Chapter-16 Pets
The wizards had clearly continued their one of everything policy, but whilst there appeared to be stacked with wizards, here they were stacked with cages. All of which appeared to full of animals. Every kind including owls, toads, cats, rats, snakes and even large spiders, the room itself was what you'd expect from wizards, dusty, unclean and undermanaged. It lacked things as simple as heating, air conditioning. The magical world was a lot less magical once you started seeing it impartially.
The three friends separated in the pet store, Hermione went to look at the owls whilst Ron and Harry went to the front desk to discuss tonics for Harry's pet rat. Orval thought he may introduce himself to one of the pets, and walked over to the coolest pets one could get, the snakes. Though Orval wasn't one who would favour statue over practicality there was something cool about the idea of an animal that could bite someone's snake off. Though come to think of it that could be quite useful ally were he to train it effectively. Hmm...
"So how long have you had him" the lady asked, clearly a scouse accent.
"Well my family found him when he was thirteen years old" replied Ron.
"A common rat like this shouldn't be expected to live longer than 3 years, well if you're looking for something a bit more long term these rats should suffice" pointing to a group of Black rats, a few of which did somersaults.
"Show-offs" muttered Ron.
"Well if you don't want a replacement I suppose you could try this tonic here" suggested the witch, passing a small bottle with a purplish liquid towards Ron who promptly paid for it.
"Soooo, errr, which animal do want" feeling incredibly awkward talking to a little girl like this.
"hmm I had wanted an owl but according to this, these kind cats are apparently very intelligent" she said, she had a mist of the annoying kind of shopper, who would never make up their mind.
"Well snakes are intelligent too" pointed out Orval, "plus you could sick em on Ron when he's being a jerk"
"Why would you think Ron is a jerk?" asked Hermione. She said, but her voice had an element of frustration in her voice.
"He's tall, tall people push little people out of the way. They're arrogant because they don't know what's it like to be on the receiving end. You just get less respect when people look have to crouch down to look them in the eye" he lectured with clear bitterness in his voice. He had his biomec to be taller than average, after spending his life being about a foot smaller than everyone else.
Hermione changed the subject, she clearly didn't believe him, as she shouldn't.
"Well I'm going to buy myself a pet" Orval said walking to the counter.
"One snake please" he said as if buying groceries. The witch eyed him suspicously