Harry and Hagrid made another stop at Flourish and Blotts where Harry got a few more books, one on American and Australian schools each, one on warding, one on magical languages, one on another period of history than the ones Harry already had, and when Harry spotted a series with his name on it, he wanted to know what they were about and also took the first one. He still had the bag that automatically shrunk his books and placed his purchases in there. Hagrid took Harry to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour and got him a sundae, which Harry was happy to accept.
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On their way back to the Cauldron, they passed Eeylops Owl Emporium and Harry felt a strange pull towards the shop and wanted to find out what that meant, so he went inside with Hagrid. All over the place were owls of different kinds. The pull Harry felt came from further back. He walked deeper into the shop and felt he was getting closer. When he was in a dark corner, where no stands were kept, he wondered just what had pulled him here. He looked around and then looked up into two amber eyes that didn't let his eyes wander anywhere else. He felt a strange connection with these eyes. Then he heard a soft ruffle of feathers and the eyes came closer. Harry thought he saw a flash of silver, but he wasn't sure. He instinctively held out his arm and the bird landed there. Harry could make out the form of an owl, but not a native one, that much was sure.
He reached out with his free hand to gently stroke the feathers. The owl let him touch her and then bit lightly into his finger, just enough to draw a drop of blood. Harry felt his magic reaching out and forming a bond with the owl. He had read about the rarity of familiar bonds with animals like normal post owls so this owl was special. When the magical bond was finished, Harry took his new familiar up to the front. He saw that he hadn't been mistaken; within the white feathers of this probably snowy owl were some silver ones. It looked like she was about to change her plumage.
"I'm going to take this owl." Harry said to the employee.
The woman looked at the owl and blinked.
"I didn't know we had one of her kind in the shop. Where did you find her?" She asked.
"In the back in a dark corner without stands. She sat somewhere up." Harry answered, stroking the back of the owl.
"Oh, okay, well, that will be five galleons for the owl. Do you also want a stand and food for her?" She asked.
"Yes, please. I need a stand, food for a week, some treats and a pamphlet how to care for her." Harry said.
The employee collected everything.
"That's six galleons and fifteen sickles then." She said.
Harry was glad now that he had taken twenty five galleons out of the vault. He had spent sixteen galleons and fourteen sickles for the books, so with his new purchases he would still have one galleon and five sickles left. Well, he had his key and could get some more money if he needed it at Gringotts. But for now he didn't think he would have to do any more greater purchases. The owl flew onto his shoulder and rode in that position back to the Leaky Cauldron with them.
"That's a rare kind of owl you have there, Harry." Hagrid said in a low voice.
"Really? When I was out of the shop I felt a pull to the inside. I followed the pull and met her. She is my familiar; I felt the bond forming through my magic before I bought her. What kind of owl is she?" Harry said.
"The silver feathers are the sign of a moon owl. They're often mistaken for snowy owls as they can disguise themselves really well. The reason moon owls are so rare is that they need ter bond to the right wizard. If the wizard they choose is worthy they'll develop into a full moon owl. I don' think the employee knew what she is, or she'd have cost a lot more. If I see this right, she was just in time ter fin' yer. Otherwise she'd become a normal snowy owl. An intelligent one, no doubt, but she'd've lost her special abilities an' probably wouldn't 've formed a familiar bond with yer." Hagrid explained.
Harry smiled at the owl. That an owl as special as her had chosen him, made him really happy.
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It took Harry two more days to get through the books about schools in America and Australia, the magical languages one, the books on politics and culture, the muggleborn guide, the potions basics book and the book on goblins. He also read the book about him and was shocked what this author, Romanio Lockhart, had written about his supposed adventures. And there was no mention that it was all fiction. With how stupid wizards appeared to be, he feared there were some that really believed this nonsense. Who could come up with the stupid idea that he could have tamed a rampaging Hippogriff with four? He didn't even know how a Hippogriff looked like in reality. And stopping a flood with an ice charm at six? He didn't even have a wand yet. And why were they even allowed to use his name? He would have to discuss this with Corpnik during his appointment.
After reading his books about the American and Australian schools he found out that only one of them had a greater choice of classes and combined magical and muggle subjects. But that school started children at eight years of age and for him to enrol now wouldn't be possible. There were some others that had a more advanced curriculum than Hogwarts, but they only took students that had already passed their OWLs with exceptionally high grades. It would be an option for in five years that he would perhaps consider, depending how his time at Hogwarts went.
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