Slow ahead. Students crossing.

[Oranger]

August 30th, 2PM

Kaelyn hated the bookstore, but that was probably because she didn't care much for books in the first place. Unless, of course, the book was about Quidditch and Kae certainly played a different tune when she got her hands on a book like Quidditch Through the Ages. However, it was the crowds and the jostling of bodies that really got to her. Though sociable, she wasn't exactly a fan of pushing her way through pre-teens to get to a book or a cauldron or a bloody quill. It didn't quite occur to her that putting off her school supply shopping until the last minute doesn't help her circumstances.

As she was making her way through another crowd to get a copy of her potions textbook, a pack of raging new first years stampede past her, causing her to make an escape to the side, unless she wanted to be trampled. When they stopped talking about how excited they were and left, she made her way back to the potions section, only find another fourth year grabbing the last copy. The third time today! First with the transfiguration text, then Care of Magical Creatures, and now this! She knew she could come tomorrow to find a fresh set, but the thought of living through this experience again was bordering on suicidal. She may not have a temper, but that didn't mean that she wasn't going to be annoyed. She supposed that after four years, the novelty of getting your supplies wears a little thin.

She stared down at the multitude of head rushing by her for a minute before deciding to get on with her shopping escapade. She reached into the back pocket of her worn and faded blue jeans for her folded and crumpled supplies list. She still needed her book for Muggle Studies and History of Magic. What kind of book would they have for Muggle Studies anyway? She honestly had taken the class because she thought it'd be an easy grade, considering she was a muggleborn (though she'd certainly been be thinking otherwise when she'd be ask to answer the defining social aspects between wizarding and muggle society, but that was another story).

She started back down the steps to the first story of the bookshop, nearly falling over the banister as another herd of kids ran upstairs. When she finally made it down with her life still intact, she merely stood in the middle of the store, looking over the heads of the majority of the people there until she could spot the Muggle Studies section. Since she hadn't taken the class last year, she was at a lost to where the section might be, so she turned around, nearly bumping into five different people as she did, to ask someone.

"This place is practically a maze! Anyone know where Muggle Studies is?"

(Whoops. Can't believe I forgot the date. -_-)

[OMG_OCs!]

It was quite a wonder how Anais' parents had thought she would be capable of getting her books by herself. Or maybe they thought she really didn’t have to put up with the complaints of her squib brother. While Anais was obviously not the brightest crayon in the box she had continued the magical line of the Cadowans’ (a quite recent pureblood family by most standards.) while her brother had shown no magical abilities so far and his age for going to Hogwarts had all ready passed. Even though a squib he knew everything about the magical world and it annoyed him to no end that he had to sit back and watch as idiots like his sister got the chance to be a part of it.

Every time they went and got her supplies it was the same thing. most of the time they allowed him to stay home but he had insisted today on going along and when he continued to bother his older sister the parents felt that he needed to be taken to get some food or something while Anais got her books. She was old enough, and besides she had the paper airplanes to remind her of what she needed to get. As such Anais was left in the door of the bookstore looking up at it with an expression of fright. All ready a group of seventh years had passed by her and pushed her making her almost knocking her out in the floor, however once she walked in if anyone tried to push Anais around the airplanes would somehow get in a group formation and poke said person. Thanks to her airplanes she had managed to get most of her books since each time she got into a section that had a book she needed a paper would un-roll itself and sometimes they even poked the certain book she had to get.

As she walked around the potions aisle she heard a familiar voice, or at least she thought it was familiar. Well she supposed she knew the person from somewhere but from where she had no clue. She turned around and saw a younger girl asking where the muggle studies section was in. Anais was indeed and odd sight especially when you met her before and she looked confused. Not to mention that her curly hair didn’t manage to stay on the braid she had put it in and her black bonnet was slightly sideways, not to mention there were paper airplanes flying all over her. However even her clothes were weird. She seemed to be wearing a black short skirt with odd little figures that seemed to be charmed to twirl and a tie-dye sleeveless shirt with a turtleneck and some short gloves that seemed to have the fingers cut off were on her hands.

Anais starred confused at the girl as a piece of airplane flew to Kaelyn and un-rolled itself. It read: Muggle section is the third aisle to your left.

[Usiku]

Usiku sighed as he quickly stepped to the side to prevent being run over by a group of over excited soon-to-be Hogwarts students. Back again in Diagon Alley, at the busiest time of year: the new school year. Shame he couldn't head down to Knockturn Alley. It wasn't that he was a Death Eater or even remotely interested in following Voldemort, the fact was that there was always some fascinating stuff down there that you couldn't get in Diagon Alley. He'd have to wait for another time unfortunately. The large crowds and the fact that he was being watched like a hawk almost made him wish that he was back in detention where he'd been dragged off to after the incident with Pix and Sal. Almost. On seconds thoughts, nah he preferred being out. Heh.

'Bet Sal and the Ice Queen would be shocked to see him return', he thought to himself with a smirk, as he weaved through the throngs of people headed for Flourish & Blotts, the person assigned him following his every move, to finish off buying his school supplies, or more to the point, spending Ministry money to buy his school supplies. He had the vouchers which would get him the things he needed, so at least he didn't really have to worry too much about school costs this year.

Usiku glanced back briefly to see that the officer, thankfully plain clothed was still there. Funny. They send someone to watch him here in Diagon Alley, but at a school camp where it seemed that Death Eater city had been camping next door, not an official had been in sight. The thought of what had happened over the summer made him lose some of that smirk for a little while as he mulled over events, but as he entered the store, some of the smirk returned, especially when he heard someone calling out for directions to Muggle Studies.

"If you shut your trap and look, maybe you'll find it."

He responded drily, casting a quick look around the store before deciding it'd be a good idea to head to the store owner first, get those vouchers vouched or whatever they did to them. As long as he ended up getting his books without too much hassle, he'd be happy. He was about to shove past the young girl when he backpedalled a couple of steps, startled by the paper airplane which had whizzed past.

"What the hell?!"

[Oranger]

"If you shut your trap and look, maybe you'll find it."

Somehow, Kaelyn managed to hear the shot past the pre-adolescent screaming and the scrambling of the crowd. She turned towards the disparaging voice, finding that it belonged to a vaguely familiar face. Someone she had seen once or twice during the summer camp and the years prior, though she couldn't put a name to the face. She frowned at him anyway, feeling herself starting to straigten up to her full height. He took a few steps back, which baffled her for a moment because she didn't really think she looked at him in that mean of a manner. Her head jerked back a moment later when the older boy's distraction flew in front of her, hovering animatedly in front of her face. It unfolded itself, but she had to grab it to hold it still and read what it said.

"I know these helpful directions aren't from you." She grinned at the rude boy as she let go of the paper, watching it fold itself back into a small faux aircraft. She smiled at him sarcastically. "Well, I hope everyone's as helpful as you are."

Instead of heading left and towards the Muggle Studies section, she turned and followed the plane back to its owner. It wasn't hard to see where it's destination was. Standing distractedly not too far from her, another girl in the most mismatched of outfits was giving her a perplexed look. By the look she was getting, her fellow Hufflepuff probably didn't remember her, as she often didn't. Kaelyn looked around and didn't recognize Anais' brother with her, concluding that she was alone, and briefly thought that her friend's parents put a lot of faith in their forgetful daughter's ability to get her own school supplies. However, it wasn't lost on Kaelyn that she had just been lost and actually found her way with Anais' help. She couldn't help but grin at the irony.

Because of the army of paper airplanes around Anais and their incessant poking, the older girl wasn't having as much of a problem with the yearly crowd. Kaelyn, on the other hand, had to squeeze past two groups, with no few complaints, just to get to her.

"Anais! It's me, Kaelyn." She greeted her housemate warmly. She watched her guiding plane join it's counterparts before looking back at Anais and adding with a defeated grin, "From Hufflepuff. How've you been?"

[Usiku]

"I know these helpful directions aren't from you."

Usiku merely sneered in response, glaring at the paper aeroplane that had taken him by surprise just moments ago. He watched as it folded itself back up into the little plane and shot off into the store. He shook his head as Kaelyn followed the little plane, thinking her to be rather stupid to follow a paper plane of all things!

However he still had his own books to get. He shoved past a couple of first years that were in his way as he tried to battle his way through the seemingly-growing crowd inside the store, trying to get to the front so he could talk with the owner, get his books and get the hell outta here.

How he hated this time of year...

((OOC: Apologies for the length!))

[Lance Jacob Wilkie]

Lance walked down the streets of Diagon Alley looking for the only bookshop among all the other shops but couldn't seem to find it. As he looked more and more he noticed that a large contingent of teenages and pre-teens had been moving in a certain direction, so he followed them. Since he was quite well off Lance normally had to only go to Gringotts and get some money and his parents would do all the shopping while he looked at the new broom his father had designed at the Quidditch supply store.

Lance walked towards the crowd of people and walked right into the bookshop he was looking for, Flourish and Blotts. As he entered he saw met by witches and wizards of all ages, young first years and stocky, well built, 6th and 7th years. As he walked through the shelves he began to find what he was looking for. First he found his books for his easier classes such as: The Standard book of Spells Grade 6, Mastering the Arts of Transfiguration, An Expert Guide to Modern Magical Plants, and his favorite classes required reading, Magical Defense. Is now the time? Then after he found those he went over to the counter witch and asked for her help in locating the rest of his books.

She led him through the shelves occasionally picking up a book here or there and adding it to his stack that had acculimated across the room by enchanting it to fly to the pile. As soon as they had rounded up all of the required reading and then a book or two for fun he went over, gave the witch her money, and got ready to leave the shop when he was hit by a paper aeroplane. Apon his first instinct he grabbed his wand and blew that little peice of dung straight out of the air. Lance looked wildly around the shop wondering where it had come from, but to no avail. This shop was so crowded anyone could have sent that flying his way. He decided it was time to finish up so he could get home and enjoy some real peace and quiet.

[Usiku]

After seemingly taking an eternity pushing through the hordes of people, Usiku finally made it to the front counter. He shook his head in disbelief as he waited to be served. He never knew this place could fit so many people in it at one time. Must have a spell on the store or something he thought to himself. He frowned though when he remembered the bone-crushing crowds when that idiot Professor Quirrell had come in signing books. Usiku remembered that day. He was sure he'd lost half his body weight that day just trying to get through the throngs of people to get to the staircase! Fine. Maybe it could fit this many people in it. Didn't mean he liked it.

He watched the store assistants impatiently, who seemed to be serving everyone else but him. He didn't want to spend all day in here! Finally though, someone saw him and grumpily asked him what he was after. Usiku merely took out the book vouchers and dropped them on the counter with a definate 'and hurry it up!' look on his face. The assistant smirked upon reading the voucher and disappeared into the back room. Usiku glared daggers at the retreating back of the store assistant, wishing that he had his wand. Instead he stood quietly, one hand on the counter, the other by his side hand balled into a tight fist.

He didn't have to wait very long for his books and when he saw them he wasn't too impressed with what he saw. Although the books for his electives were new, the books for his core subjects, such as the Potions, Charms, DADA books were second-hand and although a lot of the damage to them had been fixed, it was obvious that those ones were second-hand. How embarassing!

The store assistant packed the books into a bag and entered the book and voucher details into the store records, looking as if he was about to crack up laughing as he did so. His temper rapidly going, Usiku roughly snatched up his bag of books as soon as he was able to and angrily headed for the door. Unfortunately he didn't make it as he stormed straight into Lance.

"Hey!! Watch where you're going!!!"

[Lance Jacob Wilkie]

Lance was walking out of the shop when all of a sudden some crazy wizarding boy walked right into him. The kid decided to yell at Lance and that was all it took. Lance, apparently stressed with the day he had had so far, went straight for his wand. He grabbed it out of his case and held it straight out in front of him at this mystery kid. He was totally enraged that someone was going to get in his way on a day like this.

After a few seconds of staring him down Lance knew this kid wasn't one who would fight him and thus he put his wand away and stalked towards the exit when he ran into another group of students. This time he was much less patient and flicked his wand, throwing three of the right into the bookselves. Then he stormed out of the shop to finish all the rest of his shopping.

[Usiku]

Usiku glared at Lance although the guy could easily pound him into next Tuesday without even trying. True Usiku was 16, but he wasn't a massive, muscly 16 year old. He was a little bit short for his age and thin. Even so he stood his ground, wanting that apology.

His eyes widened and he couldn't hide the look of surprise that appeared on his face when Lance aimed his wand point-blank at his face. Now THAT Usiku wasn't expecting! The shock vanished a split second later and his hands curled into fists around the handle of the bag he was carrying, the look on his face daring Lance to cast a spell in the not-so-middle of the store. He didn't have his wand, but he was going to make this guy pay!

He didn't get the chance to throw an insult at Lance, for the bigger boy turned and stormed away. That made Usiku madder. Lance had simply left!! What a coward!! There was no way that Usiku was going to let him get away with it and started to go after him. He barely got two steps, before he was jerked roughly backwards, causing him to drop the bag of books.

"What the he..??!!" He started to yell, when he saw who it was tha'd stopped him from going after Lance. His 'friend', the officer from the detention centre had managed to get through the crowd in time to stop his charge from going after Lance. After a few moments he let Usiku go. Usiku glared, but didn't say anything. He merely snatched up the fallen bag and stormed outside.

"Getting some robes." He reluctantly explained in a mutter, not at all happy with this arrangement and headed away from the bookstore.