Chapter 4
Hibiscus
The next day in Diagon Alley was rather quiet, perhaps the world in shock because of the Dark Mark. That had been what You Know Who's sign, and it was no good. No one had seen it in years, and the wizarding community was in shock. There was also no sign of the mysterious man who had produced it. The minister had questioned me, as Seamus and I heard him cast it but neither of us saw him, as we were encased behind a wall.
Seamus. The other thing I couldn't get out of my head. Just the thought of him had me smiling. I felt as if I was living in a dream-like state; his constant rampage into my thoughts driving me wild. My head told me to snap out of it. He's told old for me and would never be interested…but of course my heart wasn't listening. It was going at over a hundred miles a minute, ridiculously fast and taking me higher. Cheyenne (who had also joined us in Diagon Alley) and Vanna definitely noticed.
"Kat," I didn't hear my name.
"KATERINA!"
"WHAT!"
Vanna shook her head, "you've been standing here, staring into the crystal ball for almost five minutes!"
"Oh,"
"What's up with you today?" Cheyenne asked, "You're so distracted,"
"Sorry, I-,"
"She's been in Seamus-land," Iris waltzed up behind me.
"Iris!"
"Seamus who?" Cheyenne looked puzzled.
"You haven't told her yet?" Vanna asked. Great, I thought. This was just lovely. I wasn't planning on telling Cheyenne about him; knowing her she would just pester me continuously.
"Cat's out of the bag," Iris said.
"Who's Seamus?" Cheyenne repeated. I sighed and began retelling the Seamus encounter.
"Wow," said Cheyenne when I had finished. She paused, then smiled.
"What?"
"He's like Prince Charming, only better…like a knight in shining amour,"
"Prince Who?" I rarely understood Cheyenne's muggle references. (Cheyenne's father is a wizard, her mom is a muggle)
"Never mind," she said, "anyways he's perfect,"
"Pfft, Hardly," Iris chortled, "Can't go a thing without blowing something up. You don't want to be around him and Transfiguration homework,"
"So what? He saved me,"
"He may have, but don't get your hopes up. He's a fourth year, and you're first and he wouldn't date you,"
"I don't want him to date me!" But I knew that Iris could tell I was lying.
She smirked, "In any case, Mum told me to take you guys down to Eyelops,"
"Why? We have Rocco," Rocco was our family's great horned owl.
"Mum said we could each choose a pet,"
"Really?"
"Yes," she nodded. I grinned weighing all the possibilities.
We arrived at the shop.
"What should I get?" I surveyed Vanna and Cheyenne.
"Owl!" Cheyenne said, "I'm getting one1"
"Rat!" Vanna cried excitedly. I shook my head. My sister had a strange taste in animals. I debated in my head. Owls were nice. Intelligent. Excellent mail carriers. But I had always wanted something else. Something to cuddle with. Something to be there no matter what. Owls are beautiful creatures, but not cuddly in the least. Plus there was Rocco, and if I really needed to, I could use a school owl.
"What about a cat?" I asked.
"Really? They pee everywhere!" It is said, looking disgusted.
"Mine won't," I told her looking past her towards Magical Menagerie, the pet store.
"Fine. Don't come to me with a wet bed,"
I rolled my eyes and turned to Cheyenne and Vanna, whose reactions were much more positive.
"Yes, get a kitten!" Vanna agreed.
Cheyenne nodded enthusiastically, "let's look!"
Kittens of every color were sold at the shop. Some fluffy, others short haired, or completely hairless. There was one kitten, however, that was in a cage of its own. It was the most beautiful cat I had ever seen; her head and paws a dark brown, while the rest of her body was a tan cream color.
"She's a feisty one," the sales wizard notices me peering into the cage.
"Is she?"
"Can't get anyone near her. Came all the way from Thailand, that Siamese, and she won't let anyone in without clawing their eyes out,"
"Oh," But somehow, his warning had me more intrigued.
"Let me hold her," I told the wizard.
"You sure about that?" he inquired, quizzingly. I nodded.
"Sure I'm Sure,'"
He shrugged and unlocked the cage and reached in to take her out. She hissed profusely, scratching his hands as she was lowered into mine.
"You don't do that," I scolded her. She stopped squirming and looked up at me, and in that moment, it was as if she had a total change of heart. I stoked her back, and she mewed, purring in my arms.
"Merlin's beard," the sales wizard said, "guess she found the one,"
"Guess she did," I agreed.
"What will you call her?" Cheyenne asked. I smiled.
"Hibiscus,"