Aconitum: Part 3
When the stout man began speaking to him, Lysander turned and nearly dropped the book out of surprise. He placed it back gingerly.
He told the shop owner that he was just browsing and didn’t need any help, when he noticed Valeria had seemingly disappeared.
“Actually-” he added softly. “Uh, there was a girl here, just now, is she…is she still here?” he asked. He actually had a reason to talk to Valeria as he needed help with one of his potions assignments. He figured she would be as good a help as any.
At the other end of the passage, through a small peephole, Valeria can only spot maybe five youthful bodies inside Scrivenshaft's - many of the younger students would have preferred Honeydukes or Zonkos. When the coast is relatively clear, Valeria steps out into the shop, nonchalantly, as if she hadn’t just appeared out of what was thought to be a supplies closet.
A faint shadow passes through the windows of the quill store, indicating the gradual setting of the sun. In a matter of hours, the light of the full moon will take over the skies. Any other day, the witch wouldn’t be able to resist purchasing something from the store - inkwells, another quill, more parchment - but today, she is in a hurry. Wincing slightly as she passes the tubs of colour-change ink (which she so much desires, but has yet to purchase, for some odd reason), Valeria steps out into the snowy streets of Hogsmeade and, with a light jog, starts to head back to Hogwarts grounds. She needs to get to the Whomping Willow before the moon is halfway risen.
So focused on her own task, Valeria, once again, does not notice the tall, lanky shadow - the same one that had been lurking outside of Tomes and Scrolls -eyeing her every move, following her back to the castle.
