Checking Out The Merchandise

Andy felt as though he was physically drawn to the Quidditch store as soon as he stepped into Diagon Alley. He wasn't complaining though. He walked with purpose, being mindful not to knock down old ladies or sidekick small children as he beelined to the store. He had several hours until his parents and sister would come looking for him, plenty of time to spend eyeing broomsticks and accessories far beyond anything he could afford.

Andy pushed open the door and stepped through, his senses already capturing the essence of Quality Quidditch Supplies. The sight of the freshly polished handles, the smell of the bristles from the brooms and the entire awesomeness of the place. Andy wondered if the store would object terribly if he just lived there forever.

He started from one end of the store, determined to peruse everything the place had to offer. He had a limited amount of gold with him (Andy's parents knew he would head to the store and were mindful of the amount of money they gave him for that reason) so he knew he had to spend it wisely. Andy would have spent the entire lot but needed money left over to buy a pet afterwards; something he had been meaning to do for sometime, but never got around to it.

He smiled politely at the shop assistant, who pointed out that a new addition of the Firebolt was about to go on display. Andy felt as though all his Christmas' had come at once. He couldn't wait for the unrevealing of the new and improved Firebolt.

James, having throughly enjoyed watched Puddlemere United wipe the floor with the Cannons with specialised brooms during the holidays, was extremely keen to check out the upcoming merchandise at Quality Quidditch Supplies before returning to Hogwarts. He entered the store, noting immediately that it was much busier than normal, but wasn't bothered by it. Glancing around the store, he smiled; the familiar mop of blonde hair was a dead giveaway. James walked over to Andy with a grin.

"Fancy seeing you here," James said, in way of greeting, clapping his hand on Andy's back jovially. "Great minds think alike?"

Andy turned at the sound of a familiar voice. He had a feeling he'd run into the Gryffindor here.

"Sup James," Andy greeted. "I guess so, or fools seldom differ. Either or."

Andy gestured to the front of the shop. "New Firebolt's about to go on display. Keen to watch?" he asked the boy, but he really didn't need to. James would have been as keen as he was to see the unveiling of the new and improved Firebolt.

"How have your holidays been? Fought the urge to kill your brother?" It wasn't a secret that James and his brother Phillip were less than amicable towards each other.

James rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. Trust Andy to be the nerd.

"I don't even know what seldom, was it? means." he said honestly, grinning at the facial expression his best friend pulled.

"What? I'm not as smart as you, Raven Paven. I don't read books all day."

James pulled a facial expression of his own. This time one that resembled duh!

"Of course. Why the heck wouldn't I?" he asked, shaking his head incredulously. He would give up the opportunity to see the unveiling any more than he would cut his own hand off.

James scoffed. "Urgh. Barely. Seriously, if I hear once more time about how close he was to being Head Boy, I will Avada myself. If he actually managed to get the Head Boy position this year, I actually would have. No joke.

James changed his voice to mimic a news reporter. "Front Page news: Teen suicide due to brother's over inflated head." He shook his head again. "It's been Hell. Can't wait to get back to school, lame as that sounds."

"What? I'm not as smart as you, Raven Paven. I don't read books all day."

Andy's eye twitched at the sound of the nickname, Raven Paven.

"I think you should drop the books all day from that sentence," Andy teased with a grin. James was notorious for leaving all of his reading to the very last minute and more often than not, he begged Andy for his notes so that he wouldn't have to read the set texts. Lazy Bugger.

"Yeah, yeah, stupid question, I know," Andy said. "It should be good though. I may even get my broom for the team while I'm here. Reckon they'll have good deals on the Firebolt that's being replaced by this new one?"

Andy laughed at James imitation. "Nice. I know what you mean though. Sister's driving me crazy. It'll be good to get back into it. Besides, this years the year for the Quidditch team. Super psyched about that. You gonna try out for Gryff?"

"I think you should drop the books all day from that sentence,"

James' mind caught up with what Andy was referring to. I don't read.

"Funny. Real comedian we've got here." James rolled his eyes at his friend but didn't deny the statement. James really didn't read all that often, if he could help it.

James bit his bottom lip as he thought about it. "Probably not. Chances are the Firebolt they've already got will stay the same price and they'll just ask a bucket load for the new one. Sucks for us, I guess. I'm just gonna get me a Nimbus. They fly well, and I assume no one else on the teams will have anything better unless they're filthy rich."

James had the feeling he should just keep the duh expression on his face for Andy's sake.

"Course. Chaser, all the way. Anders finished last year, so there's a spot free." James had been spending most of his holidays on the family Cleensweep practicing with homemade goal posts for the team. He had spend a lot of time practicing.