Diagon Alley was lively, but not nearly as crowded as it tended to be the week before Hogwarts opened.
Dodging her way between slow walking shoppers and eager vendors, Hermione arrived at Magical Menagerie. It was a cramped little shop with owls, cats, toads, snakes and more animals that Hermione couldn't even identify. It smelled vaguely unpleasant.
Holding her breath, Hermione headed to the counter in the back. The shopkeeper was a middle aged man in dark robes. He seemed to be wrestling with a light gray cat.
"Ah c'mon Freddy. You can do this. It will be over quickly if you cooperate."
The man made a valiant grab for Freddy, but the cat gracefully jumped on top of his head, using it as a springboard to jump on a large cage that held several Nifflers.
Hermione approached cautiously. "Hello. I was wondering if you offered owls for rent?"
"Yes we do! How long would you like to rent the owl?"
"How about a week?"
"Of course. You can browse our rentable owls on the right here. The owls that are not available for rent are on the left."
"Thank you."
To his right- her left- there was a large, noisy cage nestled into a recessed corner. Inside, fIve owls were comfortably seated on various perches. There was a large black owl grooming its wing on the top perch. Hermione brought her hand near it carefully. The owl looked away, disinterested.
Suddenly, an owl from the bottom of the cage flew up to eye level.
"Hoo," it said. The owl stared at her. It was the smallest owl in the cage, with a round little body and a cute head half as big as its body. The owls' wings were tiny. Its eyes had large black pupils with a ring of blue around them. Despite looking so small, large orange feathers above its eyes gave the appearance of bushy eyebrows.
Hermione was in love.
"May I please have this one?"
The shopkeeper came over to look at which owl Hermione had chosen.
"Oh Aza! She is such a sweet owl. She will take care of you." He left and returned shortly with a small cage.
"C'mon Aza! C'mon girl." Aza chirped at the shopkeeper and stayed right where she was. The shopkeeper reached into his pocket and pulled out a container with strawberries. He took out one strawberry and put it in the cage.
Aza was easily swayed. She promptly jumped into the little cage and started poking the strawberry with her little beak.
"It's just a little treat to get her into the cage but owls mainly eat small bugs and insects," the shopkeeper informed her. Seeing her shudder he smiled and said, "don't worry we have petrified owl snacks. You don't have to catch any bugs. She will catch her food herself if you let her out to hunt."
"Thanks," Hemione said in relief.
"Aza is very friendly. That will be 27 Knuts to rent for the week. If you rent it for longer, we can give you a discount. Did you want to add any petrified owl snacks?"
"Yes, could you please include enough snacks for a week? A week is fine for now. Is it possible for me to change how long I will keep her later?"
"Yes, of course. Just send her here with a letter explaining how long you want to extend your rental for and include the payment."
Eager to exit the smelly shop, Hermione quickly counted out the money and grabbed Aza's cage.
Hermione left the Magical Menagerie, Aza perched comfortably on her shoulder. She strolled through Diagon Alley, reveling in the magical atmosphere. As she passed Flourish and Blotts, she noticed Neville Longbottom struggling with a bag full of plants.
"Hi Neville!" she called out, catching his attention.
Neville looked up, a wide smile breaking across his face. "Hermione! How are you?"
"I'm doing well. How about you?" she replied, gesturing to Aza.
"That's great! I'm just trying to find some moss and insects for Trevor," Neville explained, pointing to the toad perched on his shoulder.
Hermione remembered the mention of insects at the Magical Menagerie and decided to help. "Actually, I heard the shopkeeper at the Menagerie down the street saying that they have petrified bugs and insects. Maybe he can help you out!"
Neville's eyes lit up with gratitude. "That would be fantastic! Thanks, Hermione."
As they chatted about their purchases and plans for the summer, Hermione couldn't help but feel how much her friendship with Neville had grown.
"I can't stay and chat for long," Hermione said, conscious that her Mom would be anxious to get home soon, "but how has your summer been?"
"It's been alright," Neville smiled. "Just working on my garden. You'll never guess what my gran got me."
"What?"
"A Lumiblossom bud!"
Hermione gasped. Lumiblossoms were incredibly pretty and rare flowers.
"That's amazing! Have you planted it already?"
"Yes. It needs starlight and moonlight so I've had some late nights making sure it's getting the care it needs. I really really want it to be healthy."
"That was so sweet of your gran. Where did she get the bud?"
"Someone she worked with offered them to her, I think."
"Oh wow."
"Yeah."
Neville looked down as Aza let out a small hoot. "Oh and who's this? You finally got an owl, Hermione?"
"This is Aza! Actually I got her so I could communicate with you."
"Really?" Neville smiled.
"Yes! I can't explain it right now but if you're interested in hanging out in the muggle world let me know."
"Hmm, I've never been." Neville said, noncommittal.
"I'm inviting Ron and Harry as well. I really do have to get going right now but here." Hermione pulled out the letter she had written for Neville.
"Ok. I'll let you know!"
"Ok, bye Neville!" Hermione was about to attempt a hug goodbye but decided against it considering everything she and Neville were holding.
"Bye, Hermione." Neville smiled and they parted, Hermione headed towards the Leaky Cauldron, and Neville towards Magical Menagerie.
"HOOOOO. HOOOOOT"
Hermione's Mom glanced to the backseat where Aza's cage had been secured in the seat with a seatbelt.
"I better not find owl droppings in the living room, Hermione."
Hermione laughed. Then abruptly stopped, realizing she hadn't asked about Aza's bathroom training.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm sure she's potty trained."
"I hope so. How did it go?"
"Good! I ran into Neville."
"Oh yes, what a nice boy. I talked to his mother. Or wait, she's his grandmother, right?"
"Yes. His parents are both dead."
"That's terrible. It's hard raising a child even when both parents are there."
"Yeah it's sad. His grandmother is on the Wizengamot. It's like the Parliament."
"Really? And does he treat you well?"
"Yeah, he's really nice."
"I'm glad you have some people you can rely on."
Hermione thought back to early in the year, when she and Neville had started to hang out more.
~around 9 months ago~
The Hogwarts greenhouse was a vibrant oasis of greenery, and Hermione Granger found herself there, her curiosity piqued by the array of magical plants that adorned the shelves. To her surprise, she discovered Neville Longbottom expertly tending to a group of Venomous Tentaculas, coaxing them into a state of calm with a few measured words.
Intrigued, Hermione approached with a questioning smile. "Neville, I never realized you were so adept at handling Venomous Tentaculas. That's impressive!"
Neville chuckled, a newfound confidence in his demeanor. "Well, I've spent quite a bit of time with them. They're not as tough as they look once you understand their language."
"Language? Do plants have languages?" Hermione asked, genuinely curious.
Neville nodded. "Oh yes, they communicate in their own ways. The Tentaculas respond well to a soothing tone and some gentle encouragement."
She approached Neville with a heavy sigh, her usually focused expression clouded by frustration.
"Neville, do you ever feel caught in the middle of something you'd rather not be?" Hermione asked, her gaze fixed on the Venomous Tentaculas.
Neville, sensing her distress, set down his pruning shears and turned to face her. "Yeah, Hermione. I know the feeling. What's going on?"
Hermione hesitated before pouring out her frustrations. "It's Harry and Ron. They're not talking to each other, and I feel like I'm the go-between, passing messages and trying to mend their friendship."
Neville nodded in understanding. "I've been there, Hermione. Friends can be tricky sometimes. You try to help, and it feels like you're walking on eggshells."
She sighed, "Exactly! I thought I could bring them together, but it's like talking to a Blast-Ended Skrewt."
Neville chuckled, "Skrewts can be tough, but friendship is trickier. It takes time, and sometimes you can't force it. They'll come around."
"But what if they don't?" Hermione's frustration spilled into her words.
Neville nodded, "I get it. But sometimes, people need a bit of space. They'll figure it out, and if they don't, well, you've done your best."
Hermione, appreciating Neville's empathy, smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Neville. It's just... it's hard seeing them like this."
Neville looked down, avoiding her eyes. He spoke, slowly. "Hermione… do you… remember first year?"
"Yes, what about it?"
"Well, I overheard you and Harry and Ron. You were planning to go to the third floor corridor. I thought it was a bad idea. I tried to stop you, remember?"
Suddenly Hermione remembered. Neville standing in front of them, his wand out. Neville falling over, petrified. Who had cast the spell, was it her? Hermione cringed.
"Oh yeah. I never apologized for that. I'm so sorry that you were cursed, Neville. You were just trying to look out for us."
Neville looked up then. He flashed her a tiny smile. "Thanks, I really appreciate that. But the reason I brought it up is because I was also worried. I thought you guys would be hurt or that you would feel betrayed by me. I thought you wouldn't want to be my friends anymore."
Hermione swallowed. This time she was the one who lowered her eyes. Suddenly she had many regrets. She wished she had talked to Neville about this first year when it happened. It was understandable she had other things on her mind in that moment, but why hadn't she discussed it afterwards?
"That's just one example. But things happen. Sometimes we hurt our friends. It's unfortunate but it's also inevitable. Especially when you are friends for as long as we have been. And you, Harry and Ron are so close. That makes it even more likely, doesn't it?"
Hermione pondered what Neville was saying. She couldn't quite say that she agreed with him but it was definitely something she wanted to think about. She smiled at him.
"You know, I never realized how wise you are."
"Uh-huh. Says the brightest witch of our age," Neville teased back.
"Oh, hush. Give me those shears. It's much easier to do this with two people."
"How could I say no? Wouldn't want to get petrified," Neville continued teasing with a smile as he handed her the shears.
Hermione laughed.
~back in the present~
Meanwhile, back at the Magical Menagerie, Neville was browsing the insect and bug area. Staring at a petrified grasshopper that looked frozen in pain, Neville felt the ice cream he had eaten earlier disagreeing with him.
Suddenly, a house elf wearing blue, red, and yellow garments frantically entered the shop. His eyes widened as he scanned the cages, searching for something.
"Excuse me," he squeaked, approaching Neville. "Have you bought the owl?"
Neville froze in surprise, then shook his head. "No. Are you talking about a small blue and orange owl? I didn't buy her. Hermione rented her for a week."
Libsy's large eyes widened in panic. "Oh no, oh no! Where is the owl? Libsy must find her!"
Neville tried to calm the distressed house elf. "Don't worry, she's with Hermione. She's just renting it for a week."
Libsy turned to the shopkeeper. "Did a nice young lady really rent Aza?"
The shopkeeper nodded with a smile. "Yes, she did. A lovely girl, she seemed quite fond of Aza. Don't worry; your owl is in good hands."
Relieved, Libsy thanked the shopkeeper and turned to Neville. "Thank you, kind sir. Libsy was worried."
Neville reassured him, "No problem at all. Hermione is a responsible witch. Aza will be fine."
