It's Just A Healthy Fascination

Ines pressed her lips into a thin line, trying to figure out how to approach shopping for a new quill. Much to the young witch's frustration, she had managed to misplace the other. She feared that it could have something to do with the abundant supply of distractions she seemed to find in her new school- which seemed to be predominantly the male student body.

Huffing out a short sigh, Ines continued to search the shelves. Most of the quills were brilliantly white- undeniably very attractive, of course, and she believed to be very high quality quills, too- but she wanted one that looked exactly like her own. Her quill had been perfect. White, with a single streak of brown running through its right side. It had been gorgeous.

She leaned her forehead against a wall of books on a shelf, trying to not let her frustration get the better of her. She could find it, she just had to keep looking.

Even though school had just ended, buying school supplies for his sixth year - sixth year. Merlin,he felt old - now made sense. This way, he wouldn't have to worry about them all summer long. With a bag in hand, the boy paroused through the aisles, adding things he felt he needed to the bag. Though he had to admit that it would be easier with the school list, things like parchement and quills were going to be needed regardless.

Slipping into the potion supply aisle, Afonka tilted his head, peering at one of the jars, watching the eyes bob and turn towards him. "Cool," he breathed, a slow smile spreading across his face. He didn't need it, but it was interesting. He could keep it in his dorm and - he supposed his dormmates wouldn't approve such a gesture.

Sighing, the Hrabrost moved on to the next item.

Ines' eyes widened as she caught sight of the familiar face on the other side of the small shop, peeking at him through the gap of two shelves. She should say hello- Afonka was her friend. One of the best she had. Biting her lip the girl slowly made her way around the shop towards him, trying her utmost best to ignore any sense of anxiety. She would not repeat the same incident that she had had with Zander. This time, the Hrabrost would be braver.

Be braver.


"Hello." Ines said brightly- albeit a little breathily, from behind the boy.

"How's your summer been?" That was a good question. Definitely a good question, she would have to remember that one.

Picking up a bicorn horn, he fiddled with it for a moment, running his fingers over the surface. Why he'd never taken potions was a mystery to him. He supposed that it was because he'd thought of himself too energetic to wait for the potion to finish. But looking at all the ingredients made him want to.

Jumping at the unexpected voice, he whirled around. Letting out a little sigh of relief as his gaze fell on the girl, he grinned. "Hey Ines."

Taking a step towards her, he hummed softly, thinking over her question. "It's been alright. Relaxing. How's yours been?"

Ines grimaced as soon as she had spoken the greeting, and winced just visibly as he jumped. She's scared him. She didn't honestly consider herself very scary, and hadn't thought it logical to be wary of unintentionally frightening him.

"Sorry." She bit her lip, taking a timid step away from him. "For frightening you- sorry."

She glanced up at him as he took a step towards her, then forced herself to hold his gaze. She could do this without making a fool of herself. She could manage a simple conversation. "Uneventful." Ines replied precisely, with a sharp nod. "But not completely miserable." She added, flashing her best smile at him.

"How is..." The Hrabrost frowned, trying to call upon knowledge she had gathered about the boy in front of her.

"How's Tessa? Do you still like candy? Is the Quidditch pitch awfully busy in the afternoons?" She fired him with questions, watching him expectantly.

"It's fine," he murmured, his heart rate slowly returning back to its natural. Flashing a smile at her, he said, "You surprised me, that's all. Besides," he added, his smile growing. "You have to do more then that to scare Afonka Alkaev." He let out a laugh, grinning.

"Well, I guess that's good." Uneventful was better than terrible by a longshot. "It could always be worse, right?" When life was uneventful, it was safer, better.

Blinking for a moment at all the questions fired his way, a smile began to grow across his face. Shaking his head slightly, he said amusedly,"One question at a time."

His expression falling at her first question, he plastered a smile onto his face. "Well, Tessa and I broke up." He shuffled slightly on his feet. Glancing back up at her, his gaze having strayed away for a moment, he nodded. "Of course I still like candy." His eyebrows knitting together as he pondered her last question, he shrugged his shoulders. "Not especially. I can get a lot of practice time in."