7 Nov 2024, 08:01
A Silver Star
Backdating to July 6th, 2024.1183/400 i'm sorryIt had been about a week since Alex had returned home from Hogwarts for the summer. Her first year had been quite interesting. She had even managed to make a couple good friends. But home was nothing like Hogwarts. Sure, her house had that same regal essence to it, but home was boring and cold. It was always so quiet, you would think there was no one there. She spent most of her time outside in the gardens or walking through the fields they owned. Anything but be inside of that house.
Her grandmother, Helen, noticed the young girl's avoidant behavior and soon realized what was wrong. So she decided that rather than having one of the staff go and pick up all of Alex's school supplies, the two of them would go to Diagon Alley together and make a day trip out of it. Having never actually been to Diagon Alley, the news of their little trip finally gave Alex something to be excited about.
---------------------------------------------------
It's nearly sunset when Alex and her grandmother have finished getting all of her school supplies and are walking down the Alley together. "So, we've got your books now, and there's no need for us to stop at Madam Malkin's as we'll just have your uniform tailor-made like we did last year. We have your potion ingredients and whatnot, and we'll stop for ice cream later-"
"Ooh, I think I'll go for strawberry, I'm quite fond of it actually," Alex tells her grandmother with a cheery smile, the trip had definitely caused her energy level to spike.
"And you're sure you don't want to give quidditch a try?" Helen asks her with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, Giagiá. It might have been Father's thing when he was at Hogwarts but it certainly doesn't run in the family. I've told you how many times I fell off the broom during flying class!" Many times. She fell many times.
"Fine then, Alexandria, no broom," the older woman says with a sigh. "I suppose that just leaves the surprise bit."
Alex's pace slows a bit and she tilts her head to the side slightly, "What do you mean by 'surprise bit'? Are we going somewhere else?"
Helen just smiles and motions for Alex to continue walking with her. She walks along with her grandmother for a bit longer asking questions about the surprise but getting no answers. If it's something quidditch related I'm going to be really disappointed. She really needs to let that go. It's just not my scene.
After nearly five minutes of questions and no answers, the two stop in front of a shop Alex hadn't seen before during their little shopping spree. She reads the sign aloud, "Magical Menagerie. Menagerie... Animals?" It takes a few moments before she realizes. "Am I getting a pet?" She asks, eyes wide with excitement.
"Yes, I figured you're old enough to have your own pet now and that you should have a companion to always be with you during your time at Hogwarts," Helen says before putting her arm around Alex and giving her a gentle squeeze. "Well, come on then! Better hurry up if you still want to get ice cream after."
As the two walk into the store Alex notices all the cages and tanks with different animals inside. An older woman stands behind the counter, appearing to be around the same age as her grandmother. "Well hello there ladies! How are we doing today?" Her cheery tone is matched with a bright and happy smile as she greets the pair.
"Oh we're quite well, thank you. Just looking for a pet for my Alexandria here," Helen tells the shopkeeper.
While the two women chat for a few minutes, Alex slowly walks around the store observing all the different creatures. The toads croak and hop around in their tanks, A bit too jumpy. The rabbits shuffle around in their cages, most of them hiding when Alex gets closer, Too shy. The lizards scamper around under their heat lamps, They blink so weirdly! The rats and mice scurry around, their beady little eyes staring into her soul, Too creepy... She sees a tank that appears empty and starts to approach it before seeing something move inside it. Thinking it might be a snake of some sort, Alex moves closer until she can clearly make out what's in the tank. A spider. "Nope. No. No... no no no," she mutters as she quickly backs away, too scary.
The owls are too intimidating, the ferrets are too noodle-like, the pygmy puffs are too happy. Why are they so happy? Can they even move around with all that fluff? Alex sits in front of a tank with four goldfish in it for nearly ten minutes, waiting for them to do something, anything. Too boring... She walks back over to where Helen and the shopkeeper are still chatting and says, "I'm beginning to think I'm just not meant to have one, they're all too weird or scary..." she shudders thinking about the spider.
"Hmm, have you looked at our cats yet, dear?" The shopkeeper asks with a kind smile.
"Cats? Well, no. We have one at home, Valkyrie, but she doesn't particularly like me, she prefers my grandfather. So I thought that maybe I just don't get along with cats,"" She explains.
"Just like people, cats all have their own personalities. Perhaps it's worth a look?"
The young girl nods and heads over to where all the cats are kept. There's loads of different breeds and colors but nothing catches her eye until she sees a flash of silver. Alex has to crouch down to get to the level of the silver cat. "Hey there," she whispers, poking a finger through the bar of the cat's cage. The cat sniffs her finger warily before rubbing it head against it. She smiles, it's the one. "Giagiá, I think I want this one."
Helen chuckles, "Well that was quick."
The shopkeeper walks over to where she's crouching, "Ah, that one's usually quite shy but it seems he's taken a liking to you. He's an Egyptian Mau, only about eight months old too. We got him with his mom and his sister about four months ago, but the other two were adopted soon after they arrived leaving our little friend here on his own."
Alex smiles softly at the silver cat. "I know how it feels to be on your own for a long time, mate. But getting friends is a game changer, and I think you and I might make good friends," she says to him.
Her grandmother walks over to see the silver cat, "Oh he's quite a handsome fellow, isn't he?"
"He's like a little silver star... Astéri," she says, watching as the cat stares at her as though he was trying to read her thoughts. "He's the one I want."
"Well then, let's get him out for you, shall we?" The shopkeeper opens the cage door. Alex reaches out and strokes the top of the cat's head, "Astéri," she repeats. Star.What animal do you wish to purchase? Egyptian Mau
What do you want to name it? Astéri
Is this a boy or a girl? Boy
What is your pet's date of birth? 11/18/23
