Simon couldn't help help smiling back as Norah's smile became visible once the books were removed and covering the view. The boy nodded to her question, somewhat thankful though that he was alone in this case...nobody to suddenly appear or be waiting for him. "Yeah, my father and older brother are working and my mum had other things to attend to," the gryffindor explained, even if he didn't go into too much detail.

"Mhm...most are," he answered truthfully for the most part, "hopefully there haven't been too many changes in staff," he mused, absently reminded of a few terms pasted where after the drama-filled closing feast the later opening feast had been chock full of surprises for everyone.

Oh. So this boy had older siblings as well. "Just one older brother?" Norah asked curiously as her gaze landed on a very old looking astronomy book. As ancient as it appeared, the thing certainly looked interesting. 'No.' She tore her eyes away from it, 'No spending on things I don't need.' "It's nice actually... getting to do things on my own." Norah admitted finally. It was true. Her sisters weren't there to bug her, and her parent's weren't able to tell her off about things she already knew.

'Most?' "Most?" Norah asked, her eyes suddenly worried. "Wha-what professors do you think were not as friendly?" Goodness. That was all she needed. It was bad enough being new, but if she started to cry in class it would make things a hundred times worse.
Something else came to her mind just as she was about to reach over and grab a final book, "Is it true that Hogwarts still has that house-cup competition...thing?"

"Yep...one biological older brother," Simon answered. "Though growing up I did have the occasional influence of his bestfriend's own older brother to boss all four of us around," he added before looking a little sheepish at his rambling, the boy biting the inside of his cheek. "But you didn't need to know that, forgive the rambling," he appologized with a gentle chuckle.

"Oh nothing or no one too bad," he tried to assure Norah feeling bad for worrying her again. "Just that there are a few that are a little more strict then the others. They can't all be good friends with their students...it would make teaching a bit complicated."

Simon watched his companion for any signs of either worsening fears or calmed nerves, instead noticing her grab another book and add it to her smaller pile before looking back at her as she spoke again. "Uh huh they do, where the four houses try to beat each other by gaining points for homework and such."

Norah chuckled a tiny bit and made sure the strap of her bag was secured before speaking, "It's okay. I'll forget what you said if that will make you feel better." She organized the books in her arms so that the largest was on the bottom, and the smallest was on top, "I have three sisters myself. Two older, one much younger."

"Oh, right." Norah replied and tried to let Simon's words act as a sort of comfort, though it didn't work too well at the moment. She had had strict instructor's before, but she'd time to get used to them all. "Guess I'll just take things as they come then." Really though, there was no other way to deal with things.

"I never understood why a school would want to encourage any sort of competition between students." Norah said questioningly and flipped open the topmost book on her pile, which was an astronomy one. "There wasn't anything like that at my other school."

Simon continued to laugh at her comment, happy to see he hadn't weirded her out. "You don't have to," he said with a smile. "Probably best," he added in agreement with a nod as Norah talked of playing the professor issue by year. It really was trial and error for the most part for even the toughest professors had favorites. No one could be certain of how things went until they'd had a few classes with each of the people in question.

"You know I don't really know myself," Simon admitted with a shrug. " Its just been that way as long as I and my brother were in school and before then. Though it does create a connection within the houses as well so I guess it could be a case of a little give and take," he mused absently noting her open one of her books. "Anything interesting?"

Norah stood at blinked at Simon for a moment, possibly looking somewhat foolish, but she realized it quickly enough to avoid and further possible embarrassment. She still didn't get how any sort of competition between houses would make the students grow closer. To Norah, it seemed like it was a 'In your face!' to the other houses. Nevertheless, she replied with a quiet, "I guess that's possible." And blushed, once Simon mentioned her book.

"Oh, erm...nothing much, just spotted an image of Triton. One that was taken with a muggle spacecraft called Voyager 2... it's an interplanetary space probe." She quietly closed the book and added, "Of course, the image is rather old, there are lots of newer ones now." Something was suddenly brought to her attention. "Do you have book shopping to do as well?" She didn't mean to be eating up all of Simon's time, her voice sounded apologetic. And since he had helped her..."There are a few fifth year books in this shelf here still." Norah tilted her head to the bookshelf behind her.

Simon didn't quite catch her moment of embarrassment as she blinked at him before quickly covering up her reaction. While not oblivious to things of that nature, his attention just wasn’t on it enough to register to the fifth year. He did notice the blushing however and turned his gaze slightly away from her, thinking it cause by his attention.

"Well it is still somewhat interesting," he remarked listening to the description of her discovery amongst the pages of the book. Granted astronomy wasn't his favorite subjects but it did hold a few fascinating things. When the attention was brought to him, Simon gave a gentle one-armed shrugs, careful not to jostle the pile of books in his arms.

“Well I’ve already picked up several at other times…wasn’t sure of anymore just came in to possibly browse unless I stumbled across ones I needed,” he assured her taking note of her apologetic smile. He certainly didn’t want to make her feel bad that she was taken books he technically need as well. “Then that’s good for both of us,” the Gryffindor boy added glancing at the shelf beside them to try and notice any familiar titles.

Okay... that had Daniel a little bit miffed.

...

Not saying anything, Daniel scowled, waved his wand to clear up the mess and return the books to their shelves, before pacing again.

Kids.

Should.

Be.

Banned.

From.

BOOKSHOPS.

Norah smiled a tiny bit and asked, "What is your favorite subject at the school?" 'Or perhaps he has more than one favorite....' Maybe when Simon gave his opinion or preference on things it would ease Norah's mind a little bit more. She backed away from the shelf when Simon seemed to be looking at the titles; not wanting to be in his way at all.

"Do you have this one?" Norah asked, and took out and held up a copy of Spellman’s Syllabary. It wasn't even in a rough state either. Sure, the front cover might have been bent a little, but the rest of it looked just fine, nice and broken in. That was another thing Norah liked about used books; they were used. A lot of times brand new books wouldn't stay open to a page when you were reading because they were so stiff.
There was also a copy of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore, and Creature Comforts: A Guide to Magical Creature Environments by Winnie Rider nearby as well.

“Defense against the Dark arts,” Simon answered the class always fascinating for him. Guess it came from the family in some cases since his father and brother both worked in similar avenues of work. “What about you? Did you have a favorite class at Beaubaxtons? He asked unsure if the French school had the same layout of curriculum.

He looked over as Norah asked, nodding in answer before speak. “Yep… one of the first I acquired,” he explained turning back to the shelf and noticing the other two near by. “Hmm I think I do need this one,” the Gryffindor mused picking up the herbology text and looking it over. “I’d need the magical creatures one but I havent decided on keeping it as one of my electives,” Simon remarked thinking about preparing for his owls.

Okay, these books were getting much too heavy for Norah's skinny arms. She set her half-reduced pile on the ground carefully beside the shelf and continued her search while listening to Simon. "Erm..." Norah gave this some thought, she liked astronomy an awful lot, and yet she also adored her herbology class. "We had a lovely herbology class at school. I suppose if I could pick a favorite after astronomy, then it would be that." The large greenhouse and garden behind the school was breathtaking when it was in full bloom.
"It's a lovely place to read, the gardens." Nice and quiet. Until some of the more giggly, gossiping girls had to come around and ruin it.

"Do you not like animals?" Norah asked curiously. If not, then Simon would be the second boy she met that didn't like them. Unless it was not required for Simon's future career, that was understandable.
She pulled out a copy of Numbers and the Meaning of Life: Advanced Arithmancy by Perseus Pythagoras, "This?"

Simon found himself following suite and setting his own borrowed pile to the ground so he could look. He certainly didn’t want to mix the collected books up between them. Going back to his search, his still listened attentively to her answer, even if his gaze wasn’t on Norah. “Well hopefully you’ll like the herbology class at Hogwarts. Professor Dodson is very knowledgeable and a good teacher and the grounds are nice too,” he replied thinking back to the classes of previous years.

”No…its not that I don’t, it’s just that I have to start narrowing down my focus,” he admitted, noticing her apprehension at the thought he didn’t like animals even though he didn’t know why he felt the need to assure her. “Well at least I think I do. Don’t really want to stretch myself too thin when it comes to study time,” he added looking over at the offered title and nodding, accepting the book for his collection.

At least Professor Dodson sounded okay. One less class to worry about. Norah nodded silently and pulled out a copy of Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles by Wilhelm Wigworthy, holding it for Simon to see. "We didn't have to take a muggle class at Beauxbatons." Norah said quietly, looking down at the bookcover. Did she even need that class now? Probably not, seeing as how her life had been intertwined with them since she was born.

"Right. It sounds like the best thing to do." Norah added and found a book that looked more interesting than the muggle studies one...another book on herbology, though it wasn't on the book list. "Hogwarts students take their O.W.L. exams at the end of fifth year right?" Oh goodness...lots more work to be done. If Norah had stayed at Beauxbatons, she would have had to sit for her exams in sixth year. "I would have had to take mine next year..." Norah added, deep in thought. Perhaps she would have to start narrowing down as well...such a scary thought.

"Technically we don't have to take a muggle studies class at Hogwarts either," Simon replied to inform her alternating his attention between the shelf and those around him. "Its an elective like arithmacy and ancient runes," he added, himself having only taken it for the one year before realising being a half-blood he already knew a far share from his family and its history.

He nodded at her question, confirming the time of the O.W.L.'s. "Yep...end of this year. So for most classes we'll probably have a half a year instruction and the rest spent reviewing," the boy mused finding a recommended defense book he had been looking for. Hearing her mention of taking them next year, he couldn't help tilting his head as he looked over at Norah. "Maybe it would be easier...less years to cover in one shot," he commented with a shrug.

"Oh no?" Lovely! Norah reached down to the correct pile and removed the muggle studies book. Honestly, she already lived with them and knew how they lived, no problems there. And no arithmancy, OR ancient runes either. Norah shivered at the thought of ancient runes. The program may be different at Hogwarts, but when she was given a taste of it at her old school...bleh. She put those books back as well, or meant to, but then asked, "Do you need either one?" to Simon.

"Maybe you're right." Norah said quietly and could feel herself start to zone out again. It would mean one less year of information to worry about, but with her study habits, she would have started reviewing weeks ago had she known. 'I'm going to be up so late.' She thought, worrying about how much sleep she might miss from having to stay up and read and write notes. "Have you started studying just yet?" Norah realized that her voice had gotten a little louder out of nerves.

"Nope," Simon confirmed, smiling as he noticed that Norah appeared quiet pleased with that little tidbit of information, that and the fact that neither of the more academic subjects of arithmacy and ancient runes were required as well. "Nah...I have both from my brother if i needed them," he answered as she paused from putting them away of he needed them. "They are two subjects that certainly don't change much."

The gryffindor shook his head at her last question as he followed suit and removed the one book she had overlooked from the pile he was technically safeguarding for her. "No I have to admit I havent," he admitted, "but we'll probably be studying before long in school anyway."

'Oh good.' Norah thought and slipped the two books into the shelf again, not wanting to leave them all over the aisle.
Less books required for school meant more money in her pocket, and less stress resulting from school later. "Not to mention that they are incredibly dull." Norah added before shutting her mouth. It wasn't a secret at her old school of how much she disliked arithmancy, ancient runes, and history classes...and even divination at times. Not that the information was useless, it was just that Norah needed something leaning more towards her own interests to keep her attention focused, rather than zoning out into one of her famous daydreams, or sneaking a few lines of another subject from a hidden textbook.

She stood up and blinked at Simon. 'Are all students like this?' Norah wondered. As it was, she had the urge to go home and crack open a few books immediately...the new threat of unavoidable O.W.L. exams fresh in her mind. "The professors hold study sessions seperate from lectures and labs?" Norah asked.

Emmaleigh lead the way into the third hand bookstore, and paused for a second at the door. She inhaled that familiar dusty scent of old books, and looked for the section they needed. When she saw the area with the education books, she headed to the shelves. Pulling her schoolist out of her bag, she turned to Prestion and asked, "So what year are you?" She thought she had seen him around the castle, but she may have been mistaken.

Raven see a book store, though it has name third hand, he is continue to walk into it *anyway, he no so much money to spend*

Raven paused momentarily at the entrance door, when he smell dusty scent.

being first time in the wizrd book store, he can't hold to compare it in one muggle book store with fresh air and air-condition, but recently, a man called himself 'headmaster' find him and say "you're a special people, a you're accepted as student in Hogwart School of Witchcraft and Wizardry".

*and now Raven is here, finding here way to wizard world.*

Raven past the selves, one by one, "it like shopping in the National Bookstore, find your book, read it first and go *he said in himself*, then he saw, labeled, standard education book *he give glimpse on the book that dusty arranged in the selves, saying again to self "it must be fourth to nth hand book".

he strike all the book, one by one, matching title and author to his school list that handled to him by the 'headmaster of Hogwarts'

he find 'The Standard Book of Spells Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk' first
and after so many book finding activity, find the the last one 'The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Tremble' "at last, i find it all here, though it look all ancient, wheeee, hooooo"

and Raven headed all along in the counter.

Preston had followed Em into the third hand book shop and made sure to shut the door once he was inside. He gave a smile as he looked up at the shelves upon shelves of books. His smile grew as he thought of staying there for forever trying to read every book the store had to offer.

He moved forward towards a stack of books he remembered he needed to get for his school set. "S-s-second y-year." He told her as he pulled the top book off the stack and opened it carefully. He flipped through the pages for a minute before shutting it and tucking it under his arm.

"W-what y-year a-are you?" He asked back. She seemed to be around his age and he wondered why he had never seen her before now. But then again, his first year at Hogwarts he ended up meeting more of the elder students than the younger.

"So he was a second year too," she thought, as she studied the list. Thankfully, it looked like most of the books were the same as the ones they already had. That meant it would cost a lot less. Looking up she answered, "I'm a second year a well." Em studied the boy, trying to figure where in the castle she had seen him. Had he been in the Defense class with the paint? or was it the potions class where they had made the age regression potion? Shrugging, she said, " I'm in Hufflepuff, how about you?"She looked back at the list and continued, "I looks like we will only need four new book this year." hmm, there seemed to be dozens of copies of The Standard Book of Spells for Grade 7 in front of her, she scooted to the shelf on her right, and found the books for Grade 2. She picked a copy for herself, and handed one to Preston.

Preston cocked his head to the side and looked at Em. "R-r-really?" he asked. "I-I'm in Huff-Huffle-Hufflepuff t-too!" He stuttered excitedly. He took the book from Emm carefully and looked at it. He still couldn't believe he was a second year now. Before he knew he'd be graduating and figuring out what he wanted to do with his life.

But that still years away.

"I-I-I d-d-don't th-think I-I've seen y-y-you 'r-round b-b-before." He told Em as they moved through the shelves looking for their books they still needed.

The girl looked up amazed when he said the he was in Hufflepuff as well. She hadn't been expecting that. Em thought she knew all of her housemates that were in her year, but apparently not. But that did explain why he looked familiar, she had probably seen him tons of times with out even noticing. "You looked familiar to me, but I couldn't figure out why. But I guess ive seen you at the house table or in the common room or something." She shook her head, "I just can't believe we haven't met before now." she said. Her eyes turned back to the shelves, and scanned for the next book on the list.

Alice walked into the third hand book emporium, that smell of old books entered her nostrils and she let go of her mothers hand as she put her hands up to her mouth in shock. There were so many old books here, Alice loved books and she had read so many in her life and these were amazing specimens. Alice and her mother wore victorian style dresses, as was always, and her father wore a black victorian tail coat and a top hat, but he removed his top hat when he entered the shop. Mr. Matthews was always proper, he removed his hat in shops for a sign of respect for the shop owner or keeper.

Mr. Matthews pulled out a piece of parchment from his breast pocket and handed it to Alice. Alice unfolded it and looked at the book section.



Alice then set out on the journey through the shelves and piles of books to find her books. She eventually turned up all of them, in beautiful old leather bound copies with old yellowing pages, the best type of book in Alice's eyes. They could afford new books but the old ones were the one's with character.

Alice then handed the list back to her father and she walked over to the counter.

Preston nodded his head slowly. "I-I m-m-most-mostly h-hung a-a-around th-the o-old-older st-stu-students." he explained stopping suddenly when he saw a book he needed to replace.

"W-w-wait. I-I n-need a n-new c-c-copy of th-this." He told Em as he pulled Goshawk's Guide to Herbology by Miranda Goshawk from the shelf. It was the one book that Preston had dropped more than a few times in the last year and was held together by spell-o-tape and even that wasn't going to last much longer.

Better safe then sorry.

"H-H-Hog-Hogwarts is j-just so b-b-big." He concluded, "Th-th-there's so m-m-many p-p-people an-and places." He said he checked Goshawk's Guide to make sure it was the one he needed. Deciding it was he gave Em a smile. "W-w-what else d-d-do w-we n-n-need?" He asked her.