Forgotten Yesterday

Chapter 10: Kitty Catastrophe

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters borrowed for use in this story.

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Harry followed Snape's advice and returned to his classes the next day. He had planned a lesson but instead was forced to listen to every single one of his students' complaints about the headmaster. The Gyrffindors of course were the most vocal in their protests and allegations of mistreatment. Harry had expected that. After all he had been among the student s that by third year simply referred to him as 'the git'. However, when even the Hufflepuffs voiced complaints he realized how much he had glazed over his memories of potions classes.

"What did you do to my students?" Harry stormed into Snape's office.

"What are you talking about?" Severus turned around in his chair.

"A ten foot essay on the dark uses of werewolf's blood? A three-foot essay on Kappa's and where to find them? Outlines of chapters three through seventeen? Now, I have to grade all those bloody things. What were you thinking?"

A smirk spread across he older mans face. "Well Harry, I was thinking of you really. With all that's going on I thought you could use something to take your mind off all this stress."

"I had almost forgotten what a git you are."

"That shows you not to forget things like that."

"You're… you're… bad!"

"Again you astound me with your ability to state the obvious. Now, is there something you wanted?"

"Not really. Just delaying the inevitable."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

Harry gave a long sigh. "I volunteered to feed her cat."

Snape looked slightly sympathetic a moment before slipping back to bastard mode. "My condolences. To whom should I send your personal effects when it devours you? Those house cats can be very savage, you know."

"It's mean, I swear."

"Oh yes, kitties are very mean."

"You're making fun of me."

"Yes, I am. Will you stop waiting my time now?"

Harry narrowed his eyes a moment before he turned and stalked out of the office.

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He was waiting when Harry slipped into the room. He had tried to be quiet but had still caught his attention. Harry froze when he saw the cat perched in the bed. Crookshanks looked at him. His gaze was terribly penetrating.

"Good Kitty," Harry cooed, "I'm just gonna put some food in your dish and then I be gone."

The animal was not impressed. When Harry made to move toward the kitchen are where the food bowls resided he was met by a low snarl.

"Good Crookshanks, please." He took another step and the creature began hissing.

"Ok, we'll do it this way." He opened the can. As the smell of tuna drifted toward the animal it seemed to lose some of its anger and slowly began to walk toward him. "That's it good, kitty. Take the nice fishy from nice Uncle Harry."

Crookshanks came closer and looked almost cute the way he was sniffing at the can Harry unfortunately still held.

He should have seen it coming, really. As soon as Harry was within reach he struck. Harry fled the room in a flurry of fur and claws and teeth.

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Hermione awoke from her nap to the sound of small cruses from the bed next to her. The curtain was drawn but she could see the outline of two people. One she knew has the old matron; the other she assumed by the vocabulary was Harry.

"Damn it, that stings." he yelped as she wiped alcohol on one of the wounds on his face.

"Mr. Potter, if you intend to have these healed without scaring I must clean them before I heal them."

"Well, can't you do it without it hurting."

She couldn't suppress a small laugh as she remembered a thirteen-year-old Harry making the same requests.

"Oh yeah, keep laughing over there, Granger. It's your fault." He reached past the older lady and pulled the curtain.

"And how do you figure that?"

"It was your sodding cat!" he started at her in annoyance.

She held her face straight for a moment before she broke out I giggles anew. Her tear filled eyes met his indignant ones and she tried to stifle herself. "I'm… I'm sorry, Harry. It's just that I've never seen that cat despise anyone so much. Not even Scabbers."

"Wonderful, so your creature likes me less of than Voldemort's bitch."

She smiled as she watched him pouting. "Don't worry. I'm sure you two will get along eventually."

"Yeah, right. Do I have to keep feeding it? Can't the house elves do it?"

"They could. But they didn't promise me they would."

"Right, promise."

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Comments, Criticisms, etc.??

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long in coming. Finals have slightly sucked up all of my writing time. I should be able to have another chapter up in a week or so though now that it's almost over. :-P