Bin There, Done That Pet

Future Dated: November 8th, 2025

The first week of November had officially passed. Two months into the school year had gone by in a whirl between classes and other events he had no part in. But, as quickly as it had gone by, it was filled with large gaps of boredom. Nothing has ever ceased being fun in the professor’s life. So perhaps that is what drew the man to Diagon Alley. A usually lively place at the beginning and end of each school year’s term or sometimes throughout the holiday weekends when good sales are announced, would the professor show face. But as he weaved through the shops, peaking in and out, nothing caught his attention. No cool trinket to add to his desk which had been overrun with unnecessary clutter that the man found cool. No portrait that made students stop and tilt their heads to question what exactly it was, and certainly nothing that screamed Muggle Studies.

Turning heel and peeling back into the streets swiftly, the skitter and a dash of fur tore from one side of the alley in front of him to the other. He blinked, assessing the situation for the few seconds he had witnessed. A small creature running. Something got loose? Jon would stroke his beard as he peered to the direction the creature dashed from seeing the back door of the Magical Menagerie. The dots were slowly connecting and he sighed, turning to pursue after the rascal. Today he would shed his profession as a professor and become an animal wrangler. Rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt, he’d round the building and see the flash dart upside a metal recycling bin, the lid slightly ajar from the top. Creeping towards the bin, the professor crept to the back of it and peered in the crack. He was met with a not so pleasant odor from the half-filled bin and an angry hiss that was far from cat-like. Crouching down he’d tilt the can over, allowing the lid to clatter and the furball to tumble out, spiking up in defense. Jon blinked a few times, identifying the creature. A ferret! How peculiar. Before he could watch it for long, it tried to flee again and Jon reached for the lid, and rotated his body so that his arm extended, slamming it over top of the ferret. Both Jon and the ferret froze momentarily, trying to gauge what to do in this situation before the lid started bashing into the brick wall, still attempting to flee. It took a few steps, backing up before slamming into the wall once more. He had seemingly trapped the stubborn creature but as small fangs poked around the edge of the lid, Jon knew he didn’t have much time before the heathen wiggled free from its constraints. Jon shifted quickly, taking two strides over to it and lifted the lid, his wand pointed squarely at the ferret. He’d have to do it the easy way after attempting to rescue the grumpy furry noodle the humane way.

“Immobulus!”

The ferret all but froze, back arched in defense. Jon would bend down to pick up the creature before the spell’s effects faded several seconds later, stashing his wand in his pocket. He trekked back to the Magical Menagerie, pushing open the door and setting the ferret down on the counter. A white-haired man blinked looking between Jon and the ferret that now decided to dart too and fro on the counter, taking drive-by bites at Jon’s hand, to which he’d swat the thing away, only encouraging it.

“Anita, did one of the ferrets get out again? A fellow brought one in.”

A white-haired lady peered around the counter observing the same scene her husband had.

“My goodness! That one is a slippery one. Thank you!”

Jon merely nodded and lifted his hand off the counter to prevent any more attacks. He’d turn heading towards the door before a sorrow-filled squeak filled the air. The professor glanced towards the corner with the other ferrets sleeping or bouncing in their cages, spotting the price posted. He turned back around and exhaled, starting to pull out the galleons and sickles for the ferret and any supplies he was about to get talked into needing. After the exchange was made, he opened his shirt pocket, having not purchased a cage.

“Come on you little prick.”

The ferret which had flopped on its back rolled up and bounded up Jon’s arm, before diving into the cozy space. A small smile flickered onto the man’s lips as he and the furball left the shop. Perhaps it was a successful trip after all.