midday shopping (Harmony)

[Abigail Manque R4]

“Abigail Manque, get your self down these steps this instant or we are leaving without you!” Abigail’s aunt called from a level bellow her. Rising an eyebrow slightly whiling laughing to herself she turned around in front of her mirror one last time to make sure she looked descent for the thirtieth time that morning. Vanity, it seemed to be a growing issue that she had to admit to herself. It seemed as though that she couldn’t even leave the house without her hair being done and make-up fully applied. Rolling her eyes at this thought she grabbed her sweatshirt off her bed and headed down the stairs where her aunt was tapping her foot impatiently and hand already on the door handle.

“Know Aunt Kathy why would you leave without me when I’m the reason you’re going?” Abigail said smiling jokingly at her aunt. Shaking her head her aunt said in a rushed voice “come on, come on I want to get our shopping done before dusk!”. Mentally going threw the check list of stuff she needed to get to make sure she wasnt forgetting anything she quickly but gracefully walked down the remainder of the steps. confused slightly at how they would be getting there she asked in a polite tone that did not exactly sound like her own voice "How are we getting there?". Smiling and putting her long brown hair into a loose pony just above her shoulders she replied "well deary the floo network is awfully busy today so i was thinking we would apparate." Nodding apprehensively at her aunt she herself put her hair also into a loose pony tail.


Abigail swiftly took her aunts outstretched hand the charm bracelet on her arm making a soft "clinking" noise as she did. The bracelet was from her father the only thing he had given to her to remember him before he sent her to live with her aunt. She didn't remember much of him only that he had a bushy dark brown almost black mustache and his hair color was the same. She also remembered that he was on the chunkier side. She never really understood why her father sent her away. He said to her that she would have a better life with her aunt. That her aunt would better understand her and could take care of her better. She also didn't understand why she wasn't allowed to see him or have any signs of communication with at.

Shrugging those uncomfortable thoughts away she closed her eyes and held her breath while she prepared herself for the uncomfortable pressure and spinning that was to come. She did not exactly enjoy this way of transportation but did not argue with her aunt about it knowing that it would do no good. She tried to avoid arguing with her aunt as much as possible. She felt guilty enough as it is for being dropped on her door step in the morning with no more then a mere letter from her father explaining who she was. He aunt didn't seem to think of her as a burden but she new that it probably was not what she had wished for.

Opening her eyes a few seconds later after she felt her legs touch solid ground again she smiled briefly at her aunt. Apparition always made her aunt feel nauseas and sick. Which was why they usually took the floo network to go places. “Do you need to sit down?” she asked genuinely worried even though she new that her aunt would refuse. “No, I’m fine dear just give me a few seconds.” Her aunt said brushing her brown bangs out of her face. “Actually sweetheart why don’t you go look for a broom that you would like and I will join you once I pick up a few books.” It really wasn’t a question it was more like a statement and not wanting to turn down this rare time of freedom Abigail quickly replied “Okay I’ll be waiting.”

Smiling to herself slightly she weaved in between people looking for her favorite store The Quality Quidditch Supplies store. Even though she didn’t play Quidditch she loved to go in and look at everything for sale. It was all so cool and interesting to look at. So many things for one little sport. Humming to herself she easily navigated her way to the store and paused only briefly to look at the outside window to see if there were any great sales going on before walking in.

(((sorry it wasn't very long..it seems i had a lack of inspiration)))

[Harmony Chan H6]

“Mum, look at that photo! It’s moving!”
“So it is, darling. I wonder who that boy is… But this place is quite spectacular, isn’t it? …Ari?”
“Hm?”
“What do you think then? Exciting, isn’t it?”
“…Yeah.”
“Ari means yes, it is very exciting. Look, she’s smiling.”
“You’re very good at pointing out the obvious, Harmony, even though your sister’s the blunter of the two of you.”
“You don’t need to point out the obvious. It isn’t necessary.”
“Well, I want to point out the obvious. Look, a broomstick! Do they really fly on those, mummy? Like in books? Is Ari going to be able to fly at her new school? I want to go too!”
“I don’t know, darling. Ari will be sure to tell you when she goes to school. You have to wait another two years. Then you’ll be old enough.”
“…Don’t worry. I’ll send letters.”
“Yay, Ari’s the best! Do you think the books have moving pictures too?”

Harmony started as a passer-by clipped her gently on the shoulder. It was a brief touch, instigated by the fact there were lots of people shopping in Diagon Alley, but it was enough for her to cease her reminiscing and surface back to staring at her reflection in the shop window. She turned around to see if that person was still there, but he or she had already disappeared, and other pedestrians filled their place, swarming around her like hungry flies. Wizards and witches delved in and out of shops at an alarming rate, not dissimilar to that on Oxford Street in the centre of London for muggles. Harmony acknowledged the familiar scene before her, then turned around again and faced herself once more. Peering past her doleful eyes and drawn lips, she gazed upon an all too familiar photograph, framed and on display in the window. It was a shot of Harry Potter, the famous boy who had been the first to defeat Lord Voldemort and end his previous years of tyranny even as a baby. Mr Harry Potter had done it again not so long ago, a few years after Harmony had initially set eyes on him in the memorable moving photograph. She couldn’t believe, when she had arrived at Hogwarts and learnt all about the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and Potter and wizard world history, that Harry was just a few years older than her. Harmony had even seen Harry in the flesh at Hogwarts before he graduated – but then he had died in that unfortunate accident. They said that at least Voldemort was dead now and the wizarding world could live in peace, but Harmony mourned that boy who, indirectly, had introduced her to the world of magic.

The photograph was the same as seven years ago, albeit slightly more faded, but that was to be expected. There was Harry, evidently trying to avoid the photographers, but in vain. Even as a nine-year-old Harmony had seen that photo and felt a pang of sympathy in her heart. She could see from the expression on his face that he didn’t enjoy the attention, he didn’t appreciate it; the anxiety was evident in his eyes. At that time though, Harry Potter hadn’t meant anything to Harmony Chan; he was just another unfamiliar face, a stranger. Well, even now he was a stranger to her, because she’d never really met him or spoken to him. Observing the photograph silently, Harmony remembered the way her mother had laughed at her personality right in front of this shop window seven years ago, had ruffled Ari’s hair and smiled when she smiled too. It all seemed to so real, and Lorraine seemed so alive. The three of them had been happy, even with Henry dirtying their pasts. Harmony could barely believe seven more years had passed since that fateful first trip to Diagon Alley. Now she was almost fifteen years old. What would Lorraine think of her now? Did she still like to point out the obvious? Was Ari any blunter? Harmony wished she could ask her mum; she wished she was standing right next to her at this very moment, holding her hand like seven years ago. Harmony had so many questions, new ones that spanned from recent experiences in life, unanswered ones she’d always regret she never asked when she had had the chance.

Tearing her eyes from the photo, her heart from grief and her soul from regret, Harmony forced her feet to move again, one small step at a time, steps closer to normality and the brightness of day, away from the dark sadness. She had to be strong; faltering was not an option, because Harmony knew if she even began to think of stopping for but one moment, she would be weighed down by the eternal heartache her mother’s absence left on her by invisible scars. Her eyes focused resolutely on the paving path before her, treading it with determined footsteps and stubborn will. Lorraine had always taught her and Ari strength; people assumed only her sister carried such a trait, but no, Harmony had it too. In a way, she was even stronger than Ari. Harmony’s steps became quicker and easier as she surged through the crowded Diagon Alley, keeping her gaze on her feet and her body subconsciously turned in the direction of her next destination she had been heading to before she had stumbled onto that reminiscent photograph. However, as Harmony jerked around a street corner she went barrelling into another figure, causing her to tumble backwards and land on her backside. “Ow!” she exclaimed in pain, her wrist also slamming against the stone of the cold floor. Her previously bought packages spilled out of her bag and along the pavement. Wincing, Harmony eventually sat up and held her wrist tenderly in her hands as she looked around frantically for her items, gathering them up in a hurry until her eyes fell on another person lying on the floor. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Harmony said a little tearfully, feeling her wrist sting in pain. “I wasn’t looking where I was going… Oh, look what I’ve done now.” Blinking her tears away, she noted she’d knocked over a younger girl and felt terribly guilty. “I’m just so sorry. Are you hurt?”