This is not a thread I will be replying to. It is MS associated. There are three invitees -- Jannette Applebottom, Illusia Bobich and Rebecca Loops. They are not required to post here but may if they want something to happen while they are picking up their pet. They are not required in any way to participate in this thread or get a pet in this thread. If they do, they have something extra to talk about..

"Holiday Break" was just that, a break and while there was plenty of time to be had at home with familiar friends and fantastic family, the opportunity to enjoy the bustle of Diagon Alley had an allure of its own. The noises and the trinkets, the gadgets and the tomes. The wizarding world was a wide and a varied place, with pointed hats, and traditional shawls donned by many if not most. There were also those that donned more 'fashionable' wizard and witch attire and even the one or two that dressed as a truly passable muggle. It was something one acquired an eye for after a time.

There were campaign slogans emblazoned on posters encouraging voters to pick a side in the upcoming election for Minister of Magic: Thaddeus Athantos, Charles Wittimaker and Margert Waters. The slogans rather meaningless, hollow promises of prosperity, claims of ethic and statements of change. The three had divergent views on what direction wizarding society should take in coming years and how they would guide wizarding society to meet these ends. It was all over the radio, however the hope that each offered was outshined by domestic insecurity, there were acts of terror and a brewing race-war between wizards and non-wizards that could no longer be ignored.

The storefronts were cheery, shoppers were burdened by satchels and bags. It would seem to most an 'ordinary' day until it was no longer ordinary. There was no warning, just a sudden loud noise and a hailstorm of mortar and stone that rained down on the pedestrians as they ran for cover. The building was next to the Menagerie, the shriek and flutter of the denizens of the shop rocked by the incendiary device echoed through the London street. The building would not catch fire, the alley that separated the shops was buffer enough it would seem but it did not alleviate the distressed companion pets inside. Some, the wily ones that is, would break free of their enclosures and scurry out the front door into the chaotic street. Arguably more dangerous than being adjacent to a bombed establishment now set ablaze.

@Jannette Applebottom if present would see something out of the ordinary, a tall man wearing a tight, plain green T shirt and a pair of blue jeans. He was wearing brown work boots and a bomber-style jacket. His short haircut looked almost military. If she liked boys, she might describe him as "handsome", just "very old" being that he was well over 30. What stood out about him was his height, it was 6 foot 7 inches and his attire. He did not dress like most wizards did, the style was a mismatch, just not in the sort of way that would have caused her or any other reasonable person to stop. It might have meant nothing.

@Illusia Bobich would if present have overheard while shopping or browsing a pair of adults complain about SCAR or SCARAB, whatever they all themselves these days. About how they an no longer feel safe in their homes or in their communities because these muggles and 'creatures' threaten every aspect of wizarding society. They might cite previous acts of terror and loss of life, events that were overed in the papers that were credited to SCAR.

@Rebecca Loops would if present happen to overhear or even listen to a part Giant with a heavy brow wearing a corduroy suit going on about the 'rights' of non-traditional wizards and associated magical people. He was well spoken and articulate, but it would not be long before a fight devolved in the coffee shop that he was giving his sermon outside of.

Small snowflakes drifted down like ash as Rebecca walked through the streets of Diagon Alley. He shifted, burying his chin deeper in the high collar of his jacket to block out the chill, hands stuffed deep in the pockets of his trousers.

He tried not to feel awkward in his obviously muggle clothing. After all, he much preferred all of the snobbish looks of the wizards here than the teasing he'd recieve from his muggle friends if they spotted him in the city wearing a cape and a pointed hat. His parents ignored any rude looks sent their way, and walked beside him wearing their jackets and jeans as confidently as they would be wearing dressrobes.

The Holiday break had only just begun, but already the windows of the various shops were completely plastered with twinking festive lights and decorations. Some shops also displayed campaign posters for the election, each potential candidate sporting an empty smile and nodding magnanimously at passers-by.

A large half-Giant man towered over a clump of gathering wizards on the steps of a coffeeshop. Rebecca sidled closer to hear what he had to say but his father moved him along with a gentle nudge. Still, Rebecca craned to look over his shoulder, wincing as the man had to duck a jinx thrown his way by one of the people in the crowd. He lost sight after his family turned a corner.

"Are you absolutely sure I can't just bring Binks to Hogwarts?" Rebecca asked for seemingly the millionth time.

His mother smiled at him, patient but a little exasperated. "Binks is the house cat, honey. You need your own pet for school. And he's getting on in years, he wouldn't be happy traveling back and forth."

His father patted him consolingly on the back. "Besides, he probably won't live that much long-" His mother stomped firmly on his foot and he cut off with a pained wheeze. "Regardless," she continued smoothly, "We think it's important you have a familiar that's fully yours. Binks and I found each other back when I was in school, and I know that you'll get a companion who's just as special."

She ruffled his hair and he allowed it begrudgingly.

They entered a small shop squished between two bigger storefronts. It was far warmer within the Magical Menagerie than it had been outside, and Rebecca unzipped the front of his jacket gratefully. The walls were lined with cages containing all manner of magical creatures. Rats, toads, snakes, cats, owls, even pygmy puffs.

"Just look around for a bit," his father advised. "There's no hurry, take your time and find one that feels right."

Rebecca nodded and moved slowly through the room. He wasn't keen on something too small. A rat or a toad might easily get lost, and constantly chasing down a little creature through Hogwarts would get very tiring very quickly.

He walked to the right wall where it seemed most of the cats were kept. Most were sleeping, but some looked at him inquisitively. He tilted his head, smiling at one of the cats. It flicked an ear and steadily met his gaze.

A piercing hoot! startled both him and the cat. Rebecca turned towards the noise to see an owl clicking its beak at him. It seemed rather insistent, and Rebecca got the distinct impression that he was being beckoned by this random bird.

As he got nearer it cooed encouragingly, and the old woman sitting at the register took notice of the racket. A twinkle of amusement glinted in her eyes. "I think she likes you, young man," she commented, smiling kindly as the large owl continued to hoot and call to the lad.

Rebecca grinned at the bird. "You're very weird," he informed it. It reached through the bars of the cage to nip painfully at his fingers. He admired her mottled brown and white feathers and little ear-like tufts on its head for a moment. Looking into her yellow eyes he saw himself reflected in them in more ways than one.

"This one," he decided.

"How much is she?" his mother asked the shopkeeper.

Before the woman could answer, the ground trembled and a deafening explosion rattled the room.

Owls shrieked, several cats burst from their cages and skittered under tables, and Rebecca clapped his hands to his ears. His father pulled out a wand and ran outside, his mother helped the rattled old woman back to her feet from where she'd fallen.

"What happened?!" the woman demanded, wincing as she shifted her weight.

Rebecca's heart was pounding in his throat and he raced outside to find his father. The building next to theirs was partially reduced to rubble. Broken glass and debris lay scattered on the street, and people were running about and yelling in alarm and fear. His father and a few others had jumped to action and were dragging injured wizards to safety.

Rebecca stood numbly and watched the building smolder.

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Name: Jannette Applebottom
Date: Holiday Break
Location: Diagon Alley, Magical Menagerie
Outfit: Jannette Applecrisp

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The Holiday was finally here, and there was no better way for Jannette to spend her time off from Hogwarts than being with her mom and taking a stroll through Diagon Alley. The weather was wonderful since it was a little snowy out. As small snowflakes fell, Jannette would stick her tongue out, catching the bits of snow on her tongue. Trudging through Diagon Alley, Jannette would look to her mom, "Can we get candy?! Ooooh Oooooh can we get ice cream?!" The brunette said. It was pretty obvious now how privileged Jannette was, not only was she brought up in being in a Pure-blooded family but, also the dynamic between Jannette and her Mom was... interesting to say the least. Looking through the signs, there were many different kinds, Flourish and Blotts, Ollivanders, Cauldron, and Magical Menagerie, dog - WAIT... MAGICAL MENAGERIE!'

The girl would waddle over to the pet shop, her mother would exhale knowing what was gonna happen at this point. As Jannette would press her nose on the glass of the shop, looking through the shop for a moment she would see the variety of different animals, and people, with one of them being absolutely huge! At first, she honestly thought the man was Headmaster Lear, the Iron Giant! Turning to her mom, a wide smile would appear on her face. "Mom, can we go inside," Her mother would look at Jannette for a moment, before saying,

"Only to look around, do you understand?!"

Just as her mother finished her sentence, Jannette didn't even say a word and darted into the Magical Menagerie! Her mother would mutter something under her breath before reluctantly going inside.

As the Slytherin girl began looking around Jannette's eyes lit up, as she sets sights set on a beautiful red tabby kitten. It didn't look any more than 1 month old, and it just warmed Jannette's heart ten folds. "OOoooh Merlin!~" She gasped, looking to the kitten in delight, "You are sooooo cu'eeee!!!~" Jannette would slowly but surely, move her hand hovering over to the kitten. The kitten in response would pull its head and body back slightly, the tabby would then press her nose against Jannette's hand before the cat would receive a luxury petting on the side of the head.

"Yeeeaahahh you loike dah dooon' yahhh!~"¹ Jannette coos in a high-pitched baby voice. She could honestly just do this for hours, and honestly, the kitten wouldn't mind that as well.

"MOOoouuuUuuum pleahse she's soo cu'e can I have her pleaaaassseee, PLEEEEAASSSSEEE!!!"² Her eyes would grow even wider like puppy dog eyes throw her strong lensed frames. Jannette from a very young age has always wanted a cat, and with her good behavior at Hogwarts and amazing grades on her progress report. "Oiii've always wan'ed a kitty, look a' her!!! MOooooOoooooommmm!!!!"³ Jannette's mother sighed, why were all of her children always so whiney? And it didn't help the whole situation when the owner of the Magical Menagerie gave Jannette's mother a mischievous look of 'yeah, I know your gonna pay for that cat 'cause your kid wants it so badly look.' "MOOooooOOoooommm oi did good in all moi classes, and oiii brush my teeth two times every day, oh-oh! 'N oi haven' even go'en detention!"⁴ Jannette was trying to do everything in the child playbook to try to get, even the small red tabby was chiming along meowing to Jannette's mother as well. "'N Jeanne 'as one, 'n Anne 'as one, 'n even cousin Brina 'as one too! Mom PPppplllleeeeaaahhhssseee!!!"⁵

After some pestering and pleading, and after a stern talk to Jannette about how the cat is HER responsibility, Jannette's mother begrudgingly obliged, paying the owner. Being the privileged girl that she is, Jannette would hop up and down, looking at her mom who now, who had the red kitten in a cage. "MOOooooommm" Jannette's Mom almost burst a blood vessel at this point, "Oi wanna hold Melrose!" Jannette already picked out a name for the cute kitten as her mother would look at Jannette almost having enough of her obnoxious pleas.

"You'll be able t'hold Melrose when you get on the train. No IFS, THENS, BUTS, or PLEEASES!"

Jannette would cross her arms and pout, "Okay..." leaving the pet shop, Jannette looks to her mother, making one last request, "Can we s'ill ge' ice cream -- PLEASSSEEE???!!!!"⁶

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Reducio

1. "Yeeeaahahh you like that dooon't yahhh!~"
2. "MOOoouuuUuuum please she's soo cute can I have her pleaaaassseee, PLEEEEAASSSSEEE!!!"
3. "I've always wanted a kitty, look at her!!! MOooooOoooooommmm!!!!"
4. "MOOooooOOoooommm I did good in all my classes, and I brush my teeth two times every day, oh-oh! And I haven't even gotten detention!"
5. "And Jeanne has one, and Anne has one, and even cousin Brina has one too! Mom PPppplllleeeeaaahhhssseee!!!"
6. "Can we still get ice cream -- PLEASSSEEE???!!!!"

What animal do you wish to purchase?: Red Mackerel Tabby
What do you want to name it?: Melrose
Is this a boy or a girl?: Girl
What is your pet's date of birth?:10/9/2022 | 1 Month

Word Count: 727