gotten to Diagon alley in the first place. Did he come for books? No that probably wasn't it. Pranking devices? No that wasn't it either...he knew he had come out for SOMETHING yet could not remember what. It made his thoughts become cluttered and jumbled for the time being. He had met a new person and had gone into his usual phase of just looking like a complete idiot. He stood like a statue, his face having an almost shocked expression looming about.

"My name is Desmad-gah darnit! I mean Desmond. Desmond Miller." Way to go Desmond, he thought bitterly Way too-freaking-go.. He would have to say something, anything that could perhaps save the subject at hand, letting his thoughts overtake his mind. "So are you excited for this year?" he asked questioningly. YES! he thought as if he had won the battle At least I won't look too bad....

Leanne stood there waiting for the boy's answer. It was like he stayed without a word or something though she didn't mind that very much. It made her less nervous when she was aware of the fact that she wasn't the only one. Finally the boy spoke up, first mumbling and jumbling something that later puzzeled in some recognizable name. "Pleased to meet you Desmond then." she said trying not to laugh because that would be rather rude.

"Most certainly am. I heard we're going to have almost full staff replaced. Yourself?" she asked glad to change the topic to something that wasn't funny. "So i assume we are both here for the same reason. What do you think about going shopping together?" she finally asked not sure if that was too quick from her side. But Leanne was an impulsive person.

For some reason, Desmond felt like he was making things worse at that moment. Thoughts consumed his mind as he looked at her for a moment, smiling like he was talking to some old friend that he had not seen in a while. Frankly, it was sort of like that since he had no other friends...except Jack, but she was a 7th year and would be graduating. "Nice to meet you too," he said trying to sound normal as possible.

He blinked a couple of times at her request. Was she really inviting him to go shopping? For Desmond, it sounded sort of weird, him being the guy he was and all yet knew he would have to gain some new friends. And she seemed nice enough. "Umm..." he stammered, still having second thoughts about his answer "sure. I came out here for something anyway, yet I can't remember what." The thought still consumed his mind, still trying to remember why he was out there in the first place, yet STILL couldn't remember.

Leanne didn't know if she crossed the line so she looked rather confused for about a moment before she figured out something to say. At least something that would be propriate. "Yeah i know it's a weird suggestion." she said rather embarassed though since she already asked him it would be hard to go back now. Way to go Leanne you should have asked him for a date too... she thought sarcasticlly trying to look as ordinary as possible.

Yet she listened to what Desmond was saying with great attention though words just seemed to come and go from her head. "You forgot why are you here? Was it important?" she finally asked sounding a bit more like herself now. "So where do we go first. There's a dozen of stores here.." she commented looking at the long alley ahead of them.

Desmond knew he would have to say something in order to change the subject. Sure, he was going to buy a couple of things with Leanne and yet there were already some small awkwardness between them. He needed to act like a Gryffindor and take a chance. "It's not weird," he smiled, some of his teeth showing "I am just not used to going...shopping with people I don't know. I've had to go find school supplies with my dad the past 3 years. They are out of town however, somewhere in the USA, trying to find my new mom or something like that."

He probably shouldn't have said anything about his immediate family, yet he knew he would've had to have told her at some point. If they were going to be friends and all. "I say we go check out the bookstore first," he said, confidence booming in his voice "maybe I'll find something there that will help me remember...I know I came out here for something..."