Leo’s new friend
A short metal bell sang as Leo Fenwick entered the store. The warm air of herbal scents hugged him like a woolen blanket. Goblin ears are pointed and small but can still be distinguished as goblin, and they moved with the sounds of conversing animals , to which one can add the rattling of sticks, the bounding of animals, and the loud, joyous laughter of Ernest Witticker, who had people hidden behind a stack of wicker cages.
Leo made his hand that held the little pouch of coins in his pocket firmer. Eleven galleons. Exactly accounted for. Exactly saved. The very fact of it raised his spirits.
"Oh! Probably a first-year," announced Ernest, coming out from the row of enchanted grooming brushes. His broad smile looked even more charming with the wrinkles emanating from his eyes. "Slytherin, yes? You have the look."
Leo was somewhat bewildered. "Er-yes, sir."
"Good boy," said Ernest, rubbing his palms on his flannel shirt. "And what is the reason for your visit today? Kneazle? Puffskein? An Erumpet calf?" His eyes shone with humor.
"A-an owl," said Leo. "If you have a Barred Owl, that is."
Anita Witticker seemed to be " owl " calling. Though hardly five feet tall, she still gave off the same warmth as an inviting hearth. "We absolutely do, dear. Actually, quite a few." She leaned toward him and said with a smile, "And all of them are well-trained. We don't sell any that nip." She was putting her hand in the pocket of her apron. "Sugar cookie?"
Leo was about to refuse but then changed his mind immediately. "Yes, please."
The couple guided him to an aviary while he ate the cookie. There were sounds of birds' wings, and soft hoots could be heard. The sugar cookie that he was eating melted and made him feel very relaxed , even though he was also quite nervous.
Anita stopped in front of a large enclosure and said, "There. Barred Owls. Lovely characters. Very bright. Great night flying skills."
One owl , in particular , was very close to the glass and looked to be staring at Leo with its large round eyes ; the owl's feathers looked like mist and shadows. It tilted its head at Leo, looking at him intensely.
"That one has been looking at the door all day long," said Ernest . "Like it was waiting for someone."
Leo moved closer. The owl came closer as well, and it even seemed to Leo that its feathers looked bigger with the interest it showed. When Leo raised his hand slowly to the glass, the owl, on the other side, gently tapped its beak with the tip of his hand.
Anita was quite sure when she said in a low voice, " I think he likes you."
Leo felt heat bloom in his chest. "How much is he?"
"Eleven galleons," Ernest said. "A travel cage of standard will be included , in addition to the first bag of feed, which is on the house and-well-Anita will definitely let you take two cookies."
"Three," Anita corrected as she was already reaching into her apron.
Leo trembled as he gave the pouch to Ernest. The latter quickly counted the money, yes to the transaction , and handed over to him a shining wooden carrier. Without the slightest trouble, and if at all, the owl went into it as if it had been waiting for this moment.
"Take good care of him," Anita said. "And don't forget to write your friends-or your mum."
Leo , holding the cage, gave a nod of his head. "Thank you. Really."
While stepping back into the world of sunshine and the crowd of Diagon Alley, a gentle and approving hoot from the little Barred Owl was heard by Leo, and he thought for the first time at Hogwarts that he had found something entirely his.
WC: 643
Leo made his hand that held the little pouch of coins in his pocket firmer. Eleven galleons. Exactly accounted for. Exactly saved. The very fact of it raised his spirits.
"Oh! Probably a first-year," announced Ernest, coming out from the row of enchanted grooming brushes. His broad smile looked even more charming with the wrinkles emanating from his eyes. "Slytherin, yes? You have the look."
Leo was somewhat bewildered. "Er-yes, sir."
"Good boy," said Ernest, rubbing his palms on his flannel shirt. "And what is the reason for your visit today? Kneazle? Puffskein? An Erumpet calf?" His eyes shone with humor.
"A-an owl," said Leo. "If you have a Barred Owl, that is."
Anita Witticker seemed to be " owl " calling. Though hardly five feet tall, she still gave off the same warmth as an inviting hearth. "We absolutely do, dear. Actually, quite a few." She leaned toward him and said with a smile, "And all of them are well-trained. We don't sell any that nip." She was putting her hand in the pocket of her apron. "Sugar cookie?"
Leo was about to refuse but then changed his mind immediately. "Yes, please."
The couple guided him to an aviary while he ate the cookie. There were sounds of birds' wings, and soft hoots could be heard. The sugar cookie that he was eating melted and made him feel very relaxed , even though he was also quite nervous.
Anita stopped in front of a large enclosure and said, "There. Barred Owls. Lovely characters. Very bright. Great night flying skills."
One owl , in particular , was very close to the glass and looked to be staring at Leo with its large round eyes ; the owl's feathers looked like mist and shadows. It tilted its head at Leo, looking at him intensely.
"That one has been looking at the door all day long," said Ernest . "Like it was waiting for someone."
Leo moved closer. The owl came closer as well, and it even seemed to Leo that its feathers looked bigger with the interest it showed. When Leo raised his hand slowly to the glass, the owl, on the other side, gently tapped its beak with the tip of his hand.
Anita was quite sure when she said in a low voice, " I think he likes you."
Leo felt heat bloom in his chest. "How much is he?"
"Eleven galleons," Ernest said. "A travel cage of standard will be included , in addition to the first bag of feed, which is on the house and-well-Anita will definitely let you take two cookies."
"Three," Anita corrected as she was already reaching into her apron.
Leo trembled as he gave the pouch to Ernest. The latter quickly counted the money, yes to the transaction , and handed over to him a shining wooden carrier. Without the slightest trouble, and if at all, the owl went into it as if it had been waiting for this moment.
"Take good care of him," Anita said. "And don't forget to write your friends-or your mum."
Leo , holding the cage, gave a nod of his head. "Thank you. Really."
While stepping back into the world of sunshine and the crowd of Diagon Alley, a gentle and approving hoot from the little Barred Owl was heard by Leo, and he thought for the first time at Hogwarts that he had found something entirely his.
WC: 643