Kaz....Kaz the Ferret
Octavian pushed open the door to the Magical Menagerie and was immediately hit with the comforting smell of animals.
There were cages and little enclosures everywhere. Birds were chirping, something in the back made a strange squeaking noise and Octavian was pretty sure something had just hissed at him.
He stepped further inside anyway.
An older man stood behind the counter wearing a checkered shirt and a brimmed hat. A older woman was nearby arranging something on one of the shelves.
"Looking for anything in particular?" the man asked.
"Something small."
The woman smiled.
"Pet?"
"Obviously."
She laughed.
"Fair enough. Any idea what sort?"
Octavian shrugged.
"Not really."
He walked around the shop looking at the different animals. There were owls, cats, rats and a few creatures he didn't recognize at all.
Then he saw the ferrets.
One of them was curled up asleep in the corner of its enclosure.
Another was digging furiously into a blanket.
Octavian crouched down.
"Are those ferrets?"
"European ferrets" the woman corrected. "Very curious little things."
The one that was digging furiously into a blanket.
The ferret stared at him.
Octavian stared back.
"...Hello,little one."
The ferret sniffed the air.
Then it climbed straight towards him.
He put his hand against the side of the enclosure.
The ferret came closer and sniffed his fingers through the bars.
He smiled slightly.
"You are weird."
The ferret made a little clucking sound.
Octavian blinked.
"What was that?"
"Dooking" the woman explained. "Means it's happy or excited."
"Oh."
The ferret suddenly started hopping around the enclosure throwing itself sideways and bumping into the blanket.
Octavian stared.
"...Is it having a stroke?"
The old man laughed.
"No, that's just a ferret."
Octavian watched it for another few seconds.
"I like him."
The woman opened the enclosure and carefully let the ferret out. It immediately ran towards Octavian climbing onto his shoe before sniffing his robes.
Octavian looked down.
"...You're not very polite."
The ferret ignored him.
He picked it up carefully holding it against his chest. It wriggled for a moment before settling down.
For some reason Octavian felt calmer.
Maybe it was because the ferret didn't care that he was quiet. It didn't ask questions or expect him to talk. It just seemed perfectly happy to sit there.
"How much?"
"Fourteen galleons and two sickles."
Octavian nodded and reached for his money.
The woman smiled.
"I think you've found your friend."
Octavian looked down at the ferret.
"Yeah."
He thought for a moment.
He'd wanted to name it Samuel at first.
After his father.
But no.
No, Octavian. Absolutely not.
His eyes narrowed slightly as another name came to mind
"...Kaz."
The ferret looked up at him.
Octavian smiled.
"Kaz it is."
He handed over the money and carefully adjusted his hold on his new pet.
"Try not to destroy anything while we're at Hogwarts."
Kaz immediately started chewing on his sleeve.
Octavian sighed.
"...Right. This is going to be fun."