Back to School Shopping (Axel)

Hunter was in Diagon Alley shopping for his third year at Hogwarts, and he had done just about everything fun there was to do there. He'd gotten a pineapple and grass flavored ice cream, and he'd bought a few new things from Quality Quidditch Supplies. Now, all there was left to do was the one thing Hunter had been putting off - shop for his actual school supplies. So, he begrudgingly made his way down the road to enter a shop that would allow him to tackle this annoying task. Flourish and Blotts was closest, so Hunter ducked into there to start.

Ugh, books. Hunter found this particular excursion a complete waste of money, because he was sure that he would hardly open a book all year. He preferred to wing it when it came to tests, and sometimes it worked. And sometimes it didn't. But his mother, who had homeschooled them all since they were small, certainly did not need to know that. So, for the sake of not getting a lecture, he went ahead and started looking for what he would need. Hunter decided to look for his potions book first, since that was the only subject that even remotely interested him. As he browsed the section, he felt someone smaller than him bump into him from behind, and he turned around to see who it was.

(Translation: Oh! I'm sorry!)

When Hunter looked to see who had jostled him, he found that it was a younger boy. He raised an eyebrow at the kid as he said something that Hunter didn't understand. Was that German? Hunter thought it might be, but wasn't really sure. Either way, Hunter was slightly annoyed that he didn't know what the boy had said. By the way he added that he hadn't seen Hunter standing there, he assumed that it translated to some kind of sorry. If it did, Hunter supposed it was alright.

Just to be smart, Hunter replied with a quick "Geen zorgen," which was Dutch for no worries. This kid wasn't the only one who knew another language. He moved a bit to the side so that the boy could pass through, and tried to figure out how old he might be. Hunter didn't recognize him in the slightest, so he couldn't be more than eleven if he was a Hogwarts student.

"First year at Hogwarts?" Hunter guessed, turning his attention back to the bookshelf that he was looking at and pulling a copy of "Advanced Potionmaking" out. He flipped through the index, a potion called Felix Felices catching his eye. Oh, nevermind, that one was far too difficult. "I'm Hunter," he said to the kid without looking up again.

The boy seemed to be interested in a certain book, and Hunter looked on curiously to see which one it was. It was a bit laughable that he wanted a book from this section, seeing as it only contained advanced potions books. Hunter didn't say anything, just watched as the boy tucked the book under his arm and kept looking. He supposed he wasn't one to talk - he wouldn't stand a chance with the potions in the book he'd picked up, but he was still going to buy it.

"I'll be a third year," he said to the boy. "And you probably need Magical Drafts and Potions - that's what I had to get for first year. It should be over there," Hunter informed him, nodding toward a section a few shelves over. He raised an eyebrow as the boy introduced himself as Axel and held out his hand for Hunter to shake. A bit formal, was he? Hunter reserved judgement for now and returned the gesture, grasping the boys hand and shaking it. "So are you excited to start school?"

Hunter frowned a bit as Axel mentioned that he was worried about making his parents happy. His parents never made him feel as though he had to live up to anything, other than being a decent person - he felt bad for people whose parents gave them ultimatums. Oh, he was a pureblood. "I never had to worry about that, I suppose," Hunter said, shrugging. "My parents are both muggles, so they don't know the slightest thing about what goes on at school." It was quite convenient really, as Hunter's mum was quite strict with schooling, having homeschooled all of them. At Hogwarts, he could slack off.

"But you'll do fine, none of the first year classes are really hard. Unless you're dumb as a rock," he added as an afterthought. "In my opinion, most of them are a bore," Hunter told the boy, blowing out an amused breath. "Other than Potions. And Charms is alright because of the Professor."

This conversation was getting kind of boring. Hunter didn't have time to hang around in bookshops and tell first years about Hogwarts. But when Axel asked about Quidditch, Hunter decided that he could stay for at least a few more minutes. A genuine grin crossing his face at the mention of his favorite sport, he answered. "I'm a Chaser for Gryffindor. And I suppose it's hard, but if you're good at sports it's not too hard to catch on. I made the team last year." Hunter was particularly proud of that accomplishment. "But first years aren't allowed on the house teams," he added, in case Axel had his mind set on trying out when he got to Hogwarts.

As Hunter said he was a muggle-born, Axel almost regretted bringing the subject up. But he just shrugged and spoke, "My opinion, personally I just think wizards are wizards. It doesn't matter if their muggle-born or pure-bloods." Axel then, mentally chuckled about muggle-borns and their perks. They wouldn't have the expectations that pure-bloods, but that just may be a down-side too. But he, almost with regret, wouldn't be able to understand any of that.
Axel listened closely, but almost sighed in relief when he was told the first year classes were easy. Well that would give him some time to try and get some extra practice over his first year. Then he grinned, "What potions do early years make?" Axel knew he was most likely taking up too much of Hunters time,but he couldn't help himself.
Then he almost jumped up and down at Quidditch, he absolutely adored Quidditch. And right in front of him, was a Quidditch player. But then again, there was that stupid rule. First years can't try-out, gosh dangit. So he had to get through this year, then next year would be oh-so-fun. But just to talk, he spoke, "Yeah...but at least its not only like, 3rd years and up. But anyway, I'm hoping to be either a Keeper or a Beater. I haven't decided between the two."

Hunter stared at the kid a little strangely when he went on about wizards all being wizards. In truth, Hunter had never met anyone who had ostracized him for being muggleborn. So he just shrugged. "I'm a pretty lousy wizard, either way," Hunter told him. "Mostly because I don't pay much attention I guess. But my friend Blake is muggleborn as well, and he does great in everything." In Hunter's opinion, it was just a matter of how much effort you put into it. Hunter didn't put in much.

At least Axel was asking about the only subject Hunter was any good at. "You'll probably start out with Antidote to Common Poisons, or something else along those lines. That was the first potion I made."

Hunter almost regretted telling the kid that he played quidditch, because it had excited him far too much. But it was kind of entertaining, so Hunter held his grin and tried not to look at him strangely. "I would've liked keeper, but it was taken when I tried out," Hunter agreed. "But I'm better at chaser anyway." Then, changing the subject a bit, Hunter asked curiously, "So which house do you want?"