buying some supplies ((open))

Alberich was starting to get low on quills and that fact frightened him; he practically swears on quills and couldn't get himself to write using any other writing utensils. He also decided to take this outing as an opportunity to stock up on some stationery since he never knew when he'd ever need to use them outside of class to give out copies of his class syllabus, and it would be a good idea to have some parchment to use whenever some sort of opportunity strikes. Entering the store, he gave a wave to the person working at the check-out and began to roam around the store.

The little boy peered in through the shop window to see what was inside, hoping for something interesting. What he saw was a lot of writing supplies. Eyes lighting upon a set of colored sheets of paper, he took a quick glance around to be sure his father was still busy before slipping inside as quietly as he could. It wasn't only a fact that it was paper, or heavier paper, it was the colors and designs that drew him like a magpie towards a shelf that held the variety of stationary. The inks, quills, and nibs were all ignored in favor for them. Paper meant he could use it to make either paper airplanes, or origami. Or just wadded up balls for his pet to play with.

Asriel wandered the isles until he spotted some papers that just called to him. They had a black, white, and red design on it. Standing on his tip toes, reaching up, straining, his fingertips just brushed it but he couldn't get a hold if it to knock it down. Giving a huff of frustration, he looked around to see if he could get something, only to have his expression light up when he saw someone else in the shop near him. Going over to the man he tugged lightly on his garment. "I need help."

Feeling a light tug on his shirt, Alberich looked down and saw a young boy and smiled. The little boy must need a lot of help if he didn't ask his mom or dad. "What do you need help with, kid? These tall shelves can be scary and frustrating. Are any of your parents around? Do they know if you're here?" he asked.

"I can't reach," Asriel sulked as he pointed towards the papers he wanted. Being short really was unfair at times like this. But at least there were helpful people around like this man. Unabashed at being caught being away from his parental unit, he gave his best smile and nodded his head. "Yup, he's talking to one of the other store people."

He was telling the truth. His father did know he was in the village since he brought him, just not in this particular store. And he was busy anyway. When he was done talking he'd come get Asriel but the boy wanted his paper before then.

Alberich reached the shelf the colored paper was on and brought it down handing it to the little boy. "Here you go, kid. What brings you and your father down to Hogsmeade today? Errands?" Was this boy even going to attend Hogwarts in a few years? He hoped that if so, that he would be just as nice when he has him as a student. "You better let him know that you were in here so he doesn't get worried. Being a father myself, it's scary when one of your kids, at your age and younger mainly, is out of sight. This world, sadly, isn't as safe as it should be."

Taking the paper with both hands, the seven year old beamed up at the man. "Thank you!" Happily, Asriel clutched the paper to him after admiring the design then back up to the man and nodded his head. "Yes, sir. Dad's looking for work."

Scuffing his red sneaker against the floor, his gaze went down to his feet chastised. He knew he shouldn't go far, but he was safe. And there were people like this man around to help him, so it wasn't like anything bad would happen. Didn't his dad say there was a school nearby?

"I will." Unable to stay down for long, Asriel smiled up at the man again. "There are good grown ups though like you and my dad." he pointed out in his own child logic. The man helped him, therefor he was a good person.

"You're welcome, boy. I know how you felt at that age. The accidental magic did help a tad bit though," Alberich replied with a chuckle. "I hope your father's job search is successful. I'm sure there are businesses and establishments who'd love to have an employee like him." He didn't even know anything about the man other than that he was the boy's father, but he didn't want to tarnish the boy's optimism or whatever it was that he had. Alberich smiled hearing that the other considered him a good man.

"Asriel," he immediately said to let the man know his name. His eyes went wide at the thought of the man before him remembering what it was like to be a kid. He didn't think anyone that old could remember being young! "Where's your kids?" He wondered.

He smiled hearing the boy's name. "Well, nice to meet you, Asriel. My name is Alberich." Alberich widened his eyes hearing Asriel's question. "They're at school right now. You've seen the huge castle that overlooks Hogsmeade, right?" he wondered. "They attend school there. I teach there myself. I just happened to have a break in my schedule to run down here real quick."

Nice to meet you Mr. Alberich," Asriel smiled up at the man with sincerity. He was happy to have met someone to talk to. Nodding his head when asked about the castle, his eyes lit up with excitement as did his whole face as he stared at the man in awe. "You live in the castle with your kids? Do they like living there? What do you teach?"

Asriel wanted to ask so many more questions but the man said he was on a break and he knew that meant that you had a set time limit. His dad had those too when he was working. There were also set times for time outs which he didn't like either. But the man lived in a castle! The castle here was very different then the castles he'd seen before.

"Yes, I do. Well, I do whenever school is in session," he answered. Alberich was honestly quite happy that this little boy already had so much curiosity about education. He hoped that his father would encourage the curiosity. "I'm sure they do. It probably makes them feel luxurious as I've previously taught in various small schools around the world." Alberich smiled. "I teach Transfiguration. It's a very interesting subject. You're able to transform objects into animals and so much more."

Wow. He'd been all over! Maybe he'd even been to where Asriel was from! Something caused him to be confused and he wanted to know, "What's lug-sure-ious?" he asked titling his head in puzzlement. He'd never heard of that word before. There had been lots of big words to describe the castles from both Japan and China, and so maybe that was just something that went with castles? Kind of like secret passages and spies and mystery.

Hearing Asriel's question, Alberich answered, "It's another word for fancy. Think fancy but more fancy." He was doing his best to put it in terms the young boy would understand so he wouldn't be confused. Alberich felt as if the boy would be one inclined to love learning which excited him. He hoped that'd end up the case.

Nodding, the boy understood now. He meant it was like the other big word he'd had to learn. "Like extravant?" he asked just to be sure. His dad had used that word before about one of the 'tourist' castles. They had been fancy too.

Smiling he added because he'd forgotten in wanting to know what the unfamiliar word was but was rather proud of the fact; "I can make animals too." Glancing down at the paper in his hands he sheepishly admitted, "Well, out of paper."

He nodded to let Asriel know he was right. Sure, the boy wasn't pronouncing it correctly, but he was still so young, and Alberich was just glad that the other already knew such big words. "Yes, just like extravagant." Alberich perked up when he heard Asriel say that he can make animals out of paper. "You know origami? Can you show me once the paper is all paid for? I'm sure the shopkeeper wouldn't mind seeing your creations either."

Beaming that he'd gotten the word right, almost right, the boy mouthed the correct wording. Nodding enthusiastically when asked if he knew origami. His dad had taught him and then had sometimes animated them for him to keep him company and to play with. "Uh huh," he replied brightly. Then as he realized what the man said, turned a bit shy as he looked down at his paper. Would they really not mind? Maybe one of them could animate one for him? If he asked really nice? Or maybe even transmation it? Mr. Alberich said that was what he taught. Asriel liked seeing magic performed. Which reminded him. "What's transmation?"

"You want to know about transfiguration?" Alberich asked lighting up at the fact he got to tell people about a subject he was very passionate about. "It's a type of magic where you can turn an animal or object into a different animal or object. There's even a very advanced form called Animagus where you'e able to change yourself to look like an animal," he explained with a smile.

@Asriel Denzel

Nodding again at the question, Asriel listened and once again mouthed the correct wording but still mangling it. His eyes widened when he was told that the man could change one thing into something else. Including animals! If it was even possible his eyes widened more as his mouth opened slightly at the prospect of being able to chance himself into an animal! That meant he could go on all kinds of new outings and maybe even take his ferret with him?

"Can you do that? Be an animal?" He was practically bouncing. It was really awesome that his luck was this good that he got to talk to a man who knew so much!

He nodded with a smile. "It's very possible, but it's also very hard to learn and master," Alberich added excited to see the boy's interest in learning. "You also have to be a big person just like your dad and I to do it as well. It can be very dangerous if it's not mastered." If there was anything Alberich felt could happen, it was that Asriel could excel at Transfiguration once he would attend Hogwarts if he just put his mind to it. After all, it was rare when children had a huge yearning for learning.

@Asriel Denzel