Phineas raised his hand and called the female clerk over.
"Master Black, what are your orders? Are you referring to the Niffler in the display?"
The clerk approached respectfully.
Phineas shook his head and pointed at the Niffler.
"I remember that Nifflers can give birth to six to eight cubs per litter, right?"
The clerk nodded.
"Yes, typically a Niffler litter consists of six to eight cubs."
Phineas nodded again.
"Alright, I'll buy this Niffler, but I don't plan to take it with me. I'd like you to raise it until it gives birth. I only want one of the offspring—the rest, including the mother, can belong to your shop. My condition is that I must be present for the birth, and I'll take the cub immediately afterward."
The clerk's eyes lit up in excitement.
"Master Black, do you intend to raise a Niffler yourself? That's possible, but the training and care costs—"
Phineas interrupted with a nod.
"I'll cover the expenses. But I require that the breeding partner be an exceptional Niffler—preferably one with unique traits."
The clerk beamed.
"Rest assured, we'll contact Mr. Scamander for that."
Yes, the Magical Creatures Shop was owned by none other than Newt Scamander, the famed author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Phineas's request was a welcome opportunity—his name alone would draw attention to the shop, and he'd agreed to cover all costs. For them, it was a win-win situation.
"Master Black, would you like to see any other pets?"
The clerk removed the sold Niffler from its cage—it wouldn't do to keep it on display now. Meanwhile, she asked again.
Phineas nodded, his tone calm and assured.
"Of course. I haven't chosen the pet I'll take to Hogwarts yet."
Just as he finished speaking, his eyes locked onto a pair of strikingly mismatched ones—one a vivid golden yellow, the other a piercing, crystal-clear blue.
Phineas felt a jolt of interest. He looked closer.
It was a cat—most of its fur was pitch black, with small patches of white on its forehead, paws, and tail tip. Its build was unusual for a kitten: a large head, round eyes, pointed ears, long legs, a sturdy waist, and a thick tail. It resembled a miniature black lion.
Phineas was instantly taken.
"Tell me about that cat," he said, pointing.
The clerk followed his gaze and nodded.
"This is a Linqing Lion Cat—a rare breed from the East. It's sometimes called a 'whipping hydrangea.' This particular kitten has heterochromatic eyes, which makes it even rarer. It's only three months old and has a hint of magical lineage, so it should live much longer than a typical cat. Honestly, it only arrived today—any later and it would've been sold already."
Phineas walked over and gently tried to scoop the kitten into his arms. But the little feline was quick—springing from his grasp in an agile leap.
"Very nimble," Phineas murmured with admiration. Then he took out his wand and levitated the kitten gently in the air, drawing it back toward him.
"That's the one. I like it very much. With the Niffler included, how many Galleons altogether? Don't forget the care costs for the Niffler during the breeding period."
The clerk's smile was so wide it nearly split her face. She hurried to the counter to tally the costs.
Phineas paid her no mind, focusing instead on the kitten now resting—still slightly wriggling—in his arms.
He smiled softly.
"Little one, settle down. You're coming home with me."
As if understanding, the kitten ceased its struggles and looked up at him with those mismatched eyes, blinking slowly.
"Meow~meow?"
It tilted its head and then tucked itself into his arms, meowing once more before closing its eyes in contentment.
Phineas chuckled and scratched its chin gently.
Its fur was soft and smooth beneath his fingertips, and the kitten raised its little head in pleasure, purring faintly.
"Meow~~"
Then, as if to return the affection, it stretched out its tiny tongue and licked his palm—surprisingly warm and soothing.
Just then, the clerk returned, bowed slightly, and said apologetically,
"I'm terribly sorry for ignoring you earlier, Master Black."
Phineas waved it off.
"It's fine. So, how much in total?"
The clerk nodded.
"The kitten is 82 Galleons. The Niffler, including breeding and care costs, comes to between 300 and 400. We can round it to a total of 500 Galleons."
Phineas handed over the pouch of Galleons.
"Very well. Make the arrangements."
"Yes, sir," the clerk replied with renewed respect.
(Author's Note: Based on conversion rates—1 Galleon ≈ 5 GBP or 10 USD—the price of the Linqing Lion Cat, with rare traits, aligns roughly with 3000 RMB or 82 Galleons.)
Phineas exited the Magical Creatures Shop with the kitten curled snugly in his arms. Kreacher was already waiting outside, having finished buying all his school supplies.
"Kreacher, let's go home."
They Disapparated together. The kitten, clearly unused to magical travel, wobbled unsteadily as they arrived.
Phineas caught its clumsy motions with a smile and reached out to steady it.
"You little rascal," he said affectionately, stroking its head.
"From now on, you'll be called Chocolate."