Magical Menagerie

// THIS IS AN OLD CHAPTER. THE NEW CHAPTERS ARE IN VOLUME 2. YOU CAN READ THESE CHAPTERS IF YOU WANT SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN LATER BUT SOME EVENTS CAN BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW CHAPTERS.

After saying goodbye to all our friends, with Caroline and Elena crying all the tears from their bodies, we returned to London. Coming back to this old mansion is not really to please me, I find it hideous and I much preferred the charm of our little house in Mystic Falls.

As soon as we received our letters with school supplies, we need to buy for this year, I accompanied Susan while my parents went about their own activities. My father and my aunt have been very busy since Sirius Black's escape, all the Aurors are on the war footing and particularly James Potter who almost launched a crusade against his son's godfather. My mom is always busy managing our finances, I think she became addicted to the stock market like some are addicted to the casino. She even had 8 computer screens installed in the office so that she could follow our stock in real time!

We start by walking past Flourish and Blotts to pick up Susan's textbooks. The poor woman decided to take the divination class as an option. I managed to dissuade her from taking the Muggle Studies class which is a waste of time since she lived among them for two months without being noticed.

For my part, I chose Arithmancy, Study of the runes and care of the magical creature, the only classes worth choosing from the optional courses.

Coming out of the bookstore, we hear screams in the aisle. When I turn to see what's going on, I can see Neville accompanying an old lady outside Olivanders' store.

"Neville, stop acting like a kid and go get yourself a wand that suits you!"

"Please, Grandma, I assure you I have no problem with my father's wand."

"Ah yes, and where do those disastrous grades in your report card come from. I assure you that if you don't bring me back a better grade, I'll turn you into a tree and I will make a wand myself with your branches! "

What a creepy old lady, we hurry in the opposite direction to not approach the screaming granny.

After having finished all our purchases, we arrive in front of the magical menagerie, Susan who loves animals has been hesitating for some time to buy a pet, I am more interested in seeing what could become my next snack. We walk past the cages of several animals and she spends a lot of time looking at the cats.

"How about a puff? It's full of hair and they love cuddles."

"Oh yeah, good idea. Do you think Aunt Amelia will be willing to take care of it when I'm at Hogwarts?"

"Maybe if not, I'm sure my mom will be okay with having it at home, she's almost always with her head deep in her accounts, it'll do her good to have someone with her. "

"Great! What about you, are you going to buy yourself a new pet?"

"The kneazle is interesting, he can spot people with suspicious behavior. I might find some use for him once I get home."

When our choice is made, we go to the counter.

"Hello, so have you made up your mind?"

"Hi, my cousin would like to see your puffs and I would like to see your kneazle."

"Of course, young man, on the other hand for the thoroughbred kneazle, you need a permit to acquire one and each specimen must be declared to the department of control and regulations of magical creatures. Otherwise, if you prefer, I have also half-kneazle half-cat hybrids that do not require a special permit. "

"No, that's nice, but only purebred kneazle interest me." Too bad for me, I should go through Borgin and Burkes, there is no way I leave the slightest trace of my activities, much less register one of my guinea pigs with the Ministry of Magic.

"As you want. Follow me I'll show you our selection of puffs. You'll see, they're absolutely adorable."

We follow the seller through the aisles to find ourselves in front of a large enclosure with fake grass in which a multitude of beige balls roam, some of them have spots on their furs and two of them have stripes.

"Excuse me for asking the question but how come you have spotted puffs, I thought none of them existed since the only breeder in New-York closed, and these have stripes? "

"Ah yes, they came from a friend's farm that was bought out by the Bones family. They invested a lot in this one to recreate this variety of puffs, and the striped ones are a new variety that has just been released. These two are the first to go on sale. "

I was not aware that mom was interested in breeding magical creatures, but she has invested so much these last days that I would have a hard time knowing all our new acquisitions.

Finally, Susan decides to take a small spotted male and gives him the name of Boubil. She also takes a basket, a brushing kit and a large bag of food from him.

As we are about to leave, a doorbell is ringing as the door opens for Hermione.

"Hello Susan, hello Sean. How are you? I didn't hear from you during the holidays."

"Hi Hermione, we were in a Muggle town in America, I'm not sure your owl flies that far." I smirk at my own joke.

"Anyway, did you come looking for pets?"

"Susan only. I would need a permit to have a Kneazle."

"Oh, I didn't know you liked cats too! I also had the idea of ​​taking a hybrid but now that I see this little puffer, I find him too cute."

"Oh, but I love cats." Especially when they are on the menu "But I have a liking for rare animals and unfortunately this kind of hybrid does not really interest me."

"Oh, I see, sir, could I see your puffs."

"We have to go but it made me very happy to see you again."

"Oh yeah, I'll be in the Leaky Cauldron until I leave for Hogwarts if you ever want to come say hello to me."

"I won't miss it, see you soon."

We leave the store when Susan throws me a sentence that I did not expect from her.

"Do you know that she's going to get a puff just because you said you don't like kneazle-cats hybrid, and you offered me a puff?"

"What, why wouldn't she take a cat if she wants one?"

"Ha! boys." she rolls her eyes.

What did I do again?