This is one in a series of books all taking place at the same time but from different POV's.
Disclaimer: Obviously not JKR.
"If the world ended right now, what would you do?"
"Die."
"You know I didn't mean it like that."
"Well that's how you said it."
Landon rolled his eyes and picked up a huge box of books off the counter.
"What else could you do if the world ended?" I yelled after him as he disappeared among the many bookshelves in the store.
"You could snog a girl, read a book-"
"Who in the name of Merlin's beard would read a book while the world was ending?"
"Thomas Howard."
I nodded in agreement and shuffled through a few stacks of papers in front of me. The bookshop was quiet, and had been ever since our shift had started. Barely any Muggles considered coming into the unknown bookstore that was at the corner of a small road and tucked away under the shadow of the apartment building next to it. It was a wonder how this shop was still in business. I guess it was due to people like Thomas Howard who alway seemed to have a book or two under their nose.
Landon came out of the bookshelves with a pile of books that went up to his chin and placed them on the counter with a huff. "Why do I seem to be doing all the work around here?" He asked.
"Because I'm just so much smarter than you," I said.
"As if."
"You're just in denial."
Landon rolled his eyes and leaned against the counter. "So..." He said suggestively. "You're going to see Andi in a week."
"And you're going to see Blythe and Caroline and Scarlett and Michelle and a whole lot of other birds, so what?"
"So it's Andi Loyola! Mate, you've been crushing on her since like third year!"
"And what, you've been crushing on Scarlett for like a month."
"I do not like Scarlett!"
I grinned and dodged the book he threw at me. "Whatever you say."
"If you say that when she comes here, you'll be a dead man."
"Pity."
Landon rolled his eyes, but he had a smile plastered on his face.
"So when does Scarlett get here?" He asked.
I shrugged. "Maybe in an hour or two, she's hanging out with Celeste and Amber today."
Landon nodded. "Whatever happened to that other girl she hung out with, Molly?"
I shrugged again. "I don't really know, Scarlett just kinda stopped talking about her. I expect they got into a fight or something."
"That's sad," Landon said. "Scarlett told me she was going to hook me up with her."
I rolled my eyes. "Is that really what you're thinking about right now?"
"Yes," Landon said smiling.
"And I have to work with you."
"You don't have to."
I looked pointedly at him. "Yes, I do."
"Oh yah," He said. Landon ran a hand through his short brown hair. "So how are things at home?"
"Better now that Chris, Colin, and I are off to Hogwarts," I said. "Now Mum only has to worry about herself and Nana and about when we come back for the summer."
"Well that's good, I guess."
I raised my eyebrows.
"Yah I know, stupid thing to say."
He ran his hand through his hair again and I smirked. It was a habit that suspiciously resembled Scarlett's inability to leave her hair alone in class.
"So how's life at home for you?" I asked.
"Annoying," Landon said truthfully. "Adeline just got some prestigious internship with the editor of the Daily Prophet and now Mum expects me to get all O's on my OWLs and become the Minister of Magic or something."
I laughed. "You. The Minister of Magic? We're screwed!"
"Shut up."
Landon lightly punched me on the shoulder.
"Now what would people say about the Minister of Magic that abuses his friends?" I teased.
"If you don't stop talking I'm going to hit you somewhere lower."
"Git."
Landon rolled his eyes but there was a smile on his lips. "Are you going to help me with these books or continue daydreaming about Andi?" He asked picking up another box of books.
"I guess I'll help you," I said, "if you're so desperate."
Landon rolled his eyes and I lifted up a box of books following him. We made our way to the last bookshelf of the store and started piling the books onto it.
Just as we had finished, the bell above the shop door rang. I peeked through the bookshelves and spotted Scarlett. I put a finger up to my lips and motioned for Landon to follow me. We started sneaking through the bookshelves.
"Hello," Scarlett called out unaware of Landon and I. "Jack? Landon? I came early," Landon and I quickly dove behind the cashier counter, "I hope that's okay."
Landon and I were behind Scarlett now.
"Scarlett," Landon said with a grin on his face.
I laughed as Scarlett screamed and spun around to face us. Scarlett was one of my best friends, she was tall with long wavy blonde hair and brown eyes that always seemed to look a little sad. Even now as she stood in front of me glaring at us she looked a little sad.
"You scared me half to death!" Scarlett said punching me lightly on the arm.
"Well, you should know not to trust us anymore," I said grinning.
"One day you'll get a pie to the face and I'll be there laughing at you," Scarlett told me.
"What would you say to that?" I asked Landon cheekily.
Landon turned towards me and pretending to think about it. "I would say that's extremely Muggle of you."
Scarlett raised her eyebrows. "That's rich coming from a wizard who listens to old Muggle music."
"What's wrong with that?" Landon asked.
"You have your own record machine and listen to the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, and other bands."
Landon turned towards me. "She's right mate," I told him. "As much as I hate to admit it, she's right."
"How could you turn on me!" Landon asked, holding his hands to his heart and faked astonishment.
"Just think about it," Scarlett said with a mischievous grin. She walked over to him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. I watched, amused, as Landon stiffened slightly. "How would Andi feel if she knew you were defending me?"
"Oh, shut it," I mumbled. I felt a blush creep up my neck.
"Do you think we should shut it?" Scarlett asked Landon.
He looked right back at her. "I quite like talking and since my own mate didn't defend me, I say that we do not shut it."
"Agreed." Scarlett nodded. They turned towards me with wide smiles on their faces.
"Gits," I said.
"Hear that Scarlett?" Landon said. "We're gits."
Scarlett pouted. "But I'm too lovable to be a git!"
"Well, you're a git now," I said.
"Then Landon and I can hang out together without you," Scarlett said sticking her tongue out at me.
"What?" I cried out, "But he's my friend!"
Landon crossed his arms. "You have no claim over me."
"Come on Landon!" Scarlett said taking his hand (Landon blushed), "Let's run away together!"
Scarlett laughed and started pulling him away. "So are we going to hide in the bookshelves all day?" I heard Landon ask.
"I don't see why not," Scarlett said.
They both disappeared into the bookshelves.
ยง
I laughed as Landon threatened to throw a piece of shrimp at Scarlett.
"You wouldn't!" Scarlett said as she started backing onto the street.
She screamed as a piece of shrimp whizzed by her head.
"I will chuck my whole box of pad thai at you Landon!" She said, holding the box threateningly over her head.
"No!" I called out. "Throw the curry at him!"
"Not helping mate," Landon said nervously, "again."
I watched as Scarlett ran at full speed towards Landon. Within minutes, they were both yelling and screaming in the dark street in front of the Thai restaurant.
I rolled my eyes. They should just snog and get it over with. With all this playful screaming and running away from each other, It was like they were on a date. Which makes me the third wheel.
Joy.
I looked down at my watch and noticed the time.
"Hey," I yelled out. They both continued to chase each other through the street. "Oi! Lovebirds!"
They stopped, with matching frowns on their faces.
"I have to go now, Mum's shift is about to start," I told them.
"Awwwww," Scarlett said running towards me and engulfing me in a hug. "Bye! I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow."
"Bye," I said.
"See you tomorrow mate," Landon said. "Good luck with the twin devils."
I grinned. "Good luck with your Minister-making parents."
Landon rolled his eyes and hollered one last farewell as I walked away.
It was dark as I walked along the sidewalk. The moon was only a thin crescent and as I got closer to my house, there were less streetlights, engulfing my walk home in darkness. I was used to this now, after a lifetime of living on the poorer end of society. When I was younger and I had to walk home in the dark I would always imagine there was some robber or kidnapper in the bushes hiding somewhere, but now my walks home were a comforting silence where I could think. It helped that I had my wand in my jumper pocket.
I walked in silence across my dying lawn (if you wanted to call it a lawn) and opened the worn away and faded brown front door as I entered my dim house. The living room was completely empty but light poured in from the kitchen doorway to my right.
"Mom? Nana? Whose home?" I asked as I hung up my jumper on a small coat rack and transferred my wand to my back jean pocket.
"In here, Jack," I heard Nana say. "Katrina already left for work."
"Are Chris and Colin here?" I asked upon entering the kitchen.
I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and joined Nana at our small old wooden table. She turned a page of the magazine she was reading. "I believe they're in their rooms probably planning to turn all your clothes pink again."
"I think they already did that when I was in third year," I said.
Nana chuckled. "Yes I do remember that one. I hope Hogwarts is teaching you better magic."
I grinned. "Only the best for the most responsible child."
"And the most humble," Nana mumbled turning another page in her magazine.
I laughed as she rolled her eyes. "I'm also your favorite," I said placing my boxes of Thai food on the table. "I got everyone some Thai food, made by some very wonderful Thainess people."
"It's Thai people," Nana corrected. "Thainess is not a word. You think a boy working in a Muggle bookshop would know something like that."
"I don't actually read the books I sell, Nana."
"I can tell, and it no doubt is Landon's fault. That boy goes around listening to the Beatles more than he does to the Professors!"
I laughed. "Just accept the Thai food, Nana."
"I'm perfectly fine with that. Just get your brothers over here."
I grinned as I got up to get everyone some utensils. "Chris, Colin!" I yelled into the small house. "Get your small little bodies over here! Nana's insisting that I give you some food!"
I heard Nana chuckle as I pulled opened the drawer.
