"Shhh Eris! They mustn't see you. Your grandfather has both of us on house arrest for the summer." Demetra Fawley's laughing tone was enough to make Eris giggle and tug on her grandmother's hand, leading her towards the Magical Menagerie. Hands already struggling to hold all the bags, along with her new broomstick, Eris grinned at her grandmother. She missed being able to hold her own bags, to feel the pleasant fatigue of being exhausted, but feeling rewarded all the same. She had been inside for too long, and even the sunlight of Diagon Alley felt strange and uncommon, compared to the chilled halls of Fawley Manor.

But Eris had always adored the strange and uncommon. She welcomed every moment of being outdoors, and not just cramped in the gardens of the Fawley Manor. Practically skipping, as she tugged her laughing grandmother with her, Eris almost forgot that she was supposed to be a dignified young lady. Her days with her grandmother were the best days to just let go for a little while and get rid of the expectations that felt too high and imposing, especially for one so short. "We can transform! We're metamorphamagi, grandma! If people are staring, you can just turn into someone else." Eris giggled again, knowing her words had no meaning. They couldn't turn into other people, but even so, it was still nice to think about it once and a while.

They were going shopping for Eris' new school supplies, as it was two days away from the start of school and Eris' grandfather had deemed that Eris was not going to try and owl any of her friends. Of course, getting a pet wasn't on the list of things to do. But, Demetra Fawley had never been able to resist Eris' charm. Or, lack of charm. Talking nonstop for two hours about wanting a pet was enough to fry even the most patient of human's nerves. So, Eris entered the shop and stared around, ignoring her grandmother completely as she let out an inhuman shriek of excitement.

"IT'S A FAT BALL WITH EYES!" Eris pointed at a tired-looking pygmy puff that looked exasperatedly at Eris, as if shushing her without speaking. Eris didn't notice the creature's lack of enthusiasm, as she picked it up and prodded at it. "I want it, oh my god. I want it! LOOK AT IT! HOW CAN SOMETHING BE SO FAT AND SO CUTE?" Eris poked at the pygmy puff again, until her grandmother grabbed Eris and pulled her back.

"Indoor voices, Eris. Your grandfather taught you better than to act like a child." His name being spoken in such a joyful place caused Eris to frown and look down at the ground, reminding herself that even her awe in magic and magical creatures wasn't appropriate. She was no longer 11 years old, finding things out for the first time. Eris was 13 now, which basically meant she was an adult.

"Okay. Well, I want that- are you kidding me?" The pygmy puff was... already asleep again. "Ew. I don't want a pet that falls asleep on me." Eris glowered at the sleeping creature as if willing it to wake up. When it didn't, she turned on her heel to examine the rest of the shop. When her grandmother was out of earshot, Eris whispered to the animals.

"Alright b-b- bitches.." Eris whispered the bad word, delight crossing over her features when nobody yelled or slapped her. "I'm here to pick one of you to be my pet. Whoever I pick has to be totally fun and willing to bite my granddad in the butt when he's being annoying!" Yes. That would be great. The animals did not respond. Eris felt silly for expecting some kind of magical cat to start whispering to her. That wasn't how witchcraft worked. She totally knew that by now.

So, Eris kept wandering. Glaring at the fat ball of pink fur that was still snoring, cursing the animal for being so boring but so cute, Eris didn't even notice that she was in front of the cage of another creature until the animal within let out a screech. Grabbing her wand, Eris opened her mouth. "INCENDI-.... oh." At the sound of her screaming again, Eris' grandmother wordlessly groaned and walked over, nodding an apology to the kindly old lady running the shop.

But, Eris was busy staring at the owl banging against the cage. His eyes met Eris's and she let out a faint grin, watching as the bird stopped his banging. He hooted once, in a possible affirmation that yes, he too was looking at Eris. Eris looked back, staring intently at the bird. It hopped twice, and Eris grinned. "Are you willing to bite grown men in the butt?"

Demetra, who now had approached Eris, slapped Eris lightly in the arm in rebuttal. However, the little owl hooted once and Eris' grin widened. Demetra sighed a second time, the long-suffering sigh of one forced to endure a child's endless frivolities. Yet, there was an air of relief to her, as if overjoyed that Eris' rambunctious personality had finally resurfaced-- if only for the day.

"Mine. I claim him." Eris stated, allowing her grandmother to usher her towards the cashier, owl still fluttering around and hooting loudly.

As the two paid, Demetra chatting up Mrs. Witticker about the local weather and about care for an owl, Eris paid little to no attention to the conversation. Instead, she looked at the bird in the cage, trying to decide upon a name for it.

"Owlie? Like as in Ollie?" Eris shook her head. "No. Hmm. Owliva? Like Oliva. No. That also sucks." She was silent for a moment longer, as her grandmother counted out the money needed to pay for the owl.

Mrs. Witticker's voice interrupted Eris's thoughts, as the woman smiled at the girl. "What's his name?" The silver-haired woman questioned, as Eris grinned at her. She was supposed to act prim and proper, but couldn't help the feral gleam of a grin that stretched across Eris' face, as she held up the cage and the owl fluttering around inside.

"His name is Owlbert!" Demetra stared at Eris like she was daft, while the newly christened Owlbert hooted once. "Like... as in Albert? His full name can be Owlbert Theseus Armadillo Fawley!"

There was another pause, as Demetra and Eris exited the store, waving goodbye to Mrs. Witticker. "Eris, darling.. an Armadillo is another animal, not a name." Eris shrugged, resisting the urge to let the owl out of the cage.

"We can work on the name. Me and Owlbert have  a lot of time together!" With that being said, the grandmother and her young ward exited Diagon Alley and prepared for the trip home, all the while accompanied by the new presence of a loud owl.