Summer 19
Crookshanks Meets The Dursleys - Part One
After Harry and Hermione had taken Crookshanks out in the Grangers' garden, encouraging him to roam through the bushes, and walk through any patches of bare earth, Hermione shook her head. " I don't know, Harry, what are your aunt and uncle going to think when I bring in a dirty cat?"
Harrry snickered and said " Like we really care WHAT they think. Come on, Hermione , just keep remembering 'shiny floors-dirty feet, perfect furniture - cat hairs and twigs! Me being starved last summer!"
Hermione laughed at this and said " OK, Harry, I'm convinced But I'd better get in and change. Your aunt will be here soon." She looked down at her once white and now orange cat hair covered tank top and grimaced. " I'm a real mess!"
Harry didn't know whether to agree or offer to help her get the cat hairs off. He didn't like the idea of her leaving the house dressed so ... briefly, yet the idea of helping brush off the cat hair was an appealing one.
" Harry! You in there? I asked if you'd mind putting Crookshanks in his basket while I get ready. OK?" he noticed she was giving him an odd look.
"What? Oh, yeah, sure Hermione, go ahead and get ready.Aunt Petunia will be here in a little while, and I'm sure Ivy won't want to have her hanging around." Harry started off in the direction where he'd seen Crookshanks last, saying over his shoulder," I'll take care of things here!"
Hermione nodded, and went into the house, leaving Harry to begin the struggle to capture Crookshanks, who was definitely not pleased to give up his new freedom.A half hour later, panting and sweating, but with Crookshanks safely in his basket.Hermione was just walking into the living room when he walked in through the door that went to the back of the house.
"Got him?" she asked, walking over to take the basket." He really dug into you, didn't he?" Harry looked down at his arms, where there were two long scratches and nodded.
"Why don't we go into the office and clean that up. Sorry I have to do it the Muggle way, unless you want to wait for Mom to do it?"
"No! I mean, we better get it done now, before Aunt Petunia comes. She probably won't let me in her car, with blood on me. You'll do OK cleaning it for me, won't you?" said Harry, feeling suddenly kind of glad Crookshanks had been so resistant to being caught.
" I'll try," Hermione said with a laugh, as they walked into the office and she began getting out ointment and bandages., and running warm water." Just don't expect the kind of results you get from Madame Pomfrey."
As she cleaned and bandaged the scratches, Harry found himself studying the dress she was wearing. Had she enchanted it? He didn't remember ever seeing any cloth like it before, the different colors of blue faded in and out into different shades, almost seeming to move, and there were things on it that looked as if they might have come from a book on Ancient Runes. He didn't realize he was staring until she shook his arm slightly." OK Harry, I'm finished.Is something wrong with my dress?"
"NO! I love it, but what makes it look that way?" he asked, a little embarrassed at his own enthusiasm, but too curious not to ask. He hoped she wasn't going to be mad, and was relieved to see her smile at him.
"I found this in a box Mom had, and asked if I could have it. It was a pretty color, but Mom put a little Shimmer Charm on it, and now it does look kind of alive, doesn't it? Think I should wear it, or will it scare your family?"
" Go ahead and scare them!" answered Harry, "I think your mom must have known what she was saving it for. The only thing is......don't you think you'll get a little cold, Hermione?" He couldn't help wishing the dress would grow long sleeves and a few inches longer- at least while she wore it at his Aunt and Uncle's house, but then go back to the way it looked now.
Hermione looked a little puzzled, but then she grinned and said," Sure, Harry, I'll take a sweater, if it'll make you feel better."Harry could feel himself go red, but fortunately Ivy and Chris appeared at that moment,saving him from a reply. Ivy was carrying a fairly large box that looked like a bakery box, and had a wonderful smell coming from the edges.
"Ready to go?" asked Ivy. "I've made you some rolls and cakes to take along,Hermione. just be sure you and Harry are very careful not to do more than taste one. And whatever you do, DON'T let Crookshanks have any."
" No problem there," Harry said with a grimace as he remembered all the food that had come to the Dursley's table that he had barely gotten to taste." When Dudley's around he doesn't let anyone else get within speaking distance of the food until he has what he wants!" He could feel his stomach rumble at the smell of Ivy's rolls and cakes.
She must have anticipated that, since Chris reached behind him and picked up a tray of the same rolls and cakes along with cups and a pot of tea that he moved to the table in front of the couch. " These are safe, I believe,Ivy?" They all laughed and sat down to help themselves to a snack, discussing possible outcomes for the evening.
"Just be very sure you WANT them to do anything you mention, after they've eaten what's in that box. I've used a Coaxing Charm but it's quite a powerful one, so don't say anything jokingly. You may wind up having the Dursleys doing something that could be dangerous to you or to them."
Harry was about to ask how long the cakes could be saved ( although he wasn't quite sure WHY he wanted to know ) when the doorbell rang.He and Hermione looked at each other with huge grins and Chris wentto open the door for Aunt Petunia . Harry's evening of fun was about to begin, and he planned to enjoy every moment of it!!
To Be Continued.....