Mercy

After a week had passed, Harry started to worry about how Hermoine would arrive. He didn't think that she would be very welcome, any way she came, by the Drusleys. His answer came about noon-ish that day. The doorbell rang, and Dudley answered the door. Harry and Ron came up to see Dudley gaping at a very pretty girl, that somewhat resembled Hermoine. Harry looked over, and Ron was gaping as well, and he nudged him hard in the ribs. "ErY Hi, Hermoine. ErmYyou've, ahY grown!" Ron said, blushing a furious red. "Eh? What, ohYwell, so have you!" Hermoine responded almost beating Ron's red face in colour. She rushed in, past Dudley, almost knocking him over, and said a hurried "hello" to Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vernon, as she dragged Ron and Harry out the door. "Er, hang on, Hermoine. I've forgotten my things up in Harry's room. For that matter, so has Harry!" Ron said. "Hurry up, then!" she said impatiently, and the two boys ran back into the house. AWow@ Ron sighed as they were gathering their luggage. Harry gave him a funny look, and he flushed red and cleared his throat. They took their suitcases downstairs, and out the door. They put their suitcases in the trunk of Hermoine=s parent=s car. Hermoine opened the door to the car, and motioned to Harry and Ron to get into the car. Ron got in carefully, Harry and Hermoine got in beside him. Hermoine's mum turned around, as Hermoine's dad started the car, and said, looking at Ron: "Oh! So is this the young man that you've been talking about all summer. Red something, Isn't it?" "No, mum. His name is Ron Weasley. Where'd you get red from?" "Red Hair, red faceY" Hermoine's father laughed, as Ron went somewhat purple. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine got out of the car, thanking Mr. and Mrs. Granger for the ride. They looked about, and then remembered the leaky cauldron, and walked in. There was Hagrid sitting there, and he immediately spotted them. "How are yeh, Harry? Drusleys not treat'n you too badly?" he said with a grin. "Come on you lot, got lotsa shopp'n tae do." So they went out the back of the shop, and Hagrid tapped the wall, and it parted, so that they could get through. Harry decided that they should get their books, first. All of a sudden, A man with a cat clinging to his face, came tearing down the street, yelling. When Hermoine tried to ask him what was wrong, He just screamed "get this stupid thing off of my face, or I'll kill it!" At that moment, a very pretty girl, about Harry's height came out of the shop that they were standing in front of. "How much do you want for the cat?" she demanded. The cat instantly jumped off of his face, onto her shoulder, purring. "You can have it for five sickles, thirteen kunts." The girl plopped the money into the man's hand, and he walked away saying "You better watch out! That cat's a menace, I tell ya! A minx!" and he ran into the crowd. Hagrid came up behind the girl, and put his hand on her shoulder. "This is Mercy. She's an exchange student from Canada. She's in fifth year, just like the rest of you." "How does that work?" Hermoine asked. "We didn't know that there were any witches in Canada. Mercy, this is Ron Weasley, Hermoine Granger, and, well, you must know him, don't you? That's Harry Potter!" "Sorry, Harry. I have no idea who you are. Sorry." Mercy said. Seeing the wash of relief wash over Harry's face, she smiled. Her kitten looked up at all of them. She was a gold colour, and white with silver flecks. She was incredibly cute. She jumped up onto Harry's shoulder, and started purring, and then she jumped over to Ron, and curled up in a little ball. Hermoine came over, and started petting it. Then she looked up, and came into Hermoine's hand; she was so small that her bottom fit right into the palm of her hand. "Oh! She's a darling!" Hermoine exclaimed. "That's it!" Mercy exclaimed. "What's it?" Ron asked turning around from looking in the shop window. "The name! She=s darling, so I'll call her Darla!" At that moment, Darla stood up, and started hissing. Hagrid looked up from looking at the kitty, and started to scowl. AS Draco an' his idiots. Don't do anything, I don' want ter get into a fightY"he whispered to them. Draco came up behind Hermoine, and the surprised look soon washed from his face. He reached out, and stroked one of her ringlets, and Hermoine was fairly bristling. Darla leapt out of Hermoine's hand and gave Draco a huge swipe across the nose, sending Malfoy reeling back and falling over, while Darla landed at his feet, hissing. "She reminds me of you, somehow, Mercy. I can't remember whatY" Hagrid said. "Good judge of character?" Harry suggested. They all laughed, and left to get their books. MerLater, Hermoine looked at her watch. AWe=ve got to go meet my parents now, Mercy. You=re staying with us, so why don=t we go now?@ She said, motioning back towards the Leaky cauldron. AOk, I'll leave you to it. See you around!" and Hagrid left.