Justice did not want to go to Hogwarts. The chartreux cat was fat and lazy and, based on the tweleve year old's conversations with him, he did not want to leave the Edinburgh flat. He seldom even roamed the halls in Abbeyhill for mice or birds or food crumbs dropped by tourists.

"Come on, boy," the Slytherin would beckon, staring over at him from their living room couch, "Don't you want to come keep me company at school? It's not like normal--it's magic!" But the cat would just shoot his great grey tail up in the air as he trailed by, only to sit down by the window and stare out at the birds that flew by. He could watch that window for hours.

Besides, Elspeth had noticed that cat and parent had grown quite close together in the time she'd been away. The chartreux seemed to meander over to rub across Gregory's legs when his expression just slipped to reflect his despondence for his life's situation. He still liked Elspeth from what she could tell, but he seemed to favor her father now, as if they'd bonded in the accelerated loneliness of muggle life without the young brunette. Her father didn't have very many friends, so it was possible Justice was his closest relationship after his daughter.

So after several long talks, father and daughter took the train to London. It would be a short weekend trip--always a good idea they thought to provide some space from their grief--but on the agenda was returning to Diagon Alley to find a more enthusiastic companion for Elsie for this second year at Hogwarts. Along the five hour train journey, they talked quietly about what might be best. (This drew some strange eyes but it was easy to establish it as the fantasy of a child.)

Another cat would probably not get along with Justice. They'd fight for territory or attention at home, or possibly even both. An owl would be useful for communicating with the few magical friends that she had, but it would have to live in the owlery and what Elspeth needed was a companion that could be around her all the time. It sounded terrible, but she never knew who or what would trigger her. And as the memories of watching her mother die flooded back and she was reminded of exactly how alone she was, she'd need a pet to hold. A far-away owl didn't seem to fit the bill. And Justice was destined to eat any rat she'd bring home. That left her with a frog or a toad, neither of which exactly excited her, but she just hoped she'd know it when she saw it.

So they arrived in Diagon Alley the muggle way. It was always extremely weird when the Blaines arrived here. In fact, the last time they had been their was at the start of Elspeth's first year when a Professor had explained of her acceptance and they had been brought her to sort out all her supplies for school. The alleyway looked just as it did then with the people passing by in distinctive wizard wears, and the shop windows full of bright colors and curious objects that you wouldn't even find on the most decorated high street tourist shops.

Turning on her heel, she and her father entered the Magical Menagerie, where there were just about every pet one could possibly imagination. In fact, curled up in a corner was a cat who looked strikingly similar to Justice. But the Blaines knew that wouldn't do. Justice would feel replaced. But it was actually the reverse: caring for a broken family was too much work for just one pet. Justice needed help--someone too look after Elsie while she was away in the highlands.

And yet none of the toads seemed to catch the girl's attention. They were all so slimy. Elspeth didn't want to seem prejudiced against animal life, but toads really didn't seem like her choice of companion. Still, if she had to, she supposed the bluish-greenish one on a higher shelf didn't seem so bad. With her right hand, she was pointing it out to her father when she noticed something strange nearby. Fur, abnormally bright in colors of pink and purple stood out against the wood on an upper shelf.

Therein were the most curious creatures, unlike anything she had ever seen before. To be perfectly frank, it was like several balls of fur and if you looked at one closely just in the middle you'd find a tiny face, sort of cautious but sweet, staring back at you. "Papa..." she beckoned her father to look at them. Feeling his hand on her shoulder, they were approached by the shopkeeper.

"They're called pygmy puffs," he explained. Perhaps the Blaines did have a 'muggle' look about them, but in this case the explanation of what the creature was and what it required was completely merited. Minature Puffskeins weren't too hard to care for and perhaps, even more importantly, they were remarkably portable. Unlike Justice, a pygmy puff could easily fit in her school bag or sit on her shoulder. It could come anywhere, readily available for any moment she might break down and cry, needing reassurance.

Extending a soft finger tip, she reached out to pet one, but it stepped back slightly. However, a nearby purple one seemed to respond positively to her touch. Looking up, it was like father and daughter both had the same idea: this was much superior to the toad. And so, they'd bringing home a new sibling for Justice, one that could accompany Elsie to school, and her name was Magistrate, or 'Maggie' for short.

What animal do you wish to purchase? Pygmy Puff (Purple)
What do you want to name it? Magistrate
Is this a boy or a girl? Girl
What is your pet's date of birth? May 4, 2020
Word Count: 950