a shock of white could save you from your shadow

[Hazel Annay Cartwright]

Going into her sixth year of Hogwarts, Hazel would have thought things would have gotten much easier. She wasn't the newbie, she wasn't 'that girl from Ontario' she was simply Hazel, and she liked that. However, she didn't like the long list of ingredients she'd be needing for her Potions class this year.

She picked up a little tube of wolfsbane and observed the color of the crushed flower inside. She unscrewed the cap and took a small sniff, it almost had a lilac meets rose scent, it was pleasant. Not for werewolves, obviously. 

Looking around the store she noticed it wasn't too packed, which was a good thing. At the moment she didn't want to have to deal with the sound of shouting across a room or stomping of feet by first years trying to see the top shelf where the eye of newt was kept out of their reach for obvious reasons. She glanced down at her list and saw the only thing she had to get after her ingredients were her school bucks. Those would be pricey and she was dreading it. Sure, her parents could afford it, but she felt guilty that she had to take so much just for schooling. Maybe after here, she'd take a trip to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour for a bit of downtime. 

[Ryan Anthony Perry]

Hazel Annay Cartwright

It was almost the start of the new year. Ryan had mixed feelings about once again, leaving his mansion in Hamptons, New York before Labor Day, to come back to England. He loved school and Hogwarts, he loved his friends here. His issue is that summer just goes way too fast sometimes. Although, being away from his 5 brothers and sisters didn't bother him. At 16, they were all too young to be anything but annoying at this age.

Ryan's parents had dropped him off at the old pub that lead to the entrance to Diagon Alley and told him to call when he was ready. They cared that he loved school, but they knew they didn't really belong in the wizarding world so they didn't even really try. When he had made his way through the brick wall, he walked through the streets, trying to remember all of the supplies he needed for the upcoming school year. He dug out his phone, where he wrote down the list and began reading it over. Potions seemed to need a lot this year, so his first stop was Slug and Jiggers. He walked in, hearing the bell over the door chime and started looking around. Wolfsbane, and a few other herbs were needed and he slowly started to look over the shelves before he quite literally, ran into a blonde girl that he realized was in his year.

"Oh, sorry Hazel" he said with his usual goofy smile. 

[Hazel Annay Cartwright]

Hazel nearly dropped the little tube of glass onto the floor, but with her hand held above she was able to stop it from falling, it levitated until it returned back to the safety of her hand. She looked up, her eyes meeting Ryan. Adorable, clumsy, rich boy. She offered a polite smile, but that was as warm as that went and nodded at him. 
"Hello, Ryan," she said and placed the tube carefully into her little basket, "Come to gather your ingredients for potions I see." It wasn't that she didn't like Ryan, in fact, he was often the only one she could stand in the school itself. He was always so upbeat and she was a tad jealous of him. How could he smile so often?

[Ryan Anthony Perry]

Ryan did what he did best and gave her a warm smile. "Yep! This year looks like it's a lot" he said with a smile as he grabbed a few more tubes in front of them. "Although, maybe if we have more than needed, Snape will let us do more potions?" He said with a smile. Potions wasn't his favorite class, Snape seemed to hate him, but he still did his best to thrive and figure out what was going on.

[Hazel Annay Cartwright]

Hazel smiled shaking her head and looked him over for a moment "You know, just because you come prepared doesn't mean Snape won't be harsh. Extra Credit isn't exactly his thing" she picked up another little tube of Acromantula venom and handed him one too. "I tend to lay low in that class."

[Ryan Anthony Perry]

He raised an eyebrow and grabbed a couple more herbs, ready to check out before double checking with the list on his phone that he had everything. "Who knows. Plus I know a few 7th years that are willing to help with classes in exchange for not having to buy everything" he said with a wink before turning to go to the counter but tripping on a box on the floor. Ryan managed not hit the ground but still groaned inwardly.

[Hazel Annay Cartwright]

Hazel watched him and raised an eyebrow "Well, Ryan, not everyone has a money tree growing in their backyard. Unfortunately." She didn't have a problem with him having money, but she had a problem with him using that money to gain something like the cooperation of 7th years. "Sometimes persuasion is necessary, not what's in your bank account" she picked up her ingredients, being sure they were sealed tight and walked to the counter.

[Ryan Anthony Perry]

He shrugged, recollecting himself. "I mean, if persuasion isn't your strong suit, money might have to come into play" he said with a smile. "Who takes me seriously anyway" he half joked with a chuckle. "You ready to go back?" he asked, putting all of his supplies up on the counter.

[Hazel Annay Cartwright]

She looked over at him and shook her head "Not in the slightest..." she frowned, mauling over what he said. What did he mean by that? "People do take you seriously, just not... all of the time" she pursed his lips "It's better than being avoided for being... cold" she managed a bit of a smile.

[Ryan Anthony Perry]

Ryan cocked his head just slightly. "You aren't cold. I don't think so" he said with a smile. "You just prefer to distance yourself sometimes. With the drama that happens at that school, I honestly don't blame you" he said with a smile, paying the casher as she bagged up his stuff.

[Hazel Annay Cartwright]

Hazel managed a small hint of a smile "Hm, thank you, Ryan. But I know how I am, that doesn't, however, mean I plan to change to accommodate to others feelings" she paid for her own ingredients and then looked down at her list on the crumbled piece of paper. "And books..."

[Ryan Anthony Perry]

Ryan smiled. Hazel had always been a breath of fresh air to him. Despite being known as the funny dorky kid at Hogwarts. They were never really considered best friends, but she was still someone who would talk to him like he was another person, not just that funny kid who tripped over air. "I think that new bookstore has the stuff we need" he said with a smile, looking down at his phone.

[Hazel Annay Cartwright]

Hazel nodded and stuffed the piece of paper into her back pocket "Shall we then?" she asked gesturing to the door, smiling a bit and walked out of the store. It was strange, normally she'd never bother smiling much. Ryans smile was unfortunately contagious.

[Ryan Anthony Perry]

Thankfully, the bookstore wasn't too far from S&Js, so when he walked up to it, he held the door open for the blonde with a smile. "Thankfully we don't need too many more books this year" he said with a smile.

[Hazel Annay Cartwright]

Stepping through she agreed with a nod "Hm," she was distracted by a few Slytherin girls in the shop as well, they had immediately started to giggle amongst themselves when they saw Ryan. It was hard for anyone to hate Ryan, well aside from Snape anyways. Hazel rolled her eyes "Pitiful" she muttered and walked to the bookcase for sixth years. "Giggling girls are the bane of my existence."