Chapter 1
Crookshanks padded through the stone hallways of Hogwarts silently. He was moping; his bottlebrush tail dragging sadly on the floor. There was a trail of clean stone where his tail had been, the rest of the floor was coated in dust. Crookshanks wandered aimlessly, stopping to leap onto a windowsill. He curled up, resting his head on his paws to watch the sun rise.
As the sun made its way steadily over the horizon, birds fluttered out of a nearby tree. Crookshanks stiffened, his senses alert. He crouched stealthily as a sparrow landed softly on the ground, pecking at some left over seed in the cobbled courtyard.
"I'm so pretty, hear me chirp. My seed, all mine," the sparrow twittered annoyingly. The sparrow preened itself as Crookshanks prepared to pounce. It froze, listening hard, sensing something watching him. It turned its head towards the spot where Crookshanks was, a split second too late. He flew through the air and caught the sparrow, snapping his jaws shut with a sickening crunch. Crookshanks admired his kill for a second then set about cleaning himself, he had gotten feathers everywhere.
A silver tabby came marching across the courtyard briskly, not stopping to notice Crookshanks, and hurried through a nearby passage. His heart leapt, it was her. For weeks now he had seen this elusive feline all over the school. Her lovely silver coat was magnificently contrasted by the most elegant raven that markings he'd ever seen. This was the only cat he had seen around Hogwarts and she was hard to woo. He was melancholy and depressed when she wasn't around. Yet whenever he saw this charming cat, her beauty made him feel as though he was basking in sun. The hardest part was finding her, for every time he followed her slinky form he would round a bend and find some human shooing him away.
He was starting to detest the Scottish brogue in which the woman scold him. "Get away, shoo! Be gone," she would say, swatting him away. The mysterious cat would vanish the moment she appeared, it was getting tiresome. This time she would stay, this time he had a gift.
I've been so stupid, Crookshanks admonished himself, such a magnificent catch like that would be expecting an offering. No wonder she's always hiding. He picked up the bird and trotted after her, tail raised high. He paused for a moment in the corridor, straining to see if she had gone up the stairs or down the corridor.
"Peeves likes to have his fun! It's not broken, just smashed,"a squeaky voice trilled from along the corridor, shortly after a resounding crash. There was a shout of frustration and anger from a man as Crookshanks' curiosity peaked. He was almost certain she had gone up the stairs but Crookshanks was inquisitive as to what the funny floating man had done.
He had met Peeves before. Peeves had decided his ghostly ears were getting cold and that a furry hat would be an ingenious solution. He scooped up a napping, unsuspecting Crookshanks. Peeves held the scared cat on his head and zoomed around the castle upside down. Eventually when she heard Crookshanks' distressed yowls, Hermione rescued a trembling Crookshanks.
Crookshanks deliberated, and then slunk down the corridor quickly, trying not to be seen by Peeves in case he felt the need for another head warmer. He took in the scene before him and snorted. Peeves was floating upside down, blowing loud raspberries at the smelly caretaker whose eyes were popping. The intricate cabinet, which Crookshanks found a few mice under once, was smashed to pieces and the man was getting redder by the second.
"It's a vanishing cabinet Peeves, you'll be kicked out for this, wait until the Headmaster finds out," Filch said eyes bulging at the thought.
"Can't hear you," Peeves said, turning right side up, stuffing his middle fingers into his ears and crossing his eyes obscenely. Quick as a flash he had spun around and dropped his pants, giving Filch, and a rather disgusted Crookshanks, a perfect view of his pearly white buttocks.
"That's repulsive," Filch said, staggering backwards a few steps, Crookshanks mentally agreed. Crookshanks' jaw dropped as Filch stepped back. The swallow rolled out of his agape jaw and he blinked hard to make sure he wasn't catnapping again. Sitting calmly next to where Filch used to be, was the most endearing sight he had ever seen. She was the sweetest feline; she turned her large shining orbs onto him when the bird made a muffled thump against the floor. He was instantly hypnotized by her eyes. They were the palest, most delicate shade of green that was set off by the chocolaty, russet of her fur. She tilted her head thoughtfully to one side and smiled crookedly, revealing pearly pointed teeth. He must have never really seen a true female feline up until now. The washed out, grey tabby from before could not hold a candle to the dazzling damsel before him.
She glanced nervously up at the caretaker who was trying to repress the urge to projectile vomit, and sauntered over until she was standing in front of him. Crookshanks tried to speak but only let out a pathetic mew. He cleared his throat, "I don't believe we've met, I'm Crookshanks, and I caught this swallow, would you like a bite?" Crookshanks asked in a rush.
"I'm Mrs. Norris," she responded timidly, "you've got a feather there." She licked his cheek, removing the fluffy feather from his whiskers. He felt a tingling rush when her rough, sand paper tongue deftly removed the offending plume.
He felt his heart sink at once though and looked down dejectedly, tail drooping. "Where's Mr. Norris?"
"There is no Mr. Norris. He just gave me the name," she said gesturing to the custodian who was now howling in pain and rolling on the floor, clawing at his eyes. The poltergeist was hovering inches above him; still pant less, although now shaking his behind grotesquely. "You can call me Nora though," she said smiling up at him. He felt his stomach soar and rolled the limp bird towards her gently. He watched her gnaw on the dead bird's wing with butterflies in his stomach. He licked a smear of scarlet off her fur and rubbed his head up against her silky chin. Nora blushed and nuzzled him back.
"Mrs. Norris! Get away from that creature," hissed Filch. He pushed Crookshanks away and fretted over her. "Did he hurt you?" Filch cooed. He held Mrs. Norris back as she struggled in vain to reach a distressed Crookshanks.
A thudding of footsteps and a high pitched squeal made Filch look up. Crookshanks took the opportunity to swipe at his hand. "Crooksy! No! Don't hurt him," Hermione shrieked, scooping up Crookshanks as Filch made to hit him. Hermione glared at Filch and hurried off. Crookshanks mewed miserably as he watched Nora's outline grow fainter. He heard a weak whimper from down the corridor and made up his mind.
I'll find you, Nora, even if I have to search all of Hogwarts.
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter related thing belong to J.K. Rowling and some credit to William Shakespeare for inspiration.
A/N: This is roughly based on Romeo and Juliet. When I was reading it in English class I thought that it would make a great animal version. Even cats deserve love. Please let me know if I should continue with this story line, I'm a bit unsure about it.
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