Chapter One: Saturday in the Park

I've been a cat ever since that day I ran away from the Dursleys' I don't know how or why it happenned I just know it is. The first few months were difficult as I learned how to survive on the streets as a cat. I had many cold and hungry nights. But I was used to being hungry and I soon got used to being a cat after I escaped Uncle Vernon and my so called life as a human. Now all I have to worry about is where my next meal is coming from and finding a warm a dry place to sleep.

Today being a bright sunny Saturday I headed to a nearby park to do some picnic hunting. Sunny Summer Saturdays at the Park were prime for food stealing. I would hide in the bushes while the picnickers would eat. As soon as they were distracted by kicking a ball, or snogging, or whatever. I would run out grab some food and run away to eat it. At other times I would have to go around neighborhoods looking for houses with cat flaps on their doors. If it had one I'd go in and steal some food. Being smarter than the average cat. I could open cabnets and fridges. Most houses would think that a racoon or other animal had got in the house. They would soon seal up their cat flap and I would move on the the next house with one.

My first victim of the day was a young couple. These were always my favorite targets because they were almost alway too busy kissing and such to notice me. This was definitely the case this time. They were too busy sucking on eachothers mouths to notice anything else in the whole wide world. I mean a giant pink elephant could be eating out of their picnic basket and they would not have noticed. So, I took my time eating and watching them from the other side of the picnic basket. Don't they ever breath. I don't think he should be putting his hands there. Well, she doesn't seem to mind. Looks like they are coming up for air. I ran for the bushes and looked back they hadn't seen me. I ate the chicken leg I took. I was pretty full after that so I just walked around the park people watching. Being a cat was pretty boring. I was pretty lonely. Other cats knew I wasn't a real cat. They didn't like me. I avoided them. It's not like I could talk to them. I tried to talk to humans too but all that came out was, "meow."

Later that day I saw a couple and their daughter come into the park carrying a picnic basket. I decided to follow them. There was something about that girl. I could see a faint glow surrounding her. I'd never seen anything like it. The man spread out a blanket while the woman sat down the basket and started pulling out plates and food. I hid in a nearby bush watching for an opportunity to eat. The girl sat down next to the woman and they began to talk.

"So honey how was your school this week?" Asked the woman of the girl.

"Yeah, How'd you do on that essay contest?" The man added.

The glow around the girl changed from yellow to green. "I don't want to talk about school." I heard someone say but no ones mouth had moved and I don't think anyone else had heard it.

"I had a good week. I haven't got the results from the essay yet. I think it's due Monday." The Girl said.

"Let's talk about something else. Anything else." This I heard again without the girl actually saying it. Again I don't think anyone else but me heard it

"Hermione, your birthday is coming up next month is there anything you want? We could throw you a party and invite all your friends over." The woman asked. But as she asked it again I heard the girls voice without her talking. It said. "No, no, no, no! Mom I don't have any friends."

"uhh, No thanks Mom. I really don't like parties. As for a gift..." The girl said. And as she said it I swear she looked straight at me in the bushes. "...how about a cat." As she said this and looked at me. I heard the voice again. "This is perfect. This will distract them from the same old conversation about my lack of friends. They will never let me have a pet. It would spoil their perfect house. Good thing I saw that cat over there watching us. Wierd thing too."

She thinks I'm wierd. At least I don't glow. Or talk in my head. It seemed pretty obvious to me that I could hear this "Hermione's" thoughts in my head. And with a name like Hermione she thinks I'm weird.

"A cat." said the woman unenthusiastically. (Wow, try to use that word in scrabble.) "Well I guess we could get a cat." She looked at her husband as if to ask 'what to you think?'

"Sure. Why not." He answered the unspoken question.

This could be a great opportunity for me. A warm place to live with lots of food to eat. I'm a cat and this strange brain-talking glowing girl wants one. If I don't like it I could just run away. What do I have to loose. I walked out from the bushes toward the girl.

"What is that cat doing?" I heard her say in my head. "What a striking looking cat with all that black hair and those emerald green eyes."

I stopped in front of her and sat down to see if she would be interested in me. To see if she would like me as her pet cat. Being able to hear what she was thinking made me beleive she liked my looks anyway. She reached out her hand toward me slowly. I rubbed my head against it and purred.

"He likes me. His fur is so soft. I want this cat." I heard again in my head. I think the parents must have been stunned into silence. It isn't everyday you talk about getting a cat and suddenly a cat appears as if by magic. Anyway I was hoping they would take me in. The woman came over and started to stroke my back.

"I wonder whose cat this is?" She said.

"It looks like it has been living on the streets. Look how thin he looks." The man said. "We'll take him to the vet and see if he is healthy. And if he's okay we can take this kitten as your new pet."

"Wow! Really! Thanks Dad and Mom." Exclaimed the girl as she hugged her Mom. I took the opportunity to sit on her lap where she could scratch me all over. It felt wonderful.

Well to make a long story short. They took me to the vet after their picnic where I got a clean bill of health. Then Badda boom badda bing I was Hermione's Cat. She named me Miles Standish. After some guy she read about in some history book Seems she liked the sound of the name.

Being a pet cat was sweet. I got food, warmth, and attention out the wazu. Also hearing Hermione's thoughts was very cool because she loved to read and it was like having books read to you all the time but I had to learn to tune out most of her thoughts because it would sometimes just be overwelming. I know she was very happy with me as a pet. And I was equally as happy with her as my 'master'. She was very kind and loving. I tried to be the friend she so despirately wanted.