Meeting the New Professor

Today had been a long day.  Her job wasn't usually particularly stressful, but there had been many other things too.  For example, the argument with her mother about her living arrangements.  Or the petulant woman at the shop that insisted upon trying over a dozen wands more than was needed, lookig for a pretty one.  

Sophia had snorted when the woman requested "a dark wooded wand with the rarest core, only the best for me of course," obviously the woman had known next to nothing about wands.  Her mind snapped back to the present.  Hmm?  She turned around to look around the empty street.  She could've sworn she heard someone call her name...oh well best not pay attention.  You've had a long day, she told herself, and so hesring voices isn't so unusual.  

Frowning, she pushed the heavy dopr open to find it loud and dim inside, which she supposed was normal for a place like this.  She walked through the room, ignoring everyone else, and sat down at a table in the corner.  Sophia normally avoided places like this, but she'd wanted a place where no one serious would bother her.  Taking out a book on the use of mermaid hair as a wand core, she settled down and just sat there and read.

Sophia looked up from her book. Huh? There was a youbg woman a bit older than her standing impatiently in front of the table. Sophia immediately assumed that she had other chores or errands to run, and she was stopping by quickly before all that. Well, she was free to sit here if she liked. Noddding, Sophia said, "Sure. Just be careful with that," here she gestured to the mug in the woman's hands," And you can sit wherever you like, it's fine by me." She didn't recognize the woman- maybe she had come from another country and had gotten her education at a different school? Obviously she wasn't a muggle, if she was drinking butterbeer.

Shaking her head, Sophia smiled at the woman. Well, they could at least try to get along and be friendly, right? "Hi, my name's Sophia. May I ask what brings you here today?". Probably she had been heading to Diagon Alley, but needed to relax a little first. With another glance at the woman's impatient and annoyed face, Sophia definitely thought she could do with a little relaxing. She glanced at her watch; she cpuldn't spend much more time here before break would ve ocer and it would be time to return to the shop.

Sophia almost smiled. And I don't doubt it. Sophia thought when the woman sharply retorted with a question she obviously shouldn't answer. Stopping an amused smile, Sopphia regarded the woman with another strange smile. For some reason, she just had a feeling about this woman, and she likes her already. Despite her rudeness and abruptness, se seemed like a good person who was obviously very independent and stubborn. If she comes to the shop, now that will be interesting, Sophia thought.

Then the woman told Sophia why she was here, and Sophia couldn't help but find it boring that the woman didn't seem care about her owl dying. Usually people put on a show of bravado after someone or somethingn they were close to died. But what was strange was the look in the wan's eyes- like inside, she actually didn't care about her owl dying. But surely that could not be.... Shaking away the disturbing thoughts in her head, Sophia smiled at te other woman. "I was there a few days ago," Sophia said. "To purchase an owl.

"Right now," Sophia said smiling, looking directly at the other woman, "I am on a break and am trying to get a few things done before returning to work." She smiled pleasantly at her. For some odd reason, Sophia usually worked better when there was lots of noise, clattering, talking, loud music, around her; when it was completely silent she couldn't focus at all. Sophia began to pack her things up when she remembered something. "Might I ask you a question? I can usually remember faces quite well,". Sophia said,ignoring whatever the woman's answer might be, "But I don't recall ever seeing you at Hogwarts. May I inquire as to what house you were in? And please, do forgive me if I am being frightfully rude." Sophia hastily added at the end.

Sophia paused.  "I was in Ravenclaw," Sophia said quietly.  "And I think I would have guessed you would have been in Hufflepuff, actually.  Slytherin is of course a definite possibility and I mean that as a compliment but you..." Sophia gave the woman a long stare and shook her head, puzzled."It may sound strange, but there's something about you that just says Hufflepuff.  Just a feeling."  Sophia knew that she probably made no sense whatsoever, but se just could feel that although this woman would've made a good Slytherin, Hufflepuff was the right house.  Rather odd, but she supposed it was some instinctive feeling.  Similar to what she usually did with people and their wands.  Oh!

Sophia remembered the woman's earlier question.  "I work at Ollivander's.  Perhaps, If eventually you decide to purchase a wand there, I may be the one to recommend one for you." She smiled slightly.  "Speaking of the future, may I inquire as to what your name is?"  Sophia had a bad habit of saying the word inquire a lot.  She'd tried breaking it, but it was hopeless.  "And if my packing up offended you," she said, remembering the woman's slight annoyance and possible hurt when she'd began collecting her things,"I apologize, but my break is over.  I must be getting back to work soon."