The sun struck his face like a hammer when Cassius left Flourish and Blotts.
He blinked once, letting the noise of Diagon Alley wash over him.
The messenger bag at his side was deceptively light despite holding more knowledge than some families had seen in generations.
Knowledge tucked safely away, even though the process of purchasing it had taken up a good bit of time, the sun already high in the sky with lunchtime approaching.
He turned his steps to his next destination.
Robes.
A nobleman could walk in plain cloth, but clothes were a banner, and banners mattered.
Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions squatted on the corner of the lane, its sign creaking faintly in the breeze.
Through the glass, Cassius saw bolts of fabric floating on their own, measuring themselves against mannequins while enchanted needles stitched hems without hands to guide them.
He pushed the door open.
The shop smelled faintly of starch, dust, and lavender polish.
A bell tinkled overhead, softer than the warped note of Mystics & Marvels, but no less watchful.
"Hello, dear," came the voice of Madam Malkin herself, bustling forward in a set of mauve robes that hung like drapes.
She stopped when she saw Cassius—just a child, alone—and her brows furrowed.
"Are you lost?"
Cassius' voice carried with clipped precision. "No Madam. I am here to place an order."
Her lips pursed, but politeness prevailed.
"And what sort of order would that be, my dear?"
"Seven sets of everyday robes," Cassius replied, hands folded neatly behind his back. "Enchanted for autosizing."
At that, her brows lifted.
"Autosizing charms, hm? They'll hold, but only until you're seven or eight. After that, the growth charms cant hold the increase in size. You'll need a fresh set."
Cassius inclined his head, unbothered.
"That is acceptable. Oh and i would also like a set of dress robes. Neutral, but of high quality."
Madam Malkin's expression softened a fraction.
"Oh, planning for a ball already?"
"There might be a chance to attend one, yes." Cassius replied.
She chuckled, perhaps at the precociousness, perhaps at the coin she could already smell.
"Very well, up you get. Arms out."
The next ten minutes were a storm of magical tape measures.
They shot from drawers, buzzing like hornets, snapping around Cassius' wrists, ankles, and chest.
Numbers wrote themselves in the air as enchanted quills scribbled feverishly on floating parchment.
The tape even dove into his hair, measuring scalp-to-shoulder length, as Cassius stood stock-still, refusing to fidget.
Madam Malkin watched, eyes narrowing as she read the endless string of measurements.
"You mentinoed top quality for the dress robes, do you want the same for the everday ones?"
"Do it," Cassius said flatly.
She sniffed but nodded.
In the end after more questions on if a family crest should be added, any trim or linings...
"Two to three hours. I'll have them ready for pickup. Will that suit?"
"Yes. I shall return."
The enchanted tape whirled back into drawers, parchment folding itself neatly into her waiting hand.
Madam Malkin tucked it away, already muttering about fabric swatches and fittings.
Cassius left without another word, stepping back into the sunlight, the phantom feel of measuring tape still clinging to his skin.
Robes were ordered.
Armor, in its way.
Now came communication.
Eeylops Owl Emporium squatted on the next corner, its windows darkened by the shadows of feathered bodies.
Even before he entered, the air was thick with the rustle of wings and the musky scent of droppings and straw.
A bell jingled as he pushed inside, the sound drowned almost immediately by the chorus of hoots and screeches.
Owls perched on every available space—railing, rafters, cages stacked to the ceiling.
Their eyes glowed amber, gold, and ice-blue in the dim light, unblinking, watchful.
A stout wizard with hay in his beard looked up from feeding a snowy owl a dead mouse.
"Eh? Oh. Customer."
His gaze swept Cassius, confusion flickering before habit smoothed it over.
"What're you after, lad? School owl? Post owl? Something flashy to show off to your mates?"
Cassius stepped further in, eyes roaming the rows.
"Uh, postal, preferably one that could go long distances, also... if it could have some evasive quality that would be good to."
Cassius listed off his requirements while his eyes were pinned to a blank scrap piece of parchment in his hand, simulating reading off a shopping list given to him.
The man blinked.
Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.
"Ha, you're pa must be a researcher i bet, can't bring in everything through the flue but can't trust just any old owl."
Cassius ignored the remark, his gaze catching on a cage in the corner.
A pure white snowy owl, one that was obviously to old to be the snowy owl destined to become his brothers, but still it was shocking to see.
The owl looked back at him, unflinching.
But after making a move closer the bird screeched at him, warning him off.
Well just like wands it seems birds choose their wizards as well.
for the next dozen minutes Cassius was introduced to a number of birds, all of whom met his requirements but their temperment did not agree with him, that is until assuming he was out of options, there was a 'pop' sound resulting in a weight on his shoulder.
Given his child size, the weight of the bird caused him to start leaning to one side to accomodate the bird.
But it made no moves to get off, and looking at the beast, Cassius was drawn in, pure black feathers almost like a raven, except that its face was clearly that of an owl.
Seeing the two together the shopkeeper was stunned silent.
If it was possible im sure his eyes would have popped out of his head.
"Well how about that? She finally found a home huh..."
"Sir?"
With a tilt of his head and his best child like innocent look Cassius inquired further.
"What you got there is a Barn Owl though a really rare one at that, black coloration only happens once ever couple decades, and better still this little devil can perform short distance apparations, so if you don't mind the increased price it would fit perfectly with your listed requirements."
Owls already were a pretty big price, but one that could apparate away from pursuers?
That would cost a pretty penny, though when he inquired the shopkeeper clearly was giving a significant discount since, even with its talents the bird was unlikely to be sold due to the story being about how Cassius was the only one in all the months the bird had been here to bond with.
Perfect.
"I will call you Noctis," Cassius murmured.
The bird hooted once in approval.
Before disappearing with a 'pop' no doubt returning to its cage.
After handing over close to the last of his gold galleons on hand, Cassius had acquired himself a companion, and really there was only two stops left on his little adventure out into the magical world today.
After taking up the hefty cage, Cassius rather difficultly set off out the door, heading for his last shopping location, Ollivanders.