A/N: Apologies for the delayed chapters. And many, many thanks for your reviews.
First out of two chapters dealing with Gingerhead's adventures in Diagon Alley.
The information regarding the Diagon Alley and its shops came from the Harry Potter Lexicon.
Sparky the Sparrow makes another guest appearance.
CHAPTER 9: Tropical storm: Gingerhead.
Severus Snape apparated in Diagon Alley, right outside the Flourish and Blotts bookstore. After the first moment of dizziness, he checked his surroundings. The Alley was bursting with life. People of all ages were chattering around him, checking the shop windows and enjoying the warm Saturday morning. The Potions Master looked around to see if by any chance he had evaded the cat's company.
No such luck.
Gingerhead mewed loudly and rubbed his head against Snape's leg, leaving a cloud of floating cat hair in his passing, all of which landed on his midnight robes. Snape fought back the sudden urge to kick the cat. No way he could get away with animal abuse with so many witnesses around. Clenching his fists, he fixed his black eyes to Gingerhead's yellow ones.
"Try and behave yourself, orange tsunami," he hissed.
The cat mewed loudly once more. Then he stood up on his hind legs, embraced Snape's knee with his front ones and began rubbing his head against him. A passing couple of elderly witches chuckled seeing this expressing of affection. Snape cursed through clenched teeth, hoping that none of this would ever reach Hogwarts. Only then did he notice the two young witches standing outside Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions shop. They were young, rather attractive and giggling. And they were checking him out.
They were checking him out. Not someone behind him, but him, Severus Snape. Their accent had something foreign, which could explain a lot, since he could not recall either of them as a student. And they certainly did not remember him, otherwise they would have fled by now. His ears caught fragments of muffled comments.
"...His cat certainly loves him..."
"...Men who love cats are so sensitive..."
"...He's rather cute, isn't he? On that rugged kind of type, I'd say..."
The Potions Master fought back the urge to straighten his hair, well aware that he should avoid attracting their attention to that. Deep inside him, he regretted not having washed his hair this week, but, again, he found no reason to change his habits for any woman's sake. Still, he couldn't feel anything but flattered by their interest. Perhaps that cat could prove to be useful, after all. He leaned closer and stroked Gingerhead's huge head. The cat gawked at him, clearly confused. And then he turned his back at him, offering a full view of his nether parts and trotted away.
"Be careful out there, kitty," he said as he watched the cat wander away. Not that I care, but I suppose this might sound 'sensitive' enough to the ladies' ears.
He straightened his back and approached the two witches, while the cat had vanished among the crowd.
~*~
Gingerhead's POV.
Oh, for Merlin's sake, not another human mating ritual! And using me as a bait to attract the females.
I'm insulted. And come to think of it, I'm hungry as well. Is there anything to eat around here?
Great Mother of Cats, there is! What kind of place is this?
~*~
The huge ginger cat sat down in front of Eeylops Owl Emporium, checking out the cages above, all of them holding a bird inside. The cat fixed his yellow eyes on the unsettled birds, his tail wagging frantically back and forth, while he was licking his lips with obvious interest.
The owls screeched and fluttered inside the cages, but nothing seemed to affect the cat.
~*~
Gingerhead's POV.
Excuse me? Anyone? Maitre? What should someone do to get some service here? I would like to order now, if you please.
~*~
The owls shrieked louder, attracting the attention of the shop owner. And old wizard stepped out of the store to investigate the reason of his birds' nervousness. A frown appeared on his face seeing the huge cat eyeing the owls.
"That pitiful case of a witch down the Alley has lost another cat again," he mumbled. "Move along, kitty," he said louder, and clapped his hands. Gingerhead stared at him, clearly annoyed, and he reluctantly walked away.
Content, the shop owner stepped back inside.
As soon as the store's door was closed, Gingerhead returned to his spot.
~*~
Gingerhead's POV.
"Hello, birdie. Such lovely drumsticks you have there. Want to see my teeth?"
A huge snowy owl eyed him arrogantly. "Get lost, creep. Owls are carnivores too."
Gingerhead yawned. "Scary. Now, what about my snack?"
The owl cackled. "Come closer, and I promise you can have a bite. You are one pudgy cat, I'd say. Such juicy ribs you'd make."
Gingerhead blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I remember eating a couple of kittens, when I was younger," the owl mocked him. "Not as tasty as mice, but if one's hungry..."
"Murderer!" Gingerhead glared at the owl with open hostility.
"Fatso! What kind of species was your father? A boar, perhaps?"
"Want to see my fangs? And judge for yourself, if my father was indeed a boar."
"Get lost, orange mammal."
"Why? Will you tell your human on me again, stupid bird?"
"I have more intelligence in my rear feathers than you have in that thick head of yours, furred imbecile."
"I'm not the one behind bars, birdie."
The dispute could have continued for hours. Then another bird came in sight and perched above the caged owls. This was a sparrow; none other than Sparky.
"Oh, brother. I fly in for my daily treat of taunting the caged owls and whom do I meet? That orange menace again," Sparky sighed.
The owls beneath him were in uproar.
"Get him!"
"If only I could get my claws on you, sparrow..."
"Come here, birdie. Come share my cage, little one..."
"I'll teach you to poop on my head, critter. Just wait until I get out of here..."
Of course, Gingerhead could not stay out of the fun. He focused, his tail wagging frantically, and jumped in the air.
~*~
The people passing outside Eeylops Owl Emporium watched in amusement a huge ginger tom leap up to the air, attempting to catch a sparrow, and landing on top of a cage housing a snowy owl. The sparrow flew away but the cat hissed and spat, trying to get his claws on the caged bird, while the owl flapped its wings and shrieked, attempting to bite off the paws that reached through the cage bars. The cage's hook could not support the combined weight of both the cat and the owl and it crashed on the pavement. Feathers, cat fur and wooden debris flew around, as the owl flew away to catch the sparrow and the cat went after the owl.
Gingerhead leaped over wares' stands, toppled booths and stalls, throwing on the ground books, robes, quills and parchments. Distressed shop owners and clients came out of the stores yelling at the mischievous cat that was oblivious to anything but the birds. Finally, somewhere above the Apothecary, both birds rose higher to the air, far away from Gingerhead's claws.
Not giving up, the cat jumped on the black-clad wizard who was in his way, climbing on his back and standing on his shoulders, mewing desperately at the prey that got away. Severus Snape cried out by both surprise and pain, as the cat's claws were dug in his flesh. Then Gingerhead, accepting his defeat, climbed down from Snape's shoulders, leaving a trail of footprints on the once black robes.
An enraged shop owner reached them, his face dark red and steaming.
"Would that be your cat, sir? This creature has cost me a champion snowy owl and my peace of mind," the man spat.
Before the Potions Master could deny it, one of the young witches he had been trying to woo was quick to reply.
"Well, yes, of course it's his cat. Isn't it obvious how much they love each other?"
The shop owner beamed, handing over a damage bill. Snape scowled, as a murderous twinkle danced in his eyes.
And Gingerhead rubbed his head affectionately against his leg.
I sincerely hope that none of this ever reaches Hogwarts, thought Snape.
No such luck.
At that precise moment, Fred and George Weasley came around the corner.