Apparently, an addendum to the second-year supply list had been sent out. And apparently, the entire Selwyn family had to come out to Diagon Alley for one measly textbook. This was ridiculous, this whole thing was just ridiculous. June had just been shopping for the school year not even twenty days ago, and now they had to make the trip all the way back. Ridiculous.

Phineas Selwyn grabbed the bag of floo powder from the sitting room mantle, taking a handful and passing it along. "We'll head to the Menagerie and walk from there, I heard there's an issue with the fireplace at Flourish and Blotts..." His face was turned from June as he spoke, and June noticed her mother quite obviously biting back a smile. What on earth could be humorous about a malfunctioning fireplace? "Right then, Junie, head after me, and mum will take up the rear."

As annoyed as June was, she still was the same quite mild-mannered June, and so she said and showed nothing to give herself away. She waited for her father to vanish in the green flames before stepping into the large fireplace herself. June took a breath, spoke her destination, and let herself be lost in the sensation of travel by floo.

The menagerie was full of noise, but quite empty of people. June stepped out of the shop's fireplace, holding her hands behind her back. A moment later, she heard her mother step out after her. "Right, which was is it to-" June turned around to face her mother, only to see the woman holding a card out to her daughter. ".. What's this?"

June took the card, a neat 'Happy Birthday' written on the front in her mother's lettering, surrounded by gently waving streamers that had been drawn around it. Her father's handwriting filled the inside.

Junie,

Since we weren't able to celebrate your birthday together this year, we wanted to treat you before you became Twelve-years-and-one-month-old (that's tomorrow).
We love you very much, and are so proud of the wonderful young witch you're becoming.

Enjoy your belated birthday surprises!
Love,
Mum and Dad x

"Surprise!" Louise Selwyn cried out and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.

June stood for a moment, slightly aghast, only coming-to once her mother let go. "Is.. Does this mean we're not here for extra textbooks?"

Phineas laughed, "No, love, we're here for you. And it starts here! You're old enough for the responsibilities of a pet on your own now. Go ahead and have a look 'round, see if anyone catches your eye."

With an excited bounce of her toes, June began to make her rounds throughout the shop. She was tempted by the fluffy cats and intriguing lizards, but she quickly decided that she didn't want to copy the only two pet-owners she was friendly with. No, she'd have something different, something uniquely hers. She passed by the section of fish, each in different configurations of tanks all shapes and sizes. For a moment, her gaze rested on a small goldfish, swimming alone in a rectangular tank filled with green leafy plants, almost like an underwater forest. She walked past it, trying not to think much of it. It's a goldfish, June, surely there are more interesting animals you could befriend.

She regarded the rabbits, sighted the snakes, peeked at the pygmy puffs and observed the owls, but nothing quite tugged at her the way she'd hoped. She walked around the store once, twice, three times without coming to a solid conclusion. June eyed the fish every time, but it didn't particularly scream "this is the one" either.

June feared that her parent's gift would go to waste. What if she never found a pet? What if she picked out a pet and hated it? What if Benvolio got mad at June if she had an animal companion of her own?

As June pondered all these things in her head, another family entered the store, headed straight for the fishes. No. With a powerful speed walk, June marched straight up to the fish she had been eyeing and picked up the tank (which was a bit heavier than she expected). It seemed June's impulses had made the decision for her.

WC: 707

What animal do you wish to purchase? Golden Veiltail
What do you want to name it? Lars
Is this a boy or a girl? Boy
What is your pet's date of birth? March 9, 2018