My Little Snitch Ch4
The train's whistle signaled their departure from the station. Students could be heard shouting goodbyes to their families out the window of the moving train. In the fourteenth compartment, Harry still sat across from Luna, and Snitch was still nestled in her lap. They were joined later by a first year named Nigel Wisner, who had tried to pet Snitch. She clawed him and jumped back onto Harry's lap. The boy then fled down the corridor clenching his hand (thought it wasn't bleeding).
"Snitch! What did you do that for?"
She just nibbled at his shirt a bit then licked her paw, clearly not interested in being scolded.
"Oh, you shouldn't scold her. She was only being honest. She obviously didn't' like that boy."
"And I suppose if you had claws you would go around scratching anyone you didn't like," Harry asked humorously.
"Of course not. I just tell them I don't like them, or that I wish for them to go away. I told Professor Snape that I didn't much care for him once, but he removed twenty points from Ravenclaw."
Harry had to laugh at that image.
"He removed ten more that week because I told him he had four grey hairs on the back of his head."
Harry laughed so hard that he doubled over breathlessly. 'That is too funny! She should have been in Gryffindor… I wish she were…what?'
"What's all the laughing about?"
"Oh hello Ronald."
"Hi Luna… Harry! How've you been?"
"Fine, you?" Harry was a bit disappointed that Ron had interrupted his conversation with Luna… but he was nonetheless pleased to see him.
"All right… is that Snitch?"
Snitch was still grooming herself, wiping her face clean. It seemed that she wasn't too interested in Ron either.
Ron sat down beside Harry and extended a hand to pat her head. She allowed him, but groomed the place he had touched more feverously.
"She doesn't much like me hu?"
"If she hadn't like you Ronald, she would have scratched you. I believe she's just in a foul mood," said Luna.
"Oh."
Harry gently picked Snitch up and cradled her small back in his hands. She mewed a little and touched her nose with his.
"You just don't like all this moving about, do you?"
She nuzzled her face against his. Harry got the "thanks for understanding" message.
He held her up to his chest and she cuddled into his arm.
Harry noticed that that Ron was giving him a strange smile.
"What?" Harry asked half curious and half annoyed.
"The famous powerful wizard Harry Potter cuddles his ickle kitty cat. That's so cute."
"Sod off!"
Because he had nothing to through at Ron's head at the moment, he settled for trying to kick him.
Ron laughed and dogged his leg. He said something about having to do prefects rounds and bolted from the compartment.
Harry looked at Luna, still smiling from the comical ordeal with Ron, to find that she was staring at the arm that was cradling Snitch (or more specifically, his wrist).
She looked contemplative for a moment, before smiling broadly.
"You're wearing the watch I made you."
Harry looked a bit embarrassed. He had forgotten he was wearing it.
"Er… yeah, thank you… it's nice."
"I'm very pleased that you like it."
Harry wanted to thank her for the letter that she had sent him (which was folded up in his pocket) but he would feel silly for doing so.
… Then again… was anything really silly around Luna?
"Thanks for the letter as well… it… it helped."
Luna looked baffled for a moment before realization dawned on her.
"Oh! You mean the one about the snorkacks? Why yes! Snorkacks are quite helpful, especially to grapefruits."
"Well… I meant the bit about my godfather. I… grapefruit?"
"Yes, of course."
'……..?'
It didn't seem to Harry that Luna was going to explain the connection between snorkacks and grapefruit. Harry wasn't entirely sure he wanted to press the subject.
"Well, you're always welcome… but you should really be thanking the snorkacks."
"Oh yeah. Next time you see one, thank it for me."
"I certainly will. I do hope I see one soon."
Though Luna looked very contemplative, Harry couldn't help but smile at the silliness of the conversation. It seemed that Harry had been smiling a lot lately… mostly around Snitch and Luna. The only difference is that Luna doesn't curl up in his lap…
The duration of the train ride had been uneventful… save for a few visits from Hermione, Neville, and Ginny. They had all reached out to Snitch, who had seemed to be more docile once she had taken a nap.
Harry stepped off of the train with Snitch still resting on his shoulder and Luna standing just behind him. They easily found a coach, though they didn't board it until Luna had had a full one-sided conversation with the threshals pulling it. Ginny and Hermione soon joined them. Hermione happened to be carrying Crookshanks, who had immediately set her eyes on Snitch. Harry noticed that Snitch was yowling and burying her face into his shoulder. She was obviously scarred of the much larger cat.
"Come on… it's okay… Crookshank's won't eat you." Harry said this in the most calming voice he could muster. This earned him an exaggerated "aaaawww" from Ginny.
When he was sure Snitch had calmed down, and Hermione had restrained the overly large monstrosity of a curious feline, he relaxed in the seat and tried to begin a conversation with the three girls.
"Soo... what happened to Ron?"
"Well, Hagrid wasn't there to bring in the first years. Apparently Professor McGonagall asked him to bring them into the castle. She probably didn't want to scare the life out of them by asking filch to do it. I would have gone with him… but Crookshanks hates water. She won't cross the lake, even in a boat."
Harry wasn't sure whether Snitch hated water or not… he had only ever washed her with a damp cloth.
"Well… where's Hagrid then?"
As if to answer his question… a tree "fell" down in the forest.
Harry and Hermione gave each other knowing looks. 'Grawp.'
When they entered Hogwarts, Hermione had gone off to have Crookshanks brought up to the common room. Harry, however, couldn't bring himself to leave Snitch with a bunch of house-elves. Familiars aren't allowed in the great hall during meals (other than owls of course).
In order to solve this, he gave Snitch a little kiss on the nose and put her in a large pocket of his school robe. She didn't protest any… and he silently prayed that she wouldn't make any noise during the feast. He walked as carefully as he could to the Gryffindor table.
"I will see you soon Harry. It has been lovely talking to you… where's Snitch?"
Harry leaned over to Luna, who was still following behind him and whispered, "She's in my pocket. I didn't want to leave her alone."
"Oh, I see. I suppose it's nice and comfortable under your robes. Good evening."
Luna turned around and headed to the Ravenclaw table, away from a blushing Harry.
Harry was so embarrassed, in fact, that he had accidentally sat down... forgetting that Snitch was in his pocket. She screeched loudly… and everyone in the hall had their eyes locked on Harry.