Third Hand Books Counter
 

Here at the counter is where you are able to pay for your purchases and possibly talk to the shopkeeper about any questions you might have. Daniel, the shopkeeper, is always ready to hear your questions and lend a hand, and maybe even have a friendly chat with you if the time is right. Enquire about any specific books here.

Just behind the counter there are two doors. One leading to the Back Room and one leading to the Special Area where the most delicate books are kept, alongside those on more sensitive topics.

OOC :: List of books are in the inventory over at the Welcome Thread. Just until I get a graphic. XD

Sweeping the coins into his hand, Daniel gave them his usual quick glance and opened the till by pushing it in with his knee and letting it spring back. Taking out a handful of silver coins, the man counted out 13 sickles and handed them back over, before waving his wand at the till which shot out a reciept.

"We sure do," Daniel replied, eyeing the big pile of books with conviction. "I'll buy books in any condition, sometimes I end up selling them for alot cheaper than I'll buy them... I just enjoy selling people books, you know?"

Speeeaking of books, Daniel waved his wand again and the books began to slow get wrapped up in conjured brown paper, before a loop of string kept it all together. Pulling out a big brown bag, Daniel paused for a moment. "Want me to put a feather-weight charm on the bag?"

can you help me find first year books

As the young lady from the other aisle approached the counter, Daniel turned his attention to her without totally ignoring the young man he was dealing with.

"Of course," Daniel gave her a smile. "If you'll just head on back to the aisle you were just in, I'll be there after I'm finished here."

OOC :: As soon as you post there, I'll be with you (:

Rowan plops all of her newly chosen used books onto the counter with a grunt. "Hi. I'd like to purchase these books please," she says to the shopkeeper.

She piled the books on the counter.thanks for the help i got lost.she got out her bag of money

OOC :: could you do me a favour and put in your narration or something the books you chose? I have an inventory in the welcome thread of this shop.

As someone loaded her books onto the counter, Daniel raised one eyebrow. Books should really allllll be charmed with a feather-weight charm when they're made; everything was just so much easier.

"Of course, did you find everything you needed?"

Smiling at the girl he'd assisted, Daniel waved his wand to the books started to be wrapped with brown paper and string. "That'll be two galleons," he told her, waving his wand at the till again to get a reciept.

"Let's see," Rowan said to the shopkeeper. "I have Hogwart's: A History, History of Magic, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Dark Forces: A guide to Self-Protections," Rowan pauses to take a breathe. It is a mighty long list. "How Not to Blow Your Fingers Off On the First Day, Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, Quidditch Through the Ages, Goshawk's Guide to Herbology, Standard Book of Spells Grade 1, and last but not least Hilary Stargazer's Guide to the Galaxy." She grins at the shopkeeper, "I think that's everything. At least for now. I may be back for others later."

"So, that's a first year book set," Daniel stated, and even he was confused about whether or not he was asking a question. "2 galleons, please," he told the girl, giving her a smile as he did his reciept-printing-and-book-wrapping routine.

Smiling at the girl he'd assisted, Daniel waved his wand to the books started to be wrapped with brown paper and string. "That'll be two galleons," he told her, waving his wand at the till again to get a reciept.[/QUOTE]

she pays 2 gallons to the shop keeper.thanks i'll be back for a nice book to read for fun she said smiling.

"Yes Sir," Rowan replies as she pulls 2 galleons from her bag. "Does it look like I've got them all?" she asks nervously. Studying is so important to the girl and she worries about getting behind. She hands the shopkeeper her money and gives him a smile that looks perhaps a bit more anxious than she would like.

"Sounds good," Daniel smiled back, giving the young girl a small wave. Ahhh, it was refreshing to have some nice customers come in.

"Thanks," Daniel said as he placed the money in the till and shut it with his knee. "You want a bag?" he asked, placing the reciept on the books. He took hold of the first year supply list from under the counter and ran through it as well. "Yeah, you got 'em all. If you're worried, we have other books you can buy as well... nothing wrong with getting the books in advance for future years, right? Even if you are only in the first year."

"I would like a bag, thank you. I think this is all I should buy today. I don't think I could carry much more. You've been very helpful," Rowan says.
"Well, good day and thanks again." After saying her goodbyes Rowan collects her things and heads back to the street. There is still so much shopping to do.

Izabella walked up to the counter. "I have a first year book set and a Romeo and Juliet book. How much will that be?" she asked. She was truely excited to read a muggle book, and one that everyone talks about too!

Ahh, here was the girl from earlier, and it looked like she'd found the book she was after. That was always good. Yup.

"That'll be 2 galleons aaaaand 2 sickles," he told the girl, classing the muggle play as a novel. "Would you like them wrapped up and bagged?"

"Yes please!" Izabella said as she placed 2 galleons and 2 sickles on the counter. "I have a few extra sickles. Would you like them so you can get more books?"

"Good deal," Daniel nodded, and jabbed his wand at the bag again, making it all light and stuff for the young man. "You are very welcome."

Dude, he liked when he good have a good talk with the customers, especially when said customers were friendly. "There you are," he said, and nudged the bag forwards again. "Thank you, and come again soon."

Way to be a stereotypical shopkeeper.

Waving his wand, Daniel started the magical process of brown paper seemed to roll out of thin air and wrapping up the books, before a loop of string appeared and bound them up.

"Hmmm?" Daniel swept up the money, not realising what he'd just heard. As he dropped it into the till, he looked back at the girl. "Oh... no, I don't take money from my customers," Daniel winked, and pulled out a bag to put the books in. Once that was done, he nudged them across the counter. "We have about a quarter of a million books. I think we're good for now. You should go buy an ice cream or something."

"Good point about the books." She dug in her bag and pulled out a red rose with a medium-short stem. "Here, it's a Matthew's family tradition. It's enchanted to never die, so do what you'd like with it." She held it out for him to take.

she puts all her book on the counter

Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century
Modern Magical History
Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles by Wilhelm Wigworthy
The Monster Book of Monsters
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Tremble
The Standard Book of Spells Grade 4 by Miranda Goshawk
The Pocket Guide to the Night Sky by Rigel Wilkes
Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky
Bindrunes and Galdr Tunes by Jules Norson
Herbology Caretaking and Dangerous Plants by L. Podemis
Thurston Candlewick's Complete and Extremely Useful Field Guide to Dark Creatures
Intermediate Transfiguration Sixth Edition

how much will that be

Awww, lookit that.

Reaching out to take the rose, Daniel smiled at the girl. "That's very kind of you, thank you so much," he replied, trying to think of where to keep the rose. Perhaps on the counter, in one of the glass things like in... GASP! Like in that muggle movie, Beauty and the Beast! THATWOULDBESOCOOL! "Such a lovely tradition."

As another girl stepped up, Daniel turned his attention to her and ran his finger down the spines of the book. "Right, that's a fourth year set, so that'll be 2 galleons, please," he told her, waving his wand and wrapping the books and getting them all bound up in a flash.

Awww, lookit that.

Reaching out to take the rose, Daniel smiled at the girl. "That's very kind of you, thank you so much," he replied, trying to think of where to keep the rose. Perhaps on the counter, in one of the glass things like in... GASP! Like in that muggle movie, Beauty and the Beast! THATWOULDBESOCOOL! "Such a lovely tradition."

"Thanks. It's gotten better, since there used to be thorns on them. It really sucked to carry them around," Izzy said with a smile.

Keeley skipped up to the Third Hand Bookstore counter, not at all embarassed that she didn't have the money to pay for new books. But then again, nothing really embarassed her. She didn't mind at all that her new parent's jewelry making and fortune telling wages were slim, just spending time with them at the caravan was such an amazing experience. Her fluffy grayish hair bounced slightly as she dropped the set of standard fourth year books onto the counter. They were in pretty good shape, concidering they were used, well worn really. Perfect.

Giving a chuckle, Daniel shook his head in half disbelief, half pure amusement. "I can imagine," he replied, just imagining that. He, himself, was rather accident prone at times. That's why he was glad he didn't have to do gardening or anything now he lived above the shop. If there was anything you could hurt yourself with, Daniel managed it.

And there was alot of that in the gardening hobby.

Sometimes, however, he was fine. Heh.

Hearing a heavy THUD! on the counter, Daniel winced slightly and turned to the next customer. He knew that sometimes you just couldn't help but drop books heavily when you had alot, but still... his poor books.

"Hey," Daniel smiled at the girl, waving his wand at the books whilst using his knee to push on the till draw and opening it up. "That'll be 2 galleons, please," he added. "I trust you found everything you were looking for?"

Alice stepped up to the counter, wondering if she had read the sign correctly. Since these were the required books for first years, and she guessed she found them to be the standard books needed, she figured it would be two galleons total. She was going to check that with the shopkeeper first though.

Seeing that she wasn't in anyone's way she slid the books onto the counter in front of her and stepped sideways so she could see the shopkeeper around the stack of books.

"I'm not sure if I've got this right, but is it two galleons for the lot?"

[QUOTE/]


As another girl stepped up, Daniel turned his attention to her and ran his finger down the spines of the book. "Right, that's a fourth year set, so that'll be 2 galleons, please," he told her, waving his wand and wrapping the books and getting them all bound up in a flash.[/QUOTE]

she pays 2 galleons thank you heres a glass flower

Herod perused around the counter and nonchanantly looked at a chocolate frog near the checkout desk. He was waited to be asked for assitance becasue he wanted the shopkeeper to initiate the conversation to seem less pushy. Herod was akward in social situatons, but still a naturally friendly person.

He tried not looking up, but failed once or twice and sneaked a peak.....

"Yeah, you got it right," Daniel nodded, making sure all the books needed were there, with no extras. "Definitely. The sets only cost 2 galleons 'cause you get big families with low income... and that's still quite expensive in some cases. But I try and make it all fair."

I could get a bit awkward and a little upsetting when kids came in here and couldn't afford much. "So... yeah, that'll be 2 galleons. You want them wrapped up and bagged?"

Oh, another flower.

A glass one this time...

Fair enough. "Thank you very much. Enjoy your books."

"Yes sir, how may I help you?" Daniel said to the next person, vaguely noticing their discomfort but not thinking anything of it.

Alice took out the two galleons she needed to pay and placed them on the counter, pushing them towards the shopkeeper.

"I'll just add them to a bag I've already got, but thank you though!"

Alice slid the books off of the counter, sliding them into a bag that she had put her robes in, and waved goodbye to the shop keeper. Alice had accomplished a lot already but she still had a lot she needed to buy.

Lacey reached the counter and waited for the shopkeeper to get to her. As she waited, she wondered how much the book was going to cost... hopefully, not much...

Giving a chuckle, Daniel shook his head in half disbelief, half pure amusement. "I can imagine," he replied, just imagining that. He, himself, was rather accident prone at times. That's why he was glad he didn't have to do gardening or anything now he lived above the shop. If there was anything you could hurt yourself with, Daniel managed it.

And there was alot of that in the gardening hobby.

Sometimes, however, he was fine. Heh.

"Well, I'd better be off. I wish I could work here. I mean, really, all these books!" She smiled widely. "Have a wonderful day now!" Izzy walked out of the shop.

With several books in her arms Alexis made her way up to the counter. They were all in used but otherwise good condition, some were not such easy to find books either, one of the great things about second hand book stores. She piled them up on the counter, the books where all on dragons, mostly books on facts and information about the beasts, others were photo books, Alexis's favorite, for it was her goal to one day be a dragonologist. She took out her money and handed it to the man at the till.

ooc :: sorry, you is stuck with a sick/busy shopkeeper >.< could you put in your narration what books she has?

Stepping behind the counter again, Daniel focused on the girl he'd just helped. The one who'd seemed a little flustered. "Right then... push your books up here, and I'll ring 'em up."

"Thanks for getting your books here," Daniel smiled, giving a tiny wave.

Such nice kids he always met.

Next customer, and she was well prepared, money out already. Checking the books and stuff, making sure it was the right amount, Daniel took the money and smiled, putting it into the till. "Would you like a bag with that?" he asked politely.

Knock, knock.

Oh, no. Wait. It was 'Ding, ding', because Treyen was inside the shop and calling the shopkeeper from that little ringer on the counter (which was meant to be used, correct?).

The third year Hufflepuff was looking for a very old book, and perhaps those people at Flourish had it, but he'd rather check in here first.

And so, he rang the little ringer once more (by accident), and stood very silently, waiting for the shopkeeper.

...

Why, oh whyyyyy had Daniel thought that getting one of those cool looking bell things would be, well... cool? It was just loud.

But then it stopped... but logic dictated that a person would have rung it, and would therefore be waiting for assistance.

"Yes, good sir," Daniel spoke as he approached the boy at the counter. "How may I help you?"

Treyen felt the urge to ring the bell once more, just for the fun of it, but refrained because the shopkeeper was already there.

Really? Him? Wasn't there anyone older behind the counter?

Oh, well.

"Hello, mister...I actually think you could be of great help today" he smiled, apparently this was the only shopkeeper that could help him, right? "See, I'm looking for a book, it's supposed to be very old, a Professor lend it to me once...but I had to give it back, see? And I want my own copy" yes, the little boy nodded, and he was going to skip the part of the other Professor making the temporary copy of the book in case he got in trouble for it.

But the Huffie boy forgot to tell the most important part. The title of the book. Yes, the little ringer got him sidetracked as Treyen stopped to look at the little bell, "This looks muggle, I like it" he smiled.

[QUOTE=Zoerawrr;9678702]ooc :: sorry, you is stuck with a sick/busy shopkeeper >.< could you put in your narration what books she has?

Stepping behind the counter again, Daniel focused on the girl he'd just helped. The one who'd seemed a little flustered. "Right then... push your books up here, and I'll ring 'em up."


Lacey smiled and put the book in her hands, The Love of Young Wizards and took out her puch, ready to pay.

"Oh...I was just admiring your books. I think I'll but this one...but first. COuld you varify its authenticity? Magically will do" he said, handing the man the book. IN actuality, he didn't care at all about the authenticty of this book. He just wanted to talk to the man. WHen he had laid the book down in front his the clerk, Herod started to talk to him. "So....how long have you worked here? You look very busy....do you have an assitistant?" he asked nonchalatnly.

Viktoriya gave the shopkeeper a small smile as she set her books on the counter. She'd piced up all the books necessary for a fourth year, as well as some others; a fragile little Russian-English dictionary for her to carry round because she didn't want to be talking to someone and not know what they were saying, and a DADA advanced spells book from the 'many previous owners' section.

She liked this store. It wasn't that she didn't have the money for new books, she just liked old things. Books like the ones she'd picked up, they had character. She also liked that sometimes she could find things the previous owner had left behind: a personalized bookmark, a small note in the margin, scribbles or drawings on the pages. So she had gone to the Third-hand bookstore. And here she was.

"Right, well... you came to the right place if you want an old book," Daniel chuckled, and leaned forwards to rest on his elbows. The young man humoured the boy for a while, when it came to the bell, and hit it with his palm twice, making it sound like a bus thingie. DINGDING! "Yeah, I got it from this really cool muggle vintage shop. I liked it too... so I brought it."

Anyway, moving on.

"This book you wanted... what was it called?"

Catching sight of a girl, Daniel looked curiously at her face.

Well... her hair, since it was all up in her grill. "Errr... can I help you?" Daniel asked kindly, keeping his voice soft. Yeah... she seemed shy.

"Ahh, very good. That'll be 2 sickles then," Daniel smiled, till open, ready for him to set the money in.

"Okay, so we haaaaave... a dictionary aaaaand... well, I'll count that as a novel, just because... so that'll be 7 sickles altogether," Daniel calculated, and looked at the girl, pretending he didn't notice her wiping her eyes. It would be unprofessional to point it out.

ooc :: you'll have to tell me what you picked out in your narration or something

"Verify its authenticity?" Daniel asked, looking perplexed. He managed to crack a small smile as he glanced at the tome. "Yep... it's definitely a book."

Ugh, verifying it was effort. "In what way do you want it verified?"

Listening to the man's questions, Daniel wait for him to be done before answering. "Well... I've worked in Diagon Alley for just over a year... but I've had this place for a couple of months. And no, it's just me in here."

Returning the smile to the young girl, Daniel started to ring up her books, placing them into a large bag with a string handle as he did. This was actually the largest collective purchase he'd had so far.

"Okay, so that'll be 2 galleons 5 sickes and 3 knuts altogether," he informed her, standing the bag up for her to take and waiting for payment.

Viktoriya gave the man a small smile as she pushed two galleons, five sickles and three knuts across the counter. Taking the bag, she placed gently into the leather satchel slung across her shoulder - verygently indeed, lest her fragile new books break or anything. 'Thank you very much' she said quietly, and was about to leave when a thought came to her.

'Do you have any Russian history books?' she asked, remembering that her stepfather had asked for some, and she hadn't found him any yet 'And maybe... would it be possible for me to look in the special books area? My stepfather's birthday is soon, and he collects first editions and antique books. I thought it mught make a good present...' plus the fact she wanted a look for herself.

"Alrighty," she said. Seven sickles is a really good deal.she thought. I need to come here more often.... she thought, again. She opened up her bag and pulled out seven sickles. "Here you go." she said, placing the coins on the counter.

He smiled. He was in the right place. Treyen was always in the right place. He knew that.

'Really cool muggle vintage shop'. Yeah, that made it happen. "A muggle shop? Where?" well, it wasn't on Diagon Alley, was it? Because otherwise Treyen would've heard of such a wonderful place where muggle stuff dwells.

Muggles. So inventive.

Oh my Gilderoy! The book! Treyen appeared surprised that he'd forgotten what he came to in the first place, "Right, the book. I don't know the author, all I know is that it's called 'Magical Trees and their Properties' and it's supposed to be old" 'supposed', but he had no idea. Hopefully, the author wasn't needed.

Amanda walked across the place to the front counter with her books to buy them.

Oh. He'd seen her. Ah. But he sounded... nice. So maybe she could... peep through her hair?

Ina lifted a hand and parted her hair, just enough so that she could see properly. He didn't look like he was about to kick her out the shop or something, so she tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled weakly.

"I'd, uhm... like to enquire about a... a book..." Oh, great, now you sound really intelligent -- why else would you be in a book store? "I mean--" Ina added, quickly; "it's just that... I can't find it anywhere... It's quite old, rare, I think. I, uh... heard this shop had a section for those type of books, though I thought I should ask, as... well... wandering around without permission didn't seem quite right... It's not in print anymore, or dangerous or anything, I know that much..."

Ina paused, but then remembered she'd forgotten to give the title. "Oh! I think it's called 'Silver's Extensive Study on the Comparative Features of Magical Beasts'... o-or something... And I'm Ina, by the way!" She added excitedly, before realising she said that very loud and shuffling nervously.

Joe walked across the place to the front counter with his books to buy them

"Well...considering its a first edition, I was hoping that you could perform a counterfiet spell on it so that I could see. Just to be sure." he said, handing him the book with peeling letters and wrinkled spine.

"Interesting...." he said in reards to the man's answers. "I was just wondering if you want any help. I have a back round in literature. I currently work in the Minstry with patents. I am currently on a mission to find a rare book...and I was hoping to look around for a awhile. I would need access to the back rooms and the best way for me to find my book, yet provide some recipricol to you is to work here. I would work for free of course.....the chance to find a book is payment enough.....So.....uh, what do you say?" he asked, presenting himself with elegenace and power, but also being very respectful.

*groans at my laziness* so many posts XD
 

"Very welcome," Daniel replied, with a little smile, and turned his head slightly to cock his ear and hear the next request. "Hmmm, well, we do, yes. All around the shop. I suppose that if it's imperative that you must check out the special area then I'll take you through in a moment."

"Thank you," Daniel smiled, taking the money and dropping it into the till, nudging the bag to the girl. "Receipt's in the bag. Come back soon," he smiled.

"It's this place in Covent Garden," Daniel shrugged, unable to remember the exact name of the place. "Muggle London place, that is," Daniel went on. He was a HUGE fan of Muggle London... there was so much do do and some amazing shops.

And pubs.

And clubs.

"Well, I would think it would be in the education section but if it's super old, we might have it in our special area or the back room. So... we can try the back room first?" he suggested, pointing his thumb over his shoulder to the door behind him.

"Hey... what do we have here then?" Daniel asked, looking at his next customer, smiling, and waiting for the girl to put her books on the counter.

"It's very good that you asked," Daniel reassured this girl, Ina apparently. "I can take you through to the Special Area in a moment, is that okay?"

He'd take her through with the other girl and anyone else who needed to look. It was easier that way. "If so, just give me a moment to sort things out and I'll let you through," Daniel added with a friendly smile.

"Yes, young man? How may I help you?" Daniel asked the next customer, giving him a small smile.

"Very well," Daniel replied, levitating the book into the air and muttering a spell under his breath, as well as some revealing spells for anything untrustworthy or whatever. Once the book was back on the counter, Daniel reached under the counter, extracted a top of the range sneakoscope and stood it on the book. "This book is a first edition," he stated to the implement, and hoping this guy would be satisfied once the sneakoscope didn't spin.

With a smile at the man, Daniel asked him, "Do you want to buy this?"

But he kind of made an uncomfortable face at the next request. "'Fraid not... I don't really need or, to be honest, want any assistance. And I can't really allow you loads of access to the back rooms. I have to accompany people through there, as well as keeping an eye on the place out here. You're welcome to look in there for a little while... or you could tell me the name of the book and I'll owl you if I find it?"

Daniel would have helped the girl who fell, but she was up and over to him quicker than he could get around the counter. And she was apologising... but they were gonna be her books soon, so it was fine with Daniel.

Smiling to put the girl a little more at ease if he could, Daniel bagged up the books and opened the till. "It's all fine. That'll be 2 galleons, please," he told her.

Emmaleigh looked up at the store keeper. “Ok,” she said as she stuck her hand in her pocket and pulled out her money. She had to shift through her money, but she found two galleons. She handed them to the store keeper. She took her bags from him, and thanked him before heading out the door.

Herod chuckled...."Haha....well. If you happen to have Merlins original journal lying around, that would make my life a lot easier....but something tells me that you don't. I also have a heavy suspition that there is no where you can owl that stocks them" he said, sighing. He wasn't being sarcastic, he was just naturally cynical.

"I have reason to beleive that it will make its way into a Diagon Ally book shop and this one seems most liekely. But it won't appear to be the book we're looking for. It will be hidden or disguised. Would you mind terribly if i went and hada lok now...under your supervision of course." he said, taking the book he bought from the man.

Raising an eyebrow, most unimpressed, Daniel managed to keep himself civil, even though he felt a little insulted. "I am an expert in books... I've studied the concealment of books and other objects, and I got top grades in my classes and stuff... I may be young, but I'm smart. I don't see how I'd be any worse than you in finding the book. I check all of my books before storing or stocking them."

But meh. It was that evil rule, 'the customer was always right'.

"Sure... but you'll have to wait for me to take this young man through as well... Makes it easier on me... but I get the feeling a book like that, in particular, would be in a wizarding museum," he shrugged. He'd have found it, but the guy could look if he wanted.

Oooooh. Treyen had nooooo idea where this thing was. Muggle London. Yes, he'd probably been there, of course, but Covent Garden, where was that? He was trying hard to NOT forget this information, and then maybe his father will take him before summer is over.

Hmmmm. The boy eyed the door the shopkeeper was pointing at. Interesting. "So, I should look there?" like, wasn't the shopkeeper going to bring him the book? He had no problem, of course, but just to be sure he asked.

"I am sure you are quite competant, I didn't mean to insult....but this is the Journal of Merlin, one of the most powerfully magical items in wizarding history. Its probably gonna take some of the Ministry's tools to uncover it." he said, resolutely.

"And thats fine...i can wait, just let me know when you're ready." he said, backing away and making room for the other boy.

Ina nodded gratefully. "Yes, thank you." She smiled, relieved her anxious ordeal was over. Not that it was an unpleasant conversation, but she'd hadn't been sure what to expect, and she'd been nicely surprised.

Rocking back and forth on her feet absently, Ina waited patiently to be shown through.

I fail. At life.
 

omg you are AWESOME! <33333
 

Turning towards the girl, Daniel was now at an angle that the fresh, evil-looking scar on his face could be seen. From some angles, it almost gave him a permanent looking smile on one side, even though it was nothing to smile about.

Giving the girl the least painful of his smiles, Daniel stepped up so his nametag could be seen. "Upstead. But just call me Daniel... how can I help you?" he asked brightly.

haha.
 

Mmmm. What was that? Kaika eyed him curiously and then decided on speaking up, "Are you okay? You know how to take care of that, right?" Quidditch, injuries, Beater, and no scars. Yes, she'd gotten good with those kind of spells because their own Healers were too busy sometimes.

Her eyes fell on his nametag as he spoke, and she smiled, a very wide smile, "Upstead? Huh. I used to know someone named Upstead..." but they sort of lost touch and her face fell when she realized that she hadn't done anything at all to keep in touch with Jake, she actually wondered if her brother knew something about the boy but she didn't even ask Treyen that.

Well, she was now a very bad friend, wasn't she?

Kaika shook her head as if to make those thoughts disappear and gave the shopkeeper a small smile, "Daniel," she said, "I'm trying to find, and it would be amazing if you do have it, a First Edition of..." now that she was saying it, it sounded pretty impossible, and she felt even ridiculous for keeping up her search, "...'The Beaters' Bible'? You know, written by Scrimgeour, Brutus Scrimgeour?" she still had a bit of hope, and if she couldn't find it here, then odds were this was going to be the hardest book to find.

"It's okay... I..." Daniel trailed off slightly and glanced to the door nervously before pulling himself up properly again. "I had a little trouble with a wizard in here the other day. St. Mungos healed me up as best they could... but..."

Best to shut up.

"I know of a younger Upstead," Daniel nodded with a friendly smile once more. He didn't go on with the subject though, even though he had indeed been contacted by a 16 year old in recent months. But finding his brother had nothing to do with business.

Which was what this was.

When the girl mentioned a certain book, Daniel looked around for his wand, but realised it was still upstairs on his bedside table. Crap. "Well, I've just come back from an auction just for first edition books, and if it's not here, then it might be in our special section." Here he was saying 'our' like he owned this business with someone else. HA. "I pride myself on the books I have collected, especially the number of first editions. We'll see if it's in here first," Daniel said, pointing at the biiiiiiiiiig collection of books before him. "I don't like to summon books here... some are too delicate for books to be flying around."

Why did she have the feeling that he couldn't talk more about whatever happened to him? Because probably he couldn't. However, she mimicked his glance towards the door, the only difference is that she made it seem as if she was eying a book in particular as soon as she realized what she was doing. We wouldn't want to get him in trouble, right?

St. Mungo's, huh? "Well, I've recently just got out..." and she stopped, it wasn't the kind of information to share, but she had started so..., "...of St. Mungo's...nothing big, just some Bludgers," she shrugged as if it was nothing, even if she'd hated being there. A couple of nurses found a 'G. Lockhart' file that she didn't find amusing at all. "The Healers know their job, I'm sure they did their best." yeah, she let it drop.

If it had been some trouble with a wizard...then...how come St. Mungo's couldn't heal him...oh. Yeah. Best to drop it.

"Mmmhmmm" that was all she said, to the 'Upstead' thing, there were probably tons of people named Upstead, Muggles and wizards alike. And she knew Jake had no brother. So, all figured out.

Kaika's eyes lit up when he began speaking about the books he'd brought, and everything he was saying. Either way, to sum up, if she didn't find the book here, then she wouldn't find it anywhere else. Great. "I think a First Edition of this book would be much more than delicate." she smiled, knowing that the book was really old (though not as much as others), "So, I help?" he had a great amount of books, to be honest. Her eyes landed on a battered copy of what seemed to be 'Moste Potente Potions' and couldn't help but smile. She missed Potions.

"I was only in there for them to try a few things on my face. It was a Dark spell that did this, and I had to leave it for a while, so... it scarred," Daniel explained, feeling that he hadn't gone into enough detail for the scar to make sense.

Anyway, on to business. "Yeah, sure," Daniel grinned. "You help too, if you like. I have loads here... I had to carry them all the way back here."

And London was not exactly small.

The young man showed this girl the other huge stack of books. "We have at least a quarter of a million books here, and at least half of them are first editions. Way back in my family on my mothers side, one of my ancestors bought books as soon as they were printed, and so his son did, and his son, and now I do. I have their books, too. I think my family have always wanted to do business with books... dealing and selling," Daniel spoke. "If we can't find it here, I'll get my wand and see if I can find the name on my catalogue of books."

He spent a lot of time everyday doing a stock check with that thing. During the school year there just weren't customers.

Except Dark wizards trying to steal his books.

Daniel went through the books. He was sure he remembered the name Scrimgeour from earlier that day...

Oh, no. He didn't have to explain. She figured just as much, Kaika had always been a smart Huffie, there really was no need to explain anything. Either way, she listened as he spoke and merely nodded. Anything related to whatever form of the Dark Arts wasn't much to her amusement.

Yes! Help! Well, she wasn't that willing to help, but she'd missed books (she didn't know she had, though) and she'll take any chance to be with them for a while longer. She had a confused look on her face, "I hope you don't mean that you brought all of them today." because then he must be tired and she was making him find a book that she really didn't need, but truly wanted. Well, it was his job, after all.

You know, she used to have this Quidditch journal, and she'd only come to realize that it had been long gone as she scanned some books. Treyen must've taken it.

His family...what?! Kaika blinked a couple times as she listened. That was...great, you know, "It must be nice to share some interests with the family." she had no idea how it could be, that's why she only thought it should be nice. She was about to mention the little fact that two people in her family wrote books, but since she didn't want to mention Gilderoy, then she simply dismissed the thought. "Business with books sounds quieter than business with Quidditch for sure." but was it just as fun and thrilling?

"Sounds good." she smiled, all the time in the world she had, so there was really no hurry in finding the book, except it should be today, and it probably should be found within the hour, so, yeah, they were in hurry but she wasn't going to take forever to find the book.

Eyes scanning one pile of books, and whilst there were some very interesting choices in there, the one she was looking for was not.

"Oh yeah... bought them all today. Carried them back here. Luckily, they had a kind of spell on them, thanks to the dealer, so until they got back in here, if anyone looked at one they would just be blank," Daniel explained, stretching out his back slightly as he thought about the strenuous walk back.

"The business is very quiet... that's how I like it. And since I was into the family interest and stuff, my grandfather gave me the money for this shop," he breamed at the girl. Daniel liked a quiet life. Gave him more time to go out on the town.

He took the books off his pile one by one. "Ahh, we're getting to the 'S' authors now... it'll be here if I bought it... and I'm sure I remember the name... Was there anything else you were thinking of getting?" he asked the girl, pausing in his search.

Oh, she had no idea, how come he wasn't tired? Er, well, perhaps that same questions could be asked for her when Quidditch games extend for days, but it was different. "That's actually great, though I'm not precisely familiar to how the books industry works." meaning she didn't understand how could someone read the book on Daniel's way to his shop. But it was still a neat idea, the spell.

Yes, quiet. Like libraries. Very different from a fan-filled Pitch, but very much like home. Nice and quiet. A wide smile formed on her face as she heard about his grandfather. They were the best people, weren't they? After all, she loved her grandfather very much, he always got her out of any trouble. And he also disliked Gilderoy. "Yes, grandfathers are the best." she couldn't say the same about her grandmother, no matter how many times she'd gotten Treyen grounded, the woman seemed to be against everything everyone said. Kaika, of course, never paid attention.

Oh, the book. He was getting to the 'S' already? Perfect! She stopped her search for he seemed to be closer to finding something, and..."I, don't think so, no." well, not now anyway. She'd only come looking for this book, nothing else.

"Neither do I, to be honest," Daniel half joked as he put the books that had kind of been put aside in a nice tidy pile. It was true... all he did was buy books in bulk and sell them, with the occasional auction day thrown in... though he often liked to keep those books.

Not these though... he had almost every one of these upstairs in his library... which most people would call the living room.

"Okie dokie," smiled Daniel. He looked curiously at a biography of Rufus Scrimgeour, wondering how it got in with these books when he was certain it was already a part of the stock, before putting that aside and carefully picking up the next tome. It was extremely delicate, looking as though it had been pelted with bludgers and beaters bats itself. Daniel ever so carefully opened the cover just a little, and saw the stamp that said 'first edition' quite clearly on the title page, along with the title and author of the book. "I do believe that this is what you're looking for," he said fondly.

His books. Ahhhh, they never did him wrong.

And yes, she had to laugh, because it was very entertaining as to why someone who owns a book shop knows little of the industry itself. However, Kaika was well aware that Daniel knew a whole lot more than she did. "Odd." yes, that was all she said.

What? Did he find it? The expectation had risen so much, that she wanted the book now. The sole action of finding it would certainly make her day, and it wasn't something she'd had high hopes for. Her eyes went over the cover of that one Rufus Scrimgeour. Harry Potter times. Messy times. And her heart sort of skipped a bit when she noticed a battered, very battered, book which was being identified by Daniel.

That was it, right? That was the book? Her whole face lit up when he brought it closer, and her smile was as wide as possible. Really, she had no idea she could be this happy over a book. "It is!" isn't it? Yes!

He'd been the most careful person when it came to handle the book and Kaika almost instantly took it from his hands as if it wasn't delicate at all, she eyed the book, as if she'd caught a much wanted Snitch (and she'd never done so, in fact, she hated them just because she never caught one).

The Wasps Beater shook her head when she noticed the treatment she'd given the book, "Sorry, it's just...exciting. To find it." not that she'd been looking for it that long. "How much will it be?" she said, eyes on the shop owner.

I. Am. So. Sorry. *hits self*
 

"Mhmmm," Daniel replied to the sole remark this girl made. Yup. Odd. But books tended to lead to oddness. Mhmmm.

Since he was still making very sure that he wasn't going to damage the binding of the book any further or things like that, he had expected the girl to do the same, and when she just took it his heart sped up and he thought he was about to have a heart attack from the shock and abruptness. Once his heart rate was closer to normal, he watched the girl's reaction.

Ooooh, that was enough to make his day, someone being happy that he had the book they were looking for. Daniel beamed painfully (cut on cheek... kinda hurt) and checked his price list.

"Hmmm, it's a fragile and rare book, but it's more along the lines of exceedingly rare and antique," the young man mumbled. He looked at the book again, and took note of its terrible quality. "You can have it for 3 galleons," he smiled.

He had... very low prices here.

what for? =P
 

Well, she had no idea if his reaction had been an appropriate one to the whole outburst with the book, because her eyes were on the book. The not-for-long desired book. It had been a great idea to search for it, really.

Once her eyes managed to get away from the book she noticed he was smiling. Kaika actually wondered why, but shrugged the thought away. It must hurt, no? His cheek, when he smiled? It was none of her business, so she didn't ask.

But then he said the most unbelievable thing ever heard. "3 galleons?" she asked, confusion all over her face, "You...sure?" the book was over...how many years old? She had no idea, truth be told. It was a first edition...so...over five hundred years ago for sure, why was it so cheap? The quality of it? It was still a very rare book. Blink.

"Okay, though, I think is fairly more valuable," she said, with a nod, as she searched for three golden coins, "Here you have, Daniel." She extended her hand with three golden coins. Golden like the Snitch. Sigh.

For replying late XD
 

"Oh yeah," Daniel nodded. For a place which sold some rare and antique books, the prices were always very low, mainly because Daniel could just... afford it. A lot of the books in his shop, he'd acquired for free, so he still made a small profit, not that money was important to him. "I don't charge too much for books. I have never understood why such things are overpriced."

Like, it cost so much these days to get a new book to become immersed in... even to buy the books for school.

"Thank you very much," Daniel smiled warmly and dropped the coins into his till. You want it wrapped?

You got that right. He didn't charge that much for books. And if he didn't think that was a problem, then she probably shouldn't, right?

"I guess you're right. Of course, price and value can be two completely different things," she said, with a smile. Sometimes the most valuable things were priceless. You can't put a price on friendship, for instance, nor for the joy of finding a book you were finding. Perhaps that's why she thought this book's worth to be so little when it came to money, of course.

It was also worth a lifetime. A lifetime of achievements by the author. A lifetime of joy for the new owner.

"Thank you, Daniel, for helping me with the book," she said, while placing the book ever-so-carefully into her tote, "See you around," and she began walking away from Mr. Upstead. Oh, she needed to find out where Jake was and how he was doing. "Oh, and take care." There was a genuine smile on her face as she said this, because apparently things in Diagon Alley weren't that good? She was not letting Treyen come here alone. Her house-elf will tag along for sure.

And then she was out.

Viky walked up to the counter and set down her books with a smile. She didn't have a lot, only the required sixth year books. She just preferred to get them here, because her parents had decided thaat they were no longer paying for her schoolthings, now that she was sixteen. Which basically meant she had to get the really cheap stuff, because she had virtually no money. Great. 'Just this lot, thanks,' she said to the shopkeep, with a weak attempt at a smile.

"You are very welcome," Daniel nodded, thankful that she was now being careful with the book. That was good... no more heart attacks for at least a few minutes. "You too... be careful," he added, which was now something he said whenever someone left.

That wasn't bad... was it?

...

Anyway, once the girl had gone, Daniel got to putting the books on their rightful shelves in the store.

===============

It hadn't been long since the evil dude had been in his shop, and Daniel felt a lot safer these days. Probably because the worst of the shock had worn off.

But the scar on his cheek still remained. It didn't totally mar his young features, but it annoyed him. He gave a friendly smile to the girl before him and rang up her purchases. "That'll be 2 galleons then, please. Would you like them all wrapped up and stuff? No extra charge."

Raven walked up to the counter, placing his treasures like books in front him, give a good smile to the shopkeeper, "Good morning, Sir", he say gloomily. "i'd like to purchase it all, as listed here, *showing up the school list for first year* "how much it cost, Sir".

he smiled again and waiting for the respond of the man over the counter.

Helen walked over to the counter carrying all her school books and placing them on the counter. "I would like to buy:

Hogwarts: A History by Chroniculus Punnet
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Tremble
How Not To Blow Off Your Fingers On The First Day by Julius Gummidge
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp
Goshawk's Guide to Herbology by Miranda Goshawk
The Standard Book of Spells Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk
Hilary Stargazer's Guide to the Galaxy by Hilary Stargazer

How much would that be?"

Taking a look at the list he was shown, and making sure all the books from it were present on the counter, Daniel gave his young customer a friendly smile. "That's 2 galleons for whole lot," he told the boy. "Looking forward to Hogwarts?"

"Well, since these are all on the list," Daniel explained, running his finger down the spines of the books. "Then they come as a school lot. So, altogether they come to 2 galleons," he smiled, leaning forward on his counter.

Harper, stack of books in hand, walked up to the counter and put them down with a soft thud, and a huff from herself. She smiled up at the storekeeper behind the counter, one that showed almost all of her teeth. She was waaaaayy too excited to be here. Finally, a place she was familiar with. Her mother had taken her here many times.

"Hiya, sir," she said, taking her small bag of wizarding money out of her sleeve. "And how much might a lot of Hogwarts standard ed-oo-cat-ion books cost today?"

:shifty:

BOOKSBOOKSBOOKSBOOKSBOOKSBOOKSBOOKSBOOKSBOOKS!!!

"Hey kid," Daniel smiled, the contageous happiness definitely not leaving him out. This young grl seemed very chipper today. "Ahh, well, that'll be 2 galleons, my dear," he told her with a friendly nod.

"I'm fine thank you, yourself?" Daniel returned the polite greeting to the young girl as he picked up the books and observed them, to see what he'd put them down to be sold as. He quickly did the maths in his head. "That'll be 1 galleon 3 sickles, please. Would you like them wrapped up and bagged?"

'Cause, you know, some people preferred them to stay all open.

"Im great, thank you." She replied. taking out her wallet from her bag and counted out the right amount, double checking before handing it to the shopkeeper "Here you are." handing him the money " No, thank you. they will not last long wrapped up, so there is no point" She added

"Thank you very much," Daniel smiled, checking the money she'd handed over before dropping it into the till. "Very well," the shopkeeper waved his wand anyway and the books were suddenly surrounded by a bag for the girl to carry them in. "Enjoy your books."

The smile never fading, Harper dug into her bag and felt around for the galleons. Thank goodness she had a few left! She put the two galleons on the counter for the pleasant young man who called her dear. "Oh! And before I forget - do you guys take donations here? Like, book donations? My mom wants me to find out." she hardly noticed that she was bobbing up and down happily while she spoke.

"Thank you , I will " She said as she head out the door

Raven nodded to the shopkeeper "Yes Sir, here's your Galleons *giving 2 galleon to Mr Daniel*

"Thanks a lot, I've save more than double for this."
Raven smile is so wide, his heart is waving, and he says "Bye! for now, Mister.

Raven skip smoothly and vanish to the shopkeeper eyes.

"Thank you," Daniel grinned, taking the galleons and flipping them, one at a time, off of his thumb and into the till.

It was amazing, the things you learnt when you were bored...

"Donations?" he perked up slightly, looking up again and shutting the till drawer with a nudge of his hip. "Oh, of course," Daniel beamed, despite how painful it was to the steadily healing wound on his cheek.

Harper nodded, tucking the books into her bag. "Good to know. She has tons of old books from her great grandfather." Which was like a million years ago to Harper. She gazed at the wound on the young man's cheek and thought about intruding on his own personal business, but decided it probably wasn't the best time. After all, what if like...he was born with it? Harper doubted that he was, but still, that would be very rude.

"Take care," was all she said, taking her eyes off the wound and meeting his eyes. "Thanks a bunch!" she smiled and gave the dude a wave before skipping out the door.

hi! i said to the shopkeeper as i made my way in,i would like to know how much it would cost to buy all the first year books? :)

Helen looked into her pouch and counted all the coins she had. She knew she was holding up the line but she couldn't help that she was new to this. She said to the shop keeper "Sorry I'm holding you up, I'm new to the wizarding world." Helen finally got the money and handed it to the shopkeeper"

Alice carried a large pile of books up to the counter and plunked them softly onto it.



They were all old leather bound copies with yellowing pages. Alice loved these old books and they would soon become her prized possesions. Her mother, mrs. Matthews, wore a victorian style dress, as did Alice, and pulled out her purse and handed it to alice to pay for the books. Alices father stood close by, hanging onto his top hat ready to take the books and put them into the expanded bag for school supplies.

"Good day," Alice said curtseying to the shop keeper, "I believe this is all I will be requiring today." she said.

"You too," Daniel grinned, ignoring the staring at his face.

It was natural. People were curious.

"Enjoy the school year."

Haha.

No.

Daniel then turned to the next young person who had approached him. "Hey," he smiled at them. "Well, a school lot costs 2 galleons for the whole thing. Would you like me to Summon it?"

"That's quite alright, hun," Daniel gave the girl a friendly smile, waiting patiently for her. "I get a lot of customers new to all of this."

It really was interesting to see their reactions and stuff when they saw the magical street. Not his shop necessarily because it wasn't overtly magical... but yeah.

Next up was a very very polite young girl. Daniel nodded with an impressed expression on his face at the girl. She had very... old style clothing, that seemed to be from hundreds of years ago, and apparently came from a family with fashion sense like her... because he was dressed like the folks used to way back when.

"Good day to you, too," Daniel smiled, ringing up the books and waving his wand so they were wrapped up and bagged. "2 galleons then, please."

Alice looked back at her father and mother, her father pulled the coins from his breast pocket and handed them to Alice which she, in turn, gave to the shopkeeper. "Thank you so much, sir!" Alice said with a smile and took the package of books.

She then took the package of books and put them in the small bag, which was expanded to hold her school supplies. As she and her parents were leaving the store she looked back and gave the shopkeeper a smile.

Preston walked towards the counter with some difficulty with the five books he needed to purchase bogging him down as he went. He couldn't remember if there were shopping baskets or something around, but it was far too late for that considering he was now standing in front of the counter to get them purchased.

As soon as it was his turn he placed the five books up on the counter in two stacks. Stack one was: The Art of Potion Making, A Changing Subject: Transfiguration Basics and The Standard Book of Spells Grade 2. Adding up to 18 sickles If he added things up correctly.

The second stack included Goshawks Guide to Herbology, the book Preston was replacing from last year, hoping this one would last longer than a year because he secretly liked Herbology just a little deep down inside, and a basic dictionary. Adding to 11 sickles...he was positive.

"Hi." Preston smiled to the shopkeeper as he reached an arm back to his backpack to where his gold bag was located.

lol, thank you for adding XD *is tired* All in order ^^
 

"You are very welcome, young lady," Daniel replied, nodding his head in a kind of 'bowing' way. Seemed appropriate. As the girl was leaving, she smiled, so Daniel gave her a friendly wave and another smile in return.

He liked having polite customers.

Ahhh, this was one of the first times Daniel had to utilise his maths skills when there was a younger person. They usually got their books in lots, but this seemed easy enough.

Quickly glancing at the titles of the books and consulting the list under the desk of school books, in case there was something he was missing, Daniel smiled at the young boy and rang up his purchases.

"That'll be 1 galleon 12 sickles please," the man said with a friendly smile on his face. "You want them wrapped and bagged?"

Preston gave the man a smile as he watched him add things up and eventually give him a total. Preston opened the gold bag and counted out the 12 sickles and dug around for a galleon, placing them on the counter one by one, counting in his head.

"J-just b-b-bagged p-p-please." He told the man closing the gold bag and reaching back around to his bag pack and putting it away. "Have y-you b-b-been r-r-really b-busy?" He asked, attempting to make a little small talk, though it was a lame question. Of course he was busy lately, it was the summer time, students were all over the place getting their new school supplies.