A year later
Yawning I spread myself out on the floor, the whole expanse of corridor was situated above the kitchens and the heat from the stoves heated the floor to an extremely comfortable temperature. Making the area very popular with the cat (and ferret) population. About five cats lay sprawled around me all content in each others company, even though each was very territorial the corridor had been dubbed common ground preventing any fights. I heard another cat approach and I opened my eyes, prepared to argue over my right to be there as I had to do so many times before merely because I was not a feline. It was however the newest addition to the castle's cat population and so proved no threat to me. Reclining back into my previous position I was therefore surprised when the cat sat nearer me than the others.
"May I sit here?" he purred. Nodding my head in what I hoped was an un-interested manner; I sat up so as to be on the same level as him and asked his name.
"Crookshanks," he replied and began to rattle on about this and that. I regretted engaging him in conversation immediately; however I managed to shut myself off from his inane chatter. I was not used to having cats talk to me, and was not really bothered by it. It is well known by all magical creatures that cats are generally pompous and when they have the energy are annoyingly talkative. So I allowed the ginger cat to rattle on all the while looking at him through hooded eyes. Even from a ferrets point of view he looked unattractive, and resembled a large orange brush, although I noted that he was quite large and it would be sensible to remain friendly around him. I could fight like a demon when needed but there was no need to encourage fights and with him as an ally most cats would deter from annoying me. Sitting up again in an attempt to look interested and caught the tail end of his rambling.
"…… But Mr Black said he would give me lots of kippers if I helped so I agreed."
"What!" I exclaimed, Severus had told me about Sirius Black, the convict from Azkaban, the one who betrayed the Potters, but more importantly (in my eyes) the one who threw me in the fountain all those years ago.
"Don't you like kippers?" asked Crookshanks
Shaking my head at the cat's complete idiocy I began again "No I'm talking about Black, he's why the Dementors are here isn't he?" Of course I already knew that, they'd bothered me enough. It's bad enough I'm barely above floor level but you try running on ground that's just iced over, really annoying it is!
"Yes but like I said he's giving me kippers, and I don't think he's a bad man….." he trailed off looking behind me.
Glancing at where he was looking I spotted a large rat skirting the wall. With a loud yowl Crookshanks charged at it, causing it to flee round the corner, with him in pursuit.
Still wanting more information I chased after him and turned the corner only to find him gone.
"Wow" I thought "Fatty can really run when in pursuit of a meal". Sighing I turned towards the dungeons, to report to Severus the news of one of his greatest adversaries.
He was leaning over a cauldron in his private lab when I found him. Swiftly I climbed the bench so as to be nearer his eye level.
"One minute Sophia," he said picking up a beaker from the bench I was on "I just need to bottle this."
Quietly I sat on the work bench, though I was anxious to tell him my news I was still very aware that he was surrounded by things that were exceedingly breakable if thrown against a wall in fury. When he had finished he beckoned me to follow him into his private lounge and poured himself a measure of Ogden's finest, as soon as he was settled I began my tale.
I really think that gracing the dungeon wall with the entire bottle of Ogden's finest was a little too much even by Severus' standards. I had not seen him this angry since a student by the name of Williams had thrown a swelling solution at his head seven years prior causing him to walk around with a head the size of a pumpkin for two days. Hurriedly I escaped from his destructive fit with him yelling instructions to keep my eyes and ears open for any more signs of Black after me. It's nice to feel appreciated.
