"Do you think today's the day?" the current manager of Eeylops Owl Emporium; Eugene Eeylops, called up towards the rafters. Among the rafters sitting on a beam peering down sat a single white snowy owl. "Lots of people will be coming today, back to school season and all that fuss." The snowy owl made a chattering noise and ruffled its feathers at this, as if to say they knew and was ready for it.
"Of course you are!" he muttered with a smile. That owl has been here for some time and has yet to be sold.
He chuckled to himself. His father words made more and more sense to him each and day he opened those doors.
He looked around at all the birds that sat on the display perches and on top of the cages. They were all so ready to go. He set able sweeping around the store picking up what had been missed as the spell to contain the droppings and feathers faded, so he can replace it before the it was time to welcome a new workday of greeting customers. Taking another look up at the white owl, he remembered when he was younger and was finally allowed to work in the family shop. He had been so disgruntled, that there she sat up in the rafters looking down, watching as customer, after customer, would come in and out, look around pick an owl and leave all without a single glance at her.
"Why doesn't she come down?" he asked one day, it made no sense to him. Having her high up in the rafters where no one could see her. She had to be one of the most sought after owls there were, and with a coat like that, she was sure to come at a pretty price too.
"She doesn't want to." his father answered simply.
"Why don't you get her down?"
"Oh, I've tried, and you can bet I'll never do that again. She nearly drove all my customers away in a fit." he chuckled. Why was he laughing, if she can cause that much of a ruckus, she had no business being here among the other birds that wanted to be sold, and paired with a witch or wizard.
"Why not set her free. Clearly she's not made to be a pet." he said irritated. This just seem to make his dad laugh harder.
"Tried that too and yet, here she is. Came right back in, through the front doors no less, the next morning as if that was the plan all along."
"So you leave her up there?"
"I sure do. She's a little old school. Up there waiting for someone special to come in, and there's nothing we can do until she's chosen that witch or wizard." his father said with a distant look in his eye.
"Dad you sure you're not talking about wands or putting your emotions on to some stupid bird?" Eugene asked with an eye roll. His dad laughed as said stupid bird flew down a cuffed me aside my head, before going back up to her perch on the rafters and peering down at me, in what could only be birds version of a glare.
"Could be but you'll start to understand her side a bit more when you've worked here for more than a week." my dad smile before setting me up to another task.
Eugene chuckled as he re-applied the protection spell to the floor and opened the store doors.
He had been stupid not to listen.
The first thing he set out to do when he became manager, was bring that owl down. He was going to sell her if it was the last thing he did. Gee golly was that a mistake. She throw the most tempered fits when he put a barrier spell on the rafters so she couldn't go back up there. Customers where bit, scratched and even pooped on. That poor customer that claimed he could tamer her, that all she needed was a stronger handler. With those words he had a owl cage dropped on his head, and when he thought to use his wand; Well the bill he received was surely enough to warrant others away from her. The place was a constant mess and she would get the other owls worked up knocking over stands, perches, everything. Having about enough he went about to set her free, she flew right back in the next morning much to his frustration. He tried several more time to put her out to little luck. She'd always come back, to the point he had no choice other than to ignore her.
A bell sound broke his daydream as a customer walked in, putting on a smile he asked if he there was anything he needed. This customer looked around with their nose scrunched before asking for an owl but when shown the ones in the store he claimed he wanted something a little more classy more regal looking. Unfortunately he had already made up his mind and anything Eugene tried saying made little way to convince him, that maybe another look around would help find what he was looking for. The customer huffed and left with a threat of going to Knockturn Alley. It's not really a threat if you hear it every day.
"Another one who only wants a trophy, not an owl." Eugene said petting the nearest owl.
This must've been what his father meant. Day in and day out people come in looking for the best of the best, not caring about the bird itself. Just if they looked good enough to show off. Some even go as far as to come back a day or two later, and return the owl and when asked why they claim it's not what they wanted. Of course he had to accept that as an answer, when they answered postive, that the owl was well behaved and made proper deliveries. It was sicken really, when they would then look around and purchase the next one, for what the thought as an upgrade. They were owls no the latest brooms. Of course there was the few that would spot the white owl and ask for her, and he would have to turn them down. Listening to them rant and wave their money about when neither he nor the owl would buge, was always entertaining. Although it did keep him wondering if she would ever leave. If there was any which out there good enough for her.
"-one proud to mine!" a blonde kid finished as he stepped into the shop. His mother and father nodding as if the were listen but you can tell just by looking at them they weren't.
"Hello and how can i help you today." Eugene smiled from behind the counter. Ah yes the Malfoy's, now they are just the type to judge an owl for it's looks, but out of all the ones they have bought, they had never made any returns.
The family ignored him briefly in favor of telling their son to look around.
"We would like to renew our live feed shipment." mr. malfoy said curtly.
"Yes we have a new daily ship-"
"The month will do." mr. malfoy said abruptly.
"Very well, sir! I'll just need you to resign the documents, and make a live feed selection." Eugene smiled back, this was normal for him, rube snappish customers, and he took no hurt pride in this, long as there was a sale. "There has been a few updates, mostly in the selection's location as we have been switched over to a new carrier. Please read through this before you make you final decision." Reaching below the counter he pulled out and handed over, the new form and information packet. Mr. Malfoy grab the packet and began looking it over. Mrs. malfoy stood quietly beside him looking after her son as well as looking around the store. Said kid had been walking around glancing at them all offering small petting here and there before he briskly walk over to his father and waited to be noticed.
"Have you made your choice then?"
"The gray Verreaux's Eagle-Owl over there." the boy said with a point. "I've also decided to name him Archimedes." he continued, as excitement started to show through his cold front.
"What a fine choice, and a great powerful name. You know some legend says that merlin's owl was nothing more than a little brown pygmy owl." Eugene smiled brightly at the kid. He loved when they at least knew what kind of owl it was they were asking for, and not just pointing at saying i'd like the brown one. " while others claim it to be a-."
"Just the one, and a cage." Mr. malfoy stated firmly, placing the packet on the counter and signing it.. The boy looked slightly disappointed, before fixing his face to match his father's. Mrs. malfoy smiled and fixed a stray hair on his head, as they finished up their transaction.
"Alrighty then you're all set, take care." Eugene said waving them out.
With Mr. malfoy holding the door, their son walked out happily, carrying the owl cage with strained and unnecessary care. Mrs. malfoy stood back before looking up, and smiling fondly when she spotted the lone white owl in the rafters.
"A little glad to see her still here." she said. Both mr. malfoy and eugene looked with her. Mr. malfoy having never seen the owl before, made a pass to have it sold to him. Mrs. malfoy gave a mocking laugh, stating flatly. "She's not for sale." beating Eugene to the punch. "At least not to anyone asking." With one last look up she laughed more genuinely when said owl made a show of turning it's back to them. Getting the message she left to following her son.
"Maybe for the right price?" Mr. malfoy asked raising an eyebrow.
"She's a very picky owl, sir and will become quite tempered if we push it." He said dropping his smile slightly.
Mr. malfoy frowned at this, as if not understanding why the man didn't just name a price.
"Trust the man, I have seen the results." Mrs. malfoy said just outside the door. "We need to get going before the stores fill up." Still not satisfied but not wanting to hold off their shopping any longer Mr. malfoy left with a nod.
"Phew." he said once he was alone. It would have been the end of him and the shop, if he pushed for her. Knowing that owl like he did, Mr. malfoy would have it out for him, if she had done anything to make her displeasure known. "Well it's kinda nice to know their are people who remember you, and even those who understand." Eugene said as he collected the sign packet and placed it in a out box to be filed at gringotts let today.
He smiled again as another customer walked in with their children.