Awestruck, Hermione Granger stood outside of Magical Menagerie and gazed through the slightly smudged window at the walls of cages inside holding beasts she could never have fathomed. Her mind was filled with all sorts of ideas and findings and she just wished she'd brought a notebook so she could write down the names of all of the creatures inside the little shop so she could research them all later. Her mum and dad would be thrilled to know all about them as well, she was sure.

At the sudden remembrance of her parents, her heart gave a little jump. She wished they were with her. She'd be tugging on mum's hand, dragging her all over Diagon Alley as she discovered one magical thing after the next.

"Well? Ms. Granger? Are you going to go inside or just stand out here all day?" Professor McGonagall asked with a stern voice but soft, sparkling eyes. Introducing muggle born children to Diagon Alley was her favourite part of every year. She loved the way their faces lit up at each and every turn.

"Sorry, Professor, it's just all so amazing, I can't decide what to do next!"

"Well, dear, you have about another hour or so until we're all due to meet back at the Leaky Cauldron, so you'd best be deciding quickly." She smiled and turned on her heel, gliding through the cobblestone alley in search of her other darling first year students, leaving little Hermione to peer through the window once more.

"Filthy little things, aren't they?" A voice came from behind her.

She started, turning quickly. "Oh!" The boy in front of her was blond, blue eyed, and wearing simple black robes - which was very refreshing after seeing all of the extravagant robes around her, it was all quite overwhelming. "Sorry, I must have been deep in thought. And I don't think they're filthy.'

The boy smiled wickedly at her. "No? So, say, do you want to hold one then?" He nodded towards the window.

Looking in the same direction, Hermione's eyes came to rest on a fairly large and angry looking snail. "I would, in fact." She remarked in defense of the critter. "I think it's rather sweet looking."

The boy laughed. "It's poisonous."

Her face fell. "It's what?"

"The slime," he pointed through the window at the snail, "Is acid. It burns through everything it touches. As they watched, it appeared to be true. Every leaf the orange snail went across sizzled and burned beneath it.

"Well, never mind then. But I still like them."

"Oh, sure." He quipped, eyes laughing but face serious. "Come on in, then."

They walked into the store, her following dutifully behind him, ready to soak up whatever else he cared to tell her about the mysterious magical beings.

"So what do you really fancy?" The boy asked. "I have an Eagle Owl, myself." His chest stuck out a bit as he said this.

"Oh, I know loads about those. But I suppose so do you then." Her excitement faltered at the realization that she couldn't return facts as he did.

"Yeah. Do you have an owl?"

"Oh, no." She muttered, moving away from the owls and towards something a little bit more familiar. "I think I just want a cat." She smiled at all of the little kittens climbing across each other in the large, toy-filled cage.

"A cat?" He bellowed. "You can't exactly send a cat home with letters. That's a useless excuse for a pet."

Taken aback, although unwilling to admit to the boy that she had't a clue about what he was talking about, she retorted as vaguely as possible. "I like cats, and as for owls, I suppose I'll just have to borrow yours." She nodded, ending the conversation.

"Draco!" A voice came from the doorway where a tall man with long hair as blond as the boys stood watching them. "Time to leave."

"Well, see you there I suppose." Draco turned to leave.

"Wait! What's this?" She blushed as she pointed to a round fluff ball that buzzed about a smaller cage.

"The puffskein? They're kind of weak, but to be honest I recommend them over a cat." He waved as he exited the store.

Looking at the clock on the wall that had far to many hands for her liking - at the moment anyway, she would be thrilled to learn how to read that clock - she decided it was best for her to be off as well.

As she neared the door, a large orange cat meowed and bumped into the back of her leg. "Oh, hello!" She welcomed it with excitement, bending down to pet the thing.

"That's not your cat is it?" The shop owner said from behind the counter where she was feeding a testy looking spider. "He's in here everyday scaring my rats."

"He's not - do you think he has an owner?"

"I wouldn't say so." The woman replied.

"I can take him, if that's alright?" Hermione looked down at the cat again. His squished in face was making adorable noises at her as he rubbed his side against her legs.

"Be my guest! Just don't let him back in here."

Picking up the cat, she hurried back down the alley to find her professor.

A/N: I have mega writers block for my own projects, so I figured I'd come back to the world of fanfiction in the meantime! I'm completely open to plot bunnies and requests, and would love to hear your feedback. Ciao for now!