"What's this place called?"
Aly looked around the town centre in amazement.
"Princes Square," Darien shrugged. "That's what it's been called for years." Aly looked in the shops through the windows and smiled.
"Wow." Aly looked at the shops in Princes Square; clothing stores, sandwich shops, hardware stores...The stores looked very inviting. The walls were lined with bricks.
"We up here are a bit more technologically advanced, compared to London, that is."
"I see," Aly said, looking around.
"This is where most of the witches and wizards shop," Darien said absently.
"Really? So there are witches and wizards around here?" Aly asked curiously. "Yes. Muggles come as well, but it's more convenient for us. Want a bite?" Darien asked, motioning to the sandwich stores. He opened the door and Aly was hit by a delicious smell of bread and meat.
"But, we just ate," she protested.
"Don't worry. They sell the most amazing pretzels. Nothing too big," he winked, and they entered the store. Aly inhaled the scent of bread. Delicious. They walked up to the counter.
"Hello, Darien," the cashier said cheerfully, walking over to the register. "How might you be today?" He had brown hair with streaks of gray, and light brown eyes.
"Very well, thanks," Darien replied. He pulled Aly in front of him. "Meet my daughter, Aly."
"You have a daughter?" the cashier said, raising an eyebrow.
"Long story," Darien said quickly.
"Ah." He stuck out his hand. "George Swanson. Nice to meet you."
Aly shook it. "Aly. Nice to meet you, too."
"Ever try a pretzel?" George asked, a twinkle in his eye.
"Once."
"Well, how about you pick one out. On the house," he suggested.
"Really?" Aly asked, smiling.
"No, George, I'd rather pay," Darien said quickly.
"Darien, it's fine," George insisted. He looked at Aly. "Go pick out a pretzel."
Aly smiled and walked over to the display of pretzels and sandwiches. She bent down and studied the pretzels.
"Honey mustard," she murmured, studying the pretzel.
"Not exactly my cup of tea," a voice said, in front of her. Aly stood up and found herself face to face with a girl her age, dressed in an apron.
"Honey mustard tastes weird," she added.
"I figured," Aly grinned.
The girl smiled and stuck out her hand over the counter. "I'm Joy. Joy Thomason."
Aly's jaw dropped. "Joy...Thomason? Don't I know you?"
"I don't think so," Joy said.
"I'm Aly."
Joy's eyes widened. "Aly? Aly Trevelyan?"
"You remember!" Aly exclaimed, smiling.
"Aly! I thought I'd never see you again!" Joy exclaimed. George and Darien stopped talking and looked over at them.
Joy had long, dark hair and blue eyes. She smiled. "I barely recognize you. I haven't seen you in so long."
"You dyed your hair," Aly noticed.
"Yeah. Safety, you know."
"It looks nice," Aly smiled.
"Darien's your father?"
"Yeah," Aly responded, looking down at the pretzels again.
"I had no idea he had a daughter," Joy said, leaning on the counter.
"A lot of people didn't," Aly replied, deciding on a pretzel. "I'll try the cinnamon."
"Now that's a good one," Joy smiled, bending down and opening the glass case. "My favorite."
"Great minds think alike," Aly smiled. Joy brought the pretzel over to George, and Aly walked over to Darien.
"Cinnamon?" Darien asked, his nose wrinkling.
"Cinnamon," Aly replied. "It sounds good."
"I prefer honey mustard," he said.
"Gross," George and Joy said at the same time. They laughed.
"Dad, this is Aly. She went to Hogwarts with me for a while," Joy said, grinning at her.
"Oh! So you're Aly!" George exclaimed. "Joy talked about you. I didn't know that you were the she's talking about."
"Yeah. I had no idea you moved back up to Scotland," Aly grinned.
"Well, at least there's someone here you know," Darien smiled. He reached for the bag. "Thanks for the pretzels, George."
"No problem, mate," George said jovially, shaking hands. "Come back here anytime."
"Where do you live, Joy?" Aly asked.
"Not far from your dad's house, I think. Maybe five, ten minutes."
"Sounds good. I'll be visiting often. Do you go to Ellis?"
"Sure do!" Joy replied. "This'll be my second year."
"Great. At least I won't be all by myself," Aly said relief. Darien shook hands with George once more, and they departed the shop.
"Let's head home," Darien said. "I'm hungry." They exited Princes Square and began walking down the road back to his house.
"Why didn't Joy think that I was related to you?" Aly asked as they munched on their pretzels.
"Well, Trevelyan is a pretty common Scotland name," Darien answered, his full mouth. He laughed and swallowed. "I bet any person would've thought the same thing."
"Cool. My last name is Scottish," Aly grinned.
Darien laughed as they continued down the dirt covered road.