PET Defining Daphne Finished

2:21 p.m., April 8th, 2023

Today was the day. Rhys finally had enough galleons saved up for a pet, and their mother had enlisted Rhain and Rhun to accompany them to Diagon Alley so they could officially get themself their most anticipated self-indulgence gift. A pet. Some sort of animal companion that would greatly serve in helping Rhys on their bad days and just being great company on their good days. Their therapist, in their last session, had suggested that getting a pet (of Rhys's own) might help with their moods, and for once, they actually agreed with her.

Rhys didn't know what type of pet they would buy, per se, but they definitely knew that they had a name picked out once they found their desired pal. Daphne. They just had to get a pet and name it Daphne. Why? Well, they'd just recently read a book with a character named Daphne, and not only was she their favorite character in that book, Rhys had decided that Daphne was the ultimate human name to give to a pet. So, while their brothers headed over to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Rhys walked into the Menagerie, wand and coin pouch gripped in one hand.

Once inside, Rhys was greeted by an elderly couple, both white-haired and cheery as they saw they had yet another customer looking to find the perfect animal companion to bring with them to Hogwarts. They gave the standard obligatory smile that they reserved for such occasions before wandering deeper into the store. Rats and toads, interesting as they were, weren't on the list for viable options. They were too small, and Rhys would easily misplace one if they had it, always scurrying about looking for their pet like it was rumored that Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom had in their Hogwarts years. This also ruled out pigmy puffs, as they were not only pricey and brightly colored, but also very small. A lizard or tarantula, Rhys would admit, could be cool, but those, too, were also quite small. What they needed was a large pet, one that they could occasionally bring about with them if needed. This ruled out goldfish, which, while one of the cheapest options in the store, were rather stationary and didn't seem to Rhys like the best emotional support companion. A snake would be sick, but Rhys wasn't a Parselmouth, so they were left with owls, rabbits/bunnies, and cats. It was the very latter that eventually caught Rhys's eye. In a matter of speaking, that is.

Rhys had been browsing the owl section, humming a bit as they did so, and had almost decided to go back to the front of the little shop to inquire about a barred owl, when suddenly they felt a weight fall onto their shoulder. The weight, while not very heavy, belonged to that of a young Egyptian Mau, who clung to Rhys's jacket as she found purchase on their shoulder and rubbed her head against theirs. She couldn't have been very old: two, three months at most, and though she was small, she had a purr that reverberated loudly against Rhys's skull as she affectionately kneaded their shoulder.

"Looks like someone's got a new friend," Said a voice from behind Rhys. They turned to see the elderly lady, smiling kindly at them. "She's one of our most popular animals, but no one that's ever wanted her has been able to catch her," She explained. "Maus pick their own people, and like to shy away from anyone else. They also tend to be rather smaller, so while she's tiny now, she won't get too much bigger." This struck a chord in Rhys, and they gave the kitten on their shoulder a sly smirk before carefully removing her and balancing her in their arms. They gave the small cat a long, hard stare for a few moments. It seemed, Rhys mused, that this kitten was basically them, but in cat form. Picks her own people, shies away from most others, and while she was small, she would probably stay small. Yes, Rhys decided after a long moment, they had found their Daphne.

"I'll take her," They said finally, looking up to the smiling woman. She nodded, beckoning them to the front where they could checkout. After helping them pick out some basic essentials (collar, name tag, and kitty treats), Rhys handed the woman their full payment, thanked both of the shopowners with a small smile, and meandered out the door to find their brothers.

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