Late August 2024.

In the whisper of the morning, where the light begins to play,
there's a story being written, in the hues of break of day.
Each ray that dances gently, on the leaves and on the dew,
speaks of quiet transformations, old things becoming new.

Simon had slept some that night, exhausted from his summer venture with his father and his father's coven of vampires. There was a lot to unpack from it and it had nothing to do with his belongings but rather the experiences he had and his thoughts. In time. In time he would get to them. Simon sat up and stretched. The day was new and there was lots to do.

In the subtle stir of breezes, in the bird's first cheerful song,
lies a melody of hopefulness, that I've craved for oh so long.
It tells of strength found in softness, in the quiet, in the calm,
in the beauty of a morning, in its soothing, healing balm.

Most likely he was the only person awake in that small little town home with the mint green door located in South Kensington. He had always awoken early and found that the early morning offered a calmness - a peaceful start. It was in these early mornings where the streets were clear of traffic and London was quiet - even for just a brief moment. He loved the hustle and bustle of a big city but sometimes quiet offered up that calmness that one needed in their life every now and again. Simon breathed in the calmness of the moment before going to get ready for the day. He had prepared for this day best he could and now it was time to complete a mission.

As the world awakens slowly, shedding night's introspective shroud,
there's a promise in the sunrise, not spoken, yet avowed.
That every dawn brings a newness, a chance to start afresh,
to paint our lives with boldness, in the canvas of today's sketch.

Yes, Simon was about to do something new, something bold, something he probably should have done already. His little unexpected friend and pet rat pal Rascal was tired and Simon had unfortunately noticed it for some time now. This past school year, he rested more than every and didn't carry on with as much mischief as usual. Rascal's attempts to flee the dormitory, which led to marathon races with Simon through the corridors, were fewer. The rat also didn't engage in his fun little game of climbing the shelves in the Library, jumping from one to another, all while knocking books onto unsuspecting students like he once so often enjoyed. No, he just wanted to chill and eat for the most part. Simon couldn't blame him, he was an older rat and he had experienced such a large heartache of losing his former owner Alexa Mackenzie; one of Simon's best friends. While they were there for each other to try and mourn that loss as best they could, Rascal always still seemed to gravitate toward the fairer of the genders.

Aunt Maggie had always been one of Rascal's favorite people and he had remained there in that town home of London while Simon went to visit his father for the summer. It had been a summer of relaxing: cuddles on the sofa when reading, snuggled up on a chair when she was baking, and lots and lots and lots of homemade rat treats. Rascal even got along with Aunt Maggie's new husband Mark's dog - and Porter seemed to treat Rascal as if he was a fellow canine around the home; never chasing him. Yes, it had seemed that Rascal was living his best little rat life there in that town home in South Kensington, and a tough decision had been made.

Beneath the vastness of the sky, in its ever-changing hue,
I find a mirror of my journey, in shades of pink and blue.
Reminding me that change is constant, as constant as the dawn,
that every ending paves a pathway, for new dreams to be drawn.

Once showered and dressed for the day, Simon made his way upstairs from his bedroom in the lower level. Rascal's cage/home was within the reading room, but was left open so he had free reign of the home. Often still he would favor his home, as it was where his food, water, and bedding was. Currently, he was fluffing the Hufflepuff scarf that rested next to his cage, arranging it for optimum comfort. The rat paused as Simon approached and stretched himself up, which Simon knew by now that meant he wanted a pet. "Hey there, buddy," he said softly as he knelt down so he could be more eye level with the beady eyed little thing. "Today's the day we talked about. We still going through with this plan, Ratman?" And he knew that his little rat friend was busy in that moment, but Simon scooped him up into his hands and held him.

In the simplicity of the morning, in the quiet, in the light,
there's a profoundness often missed, in the haste of day and night.
But if we pause to listen, to the whispers of the day,
we find in them a wisdom, guiding us along our way.

He just held him. He held him the way he had when he had first found Rascal. He had held him the way he had the nights they had both seemed to cry over Alexa Mackenzie's death. He held him the way he held him when he was so frustrated with Haley Rose and her behavior towards him, he held him the way he held him when he talked to him about conflicting feelings upon first meeting AngelFyre.

Simon lifted the little rat up to get a good look at him. Rascal did a slow blink. There was no squeaks right now which meant that there was no sass - Rascal was cool with this moment between them. It wasn't goodbye and Simon knew it would never be goodbye; but it was the beginning of a different journey for the both of them.

He smiled to the rat, who gave another slow blink. That seemed to be Rascal's way of showing affection. Honestly, it seemed the little rat knew when to glare when he was trying to throw shade and he would do slow blinks when trying to show appreciation. Simon appreciated his slow blinks that morning and he held him, now still with that smile. He held him. He held him the way he did when he announced to his rat friend that he made the broom racing team and when he got prefect, he held him the way he had when he told him all about AngelFyre and their night together in the Rehearsal Room and told him about AngelFyre and the note that fell from her book in the Library, and he held him the way he did when he told him about the rings that AngelFyre had presented him and held him the way he had when AngelFyre had finally turned her Claddagh ring with the heart facing in, indicating that she was in a relationship and her heart was taken.

His little rat friend had been there through it all, for all the ups and all the downs but it was time for him to rest. "I love you, Rasc," he whispered as he stretched his hands so he could once again get a good look at those beady eyes but he smiled; knowing this was the best place for him. "I told you once I'm going to get you where you belong. This, here, where you'll be well taken care of, well rested, and we can visit together so often.... No.... crowded corridors and someone setting off a jinx here and a hex there, with cats trying to chase you and classes for me to take you to and try to transfigure you into who knows what - no. This is where you belong, mate."

He placed the rat back down on the Huffleuff Scarf and reached into his pocket, pulling out another. It was nearly identical to the other but this had been his own through his first years at Hogwarts to help combat the brutal cold winds of the Scottish Highlands. He would get a new one on his trip to Diagon Alley that day. He set it down next to the one that had once belonged to Alexa and Rascal gave high squeak, not his usual sassy one, and Simon wondered if that was rat talk for 'thank you.' Almost immediately that little gray rat began to move it around into place next to the other scarf, working on that cozy spot for his future slumbers. "Thank you, mate. For all the listening, for all the care, for the friendship, and for the memories. I love you, Rascal," he said and leaned down to gently kiss the top of the little rat's head.

No, this wasn't goodbye - but things would be different.

I embrace the morning, with its subtle, tender call,
to find joy in simple moments, to stand resilient and tall.
To see in each day's beginning, a gift of time untold,
a story waiting to be written, a new chapter to unfold.

There were lots of owls in The Magical Menagerie to choose from. He had decided on a owl since summer had brought him difficult communication. Where his father resided and he had spent the summer there was no electricity, no cell service, no wi-fi, and a very lacking postal service. He was grateful for AngelFyre's owl Archimedes to get some correspondence with his girl but it would have been more beneficial if he had his own owl to send when he had a delivery to make.

The morning light beamed through the storefront and Simon shifted to avoid it but noticed that it fell on one particular little guy. A cage next to him had a mirror deflect his own image back to him as Simon knelt down. There were larger owls, more majestic owls, but there was something about this one an the way the light seemed to almost make his feathers seem tipped with gold; as if i a gentle golden rain had fell upon him. Simon knelt down to get a better view and the owl watched him, perceptive as owls always are.

Three snakes seemed to also be interested in Simon and in their enclosure to the right they began lifting their heads to take a look. They weren't what he came here for though. He was looking for a messenger, a new pet, and hopefully a new friend all in one.

"Greetings, mate," he said to the little owl as he smiled. The owl, who had been fixated on him since he had approached, gave a slow blink - much like another he knew - and Simon felt there was a connection. "I think it's time we get you out of that cage. Let's get you where you belong."

The glistening feathers as if kissed by golden rain, the mirror that shielded his soon-to-be new friend, the three snakes - all reminded him of the story of Perseus in Greek mythology and as he made his way to the shop keeper to claim him to make his purchase, he decided that would be the name of his new friend.

Here's to the beauty of beginnings, to the hope each morning brings,
to the songs of earth waking, to the peace the quiet sings.
May we find in each new sunrise, a reason to stand tall,
to face the day with courage, in the grandness of it all.

- Poem by Julia Delaney, 2021



Total Word Count of My Words (Not counting poem): 1632

Take great care of your new friend!