People Watching (Open)

Shaun's heart was beating rapidly in his chest from nerves. It wasn't like he was exactly scared, per say, he was more...cautious then anything. Okay, yes, he would admit to himself that he might be a touch nervous and anxious for being down an alley that he more than likely had no business being down. Really though, if they didn't expect to have people wandering down it where they shouldn't go, they really should have made Knockturn somewhere else, or put in some kind of barrier or something. So was it really Shaun's fault that he gave into the lure of something that was off limits? He was fourteen, and a boy, a Gryffindor, and well, his impulse control was terrible.

He'd started out the day with his father shopping as they had the previous two times. Well, the first time in the alley he'd been accompanied by his father as well as the alumni who helped them figure out wizard currency and the exchange rate. This year, Shaun had wanted to do some exploring and had asked his father after they had taken a break for lunch if he could finish by himself. His father had agreed seeing that Shaun was turning fourteen in September. They had agreed to meet back up at the Leaky Cauldron in about an hour or so which would give Shaun plenty of time to explore. Which he had, and then had been drawn by Knockturn.

After glancing about and casually making his way as if he belonged there, the boy made sure his gait was confident and had his head held high, back strait. Admittedly he didn't cut a very imposing figure standing only at a mere four foot eight inches. He'd severely hoped he'd gain a couple inches over the summer, but alas, it wasn't to be. There was still the school year to have a growth spurt though! Trying to observe everything and not give himself away as a fresh meat down here, Shaun slowly sauntered along until a display in a window caught his eye. Peering at the store's name he saw it was Cobb & Webbs. Werid. But then there was a lot of things he considered weird that everyone else took for granted. How many times had those in his house and classes that weren't from 'the muggle world', thought something Shaun talked about was weird which he didn't think was?

Opening the door, he stepped inside and took a look around after his eyes got used to the dimmer interior. A smile blossomed on his face as he ventured further in and looked at this and that. He stopped when he saw there was someone else in the store around his age. Whether they were the same age or if she was younger or what, he wasn't sure. Shaun was terrible at guessing ages. And really, he didn't want to try after offending some girl stating she was older than she was. He still didn't understand why she got angry after asking him what he thought!

Giving the girl a brief smile in greeting he glanced behind her to see that she too seemed unaccompanied. "You escape your minder too?" he asked as he put a hand into his hoody pocket and pulled out a bag of treats. "Want a jelly baby?"