Michael entered Flourish & Blott's, his mum a step behind him. He noticed a few of the required textbooks in the first bookshelf he came to, and idly pulled one out with the title of 'A Beginner's Guide To Charms'. His mum had told him to only pick a couple to see what they were like, since she and his dad wanted to know more about Hogwarts' curriculum before they let him go there.
As he was flipping through the pages, two children who looked about his age came up to the same shelf. They were clearly friends, and Michael had a pang of jealousy as he thought that this must all be perfectly normal to them, while he felt like an outsider. They were looking at First Year books, so Michael decided to chance speaking to them.
Al turned to Michale and gave a freindly smile. "Oh, yeah, our first year. It's going to be great, isn't it? Is it your first year too? Bet you've been looking forwards to it, right?" He grinned wider. "I can hardly wait. Oh, I'm Al, by the way. And this is Rose" He waved a hand in her direction. Al turned at the mention of Severus, and saw Victor standing there. He flashed him a quick grin. "Ah, sorry, I thought..."
"Well, I know we have to get books for school, but I really wanted to get a copy of Hogwarts, A History," Rose turned quickly to Al, in an attempt to head off any comments he might have. "I know we already have a copy at home, I know I've read it hundreds of times, but the copy we have at home is Mum's. I want one of my own." With a defiant glance at Al, she plucked a copy off the shelf. A few other people had entered the shop during Rose's rant, one of them being the boy who was now standing next to them. Upon his asking whether she and Al were going to Hogwarts too, Rose gave a nod and a wave when Al introduced her. One of the other people who had entered the shop was also a boy, who seemed to be around their age. A glance told Rose that he was looking at a book written by Rita Skeeter. Rose raised an eyebrow. Her mum was not impressed at all by Rita Skeeter and had told many a tale about the "vile woman".
"Well, I only heard about Hogwarts a few weeks ago, though I think I've nearly convinced my mum to let me go." Michael indicated over his shoulder to where his mum was standing, looking very out of place. "Oh, and I'm Michael."
Rose turned her attention back to Michael. "So you're a Muggleborn, then?" she asked, interest evident on her face. She glanced at Michael's mother and noticed that unlike most of the others in the bookshop, she was not wearing robes of any sort. In fact, her attire was distinctly Muggle like. "I'm so excited about Hogwarts. Your mum has to let you go." Rose exclaimed, her expression determined. One could see that she was pretty much gearing up to have a chat with Michael's mum and attempt to convince her. However, Rose managed to restrain herself temporarily. Picking up the book she was planning to buy, she held it out for Michael to see, "You should read this."
Al nodded eagerly along with Rose. "Yeah, you've got to come. I mean, it's awesome, and you get taught to do magic and stuff." He looked past Michael and gave a hopefully reassuring smile to his mum. He paused for a moment, then turned to Rose. "Hey, Rose, maybe you could get your mum to have a word with Michael's?"
Rose giggled at the idea of her mum eagerly explaining exactly why Michael should go to Hogwarts. Al did have a point though, after all her mum was a Muggleborn, so she would have some idea. Still, that didn't mean that Rose didn't pity Michael's mum if her mum ended up talking to her. "Yeah, that's definitely a good idea." She turned to Michael, "Could I have your telephone number? Maybe my mum can convince your mum to let you go to Hogwarts."
Michael only saw the book for a second as Rose held it out in front of him. It looked very thick and dull, but she was holding it as if it was the best book she had ever read.
He was a bit taken-aback by their sudden interest in him, and a little put out that they thought he wouldn't be able to convince his parents by himself, but Rose looked so eager to help that he realised that he could do with any help he could get.
"Um, sure, thanks. My number is 01843 463836. Though I think my dad's the one who actually needs more convincing."
"It's weird that you have to convince them, though." Al shrugged. "Though I s'pose this whole thing's weird if you didn't think magic existed... I guess it's just... different." Al looked thoughtful for a moment, before breaking into another grin. "So, how much have you been told about magic and Hogwwarts and stuff?"
"Well, I already have a place at a pretty good school, and I had to take a load of exams for it, so they'd be annoyed if I ended up going somewhere else. Also 'cos it's a boarding school, and I don't think they quite believe in it all yet. One of the teachers from Hogwarts, Professor Flitwick, came to my house and told me about about Hogwarts and stuff, so I know a bit, like about the lessons. Probably not as much as you though."
Al nodded. "Yeah, it's tricky I guess. But... Well, it's not that Wizards are better than muggles - er, non-wizards, that is - 'cos they're not. Only idiots think that. But we can do this stuff that muggles can't. And, well, it's kind of a waste not to learn, right?" Al smiled. "I mean, doing magic is really awesome... well... you can't til you're at school, but... I'm sure you'll be able to convince your parents."
As he was flipping through the pages, two children who looked about his age came up to the same shelf. They were clearly friends, and Michael had a pang of jealousy as he thought that this must all be perfectly normal to them, while he felt like an outsider. They were looking at First Year books, so Michael decided to chance speaking to them.
"Are you going to Hogwarts too?" he asked.
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Al turned at the mention of Severus, and saw Victor standing there. He flashed him a quick grin. "Ah, sorry, I thought..."
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A few other people had entered the shop during Rose's rant, one of them being the boy who was now standing next to them. Upon his asking whether she and Al were going to Hogwarts too, Rose gave a nod and a wave when Al introduced her.
One of the other people who had entered the shop was also a boy, who seemed to be around their age. A glance told Rose that he was looking at a book written by Rita Skeeter. Rose raised an eyebrow. Her mum was not impressed at all by Rita Skeeter and had told many a tale about the "vile woman".
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"I'm so excited about Hogwarts. Your mum has to let you go." Rose exclaimed, her expression determined. One could see that she was pretty much gearing up to have a chat with Michael's mum and attempt to convince her. However, Rose managed to restrain herself temporarily. Picking up the book she was planning to buy, she held it out for Michael to see, "You should read this."
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"Yeah, that's definitely a good idea." She turned to Michael, "Could I have your telephone number? Maybe my mum can convince your mum to let you go to Hogwarts."
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He was a bit taken-aback by their sudden interest in him, and a little put out that they thought he wouldn't be able to convince his parents by himself, but Rose looked so eager to help that he realised that he could do with any help he could get.
"Um, sure, thanks. My number is 01843 463836. Though I think my dad's the one who actually needs more convincing."
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