by squidward
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DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: The number of reviews I got is unbelievable! Loads of thank you's to you all: zephyra1 (first reviewer! Nice to see u again), FFQueen, Me, Trym, Anne (it occurred to me too but I'll not use that idea here, I don't want such a complicated story), airhead14 (oh, you reviewed!), GasolineRuby (I'll finish this, don't worry. So pls, don't cry), artemisgirl (nice to see you again), Pullmanlover, Persephone's-Child, Weasley, Colin, orli-enthusiast, SweetStephy and Heba. It's nice to see some of my old reviewers again. I intended to update earlier but I got sidetracked. I'll try to update soon next time. I have to hurry, gotta watch Spongebob.
Okay, from this point I will still be addressing Ron as Ron and Crookshanks as Crookshanks even though their not on their respective bodies. Also, 'Ron' meant Crookshanks and 'Crookshanks' meant Ron. Got it? I know you do, you guys are a bunch of geniuses. And sorry for the stupid chapter title.
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Chapter II: I am He, He is Me
It was quarter past eight and Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Neville were still watching the unconscious redhead lying on the bed. The silent atmosphere was awkward but no one dared to utter a single sound when everyone was so worried as to what might happen to Ron. Only the 'tick' of the wall clock and the scratching of Madam Pomfrey's quill could be heard. Even Crookshanks was unusually quiet.
But he was a different case of course.
Few seconds ago the ginger cat resting uncomfortably in Hermione's embrace realized that he wasn't supposed to be there at all. He was supposed to be the one lying on the bed and being watched with anxious expressions by his friends and sister. Instead, he found himself on the bosom of his bushy haired friend, and the mere thought of it was enough to turn his face into dark shades of scarlet.
But no one seemed to notice. And no one would notice it at all.
Ron knew that panic must envelope him now but his current situation diverted his supposed instinct into something else. He couldn't help but think how nice it was to rest on Hermione's chest and how wonderful it was to smell her alluring scent. Why he was there and what happened, he didn't know, and honestly, a part of him wanted not to care at all.
But he had to.
What happened anyway? He could recall arguing with Hermione about her silly cat – whose body trapped his soul now – and a heavy thing hitting him hard on the head. He was expecting to feel pain but before his nerves could transmit it to his brain an unknown force resembling a black hole pulled him away in a blink. Then he couldn't remember what happened next.
Why was he inside Crookshank's body? If his soul was inside this cat, then, where was Crookshank's soul? Ron thought he knew the answer to the latter but he didn't want to believe it. He turned nervously to his body and watched it with narrowed eyes. Just then Hermione made an audible gasp.
"Ron!" Everyone else watched the stirring redhead apprehensively. The redhead blinked and looked around. Ron found it scary to watch this scene.
"Are you alright now?" piped Madam Pomfrey, who had just heard Hermione's voice. The redhead stared at her bemusedly for a moment and nodded slowly. Then he turned to Hermione, then to Ron. Their eyes locked for a moment. Ron's temper was close to touching the surface when the redhead smirked furtively at him.
"Well, if you're really okay you can go back to your dormitory now," said Madam Pomfrey and she wheeled out of sight. Ginny helped 'Ron' in getting up. When he was out of bed he looked really amazed. Of course, Ron thought irritably, it was his first time to stand on two legs!
"What's the matter?" Harry asked. The redhead shook his head vigorously. He glanced at Ron again and Hermione caught this.
"Ron, I'm really sorry about this," she began, interpreting Ron's glance to blaming this accident to her cat, "it's my fault. Don't get mad at Crookshanks."
Harry, who thought this might lead to another row, quickly changed the topic. "Let's just all go back to the common room. We still have to finish our homeworks." Surprisingly (for everyone except the real Ron), 'Ron' just nodded and followed them out without any word.
"Ron, are you still mad?" Hermione asked. She moved closer to Crookshanks, worry splattered on her face. Crookshanks smiled sweetly at her and shook his head. Hermione sighed in relief and smiled back. Ron wanted to make use of his newly acquired claws now.
"I think I still owe you," Hermione said in a more cheerful tone than before. "I'll do your Potions essay."
'Really?!' Ron asked excitedly, his eyes sparkling with joy. But what he only managed was incomprehensible meows.
"What's the matter Crookshanks?" asked Hermione. Ron gazed at her, horrified. He couldn't speak normal English anymore – let alone speaking a language human beings could understand. He swore he saw Crookshanks smirked at him. Ron wanted to strangle that stupid cat, though doing so would mean strangling his own body. He knew that he knew what was happening but unlike him, he was perfectly enjoying himself. Well it is nice with Hermione cuddling me all the time, he thought but quickly shook the lustful idea away.
"T-thank you t-then," Crookshanks stammered. It was his first time to speak English and it must be really awkward. "B-but I-I think I'll h-help y-you, I mean, I'll d-do it a-and you'll j-just, er, guide me."
Hermione was mildly surprised but she beamed at him. "That's very nice. You're being more responsible. Maybe someone should always knock your head, just joking," she said quickly spotting Crookshanks' perplexed face. Ron, however, shrieked in protest.
"Is there anything wrong?" Hermione turned to Ron, brushing her fingers on his fur. Her face moved closer to his, as if examining him. He could see all the freckles on her face and noticed how brown her eyes were with perfectly curled eyelashes. He had never been this close to her and he could feel the heat his face was radiating whenever they came in close contact.
"Are you tired? You could sleep in the dormitory," she said. Ron shook his head slowly – Hermione's hazel eyes putting him in a trance. Why hadn't he noticed before that they were so – enchanting?
"Pumpkin Pasties," Ron heard Harry said and the Fat Lady's portrait swung open. They climbed inside the portrait hole and saw that the common room was still packed with students. Nobody noticed that they arrived; everyone was busy with their own businesses. They occupied the table they used earlier – their books still scattered on top of it.
"Hermione, could I borrow your notes in History of Magic?" Harry asked. Hermione handed her pile of notes reluctantly, mumbling incoherently about not taking notes when it was really important for their future.
Everybody except Hermione started rummaging their bags for extra parchments and quills. Crookshanks looked at his quill as if he had never seen one before. Ron meowed wildly – he couldn't let Crookshanks devastate his academics. How could he do his homework when he didn't even know how to use a quill? To Ron's surprise Crookshanks started scribbling, constantly checking his book for certain facts.
Ron doubted Crookshanks could do his homework properly so he leapt from Hermione's arms halfheartedly and jumped on the table, peering on Crookshanks' work. Ron tripped and fell down at the sight of Crookshanks' work. Luckily, thanks to cat's reflex, he landed on his feet smoothly and didn't get any scratch at all. It was unbelievable - Crookshanks was doing the essay as perfectly as Hermione!
He stared at Crookshanks, trying to catch his eye, but he was too absorbed in doing the essay. Hermione, who didn't notice that she wasn't holding him anymore, was reading her Arithmancy book. Ron wondered when did Crookshanks get this intelligent. He was Hermione's cat after all. But the idea that a cat was better than him was very insulting.
How did this happen anyway? Ron had a sneaking suspicion that Crookshanks knew how this strange thing occurred. So he spent his time jumping on Crookshanks' lap and scratching him, trying to get his attention. But Crookshanks was acting like he was invisible and continued scribbling. Ron's fur was all standing up in fury. He wanted to poke Crookshanks' eye but remembered that that was his real eye. So he resorted to growling noisily at him and scratching his robes.
"Crookshanks, stop pestering Ron!" Hermione barked indignantly and she took him back on her arms. "Don't mind him Ron, I guess he's just tired," she explained hastily, afraid that it might start another fight. Crookshanks just shrugged and continued scribbling. Hermione was relieved at his reaction but wondered where did his ill-tempered manner go.
Hermione put Ron on her lap and grabbed her book again. Ron was about to jump but Hermione hold him back. "Just stay here and be a good little boy, okay," and she barricaded his way with her book.
"At last," Crookshanks sighed, pulling his roll of parchment towards him so as to reread what he had written. Ron noticed that he wasn't stammering anymore.
"You're finished already?" Harry asked, who still had an inch left in his History of Magic homework. Crookshanks just nodded. Hermione put Ron down and walked over to Crookshanks.
"Hmmm, all the facts are correct," said Hermione. She was standing behind Crookshanks and reading the essay. "In fact, you wrote better this time. I think you don't need my help at all." Ron saw Crookshanks blush and the sight made him flinched.
"Are you through with History of Magic?" Hermione asked. Crookshanks stared obliviously at her but Ron nodded attentively. Crookshanks took the hint and nodded at Hermione too.
"That's good. How about you Harry?"
"I'm down to my last sentence," Harry muttered, "There!"
"I'm through too," Ginny said and Ron tripped when he heard her voice. He forgot that Ginny and Neville were there.
"I'm not through yet," Neville grumbled, looking at his half-finished essay. "You guys could go ahead, this will take long."
"If you say so," Harry muttered, yawning openly. "I'm going to bed." The others were sleepy too and they left Neville alone on the table after muttering good night's. Ron, however, was still wide-awake and wasn't sleepy at all but he still followed Harry on the boy's dormitory.
"Crookshanks, where are you going?" Hermione called. She grabbed him and climbed the girl's staircase. Ron's heart throbbed horribly. He forgot that Crookshanks was sleeping WITH Hermione. Crookshanks seemed to forget that thing too for Ron saw him walking behind Hermione before realizing that he was supposed to go with Harry, hastily changing route.
Ron's face turned scarlet. He was now facing the prospect of sleeping with a girl. He barely heard Ginny saying goodbye to Hermione and his heart beat faster as Hermione opened the door.
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