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-*O(The Leaky Cauldron)O*- Even inside, the Leaky Cauldron appears rather shabby
and grubby. Elizabethan in style, it features low rafters, wood and plaster
walls above wood paneling, rough-cut tables and stools, as well as a few
booths over by a set of magical windows that lets people gawk at the Muggles
outside. A low bar sports the usual wizarding sort of drinks, including
ale, lager, some noxious infusions of Oriental leaves containing a high
percentage of toxic acid (tea), as well as butterbeer and other drinks
unavailable in the Muggle world outside. There are only two doors in the
main room. One leads out to the Muggle world. One leads to a small courtyard
in back that leads to Diagon Alley. There is a set of stairs leading up
to the first storey, where there are a few rooms to rent. Karina slips out back and gains entrance to Diagon Alley. You slip out back and gain entrance to Diagon Alley.
One might say that Diagon Alley is a shopper's paradise,
if one is a witch or wizard. Creaky wooden buildings rise up only two
or three storeys, and some of them seem to lean in on the street at impossible
angles. At the far end of the alley is the stone edifice that is Gringotts
Bank, its tall columns also lending themselves to creative architecture,
while still remaining extremely imposing. Each shop along the way is fairly
small, the kind of mom-and-pop stores which have been in business for
centuries, or even millennia, in Ollivanders' case. There are places to
go for magical pets, quidditch gear, schoolbooks for Hogwarts, robes and
other wizarding attire, as well as ice cream. A side alley leads into
a less savory part of the cobbled street, and most of the witches and
wizards teeming through Diagon Alley scrupulously avoid it. Karina grins at Beth towing the poor girl along behind her again. "... and then we could go look at those owls again. I soooo want to get one. Mum says it might be more sensible to get a cat - muggles don't seem to be so freaked out by cats..." she rattles on breathlessly. "Oooh isn't this the place?" she stops in front of the emporium. Bethany nearly bumps into Karina as she had stopped so suddenly. She had been listening to her friend rather than actually watching where she was going, so she turns to look at the shop. "That's what it says there" She points to the outlet in question then grins cheekily. "You want to go in and see what they've got? Or stand around out here on the street?" Karina sticks out her tongue at her friend. "In..in..in." she chants, lifting a hand to pull at the door-latch. "After you!" she adds, with a little nudge. You head into Eeylops Owl Emporium. ~'~\Eyelops Owl Emporium/~'~ Barn owls, screech owls, rare snowy owls, tawny owls,
and brown owls. They can all be purchased here in this dark shop whose
wares all have softly glowing eyes in the available light as the owls
swoop their heads up and down, side to side, to scope out prospective
customers. Many of these owls come in various sizes, although most are
too big for very small children to own (and all of them are too dangerous
for that anyway). Along one wall is a series of empty cages, a huge aquarium
full of live mice that gets periodically eyeballed by the owls, and other
owl supplies. The shop is kept by a short and wizened wizard who has problems
seeing in the daylight, much like his charges. Karina comes in from Diagon Alley. Bethany spins round and round as her eyes adjust to the darkness and she starts to make out the owls around the shop. Stopping to look over in one well populated corner she shakes her head. 'Will you look at them all? There's so many different ones, how are you supposed to know which you want?" Bethany stares back at a nearby owl and takes a step backwards. That's definately not the one for her. "Maybe something more like these." she starts making her way towards the back of the shop. Karina doesn't see her move off, peering at something nearby. Bethany, realising that Karina isn't following, turns and makes her way back over. "What?" She asks as she tries to see what is beeing peered at. Karina jumps ever so slightly at the sound of her friends voice and looks around suddenly. "Huh?" Bethany tsks softly so that she doesn't scare the birds. 'You were looking at something awfully closely. Have you found one?" Karina shakes her head. "I don't know. Have you?" Bethany shakes her head and starts towards the back corner again. Visala comes in from Diagon Alley.Eris comes in from Diagon Alley. Karina resumes her peering intently near where she's standing. Blushing furiously. She can't think why she'd just done that. Bethany stands in the far corner of the shop where she has been staring back at the owls. Turning to the sound of entering people she waits for their eyes to adjust and then smiles greeting. Eris holds the door open for Visala, then walks in behind her. The tall girl glides into the room, eyes scanning over the various owls for sale once she's accustomed to the dim lighting. Eris Astarte is a tall 15 year old girl, standing perhaps a shade under 5'10". Her build is thin and willowy, and her movements are graceful and well coordinated. She's attractive, if you like the cold, distant type. Her skin is very fair in contrast to the shoulder length black hair that often hangs loose. It's perfectly straight and curls under slightly at the tips. Under certain lighting, blue hues are quite visible. Her eyes are large in shape, the color a deep blue. They seem cold, yet intelligent. She rarely smiles, but when she offers that Cheshire Cat visage, her teeth are white and straight. Her features are soft despite the chillingness of her demeanor. A nice black school robe is worn on her slender body. The robe hangs down to mid-shin, covering whatever pants or skirt she might be wearing. A pair of knee-high soft-soled black boots are worn on her feet that make very little sound when she walks. The arms of the robe cover down to her wrists, leaving her hands exposed. Her hands are pale, with long, slender fingers. She keeps her nails short and clean. Occasionally, a glimpse of the watch she wears on her left wrist can be seen. She also wears a signature scent of Tea Rose oil, that often leaves it's impression in a room long after she's gone. Karina turns and smiles automatically, offering a wave as she blinks at the light from the doorway. The smile is entirely wasted on Visala, the Slytherin girl not returning it - her face is a placid mask of boredom and disinterest. She's much shorter than her fellow House member, and her dusky skin stands out as well. She looks about idly as Eris shops. Eris gives the young girls a quick once over, then nods politely to them. "'Ello." she murmers to the waving one. What bad luck, running into two Slytherins, but the tall one seems interested in a snowy white owl. In less than five steps, she's across the room to look at it. Bethany moves back to Karina, security in numbers with the cool response to their welcome. 'Maybe you'd like to look over here with me, Karina. There's plenty to see here?" She reaches to pull her friend back to the spot in the far corner. Karina lets out a breath she hadn't known she was holding as she nods at Bethany. "Did you see anything you liked." she adds in a cheerful whisper, but she glances back over her shoulder at one spot amongst the perched owls briefly. "Oh do show me." she says with a grin. Visala wanders over towards Eris' general direction, moonpale gaze sweeping slowly over the various owls and cages as she goes. She looks really excited. Uh huh. Bethany nods and then points out a barred owl to Karina. "i was looking at that one there. But I'm really not sure. What do you think? She glances back to her friend "Or do you think that I should look at something else?" The front door opens and a tall witch walks inside. She looks suspiciously like an older version of Eris, but colder and more distant if that's possible. The woman, known as Circe Astarte, holds a black velvet purse out to her daughter, who takes it and looks inside to count the money within. Circe turns to Visala and says, "Hello, Visala." Karina ooohs softly as she spies a sweet grey owl with large horns. "What about one of those ones Bethany." she dredges up a name. "Isn't that one a darling." "Miss Astarte," Visala offers softly. The Rakshasa family is very old as well, and placed just as deeply in the dark and tangled web of former Voldemort supporters. Eris mumbles a 'thank you' to her mother as she pockets the purse deep into her robe. A real talker, this one is. The older woman seems more interested in Visala, offering her the nicest of cruel smiles she can muster. "Your parents are well, I assume?" Bethany follows Karina's advice and moves to examine the Scops Owl. "That will do beautifully." She starts, before she lowers her voice for some reason. She turns ready to arrange the purchase, but noticing the extra company suggests to Karina "Maybe you can find one for you from near this section too?" "Yes," Visala replies in a feline, silken purr. "Kalasava and Iris are well, and send their warm regards, I am certain." Apparently she's on a first name basis with her own parents. Karina blinks. "Oh alright..." she says in a hushed voice. "I'll look." she does too, but isn't taken by any of the ones near her. Circe nods her approval at hearing the other family fairs well. "I trust you not to spend all that on your first weekend at Hogsmeade." she says coldly to Eris, who simply nods, then shrugs like she doesn't care when her mother turns to look at the first years. The woman studies the young girls, perhaps playing 'Sorting Hat' in her own mind. Visala inclines her chin to the older woman, then eventually returns to looking bored and wandering through the shop, somewhat following Eris. Karina straightens slightly, and then shrugs nonchalantly at Beth. "I think it might have to be the one over there Beth..." she whispers, rolling her eyeballs in the direction they'd just come over from and a mute please in her eyes. Bethany looks over to the other occupants of the shop again, briefly, before taking a deep breath and turning back to her friend. "What about that one in there? Beautiful colourings, such soft greys and..." Following Karina's glance she nods and moves off in the direction indicated. The place that they had indeed started from. Circe mutters darkly, "Not Slytherin material. Pity." She stands taller than usual, chin upheld as she addresses the Slytherin girls. "Do well in your studies, girls. I'll be traveling back home this night. Give your parents our best wishes." she says to Visala, referring to the Astarte sisters as a whole. "Mind your manners, Eris." Wow, what a loving mother. The woman spins around and walks out of the shop. Eris smirks and looks at Visala, and mimics, "Mind your manners, Eris." in a nasally high-pitched tone of mockery. Visala arches a brow and allows a brief smirk to quirk her lips at Eris' little impression. She pads along, looking at various owls with bland disinterest once more. "Find anything yet?" she asks. Eris seems attracted to one snowy owl, which she keeps looking at time and again. "I wish Potter didn't have a white owl, because this one is so lovely." The type of owl Eris might actually take care of this time. She seems torn on whether to buy the owl and face Malfoy's teasing, or get an owl she doesn't want. Karina looks around at the sound of Visala's voice, and nearly answers before she realises it's not directed at her. She peers back up at the higher perch. "Isn't he a darling." she notes at Bethany, but not pointing him out to her best friend specifically. "Get it anyways," Visala snorts. "Who cares what Potter has. Does that mean we can't ride Firebolts and play Quidditch because Potter does?" Bethany finally looks up to what seems to be the one that Karina wants "He is a -darling- That's the one them. Beth has had enough of owl shopping. There's only so many owls that one can look at in a single expedition. She tries not to listen in to the other girl's conversation in the not overly large shop. Karina nods, "Right then." she adds more briskly than she feels, flicking her long tresses over her shoulder with a toss of her head. "We still have to get those books." she adds with a sigh. Eris' Cheshire smile is directed at Visala. "I suppose I could give him a new scar to match the one on his head this year." Making up her mind, she chooses the snowy owl and waits for the wizard to cage it up for her before she pays him. Pulling out the velvet purse, she counts the money within again. "Too bad my mother didn't give me more money. I'd love to have a Firebolt this year." Bethany waits for Eris's purchasing to be completed before she indicates the two owls that they wish to buy. As they are waiting, she pulls a faded pouch from her pocket and places the correct money on the counter for her owl and waits for Karina to do the same. She sighs softly with maybe a tinge of jealousy at the discussion by the other pair. Visala waits mostly patiently for Eris to finish her business here, leaning on the counter. She catches sight of a young stock hand that works the store - probably graduated a few years ago at most - and smiles a wicked little smile at him, the short little Indian girl turning suddenly predatorial. He drops some boxes he's carrying, then hurries to pick them up, smiling and blushing back. Eris gathers up her new owl in her cage. "I'll name her Nemesis." she says with a finality that means she won't change her mind. The girl doesn't talk much normally, but when she does, it's usually to say something she's thought out as far as it can go. She notices Visala hitting prowl mode, so she simply holds the cage in her hand and waits quietly. Karina tugs out a sagey-green pouch with gold trimmings and counts out her own coins. "And so what if it gives Robert the heebeejeebees" she notes as she stabs down the final sickle on the pile. There's a good tree outside my room he can roost in if needs be." she shrugs and pouts sadly at Beth. "Hmm?" Visala asks absently, that smile not fading from her face as she glances sidelong at her fellow Slytherin. "Ready, then? Always taking your time until I find something to play with, and then you finish up. I'd almost think you do it on purpose," she purrs, glancing back to the poor, lovestruck stock hand. Visala really can be quite beautiful when she isn't looking bored and disinterested. Bethany chuckles, though it's not with much confidence as she continues to wait. "I would have thought that you'd like to give him a scare. That's what brothers are for anyway isn't it?" She asks Karina, then tries once again to give a near friendly smile to the other girls before they all leave the shop. Karina nods as the wizard tells her her new owl is a Spirit owl, that some of his relatives are red like him, and others a ghostly shade of grey. No doubt he'd be happy to carry on talking for a while, if Karina didn't smile apologetically and mumble something about her friend having forgotten to collect something from the last shop they were in. Eris seems vaguely amused at the stockhand's reactions towards her Slytherin sister. "I think the lad has taken a fancy." she observes oh-so-wisely. The tall girl nods to the first years again and offers a bit of advice, "Don't fall into the lake." Visala snorts, looking up at Eris with an amused smirk. She then turns her pale, feline gaze to the first years. "Indeed. Or the merpeople will eat you. And don't anger Hagrid on the boat ride, either, or he'll throw you over." Karina smiles sweetly back at the two Slytherin girls. "Thankyou, we'll try not to." hurrying Beth out of the shop and hissing under her breath about not mentioning 'brother's near those types... mind you they were probably distracted by the 'hand anyhow, but... Eris shivers dramatically at the mention of Hagrid. "He's part Giant you know. I heard his Mum was a Giantess and she ate his father for dinner one night. Silly wizard never knew what hit him." Bethany turns palely to Karina and mutters after her "Karina, but....merpeople...lake... ate??" Then she males her feet move again and follows her friend outside. Karina blinks, "Oh don't be silly, merpeople don't eat people..." she grips her cage tighter to her chest though. "At least I'm pretty sure mum would have said otherwise... we'd more likely get eaten by that giant squiddy type thing she keeps talking about..." the girl chatters away as she moves through the door and out onto the street outside. Visala smirks, watching the younger girls scurry off. She offers a parting smile to the stock hand, miming a kiss at him that causes him to let go of the owl he's feeding, sending it buzzing about the shop. Chaos ensues. Her work done, Visala steps out, holding the door for Eris. Eris heads out to Diagon Alley. Karina heads out to Diagon Alley. Visala heads out to Diagon Alley. You head out to Diagon Alley.
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