Neville's Toad And Braun's Exploding Pet

"I've had lunch," Braun announced.

Algie escorted the two of them to the second floor of the villa. Compared to the living room on the first floor, it had transformed into a haven for animals from a paradise for plants. Owls, toads, ravens... Various pets occupied distinct areas, momentarily making Braun mistake it for Diagon Alley's pet store.

Algie proudly explained, "These animals all descend from magical creatures, and their bloodlines are stable, unlike the common pets outside."

He affectionately scratched the chin of a cat circling his feet. "Feel free to choose any pet you like."

With little hesitation, Braun headed towards the wooden shelves where the ravens stood. These larger birds better aligned with his preferences compared to owls. Sensing Braun's approach, the initially lethargic ravens opened their eyes, one by one, displaying a keen interest in the young wizard.

Ravens boasted high intelligence, almost equivalent to that of an ordinary human at the age of seven, and these hybrids with magical creatures promised even greater intelligence due to their superior bloodlines. A typical raven wouldn't scrutinize Braun like this.

Braun poured some pork jerky, which Algie had provided, into the ravens' bowls and smiled kindly. "I'd like to choose a pet; who wants to join me?"

The ravens seemed to converse with one another through quacks while enjoying their meal. As they consumed the jerky, these imposing black birds appeared to have reached a decision.

One slightly smaller raven flapped its wings, and Braun felt his shoulders dip as the raven landed there. It curiously pecked at Braun's hair, indicating its intention to make a nest there.

Braun, far from being dismayed, felt a surge of excitement. For the first time in his two lifetimes, he was keeping such a pet. With enthusiasm, he stroked the raven on his shoulder and bestowed a name upon it. "There you go, Tom! That's your name from now on!"

Braun disregarded Tom's apparent disapproval of the name, maintaining his delight. Although Tom was a raven, he understood that the name "Tom" wasn't highly regarded in England. However, Braun chose to ignore its objections.

With his pet chosen, Braun moved away from the ravens and approached Algie, who was surrounded by a group of cats. "Neville? Is your pet a toad?" he asked, surprised.

Initially, Braun had assumed that Neville would seize this opportunity to select a different pet than the toad he'd chosen before. But to his astonishment, Neville had opted for the same choice again.

"My grandmother says toads can help me learn potions," Neville explained, looking at the golden-backed toad with a resigned expression.

Braun couldn't help but hope for Neville's success in potion-making, though he considered it unlikely.

"So, you've made your choice so quickly?" Algie remarked, standing up in amazement. He looked at the pair of pets before him, the toad and the raven, and raised his eyebrows. "The invisible leopard's blood—child, you'll need to be cautious. This toad enjoys playing hide and seek with people."

Neville nodded earnestly, clutching the toad even tighter. When he noticed the raven perched on Braun's shoulder, a hint of reluctance flickered in his eyes.

"It seems you've chosen a fine pet. This raven's mother is a Redbird, also known as the Gunpowder Crow—a rare creature on the brink of extinction. Its feathers possess a certain stickiness and contain explosive elements that detonate upon impact or contact with flames. Furthermore, the Gunpowder Crow temporarily increases in size when exposed to explosion debris and smoke. While this hybrid may not be as formidable as its mother, the explosive properties of its feathers persist. So, you'll need to exercise caution."

Listening to Algie's explanation, Braun gazed at Tom, now exploring the castle with curiosity, with a mixture of fascination and dread. The idea of Tom potentially exploding crossed his mind, making him apprehensive. He considered asking Algie to take the bird back, but the words remained unspoken as Algie ushered him downstairs. Together with Neville and the others, they returned home via the Floo network.

"Goodbye, Braun!" Neville bid farewell.

"Goodbye!" Braun waved back, his expression both complex and relieved.

"What's troubling you? You don't seem entirely pleased despite choosing a pet," Braun's grandmother observed as she approached with a cup of black tea.

Braun glanced at Tom, who was now soaring around the castle inquisitively. Then, he looked at his grandmother and sighed. "It's not about the pets, grandma."

Braun remained content with Tom, despite Algie's unsettling explanation. He suppressed his fear and focused on what truly concerned him—the Floo network.

"Really? Tell me about it, dear. Perhaps I can be of assistance."

"Of course," Braun readily agreed. He hadn't shared this with Mrs. Longbottom, as they were outsiders. However, his grandmother was family, and he trusted her. Moreover, her extensive knowledge might offer some solutions to his concerns.