Watch Where You're Going ((Landon))

[aryasillhouette]

Arya was enjoying a day in Hogsmeade. It meant no little first years to worry her, or to constantly be bumping into her. She tired quickly of the little accidents that the first years always had. They could see, and were not blind, so how could they so carelessly hit someone so much older, and bigger than they. Arya had yet to figure this out. Shaking the thought from her head, she continued to wonder around the small village.

Arya decided that her first destination would be Honeydukes. She had thought of this on her way into the village, when the thought of how delicious a peice of toffee would be. She stopped only long enough to look at her reflection in a small window. Smiling Arya was delighted at how the gorgeous forrest green sweater dress that she had chosen earlier that morning looked under her Slytherin cloak. It made her deep brown eyes show nicely as well. Arya enjoyed looking her best. It always made her feel noticable, and then when she spots someone looking at her, she loves feeling noticed.

Continuing her walk, she noticed as she became closer to Honeydukes, that there was a myriad of people already there. Wondering if Honeydukes had gotten some new type of candy, Arya made her way into the store, and toward the front of the crowd.

[mongaj]

Exchanging his money for a bag of goodies, Landon turned to face the unruly crowd. People were packed into the Honeydukes store, and he had been battling this same crowd for a while now while waiting to try their new line of fudge which boasted a magnificent twenty-five different flavor combination box. He had bought one for his grandmother, one for his aunt and uncle, and also one for himself to enjoy periodically. He wasn't a huge fan of fudge, but with the many different flavors, he was sure to find something he liked in the wide variety.

Pushing his way out of the store, Landon noticed many disgusted faces of people who were still waiting for their fudge, and he was sure that he had heard a few snide remarks as well. Ignoring them for the most part, Landon had come to realize that not everyone was always pleasant, but actually more times than not, people had a tendency to act rather rude in public, especially when forced to wait in line for something.

Bumping into another customer, Landon turned to apologize for what seemed the hundredth time. Seeing that the person he had run into was a girl who looked somewhat familiar, Landon paused for a second, trying to remember where he knew her from. It was most likely that she was a fellow Hogwarts student, but he wasn't completely sure of that. After turning to continue fighting his way out of the store, he suddenly recalled having a class with her, and also was certain she was a Slytherin. Preparing to be shouted at, Landon rolled his eyes and continued walking, thinking she may ignore their encounter, as many people were knocking into each other as a result of the crowded quarters.

[aryasillhouette]

Arya listened as others in the crowd around her talked. She hoped that the eavesdropping would allow her to determine why the sweet shop was so obviously over crowded. From the tidbits of information that she was able to gather, Honeydukes now had a new line of fudge with a numerous variety of flavors. That still left Arya puzzled. It was only fudge so why all the commotion and excitement.

Arya tried to remain calm at all times. She thought that one’s attitude and ability to remain calm during a time when everyone else was in an uproar showed their dignity. A dignified witch or wizard was usually one more respected than one who showed their indignities in public.

As Arya stood in the crowd hoping to reach the Acid pops and Chocolate Frogs, she noticed that there was a small line of other students slowly making their way out of the store. Arya turned to make her way through the line. She had abandoned hope at getting to her favorite two types of candy, and made her way out of the store with the ones that she noticed going that way. As she made her way out of the store, she felt someone hit her. Turning to see what idiot had not seen her, she discovered it was a boy in her year but definitely not in her house. Keeping her dignity and trying to maintain her calmness, Arya looked the boy directly in the eyes, “Could you possibly watch where you are going? I mean I understand that the store is overly and unusually crowded, but I also know that I do not blend it to the crowd but that I stand out. I have never blended into the crowd. And from what I gathered when I stopped just outside the store, and looked at my own reflection, I am not invisible, nor am I wearing an invisibility cloak, there for I know that you could see me. Therefore, pray tell what is your excuse, I know you have one.” Arya did not refer to shouting; she rather enjoyed the scowling method that she had decided to use.

[mongaj]

Stopping in his tracks, Landon turned as the girl ran her mouth, mentioning the fact that she wasn't invisible or that she didn't blend in. To Landon, all he really heard was, 'blah, blah blah.' Just as most Slytherins, this girl thought she was above everybody else, and it surely would have been rare for her to just ignore the fact that the store was crowded and that people were inevitably going to be bumping into each other. What surprised Landon the most though is that this girl had refrained from shouting. Once she had completed her rant, Landon gave a smug grin, and looked around at the customers who had shifted their attention to the girl and himself. "You may not blend in with the crowd," he snapped coldly, "but you sure don't stand out either." His face turned red as the anger began to rise within him. "Just because you think you are some fancy Slytherin queen doesn't mean that you rule the world, let alone this candy shop!" he said loudly, not quite shouting just yet. If this girl wanted a verbal battle, that's exactly what she was going to get. Landon was sick of people like her trying to make everyone else feel diminutive and lowly. It wasn't going to work on him, and hopefully he could show others around him that they didn't have to put up with people like this girl either.

"So Miss Princess," Landon said mockingly, "why is it exactly that you think that you are better than everyone else?" he questioned bitterly. "Your actions make it obvious that you must think that," he added, his hand clenching the bag holding his purchase of fudge.

((sorry for the long wait for the reply... been busy with lots of stuff ))

[aryasillhouette]

Arya stood patiently with her arms folded across her chest. She waited to see if the boy would reply with a simple apology or if he would have some sort of smart comment about her being a Slytherin. Looking around, she noticed that some of the others near them were starting to listen and apparently awaiting the boy’s reply just as she was.

Arya stood just a moment longer, before the boy began to speak. Arya tried to listen as the boy almost seemed to be shouting. This made her think about her dignity. She refused to let anyone shout at her and make her feel like she was the lowly one. After all she wasn’t the one who hit someone; she had been minding her own business. This boy is shouting at me. I refuse to let him talk to me this way. He may lower his own dignity by shouting, but I refuse too. Arya thought to herself, while keeping her arms folded.

Looking at the boy as she started to speak in her same upset, yet calm voice, Arya decided that she would just tell the boy what made her so much better. “Well you are right about one thing, I am a princess. And you ask why I think I am better than everyone else, that is easy and simply just facts. Firstly, I didn’t trample into a stranger and not offer some sort of apology, even a meaningless one would suffice when pummeling into a complete stranger. An apology goes a long way, and puts a cease to vulgar shouting matches like the one you obviously expect out of me. Secondly, look at me. Could you honestly point out one person in here that looks better than I do. Another thing that makes me better is unlike some of the people in here; I can and do afford to have the best of everything. I also refuse to diminish myself by shouting. It is very ungraceful, and lowly of anyone. There are better ways for one to get their desired results than to resort to shouting.” Arya kept a smug grin on her face, and never once faulted in her speech of why she thought she was better.

Arya became much more proud of herself for not shouting and lowering herself to the other boy’s standards that her smug became more of an evil grin, and her lip curled just a little on the right side of her mouth.

Laughing at the boy for getting so upset, when all he would have had to do to avoid her even saying anything was offer a simple apology, Arya stood to wait and see what his possible next retort would be.

[mongaj]

The girl actually proceeded to give a list of the many reasons she believed she was better than everybody else, each reason more absurd than the last. Rolling his eyes, Landon listened to her pathetic reply. It was a typical Slytherin list which would have been lacking had she not mentioned her ability to have the best of everything. Wealth was one key aspect that gave Slyterins such big heads. The sad thing was, Landon was always taught to respect everyone equally, but often times he just couldn't justify treating people like this girl with the same respect he treated kinder, less arrogant people. It just didn't seem right.

Regardless, he thought he may have stumbled on to something. Maybe, if he actually did try to apologize, how would she act then? Odds were, she would haughtily enjoy his belittling of himself all too much. Landon struggled with the idea but decided to give it a try. He never saw anybody else attempt to actually be kind toward an angry Slyth, so maybe he would be the first. What was the worst that could happen? He might be totally humiliated, but he didn't mind much as others' opinions about him weren't something he worried about too much. At best, maybe he would surprise the girl and she wouldn't know what to do besides act kind in return. It was worth a shot.

"You know what," he said with a sigh. "You're right. It's all my fault, and I sincerely apologize for bumping into you." He held back all that was within him telling him not to do what he was doing and continued. "I promise that it won't happen again. Next time I will be more wary of my surroundings, as not to 'pummel' into anyone," he finished, with a slight sarcastic emphasis to the word 'pummel' which he just couldn't hold back. Overall though, he was proud of his sincere attitude he managed to portray. It came out much better than he anticipated. He waited to see how the girl would respond to his latest action.

[aryasillhouette]

Arya had yet to release her now evil grin or statuesque stance. As she glanced around the shop, she noticed that even though this boy had stopped shouting, they still had quiet a magnificent audience. She remembered telling the boy the easiest way for him to escape this encounter was to simply apologize. It mattered to her not if it were sincere, as long as he apologized. It was also the only way for the boy to get Arya to go about her business, and be done wasting her time with him. She was sure that the boy would probably like nothing better than for her to leave him be.

Arya wondered if everyone in the crowd was waiting for the same thing she was, she wondered if they could not turn their heads in anticipation. Would he take her advice and offer an apology, or would he prolong this event by shouting more. An apology. Really such a small price to pay for someone whom has already belittled themself with the loud obnoxious shouting that was earlier used. If he had it in him to shout, then surely he can find it in him to apologize. Arya thought to herself as she waited to see if the boy would apologize.

Suddenly Arya heard the boy speak again. She was taken back by the fact that he had ceased shouting at her. She couldn’t help but to notice that he had a nice voice, when he wasn’t shouting. As she listened, she heard him admit that she was right. Of course she was, that was obvious, she said nothing though, and continued to listen to his apology. She was listening more carefully than usual, trying to detect just how full of sarcasm it was. She was apalled to find that only one word that he had used had the slightest touch of sarcasm to it. She decided not to bother with this, and to just let it go. There were after all better things that her day could be spent doing. After the boy had finished what he had to say, Arya finally decided to speak again. “Well then. Nice apology. Was it really as hard as it seemed?” She made sure to note a bit of sarcasm herself on her last phrase, before speaking again, “A simple apology. It matters not if it is truly sincere, but that you have actually put forth the effort to muster it up and say it. I will accept the apology, and be on my way, for that was all I was requesting. Everyone should know when it is their place to apologize, and not the other person’s.” Arya finished her sentence, and turned back toward the candies, holding her wand, waiting to see if the boy would say any more or go about his business