Summer holidays for the Brevis family weren't exactly a time for relaxation; something Elodie Brevis was forced to realise at the start of every single one. It seemed that Elodie only ever had one week until the madness in the Magical Menagerie really begun. 

On this particular Tuesday, a day that, for some unknown reason, seemed to be most crowded at the Menagerie, Elodie was working with her parents at the shop. She absolutely loved pairing animals with potential owners. Of course, it was easier for her to do as she stood towering above most of the customers. 

Elodie hadn't inherited her parents' average bodies; she had inherited her grandfather's lanky frame whose only competition, other students told her, was Hagrid. It was a running joke that after breaking her arm during her first year, Madame Pomfrey accidentally gave Elodie too much Skele-gro, resulting in her rapid growth.

"Francine, no!" 

Elodie jumped at the very loud shriek of a woman and sighed in defeat as her cat food pyramid fell to the ground after being hit by her arm. Deciding it was cleanup for another time, Elodie moved away from the display and towards the angered mother.

"Francine Elizabeth Rhine, don't you dare feed that cat the family locket!"

Elodie surveyed the scene in front of her. It seemed that 'Francine' had decided that a family locket was better put to use as a snack for a cat than jewellery. Francine was clearly old enough to know that that wasn't ideal behaviour; to Elodie, she looked around about eleven.

"Francine, I swear to Merlin if you feed that cat the locket I'll—"

Elodie approached the mother and placed her arms on her shoulders in a calming, comforting manner.

"Please, ma'am, I'm sure Francine was only joking. Isn't that right?" Elodie gave a somewhat stern gaze to Francine, to which she replied with a cheeky grin.

"Nope!" With a little laugh, she placed the locket in the yawning cat's mouth. In less than a second, the cat swallowed the locket. 

Elodie could feel the mother heating up and she had to contain her laughter when she realised how purple the mother was turning. Before the mother could 'blow,' Elodie lead her towards the back of the store, also grabbing Francine by the back of her shirt. 

"Don't worry Mrs. Rhine. I know exactly what to do. Just wait here."

Carefully weaving through the crowd, Elodie reached the cat that had swallowed the locket and picked her up. Once in the 'Employees Only' section, she made sure the door was closed behind her and went on her knees to face the cat.

"Okay, Snaps, I need you to give me that locket, pronto."

"Oh, is that what is was? A locket? No wonder it tasted so terrible."

"Yes, it was a locket, we've established that. So can you get it out? I'll give you extra milk tonight."

"Ugh, how do I get it out? By throwing up?"

"Yes, that's the only way."

"Not the only way."

"The faster way, okay? I'd rather clean up your spit than your sh**! Just throw it up!"

"Okay, okay. Give me a minute."

"I don't have a minute!"

Elodie crawled back as Snaps, the cat, threw up the locket. Trying her best not to breathe or gag, she picked up the locket and brought it to a sink, but not before shooing the cat away. 

Once Elodie was satisfied the cleansing and could breathe, she took the locket back to Mrs. Rhine and Francine.

"Oh, you got it! Is it all clean?" The mother exclaimed.

"Of course, Mrs. Rhine. It's in prime condition."

"Oh thank you, may Merlin bless you!"

With that being said, Mrs. Rhine, with a tight hold on Francine's wrist, left the shop. Francine, with her free hand, twiddled her fingers as a sign of saying bye.

Elodie's hand went straight to the sides of her forehead and she massaged them slowly.

"Thank god they're gone." she muttered, eyes closed.

After feeling constant nuzzling around her ankles, Elodie looked down to see Snaps, who then meowed loudly.

"When am I getting my milk?"

A look was all it took for Snaps to strut away.

"What was all that about?" Mandy Brevis, one of the owners of the Magical Menagerie and Elodie's mother, walked up to her daughter. Mandy had seen the drama taking place in her store, but chose to let Elodie handle it. 

"Don't even ask Mum. Just be glad it's over." Mandy laughed at Elodie's answer. "I swear on Merlin's socks that the mother was this close to throwing a tantrum." Elodie pinched her fingers together, making them apart only by a little bit.

"Well, I'm glad you worked it all out, you deserve some rest."

"Rest? What is that? It seems like I've forgotten how it feels. Oh what a luxury!" Elodie placed her hand on her head in a dramatic manner. "Why do I think that this is the last time I'll ever have a proper rest?"

"Because you're going to be starting your 6th Year and have NEWTs and you have homework." Mandy pushed her daughter towards the stairs that went to the residential quarters.

"Thanks Mum." Elodie replied sourly.

"Go! Finish some work now, while you still can." 

Elodie looked back at her mother, head tilted, before making her way to her room. Entering her room, she looked at her pile of work before falling onto her bed.

"Ah, rest." She said, closing her eyes and cuddling a pillow. "I bet you it's the last time I'll ever have a proper rest."