Muggles Who Aren't Quite Muggles

"School just started a few days ago and we're already going on a field trip. This is ridiculous!" you say to Jerika as you're both getting on the bus.

"At least we've got something to keep us busy during the drive," she says, holding up her book, 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'. She's already a good 1/4 of the way through it. You're more 3/16 but that's very close to where she is.

"True. Too bad I'll have to stop every so often. You know how I can get motion sickness...but then again, we're talking Harry Potter here." You both laugh as you find a seat. When you get to good parts in the book, you stop and look at each other with big smiles, and then continue reading. After about an hour and a half drive, you had both nearly finished Chapter 21, just finishing the details of Harry's gruesome dream.

"Okay everyone, we've arrived," the teacher says, standing up and beginning the usual 'safety' speech.

"Oh! But it was getting really good," you both complain. The field trip ended up at some odd looking mall-ish kind of thing.

"You know what this place reminds me of?" Jer whispers while the chaperones agree on a meeting place for everyone.

"No, what?" you whisper back.

"Diagon Alley."

"Yeah, it does kind of look like it! Only without the cobblestone streets and Wizarding stores."

She laughs in agreement. "You've got a point there."

"Of course I do. Oh, yay! We're splitting up. You're with me!!" you shout, grabbing her arm.

"Well duh! Who'd you think I was going to go with, Ashley?!"

"You never know. Wow, I love how these teachers are so trusting of a bunch of high schoolers. Freshmen at that!"

"Yeah, I know. Oh well, if we get lost we get lost. Ooo!! Bookstore!!! C'mon!!" she yells, pulling you by the arm now.

"Oh gosh, I should have seen this coming. I wonder if they've got 'Quidditch Throughout the Ages' and 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'."

"Only one way to find out!" she says and you both go to search for them.

You each grab your own set and go to buy them. Afterwards, you go to explore a few more stores, especially the Hot Topic, that you spotted and you got a couple skirts, a corset, some t-shirts, some blouses, and two pairs of bondage pants. Also, you bought a new pair of boots, some gloves, and a few pairs of earrings. Jer just got some jewelry and pins for her purse.

"How much did your mom give you to spend? This is unlike her," Jer asks, looking at your stash of stuff you bought so far.

"Well, Mom amazingly gave me about $175 and my grandparents lent me $500, as long as I promised to pay it back. Plus, I brought another hundred that I've been saving from work. That they don't know about though, I might not have gotten the extra money if they did. It feels good to be able to buy stuff without really looking at the price tag. Although, stupid habit doesn't stop me from doing that anyway."

"I've noticed. Wow, Sammy's rich for a day! Congratulations!"

"A day is right! After this I'll be flat broke for a while!" you laugh.

"It's okay Sammy, I still love you."

"I'm glad. You know this is kind of weird. I think the school's trying to turn everyone into a bunch o' preps, sending us on an out-of-town shopping spree," you point out.

"Eww, yeah it does. Oh well, at least we don't have to worry them crowding stores like that," she says motioning toward the now far behind Hot Topic.

"I don't know. You kind of look like one compared to me in there. Plus, look at what I bought and then look at you. You've barely got anything to carry and I bought a good chunk of what I saw."

"Which is exactly why you're the one who looks like the prep, even though your bags say 'Hot Topic'," she smirks.

You look at your bags. "Damn it!! You're right!"

"Of course, when aren't I?"

You turn and stick your tongue out at her. "Well, would you mind helping me carry some of these? Please?" you pout.

"That face doesn't work on me but since you're my friend, I guess I'll help you."

You grin broadly, "Thank you, Jer Jer!" and hand her a few of your bags.

"Where to next?" Jer asks, looking around you.

"Food court; then find FYE," you answer, taking in the scents of the food.

"How did I know?" she says, sarcastically.

"Because I love food! Pizza?"

"'Course! Sausage!!"

"That's what I'm getting. A medium should hold us off for now, right?"

"Well, seeing as I'll probably only eat three pieces and you'll eat the rest, yeah, I think so," she laughs.

"Like I said, I love food!!" You go order your pizza and when it's ready you both chow down. Once you're done, the two of you head to FYE where you both buy a few new CDs. You buy a few more things in a couple more stores and on your way back to the bus you pass a movie theater. "I can't wait for the next movie to come out," you say.

"Me neither. How much longer?" Jer complains.

"A little less than a year. It sucks that we have to wait."

"Yes it does, but we've got to get to the bus before it leaves without us," she says. As you both start to hurry towards the parking area you see something out of the corner of your eye. You stop in your tracks to try to get a better look. "Ugh! Sammy, what's your problem? We've got to go! C'mon!!" she says and grabs your arm, pulling you away from the amazing sight.

When you get back to the bus, you can't make yourself ignore what you saw and stop before getting on. "Um, Miss Brown, I think I left something in one of the fitting rooms. Could I go check really fast? It's really important." Jer can tell what you're doing and just lets her head fall back with a sigh of frustration.

"You should have been paying more attention, Samantha. I'm sorry, but we've got to--"

"Kay, thanks I'll hurry! I swear!" you cut her off unable to contain yourself any longer.

"Samantha! Samantha get back here! Jerika go with her," you hear Miss Brown say.

You just run back to where the Hot Topic was and stop when you see nothing. "What?! I could have sworn there was a store here!" you say to yourself.

"Sammy! What is the deal with you? You come running back here to stare at a blank wall?! You're gonna get us both in severe trouble."

"Like that usually bothers you."

"That's at home. Not some place that's completely unfamiliar to us! Now, let's go back and.... Sammy?" She stops when she notices your expression completely change from confusion and disappointment to complete amazement. A store just appeared in front of you with two W's joined together above the doorway. Across the two windows at the sides of the door, the words 'Wizards Worldwide' are written and displayed in front are brooms, spell books, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor beans, chocolate frogs hopping in a small glass display case, and much more.

"Wow," you whisper, not believing your eyes.

"Sammy what is it? What are you staring at?!"

You ignore her and reach out your hand, placing it on the door and opening it. You walk in and gaze around the store.

"Welcome to Wizards Worldwide, the all access home for wizards and witches' needs across the planet," the clerk says. You don't take in his words completely, still in awe. Then you realize, "Jer didn't see it."