48 Chapter 48 - Omnis Trading Street
"Wow, how beautiful!" Anna exclaimed excitedly, paying no mind to the curious glances from passersby.
Otto, found himself pleasantly surprised. While the village had always possessed a certain beauty, it used to be half-empty, lacking liveliness.
Now, they see stretched an incredibly long street, its end unseen. As they glanced around, sharp towers emerged behind houses like mushrooms after rain.
A broad pedestrian path, paved with stones, led the way. The houses and shops showcased traditional Germanic architecture with a touch of modern flair.
Various goods were displayed for sale - peculiar creatures, herbs, brooms, cauldrons, and even ordinary food items.
Numerous people, clad in diverse attire, filled the scene. Some wore everyday modern clothing, while others resembled druids fresh from the forest, adorned with plants and tree bark. Nearby stood a plump woman wrapped in a red woolen garment.
In the distance, the voices of merchants and customers echoed.
"Come closer, new Puffskein litter! Approach and acquire an adorable pet for yourself! Only 5 galleons!"
"Nifflers for sale! The latest litter of the best household creature for passive income! Come and purchase these youngsters, they tame well!"
"Fire Crab for sale, just arrived from Fiji, don't pass by. Licensed for breeding, Fire Crab with all the paperwork!"
"Shrivelfig, Acónítum, Screechsnap, Sopophorous plant, Fanged Geranium, Chinese Chomping Cabbage, Mandrake, Béllis - any plants of your choice! Approach, don't walk by! Discount on Chinese Chomping Cabbage!"
"Brooms! Flying brooms!! Broomsticks!!! Family brooms, Sports brooms, Toy brooms - all kinds!!! NIMBUSES OF ALL GENERATIONS!!!! Don't miss the chance to buy a broom for your child!"
"Pay no attention to those single-seater brooms!!! I have flying carpets for sale!! Come and buy!!! Just arrived from Agrabah!!! Buy flying carpets!!"
"Reject these outdated contraptions!!! For sale: flying motorcycles!!! Available with and without sidecar!!! Come and it will take you to the ends of the earth!!!"
"Potion cauldrons!!! Cast iron, copper!!! All types!!! Approach, don't pass by!!! We have used and new ones!!!"
"Pest Control Agency!!! Getting rid of pesky garden Gnomes has never been easier!! Tell us your address and make a down payment!!! The next day, all pests will disappear!!! We provide a 2-month guarantee!!!"
"Potions!!! Potions for women!!! Everlasting Eyelashes, Fairy Spark Dust, Ten-Second Pimple Vanisher, Love is Blind Eye Serum, Cure for Boils, Dr Ubbly's Oblivious Unction - any potions of your choice to charm your favorite wizard!!! We don't sell Love Potions!!! Only natural love!!!"
"A branch of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries has opened on Omnis Trade Street!!! All those affected by magic, come to us for treatment!!! The best magical healers will assist you!!!"
"Honeydukes has opened a branch on Omnis Trade Street!!! Come and buy your favorite sweets!!! Without sweets, life is not joyful!!!"
"Florean Fortescue's ice-cream parlor is now on Omnis Trade Street! Come and indulge in your favorite ice cream!"
"Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop has opened a new branch! Calling all couples to join us!!! Here, no one will disturb you!!!"
"A new branch of your favorite cafe, Rosa Lee Teabag, come and enjoy some butterbeer!"
"Herbicides of all kinds!! Come and purchase!!! Don't walk by!! 2 galleons per bottle!!"
"2 galleons? It's daylight robbery!"
"Well then, brew it yourself if you're so clever!"
"..."
Otto and Anna joyfully strolled down the street. Occasionally, Anna would dash into a shop and peruse the available goods. Each of these dashes terrified Otto to death. He hoped she wouldn't find out that she couldn't use the card without him.
Moving further down the street, Otto stopped as he felt Anna pulling him by the hand.
"What's going on?"
Anna didn't answer but pointed to the magical creatures shop.
"Do you really want to get a pet?"
"Yes, I didn't want to get a dog because they are big, and cats shed... let's see what they have to offer?"
"Let's go, maybe we'll really get a pet."
"Ding, ding - the sound of bells."
The door opened, and behind the counter, a young man's voice was heard.
"Hello, would you like to buy food for your pet? Or are you looking for a companion? Magical creatures make the best pets; they're three times smarter than Muggle animals."
"My wife wants to see what you have. Can we do that?"
"Of course, you can. Why not? I'm happy to entrust these little ones to kind hands for a certain fee. Do you have any preferences regarding the appearance of the animal?"
"The main thing is that it's not too big and doesn't shed."
"Hmm, come follow me; I think I know what you're looking for," said the seller, stepping out from behind the counter and heading deeper into the store.
Otto and Anna followed him, observing magical creatures. Don't worry; each animal's cage had an undetectable extension charm, ensuring they lived in the most comfortable conditions.
On their way, they saw the strangest beings:
Something resembling a patch of greenish fungus with eyes, which the seller called Bundimun.
A large cat - Kneazle.
A peculiar frog sitting on a tree like a monkey - Clabbert.
Even an ordinary hedgehog, but the seller said it was a Knarl and didn't like being fed...
They also saw a massive aquarium with a silvery fish swimming in it; they were told it was a Ramora, highly valued by sailors.
A brightly pink bird Fwooper caught Anna's eye, but the seller mentioned that its singing gradually drives people insane.
After that, Anna and Otto decided to just follow the seller to ensure nothing happened to them. After a couple of minutes, they stopped at two enclosures. One was labeled Puffskins, and the other Niffler.
"I think both of these animals suit you, but I highly recommend Puffskins."
"Why specifically him? Can you tell us about both options?"
"Of course. Puffskins is a harmless creature found worldwide. Its body is spherical and covered with soft, cream-colored fur that doesn't shed. At least, I've never heard of it. Puffskins are low-maintenance, don't mind being petted or tossed in the air when happy, and purr quietly. Occasionally, they extend a very long, narrow pink tongue and use it to search the entire house for food. Puffskins are omnivores, scavenging anything from leftovers to spiders. They especially enjoy sticking their tongue into the nostrils of sleeping wizards and eating boogers. That's why children love Puffskins; that's why they're happily kept in magical families. I consider them the perfect pet for a young couple. They require minimal care, maybe a bath once a week – they like that. Also, they usually find their own food. You don't need any Ministry license for their care and breeding. In short, the best pet for beginners."
Otto nodded, thinking it was a suitable pet for them, but he still wanted to inquire about Niffler.
"Nifflers look much like a cross between a duck-billed platypus and a mole. But they're quite mischievous. They inhabit Britain, and goblins often tame them, teaching them to find treasures in the ground. Nifflers are affectionate but should not be kept indoors – it's destructive to furniture. They live in burrows up to twenty feet deep. So, if you don't have a separate piece of land and aren't prepared for valuable items to disappear constantly, I don't recommend taking one. They are usually bought by wealthy wizards with large homes and gardens or treasure hunters."
Weighing the pros and cons, Anna and Otto decided that the seller was right. Puffskins would be more suitable for them. So Otto said, "Can you open the cage? We want to choose the one we like the most."
"Yes, of course."
After Anna petted all the Puffskins in the enclosure, she wanted to buy all of them...
Otto, however, thought it was going too far. "Let's just take this one. It was the first to climb onto your hands, and it has a beautiful heart-shaped pattern on its belly."
While Anna didn't want to leave all the Puffskins, she understood that they couldn't keep 30 of them immediately. You might think she's spoiled, but she just sometimes likes being a little girl that Otto persuades – it makes her feel like a princess.
"Yes, let's take this one; it's so soft (o˘◡˘o)"
Puffskin: (＾• ω •＾)
"Alright, how much does it cost?"
"8 galleons. The mother of these little ones won the award for the fluffiest fur in the 'Wizarding Pets' magazine, so the price is slightly higher."
"Okay, here are 8 galleons."
"Will you feed him leftovers, or do you want to buy him food?"
"What food do you suggest?"
"We have a magical feed that simulates the movements of beetles, but they won't crawl out of the bowl. The price is 2 galleons per kilogram."
"Give me one kilo; here are another 2 galleons."
"Ding, ding – the sound of bells."
Otto and Anna finished their purchases at the magical pet store. In addition to the feed, Otto bought a special bag for Puffskin and a bowl. Anna was very happy, and Otto watched her with a smile on his face, pleased as well.
So, now with their new companion, they gradually made their way towards the store with the sign "Oliwander" on it.
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