A Tiny Ball of Sass Pet

Athena sighed. It was already the end of the year, and it had gone by so fast. She wished... She didn't really know what she wished. To skip summer? No, she loved summer. But she would miss Hogwarts the entire season. She had had an amazing time there. It was everything she'd dreamed, and more!
Athena dragged herself from her thoughts as she drew nearer to the Magical Menagerie. It was, in her mind, the best shop in Diagon Alley, besides, you know, Flourish and Blotts (come on, it's a book store!).
The temperature was beginning to warm up, and Athena was wearing a loose white T-shirt with some jean shorts and her hair tied in a ponytail with a green hair tie. The color had grown on her ever since she was sorted into Slytherin.
Just before the summer began, Athena wanted a pet. The whole year, she had missed her dog, Lilly, her parakeet, Mango, and her family owl, Cece with all of her heart. But she also wanted a new little friend. Specifically, a cat. Her mother and sister were both very allergic to cats, which was unfortunate for Athena, who loved the creatures.
She loved owls, and toads, and rats, sure, but cats just rose above all of those, partly because it was an animal she had never experienced owning before. She was prepared to love whatever fluff-ball came home with her to the bottom of Athena's soul. And if anyone insulted her new child in any way, they would wish they had never been born.
Athena turned the well-polished door handle of the shop, and stepped inside. A melodic little bell jingled above her, and a short elderly woman behind a wooden desk looked up from what seemed to be a quilt of some sort she was knitting and smiled. She was wearing a white dress with little pink and blue flowers decorating the otherwise blandness.
On the other side of the room, a man who looked to be about the lady's age was helping a boy around Athena's age pick out a species of pet.
The little shop itself was very small, and while other's may have found it confining, she found it very cozy. Rows and rows of pet enclosures lined the walls, feline eyes, rat tails, and owl beaks poking out cracks. The screeching, meowing, and other hubbub of the shop was very homey to Athena. She could have stared at all of the animals all day, but she snapped back into reality as the woman asked, "Hello, how can I help you?"
"Oh, er," Athena stammered, clearly not expecting to be spoken to, "Can you, um, show me your cats?"
The lady smiled again, "Of course, follow me,"
Athena obliged, and let the woman lead her, weaving between various pet cages.
It was, apparently, the time that the cats were let loose from their cages to play. There was a low wooden wall that made sure they didn't escape, with a similarly designed gate. The elderly lady gestured towards the area, "You can go in and meet them, if you like,"
Athena nodded, and the woman opened up the gate a crack so Athena could hurriedly shuffle in.
For a moment, all of the felines paused to stare at her, then immediately went back to hissing at each other, grooming, or rolling across the floor. After she watched them for a while, a beautiful silver mackerel tabby slid up to Athena and rubbed her knee with its head.
Athena was in the process of playing with a rowdy bengal, so she nudged the tabby away at first. After a few seconds without a response, the cat rubbed against her again, harder. Athena ignored it.
Finally, the small little cat practically rammed her forehead into Athena. This sheer force of strength from this tiny little cat caught her off guard, and she nearly toppled over, and the bengal skittered off.
Athena turned to confront her attacker, and the tabby looked up at her, purring loudly, with sly, beautiful green eyes and an expression that clearly said, "Give me attention, now,"
Athena happily obliged, stroking the sleek cat. She immediately liked this sassy little cat. Had she already found her new child? She thought it would take longer, but Athena felt like she had known this cat her entire life.
This was a big decision. This little creature was going to be a huge part of her life for probably over ten years. But Athena had no doubt about her choice.
When she called the shopkeeper back, she, too, looked surprised that her desicion was so quick, "Ah, we've been calling this one Silver, but it's a pretty basic name. Do you want to name her something else?"
Athena nodded, "I think I'll name her..." She paused for a moment, thinking, "Cassiopeia,"

What animal do you wish to purchase?
Silver Mackerel Tabby
What do you want to name it?
Cassiopeia, Cassi or Cass for short
Is this a boy or a girl?
Girl
What is your pet's date of birth?
September 7th, 2019

Word Count: 809 Words