As always, standard disclaimers apply: All Potterverse persons, places and things that are the property of JK Rowling will stay that way, and I am making no $$$ from this work of fan-fiction.
No Time For Epilogues
Chapter 21
Ginny had a time rounding up the last of the stragglers trying to squeeze out last minutes with their sweethearts at Puddifoot's or last minute buys at Honeydukes. As Head Girl, it was her responsibility to ensure that every student that went to Hogsmeade returned from the village. Her Head Boy counterpart was supervising a mass detention of food fighters from dinner the previous night. Headmistress McGonagall even went as far as asking the Head Students what their punishment should be. Using one of the Headmistress' favorite expressions, Pete suggested they write one thousand times "I will not throw food about like baboons." Ginny suggested that the students, not house elves, clean the mess.
"Good suggestions both, so I will do both," McGonagall had said.
When all the students returned from Hogsmeade, Ginny poked her head in the Great Hall, where Pete acknowledged her with a lazy wave and returned to reading. She chuckled at the nine students scowling as they scribbled their lines.
"Miss Weasley," she heard from behind and turned to acknowledge Professor McGonagall. "I trust everything went well in the village today?"
"Yes Professor. Only three students threatened to duel their classmates to the death," she stopped and rolled her eyes, "and Madame Rosmerta wanted me to tell you hello and wondered if you were still on for next Saturday night."
Ginny had no idea what was on for Saturday night but relayed the message nonetheless. She wished she and Harry could be on, perhaps each other, next Saturday night or any night for that matter.
"Thank you Miss Weasley, enjoy the rest of your evening," McGonagall said warmly and watched Ginny walk away.
The girl was met by three first years, two Hufflepuffs and a Gryffindor, who clamored in excitement when she took three paper bags from her satchel and gave the bags to them.
"Now this is Honeyduke's' finest chocolate, so don't eat it all in one day. I have a Quidditch match next Saturday, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to get back there and get some more," Ginny said.
"Thanks Miss Weasley!" they called out and went back to their common room. Ginny watched them until they were out of sight. They were orphans, thanks to the war, and had even less than she did growing up, which really said something. The Hogwarts Benevolent Fund supplied the needs of those to poor to afford uniforms and school supplies but what about their wants? The little things that made their time at Hogwarts fun? They shouldn't be watching their classmates eat sweets from Honeydukes, they should be eating it themselves too. Now that she had money, she helped out wherever she could, such as her side trip to Honeydukes for the three. At the orphanage, they had the necessities of life: a bed, three meals a day and basic clothing. At Hogwarts, they had warm, comfortable beds, three all-you-can eat wholesome, delicious meals (with dessert, also all you can eat!) and uniforms that probably outdid the stuff the orphanage had. She couldn't wait for Christmas.
The next morning at breakfast, Ginny wasn't the only one to be surprised by the sight of a falcon that glided into the Great Hall and came to rest beside her on the bench.
"Do I know you?" she asked the bird that had a small scroll attached to a collar around the neck. She carefully took the scroll, eyes on the large, pointed beak and gave it a scrap of ham. The bird swallowed it, gave a soft caw and flew away.
"Who do you know uses falcon post?" Kathy Rooney asked. "That was a falcon, wasn't it?"
Ginny unrolled the scroll and read.
Gin-
How do you like the falcon? Her name is Hermione. I got her (or she picked me rather) when we got a new kitten for our Hermione. I enjoyed the time with you yesterday and I'm living for when we can be together all the time. The whole gang will be there next Saturday for the first Quidditch match of the season. With you at Captain, Ravenclaw doesn't stand a chance.
Have you figured out who I want to house hunt with?
All my love, Harry
"Who's it from?" Kathy asked.
"Harry."
Hermione slowly opened her eyes, wakened from her nap by a strange sensation on her earlobe, something moist and scratchy. She thought at first she was dreaming, then maybe thought a bug was on her ear. Thinking that startling the insect would cause it to bite her, she slowly turned her head and was eye-to-eye with small brown eyes and a tiny pink nose. She sat up and saw at a tiny kitten perched on her pillow. What on Earth?
Why is there a kitten, albeit a cute one, on my bed, licking my ear?
"Where did you come from, little one?" Hermione asked, picking the up the kitten. She took the kitten with her to the bathroom and saw a note attached to the mirror.
Love, ring me when you wake and let me know how you're doing, okay? Ron
She went to the den where her mother and father were reading the latest professional journal, chuckling and pointing at an article. They noticed her at the door holding the kitten.
"Do you know where she came from?" she asked.
"Ron and Harry brought her by while you were sleeping," Ian said. "Harry had a falcon."
"Let me get this straight: Ron drops off a kitten off while I'm sleeping and Harry had a falcon?"
"Well, it does sound odd when you put it that way, but...yes," Elizabeth said.
The kitten mewed from the crook of her arm. "I suppose you'd like something to eat?" she asked.
"Ah yes, they left food from the shop they got the kitten from, some special food, ka-neezle I believe it's called," Ian said.
"It's kneazle Daddy, that's her breed," Hermione said and brought the kitten face-level. "Did you hear that? He called you a ka-neezle."
The kitten licked the tip of her nose in answer. She went to the kitchen and took a jar of specially fortified Mother's Milk Cream for Kneazles and a can of Precious Kneazle kitten food from a basket.
She had gotten Crookshanks when he was full grown, so now she sat down on the floor next to the kitten and got to see how cute and messy it was for the her to eat. She snorted and splashed in the bowl trying to get the cream in her mouth and her little furry face was covered with the cat food. Her heart starting healing just a little bit just observing the adorable kitten attempting to bathe herself.
Sunday September 21, 1998
Auror Academy
"-and when we come across an object like this, I suggest you leave it be. There's cursebreakers for that," the instructor said and the class laughed.
Harry, amidst his wool-gathering, realized that he couldn't recall a thing the wizard had said during training that morning. Cursebreakers? What? The instructor moved on.
"Now I know you studied Boggarts in your third year at Hogwarts," the instructor said, "but it's good to do a refresher scaring once in a while, to face fears and keep casting skills fresh. For many of you, you'll find that your Boggarts have changed since third year. People change, the world around you changes, so does the Boggart."
Harry looked around his class, everyone wondering who the instructor would call on. Among the class were best friends Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan; Kenneth Towler- an older Gryffindor who left a position in Magical Games and Sports to join the Aurors; Anthony Goldstein, also of his year but a Ravenclaw, determined to carry on his older brother's name, an Auror who died in the war. There was also Wayne Hopkins, a Hufflepuff of his year he didn't know very well.
"Thomas, you first," the instructor called.
Swallowing heavily, Dean stood before the plain oaken cabinet and seconds later, Fenrir Greyback stepped from it. "Ahh, fresh meat," he snarled.
"Riddikulus!" Dean shouted and the werewolf turned into a small fluffy white kitten.
"Potter."
Wand hand slightly trembling, pointed toward the cabinet, he waited for a Dementor to swoop out. Instead, it was Ginny, glaring at him with such a look of loathing that it made him feel nauseous said, "I truly despise you, Harry James Potter."
"Blimey," Dean said.
He shakingly whispered "Riddikulus" and nothing happened. He cleared his throat and called out "Riddikulus" in a clear, loud voice and the Ginny-Boggart turned into a sparrow.
"Were you expecting that Potter?"
"No sir, my Boggart has always been a Dementor."
"Hm, I see. Mine used to be cats, as silly as it sounds, now look what it is," the instructor said and stood before the cabinet. A pretty middle aged woman strolled out and laughed at him mockingly. "I always knew I could do better."
He cleared his throat and called out "Riddikulus!" The woman changed into a braying donkey.
"That Boggart is my wife of 22 years. So don't worry Potter, I'm sure many of us have Boggarts like that. Also, let's keep the donkey part to ourselves, shall we?"
Monday morning, Hermione decided that Adan, her kitten, was too small and young (and too cute) to be left alone at the big Granger home all day long. She was a kneazle and she would follow her human, but how would she fare for half the day in the woods with centaurs?
She left home with the kitten, small enough to fit in a robe pocket and left for the Forbidden Forest. At Hogwarts, she made her usual morning greetings to Minerva, who cooed and cuddled Adan, then went to the woods, the kitten dutifully following.
"Yes sweetling, you're a good little kneazle, aren't you," she said. The kitten's tail stood up straighter as her little legs tried to keep up. "But you are a tiny thing," she said and placed the kitten on her shoulder and resumed walking.
Lina met her at the wood line, nodding at her in friendly greeting and inquired about the kitten.
"My mate gifted me with another familiar due to the untimely death of my previous one," Hermione said.
"She's a pretty feline, have you named her?" Lina asked.
"Adan."
"Does it have a meaning?"
"Yes, it means 'little fire' in Irish."
"Fine name."
Bane and Dorn emerged from the thicket. "May the morning's greetings be upon you, Miss. I see you have a companion as well."
"Is that all right? I thought she was too young to be left alone at my big house all day."
"Of course, we welcome all creatures into the forest."
"Was your birthday celebration enjoyable?" Lina asked.
"Yes, I had a great time." She sat on her usual tree stump, put Adan on the ground next to her and took the voice recorder and notebook from her satchel. "You can explore, but stay close sweetling," Hermione said. The kitten mewed in response and started sniffing the surroundings of the immediate area.
"Now, the last we talked, Lina told me the basics about centaur relationships. I'll go over what we discussed and see if you wish to add anything," Hermione said and they went to work. Minutes later, the tiny hiss of Adan was heard. Hermione dropped her things, wand drawn and hurried to the sound of the kitten. Out of curiosity, the centaurs followed. Hermione came to an abrupt halt and burst out in laughter at what she saw. Adan, half covered in leaves, was squaring off, ready to do battle with a large crow. The crow merely stood there, head cocked sideways, cawing softly as if laughing at the kitten.
"That is indeed an amusing sight," Bane conceded.
With a loud, impertinent caw, the bird left when Hermione shooed it away. Adan was shaking a rear leg trying to dislodge a large leaf stuck to her leg. Hermione picked her up and examined the leaf. "There's some kind of sap that's making these stick you you, precious," she said.
"May I examine the leaves in question?" Bane asked.
Hermione nodded and handed the kitten to Bane, who gently held her in his large hands, making her appear even smaller. When he leaned his face in to take a closer look, Adan swiped at the length of his goatee. Lina chuckled.
"We use this sap when we fashion our dwellings and some of our weapons, it is difficult to remove," Bane said, scratched behind her ears with a fingertip and gave her back to Hermione.
"I had some in my mane for weeks," Lina said.
"Hey, that reminds me!" Hermione exclaimed and removed two plastic bottles from her purse and gave them to Lina. "The shampoo and conditioner, as we talked about."