My Little Snitch Ch2
Dear Hermione,
I found a stray kitten near the park. I took her home. I don't really know what to feed her or anything… I don't even know how old she is. What do you do for Crookshanks? Do you know anything about kittens? Send me a letter as soon as possible. Any tips would really help. Oh, by the way… her name is Snitch.
Thanks,
Harry
Harry pet Snitch, who was currently sleeping on his lap, and waited for Hedwig to return from her evening hunt.
He knew Hermione would be able to help him somehow. If she didn't know anything about kitten care, she'd probably run to the nearest library to find out. Snitch cuddled her head into his hand, then looked out the window and mewed.
Hedwig returned, and landed on the back of Harry's desk chair. She went to nip at the "intruded," but Harry blocked her.
"Come on Hedwig, be nice. She's going to stay with us."
'Now I'm talking to an owl.'
Hedwig turned her head and flew to her cage. She obviously didn't like this new pet, which to her resembled an overly large, golden snack.
Snitch looked a Hedwig, then up to Harry.
"Don't worry. She'll get used to you."
After coaxing his owl with many, many treats, Harry finally got her to hold still while he tied his letter to Hermione to her leg. She flew off, but not before biting his hand just hard enough to hurt, but not enough to leave a mark.
"Boy! Get down here and eat something!"
"Yes Aunt Petunia."
Harry pondered for a moment what to do with Snitch.
'Oh I'll just bring you to dinner, and maybe I can get you something to eat while we're down there.'
Harry held her to his shoulder and went down to the kitchen.
"What do you think you're doing with that thing? I will not have you smelling up my house with that grubby fleabag!"
Harry tried to think of a way out of this. There was only one thing that could shut-up his uncle, and that was "abnormality."
"Oh, uh, this is a very deadly magical creature. Yeah, if it feels threatened, or I'm in danger, it grows twenty times its size and kills on command. The ORDER gave it to me as a guard, you know, for my protection."
The entire family looked terrified. They all leaned away from their dinner plates to get as far away from the "creature" as possible.
"Tw…Twenty times it's size?" Vernon asked with a shaky, high voice.
"Yep. Or more, depending on how angry she is. She also spits venom and shoots fire from her eyes."
Dudley gave a yelp and went to run out the back door.
"Oh I wouldn't do that Dudley. She'll think you're up to something. She'll hunt you down by the smell of your fear."
Harry was certainly enjoying himself. His family was absolutely terrified of his little defenseless kitten.
"Now, I think she might be hungry. I know I am! Well, what are you waiting for? She's hungry. You wouldn't want her to find something… ELSE to eat on her own… would you?"
Petunia scrabbled out of her chair and pulled a can of tuna from the cabinet. She put some in a small dish, and placed it in front of Snitch with shaking hands.
Snitch poked at it with her nose a little, but wouldn't eat it.
"Come on Snitch, just take a little bite… it's good."
Harry scooped a bit onto his finger and held it up to her mouth. She licked it a little, and eventually began eating it on her own.
"Why does it look like it's about to die?" his uncle asked with a sneer.
"Oh, that's just a part of the camouflage. I mean… would you expect her to be a monster?"
"Well why wouldn't it eat that just now. You said it was hungry."
"Oh, uh, she's used to the taste of human flesh."
Well, that shut them up for good. They didn't say one word for the rest of the dinner.
Harry returned to his room a short time later, and set a now fully fed kitten on to his bed. He changed and climbed in. He made sure to keep the window open for Hedwig incase she should return during the night.
He set Snitch on the pillow next to his head, so he wouldn't roll over and crush her while he slept. She curled herself into his messy hair and bit at a few strands. He put an arm up to pat her head, and she purred in response.
"Goodnight Snitch. I still can't believe I'm talking to a kitten. The scary part is that I think you're listening."
For the first time all summer, Harry slept without dreaming of Voldemort, the prophecy, or Sirius.
Harry awoke to the sound of meowing, just as the sun was beginning to show through the open window. He reached over to the bedside table and grabbed his glasses. On his desk was one of the funniest sights he had ever seen.
Snitch was on her back, rolling and batting a paw at Hedwig's beak. She in turn was gently nipping at Snitch's belly. It looked to Harry as if she were trying to tickle her, and Snitch was laughing.
Harry didn't want to disturb their little "bonding time," so he settled for reading the letter that Hedwig returned from Hermione.
Dear Harry,
A kitten? I can't really picture you with a fluffy little kitten, but you certainly are the type to bring in a stray! Here are some basics on kitten care that I remember reading. Dry foods are best for kittens, and many of them insist on being hand-fed. Don't overfeed her either, it's not healthy. Never pick her up by the scruff of the neck, and never encourage aggressive behavior like biting or scratching. Brush her every day, though cats usually spend about five hours per day grooming themselves. Kittens can sleep six to eighteen hours per day, and the rest playing or eating. Oh, and make sure she keeps warm. I suppose I'll see you next week on the train. Sorry that Dumbledore made you stay there for the summer, but it is for your own safety. I would suggest you take her to Madam Pomfrey when we get to Hogwarts. How are you going to keep Snitch and Hedwig? You're only allowed one familiar. But don't worry, I'm sure Dumbledore will make an exception for you, he always does. I'll see you soon!
Love,
Hermione
'I can always count on Hermione for information,' Harry thought.
He wasn't worried about that one familiar rule. There is no way that Dumbledore would say no.
'After I spent a whole summer without my friends… I think I deserve two pets at the very least!'
Harry was quickly pulled out of his angry thoughts when he saw Snitch licking Hedwig's cheek. It looked as if Hedwig was trying to groom Snitch's fur, ruffling it like she was searching for ticks.
He felt content now that he knew that that his most loyal friend wascaring forhis newest friend. He felt that his sixth year at Hogwarts might not be as horrible and lonely as he had thought.