She & Him

Part 3: Muggles

Fucking frozen, I am.

My feet ache terribly.

My arms feel like they could fall off.

And.

Shame washes over me in a ice cold waterfall.

I have a heart.

Phhh...

You're probably right, Granger. You have a heart.

I don't.

I never did.

Walking toward the shops, I try to steer clear of people: but I can't avoid their gaze. Their judgmental gazes burn my skin. Finding an apparel store, I enter and several people lock eyes with me. Making my way around the racks and shelves, I find the sock and shoe department. Grabbing a pack of socks, I feel their warmth, but they are nothing like my black 100% Egyptian cotton ones. Looking at shoes, none of them see adequate for me. Muggle shoes with little men jumping or a weird swish mark on them is hardly appropriate.

"Excuse? Sir, you must have shoes on to be in the store." A middle aged woman states as she cautiously comes over to me.

"Why do you think I'm here?!" I snap defensively. "Stupid Mug....Mugger stole my things."

"Oh! Well, then how can I help you? What size?"

"9.5. I prefer something less...casual." I say and she nods leading me to a corner stand of black and brown leather shoes. Picking a nice slim square toe, it looks just perfect and when I slip it on it feels amazing. "Perfect."

"Let me go fetch you the box." She leaves momentarily and then comes back on the box is a sticker that says £250.

"Merlin's Beard- they're how much?!" I sneer and she points to the box. "I see that! These are hardly worth that much!" I say and she shakes her head.

"Prices are permanent. Are you buying them or not?"

"I'm on a very very tight budget. I can't afford these." My heart tightens. Never in my life have I had to experience this.

"Oh...well then give me a price range and I'll see how I can help." 106....I still need a jacket and some underwear...then again maybe they aren't a necessity right now...and I need food.... I'm so fucked.

"About....20?" Sucking in a big breath, she nods her head trying to think and lets it out.

"Well...unfortunately for that you'll only find 'casual' shoes. That's gonna be very common in many shops I'm afraid."

"Alright...I guess that'll have to do." I groan and we walk back over to the idiotic looking shoes.

"Do you have a specific brand or color?"

"Black...."

"Okay. How about these?" They look like they're made of plastic with thin fabric sewn on them.

"Um...anything that doesn't look like it could be recycled." I state and she looks at a few other options.

"I think these will be more of you style- of course, they are a flat sole, but at least they look very nice with your outfit." She hands me the high ankles black and white toed shoe and I guess- looking at all the others- it is the best option.

"Very well." I say and she goes to the back and finds the box. Opening it up, I slide on a pair of socks and stuff my feet in both shoes. She's right, they are very sole-less...then again according to everyone that's exactly what I am.

Soul-less.

"Alright, will that be all?"

"Actually I need a jacket as well."