Chapter 1: Flourish and Blotts

Flourish and Blotts was always busy this time of year. Hogwarts' students piled in left and right, eager to get the chore of buying books done so they could move to more entertaining matters. That being said, there were three exceptions to this universal precept.

In the far corners of the musty bookstore, Marian, Cassidy and Katrina lingered, skimming the spines for a good book. Left and right they wove through the shelves, so immersed in the act of reading the titles that they didn't even notice when their three hands simultaneously reached for the same book.
"Oh! I didn't see you there!" Marian exclaimed, lowering her hand to her side with an easy smile.

"It's alright. Had you two planned on reading this too?" Katrina asked politely, quickly clasping her hands in front of her.

Cassidy raised an eyebrow and muttered, "Planned? Has it already been decided that I can't read it anymore?"

Marian chuckled once at Cassidy's response then once more at the horrified look on Katrina's face as she hastily replied, "Oh, no, no, of course not! I'd be happy to let you read the book before me."

Walking forward to closer inspect the book, Marian murmured, "Strange, you would think there would be more than one copy of 'Beadles and Bard'."

Cassidy moved to stand beside her and cocked her head to the side, studying the book. "You're right, it's like the most famous children's book ever."

Katrina looked on and curiously questioned, "It is?"

Cassidy turned to her and said "Of course, our parents read them to us growing up." as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Marian snorted at this declaration but held her tongue, while Katrina simply shrugged and replied. "Well, my parents are muggles, all I grew up with was Cinderella and Snow White."

The two purebloods eyed her quizzically.

"Cinder who?

"Snow what?"

Katrina dismissed the questions with a carefree wave of her hand. "I'll have plenty of time to explain. I assume you're attending Hogwarts...right?"

Cassidy feigned a gasp "Hogwarts? What is this thing you speak of?"

Katrina's eyes instantly widened in alarm, afraid that she had given away something she wasn't supposed to.

Marian sniggered and raised a hand to placate Katrina's fears. "I believe our new friend was being sarcastic. She seems to enjoy doing that a lot."

Cassidy smirked and teased. "Wow, bull's eye! Ten points to- Oh I never did catch your name."

Marian offered her hand and announced. "Marian Yaxley, though I prefer Mari."

Cassidy reached out, shaking her hand, and asserted. "Cassidy Wood. Preferably, Cassidy."

The third girl cheerfully piped in with her own introduction. "I'm Katrina Salve!"

The other two acknowledged the introduction with smiles, or a smirk in one's case, before Cassidy's eyes ran back to the book.

"So, who gets this anyways?"

Mari shrugged. "Why don't you two decide? I don't mind."

Katrina was quick to chime in. "We could always share it...I mean we are going to see each other at school."

Cassidy looked slightly surprised as she glanced at Katrina. "That's...actually reasonable!"

"I couldn't agree more!" Mari exclaimed happily, but her expression suddenly darkened as she looked over Katrina's shoulder.

"Well, my parents are outside, that's my cue to go..." She muttered, the corner of her lip pulling down to a grimace. Quickly brightening she turned back to face the two girls. "It was a pleasure to meet you; I guess I'll see you on the train." With that, she briskly strode out of the store.

Cassidy watched her retreating figure before turning back to Katrina. "You can read it first, I think I've heard them enough."

Katrina shot Cassidy an appreciative grin as she pulled the book from its spot on the shelf, and gushed. "Well, thank you! I was looking forward to reading this."

"Glad to help! I do aim to please." Cassidy assured with another smirk, before peering down at her watch. "Well I best be off as well. I would suggest you also pick up a copy of Gilderoy Lockheart's new book. Personally, I don't like them, but I have the feeling you might." Cassidy had to bite back her grin as she took in Katrina's blank expression before remarking, with an affectionate pat on Katrina's head. "You have much to learn, young grasshopper!" and casually strolled to the exit. With that, Katrina was left alone in the store with a thousand questions about her new friends, and yet not one book that could answer them.