The owner was taken aback by Jon's audacious request, a question so unusual that it left her momentarily speechless.
"Pardon me, sir, could you repeat that?" The owner, at a loss for words, managed to stammer out a response.
"I said, I want your most expensive pet!" Jon reiterated, amplifying his voice and deliberately enunciating each word for clarity.
"Perhaps you'd like to browse our selection?" The owner suggested, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Our owls, toads, and cats are quite popular!"
Jon, however, cut her off: "I have no interest in these commonplace creatures. I seek your most expensive and rarest!"
Upon Jon's declaration, the store erupted into a cacophony of noise, the caged pets stirring restlessly. The owls, toads, and cats seemed eager to break free from their confines as if to reprimand Jon for his dismissive remark.
It appeared that these magical creatures, possessing a certain degree of intelligence, recognized the potential of a prospective buyer.
Unbeknownst to them, Jon had recently tamed a formidable Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon with relative ease. Had they known, they would have thought twice before displaying such audacity.
The owner was left dumbfounded, unsure of how to respond.
"I seek something rare and practical, like a dragon!" Jon declared.
The owner paled at Jon's words, hastily replying, "Apologies, sir, but dragons are strictly regulated by the Ministry of Magic. We don't deal in such creatures... Absolutely not!"
"I'm aware. I was merely providing an example!" Jon retorted, relieved that he had left Igris, his dragon, hidden away safely before leaving Gringotts. Wandering with Igris would have led to unnecessary complications.
At this point, the owner's eyes sparkled with an idea. "We do have a magical creature that might pique your interest. It's as dangerous as a dragon and equally challenging to tame!"
"Really?" Jon's interest was instantly piqued.
Despite being a pet store, the owner refrained from referring to the creature as a pet, instead calling it a magical creature, indicating its unsuitability as a domestic companion.
"Sir, please follow me!" The owner led Jon towards the back corridor of the shop.
Jon followed her to a dimly lit compartment, a stark contrast to the bustling pet store. A few cages were scattered around, each housing a different creature.
"These are pets that are either sick or injured and hence, unsellable," the owner explained.
Jon frowned, wondering why he was being shown these creatures. Was he expected to adopt these unfortunate pets out of charity?
"Besides these unsellable pets, we also house some dangerous magical creatures that aren't suitable for display in the main store!"
The owner led Jon to a large cage, housing a peculiar creature. It was a blue-and-green winged beast, resembling a gigantic butterfly but with a wolf-like skull for a head. Its exterior was strikingly beautiful.
"The Swooping Evil!" The owner introduced the creature with a smile.
She explained that while the Ministry of Magic hadn't explicitly banned the sale of Swooping Evils, they were potentially dangerous. They fed on human brains and their tough green skin could deflect some spells. Their venom, when diluted, could erase bad memories. A sting from a Swooping Evil could cause a person to lose their mind, although the affliction was reversible.
Jon was familiar with this creature from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". The protagonist, Newt, had a Swooping Evil that played a significant role in the movie.
"I'll take it. How much?" Jon asked.
"Five hundred Galleons!" The owner named her price.
Jon took out a small bag from his pocket and, with a flick of his wrist, a pile of gold coins spilled out. He had cast an Extension Charm on the bag, a trick he had learned from Gibbon's memory.
As the owner opened the cage, Jon eagerly reached in.
"Wait!!" The owner cried out in alarm, causing Jon to halt.
She was both terrified and confused. Had Jon not heard her warnings? Although the creature had been trained not to attack without provocation, it would instinctively defend itself if threatened. It was also highly venomous. Basic protective measures were necessary!
'Is he completely foolish? Is it safe to sell this dangerous creature to him?' The owner was lost in thought. However, the next scene left her utterly astounded.
As Jon extended his hand, the Swooping Evil obediently transformed into a cocoon and nestled in his palm.
The creature, usually wider than a person's shoulders, had miraculously shrunk to fit in Jon's hand. He could easily pocket it.
After securing the creature, Jon scanned the room for other valuable magical creatures. His gaze landed on a small, exquisite box at his feet. The box emanated a magical aura, suggesting it was protected by some sort of barrier magic.
"What's in that box?" Jon asked, pointing.
The owner followed Jon's gaze to the box, then hesitated before answering, "That... is our most prized possession!"
"The shop's treasure? How much?" Jon asked, his excitement palpable.
'Who is this man? Asking the price without even knowing what's inside?' The owner was taken aback by Jon's behavior.
She sighed before replying, "This is a phoenix egg. It cost us a fortune to acquire, so we can't sell it without making a profit. It's priced at... 10,000 Galleons!"
Jon's eyes lit up. Without a moment's hesitation, he produced his purse and declared, "I'll take it!"
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A/N: I know this work is still very new, but your opinions matter alot to my progress, please write a review 🙏.
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