School Shopping in Diagon Alley

[lizzy]

The golden yellow sun was high in the clear blue sky in Diagon Alley, so it was about mid-noon. Catherine was almost finished shopping, with a few more items to scratch off her list. It was extremely hot outside, and small beads of sweat lined her forehead.
She pushed open the doors of The Magical Menagerie, blasting cool air on her. The shop was dark, the sunlight didn't face the direction of the store. It was almost creepy.
Catherine glanced at her list, examining her tiny print: Owl Pecks. An awful name for owl food, she thought, but she knew Nancy needed the right diet.
She walked down the Owl aisle, ignoring the annoying shrieks of anxious owls wanting to be adopted. She searched for Owl Pecks, but there were none in her sight. Catherine raised one eyebrow, and waltzed over to the man at the front desk.
He was a scraggly looking felloe, with a tangled beard and a wrinkly face. He didn't seem to be too old, though, and he appeared to not want to be where he was. Ctaherine was disgusted. Wretched filth, she thought.
"Excuse me, sir?" she asked the man. He grunted, seeming to be suprised anyone was there at all.
"Eh?" he replied. He was frowning, as if he didn't want her company.
"Do you happen to have any Owl Pecks in stock? I need them , for my owl," she added, trying to be sure that this man was not as hopelessly confused as he seemed. He waved his hairy arm at her, trying to shoo her away.
"No," he slurred. Catherine felt like she was going to throw up, much less the man looked like he was going to.
"Crazy drunk," she mummbled to herself, as she turned to the door.

[lizzy]

When Catherine got outside, a light breeze swept her straight brown hair into her eyes. It was more crowded outdoors, full with busy Hogwarts shoppers and eager first years scrambling around, leaving their parents behind them. It seemed to Catherine that the only unhappy person there was the stupid drunk man at The Magical Menagerie.
Catherine headed towards Quality Quidditch Supplies, pushing through crowds of loud wizards and witches on her way. She tripped by accident, pushing down a second year wizard. The boy made an angry face and stuck out his tongue at her.
"Watch where you're going next time, you clumsy git," he said. Catherine raised her eyebrows at him, seeming to say, without really speaking; "If you talk to me again like that you little prat, I'll turn you into a worthless rodent." The boy scurried off into the sea of people.
The quidditch shop was aluminated and cool, but more crowded than Catherine had hoped. She took a whiff of the air, taking in the smell of every broom and ball around. You couldn't really smell those things, but why couldn't she imagine?
As she walked over to the front desk, she was delighted to see that Mrs. Klotss was standing there, with a nice smile on her young face. Catherine was happy there was a civilized person to sell her what she needed.
"Hello, Mrs. Klotss," Catherine said. The short red-haired woman smiled at her, knowing that she was one of her best customers.
"What can I get for you, Miss Grace?" Mrs. Klotss asked. Catherine handed her her list, looking around her. She wanted it all.

[lizzy]

"Ah, so you need a new pair of gloves, huh?" Mrs. Klotss asked.
Catherine nodded, remebering the image of her old worn gloves at home. She needed to protect her hands on the field, too.
"Yes. My own are rotten, and I was hoping you'd have something that might last longer for me," she replied. The woman laughed.
"We do, in fact," she said. She led Catherine to an aisle with all the quidditch gear needed to be worn. Mrs. Klotss picked up a pair of gloves in a drak green color, with black padding on each finger, and a leather adjustable strap on the wrist.
"Perfect," said Catherine. She handed Mrs. Klotss her money, took the gloves, and started to leave.
"You take care, and have a good year," Mrs. Klotss called. Catherine smiled.
"You too!"

It was darker outside, turning from late-noon to evening. It was less crowded outside, but it was still breezy and noisy. She still needed Nancy's Owl Pecks, even though it wasn't in stock. Nance'll just have to settle for Owl Nip,she thought.
Catherine walked over to The Magical Menagerie, sighing as she went in.
It was still cool inside, and the owls' were still shrieking. Catherine headed toward the Owl aisle and picked up some Owl Nip. She went to the front desk, pausing for a short second, because something was snoring.
She looked over the counter, astonished to see the man lying on the floor, with an empty jug of beer in his unmoving hand. Catherin was glad he snored and hiccuped, otherwise anyone would have thought he was dead.
She left some money on the desk, and hurried out of the shop.
It was getting darker and later, and Catherine knew helpless house elves would be preparing supper for her. With a loud *CRACK*, Catherine vanished from the spot, heading home.