Quick Treat Before Shopping

Seeing the shop, the eleven year old approached it excitedly, or maybe he was actually more eager than excited? His parents didn’t understand about magic really still calling it ESP. When they had gotten to the Leaky Cauldron, Peter had given them the slip since they couldn’t see the pub. Yes, he was eager to explore this new playground.

Stepping into the ice c ream parlour, Peter looked at all the flavors they provided and chose the one that stood out the most to him. Had no idea what it was, but knew that it wasn’t going to kill him. It would be counterproductive to kill off potential return customers.

Smiling at the ice cream server he pointed to the flavor stating it was “A scoop of Dracula Cool Garlic Mint Ice Cream please.”

Taking the cone of greenish ice cream, he went and sat at a seat outside, licking the cool treat. He shivered and made a face at the garlic after taste that over powered the mint. Staring at it, Peter gave it a minute then took another lick, all the while swinging his legs back and forth.

Gwen flounced into the shop and got her usual popcorn flavoured ice cream. Then she saw a boy her age and decided to say Hi. "Hello. I´m Gwen Cooper. Mind if i join you?"

The shiver ran throughout him as he took a third lick of the ice cream. It was an interesting combination. Not one that Peter would likely to get agian, but it was fun trying things you didn't know. When a brown haired girl came back outside and said hi, he shook his head letting her know he didn't mind. Looking at her ice cream he asked, "What flavor did you get? Oh, and my name's Peter Wiggin."

"Nice to meet`ya. I got popcorn, wanna try?" She offered smiling and sitting down. "I can´t wait to get to Hogwarts and have adventures and try to prank Peeves and sneak into the restricted section and-well do all sorts of stuff. And you?" She asked unaware of her babbling pace. She just sat there smiling bursting with ideas and energy.

Peter stared at her and blinked a couple times before shaking his head. "No thank you. I don't like popcorn. I got Dracula Cool Garlic Mint."

Looking at his ice cream he gave her a half smile. "It's different."

The adventures sounded nice though and her excitement got his going. The boy had already thought of all sorts of things he might be able to do in a real castle! He briefly wondered who Peeves was before he asked, "Restricted section?"

He hadn't known there would be a restricted section of a magic castle. Maybe that was where they kept the most dangerous stuff?

Gwen laughed and then smiled when she noticed his confusion. "Am I to fast=? Mom says I tend to babble a bit. The restriced section in the Library. Where they keep all the really interesting stuff. Please don´t be offended, but are you a muggleborn? If you are I´ll explain what I was just babbling about. No problem." She smiled. "And Peeves is the poltergeist. A real troublemaker. Daddy told me to steer clear of him. But I think I could try to prank him...if I was careful enough." She said.

Peter blinked again. She really was a motormouth, but he didn't want to be rude and say that. His blue eyes widened hearing that there was a poltergeist at the school. Was it like the poltergeists they showed on television? And she was wanting to prank one? "What's a Muggleborn?"

The only thing the boy could think of was that it was someone like him that was a wizard from normal parents. So that must mean she wasn't. "What are you called then if your parents were a witch and wizard?"

It was lucky Gwen decided to stop and talk to him, Peter thought. He didn't know any of this! What if someone asked him about that and he said the wrong thing?

Gwen smiled, "A muggleborn is someone born to nonmagical parents. Nonmagic folk are called Muggles. If your half/half or if a parent is muggleborn then they´re a half-blood. And my parents are from an old wizarding family so I´m pureblood. I think it doesnt matter though. Some of the greatest witches and wizards were muggleborn. Oh, and a nonmagical person born to magic folk is called a Squib. But that´s really rare. And if anyone calls you a- a- a mudblood. Eww I hate that word, if anyone calls you THAT. Hex them into the next century. Or hit them. Or tell somebody. It´s just, there are some people that think they are better than others because of their blood. So steer clear of that kind of people and you should be good." Se smiled, she had tried very hard to tak slower but she had the feeling it had only slowed a little. "Don´t worry, there are tons of muggle borns in Hogwarts."She took a bite of her ice cream promptly getting brain freeze and scrunching up her nose like she always did. "I´m guessing you don´t know about the Houses yet, do you?" She asked curiously.

'Wow, she can really talk,' Peter thought. He chuckled a little at her expression when she took a bite of ice cream. He liked the feeling brain freezes gave to him for some odd reason. Taking a tentative lick of his ice cream he thought better about trying it now. He didn't want to end up choking.

Thinking about what she said though he didn't agree with it. Peter wasn't a violent person really. Yes, he had a temper, but he took his revenge and vindictiveness out in other ways. "I don't think I could fight them. I'm guessing mudblood is a bad thing. No, I don't know about Houses yet. I haven't done my shopping yet."

Once he got his books, that was what Peter planned on doing with his summer. Reading so he would know what others were on about, what not to say, and what to say to goad someone.

Gwen nodded then shook her head. "It´s not a bad thing. Its a degrading title. It means dirty blood. It´s used on Muggleborns. But like i said it´s a load of poo. Your blood doesnt matter. There are four houses. They will be where you´ll live in the castle. There´s Slytherin for the cunning, Gryffindor for the brave, Ravenclaw for the Smart and Hufflepuff for the loyal hard workers. I hope I get Gryffindor. But the others sound really cool too. I´ve read my books so many times but I havent memorized them. I think I´m prepared though. i think it akl sounds fascinating." She concluded licking her ice cream a bit more carefully.

"Well,” Peter said after thinking about it. “I think Slytherin or Ravenclaw will be my house then.”

Taking a bite of his ice cream he felt his whole body shiver and his toes curled. “Licks, okay. Bites, no so much,” he stated more to himself than to his companion. Giving the other girl a sheepish look he asked, “So the houses mingle right? I mean just because we’re in houses doesn’t mean we’re separated right?”

Gwen nodded grinning, "Oh yeah, we´re together all the time. You really only have to sleep in your houses. And we have lessons together sometimes too. And we can study together and whatever. So we aren´t seperated. In fact, the school likes interhouse unity. And a lot of people say I might get Ravenclaw like my Mum but Istill think I´m a Lion through and through. Oh, and we have a sortof mascot for each house. Gryffindors are Lions, Hufflepuffs are badgers, Slytherins are snakes and ravenclaw...well..either an Eagle or a Raven. I keep forgetting. Probably the Eagle but everyone says Raven as a nickname. Weird i know." She smiled.
"It´s getting dark, i should head home. I´ll see you at Hogwarts and we can meet by the lake? It was great meeting you Pete! Seeya!"