“Where is that book… that damn book…” A cute girl murmurs while scanning through the books stacked up in a shelf. I continue my own search. The book I am searching for is, too, an essential on my shopping list. I’m not sure if they have it here, even with the rustic look of this shop.

Suddenly, my heart jumps as a slight pain rushes through my foot. A hiss escapes out of my mouth and I look up. Her eyes meet mine, her mouth opened. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” she apologizes as her cheeks take on a redish color. My lips form a smile. “No problem.” I assure. Her adorable presence is excuse enough. She turns back to the shelfes, her eyebrows narrowing in concentration immediately.

“What book are you looking for?” I ask, unable to take my eyes off her existence. The cute rainbow pin on her bag, the dreamy fairy look- she looks exactly like my type. “Oh.. uhm..” she stammers. Worried that I made her uncomfortable, I add: “My name is Raven. Pronouns she/her.” She scans my look; black and red, shortish hair, paired with a dark, grunge looking outfit. “I’m Lyria. She/her. Nice to meet you.” Her sweet voice took on a polite tone, distanced but nice, making me feel rejected. Before I can ask another question, she turns towards a cashier and walks away. I feel a sting of sadness. She judged my look and decided she shouldn’t talk to me, something that seems to always happen to me. Dejected, I continue my search, as I still didn’t find what I need.

I hear whispering and as only Lyria, the cashier and me are in here, I assume it is her. Great. Now she doesn’t even want me to know what book she is searching for. The cashier walks away, leaving Lyria and me alone. She breathes loudly, like a sigh, of either relief or exhaustion.

“Here you go Miss, that would be 20$ please.” The cashier had returned.

Curiosity overcomes me. I turn around to see what book it is. Green and black. A witch hat and a magic wand. The title: ‘Introduction to magic’

My mouth drops open in surprise. I rush to the checkout. “I need that book too!” I say, happy that I finally found it after hours of searching. “Sure, I will get one for you after she payed!” The mystic-looking cashier smiles widely and claps his hands. “Good to see many new students buying their books here, in the past months my customers mainly were boring humans!” he complains, laughing. I chuckle, only now realizing Lyria’s intense stare. I look at her. “Sorry.” she says, while blushing. “No need to apologize. It’s good that you aren’t trusting everyone right off the bat.” I reply, smiling at her. Her lips slowly turn into a beaming smile as well. The cashier clears his throat, reminding us of his presence. Lyria pays her book and the cashier rushes to get one for me, too. “How dumb we were to think that book would just stand in an ordinary book shelf!” I joke, hoping she won’t be offended. She shyly grins at me.

Her eyes fall on the ancient looking grandfather clock next to us. “Oh, damn..” she mutters. “I have to go, but see you in school, yea?” she hastily adds. I nod enthusiastically. “I can’t wait!” Her pupils dilate and her mouth opens a bit, her perfect face is looking surprised. “Bye!” I add, smiling and meaning every word I said. And truly, I am excited for my first year at wizarding school. We didn’t meet for long, but she already made my heart race. Is that what people call “Love at first sight”?