Jona dug the toe of his shoe into the ground, playing coy. Of course he wanted a pygmy puff, but it saying it aloud would feel like admitting defeat. "No!" He shouted adamantly, though he clutched Bob, Joe Bob, and Billy Joe Bob tight to his chest. "Nothing can replace Moonpie!" He swiveled on his feet to face the enchanted building they'd come from and, reaching out his hand in an overly theatrical way, he said, "Moooooonpiiiiiie! Wait for meeee! I'll come back for youuuuu!"

Once finished, Jona gently put the three so-named "brothers" carefully on the ground and pondered aloud, "I wonder if they have ice cream in the gift shop? Oh! I should look for something to bring back to Duncan!"

"Well then I guess if ye don't want any animals, we could just goooo," she said teasingly. She giggled as he clutched the puffs to him. He was just too cute. She giggled with his dramatic flare. "Hmm, that'd be nice. Aye, I bet they have lots of goodies ye can get her."

Jona felt like an owl as his head attempted a 360 degree turn in order to take in all the gift shop had to offer. He had only been playing (mostly) when he talked about buying a new pet. He just got Duncan - but all these pets for sale were quite tempting. "Maybe...just a peak," he whispered as he tiptoed over to the side of the shop that had all the pets housed.

(( AND EVERYONE ELSE))

((And all))

When Irwin saw Paddy come out of the mooncalf house, he waved. "So, are you ready then? To take the test and get your license?" he asked as if she knew what was going on.

Zoe's eyes bugged out as she entered the incredibly large store. She too had just gotten two pets for Christmas but the girl veered along towards the pet area as if controlled by a magnet. "Just a peek," she agreed and wondered if she could actually refrain from getting more than one pet.

( and everyone else who's about)

"I wonder if Lick and Rish might behave themselves if I got a bird then," Niamh replied thoughtfully, "I'm Niamh," she added.

As she heard the announcement, she followed Jona towards the gift shop, and stopped in the doorway trying to take it all in. Making her way over to the pets area, she found herself looking at the cutest rabbit she'd ever seen. She decided that she ought to at least check the price list first, just to make sure she would have enough, and grinned as Jona passed her as he made his way through the pets section.

Paddy blinked, trying to work out what Irwin was on about. "Er... test and license?"

(and everyone)

"With enough training I'm sure you can. Spray bottles and such," Magnus said. "They are so cute."

As Zoe walked inside, she spotted Nimah. Feeling braver than normal, she said, "I have a rabbit like that. He's the cutest thing, I love him. Transforms into all sorts of things too. Ye can't go wrong." Just then she spotted the baby nifflers and squealed with delight. "OOH these are soooo cute! Oh wow I want one, Jona look!"

Irwin smiled. "Yeah, you know for your crup. The boy with the long brown hair, he paid for your licence so you take the test and should you pass, the license is approved and you pick out a crup. We've got ones inside for sale. He paid for one. Said belated Christmas or something?"

"They do sound really sweet," Niamh agreed as she picked up the white bunny, "and this one has silky soft fur too." Niamh laughed at Zoe's reaction to the Nifflers - she had a feeling that the Howarts common rooms would be packed with new pets by the time they got back.

River came up to Nimah and smiled. "OOH are you getting a wabbit?" She patted the bunny as she watched the beaming Zoe play with a niffler.

"I love soft fur," Zoe said. "I can get ye the rabbit." She smiled not having too many people to buy gifts for before.

Magnus, like many of the students made a bee-line for the pets. He was now playing with an adorable albino ferret that he was falling in love with quicker than you can say "sold"

Irwin smiled. "Inside. Pick the one you like take a bit of time and then I'll bring out a er 'muggle dummy.' You have to be able to keep the crup from hurting the dummy. And then answer a couple of basic questions. That's it. There's some books in the store about them if you need time. I'll be in the pet section if you decide for that option."

Niamh grinned at River, "I'm a sucker for soft fur, although I should look at the other animals as well. You spotted anything that catches your eye yet?" She looked over at Zoe in disbelief, "really? That's awesome, thank you!" She thought for a moment before adding, "tell you what, seeing as you're kindly buying me the rabbit, how about I get you that Niffler you've got your eyes on? Providing you can't blame me for any mess it makes in your dorm of course!"

Paddy smiled, "thanks! I'll try and pick one out." She finally spotted Magnus out of the corner of her eye. He looked like he was having as much fun with the albino ferret as she'd had with the Crups. "Irwin," she called just as he was about to walk away, "that boy who paid for my Crup seems to be quite taken with that albino ferret, so as a belated Christmas present for him, here's the money for him to get the ferret and a pack or food for it." She handed over what she hoped would be enough for the food as well. Giving Irwin a smile she raced over to the Crups.

"Not, yet but I have a feeling I'm gonna find at least five animals I like," River giggled. "It's a good thing my monkey, Max isn't jealous. You needa meet me somewhere, Max misses you sleeping in your favourite shirts."

"Aye, really," Zoe smiled. Then she was glowing. "Aww thank ye. I'd love that. Oh no worries, we'll make him behave... or get really good at returning shinny things." She giggled.

Magnus was beaming and headed over to the crups to watch Paddy. "Thank you, Paddy," he said glowing.

and everyone(OOC)Sorry I couldn't get online long enough to keep up. Just pretend I've been oohing and ahhing at the last couple of creatures, and going on about the amazing wonders of chocolate ice cream and bananas, and wondering why strawberry ice cream doesn't taste like real strawberries.) Mallowsweet found herself staring up into the golden eyes of a Kneazle looking down on her from the top row of cages. "Oh," she breathed "Who could put someone like you in a cage?" The large spotted cat languidly twitched his tufted ears and pointed with a lion-like tail to a sign that read: "KNEAZLE 10 Galleons" The centaur girl had planned to spend her remaining money on books, but there was no way she could walk away, and leave him behind in that horrid cage. "His name is Kerran." she thought. "I need to rescue him." Trotting over to the counter she laid her money in front of the sales girl and asked if the licence for a Kneazle was extra.

"It isn't the same without Max dozing off in my shirt," Niamh agreed, "Lick and Rish prefer my jacket, but they don't sleep in quite the same cute way Max does. Have you seen those talking birds yet?" Niamh smiled, "I wonder if they've got a book on training Nifflers to return shiny things," she replied to Zoe, as the bunny in her arms suddenly turned itself into a top hat, then back into a rabbit. As Niamh was wondering which pets to browse at next, she spotted Mallowsweet () trot past, carrying a huge cat-like creature towards the counter. "I never realised they had Kneazles here," she thought .... or maybe said out loud - she wasn't too certain.

Paddy held her furry hand out towards the Crups, waiting to see which one would make the first move towards her. To start with they all just continued to play amongst each other, but one seemed to notice she was there, and started licking her hand. She hadn't realised Magnus was there until he spoke, and turned round to see him holding the albino ferret. "Thank you for paying for the Crup and licence! And you're more than welcome," she replied, "Happy Christmas.... well, late Christmas anyway. Decided what you're going to call him yet?"

The kind witch at the counter smiled at Mallowsweet. "Hello dear. Oh I forgot to put the licencing info on them. Well no worries, you can have the license for free since it was my fault. Fill this form out please with name and address, I'll add his info in. For these guys we just file it with the Ministry. It lets us know who has them and so on. You also can pick a toy for him to play with for free and here's a complimentary pamphlet on basic care. They are incredibly smart so you should have a great bond." She pulled out a travel basket. "We can put Kerran in here so you can get him home easier."

"I'll look when I leave the pet area," Zoe said nodded, "that'd be a great idea."

Magnus watched as one seemed to like Paddy. "Any time, you looked so appy I couldn't pass it up." He chuckled, "'Appy late Christmas to you too." He nodded. "Vincent, cos me favourite painter is Vincent Van Gogh."

"Yeah they don't get allowed to sleep on my favourite jackets," Niamh replied with a wry smile, "I keep some partly torn clothes for them to doze on, just in case." Niamh walked with River towards the very loud chattering of birds, and stopped by the ones labelled as budgies. "It says here they can be really good at talking, and they look pretty small too, so they wouldn't take up too much space."

"That's a great name," Paddy said with a grin, "I still don't know how you can pick names so quickly, Magnus - it takes me forever!" She picked up the Crup that licked her hand, "I'm going to head over to those pens, " she added, "want to join us, or are there more pets you want to look at yet?"

"Aww its sweet you let 'em sleep on any though." River nodded. "Small is good. My poor guardian is wondering how many animals I'll end up with. I got a toucan from my dad." She smiled at the birds. "So pretty. And they talk?" River was entranced. "Look at that one, looks like a rainbow." She grinned broadly.

"Thanks," Magnus said grinning. "I dunno, just do. We'll elp you find a name. I think I'm 'ead over to the fwoopers. I really like 'em. If I look at all the animals, I might take 'ome one of each." He laughed but it was probably true. "I know you'll pass, find me when you do. We'll pick out toys together. Gotta get Vincent some things."

"I didn't really get much choice," Niamh replied, "they decided they wanted to sleep on it, and clawed the first jacket apart that night. I didn't know you got a toucan!" Niamh watched as the budgies all flew around the cage, before one flew right at the cage bars towards them. "If those bars weren't there, that one would've landed right on your face"

Mallowsweet looked at the basket dubiously until a whir of wings caught her attention. Kerran was staring intently at the budgies flying around in a nearby cage. The basket would be confining, but it would protect the smaller creatures from the Kneazel's claws while they were together on the bus. A feathery toy with a faintly minty odor elicited a throaty purr and an ecstatic face rub, from her new friend who seemed to be happy enough to curl up in the basket while Mallowsweet carefully filled out the forms the sales-witch gave her.

"Hi..." Jona said to Niamh as he walked past her in a sort of trance. "Look Jona!" Zoe had said, but he was already playing with a little niffler inside the play pen. "Gosh, you're slow, Zoe. Get in here with one of your own!"

River giggled. “Yes that sounds cat-like. Yeah, Dad sent me her for Christmas. She’s so sweet. Named her Marley. She loves snuggling beside me.” She nodded. “Seems eager.” She opened the cage and put her hand in. “Hi sweetie,” she said. The little rainbow bird flew over and landed on her finger. He was suddenly engaged in budgie chatter, just twittering away like he had a lot of gossip to tell her. River laughed. “He’s quite keen isn’t he?”

Magnus laughed. “Did I tell you? Mum and Dad got me this elephant is magically enhanced to stay very small. She’s so sweet. Draws and paints with her trunk and loves to be scratched behind the ear. So probly couldn’t get three or four pets today. Maybe just one more. I really like that fwooper.”

Irwin smiled. “Alright. Lemme get the dummy.” He brought out a dummy and placed it near the crup pop, which started growling heavily. “So first, let’s see if you can get it to calm down and not hurt the dummy.”