Grand Opening!

[golden_armor]

Date: May 14
Time: 9 AM
Location: Alecto's Animal Emporium, Diagon Alley
Characters Involved: Aurin Helm, anyone in need of animal supplies or vet care!
Rating: We'll make it PG-13, just in case.
Status: Incomplete

Comments

[subtle_simmer]

Severus had not escaped the rather aggressive advertising fliers scattered about the wizarding world, and as he was low on some ingredients (which June had pointed out) he decided to pay a visit to the shop. 'New' seldom meant 'better' in his experience, but he never passed up the opportunity to look for better-quality ingredients for his potions.

Having decided to visit the place, he then extended the invitation to the household in case anyone wanted to 'tag along'. With the world so unsettled in regards to lycanthropes in general, just now, he didn't want any of them traveling alone, and even Severus could understand frustration at being cooped up all the time. June, he all but insisted she join him - it would do her good to learn what, precisely, he looked for in animal-materials.

Severus loathed animals in general. Well, not loathed, but basically couldn't be bothered with the hassle of feeding/tending/cleaning and whatnot. It was one of the few areas where he differed from other Potions masters, many of whom kept their own stock of live animals - newts, salamanders, rats, mice, bats, the list went on and on. None of them were difficult to keep, per se, nor difficult to kill and harvest the needed materials. It was that ease of care and harvest which made it one of the few things he felt comfortable buying in slightly less than 'freshest possible' state.

Besides, he had enough butcher's blood on his hands already, thank you very much.

They'd Apparated to the alley together, and he carefully tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as though it was commonplace for him to escort a woman thus, and quickly made their way to the shop.

"Hmmm... this does not look promising," he said softly to her as they entered the noisy shop. "More Hagrid's sort of place, I believe, than what will meet my needs."

He would also have to be cautious as to whether the creatures made too much a fuss over June. He had not expected there to be quite so many live creatures, and they sometimes reacted adversely to the presence of lycanthropes.

[sightlesswolf]

Truthfully, it hadn't taken much 'insisting' for June to agree to accompany him to the shop. Her new job did a great deal to occupy her time and her mind, but it didn't get her out of the house, and as always when the moon was waxing her restlessness was growing with it.

Adjusting to the myriad of scents and sounds that washed over her as they stepped into the shop took a good long moment. Some things she could identify right off, many she could not, but she could at least mentally sort through them all and place where most of them were coming from. Some kind of feed there, animals further back... and was that a raptor that had called out from the window as they walked in? A large one, too, from the sound of it. She smiled; she'd always loved raptors, ever since she'd been a child and always trying to catch sight of them in the skies near her home. Who knew, though, whether the bird would be as happy to see her? She'd stay clear so as not to bother the creature, but it still gave her a little thrill to know one was so close by.

Nodding in response to her companion's quiet statement, she gave a half grin. "We'll see. Maybe this is just the place for you to pick up that Puffskein you were meaning to get!"

[golden_armor]

Romero watched intently as the two new customers entered, about to demand attention. Just as he opened his beak to make himself known, however, he noticed that the male was giving off the feeling that he associated with people who didn't particularly enjoy animals, and rethought his actions, making a quiet burbling noise instead.

It was this that caught Aurin's attention as he showed Seamus back to the bird supplies aisle, and he smiled at the new customers. "Welcome to our grand opening! I'll be with you in just a moment, but feel free to look around in the meantime!" he said as he led the way for his current customer.

[subtle_simmer]

He snorted in surprised amusement at June's comment.

"Don't be ridiculous," he chided her sardonically. "If I were to acquire a pet, I'd get myself a ferocious Kneazle just to watch you lot fight it out once every twenty-nine days."

He kept his voice low so as not to be overheard by anyone in the shop, but he could not help but be somewhat astonished to think he had come so 'far' in such a short time, that his own personal phobia had become a source of jocularity.

The proprietor of the shop wandered past at just that moment, and addressed them. Severus nodded in acknowledgment, but made no other reply. As soon as the man had passed, he spoke quietly to June again.

"There is a bloody Harpy in the window," he said to her in astonishment. "I'd pay handsomely for some tail feathers and fresh clippings from his talons - though if I could get a vial of blood..."

[golden_armor]

Hearing the comment about blood, Romero mantled and hissed softly, fluffing his feathers out to look more impressive. He'd be damned if anyone was going to come near him with a needle!

The female, he could tell, had a more benign interest in him. She had an odd scent to her, almost canine, but he'd been around dogs quite a bit before, and she seemed friendly enough. He shuffled down his tree branch and across the window ledge until he was almost level with her hand, then chirruped quietly, hoping that she'd scratch him behind the wings while waiting for his master to take care of whatever needs the two had.

[sightlesswolf]

June pretended to consider that idea. "Well, if that would make you happy, then I suppose it's fine. Though I'd hope your Kneazle would be smart enough to know we don't mean any harm - provided your potion continues to be effective, anyway." It was a sly little jab. One of the fastest ways to get Professor Snape - Severus - riled up was to imply that one of his potions might possibly be in some way less than absolutely perfect.

His observation about the bird in the window - a harpy! she thought with a swift intake of breath - earned him a startled and disapproving little frown. "Considering this is a pet shop and clinic, I don't know how well they're going to take to the idea of you harvesting bits of their animals," she whispered, taking extra care this time to make sure her voice wasn't audible beyond his ears. "Maybe if it were to be molting or something..."

A shuffling sound followed by a muted chirrup caught her attention. Startled, she turned her head toward the bird. Had it really just come as close as her senses were telling her it had? She could almost feel it a breath from her hand. If she reached out...

Not that reaching out toward a strange bird of prey was ever a good idea. Hawks and falcons had been common enough in the area where she'd grown up that her uncle had drilled that into her very early. No matter how quiescent they might seem, they were still wild animals and predators, skittish and unpredictable. It must be relatively tame for the owners of this shop to allow it so much freedom, and yet... if it hadn't yet caught the 'werewolf' scent on her and she reached for it and it did... well, that had every chance of provoking a bad reaction.

Still, she couldn't quite stop her free hand twitching, shifting just slightly toward where she thought the bird to be. The urge to actually reach out and learn if she was right about his wanting to be touched was enormous, but somehow she managed to refrain. "Hello there, pretty thing," she murmured; she may not have been able to confirm with her own eyes but she couldn't imagine any raptor not being splendid to look upon. If only she could see him! "I've never met a harpy eagle before, but my uncle used to show me pictures when I was little. You must be very beautiful."

[golden_armor]

From the uncertainty of her movements and the fact that his invitation for a scratch hadn't been accepted, Romero had deduced that the human female was unable to see him. Looking extremely pleased at the compliment, he helped things along a bit by easing under her hand and positioning himself so that her fingers were at the middle of his back between his wings, his favorite spot to be petted.

[sightlesswolf]

And... okay, the bird wanted to be petted! There could be no question when he'd actually pushed himself under her hand. A delighted smile spreading across her face, June acquiesced to his mute request and dug her fingers into the feathers on his back, luxuriating in the silky softness against her skin and the feel of the bird's powerful back beneath her hand. Such amazing creatures, raptors, and to have one allow her this close... it was a large unexpected bonus to this trip.

[subtle_simmer]

Before he had time to retort in-kind to the 'slight' about his potions, Severus hissed a sharp intake of breath as the bird moved closer to her, and almost snapped at her like a parent scolding a child for touching a strange animal.

Keep your hand down - you don't know where it's been! What if it lops off your finger?

Apparently, however, harpy eagles weren't as distressed over lycanthropes as his post-owls at home. Then again, they were his post owls. It was just as possible that their caterwauling was due to the presence of anyone besides himself in the lab, rather than the lycanthropy.

It had been impossible not to hear the subtle wistfulness in her voice over not being able to see the creature, and equally impossible to miss the expression of delight, now. The shopkeeper was not yet in view, and Severus had pretty much resigned himself that this was not the place to attain still-beating-amphibian hearts, unless he was prepared to take home the entire amphibian with said beating heart still firmly encased within its skin. He turnt his attention, instead, to the bird and the girl.

"It is a very magnificent specimen, and apparently above average intelligence even for its species," he conceded, still speaking quietly. There was no real need, as the shop was quite noisy with every manner of creature mewling, yipping, hissing, squawking, hooting and the like, calling to one another or in protest of children poking fingers through bars of display cages. And it wasn't as though he was saying anything inappropriate or private. But he knew June was sensitive about her blindness, and he felt no need to draw anyone's attention to it.

She could not see it. He could. He began to describe the bird in low tones with painstaking detail, calling his extensive vocabulary to his aid to paint as vivid an image as he could, including the creature's markings and the intelligent sheen in its eyes as it clearly moved itself to position her stroking fingers precisely where it wanted to be petted. The colour and appearance of the hooked beak and savage-appearing talons were not excluded, nor the way the light of the shop glistened off of the sleek, shimmering feathers. Estimated height, weight, wingspan, and meticulous description of the bird's face, including his own fanciful amusement of the way the pattern and colour of feathers made the beast appear to have eyebrows enough for scowling - Severus always found that an appealing feature in his owls, too - all became part of the 'word picture' he attempted to create.

"They say the more intelligent bird species are capable of understanding a good deal of human speech," he drawled lazily as his description wound to a close. "I know little of the subject outside my own preferences and limited knowledge of magical post-owls and the various potions ingredients attained from a broad spectrum of avians. However, this particular beast seems intelligent enough to be positively preening at being talked about so extensively - and smart enough to stay away from me, even as he permits you to touch him."

[golden_armor]

Aurin, having shown Seamus where the wide selection of raptor treats was and explained the differences between brands, excused himself and left the younger man to make his decision, saying, "When you've chosen, tell Toviel that I said to give you ten percent off, for a fellow raptor owner." He approached Snape and June, arriving just in time to hear Snape's comment about Romero's attention-loving attitude and intelligence.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm Aurin, the owner, and that's my brother Toviel behind the counter. The vain bird's name is Romero, and," he said with a grin, "I certainly hope you haven't been making his ego too much larger. It's big enough as it is."

Romero, whose eyes had been shut in bliss at June's touch, opened one eye and gave him a sardonic look, which Aurin returned briefly.

"Well then," he said to his customers, "is there anything in particular I can help you with today?"

[sightlesswolf]

June was surprised and touched by his willingness to, all unasked, act as her 'eyes' and describe the bird for her. And in such elaborate and brilliant detail! However, she knew by now that effusive thanks were a no-no, so she settled for giving him a warm smile, a small squeeze - not quite a half-hug - to the arm hers was looped through, and directing her words to the harpy.

"He must really like you," she informed it in a confidential tone, still stroking the elegant feathers reverently. "If you'd had him for class you'd know just how hard it is to get a compliment out of him - and he even called you 'intelligent'! Believe me, none of us ever earned an 'intelligent'. At best it was 'not a complete dunderhead', as I recall." By this point her smile was twitching on the verge of an outright grin, though she struggled to keep her tone solemn.

Fortunately, the shop's owner arrived before Severus could get a good scathing retort in. She managed to rein in her amusement to a normal smile, which she turned toward the source of the new voice without stopping her attentions to the harpy. "He's a very bright and well-behaved creature - aren't you, Romero? Doing an excellent job as the shop's greeter." Obviously the idea of inflating Romero's overlarge ego didn't trouble her too much.

[subtle_simmer]

"Not a complete dunderhead was the best anyone earned," he replied with haughty good humour. When the shopkeeper made his presence known, Severus nodded in greeting.

"Severus Snape. We entered mostly out of curiosity. I am a Potions Master, and never miss opportunity to examine potential new suppliers. I suspect, however, that this establishment doesn't quite cater to the sorts of supplies I need. I like my ingredients fresh but not living."

He eyed the harpy eagle covetously.

"Though, whenever you perform the necessary attendance of your bird's talons, I would be interested in the clippings. As well as any intact feathers when he molts."

His full attention returned to 'Aurin', though whether that was a first or last name, he was not certain. It must have been first, as he called his brother by his given name as well. Severus resisted the urge to squirm at such 'familiarity'.

"Snake skins, shells of fresh hatchlings - there are quite a few things which a place like this might consider 'debris' to be thrown in the bin, which I would consider useful - presuming they were fresh and in good condition."

[golden_armor]

Aurin grinned as Romero reveled in June's comments. Obviously, though he teased about the bird's pride, he didn't actually mind at all when others complimented him. "He understands quite a bit of what's said about and around him. He was raised by humans, and of course spending so much time around magic is bound to have its effects as well. He understands quite a bit of English, a little Chinese, and the word for 'food' in about ten other languages."

Listening to Snape's requests, Aurin nodded. "I can see how obtaining your ingredients from their still-living owners would probably be something of an inconvenience."

"I'd certainly be happy to keep things for you. I could even have Romero do daily deliveries for you. Vain bird though he is, he could probably do with the exercise. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you make up a list for me and owl it over? That way I could simply send over anything I have at the end of each day that's on the list."

Having noticed that the other man seemed to favor a somewhat more formal mode of speech, Aurin took the opportunity to offer his last name, "I live above the shop, so if you do wish to send a list, simply send it to this address, surname of Helm."

[subtle_simmer]

Arching a brow in surprise at how easily the other man acquiesced to his unusual request, Severus nodded gravely.

"I will do that, Mr Helm, I thank you."

He wasn't quite sure what to make of the man. Did he not read the papers? Had he fled elsewhere during the war, only now to return? Not that Severus wanted to be 'famous' - or rather 'infamous' as the case may be, but murdering the most popular, longest-standing Headmaster of the most prestigious school of wizardry in all of Europe would rather tend to give one a reputation. Perhaps the man merely hadn't recognised the name - though 'Snape' certainly wasn't a common name, wizarding or Muggle.

He tried to place the other man's age, and gave it up as a bad job. Not older than himself, certainly. But not more than three years younger, either, as Severus was certain he'd never taught the man. If he was at Hogwarts when Severus was a student, and in a different House, Severus wouldn't have paid him the least attention. He lamented that short-sightedness now, of course. He ought to have tried to build connections among all his peers while in school. At the time, however, he had thought only of power and revenge and the constant tormenting of Potter and Black. Nothing else had mattered.

So, here he was, twenty years later, trying to determine if he ought to recognise this individual before him, or not, and without any success, and equally unable to ascertain whether the man knew who he was and didn't care, or merely didn't know.

"Have you been in the area long?" he inquired, choosing a benign if rather inane question to attempt to work it out.

[golden_armor]

Aurin had indeed heard of Severus Snape and his part in the ending of the war. There were very few who hadn't, and his former line of work had necessitated keeping up with the latest news, sometimes before the general public knew about it. However, he also knew that both of the brothers Dumbledore had vouched for Snape's innocence. A former student of Albus Dumbledore, Aurin had met him a few times, though it was usually either in the form of receiving or fulfilling a detention. Still, if Dumbledore had vouched for the man's good name, Aurin was willing to believe it. This being his first face-to-face meeting with the Potions Master, he'd decided to treat him as he would any other new acquiantance or customer: politely and with friendly accomodation.

As for the unusual request, well, he'd done more unusual things in his time, and it would be good business for the shop.

"I've only been in this location for a few weeks, but I grew up in the London suburbs. My dad's side of the family were all wizards, so we were in and out of Diagon rather often," he said, in answer to Snape's query. "I also lived nearby between the two wars, since I was working for the Ministry and it was close to headquarters, but..." he glanced at the open door, realizing that passerby might hear his next comment, and that they might not exactly be thrilled with it, "I quit my job at the Ministry shortly after the end of the war, after they started this campaign of paranoia they're trying to further, and the whole registry business."

Shaking his head, he changed the subject, his tone returning to normal. "But I'm sure the details of my past would be entirely boring for you. Perhaps you'd like to take a look at the animals we stock, to see which ones could be sources for your ingredients?" Obviously, Aurin's past was still too close to him for him to be comfortable talking about it.

[subtle_simmer]

Severus watched the man's face sharply, looking for signs of deception. If he had been with the Ministry, his knowledge of Severus could not be in question now. Yet many people were in 'protest' of the current Registry - most of them people who were on it. Was this Helm one of the many Death Eater supporters who were never 'Marked' and therefore never acknowledged? Or yet another do-gooder type who believed him somehow 'redeemable' simply because Albus had been a sentimental old fool?

Again, impossible to tell. He stored the information away with a nod, and no further questions or comments on the subject. Instead, he tightened his arm where June's hand rested closer to his side to gain her attention.

"That would be acceptable," he agreed to the offer to look about the shop at the various animals.

"Do you want to come with, June, or stay here and fraternise with your new feathered friend?" he asked her dryly.