NATURAL SELECTION
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
Chapter 5
Diagon Alley was still relatively quiet when Sasporilla and her mother arrived by flew. Shop owners apporated in and arrived by flew or through the entrance at the Leaky Cauldron. By 10:30 the street was a buzz with life. Parents and children buying school supplies bustled through the Flourish & Blotts grabbing copies of the books they needed from the many piles that had been placed on tables. It was the same every year. A new pile of books were put out and in minutes they needed to be restocked again. This was the shops busiest time.
It was no real surprise when Polly Cambridge-Smythe, manager of Flourish and Blotts, resisted Wysteria's request for a morning off tomorrow.
"I am sick and tired", Polly Cambridge-Smythe said tersely, " of everyone wanting to take off for a morning because their spawn need to be kitted out or taken to the train."
"Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe", Wysteria begged, "please be reasonable. I have never asked for a day off. I always stay late. I never ask for a raise."
"And well you should not!" Polly Cambridge-Smythe snuffed. "I only gave you this job out of respect for your family name. So the answer is 'No' you can not have the morning off tomorrow."
Nick appeared at Wysterias side. "Whats the problem then Polly? Labour trouble"
"I was just explaining to my employee that she most certainly could NOT have the morning off to take her daughter to Kings Cross station." Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe said looking down her nose at Wysteria. "How may I help you detective?"
"Tough luck ol' girl, not getting the morning off to take my God daughter to see her off to Hogwarts." Nick rubbed Wysterias arm then turned his attentions to the tyrannical Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe. "I just stopped in to see all your permits were in order Polly. Make sure all shipments are above board, stores safeties are all in place, etc. Its shame to close the shop down for the rest of today and tomorrow to check everything out but a jobs a job, ay?"
"You know Wysteria my dear", Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe said with a forced smile, "What I meant was you can't have off just the morning. Take the rest of today and tommorow too."
"Thank you Mrs. Cambridge-Smythe." Wysteria smiled.
"Ah that was lovely." Nick said. "2 days off with pay, Polly you are one in a million."
Polly Cambridge-Smythe gritted her teeth. "Yes of course, that will be with pay Wystetia."
"Oh my Thank you Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe." Wysteria said running off to find Sasporilla.
"Oh on second thought." Nick said with a grin. "Maybe it was the sweet shop I had to check the permits of. I'm in the mood for a pack a Droobles."
Wysteria found Sasporilla in the back going through the stacks of used books. She had found all the ones she needed except 'magical creatures.'
"Come on sweet heart." Wysteria said helping her daughter with her books. "Your uncle Nicks arrived and we're ready to go shopping."
"You're coming to?" Sasporilla asked delighted.
"Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe was kind enough to give me today and tomorrow off. With pay!"
The too of them laughed excitedly. Nick joined them rubbing his hands together.
"So are you two beautiful young ladies up for a shopping spree on the town?"
"Yes." Sasporilla said. "But I need to find a copy of magical creatures."
Nick looked at the pile of tattered old books Sasporilla was carrying. "Na, na, na. What's all this ol' rubbish."
"We do not live beyond our means." Wysteria said searching a place where she sometimes set aside books aside in special need of care. "Here we are! One magical creatures and where to find them. The binding is a bit ripped but I can fix it."
"But Wssy." Nick protested. "We got the dosh for a whole brand new lot!"
"We DO NOT live BEYOND our means Nick." Wysteria said harshly. "That is final."
Nick reluctantly carried the tattered used volumes to the counter. Kathleen he check out girl looked at them as if she didn't want to touch them. Wysteria pushed in beside Nick and her daughter.
"Those are all for my Sasporilla." Wysteria beamed with pride. "She's going to Hogwarts this year."
"Wonderful." Kathleen smiled politely wondering what sort of fungi she was being exposed to every time she had to pick a book off the pile and place it in Wysteria's shopping bag.
"With your employee discount that comes to 3 galions 1 sickle and 3 knuts." Katleen smiled politely.
Nick pulled the coins from his pocket and put them on the counter. The three of them walked out into Diagon Alley.
"Wyssy please reconsider." Nick pleaded. "Moneys not a problem."
"We do not live beyond our means detective." Wysteria said folding her arms.
The next few hours found them rummaging through the used clothes shops and used wizarding supply. They were able to find all manner of interesting things but their interests were held firmly to just what the list required. Nothing more. Nothing Less.
Nick and Sasporilla had a quiet moment alone as Wysteria chatted with her friend Deirdre who worked in used clothes at Second hand Robes.
"What's up with your mum?" Nick asked. "I mean I know she makes do on next to nothing but when it's offered?"
"Mum thinks it's cruel to expose a child to life better than the one that's their lot." Sasporilla sighed. "It all has to do with her being raised in a house of privilege until she was 11 then shipped off to live with her uncle in a hovel in the Scottish Highlands. Once they discovered she was a Squibb."
"Never heard that story." Nick said.
"Her uncle, Ruffus Campbell, worked her like a slave at home, then sent her off to work each morning at the mines."
"That's horrible." Nick cringed.
"You didn't work, you didn't eat." Sasporilla added mater-of-factly. "When she lost her job at the mine, because she just couldn't do it, she got a job here in the book shop."
"That's where your mum and dad met." Nick smiled. "We were in for our books for school on a day like this. I remember it as if it were yesterday."
"What's this." Wysteria asked appearing beside them. "About yesterday?"
"Just reminiscing." Nick said. "So we've got clothes..."
"Yes." Wysteria smiled holding up the large wrapped parcel. "I'm to understand for Deirdre that these belonged to the Weezly girl, Ginny. She was just about your size."
"Great." Sasporilla smiled. "Do I get to wear her used knickers too?"
Nick laughed abruptly then coughed to cover it.
"None of your cheek missy." Wysteria said handing Sassy the parcel. "That's the reason you're called Sassy. Because of your lip, Not because its short for your name."
Nick had to turn as he could barely control his smile.
"And YOU Nixxi Owlmore." Wysteria said. "Don't you encourage her. You and Donk were bad enough when you got together, in your day."
"Quite right." Nick said as he composed himself. "Where was I on this list? Books, supplies.... looks like all we need is a wand and a pet."
"Pets are accepted but not mandatory." Wysteria Bucket said. "She doesn't need one."
"I'd like one though mum." Sasporilla said.
Wysteria new that tone in her daughters voice. It meant she expected nothing from life, as usual. A feeling Wysteria herself knew all to well.
"All right then." Wysteria smiled. "Have a look in at the 'magical menagerie."
Sasporilla's face brightened and she ran off down the street.
The window of the Magical Menagerie held all sorts of pets. From owls to bats to snakes to puppies. Sasporilla excitedly pushed open the heavy wood door to see all manner of chaos loosed upon the store. Owls flapped around freely dropping feathers as they bumped into one another. Cats climbed the widow curtains as dogs chased after them. An alligator snapped at a snake that scurried across the top edge of its tank. A small orange monkey sat in the rafters high above throwing Hippogriff chow down at the shop keeper.
"You come down here this instant!" The older shop keeper snarled as a hard pellet bounced off his shiny bald scalp.
"What's going on?" Sasporilla asked ducking out of the way of bat.
"It's that BLOODY monkey!" The shop keeper yelled as he through a sponge up at it.
"She's just a baby." Sasporilla said looking up at the small monkey, no bigger than a small red squirrel.
"It's a bloody menace!" The shop keeper proclaimed as the monkey hit him in the nose with something that definitely was not a Hippogriff pellet. "It's opened up all the cages!"
Sasporilla climbed a shelf and got up close to the small animal as it stood there shaking
With fright.
"I'm scared." The monkey screeched.
"I know." Sasporilla said holding out her hand. "I won't hurt you little one." Sasporilla smiled.
"He's mean to me." The monkey insisted jumping up and down flinging a small dark brown object from beside it on the rafter.
"Where is your mum?" Sasporilla asked.
"I don't have one." The monkey cried covering her face. "I don't even have a friend."
"I'll be your friend." Sasporilla said. "If you come down."
The monkey scurried across the rafter and leapt into Sasporilla's waiting hands. The shop keeper was putting away the last of the kittens when she walked over to the counter.
"How much for..." Sasporilla stopped and looked at the monkey. "What's your name."
"Gooseberry." The monkey told her.
"How much for Gooseberry here?"
The shop keeper turned slowly. Rage boiled in his eyes. Monkey poop smeared down the side of his nose.
"How much?" The shop keeper asked. "HOW MUCH!!!"
Sasporilla held Gooseberry tight in her arms to protect her.
"Take that trouble making, poop flinging , cage unlocking , Misfit and get it out of my sight!"
"You're giving her to me?" Sasporilla asked ecstatic.
"I'm not GIVING you a monkey." The shop keeper laughed madly. "I'm burdening someone else with this agent of anarchy. Take her away and never bring it back!"
With no more encouragement Sasporilla ran out of the shop with Gooseberry on her shoulder chattering "Free, free, free."
Sasporilla wasn't at all surprised at the reactions that she got when Mum and Uncle Nick first caught sight of Gooseberry.
"What is that?" Mrs.Bucket asked eyes wide.
"Oh wow." Nick smiled with enthusiasm, support and general confusion.
"This is my new friend Gooseberry." Sasporilla said and looked at the monkey.
"A monkey?" Mrs.Bucket looked with disbelief. "Of all the animals why did you think I'd let you have a monkey?"
"She's just a baby." Sasporilla took Gooseberry and cradled her in her arms. "The shop keeper was mistreating her. Wanted to keep her in a cage. Wanted to hurt her when she misbehaved!"
"But Sassy..." Mrs.Bucket pleaded.
"The shop keeper didn't want her anymore and he said I could have her for free!" Sasporilla was defiantly insistent.
"Sasporilla." Nick inserted himself. "Hogwarts allows pets but usually a rat, or a toad, or an owl...."
"Or a cat." Professor Albus Dumbeldore said appearing at Sasporilla's shoulder. "Good morning ladies, Detective. Fancy meeting you all here this fine day. Oh my, this is the oddest cat I have ever seen."
"But it is not a cat." Wysteria said. "it's a monkey. A monkey of all things!"
"Oh my." An old witch said passing by. "But that is the oddest looking cat I have ever seen."
"There you are." Professor Dumbledore smiled. "As far as everyone at Hogwarts is concerned Gooseberry will appear to be the oddest looking of cats. Only those beyond it's walls, who have nothing to do with the school and yourselves of course, will see the truth."
"Can I keep her Mum? Please!" Sasporilla pleaded.
Mrs.Bucket thought for a moment and with a sigh nodded her head.
"Ah." Professor Dumbledore said. "But the real question is does Gooseberry want to stay with you?"
Gooseberry stood in Sasporilla's arms and hugged her neck rubbing her fuzzy head under Sassy's chin. "Yes."
"Well then." Nick smiled clapping his hands together just happy a large public row had been averted. "I guess that's that then."
"Indeed." Dumbledore said and walked away with a wink to Sasporilla. "Good day."
Diagon Alley was still relatively quiet when Sasporilla and her mother arrived by flew. Shop owners apporated in and arrived by flew or through the entrance at the Leaky Cauldron. By 10:30 the street was a buzz with life. Parents and children buying school supplies bustled through the Flourish & Blotts grabbing copies of the books they needed from the many piles that had been placed on tables. It was the same every year. A new pile of books were put out and in minutes they needed to be restocked again. This was the shops busiest time.
It was no real surprise when Polly Cambridge-Smythe, manager of Flourish and Blotts, resisted Wysteria's request for a morning off tomorrow.
"I am sick and tired", Polly Cambridge-Smythe said tersely, " of everyone wanting to take off for a morning because their spawn need to be kitted out or taken to the train."
"Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe", Wysteria begged, "please be reasonable. I have never asked for a day off. I always stay late. I never ask for a raise."
"And well you should not!" Polly Cambridge-Smythe snuffed. "I only gave you this job out of respect for your family name. So the answer is 'No' you can not have the morning off tomorrow."
Nick appeared at Wysterias side. "Whats the problem then Polly? Labour trouble"
"I was just explaining to my employee that she most certainly could NOT have the morning off to take her daughter to Kings Cross station." Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe said looking down her nose at Wysteria. "How may I help you detective?"
"Tough luck ol' girl, not getting the morning off to take my God daughter to see her off to Hogwarts." Nick rubbed Wysterias arm then turned his attentions to the tyrannical Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe. "I just stopped in to see all your permits were in order Polly. Make sure all shipments are above board, stores safeties are all in place, etc. Its shame to close the shop down for the rest of today and tomorrow to check everything out but a jobs a job, ay?"
"You know Wysteria my dear", Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe said with a forced smile, "What I meant was you can't have off just the morning. Take the rest of today and tommorow too."
"Thank you Mrs. Cambridge-Smythe." Wysteria smiled.
"Ah that was lovely." Nick said. "2 days off with pay, Polly you are one in a million."
Polly Cambridge-Smythe gritted her teeth. "Yes of course, that will be with pay Wystetia."
"Oh my Thank you Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe." Wysteria said running off to find Sasporilla.
"Oh on second thought." Nick said with a grin. "Maybe it was the sweet shop I had to check the permits of. I'm in the mood for a pack a Droobles."
Wysteria found Sasporilla in the back going through the stacks of used books. She had found all the ones she needed except 'magical creatures.'
"Come on sweet heart." Wysteria said helping her daughter with her books. "Your uncle Nicks arrived and we're ready to go shopping."
"You're coming to?" Sasporilla asked delighted.
"Mrs.Cambridge-Smythe was kind enough to give me today and tomorrow off. With pay!"
The too of them laughed excitedly. Nick joined them rubbing his hands together.
"So are you two beautiful young ladies up for a shopping spree on the town?"
"Yes." Sasporilla said. "But I need to find a copy of magical creatures."
Nick looked at the pile of tattered old books Sasporilla was carrying. "Na, na, na. What's all this ol' rubbish."
"We do not live beyond our means." Wysteria said searching a place where she sometimes set aside books aside in special need of care. "Here we are! One magical creatures and where to find them. The binding is a bit ripped but I can fix it."
"But Wssy." Nick protested. "We got the dosh for a whole brand new lot!"
"We DO NOT live BEYOND our means Nick." Wysteria said harshly. "That is final."
Nick reluctantly carried the tattered used volumes to the counter. Kathleen he check out girl looked at them as if she didn't want to touch them. Wysteria pushed in beside Nick and her daughter.
"Those are all for my Sasporilla." Wysteria beamed with pride. "She's going to Hogwarts this year."
"Wonderful." Kathleen smiled politely wondering what sort of fungi she was being exposed to every time she had to pick a book off the pile and place it in Wysteria's shopping bag.
"With your employee discount that comes to 3 galions 1 sickle and 3 knuts." Katleen smiled politely.
Nick pulled the coins from his pocket and put them on the counter. The three of them walked out into Diagon Alley.
"Wyssy please reconsider." Nick pleaded. "Moneys not a problem."
"We do not live beyond our means detective." Wysteria said folding her arms.
The next few hours found them rummaging through the used clothes shops and used wizarding supply. They were able to find all manner of interesting things but their interests were held firmly to just what the list required. Nothing more. Nothing Less.
Nick and Sasporilla had a quiet moment alone as Wysteria chatted with her friend Deirdre who worked in used clothes at Second hand Robes.
"What's up with your mum?" Nick asked. "I mean I know she makes do on next to nothing but when it's offered?"
"Mum thinks it's cruel to expose a child to life better than the one that's their lot." Sasporilla sighed. "It all has to do with her being raised in a house of privilege until she was 11 then shipped off to live with her uncle in a hovel in the Scottish Highlands. Once they discovered she was a Squibb."
"Never heard that story." Nick said.
"Her uncle, Ruffus Campbell, worked her like a slave at home, then sent her off to work each morning at the mines."
"That's horrible." Nick cringed.
"You didn't work, you didn't eat." Sasporilla added mater-of-factly. "When she lost her job at the mine, because she just couldn't do it, she got a job here in the book shop."
"That's where your mum and dad met." Nick smiled. "We were in for our books for school on a day like this. I remember it as if it were yesterday."
"What's this." Wysteria asked appearing beside them. "About yesterday?"
"Just reminiscing." Nick said. "So we've got clothes..."
"Yes." Wysteria smiled holding up the large wrapped parcel. "I'm to understand for Deirdre that these belonged to the Weezly girl, Ginny. She was just about your size."
"Great." Sasporilla smiled. "Do I get to wear her used knickers too?"
Nick laughed abruptly then coughed to cover it.
"None of your cheek missy." Wysteria said handing Sassy the parcel. "That's the reason you're called Sassy. Because of your lip, Not because its short for your name."
Nick had to turn as he could barely control his smile.
"And YOU Nixxi Owlmore." Wysteria said. "Don't you encourage her. You and Donk were bad enough when you got together, in your day."
"Quite right." Nick said as he composed himself. "Where was I on this list? Books, supplies.... looks like all we need is a wand and a pet."
"Pets are accepted but not mandatory." Wysteria Bucket said. "She doesn't need one."
"I'd like one though mum." Sasporilla said.
Wysteria new that tone in her daughters voice. It meant she expected nothing from life, as usual. A feeling Wysteria herself knew all to well.
"All right then." Wysteria smiled. "Have a look in at the 'magical menagerie."
Sasporilla's face brightened and she ran off down the street.
The window of the Magical Menagerie held all sorts of pets. From owls to bats to snakes to puppies. Sasporilla excitedly pushed open the heavy wood door to see all manner of chaos loosed upon the store. Owls flapped around freely dropping feathers as they bumped into one another. Cats climbed the widow curtains as dogs chased after them. An alligator snapped at a snake that scurried across the top edge of its tank. A small orange monkey sat in the rafters high above throwing Hippogriff chow down at the shop keeper.
"You come down here this instant!" The older shop keeper snarled as a hard pellet bounced off his shiny bald scalp.
"What's going on?" Sasporilla asked ducking out of the way of bat.
"It's that BLOODY monkey!" The shop keeper yelled as he through a sponge up at it.
"She's just a baby." Sasporilla said looking up at the small monkey, no bigger than a small red squirrel.
"It's a bloody menace!" The shop keeper proclaimed as the monkey hit him in the nose with something that definitely was not a Hippogriff pellet. "It's opened up all the cages!"
Sasporilla climbed a shelf and got up close to the small animal as it stood there shaking
With fright.
"I'm scared." The monkey screeched.
"I know." Sasporilla said holding out her hand. "I won't hurt you little one." Sasporilla smiled.
"He's mean to me." The monkey insisted jumping up and down flinging a small dark brown object from beside it on the rafter.
"Where is your mum?" Sasporilla asked.
"I don't have one." The monkey cried covering her face. "I don't even have a friend."
"I'll be your friend." Sasporilla said. "If you come down."
The monkey scurried across the rafter and leapt into Sasporilla's waiting hands. The shop keeper was putting away the last of the kittens when she walked over to the counter.
"How much for..." Sasporilla stopped and looked at the monkey. "What's your name."
"Gooseberry." The monkey told her.
"How much for Gooseberry here?"
The shop keeper turned slowly. Rage boiled in his eyes. Monkey poop smeared down the side of his nose.
"How much?" The shop keeper asked. "HOW MUCH!!!"
Sasporilla held Gooseberry tight in her arms to protect her.
"Take that trouble making, poop flinging , cage unlocking , Misfit and get it out of my sight!"
"You're giving her to me?" Sasporilla asked ecstatic.
"I'm not GIVING you a monkey." The shop keeper laughed madly. "I'm burdening someone else with this agent of anarchy. Take her away and never bring it back!"
With no more encouragement Sasporilla ran out of the shop with Gooseberry on her shoulder chattering "Free, free, free."
Sasporilla wasn't at all surprised at the reactions that she got when Mum and Uncle Nick first caught sight of Gooseberry.
"What is that?" Mrs.Bucket asked eyes wide.
"Oh wow." Nick smiled with enthusiasm, support and general confusion.
"This is my new friend Gooseberry." Sasporilla said and looked at the monkey.
"A monkey?" Mrs.Bucket looked with disbelief. "Of all the animals why did you think I'd let you have a monkey?"
"She's just a baby." Sasporilla took Gooseberry and cradled her in her arms. "The shop keeper was mistreating her. Wanted to keep her in a cage. Wanted to hurt her when she misbehaved!"
"But Sassy..." Mrs.Bucket pleaded.
"The shop keeper didn't want her anymore and he said I could have her for free!" Sasporilla was defiantly insistent.
"Sasporilla." Nick inserted himself. "Hogwarts allows pets but usually a rat, or a toad, or an owl...."
"Or a cat." Professor Albus Dumbeldore said appearing at Sasporilla's shoulder. "Good morning ladies, Detective. Fancy meeting you all here this fine day. Oh my, this is the oddest cat I have ever seen."
"But it is not a cat." Wysteria said. "it's a monkey. A monkey of all things!"
"Oh my." An old witch said passing by. "But that is the oddest looking cat I have ever seen."
"There you are." Professor Dumbledore smiled. "As far as everyone at Hogwarts is concerned Gooseberry will appear to be the oddest looking of cats. Only those beyond it's walls, who have nothing to do with the school and yourselves of course, will see the truth."
"Can I keep her Mum? Please!" Sasporilla pleaded.
Mrs.Bucket thought for a moment and with a sigh nodded her head.
"Ah." Professor Dumbledore said. "But the real question is does Gooseberry want to stay with you?"
Gooseberry stood in Sasporilla's arms and hugged her neck rubbing her fuzzy head under Sassy's chin. "Yes."
"Well then." Nick smiled clapping his hands together just happy a large public row had been averted. "I guess that's that then."
"Indeed." Dumbledore said and walked away with a wink to Sasporilla. "Good day."
PLEASE REMEMBER
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.