"I'm-" Abey paused, cleared his throat a little, and spoke up slightly louder this time. It was actually quite important really, because of all the owls that were in the shop and also trying to talk to each other. "I'm Abey."

Now they'd shared NAMES, that meant they were FRIENDS. AND the other boy, Théo, was going to help him. Abey broke into a huge great big wide toothy grin, and continued with sudden gusto.

"Thank you! Well, see. You see, I want to get up those shelves," the eight year old turned and pointed way up up up at the shelves, to where the cuddly toy he had his heart set on for grandpa sat. "To get that toy there. It's a gift, you see. Or it will be a gift. But first I need to get it, but I need to get up there, so I need to climb up there, but I don't want to fall, you see, so I need a boost."

Abey paused, and chewed on his lip a little bit. "It's for my grandpa, and it's a surprise, you see. So I can't get one of my grown-ups. My parents, I mean. So... I, um... I..." He trailed off, and his grin turned back into a more characteristic shy smile, and dug the toe of one of his trainers into the ground.

Abey, cool.

Now they could be friends. Just like him and Katherine. The really smart girl who wanted to be a Ravenclaw really really badly. Hopefully she would get to be a Ravenclaw because Théo did not want to see her angry. He turned and looked at where Abey was pointing. So he wanted the toy. Okay Théo got it. They were both to short to get up and there and he wanted it to be a surprise. So that meant no grown ups. He was cool with that. They would only ask stuff anyway and all he wanted was the toy. Plus this was a secret mission with no adult allowed. That sounded cool in his head.

"So a gift for your grandpa. Nice. He will like it i'm sure. So you want me to give you a boost. I can do that."

Just he hoped not for too long since he was not that strong. But it looked like he already knew the toy he wanted.

"And no grown up allowed on this mission. Got It....Also could you get me the the one to the right of where you were pointing, please." Théo asked pointing at it "My sister might like that one"

He did not think he was going to get a chance to get anything on the top shelf.

"So how do you want the boost?"

This was the bestest best news ever ever in the history of best news! Abey broke out into the biggest big big big smile ever, and looked back up at the toy on the shelf that was sure to be his now.

AND the one next to it too, because-

"Yep! I sure can. I can get them both and then we'll both have gifts for both our family people and that's the bestest thing ever." Aside from getting a present for his grandpa, Abey couldn't wait until he told Hassan all about his great adventure, and how he faced a problem and solved it all without a grown-up. In fact, he considered getting a toy each for 'San and Lilian, too, and maybe also Junia and Aaron... and Alanna and Rula and Eureka and and and nO ABEY. FOCUS.

Toy for grandpa. Toy for Théo's sister. One adventure at a time. Well, more like two, but these counted as ONE adventure, so that was okay.

"Uhhh..." Théo raised a good point. HOW were they going to do this? Abey stood and stared at the shelves for a moment, biting at the tip of his finger as he thought about it... then looked around the immediate area to check the coast was clear. He stepped closer to the shelves and beckoned Théo closer too. "If you just, um..." How did boosts work? Abey wasn't sure, but he was fairly certain there was no magic involved. "Help my foot. I mean... hold my foot... I mean..." He cast about his mind for the words, trying to sound like he knew what he was doing. "Oh, I know! You make a step for me, with your hands, see? And then I can climb UP and get right onto the shelves, and use them like a ladder!"

Genius. Baby Abey was a genius.

He needed a new owl, it was something he had been dreading to do. He liked his old owl, but old meant the bird hadn't much tie left and when he came down a few weeks ago it was the day he didn't want to see come. Now he was needing a new one, because greenhouses didn't run on just what he did in his office. No he needed a new owl for orders and payments. So here he was.

Though he was looking for an owl Alan took the shelves first. He needed to gather a few things for her mother as well. Each of his family members had their own owls at work, so he was given a list of things to get before going back. Plants he was good at, knowing certain foods and treats for a bird, not so much.

It was just around this time that Nolan question why he was not eating then he remember that he had a job to do and he would do it to the best of his ability then eat. Probably a steak. Sounded good to Nolan. But first above all this he had customers to take care of. He walked down the aisle scowling as he moved down more aisles. Really people should put items back where they should go. Everything was LABELED. Really it was he did it last week.

Grumble. Grumble. Grumble.

Oh look a customer.

"Need help with anything?"

Nolan asked with his usual permanent scowl on his face

Just as he was pulling off a bag of feed, that very moment when you aren't expecting anything or anyone, that is when he was asked if he needed any help. Startled by the person he let go of the bag of feed and it couldn't have just fell tot he floor. Oh no it had to break open and small owl food rolled all over the floor.

This was embarrassing..

Alan looked up at the man and fully knew it wasn't the person to just dump food in front of being that it was the shopkeeper. "Terribly sorry, didn't mean to do that." He pulled out his wand and cleaned up the mess. "I'll be getting this bag and some treats for a few work owls." He turned more towards the shopkeep as his eyes moved around the shop. "An owl too, I need an owl."

-____-

Why Why did this have to happen to him. He was only asking and look at what happened. Nolan mental face-palmed. He did not need this today or any other day for that matter. He was going to ask if he had the money to pay for it. But it sounded like he wanted the bag and some treats. Then a owl. Just great, all the more chance for him to screw up more stuff in his shop.Nolan watched as he cleaned up the mess. Uh, amateur. Stay professional Nolan. This is A PAYING CUSTOMER.

"You missed over there"

Nolan pointed to his left

"Once this is cleaned up then we can talk about owls"

He missed a spot, UGH, UGH, and more UGH as Alan hurried onto the ground to look to make sure he got every last piece. He couldn't leave any out. That would be nice. No, he had to clean it up it was his fault. So once he had looked under the shelves and around the feet of a few Alan got back up off his knees and gave the man a smile, "All clean, I promise."

He brushed off his slacks and looked around again. Green eyes noticing some of the treats the company's owls liked so much he grabbed bag before fulling turning towards the shopkeeper once more. The six foot man was never good at things that weren't plants, and he was realizing this yet again at this moment.

"So owls, yes, I need one of those. Mine died a month ago." Plenty of time to morn now it was time to get a new set of wings.

Nolan crossed his arms and tapped his foot as he watched him work. That floor better be spotless. He stared and watched some more and luck would have it the guy did perfect job. Not a spot left. Not even underneath the shelves. Thank Merlin. Nolan did not want to come early tomorrow and clean.

Nolan gruffed and nodded. All Clean.

Nolan just his wand out as he saw the customer grab something else. Probably would drop and open this bag also. Can't be too careful now could he.

Need one of those. Please dont tell me that is how he talks about owls. Because now that is one way never to talk about a living breathing animal. Merlin man show some courtesy for these owls. They carry your mail around the world and all you have to do is take care of them. Nolan would have been shaking his head if not for the fact. He wanted to remain professional.

"Sad, know what kind you were looking to buy?"

Alan kind of looked at the man and then again at the owls, was there really a difference in them? He just needed one that could fly and get his things to costumers on time. Was that so much to ask?

"Ummm"

He kept looking around, "A fast one?" Yeah that's about all he had to decide on what he wanted. "He will be used to send orders and invoices. To collect on bills that need paid." That's the kind of owl Alan was there for.

So they guy wanted an owl but from the looks of it did not know. What type of owl he wanted at all. Well Nolan guessed he would have to help him since it was his job and all. But before he could even say anything. He asked for a fast one

"You don' want a fast one, you want a stronger one. One that can hold all the orders and invoices. Unless you want the owl to drop everything for speed on the way to its destination?"

Well there were mixes of course. Some owls were pretty fast and strong. But they would get to those.

Nolan had to figure out the mans price range.

He looked at the man and then around the room. He didn't want a fast one, but yet he felt he needed one. Well the man should know. "No I can't have them dropping things. We do have a few owls to do bigger orders together, but yes maybe a stronger owl would be better. May I see what you recommend."

He started walking to looking at the owl, some of them seemed pretty nice. Moving his finger towards one of the cages he jumped back as it nipped at him.

He moved to another one, "What about this owl?" He looked small, but maybe he was just young.

Her owl Samwise was in need of more food as well as a new toy, considering he'd ripped his last one to shreds by this point.

It felt weird being in Diagon Alley this summer, not only because Jenna had spent her seventh year in France but also because she was a graduate now. She was really, officially, an adult. That was an odd thing to think about, both exciting and terrifying at the same time.

She was finally going to go to uni fully and work toward her dream of being a Magizoologist. Just what kind of Magizoologist, she wasn't sure yet. There were so many fascinating creatures in the world - how could she narrow down her focus to just a few?

All these thoughts had her moving on a sort of auto-pilot, walking to the proper section of shelves, picking up the owl food pellets, turning to head toward the counter-

-bumping her hand against one of the insect jars and knocking it onto the floor. The resulting loud sound jolted her back to the present.

Crud. Merlin. Was it busted?

Was that something breaking he heard. Nolan was just writing up some things he needed for the shop when he heard the noise. It was not that busy right then. So bit unlucky for the kid. Nolan slowly got up and went over to the noise looking to see who did it and if it was broken because that meant he would have to clean up and that was not something he wanted to do today.

Curse his pessimistic ways because there was a kid and there was a broken glass.

Staring. He was staring....More Work.

"Need....Help...With...Anything?"

It came out colder than he wanted.

Oh...crud.

The jar definitely busted, and now the shopkeeper had appeared and was giving her the nastiest look.

Merlin. This was not how Jenna had pictured this day going. She just wanted some food for her owl, buuut no, of course her day couldn't have gone that simply.

Resisting the urge to run, she shook her head, eyes on the ground - partly out of awkwardness, partly just to look for the insect that probably escaped. "No, I..." Wait, that movement... There it was!

"Protego!" Her wand was out, and the first spell that came to mind was used, stopping the insect from crawling under the shelves. She then knelt down and cupped her hand over it to further trap it - without squashing it.

"At least your bug is okay?" That was a good thing, right, angry shopkeeper man?

Nolan was still look at her and then at the floor. Well was she going to do the adult thing and clean it up or was she going to leave all the work to him. He was still waiting and having yours eyes at the ground like you are sorry is not going to help. Kids. If you are sorry just don't break things in the first place. Simple. Now she was trying to say something.

Nolan waited for some story

But surprisingly she saved a single bug. The shopkeeper sighed brought out his wand, fixed up the jar, and bent down to grab it. At least she could have done that. Unless she was still in school. He held out the jar for her to place the bug in. He was apparently going to spend his afternoon bug hunting.


Can't insult customers.

Can't insult customers.

Can't insult customers.

".....Need Help with Anything and are you done breaking items?"

He tried. He now needed a sign out front that says if you break it you buy it.

Leaving her beloved father behind at the Quidditch Supply Shop, Isabel walked in the Owl Emporium, in search for any enjoyable toy for her father's snowy-white owl "FIFA." Yes, she knew it was a really weird name for an owl, but her father had travelled through out the world, in between the muggle and the wizarding world, and he'd come across soccer. It was a strange sport, just like Quidditch, it attracted many people for entertainment, and he'd gotten fond to it; naming his owl after the international Football Association.
At thememory of this, Isabel smiled; her father had always given her many warm and happy memories, unlike her mother.

Staring at the many shelves filled with rows of caged owls, Isabel blinked and notices a first set of shelves containing many jars with different kinds of insects; some were colorful, but the rest were all plain green. They came in different sizes. Would that fit on Fifa's beck? she thought, as she grabbed a strange looking insect's jar that stood in front of her eyes.

The stange looking insect was dark blue and it was a little bigger than the rest of the insects laying around. As she turned around with the jar in her hand, she bumped into someone. "Sorry," Isabel said, holding a tight grip on the jar, she wouldn't have loved the idea of the creature walking around on the floor...or even on her clothes!

Growing up on a farm meant that James was well accustomed to all sorts of animals, which was why he was not keen on the majority of potential pets listed as acceptable by Hogwarts staff. Cat? Boooooring and their claws were always scratching him. Toad? He had caught loads of those at the pond near his home. But an owl? Now THAT was something that was special.

Which was why he had ignored the other pet shop in the Alley and ended up here. But WHICH owl to pick?

He supposed he ought to start with getting a cage first though. Hence his blue eyes scanning the options and, naturally, picking the one highest up and out of his reach as the one he just HAD to have. Never fear, he was good at climbing trees so he could make easy work out of these shelves.

Which was currently what James was right smack in the middle of doing,
scaling the shelves and knocking a few boxes and jars off as he went.

Emmeline practically skipped down Diagon Alley and into the owl shop. Finally, time to buy her owl! She had been saving her pocket money for a whole year so she could buy her own owl.

Entering the shop, Emmeline was practically bouncing on her heels as she made towards the owls when a GROSS INSECT JAR came out of nowhere and landed on her head! She gave a little scream from surprise and, despite being totally grossed out, she dived for the jar and snatched it up right before it hit the floor. Good, she didn't want to waste ANY of her money and especially not on paying the shopkeeper back for that. Glancing up to see how the stupid jar had ended up on her head, she saw that a boy was climbing the shelves and knocking stuff off everywhere!

She was all for climbing and bending the rules, but really. He was going to destroy half the stock doing that, and the grown ups were probably just around the corner! Did he want to get caught? Boys were SO weird.

For a moment she was tempted to grab the gross insect jar back off the shelf and throw it at his back to get his attention, but she didn't want to get kicked out because of some dumb boy before she even got her owl! And she would get kicked out, because she was standing right here where all the stuff was falling, and grown ups would of course think she had been throwing things too. It wasn't like she could tattle on this boy, and that was the only way (other than getting him to jump down) she could see to get out of this situation without being skinned alive by the shopkeeper.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Emmeline called up to the boy as quietly as she could without attracting attention, but just loud enough that the boy could hear her. She moved closer to the shelves in an effort to catch at least SOME of the jars before they hit the floor. More gross insects! This boy had better have a good reason for this.

The idea of owning pets was...well, quite frankly, disgusting. Javi already had a cat he didn't want, and cleaning the liter box for the thing was already bad enough. Now he had to get an OWL?

The only reason he was here today was because his parent's owl, Milan, had reached her retirement age. She could barely fly to the next city, let alone to another country. Therefore, it was out of necessity that he found himself shopping for another owl. Despite the fact that Karina had not responded ONCE to his letters, he had to keep trying to reach out to her for Camila's sake.

Plus, when he someday had to fill out lease applications for his own place, it would just be easier.

The downside was, of course, another stinky animal to clean up after.

He was treading in dangerous waters, too. Camila's favorite new word was "puppy" and she screamed it nearly 20 times a day. He was setting a precedent here that might bite him in the butt in the future.

Ah well. If it made his daughter happy he SUPPOSED he could start a small zoo at some point...much later. Much MUCH later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NifflerFan

Emmeline practically skipped down Diagon Alley and into the owl shop. Finally, time to buy her owl! She had been saving her pocket money for a whole year so she could buy her own owl.

Entering the shop, Emmeline was practically bouncing on her heels as she made towards the owls when a GROSS INSECT JAR came out of nowhere and landed on her head! She gave a little scream from surprise and, despite being totally grossed out, she dived for the jar and snatched it up right before it hit the floor. Good, she didn't want to waste ANY of her money and especially not on paying the shopkeeper back for that. Glancing up to see how the stupid jar had ended up on her head, she saw that a boy was climbing the shelves and knocking stuff off everywhere!

She was all for climbing and bending the rules, but really. He was going to destroy half the stock doing that, and the grown ups were probably just around the corner! Did he want to get caught? Boys were SO weird.

For a moment she was tempted to grab the gross insect jar back off the shelf and throw it at his back to get his attention, but she didn't want to get kicked out because of some dumb boy before she even got her owl! And she would get kicked out, because she was standing right here where all the stuff was falling, and grown ups would of course think she had been throwing things too. It wasn't like she could tattle on this boy, and that was the only way (other than getting him to jump down) she could see to get out of this situation without being skinned alive by the shopkeeper.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Emmeline called up to the boy as quietly as she could without attracting attention, but just loud enough that the boy could hear her. She moved closer to the shelves in an effort to catch at least SOME of the jars before they hit the floor. More gross insects! This boy had better have a good reason for this.

James had heard the yelp, but that was behind him and why look back when you had your sights set forward. You know? He did. He didn't really care what anyone else thought about the matter. No one in his family seemed to care what he thought either, so why start caring about other's opinions now?

Using his foot to shove a jar of something out of the way, the blonde continued to climb high and higher and he was aaaalmoooooooost there... "Uuuh...climbing? What's it look like?" he called down to the girl, giving her a weird look of 'duh' as he reached out and stretched his fingers towards the cage. Ugh. Still not high enough.

If only he could use magic NOW. Stupid rule about having to be of age to do magic outside of school.

Just ignore the fact the he did not yet own a wand. That was the last thing on his Hogwarts list and something Noe had to go with him to do.

This was not what she wanted to be doing, but when her older owl, the owl she had since she started school had passed away she had to get past the mourning stage and get herself a new owl. So after work she headed to the shop and opened the door.

Looking around the dark shop she didn't even know what she wanted let alone if she truly get herself to buy another owl at the moment. After the Zoo charity event and the niffler napper she had been on edge and now this was just pushing the usual happy woman into a somber mood. As she walked around looking at all the big eyed faces she couldn't even truly see anything that jumped out at her.

Except...


Yes, she knew that face. "Hello, getting an owl as well." What was his name again? She remembered seeing him when she had her baby niffler in her bag. She smiled at the man as she tried to remember his name It was something pretty interesting, but why couldn't she remember.

Emmeline stretched out to catch ANOTHER jar of gross insects. She was tempted to throw it at his blonde head when he used that "stupid people" tone with her.

She should really just go get her owl. But...she didn't feel comfortable leaving this boy who CLEARLY had the wits of a small mountain troll hanging off the wall by himself. He'd probably fall and break his neck, so SOMEONE had to stand here to catch him. She didn't think much of his climbing skills.

As she watched the boy stretching for a cage STILL out of his reach -- what was the point of climbing then? -- Emmeline sighed. She wished she had gone wand shopping already; the troll-boy would probably bring ALL the shelves down when Emmeline knew there would be a spell to get the cage down.

It was SO tempting to throw this jar at his head.

"You know, there are people down here with WANDS who can get that cage in two seconds. You're wrecking half the shop!" She didn't have a wand, but grown ups did and there were plenty of grown ups around to ask. She also felt sorry for the poor shopkeeper; troll-boy had smashed A LOT of jars (in her opinion). She used the same "duhh" tone he'd used with her. And she couldn't help adding: "Not much of a climber, are you?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by NifflerFan

Emmeline stretched out to catch ANOTHER jar of gross insects. She was tempted to throw it at his blonde head when he used that "stupid people" tone with her.

She should really just go get her owl. But...she didn't feel comfortable leaving this boy who CLEARLY had the wits of a small mountain troll hanging off the wall by himself. He'd probably fall and break his neck, so SOMEONE had to stand here to catch him. She didn't think much of his climbing skills.

As she watched the boy stretching for a cage STILL out of his reach -- what was the point of climbing then? -- Emmeline sighed. She wished she had gone wand shopping already; the troll-boy would probably bring ALL the shelves down when Emmeline knew there would be a spell to get the cage down.

It was SO tempting to throw this jar at his head.

"You know, there are people down here with WANDS who can get that cage in two seconds. You're wrecking half the shop!" She didn't have a wand, but grown ups did and there were plenty of grown ups around to ask. She also felt sorry for the poor shopkeeper; troll-boy had smashed A LOT of jars (in her opinion). She used the same "duhh" tone he'd used with her. And she couldn't help adding: "Not much of a climber, are you?"

And he was told that he was dramatic. A couple of shelves were hardly half the shop, so he was going to ignore her like he did mum and Noe when they were fussing at him about something or another. Although he did make faces to mimic her as he continued to climb up one last shelf.

"I climb trees all the time in the orchard," he retorted as he reeeeeaaaaaaaached for the cage and felt his fingers brush against the metal. "...AND we have a big cedar tree out back that I climb to the top of ALL the time." So she could go take her insults and stick them up her nose since she seemed to like sticking THAT in other people's business.

And yes, he was totally ignoring the wand comment...because mature like that.

"I'm gonna need you to catch this for me," he announced as his fingers pushed the cage closer towards the edge and blatantly ignoring any reluctance in her voice. He was lacking in stature sooooooo still not reaching it enough to just be able to grab it off the shelf. "On the count of three...one..two...THREE!"

Dooooooooooown went the cage towards the floor.

"Hello?", Aurora asked, looking around for the shopkeeper.

As she waited, she smiled at her (well, it was almost hers) owlet and tried to think of a name. Persephone? Minerva? Ophelia? She'd have to come up with the just the right one.