Darcy had lost her best friend back at the end of August just before the school year started. She had had her big fluffy ginger tomboy Ale since she was 3 and had picked him out at an animal shelter Uncle Gwaine had taken her to. Living to the older age of 13 years old had made his death a bit easier, as had his on/off health issues for the last year of his life - they had helped her start mentally preparing for his passing. They had gone to sleep one night as per usual, she in her bed and Ale on the window sill so the sun would always warm him when it rose, but come the morning he had peacefully passed in his sleep.

She hadn’t been ready to get a new companion at the time, not to mention school was due to start 4 days later, but now she was. School just didn’t feel right without a furry friend following her around, meeting her outside of her classrooms or sitting on the sidelines watching her Quidditch practices. One of her brothers, Theo, had given her his Christmas present a few days early - £150 to help with adoption fees for a new cat - and dropped her off at a local shelter.

The bell above the door rang as she wandered inside though the sound was quickly lost in the meows, barks and tweeting of the various animals waiting for someone to take them home. A male voice came up behind her and she spun to look at him, her blue braid almost whipping her in the face as she did.

“Oh my god, you are just adorable!” She squealed at the sight of the little kitten in the boy’s hand and reached out to scratch it between the ears, completing forgetting she had been asked a question.