"You cannot have a pet tarantula." Eli lost count of how many times he's had to remind his daughter that her nan would never sleep again with a creature like that in their house.  His mother never did like spiders, and he would never hear the end of it if he allowed Tegan to bring home an arachnid named Stephan.<br/><br/>"See what all your classmates will be getting?  How about a cat?  Or an owl?  Owls are useful, I had one when I went to Hogwarts," it had taken them the better part of the afternoon to shop for all of Tegan's school supplies.  He had already finished shopping for himself the week previous, but shopping for Tegan was like going back to his first year himself.  Eli was not the most wealthy wizard, and if he could, he would have handed over his old books and cauldrons were they not totally destroyed by the end of his first year.  As far as he could tell, the shopping list remained largely the same as it was back then.  They had already been through the second hand shops, where they purchased her robes.  Her books were purchased at Flourish and Blotts, and her wand at, of course, Ollivanders.  Elias was wearing a backpack he'd charmed to hold all of these supplies.<br/><br/>His train would be leaving soon enough, but he already knew he would make it in time.  Soon, Tegan would make her decision, and he would leave her with his parents for the remainder of the week.  She was excited for her first year, but Elias was nervous.  It was his first year as a teacher, and wasn't certain what to expect.  The previous professor Trelawney had left some big shoes to fill.  She did, after all, make one of the most important prophecies in history.  He constantly reminded himself he need not compare himself to her.  After all, he was still young yet, and had plenty of years before him to make a name for himself.<br/><br/>His daughter brought him back to the present as she rushed toward him, a fuzzy little creature in hand.  She held it proudly, showing him the pet she'd picked out; a sable polecat.<br/><br/>"You want... a ferret?" He asked slowly, but changed his tone before her disappointed grimace could find its way between them.  "Of... course, aye.  A ferret.  Tidy choice, myn."  He paid for the animal and the small cage to carry it in.  Tegan skipped along beside him, humming merrily.  She accompanied him all the way to King's Cross, asking him all about what it would be like at Hogwarts.  What classes she would be in, which House she would get, and if she could play Quidditch.  He couldn't resist an amused chortle; these were all the same things he wondered about himself on his way to Hogwarts.  His dad never heard the end of it with him.  Unfortunately, his first year wasn't at all what he was expecting, but he knew it would not be the same case with Tegan.  He wouldn't let it be.<br/><br/>He met his parents at the station.  They were kind enough to bring his trunk with them, so that he wouldn't need to carry it around Diagon Alley.  The small family made their way to the platform, where Elias and his father demonstrated how it was passed.  Tegan and his mother followed shortly after, the little girl struck with wonder upon setting eyes on the train for the first time.  The platform was fairly bare this time of year, since the students wouldn't be arriving for another week.  At this time, there were other faculty members boarding the train.  The train whistled, signaling that it would be departing soon.  He turned to Tegan and cupped her cheeks in his hands, planting a kiss on the top of her head.<br/><br/>"Behave for Nan and Bampi this week, alright?" he instructed her, scuffing her short auburn hair.  He bid his parents farewell as he took hold of his trunk.  "I'll see you at school, myn."<br/><br/>He was looking forward to getting some quality reading in during the commute.