Shopping for the New Year.

[casey]

Dorian Strathclyde woke with a start, the sun was up and that meant she was late. She jumped out of bed and ran to her bathroom and slammed the door. Fifteen minutes later she re-emerged, her hair dripping wet, and dressed in jeans and a strap shirt. She bolted to her dresser and picked up her bag and ran out of the room. Her feet clapped loudly on the stairs as she ran down to the kitchen, “Oh sorry no time to eat,” she said as she saw the house elf preparing her breakfast. “Wait one minute,” came a voice behind her that made Dorian stop, she turned. There stood Dale Strathclyde her father, “Hi daddy,” she said with a small smile. “Why are you missing breakfast when Sox has spent so good time on it? Where are you off to anyway?” Dorian looked at her father, “I’m off to Diagon Alley. I was supposed to meet Caroline there an hour ago, but I over slept.” Dale looked at her, “If you hadn’t stayed up all night finishing that book you would have woken up on time. Sox can you make her breakfast into a sandwich to take with her?” the small house elf nodded in the affirmative and began to turn the breakfast into a sandwich, a sausage, egg sandwich. “Thanks dad,” she said and she ran over and gave him a kiss, “Thanks Sox,” she said and she ran to the fireplace. She stuffed the sandwich in her bag and then draped her cloak around her neck. Dorian pulled the little pot of Floo Powder from the mantle, took some in her hand and replaced it. She tossed the powder in the flames, turning them green, she stepped inside, “Diagon Alley,” she said clearly and then she was gone.

Dorian whirled through the Floo system and finally emerged in the grate in a shop in Diagon Alley. She was almost thrown out, but landed on her feet, with a quick flick of her wand she had cleaned the soot from herself and was now looking around. Dorian, was a sixth year at Hogwarts, no ordinary school mind you, for it taught magic, and Dorian was a witch. She ran out of the shop and made her way to Madam Malkin’s robe shop, she was supposed to meet her friend Caroline there to shop for school supplies. It had been two years since her parents stopped going with her to Diagon Alley and left her to shop for herself, so she would always go with Caroline her friend who attended Durmstrang.

Dorian arrived in front of the robe shop, but Caroline was nowhere to be found. She stood there looking at the faces that flashed passed her, people all in a hurry. Suddenly there was a hooting overhead and a letter dropped at her feet. Dorian read it, it was from Caroline she had grown tired of waiting and had done her shopping and gone home. Dorian looked around, that meant she was shopping alone this year. She walked into Madam Malkin’s, she might as well get her new robes since she was there already. Inside the shop there was a very small line, only two people before her, and Dorian took her place behind them. She looked at the new stock of robes, she would also need a new dress robe, and it made sense to look while she waited. She picked up a midnight blue robe and held it up before her, she backed away a little to see it open fully when she bumped into someone behind her.

[Hinkypunk8989]

Virgina Perkins was striding down the shops of Diagon Alley. She stopped at Madam Malkin's robe shop. Virgina checked her school list. It did say she needed new robes so she walked inside. There was a small line. 3 people were ahead of her. Virgina spotted the dress robes and made torward them. She was looking at some Emerald-Green robes when someone bumped into her.

[casey]

“I’m sorry about, didn’t mean to get you like that,” Dorian said pleasantly, and then turned back to the robes. The girl she had bumped into was younger than her, a first year or perhaps a second. She looked back at the girl, “You getting along okay? You at Hogwarts? Or just shopping?” she asked her. Dorian couldn’t help it, she was a social person and made friends easily, better than her little sister but that was because Dorian had always been surrounded by tons of people so she adapted; Evan would too.

“Your next dear,” came the voice of Madam Malkin, Dorian smiled, “Be right there.” She walked to Madam Malkin, “I’d like this dress robe and three new Hogwarts school robes. “Yes, dear not a problem. Get up on the stool would you?” Dorian stepped up and Madam Malkin put the robe on her and began adjusting to fit her. She had to lengthen the bottom a bit and take in the sides, but she had Dorian’s robes perfect in a very short time.

Once all her robes were finished, Dorian stepped off the stool and went to pay for her robes, it wasn’t as expensive as one might think. She walked over to the girl she had bumped into, “How’s it coming? Your next by the way,” she said pleasantly.

[versnowa]

“ROBIN! It’s about time you woke up!” said a witch in robes of white with an angered expression on her face. “OK mum,” said Robin jumping out of bed and looking at his mother who was looking quite annoyed. “I thought you said you were going to Diagon Alley today. I wanted to go with you to Gringotts before going to work,” she said with her hands on her hips. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes Robin replied, “I was going with Alex but he’s off on a trip. I really don’t want to go on my own - oh well it’s about time I went to get my stuff for the new year. I might meet someone else there,” said Robin. Robin looked at his mother and flashed an innocent smile at her. “Why are you looking so annoyed mother? You know we’re going to be late because of you – I need to change and you won’t leave the room.” Robin’s mother looked at him in disbelief and said, “Why you… change and get out here in a minute.”

Robin changed quickly into some casual navy blue robes after a quick wash and went and got some Floo powder from a small vase in the Versnowa living room where they kept it. He and his mother stepped into the fireplace and soon they arrived at Gringotts. A goblin took them to their vault and his mother collected some gold in a sack she had brought with her. Giving Robin some of the money in a sack she said with a smile "It's your last year my dear, so this is a little more than usual. I'll see you tonight at home then. Take care." Robin smiled at his mother and said, "Thanks mum. See you!"

"Okay, I think I'll go to Madam Malkin's first. I don’t need Quidditch robes, last year's will do fine. Maybe a dress robe and another one for school," thought Robin. Contrary to Robin's expectations Madam Malkin's was quite empty. Robin walked into the shop to look for Madam Malkin or her assistant when he saw a familiar face. It was Dorian Strathclyde. Robin knew her from class and had talked to her once in the library - she was a pleasant and pretty girl, and rather intelligent too. Robin knew she probably had a group of friends with her but she was standing on her own right now so Robin thought maybe he could chat a little with her before her friends showed up and before he started shopping. Robin walked up to Dorian and smiled and said "Hey Dorian! Shopping for the new year I see. I just got here. Enjoyed the summer?"

[casey]

Dorian was talking to the younger student when she heard someone calling her name, she turned to see who it was and came face to face with Robin Versnowa. “Why, hello Robin,” Dorian said with a pleasant smile, “I’m just getting a few new things for the new year. I see you are too.” Dorian looked back at the young girl for a moment, “Well it was nice meeting you,” she said and walked over to Robin. Dorian new Robin from school, they weren’t friends or anything, in fact she could only remember them talking once. “My summer? It was pretty great. I had to work, but it was good none the less.” Just then Madam Malkin’s assistant came over to Dorian, “Miss Strathclyde this is our order. Could you please see that you mother and father get this?” Dorian took the parchment and put it in her bag, “Of course,” the lady began to walk away but turned back to Dorian, “You and your sister looked lovely in your parents’ last show.” Dorian flushed and gave Robin a sidelong glance, “Thank you. I will tell Evan.” The woman smiled and left.

Dorian turned back to Robin, “Sorry about that. Madam Malkin stocks some of my parents’ designs.” Dorian suddenly wanted to change the subject. Both Dorian and her younger sister Evan modelled for their parents’ clothing line. The Strathclyde’s had a healthy, thriving design firm that produced the best in witch and wizard wear, and they had gotten their daughters into it by modelling. Dorian, however was their main focus, her face had appeared in magazines that she tried to keep from school. It was almost embarrassing to her when people recognised her, but her friends thought it was cool. As her way of staying ‘normal’ Dorian bought all her clothes like everyone else, though all she had to do was have her parents design one for her. She didn’t get clothes free from places her parents’ supplied but she did get a discount. “You had asked about my summer, but how was yours?”<br>

[versnowa]

Dorian answered Robin's question and then Madam Malkin's assistant talked to her before they continued their conversation. Dorian flushed at the assistant's remark that she and her sister had looked lovely on their parent's show. Robin had never seen the show himself, but he remembered seeing Dorian on one of his mother's fashion magazines. Robin had no idea Madam Malkin stacked some of the Strathclyde's designs, and he realized that meant they must be really good as Madam Malkin's shop was one of the most famous shops in Diagon Alley for wizard clothing.

Robin thought about teasing Dorian about being a model then decided against it. She seemed a bit sensitive about the subject and changed it rather quickly. "I had a lovely summer but I am looking forward to going back to Hogwarts," he said in reply to her question. Robin knew he was going to miss Hogwarts after that year ended. He then said to Dorian, "So who are you here with? I wanted to come with Alex Bluewick - he's in Ravenclaw like you - but he's off on a trip somewhere."

[casey]

Dorian smiled politely, “Glad to hear that you enjoyed your summer Robin. I’m looking forward to getting back to school myself. Call it strange, but I miss Hogwarts when I’m on holiday. I was supposed to be meeting my friend Caroline, but I woke up a little late and missed her, so I’m shopping on my own this year,” Dorian said a little upset at the fact that she was on her own. Caroline and Dorian hadn’t seen each other since school ended; Caroline had gone to South America on holiday while Dorian had worked. Their missing each other meant that they wouldn’t see each other till next summer, as Caroline attended Beauxbaton.

Dorian knew Alex Bluewick from school, since they were in the same house; she saw him often and had spoken to him on more than one occasion. Alex was a very nice person, as was his sister Celina. Dorian had a brilliant idea, “Since both of us are going to be shopping on our own, why don’t we get out school things together? It does make more sense than us wandering around alone and bumping into each other all the time. That is if you don’t mind my company?” she asked with a grin.

[versnowa]

Robin didn’t know who Caroline was, but was glad she hadn't come anyway because now he had found a companion and wouldn't be shopping on his own. Robin smiled at Dorian and said, "Who wouldn't like to shop with such a pretty girl? Let me just get my robes and I'll be with you in a minute." Robin went over to Madam Malkin with his uniform robes. He tried on one of them and Madam Malkin made the necessary adjustments. "You need Quidditch robes dear?"she asked. Surprised that she remembered he played Quidditch Robin smiled and said, "No thanks, last year's are still in good condition. I do need one dress robe though." Robin had seen a robe in the summer's edition of Wizard Wear which he liked, and he described it to Madam Malkin as he knew her shop stocked some of the robes in the magazine. Madam Malkin said, "Oh I know the one you mean," she said and went to the back of her shop, went through a stack of robes and pulled out one. "Yes that it is the one I liked," said Robin. "Well dear try it on then." Robin tried it on and quite liked it. He was glad that he did because not all robes you liked always looked good after you tried them on. "I'll take it please Madam Malkin," he said.

Robin went over to the counter, paid the money for his robes and went over to Dorian who was waiting patiently. "Hope I haven't kept you waiting too long," he said. Robin went over to the door of the shop, held it open and looked at Dorian. "After you," he said. Dorian walked out of the door and Robin followed her then asked, "Got your books yet?"

((Celina and Alex are cousins by the way))

[casey]

Dorian smiled, embarrassed, “Thank you for saying that Robin. I’m not that pretty, I’m just average, I think. Okay, get you things I’ll be right over here,” she said and took a seat near the door and waited for Robin. Dorian crossed her legs as she sat and fiddled with her fingers as she waited, the assistant came to her once or twice to ask a few questions about their next shipment and if she had any idea what her parents were bringing out next. The answer to the latter was no, Dorian just modelled the clothes she had nothing to do with designing or when they were to be shown, her parents kept that under wraps from everyone, including their daughters. ”No, I’m afraid that I don’t know when the new line is coming out. My parents like that to be a surprise,” she said truthfully, but the look on the assistants face suggested that she didn’t believe her.

When Dorian was alone again, she returned to playing with her fingers and waiting for Robin. Dorian looked up as Robin approached her, she smiled, “No, it wasn’t that long, in fact it went by rather quickly.” Dorian got up and followed Robin to the door, which, like a true gentleman, he held open for her. “Thank you,” she said as she stepped out into the street. Dorian looked Diagon Alley over, there were still a few people around, quite a few, maybe more then when she had arrived. She looked at Robin, “My books? No, I haven’t gotten them yet. My first stop was to Madam Malkins. Did you get yours yet? If not, we can make that our next stop,” she asked.

[versnowa]

Robin grinned at Dorian as they walked to Flourish and Blotts, a little surprised at her embarrassment when he said she was pretty. A lot of girls Robin knew would have just acknowledged the compliment and passed it, but not Dorian, she blushed and denied it at once. Robin thought to himself that the denial was rather refreshing; girls who were too full of there own beauty were far too many and a real pain to be with. Diagon Alley was bustling with activity, as many students were around with their friends buying all their books and other items for the new school year.

"So, what NEWTs are you doing? You're in for quite a lot of hard work, but the good thing is you don't have take anything you don't want to, so at least you'll be studying something you like," said Robin as they walked at a leisurely pace to the shop. Soon they reached Flourish and Blotts. Again Robin held the door open for Dorian, and they entered the shop and stood for a minute looking at all the books. Robin wasn't a great reader like some people he knew, unless the book in question was a Defence Against the Dark Arts book or a Charms one, which were Robin's two favourite subjects, but even he enjoyed a visit to the shop just as much as any shop. The shelves of books were stacked to the ceiling with books of all sizes and about all subjects; nobody could visit the shop and not find a book they liked.

An assistant walked up to the two and asked, "NEWTs?" Robin nodded and the assistant showed them over to the section with the advanced magic books, and looked at the books that were much thicker than most of the books in the whole shop. Robin waited for Dorian to take out her list, and then said "We have the same books mostly, I just have part two, and you have part one." A book that was entitled Defence Charms: The Ultimate Guide for Wizards caught his attention and Robin pulled out the book and started thumbing through it, waiting politely for Dorian, thinking she might like to take a look around before getting her schoolbooks.

[casey]

Dorian was still in disbelief at Robin’s compliment, as they walked into Flourish and Blotts. Dorian had never been one to be full of herself or to think too highly of her looks, her parents had made sure that both she had Evan remained grounded; they made their modelling and the success they had at it a hobby rather than a career. However, though she never praised herself, it was nice when someone else did; her friends never did they knew how she felt about it. She could never understand girls who spent hours in the bathroom at school, primping and pruning their appearance to get the attention of every male who passed by.

As they approached the store the topic of their NEWTS came up, “Oh, I’m going to be doing Care of Magical Creatures; Astronomy and Ancient Runes & Arithmancy as my electives, but I will also be doing the basic subjects, charms, transfiguration’ you know,” she said with a smile. “I am completely prepared for the hard work and the time it is going to take out of my schedule. So what are you going to be taking?” she asked him as he opened the door for her to enter, “Thank you,” she said as she stepped through the door. They looked around at the array of books that lined the walls and shelves. Dorian smiled as she saw a shelf with books dedicated to muggles, her little sister would love that, and she immediately walked towards it and picked it up, “Evan would love this,” she said as she looked at the cover.

An assistant walked up to them and offered to show them to where the advanced books were located. Dorian followed with Robin, and pulled out her list when they got there, “Yeah, I guess we do have the same books,” she said with a muffled laugh. Dorian was aware that Robin was a year older than she was but as it seemed, they were doing similar subjects. She looked around the shelves a bit, Robin seemed to have found something that interested him, she walked over to him, “What’s that?” she asked.

[versnowa]

Robin listened to Dorian as she told him the electives she would be taking that year. “I’m only taking Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies. Really I can’t be bothered to take any more than those two, they’re more than enough for me, and anyway I don’t need any more as they aren’t required for what I want to do after school. Good luck with your electives this year, I’m sure you’ll do well. Don’t forget about Quidditch though, Gryffindor doesn’t need to beat Ravenclaw by too many points, does it?” he said teasingly.

As Robin looked around the shop Dorian went over to a shelf and picked a book and commented that her sister would love it. “Really? I find muggles kind of interesting too; some of their ideas are really cool and some of them are innovative. I’ll be seeing her in Foxcroft’s class then,” he said. When Robin was flipping through the Defence book Dorian walked up and asked him what he was looking at. Robin closed the book and pointed at the title on the cover. “Not as interesting as I thought though,” he said, returning the book to its shelf. “The stuff in here is pretty basic, but it’s a good collection I suppose,” he admitted. “Ready to get our school books? Tell you what, you find your Astronomy and Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, as I don’t know where those are or what they look like, and I’ll get us our other books. I think I can remember where they are from last year,” he said.

[casey]

Dorian nodded as Robin told her what he had chosen for electives that year, “Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies; good subjects. My sister is really taken with muggles, she is taking this class this year as well. You know my sister don’t you?” she asked. Dorian’s reason for asking Robin if he knew Evan was simple, people always seemed to miss her for some reason, or thought they knew who she was but really didn’t. Evan was two different people; one when in front of the camera and one when she wasn’t, and the two did not resemble the other. Dorian loved how Evan transformed before the camera and then returned to this sweet, quiet girl when it was all over; to Dorian even Evan’s face became more childlike and innocent. “Thanks for the wish of luck, and you don’t have to worry about quidditch. I’ll be sure to make sure Gryffindor gets as little goals as possible, if not none, against Ravenclaw this year,” she said with a wink and a laugh. “Good luck with your subjects as well.”

As Dorian stood behind looking at the book Robin was reading, he closed it and pointed to the cover to show her the title. “A book on defence. That is a very good book to have…especially now. It doesn’t matter if it’s basic Robin, as long as if helps you to remember what to do in any situation, I really don’t care. I wouldn’t want to meet a Death Eater and not have read at least that book.” After that Robin suggested that they get their books. Dorian agreed to find the books for Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, as well as Astronomy. “No problem,” she said as she disappeared into the stacks.

Dorian loved the smell of old books and where she was going had a particularly rich aroma of binding and old leather. She searched through the plethora of different books, by different authors till she found the precise ones she was looking for. Each subject had a few books and soon Dorian found her hands laden with them, “This won’t work,” she said to herself. She put the books on the floor and with a waver of her wand she shrank them into a more manageable size. She walked up and picked up the stack quite easily, “Now that’s better,” she said and went to find Robin.

[versnowa]

"Yeah I think so, we're not a very large group in Muggle Studies; I believe I've seen her before. I didn't know she was that interested in muggles, we should talk sometime, I have some Muggle inventions and books I've gathered over the years she might like to take a look at," offered Robin. "None? Well I suppose I'll just let you daydream till we have Quidditch match together," said Robin in a teasing tone. The conversation moved to Defense and Robin nodded his head when Dorian said the important thing was to remember the charms even if they were rather basic when one was actually faced by a Death Eater. "That's very true, so many people spend time trying to learn complex charms they would never be able to pull in a fix," he said.

Dorian then walked into the stacks of books to acquire her Arithmancy and Astronomy textbooks. ''She seems so…so ecstatic!" thought Robin as he watched Dorian amidst the books, leaning across the Defense shelf to look at her. She seemed to be enjoying looking through them and it looked as if she was looking forward to studying them. Robin for one did not feel very happy in a place so full of books, though he had of course been very keen to purchase his new Defence and Charms textbooks. He planned on reading them as soon as possible, perhaps outside by the lake in the sunshine. Robin was a real outdoors type person, quiet places like the library definitely did not appeal to him and he avoided studying there as much as possible.

"I can see someone looks like they're having fun," he said when Dorian walked up to him her books now not even a quarter of their original size. "Looking forward to studying already?" he asked, his tone still slightly teasing as was usual for him.

[casey]

Dorian looked at Robin, “That’s really sweet of you, I know Evan would love that,” she said. “She likes anything to do with muggles and muggles clothes every since Savannah took out to a muggle mall, that was all she talked about when she got home,” she said with a smile. Dorian laughed “So you’ll let me day dream eh? I don’t think so.” It hit Dorian that Robin was rather blasé about school; he didn’t seem the least bit interested, except in maybe Defence.

“Why shouldn’t I? I am definitely looking forward to getting into my books. I like to read them, as many as possible before school starts, that way I have a jump on the class so when quidditch starts up I don’t fall behind. Don’t you do the same?” she asked him and she walked over to the counter to purchase the books. “If you don’t you end up with a ton of back logged work and many late nights trying to get it done. The other teachers might give you an extension but not Snape, he’ll slap you with another ton to do for him. “Don’t you plan to pay for those?” she asked him, pointing at the books.

[versnowa]

"Sweet? Me? You're going to ruin my reputation girl! I don’t do sweet as a rule. Fun, now that I do," he said with a wink. "No, seriously, I meant that about showing a few things to Evan. I've always been interested in muggle stuff, some people think I'm bonkers and my parents always exchange looks that mean 'our son has finally lost it' when I start unscrewing and fooling around with some of their inventions, but then each person has their own idea of what is fun," said Robin with a shrug. "Muggle clothes, I like Muggle attire too, they have so many different styles. Anyway, if Evan is as interested in Muggles as you say I'll gladly show her some of the stuff I've got. I'll talk to her once I see her in class. Is she shy?" asked Robin. Laid-back as he was Robin knew some people were a little startled when he started to talk with them openly even if it was their first meeting, and he didn’t want to startle Evan. There was a four year difference between them, and while some seventh years thought talking to much younger students was beneath them Robin didn’t mind it at all. He always had fun with his sister and brother even though they were only eleven and ten years respectively.

Robin raised his eyebrows as he realised how much studying Dorian had managed to get done over the holidays. "My brain seems to shut off in the summer. The very last thing I can think of myself doing in the summer is studying. There's so much to do and I'd get restless if I sat down and tried to learn something." He listened to Dorian as she continued talking. "Well you’re right about the late nights being a drag but with me they're unavoidable sometimes. I could do with taking a page out of your book. Perhaps you shall take pity on mortals who do not possess your good studying habits and help me sometimes? I could do with a pretty companion to encourage me to work. Also, I want to be an Auror. They ask for really good grades to get you into Auror training. Perhaps when I become a powerful and skilled Auror you will look back and think that you once helped me to become one and had a hand in saving the magical world?" he said, flashing her a boyish grin.

Robin paid for his books after Dorian who had already done that. "Ok, we're done with our books and robes, anything you still need to purchase?" asked Robin.