Taut Atop A Toadstool Pet Solo

DIAGON ALLEY

He'd been trying to avoid it, that store filled to the brim with all manner of potentially perfect pets. The Sorrel Homestead had more than its fair share of animals, after all: chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, goats, cats... And then, of course, there was Beren.

Growing up, Beren had been Sebastian's best friend. That he was a dog didn't matter to him one bit. The all black German Shepherd was a big softy where the boy was concerned, he'd keep watch at the foot of his bed at night, and follow him through the fields throughout the day. When he wasn't performing his shepherding duties, of course.

Beyond that, their two acre plot was filled with plenty of other creatures, many of which Sebastian had at some point kept in some sort of observation tank. Bugs, critters, frogs, even an injured bird once.

Simply put: they had no need for any other animals to take care of. No need at all.

Yet despite all of this, despite his best efforts to pretend it didn't exist, Sebastian was inching closer to the Magical Menagerie and with each step he alternated between talking himself out of entering, and wondering what the harm was in just visiting. You know, just to see the animals. Bastian loved animals, after all, even ones he knew he couldn't keep.

He watched his parents out of the corner of his eye, and when they passed the doorway he was on a round of denial. After bracing himself rather impressively, he stepped away from the building in keeping with his parents. One step, two step, then his father looked back at him with a perked brow of confusion.

"I thought you of all people would want to go and check out the menagerie" Beric remarked, slowing to a halt. "Your mother and I have business to attend to over at Gringotts. You have, let's say..." He glanced at the timepiece usually hidden within his pocket. "Fifteen minutes. Lina, be a love and make sure he doesn't get lost."

His sister responded with an eye roll, but as their parents walked away she remained behind all the same. "Five minutes" the former Slytherin declared, "I can't stand the smell."

Knowing better than to tempt fate by bartering for more time, Sebastian beamed a grin her way and hurried the few steps back to the shopfront. He was across the threshold before Alina had even begun her mental countdown.

Inside was everything he'd hoped it would be. Stacks of crates held various furry animals, cats and rats principal among them, while tanks and bird cages were reserved for the reptiles, amphibians, and birds. He even spotted a ferret or two. So many animals to look at... So little time.

He took it one wall at a time. Sticking his finger through the bars to fuss behind the ear of a gentle ginger cat which must have easily weighed 20lbs; leaning one hand against the warm glass of a bearded dragon vivarium as it hunted down a cricket; whistling softly in the direction of a tawny owl which hooted in response, bright eyes studying him.

Then he saw it, and it seemed as though everything else melted away. It wasn't a particularly big animal, in fact in comparison to most everything else in the room it might have been one of the smallest. Nor was it what one would conventionally call cute... It had no fur, nor scales, or even feathers. In fact, it was stuck in a corner that nobody else seemed to pay any mind to what so ever.

Its skin was smooth and spotted, and at first he might have mistaken it for a frog; it was not, it was a spotted toad. It was almost viridian in colour, certainly more green than blue but in just the right light... Suffice to say what remained of his five minutes was spent crouched before that tank, eyes bright and enamoured.

"A toad? Really?" His sister's voice made him jump. "You don't want to check out the pygmy's, or the owls? Honestly, Sol, you're... weird. There's toads all over the place back home."

"I know" he replied with a shrug, trying to downplay the immediate longing he'd felt when seeing the small fellow, "But there's cats and owls and rats back home too. Besides... I'm not going to be at home, am I?" The slightest signs of a frown brushed over his expression before he could hide it. Then he sighed, and gently pushed past her. "Doesn't matter, come on... Let's grab an ice cream or something before they get back."

After procuring and enjoying a cold treat at Florean's Ice Cream Parlour, the pair met back up with their parents. It didn't take too much longer for his sister to grow bored of walking from shop to shop, so she broke away from the rest of them and informed them that she'd wait for them back at the Leaky Cauldron. True to her word, she was there waiting when they returned just an hour or so later.

THE SCAMANDER SUITE

After bringing his trunk up to the Scamander Suite, and the unexpected adventure which followed concerning Pygmy Puffs, George Henry, and the Mural, Sebastian found himself more than ready to crash. Donned in his pajamas, he pulled back the blue faux-fur duvet intent on getting warm and enjoying his first night in the Hogwarts Castle. As much as he was anxious to be away from home, so much had happened that day that he felt certain he'd be out like a light the moment his head reached the pillow.

"SORREL?"

An unexpected voice called out his name. Naturally he had no idea who it belonged to, nor was he certain he was the only Sorrel in the room, so while he paused his planned rest he didn't really do much to respond either.

"Sebastian Sorrel?"

He pushed away from his bunk with a groan of fatigue, and trudged his way over to the dormitory door where an older Badger was waiting. They'd propped the door open with their boot, their hands preoccupied with a fabric-covered cuboid.

"Um... Yes?" he sheepishly asked.

"You left this in the Common Room" the other boy replied, hefting the mysterious object over to Sebastian who almost dropped it. Heavier than expected, for sure. "Take better care of it, will you?"

Well and truly chastised, Sebastian didn't even have it in him to deny ownership over whatever it was. Instead he mumbled a small "Okay" and watched as the older Badger retreated back down the stairs. Hauling it over to his bunk, he set it down with a huff and glanced over the fabric. Sure enough, there was his name embroidered into a rectangle.

He pulled off the fabric, and gawped at what he saw. A vivarium... And at its center? An almost viridian spotted toad. His eyes brimmed with unexpected tears, though before they could haze over so much that he couldn't see he spotted a small note taped to the outside.

I don't get it, but whatever...

His heart skipped a beat.

Alina. Deep down she did care...

What animal do you wish to purchase? Spotted Toad
What do you want to name it? Reed
Is this a boy or a girl? Boy
What is your pet's date of birth? 13th January 2022