[OPEN] O wonder!

A crackle of thunder grumbled overhead as the skies coloured grey and all of the brightness of spring lapped away from Diagon Alley like a retreating tide. The yellow electric lights were invaluable as the shadows crept out from their corners, spreading darkness about the apothecary. Those disconcerted by the sudden change of temperament in the weather hurried out and those outside bearing similar emotions re-entered, seemingly content to feign interest in Slug and Jigger’s wares until the rain eased off.

Leaning against the counter, her mind miles away, beyond countries, time and lives, Isadora’s eyes were buried within a book, feasting her gaze on the text laid out on the pages. It was brand new, purchased that morning from Flourish and Blott’s. She’d broken the spine and had it flat out on the counter and was already a hundred or so pages in, sparing not even the customers in her attempt to race to the end and return that afternoon after closing up to purchase the second one. She was already envisaging the hot latte and a seat in the window of her favourite café where she’d curl up and plough through the following book. She couldn’t wait for the day’s end.

As it was, she was nowhere near that yet. She did, however, have the benefit of lunch coming and a cruel streak made her want to close up early while the rain lashed down outside – so that’s what she did. She cleared out her customers, donned her coat, slid her book into her bag and grabbed her umbrella, following out after them. She locked the door and pushed up the umbrella before ambling down the street towards her café – deciding she needed the latte at that moment, and following mentally that she’d have a second after work.

Entering, she shook herself off and dropped her umbrella in the stand where all the others were. She took her coat off and waited for a few moments as she tried to spot a table – finding hers taken – before wandering up to the counter where people were sat on barstools. She didn’t want to sit but she was more than happy to order her lunch and her coffee to go and sit in the shop and ignore people for her hour. They’d hate her but they’d come back. They always did. It was almost as though they had nowhere else to go.

“Excuse me,” she tried to call out to the waiter but no one came to her. She dropped back down onto the flats of her feet, not realising she’d risen onto the balls of them, and pouted petulantly. She sufficed to wait, conceding she had nowhere better to be. Besides, she rationalised, it’d be worth it for the coffee.