So they go to the shelter.

It's very clean and decorated nicely, though kind of utilitarian once you get past the lobby.

They have a lot of different facilities for a variety of animals - cats and dogs, birds, horse-sized pens for cattle or other large animals. And veterinarians' offices.

"It's bigger than I expected."

"Yeah, it's actually the largest rescue center in the state. Took lots of time to get it this way though."

Nod. "There's a lot of animals."

"So many I don't even get to know all of them, necessarily, anymore. It's doing a world of good to expand like this, but I also feel a bit regretful, you know? Lost the charm of being a small operation."

Shrug. "I guess."

"Want to see a few standout animals? Like Ralph the kestrel. He used to be someone's pet - broke his wing, we got him after that and take care of him, but he can't go back to the wild since it never quite healed right."

"That sounds nice."

She can see but not touch Ralph the kestrel and a bear who's on visit from a nearby zoo, and actually meet a wide variety of other critters. The biggest volume is cats and dogs but there's a lot of variety here, and the place is as big as a zoo itself.

Whoah, a bear?

Yep, a bear. "She's getting pretty old. The wildlife service were going to kill her because she was too domesticated... She'd just keep coming around humans, breaking into vending machines and digging through trash, maybe kill someone. I got the New York Zoo to take her in, instead. She's nice enough, just kind of touchy about food."

"Oh, that's sad. I'm glad you saved her."

"Yeah. Old Goldy probably isn't one you should try to meet from the other side of the enclosure. Maybe after she gets used to you and you get used to being around animals generally."

Nod nod.

The tour continues! He pauses it occasionally to chat with people/introduce Anna-Seraphina to them if she seems like she might appreciate it.

She is okay with that as long as she doesn't have to personally interact with them very much.

Then she will be briefly introduced to about a dozen veterinarians, nurses, and lab techs by the time they get back to the lobby. "So, what do you want to do now? Any questions?"

"I don't think I have any questions. I'm...not sure what I want to do next."

"You seem to like reading... Maybe we should go over the details for school things?"

"I do like reading. That sounds like a good idea."

"And then you can read some of your ten library books. Sure, let's do that."

They do that. And have dinner. And then sleep. And then it's Monday morning.

And that means school, presumably. She wakes bright and early and gets ready.

Yep, school. Kent is pleasant as usual and makes sure she has all the listed school gear. She is driven to the school. "Call me or Forrest if anyone gives you too much trouble, okay?"

Once she's in school she reports to the administrative office. Attitudes there range from 'bored' to 'stern and gossipy'.

Bored is fine. Stern makes her nervous.

The stern paper-shuffler next to the bored one who marks down all her classes' classrooms says, "Don't expect special treatment. Magic or not, if you make trouble you'll get detention."