Hufflepuff
Seventh Year – Fourth Year Stand-In
Drabble
Word Count: 617
Additional Requirement: Must be written in 1st person
Prompt(s): [Theme] Adopting a pet
"Here you go, Hermione," said Mum pressing the sack of coins into my hand. "Happy early birthday and let us know what pet you choose to get."
"Thank you, Mum," I said, giving her and Dad a giant hug.
I had never chosen a pet for myself before. I honestly didn't think I would get to choose my first pet until I was an adult and living on my own. When I was five my parents got a dog for the family who I so cleverly named Professor Wigglebutt. Professor Wigglebutt was a corgi wearing a dalmation disguise and she knew nearly forty tricks. I taught her fifteen of them, but she was more my mum's dog than she was mine.
I thought that an owl would be the most practical. I wouldn't be able to let it sleep in my bed with me, but it would certainly be nicer than an icky toad. A cat? Well, a cat might not get along with Professor Wigglebutt and that sort of discord could make summers an incredibly long two months.
Harry, Ron, and I went into Magical Menagerie for poor Scabbers. Honestly, something was off about that rat, but he was Ron's and I wasn't about to insult Ron's pet.
There were so many interesting pets inside the shop that I could hardly notice the smell. Part of me was wondering if it was humane to keep animals in close-quarters like this, but I quickly became distracted by a lizard that became the color of whatever it ate. A flash of orange caught my eye and I slowly looked up to see an orange cat staring down at me.
Our eyes met, and I felt an immediate connection with him. Mum said that when she held Professor Wigglebutt she knew they were meant to be. I slowly stretched up my hand but the cat leapt off the shelf to land square on top of Ron's head, hissing and spitting.
"OW!" Ron cried. "Geroff!"
I grabbed the cat around the middle and pulled him off Ron. He detached easily and curled up against me, purring so loud it vibrated through my chest. Ron and Harry left but I remained behind, the cat still wrapped up in my arms.
"Oh, dear," the shopkeeper fretted. "Crookshanks, that's why no one will adopt you!"
I furrowed my brow.
"How long has he been here?" I asked.
"Long enough," she sighed. "He's half-kneazle, which are not only clever but are also incredibly long-lived, so he'll be an ornament in this shop for… mm… another twenty years?"
Wow… that was a long time to be without a family. I looked down at Crookshanks who was still purring heavily in my arms. I did have a bit of a liking for cranky redheads.
"How much?" I asked eagerly.
"What?" she perked up. "You want to adopt him?"
"Of course!" I said. "I felt a connection the moment we met eyes."
"O-oh, that's wonderful!" She brought out an adoption document and bustled around the shop excitedly. "You'll also be able to purchase a cat carrier and other supplies here and you can replenish them at Hogsmeade."
"You said his name is Crookshanks?" I said.
She nodded in confirmation and placed a tattered ball of yarn in the wicker carrier. "This is his favorite toy. No extra charge."
"Crookshanks is a bit of a harsh name," I said. "How about… Dr. Grumpyface!"
Crookshanks gave me an unamused glare as if to say, "Not on your life."
"Alright, fine," I said and scribbled my name on the adoption certificate. "Crookshanks it is. But I'm calling you Crookie for short."
Crookshanks purred and shoved his face against my hand.