Bewitching Darkness (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter 11

Ginny's POV

After we had eaten at the muggle "fast food" retardant, Hermione said we needed to get our school supplies updated because we were going to a muggle High School. She took us into a stationery shop and waved her hand towards a table that had several writing tools on it.

"Take as many as you can. These things don't last long," she said. "Of course, we can get these from America too, but since we're here, just buy some."

We stared at the table in confusion. How were we supposed to choose? Then, as they watched us gawking, Harry and Hermione burst into laughter that made the shop's owner glare in their direction. Piping down, Harry said. "This is going to he harder than we thought it would." Hermione nodded her head before clearing her throat.

"Right, sr, first thing you want to buy is a pen. Actually get five or six of them."

We continued to look on in confusion.

"Which of these things is a pen?" Luna had walked up to the counter. Hermione slapped a hand on her forehead. Apparently , everybody had to know what a pen was. The shopkeeper looked at her like she has lost her marbles.

"You want to know what a pen is?" he asked her. He was an old man, probably in his sixties, with a grey beard and piercing grey eyes. He reminded me a little of Dumbledore, but I quickly pushed that thought out of my mind. I couldn't bear to think of him a time like this. Besides, Harry had probably thought of him too and he looked a little shaken. I squeezed his hand, tracing a pattern on it.

"He looks like Dumbledore," he whispered and I nodded sadly, letting him know I understood.

Luna was staring up at the owner with her big, innocent blue ryes and smiled. "Yes. Could you please tell me?" Harry was trying hard to suppress a smile. I guess you were supposed to know what a pen is.

The shop-keeper's eyebrows furrowed, but he smiled softly. "This," he said, picking up a single thin utensil. "Is a pen."

Luna smiled dreamily. "It's nice," she commented. Hermione stepped forward.

"Okay everyone, take what you want." And then she whispered. "Don't try anything out here. Harry and I can help you later." Harry chuckled, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

"That we will." We started looking through different items of stationery and Hermione whispered what each of them was called. After about twenty minutes, we had purchased a lot of pens and pencils, some sharpeners, erasers and rulers. When we were almost at the door, Harry stepped back into the shop.

"I'll be a minute," he said. We watched him walk up to the counter and point at one particular pen. The owner gladly took it out for him and placed in a plastic bag while Harry took out the money. From what I could see, it was really expensive.

He came out looking rather pleased with himself and tucked the bag in a bigger bag that had our clothes. None of us questioned why he had gotten it for some reason.

"Okay then," he said, grinning. "Where now?"

Hermione looked at her watch. "I think we still have time to go to an ice cream place. I knew what ice cream was, thank goodness. My father had brought a tub of it home one day, claiming it was the most wonderful muggle desert. He had been right. I had loved it.

So we continued walking until Hermione stopped in front a small shop. It had a picture of a cone outside it. We soon found a booth at the back and sat down.

"Alright, er, you guys can order this yourself, right?" Hermione asked uncertainly.

I nodded my head vigorously and Neville laughed. "Yeah, Hermione. We know what ice cream is." Luna was smiling serenely too. Ron got up and ordered, coming back moments later with our ice creams.