Chapter 15: Just The Right One
[Evening — Diagon Alley]
"That took a fair bit o' time, didn't it, lad?" Hagrid's question made Damien check the time, and he realized the half-giant wasn't wrong.
Damien had managed to secure a total of 1,387 Galleons, 12 Sickles, and 29 Knuts by selling thirty gold coins. But he understood that if he wanted to significantly improve his finances, he'd need to try something bigger.
Certainly, he could acquire treasures from dungeons, but money was the least of his concerns while exploring those dangerous places. For financial security, he'd have to consider options within the wizarding world.
'But what could that be?' Damien thought, walking the crowded streets of Diagon Alley.
"Boy, we ain't even reached the shop yet," Hagrid grumbled, a bit annoyed by the boy's lack of excitement. "Don't have much time to be wastin'."
Hagrid recalled how much he enjoyed traveling with Harry. Whenever they came to shop, Harry would pause often to make sure Hagrid was keeping up, showing genuine concern for the half-giant's pace and health. He immersed himself in the charm of the magical shops, yet he always ensured Hagrid wasn't left behind.
But as for this lad?
"Don't worry, we'll make it in time," Damien said curtly.
He didn't seem to care. The boy was focused on his own matters—from the bank visit to worrying about his upcoming purchases. Not once had he glanced at Hagrid to see if he was alright.
"We'd best hurry up." Hagrid tried again, but Damien simply ignored him. Hagrid was slightly irritated, but he chose to remain silent.
Damien, meanwhile, was lost in thought about his finances. He knew he wouldn't be allowed to leave campus for a while after returning to Hogwarts, so he decided he'd have to order some supplies to be sent there. 'It's best to focus on the essentials for now,' he thought.
"How far is the shop?" he finally asked, glancing at Hagrid.
'Now he remembers me,' Hagrid thought with a sigh, pointing north. "Jus' five more minutes o' walkin', an' we'll be there."
Damien nodded, heading toward the shop without further words.
One of the reasons Damien hadn't engaged much with Hagrid was because he didn't consider it his responsibility. Whenever Harry was sent with Hagrid, it was to guide him personally. Harry, being the last Potter and the Boy Who Lived, received privileges that Damien had long since stopped envying.
Those privileges included a personal guide in the form of Hagrid.
But Damien had never been afforded such luxuries. He had to figure everything out on his own, from asking around to reading books for information. Even when he was assigned a guide, it was always a general mentor for a group, never for him individually.
Now, having learned his way around Diagon Alley, he didn't feel he needed a guide. Hagrid's presence felt more like an extra pair of eyes and ears to report his actions to the headmaster than a help.
In short, Damien found Hagrid's presence bothersome and unnecessary, so he wasn't interested in small talk.
As Hagrid felt mildly irked by the boy's silence and Damien continued calculating how much he'd need for a stable passive income, they finally arrived at the location.
"This is the shop?" Damien asked, eyeing the peculiar sign. "Eeylops Owl Emporium?"
He wondered what 'Eeylops' could mean, but, realizing it likely wasn't an English word, decided not to dwell on it. He focused instead on his task—getting an owl.
"Are ya sure ya want an owl?" Hagrid asked, eyeing the boy. "Ya know, ya can also get cats, rats, an' even snakes, if that's more yer thing."
"Don't worry, Hagrid," Damien replied. He'd already made up his mind. "I know I need an owl."
Truthfully, he'd wanted one since he first arrived at Hogwarts and saw students with their pets. But when he'd found out that an owl would cost 10 Galleons, he knew it was beyond his budget at the time.
Now, though, things have changed.
So, he strode into the shop, Hagrid trailed behind, muttering something Damien couldn't quite make out.
"Welcome!" A soft voice greeted him as he stepped inside. Oddly, it sounded as if the voice bypassed the noise around him, reaching his ears directly.
"How may I help you?"
Damien turned to see a man popping up from behind the counter, with dozens of owls hooting softly in the background.
"Ah, sorry to intrude this late," Damien replied, minding his manners. "I'm here to buy an owl."
"Oh, splendid!" The shopkeeper, a short man with plump cheeks and round eyes, lit up. His short legs and round belly gave him a waddle as he hurried toward Damien, resembling a cheerful penguin.
"Do you have a type in mind?" he asked, beaming. "Oh, and call me Calvus."
'Calvus?' Damien glanced at the man's head, noting his baldness. 'Makes sense.'
He turned to see Hagrid, but the half-giant was too busy gazing around at the owls, murmuring words that neither Damien nor Calvus could understand. Damien figured that meant Hagrid wouldn't be butting into the discussion.
"I was hoping for an owl that could carry items, like a messenger."
This request seemed to excite the man.
"Well, then may I suggest a snowy owl, sir?" Calvus offered. "If it's letters over long distances you need delivered, they're perfect! Fast, loyal, and with a superb sense of direction. And their white feathers make them ideal for stealth in Britain's snow."
It sounded appealing, but Damien had one concern.
"It's not exactly letters I have in mind; I'd need it to carry slightly heavier items."
The request made Calvus nod enthusiastically.
"In that case, perhaps a tawny owl," he suggested. "They're better for short distances but handle a bit more weight—they could easily carry a couple of apples."
This wasn't quite what Damien wanted, either.
"Well…" Damien's eyes wandered around the beautiful birds perched on branch-like decorations. "I'm looking for one that can carry a bit more—maybe up to a kilo or even two or three."
Calvus chuckled. "An owl isn't really meant to carry that much, Mr…?"
"Butler. Damien Butler," Damien answered, a bit disappointed. "So there's no owl that can handle that weight?"
Calvus shook his head sympathetically. "Well, eagle owls can carry about a kilo and a half, maybe two at most, but only for short distances. And they're much pricier than other owls, so if you want one for heavier loads… it'd be costly."
After hearing Damien's name, the shop manager quickly deduced that the boy was not from a prominent family, which likely meant he didn't have much money. So, he didn't waste time discussing expensive owls — particularly the large ones, which wouldn't even suit the boy's needs. They were priced at several dozen Galleons each.
Damien understood the situation instantly and decided to change the tone of the conversation.
"Well, if it's money you're concerned about…" he said, pulling out a cloth pouch from his robe, revealing it to be filled to the brim with Galleons. "Then you needn't worry."
The manager's eyes widened at the sight of the gleaming Galleons. "O-Oh, in that case, you wouldn't have any trouble buying even ten Eagle Owls."
But that wasn't Damien's goal.
"Hogwarts students are only allowed one pet," Damien replied. "I'll need an owl that can carry at least two to three kilos."
The man bit his lip, considering the request. "As I said, owls aren't built for that kind of weight. But…" He glanced around, noticing Hagrid still engrossed in conversation with some of the birds. Lowering his voice, he whispered to Damien. "If you're willing to handle larger owls—bigger than even the Eagle Owl—I might have just the one you need."
Damien understood that taking a large owl would likely raise eyebrows, but he also knew that the rules had a loophole. While large pets were restricted, that didn't apply to the larger breeds of permitted pets. With the right paperwork, he could have the owl legally registered. A letter to the Ministry of Magic, explaining that he purchased the bird before any rule changes, would protect him. Even if the school updated its guidelines to close the loophole, his pet would be exempt.
'Sometimes, I'm glad I'm in Ravenclaw,' Damien thought, 'with access to so many books on magical politics.' He looked back at the manager. "Please, show me the bird."
The man looked toward Hagrid. "Would you like to take him with you?"
"No," Damien answered immediately, not wanting anyone to complicate his purchase. "I'm in a bit of a hurry. Can we see the owl?"
He was eager to move away from Hagrid, who was still occupied with the other owls. He wanted to quickly inspect the owl and finalize the purchase.
"Well then," the manager said, guiding Damien toward the back of the counter and through a door. "Follow me."
Damien tucked the pouch back into his pocket, his fingers brushing against his wand beneath his robe—just in case.
As they passed through the door and into a room filled with owls of all sizes and colors, Damien was immediately struck by their exotic appearance. There were far more types of owls here than the few displayed in the front shop.
"I believe you can see the owl I was talking about," the manager said, walking through the rows of owls. Damien's eyes fell on a massive bird sitting at the far end of the room. It perched on the largest branch, eyes closed and resting comfortably. "If you think you can handle it, of course."
The owl was enormous. It wasn't an ancient bird on the brink of death, but it was clearly fully grown and would be difficult to tame.
"It's huge," Damien said softly. "Is this size typical for this breed?"
The man shook his head. "This one belongs to the Blakiston's Fish Owl family—one of the largest owl breeds. I named him Zillion, due to his size and the long wait he's had for an owner."
The manager's voice softened as he spoke. "Given his size, most people won't even consider buying him. Owning such a large bird requires a lot of care, and not everyone is willing to invest that much time and money."
The owl was more than half of Damien's size, and it looked capable of mauling a child. But Damien had no doubt it could easily carry the weight he required.
As he walked closer to the bird and extended his hand, the manager quickly warned him, "Careful—"
But it was too late. The owl, sensing Damien's approach, woke with a start and snapped its sharp beak around his finger.
"Ugh!" Damien grimaced as the bird let go immediately, but not before leaving him with a bleeding finger.
"I'll bring a bandage!" the manager said, but Damien raised his hand to stop him.
"It's fine," Damien replied, feeling an unusual connection to the bird. "He was just a little surprised."
The owl was still tense, but Damien didn't pull back. "It's alright," he said gently, extending his hand again. "I don't want to hurt you. I just want to be your friend."
He moved his hand slowly, watching the bird's reaction. This time, it didn't lash out.
"Good boy," Damien whispered as he gently stroked the bird's feathers. The owl made a soft, contented sound.
The manager was astonished. "That… that's a first."
He had never seen Zillion react so calmly to anyone before. Most people, even the manager, couldn't approach the bird without it becoming aggressive. But here was Damien, who'd just met the bird, and it was responding peacefully.
"Zillion, huh?" Damien mused, a smile spreading across his face. "I think we're going to get along very well, my friend."
He turned to the manager. "How much will you sell him for, Mr. Calvus?"
The manager hesitated, a little embarrassed. He had assumed Damien was poor and wouldn't be able to afford such an exotic pet.
But he wasn't so unscrupulous as to overcharge for an owl that most people avoided.
"Zillion has been here for years without an owner," Calvus explained. "And because of his size and temperament, he's been difficult to sell. Most people are intimidated by him. But he's a strong bird, with the potential to become a great hunter or a loyal companion for someone willing to care for him."
The manager's tone softened as he spoke. "For regular owls, I charge 10 Galleons, and for more exotic ones, the price can go up to a couple dozen. For Zillion, though… I'd be willing to let him go for 40 Galleons."
Damien knew that 40 Galleons was an exorbitant price for a pet owl. But Zillion wasn't just any owl. He was a massive bird capable of overpowering several smaller ones. It wasn't a stretch to say he was worth at least four regular owls.
"Well, that's quite a high price," Damien said thoughtfully, making the manager stiffen, anticipating a negotiation. But just as Calvus opened his mouth to lower the price, Damien smiled and added, "But for a bird like Zillion, that's barely anything."
The manager blinked in surprise as Damien continued to stroke the owl. "We have a deal, Mr. Calvus. 40 Galleons, and Zillion is mine."
And so, on that quiet Wednesday evening, Zillion—the owl who had been without an owner for nearly seven years—finally found someone who was willing to take him home.
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