Shopping trip 2
The Jasmine Dragon was much better than I anticipated.
For one, they had dishes from all over Asia. Be it thai, chinese, japanese, korean, vietnamese or indian they had it. In fact the menu alone was more than fifty pages long! Then there was their tea selection. If they didn't had at least three hundred different types of tea then they had none. And last but not least: they also had live music to go with the food.
All in all, lunch was extremely good. Even if Siri did stuck his chopsticks up his nose. Don't ask why. I don't know and don't care.
Once we were done with lunch, we finally made our way to the menagerie and arrived there half an hour later. The menagerie itself was more of a zoo than a menagerie in reality. When we entered the place an attendant gave us a map of the place. And according to that there are different buildings designated for different type of creatures.
There was one for fishes, three for birds, eight for mammals, five for reptiles and two petting zoo. The afore mentioned buildings are for the normal animals. As for magical creatures? Three for fishes, five for birds, six for mammals, two for reptiles and a petting zoo.
They have so many buildings for magical birds, because some of them are very territorial and only tolerate specific species besides themselves. Hence the need for more enclosures than normal birds.
"Before we split up, I am going to lay down some rules." Grandpa started and glared at everyone.
"You two can't pick up anything that breaths fire, acid, lightning or have any other type of destructive ability. Or bigger than a person." He poked Siri in the chest with his cane and glared at Remus. No doubt because they bought home a hellhound pup once that nearly burned down the living room.
"Draco, Cissa. I entrust you two with the responsibility of stopping Lucius from buying MORE peacocks." He said with an eyeroll. I have to agree with gramps on this one. Fifty albino peacock is already way over the top, even for Lucy.
"Nymphadora may not purchase anything that can go invisible." He told Andy, who just nodded.
"Harry, please, don't choose anything that's bigger than you. Otherwise, go ahead and choose whatever you want." Harry does like fluffy and harmless creatures, mainly because he likes to cuddle them. I can't count the times when I summoned something fluffy and we had to pry it out of his arms.
"The same is true for you two." He gestured at Draco and me."Let's meet at the checkout at three the latest." And at that everyone chose a direction to go in.
Siri, Remi and Harry went towards the petting zoos, to satisfy Harry's urge to cuddle no doubt. Draco and his parents went to the bird enclosures, he did say he wanted and owl or a bird of prey. Dora ran off towards an enclosure resembling a jungle, with her parents trailing behind her.
"Well, it looks like it's just you and me, little sun. Where do you want to go?" Papa asked as he unfolded his own map.
"Let's start with the magical reptiles. Who knows? They might have a basilisk." I said with a smile and went toward said direction.
"We are not getting you a basilisk." Papa said as he walked alongside me."They aren't allowed in the school."
"What a shame."
When we entered the first enclosure it was very humid. So much in fact, that our clothes became damp nearly right away. And after looking at the signs near the entrance I saw that there are no snakes in this place, only lizards, turtles, tortoises, toads and frogs. I was looking for a snake, so went over to the other one.
And that one, as it turns out, has a much nicer environment. First of all, it isn't humid and hot like hell like the other one. And instead of an indoor jungle it has rows upon rows, shelves upon shelves od different magical snakes, smaller lizards and poisonous frogs.
After consulting the signs near the entrance, we made our way towards the snake section right away. Once there we were greeted by a cacophony of hisses as the snakes stared at us. I could make out their conversations, but unlike Harry I don't go out of my way to talk to every snake I come across, so I ignored them.
It took us nearly an hour to browse through them all, but I haven't really found one that I fancy. Well, that is not true because we found a black and whote runespoor, but those are also aren't allowed in Hogwarts. It was at this moment that an attendant came up to us.
"Hello! Do you have any questions or need help?" She asked with a professional smile.
"Are there any other magical snakes in here?" Papa asked after my nod.
"There are, sir, but one needs to be a VIP member to see them." She said, unfased.
"And how one becomes a VIP member?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. Money is not a problem for us after all.
"One can become a VIP member by either spending more than a hundred thousand galleon in our establishment or by being a member of the Worldwide Society of Beastmasters." She said, with a barely noticeable twitch of her mouth.
Something that both of us picked up on.
"I see. Let's go Helia." Papa said and we went away.
Thirty minutes and a sizeable donation to the WSB later we were back in the menagerie. And another five later we had our VIP card and the same, albeit shocked to the core, attendant leading us towards the VIP section of the store.
The building looked the same as the others, but was at least twice as big. It also had guards patrolling the perimeter. The inside was sparsely decorated and had many enclosures, cages, terrariums and aquariums in neat rows. Upon our request the attendant led us towards the section with snakes and snake-like creatures.
Although these didn't give a hoot about us, and just continued to lay in their terrariums after taking a quick look at us. Which way perfectly fine with me, there isn't much to see on us after all.
Then we began out browsing in earnest. There were snakes with scales made of metals, crystals and even wood. Or those entirely made up of an element like fire or water. Then there were those that had feathers instead of scales and those that had tiny wings.
In the end I narrowed down my options to three different creature. The first one being a meter long snake that had scales made of purple crystals. The next was a wyrm, a legless dragon, which was also a meter with metallic scales that had a blue tint to their steel-grey colour. And lastly a lindwurm, a dragon with only two forelegs for limbs, it was the smallest of them all with its half a meter long body and with scales the colour of blood.
I couldn't decide between them so I decided to see which one of them is the most attracted to my magic. Which I tested with by simply releasing a wave of it from my body. Utilising it this way is something that grandpa taught me and the others, among other things.
And the effects were immediate. The crystal snake retreated right away, as if burned, and curled up in a corner of its terrarium. The wyrm looked interested, but more like it thought I would make a good meal with my tasty magic. The lindwurm on the other hand was very enthusiastic. It nearly broke out of it's terrarium to get to me.
Not joking, the little thing is stronger than it looks, based on the big cracks that spread through the terrariums magically reinforced walls. Then it calmed down very quickly and hissed at me.
-More!- It demanded with a high pitched voice.
-Oh? Demanding things, are we?- I asked it in parseltongue. But nonetheless complied and sent it a strand of my magic.-You are lucky you are cute.-
"I want this one, grandpa." I continued in english.
"You heard my granddaughter. Take it out and prepare everything we will need for it." He instructed the attendant with a dismissive wave.
Said attendant complied and opened the terrarium, and no sooner than she did the little thing jumped at me and made itself comfortable around my neck and like a red scarf. It then began to absorb the magic I passively emitted.
Not surprising as familiars bond with their magicals this way. And it also allows them to grow faster, be healthier and increase their lifespan in the case of creatures with less than ten years of lifespan.
-Are you comfortable?- I asked it as I petted its head with a finger.
-Yep.- It reaplied cheerfully and leaned into my petting.
-Your name shall be Caedes. Remember it, okay?- It just absentmindedly nodded at my words.-Also, once we are out of here you need to listen to me or I am going to lock you into a tiny box and feed you with crickets. Understood?-
-Has anyone told you you are scary?- Caedes asked as it shivered a little.
I just nodded at it and continued walking after papa and the attendant. And soon we reached the cash register, where the others were already waiting for us.
Harry, predictably, chose something fluffy. A giant rabbit, with blue fur, the size of a german shepherd. It is extremely cute I give it that, but it was nearly as tall as him. Which created a comical sight when he hugged it like a teddy bear.
In Draco's hands was a very cute kakapo. Said bird was sleeping quite comfortably in his arms, or at least looked like it was. Narcissa had an eagle owl perched on her left shoulder, while Lucy was holding a peacock and arguing with Cissy about it.
And Siri was levitating a huge mason jar that was nearly the size of his torso, in front of him. Inside said jar is a bright red coloured octopus. Something which I will ignore for the shake of my mental health.
Dora also had a barn owl, that was sitting on her head. Dora didn't look like she minded it, but Andy was trying to coax the owl and Dora to had it sit on her shoulder instead.
"What's their name?" I asked them as I stopped beside them.
"Ciel." Harry said and then went back to petting the rabbit.
"He haven't stopped petting it since he found it." Draco said with a fond eyeroll."This is Verdant, by the way."
"I can imagine it. Yours is cute too. Is it the magical or normal kind?" I asked my nephew with a smile.
"Magical, and yes, it can fly."
"I see. What about your owl Dora?"
"His name is Hermes." Said owl hooted in greeting."What about your snake? Or is it a lizard?"
"A lindwurm. And his name is Caedes." Who was too lazy to even move their head to greet the others.
"Your naming sense is as bad as Siri's. They named the octopus Scarlet." Dora said with an eyeroll.
"What about the peacock and Cissy's owl, by the way?" I asked curiously.
"Dad wants it, but mom is putting down her feet on the matter and it looks like this time he won't be able to buy it. He has been trying to convince her for the last twenty minutes. The owl is for us to write them, as she knew that none of us would choose one." Draco explained.
And indeed, with a defeated expression Lucy put down the peacock which then strutted away in the direction of its enclosure. Soon, papa paid for everything and we left the shop and finally made our way towards the last destination of the day.
The wandsmithy was a rather large establishment, but quite empty. Which isn't really normal for a shop of this size, during the weekend no less. Although normally said shop also wasn't booke by a wealthy noble family, so that is that.
Once inside an attendant came up and lead us to the seating area, with tea and snacks. Then he asked who want to go first. Draco and me decided to let Harry go first. He because he was a softy for his soulmate, and I simply wanted to laze around a little.
Twenty minutes later he came back and showed off his wand. Twelve and half inch long, supple, made from ash, with a cryophoenix heartstring being its core. Which means it will be undyingly loyal to him, greatly enpowers his spells and has an affinity for transfiguration and creating things. Or so the wandmaker told him. The wand itself was ashen grey in colour and had a fairly simple design with snowflakes being carved into it here and there.
Draco went next, and he too came back after twenty some minutes. His wand was eleven inch long, solid, made of english oak, with an amphiptere fang as its core. It works best with the magic the owner specialize in and expeciall good for brewing potions. The wand itself is white with small blue stars and black feathers adorning it from hilt to tip.
And it was my turn next. So I abandoned my very comfy seat and made my way to the back of the store to meet the wandmaker. Said wandmaker was an old man even older than grandpa. He was in simple black robes and his long brown hair was tied into a ponytail that reached below his arse.
"Ah, my last client for the day." He started as he noticed me."Jonathan Smith, a pleasure to meet you."
"Helia Black, and the pleasure is mine, Mister Smith." I greeted back.
"Come, our first stop is just behind this door." Saying so he opened said door and led me inside.
The room was surprisingly empty. It had a chair in the middle and strange patterns on the floor, walls and the ceiling. Along with strings going from seemingly random spots to other seemingly random spots. But in truth it was somekind of magical formation that was so powerful that it hurt to look at it with mage sight and so I shut down that ability of mine for now.
Which is something I nearly never do, just because the world looks strange to me without it. Think of it like you could see additional colourful stream swimming through the air. That is magic in its raw form. Of course it isn't always looks like streams and that is only just its most common form, but you get the gist of it. It just feels wrong not seeing them.
"Please sit." The wandmaker instructed and I did so."Now, I am going to stand over there and all I need you to do is to release your magic. I will tell you when we are done."
"That is all?" I asked incrediously.
"Yes. When we are done here I will do your wand in another room, while you wait in the hall just outside of it." He answered with a smile.
I just nodded and did as he told me. Although I couldn't see anything, I felt my magic touch the strings and carvings, which then gently took control of it. At which point I no longer felt them. This went on for who knows how long.
"Enough, Miss Black." Smith said and I reeled my magic back in and opened my eyes.
The only visible difference in the room was the floating quill and parchment in front of him. He then led me back out and told me to sit anywhere I would like to as he goes and makes my wand. He came back ten or so minutes later.
"Thriteen inches long, supple, black elder with a basilisk's eye as core. Exceptional in every and all fields of magic, but even mote exceptional for curses and the dark arts. Take good care of it." He said and handed over my wand.
It was bone white in colour and had a scarlet lindwurm wrapped around it. The head of the lindwurm was at the tip of the wand and looked like it wanted to bite said tip off. While its two hands were holding onto a black sun symbol.
"Thank you. It's beautiful." I said as I took it from his hands.
And the feeling of holding it is something I will never forget. It was like a missing piece of me, that didn't know existed until now, snapped back into its rightful place. I can't wait to try it out.