Better late than never. [Adriana]

Being away from Hogwarts was like heaven, and Trent didn't think that he would ever feel like that about the school that made him who is he today. Hogwarts was everything, and sure there were hard times- but nothing compared to the dome and the gauntlet and the mutant animals running around the grounds. When the dome fell he was one of the first students to grab up his cat and a bag of clothes and high tail it out of there on the Hogwarts Express. Hufflepuff house suited the badger, as adventure and bravery was far from his strong suit.

Now that he'd been back home on the Isle of Wight for a little over two weeks, he was getting antsy. Trent hadn't heard a peep from any of his school friends since his mother and father had come to collect him from King's Cross station. He also hadn't heard much about how the cleanup at Hogwarts was going. The professors said that the students would have the month of February off, but they would be right back to it in March. He wondered what the Hufflepuff common room even looked like now. Surely the Slytherin's, whose common room was even further destroyed, wouldn't be able to move back in after only 30 days?

Feeling a bit stir crazy at home with his mother (his father has been away for work for a week straight already), Trent asked if they could go into Diagon Alley. He assumed his mother wouldn't let him go by himself, which was why he asked her to accompany him. That morning, however, Margaret announced that though she would be coming with Trent to London, she had some shopping to do on her own and wanted to visit Trent's two older sisters that lived in a flat in London.

He didn't let his emotions show on his face- but secretly he was ecstatic. With everything going on at Hogwarts he had completely missed celebrating his seventeenth birthday, meaning he could legally drink firewhiskey out in the public eye. He'd been drinking with friends for years now, but he was so excited to feel the feeling of being free to order a drink at the Leaky Cauldron himself. Trent took floo powder with his mother to Diagon Alley, bidding her goodbye as she went through the barrier into the Leaky Cauldron. He'd be heading there soon enough, he knew, but he wanted to make sure she was well away from the pub before he stepped inside.

Trent turned the opposite way and wandered alone down the cobblestone street into Diagon Alley, which was surprisingly empty considering the number of students that were back at home for a month. He supposed it must be because the parents want to cuddle and smother their children, not letting them out of their sights. He did notice the back of a long haired brunette walking in the same direction as him, and hurried to catch up to her. He'd recognize that girl anywhere.

"Adriana!" he yelled at her back when he was twenty feet or so behind the shorter girl.

@Adriana Bennett

The first day back with her family was great. No one fought, they hugged and laughed and were actually getting along. Now being in the house was awkward and Adriana was not up for staying in her room up until it was time to go back to school. Without bothering to tell anyone where she was going she headed to Diagon Alley. The less they knew the better and she didn't think they would notice her disappearance in the first place.

It was always easy for her to leave without being noticed. There was always something more important for them to do anyway. Once she got there she didn't really have a set place she wanted to go. She just wandered up and down the paved streets looking in windows as she passed. She watched as a small family with small children walked happily along and smiled. She couldn't even remember the last time her and her family had done anything together. Well, at least with her. She looked back up and continued slowly. Not many people were out besides the occasional person or two exiting a shop. She was kind of relieved. The less people the better was how she saw it.

She had made a few more steps down the street when she thought she heard her name being called. She let out a breath and rolled her eyes. "If it's one of those Gryffindors I helped out in the corridor i'm going to scream", she thought to herself. She stopped and turned around to see who it was. She was kind of relieved that it was Trent. Atleast he wasn't annoying like so many others. She waited until he was closer to her and gave a small wave.

She had thought she wouldn't have seen any students out and about that day but that turned out to be not true. "Hey, What brings you out today?" She was sure most parents would still have their kids bundled up at home in their sights to make sure nothing happened to them even in the safety of their own home. She was glad her parents didn't do that with her. She had already grown sick of seeing the walls of her room for the last couple or weeks and glad she could escape when she pleased.

She began walking slowly along the road. It was awkward standing in the street even though barely anyone was walking in that direction. She was kind of glad that she had someone to talk to since most of her days were spent in the silence of her room. Also, Trent wasn't that bad of company if she had to choose.