Seventh year. It really took Theodore this long to finally look into buying his own owl? It really did.
He'd just woken up at home on the day that they were going to travel to the nearest magical town to buy supplies for Theo's final year, when it dawned on him that he would probably going to move out permanently after this year. It wasn't like he didn't love his family home, he really did, but he just couldn't see himself going back there to stay. His family had grown just like himself, and they had grown without him. That was a painful truth he would just have to accept.
Well... Accept to an extent. Theodore was a wizard, but he would never forget his no-maj roots. And he would sure as hell not cut ties with them.
So later that week, he found himself walking into a magical pet shop with his three siblings, who were as chatty and amazed as always when they got to see something of the wizarding world. As an adult wizard, Theo had finally been able to do some magic in front of them this summer, but being in a magical town was still something entirely different.
It warmed Theo's heart a little to even see a spark in Ana's eyes, who was relatively quiet around him, whenever he came home.
So what was left to do except... well, except letting his siblings choose his pet, apparently. The twins made a few attempts to get him to buy a crup puppy, until the little animal started growling when they came too close. "They can sense no-majs. You wouldn't be able to sleep in peace anymore for the rest of my stay!", he told his brother with a smirk, "You know, maybe I should get one, it would serve you right!"
It was truly comical, how quickly Steven and Elias moved back to the owls.
Maybe his threatening the twins with picking a pet that would give them a terrible time had challenged them to pick out the loudest, most active owls they could find.
As loud as the twins were, as quiet was Ana. His sister had ventured off to a different corner of the shop, first looking at the different cats and finally petting an owl that also seemed quite content with a little distance to the louder customers.
The shop owner had joined her and the two of them seemed to have a pleasant conversation. Warning the twins to behave, Theo walked over to join them. "Have you found a friend?", he asked his sister. "This one is new, a rescue owl." The shop owner now turned to Theo. "A pretty shy one, but she is really fast." Ana carefully ran her fingers over the brown feathers. "I like her."
Theo looked back at his two brothers, who had seemed so excited at the idea of picking out Theo's owl, then back at Ana. "You know... I don't think Steve and Eli are going to agree on an owl." The shop owner looked back at the two boys as well, suddenly looking a little sceptical. "She doesn't like loud people much." "That won't be a problem. She will be going to Ilvermorny with me in a few weeks. So, a lot of other owls, not much human contact if she doesn't want it."
A few minutes later, the Duncains left the shop, the cage with Theo's new owl in Anabelle's arms.
The name was the next challenge, causing a lively discussion at the Duncain dinner table. Charlize Duncain had to remind her children to quieten down several times, as they were staying over at a hostel. They had asked Theo to rent a couple of rooms at a magical hostel, after he had announced that he wanted to buy an owl. A no-maj hostel would surely ask questions or not allow them to stay in the first place.
But the currently still nameless owl was mostly quiet, she only screeched a couple of times, when their discussion got too loud.
The twins had insisted that they had naming rights, after Theo had allowed Ana to pick the owl, so when the family got up from the table and up to their rooms, the owl now carried the beautiful name: Bludger. Elias was the one who had the idea and both boys loved it. Every time that Theo was home, they asked him a ton of questions and they were particularly fascinated about the sport. As Theo was a beater, they had joked, it was only right he had his own Bludger.
Ana still shook her head, amused, when Theo and her went up to their shared room. "You know", Theo said, suddenly hesitant. Would she ridicule him? "She reminds me of you so much, I was thinking about naming her Belle."
Ana didn't ridicule him. She didn't laugh. On the contrary, for a second Theo was scared she would break into tears again. But then she didn't. Instead she smiled and playfully nudged him in the side. "Bludgerbelle. I like it."
