14 Jul 2021, 00:34
A Toad-al Cat-astrophy
July 28th--------------
Who would have thought that a single month could pass so quickly? And not only that, but events that the young girl had dreaded proved to have more than acceptable sides to them? So for example meeting her new 'family'. Opeila had never expected to really find a family here, someone she could care for like they cared for her, until she had met Lysander Virtanen.
It was a blessing that his parents had seen him fit for taking care of her most of the time, teaching her manners- oof, if only they knew what some of these 'lessons' actually looked like. Yes, Lysander had some good advice, but for many things Opeila had already developed a feeling. The things she were lacking was nothing that could be learned by sitting at a table together for hours. Instead the two of them explored the manor, and had actually found a secret passage behind a portrait that even Lysander hadn't known before. It only led down to the dining hall, but still! That was exciting enough already.
Now this final week was possibly the highlight of her time away from Hogwarts- Lady Virtanen had sent Opeila to London and Lysander with her. To wizards the young man was already an adult with his 17 years, and therefore could function as temporary guardian for the young Slytherin. He could use magic without breaking the law.
So here they were, in Diagon Alley to buy the things Opeila needed for her next year in Hogwarts. "I first couldn't understand what people liked so much about Quidditch", she told her stepbrother as the pair walked past the broomshop, "It is only like a rollercoaster with a lot less security right? But... I guess with the scrimmage last year it kinda grew on me." The comparison earned her a confused look from the side."What's a rollercoaster?", he asked. Opeila could stop herself from saying 'never mind', she knew that he hated it. "I'll tell you later in the Leaky Cauldron, alright?"
The Leaky Cauldron. Lord and Lady Virtanen had actually rented Opeila and Lysander a room with two beds for almost a whole week. The two of them had grown close pretty quickly and Opeila had the feeling that from this point it would only tighten more.
"Hey Opeila? I need to get something for Durmstrang, how about you and your little furball go to the menagerie to get some new catfood while I go and get my things?" He pointed at a building next to him.
Opeila nodded "Sure! See you later. Do you think your parents will murder us if we get an icecream later?", she asked him. Lysander shrugged. "What they don't know..." He winked playfully before turning around to go to god knows where. Opeila picked up her cat whom she had let run around freely most of the time. This was different with all the other animals in there... she couldn't tell how Loras would react.
Opeila entered the shop and went straught to the food shelf. "Alright, look my boy. What do you want for the next weeks..." Holding Loras with one arm she went through the different food packages.
Last edited by Opeila Winters on 26 Jul 2021, 17:15, edited 2 times in total.
20 Jul 2021, 18:51
A Toad-al Cat-astrophy
Belle whimpered slightly as she and Joey walked along the stone road in Diagon Alley. She didn’t like the crowds that formed here, nor did she enjoy the loud chattering. Belle had both claustrophobia and ligyrophobia. Joey glanced down at Belle. He seemed quite worried about her. Belle quickly gripped Joey’s hand and squeezed it. Joey squeezed her hand back, and smiled gently.
“I know what it’s like, to be in a crowded and noisy place. Fear not, sister. For I will protect you if something happens. I promise I’ll never leave you. I love you, and Hogwarts will not tear us apart. Remember that you’re going to Hogwarts, too, this year. We’ll ride the train together, and we’ll go to the Entrance Hall and Great Hall together,” Joey assured Belle.
Belle looked up at Joey. “How do you know we’ll be together..? What if we get separated..? How would we be together still..?”
Joey giggled a little bit. “You’ve never been an optimist. You always look at the downside if things.” When Belle squeezed his hand, Joey continued. “I have something for you, so that you know we’ll always be together. It doesn’t matter where in the world we are, we’ll always be together.”
Belle and Joey stopped in front of the Magical Menagerie. Joey put a golden heart locket necklace in Belle’s hand.
Belle looked up at Joey’s neck to see if he had the same thing, and he did. Belle kissed Joey’s cheek as they went into the shop. There, they found the shop keeper sitting at the counter. As Belle and Joey stepped up to the counter, the shop keeper glowered at them, with a grin they’ve never seen on anyone before.
After a while in the shop, Joey had to leave, and the shop keeper let Belle alone to tend the animals. Belle knew what she was doing, so she didn’t need instructions. But eventually, a girl, above Belle’s age, came in. She was carrying a cat.
Belle walked over to her and smiled, asking her what she could do for her.
“I know what it’s like, to be in a crowded and noisy place. Fear not, sister. For I will protect you if something happens. I promise I’ll never leave you. I love you, and Hogwarts will not tear us apart. Remember that you’re going to Hogwarts, too, this year. We’ll ride the train together, and we’ll go to the Entrance Hall and Great Hall together,” Joey assured Belle.
Belle looked up at Joey. “How do you know we’ll be together..? What if we get separated..? How would we be together still..?”
Joey giggled a little bit. “You’ve never been an optimist. You always look at the downside if things.” When Belle squeezed his hand, Joey continued. “I have something for you, so that you know we’ll always be together. It doesn’t matter where in the world we are, we’ll always be together.”
Belle and Joey stopped in front of the Magical Menagerie. Joey put a golden heart locket necklace in Belle’s hand.
Belle looked up at Joey’s neck to see if he had the same thing, and he did. Belle kissed Joey’s cheek as they went into the shop. There, they found the shop keeper sitting at the counter. As Belle and Joey stepped up to the counter, the shop keeper glowered at them, with a grin they’ve never seen on anyone before.
After a while in the shop, Joey had to leave, and the shop keeper let Belle alone to tend the animals. Belle knew what she was doing, so she didn’t need instructions. But eventually, a girl, above Belle’s age, came in. She was carrying a cat.
Belle walked over to her and smiled, asking her what she could do for her.
WC: 348
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26 Jul 2021, 17:11
A Toad-al Cat-astrophy
@Belle Florinberger
Opeila walked up and down the shelf with different kinds of cat food, holding Loras with one arm while going through the packages with her free hand. Loras had eaten less when he was younger, one could clearly see that he was no longer a kitten. Two years didn't make him particularly old, but he was certainly no longer a baby. She would probably have to order more cat food half through the year, she just couldn't fill her trunk with a year's ration of cat food. But that was fine, as long as she could get him fed...
The young Slytherin was looking at a package with chicken-based food when she heard a voice next to her asking what she could do for Opeila. Opeila looked at a little girl that was maybe ten years old, possibly eleven. "Erm...", Opeila looked at the package again before she put it back on the shelf. "Thanks, I think I'm fine. Just looking for something to get this little furmonster fed when I go back to Hogwarts. It's not the first time I am here." Opeila picked up a different package. Seafood based cat food. Was it worth an experiment? The Slytherin knew that Loras liked the chicken based one for sure, maybe she should just take some of the seafood ones too, just to see if he liked it.
"Are you going to Hogwarts this year too? You looking for a companion to bring along?", she asked the younger girl. "I am Opeila Winters by the way and that is Loras.", she introduced herself and her cat.
28 Jul 2021, 17:15
A Toad-al Cat-astrophy
“Oh, yes, I’m going to Hogwarts! My first year in fact! But I’m not here for a pet. I don’t have enough Galleons for one, see. I’d love to have an owl, but I have to get enough for one first. Understandable?” Belle asked, politely.
Belle straightened a group of rat treats on the shelf behind her a bit. Then she went behind the counter, grabbed a few cat treats and held them out to Opeila.
“Would your cute kitty like to sample our newest flavor that the owner bought? It’s chicken! The truck came in with it yesterday! We got two boxes of it in the back, and some of them behind the counter, there,” Belle said, as kindly and sweetly as she could.
Suddenly, a male came into the shop. He looked a little older than Opeila, and he had short, Belle-like colored hair. He also had hazel eyes, but he was much taller than Belle. Once he was next to Belle, he stopped. The male gently waved at Opeila and Belle.
“Hello! Just came to drop by and see how things are going! Good sales day today, Sis? Anyone buying the chicken cat treats, yet?” Joey asked, putting his hands on his hips and looked at Belle determinedly.
Belle straightened a group of rat treats on the shelf behind her a bit. Then she went behind the counter, grabbed a few cat treats and held them out to Opeila.
“Would your cute kitty like to sample our newest flavor that the owner bought? It’s chicken! The truck came in with it yesterday! We got two boxes of it in the back, and some of them behind the counter, there,” Belle said, as kindly and sweetly as she could.
Suddenly, a male came into the shop. He looked a little older than Opeila, and he had short, Belle-like colored hair. He also had hazel eyes, but he was much taller than Belle. Once he was next to Belle, he stopped. The male gently waved at Opeila and Belle.
“Hello! Just came to drop by and see how things are going! Good sales day today, Sis? Anyone buying the chicken cat treats, yet?” Joey asked, putting his hands on his hips and looked at Belle determinedly.
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28 Jul 2021, 23:23
A Toad-al Cat-astrophy
@Belle Florinberger
"I guess we will see each other at school then!", Opeila told the younger girl with a friendly smile. She seemed nice so far, but her answer that Belle was not looking for a pet as she didn't have enough money for an owl yet slightly confused the Slytherin. So was the kid only here to look at the animals? Well, that was fair enough. "Oh, that's not too unusual, I only got this one when I was like eight months through my first year. It was good though, that way I could focus on getting settled and making friends as well as getting good grades first.", she explained, gently stroking Loras' head.
"So you are here to look at- Wha- Belle!", Opeila called out and tried to get hold of the child's sleeve before she could get behind the counter- too late. "Get out there, before they catch you and put that back!" The Slytherin looked at Belle with widened eyes before turning her head to see what the shop owner was doing. "What are you talking about? You can't just go behind a shop's counter, you don't even work here! This is not a playground. I know being knew to the wizarding world can be difficult- assuming you are muggleborn?- but even if that is the case, you should know that. And the chicken one isn't new, I'm buying it every time." The young girl was tempted to turn and just go away from the situation, before the shop owners possibly made her partly responsible for Belle invading staff areas.
Belle truly stood behind the counter, holding out a package and talking about deliveries and trucks as if she worked here, despite Opeila knowing exactly that the shop was simply run by an old couple with smiling faces and white hair. Also as little as Opeila knew about english law, she was aware that the minimum age to get employed in the UK was 13, this girl was 11 at highest. "You will be in trouble, you know?" At first Opeila was glad when a boy came in who appeared to be Belle's brother, but only when she wanted to start talking he asked the little girl if the sales had been good.
Opeila's eyes widened even more and quickly she grabbed a few packages of the chicken food she had examined earlier and a few of the seafood ones. More and more she wanted to get away, those two seemed like they were attracting trouble. "Erm... Yeah, hi. Your sister will get in trouble if she doesn't get out of the staff areas. She is not a shop employee, so she should get away from there." The Slytherin was ready to go to the owners and pay, maybe even inform them that a child was getting into restricted areas.