[1989 Pt.2]

The inside of the magical menagerie was filled with magical supplies of various varieties along with the creatures of magical origin that it was infamous in Wizarding Britain for.

He recognised some of them like the cats, rats, owls, ravens, toads, pygmy puffs, puffskeins and nifflers. He could also see what looked like burning crabs, a weird-looking snail and snakes of magical nature.

"Welcome to the Magical Menagerie, what can I do for you?" A middle-aged man asked with a bright smile that looked very salesman-like to Nathan's eyes.

Nathan was about to answer when his grandfather behind him answered for him- "We would like to get a familiar for this young man here"- as he put a hand on Nathan's shoulder.

The man nodded before asking with practised ease, "So what would you want dear customer? We have toads, cats, owls and ravens if you want something a bit more unique."

Nathan bobbed his head before asking, "How much for the Raven, then? And is it allowed at Hogwarts?"

"One Galleon and Seven Sickles, and yes it is." the man answered easily.

'That could get me a good batch of materials for potioneering,' Nathan gave the man the best look of disdain he could manage as he replied, "Bring it lower, will you sir?"

"No bargaining, son."

"Two galleons if you give me a bottle of shampoo, a comb and a perch for the bird."

The man looked at Nathan before saying, "That will be two galleons and three sickles and five knuts."

Nathan nodded before looking at his grandmother and said, "Let's go to Eyelops, the man is looting me. I will get an owl from there."

The man sighed before saying, "Close the door on the way out, will you? The wind feels like air from a furnace nowadays."

Nathan twitched before he quickly started to walk out followed by his family who were looking at his failed attempts at bargaining with amusement.

He opened the door to exit the store, hoping to hear the man call out to him but the man never did.

'I really need to get better at bargaining,' His skill set as a public servant had never leaned into diplomacy and the most diplomacy he had done involved veiled threats, requesting a favour or politely asking the person in question to do a job. It hurt Nathan, even more, to admit that he had been very lax with his money as Jason and never actually developed an appreciation of his mother's bargaining skills in his previous life.

'Curse you privilege!'- He thought even as he grit his teeth and turned around to find the shopkeeper looking at him with a smirk.

His finger twitched and he nearly used wandless magic to bring a shelf on top of the man's head before he took in a sharp breath and started walking back to the counter. He could see the amusement in the eyes of his family increase.

'This is humiliating,' Nathan looked around the shop, trying to avoid their gazes as if searching for an object. He looked at the various trinkets lining the shop, ranging from medicine to toys for the animals when his eyes landed on what looked like a spherical music box with what looked like a small wolf made of mist slowly walking within it.

Nathan finally reached the spot in front of the man who was looking down at him smugly before he said, "Alright old man, you win, give it to me for two galleons and two sickles. Owls go for about one, if you go for any higher, I won't buy even if the ravens look nice."

The man seemed happy as he laughed before he said, "Fine, you have a deal lad."

"Thank you."

"No problem, a sickle for seeing your bargain will be money well spent for me."- Nathan flushed at the joke before asking, "Can you tell me, how much that music box is for?"

The man looked where Nathan was pointing with his finger before waving his wand with a spoken 'Accio!' to summon the box.

"A sickle. Want it?" The man looked at Nathan with a smirk and Nathan could only give a sigh in response.

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[September 1, 1989.]

Nathan stood at platform nine-and-three-quarters along with his parents as he held a trunk filled with his belongings.

'Thank ROB for runes and my competence in them.'- That was the primary thought in Nathan's head as he held the trunk that should have weighed at least fifty kilos with a single hand thanks to the runes he had carved on its insides making the whole thing lighter, harder and stronger. Nathan could say with hesitant certainty that his trunk could get hit by an artillery shell and still remain intact. His raven, Tsar, whose perch Nathan had kept in his trunk, had already left for the castle already.

'Though I am pretty sure that everything inside and behind it along with the arm holding it will certainly not remain intact.'- Nathan shook his head to clear the gory image as he looked at his parents who were looking at the train with nostalgia.

'Ah! It must have been years since they last saw the Hogwarts Express,' Nathan said, "I will miss both of you."

His mother grabbed his free hand before turning Nathan around slowly so that she could look him in the face.

'She's crying.'- He noted dimly, as she gave him a hug and said, "I will miss you too, Nathan. Send letters with Tsar regularly. Eat well, sleep well and keep your studies in arithmancy and runes regular."

Nathan nodded, not trusting his voice. It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but he would miss her.

'A natural consequence of being emotionally and physically reliant on her after dying, I suppose.'

"And don't forget what I told you about being cautious with Transfiguration," his father chimed in with a smile as he wrapped his hand around Irene.

"Of course Dad," Nathan could only offer a nod before he broke the hug his mother was giving him and wrapped his hands around his father.

There was a hiss from the engine and Alexander looked at his watch before looking at Nathan and saying, "It's time, Nathan, have a good year, and try to make friends."

Nathan smiled before walking towards one of the many entrances of the express. He also made sure to give his parents a nervous smile as he entered the train hoping to ease his mother's worry.