Lauren was excited as today was her birthday. Her parents promised her a pet! Lauren always saw the other students in Hogwarts have pets of all sizes and types—owls, rabbits, toads, snakes, and owls! Her parents brought her to the Magical Menagerie.
When they entered, they were greeted by a storm of sound and sensation as soon as they crossed the threshold of the Magical Menagerie. The shop seemed to breathe around them. Cages swayed and rattled, stacked so high they nearly brushed the ceiling, each one holding a creature that scratched, chirped, or glared with unmistakable personality. The air hummed with life, carrying the tangled scents of feathers, fur, and raw magic. The air was thick with a mix of strange smells—feathers, fur, sawdust, and something slightly sweet and magical.
Lauren saw two smiling faces. One of them was about six feet tall with broad shoulders and a bit of a pot belly. The other person, about a foot shorter and standing at five feet tall, was waving at her. Lauren waved back.
Lauren looked around. She saw owls so small they could fit in the palm of her hand. She quickly walked through the aisles. Lauren saw fish in tanks swimming around happily. Their tanks had small castles that they could fit in.
“Lauren! Have you seen something that you like yet?” Lauren’s mother asked.
“Not yet!” Lauren replied, her eyes shining with excitement.
She quickly walked past the fish. She then saw cats—lots of them—all staring at her.
“Um… hello cats?” Lauren said uncertainly. She knew that cats couldn’t talk, but she felt that saying hello to them would be polite. She walked away muttering to herself, “Odd cats…”
She then saw the owls. There were so many sizes and types, but she skipped the owls. Afterwards, she saw the rabbits. Lauren loved rabbits.
Maybe I should get a rabbit… They are just too cute!
She looked at the rabbits. There were so many types—small, tiny ones, big, colourful ones. Lauren could not decide on one.
She looked at her watch. ₃:₃₀ ₚₘ. She couldn’t believe her eyes. She had only 30 more minutes to pick a pet.
I’m just gonna pick a rabbit.
She looked at the rabbits before she saw the perfect rabbit. Small, like Lauren! She looked at the rabbit and saw a sign that read that the rabbit was female.
Hmm… if I got this rabbit, what should I name her…
Lauren saw her mother and announced, “Mum! I found the perfect pet!”
Her mother walked over and said, “Good choice! Let’s pay for your pet now. What are you going to name her?”
“Hmm… Luna!” Lauren replied.
Together, they walked over to the shopkeepers and bought Luna. This is the best birthday ever!