Author's Note: This story is based on if Hermione went into Ravenclaw, had Crookshanks, and never befriended Harry or Ron in first year (or at least not in the timeframe that this story was set). Crookshanks and Scabbers still had their aggressive encounters, just earlier.

Summary: When a chase breaks out between cat and rat, their owners will say anything to protect their pets. - — 1991/1992 School Year (Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone)

Rated T: Language

Genre: Humor, Drama

Kneazles, Riddles, and Girls, Oh My!

Curfew was creeping up on the students who had yet to return to their dormitories. Some were finishing assignments in the quiet nooks of the library, others consulted teachers with questions, and a few slinked about the castle to find the next best hookup spot that wasn't a cramped broom closet.

Ron Weasley did none of these things. Instead he ran about the castle chasing after a fluffy orange cat that had suddenly appeared during the beginning of the school year. That vile creature stalked after his pet rat, Scabbers, tirelessly and he was sick of it.

He was surprised the cat hadn't given the old rat a heart attack yet given the constant harassment he was enduring. Ron has had to rescue him from several near-death situations already and term only started a month ago. He needed to find the cat's owner and give that person a few choice words over the entire predicament.

Losing sight of the bushy-tailed terror, Ron took in his surroundings to see where he had wound up. His breathing was labored and a stitch was forming in his side from the mad chase. He was near the end of a long hall that dead-ended with a tight, winding staircase. Knowing he'd see the two animals run back in the other direction had they done so, so he instead quietly crept toward the staircase, wand firmly in hand, as he hoped to corner the two under the stairway.

"Scabbers?" Ron whispered into the shadows.

A strange silence settled in the space, but then a sudden burst of squeaks and hisses erupted from the darkness. In a blur, Ron saw the rat and cat bound up the stairs, and he breathlessly went after them.

There were a couple of Ravenclaws talking about an assignment as they ascended to the top of the stairs, their voices echoed down the turret where their Common Room resided. Ron could barely see up through the wrought-iron steps to see them. Scabbers and the cat carelessly ran underfoot of the two students the second the door opened and Ron swore under his breath.

"Ah! It's that blasted half-breed again," one of the Ravenclaws complained while disappearing behind the large door.

Ron tried picking up the pace in an attempt to get in before the door closed, but it was too late. He slammed his body against it in frustration when he realized there was no handle to open it.

"Hey! I need in! My pet is in there!" he shouted, his cries echoing down through the Ravenclaw Tower.

An eagle knocker that was perched in the center of the door came to life. Its bronze eyes seemed to glint at the ginger, scrutinizing his appearance as if it knew he was no Ravenclaw. Ron squinted up at it, wondering if it controlled the door.

"Could you let me in?" he asked.

"I have a mouth but cannot eat. I have a bed but do not sleep. I have a bank but no currency it keeps. What am I?" The eagle went still as soon as it finished and waited for a response.

"Huh? I need to get my rat back before it becomes that stupid feline's dinner!" Ron was starting to become agitated.

The eagle shook its head. "That's incorrect.

"I have a mouth but cannot eat. I have a bed but do not sleep. I have a bank but no currency it keeps. What am I?"

The knocker repeated, going still once more. Ron released a very annoyed huff, throwing his arms up in defeat.

Crouching down next to the door, Ron ran his hands through his hair. He was clearly distressed, unsure about the fate of Scabbers at this point. He could only wait and hope another Ravenclaw would show up to let him in soon.

It felt like hours before someone made the trek up the spiral stairway. A girl Ron remembered had a twin in his House reached the top to observe the crumpled-up Gryffindor beside the door.

"Are you lost?" she asked.

Ron looked up to meet the Ravenclaw's suspicious gaze. Getting to his feet with relief, he brushed off his trousers.

"Thank Merlin! I need in your common room! My pet rat ran in there before I could get to him. Can you help?" He spoke very quickly, needing to stress the urgency of his situation.

She listened in silence to his plea for being there. She gave him a half-raised brow when he finished. "I would be upset too if I lost my pet."

"I didn't lose him. He—" Ron was interrupted by the eagle knocker.

"I have a mouth but cannot eat. I have a bed but do not sleep. I have a bank but no currency it keeps. What am I?"

"Why does it keep saying that?" he demanded, annoyed at hearing the riddle for a third time.

"It's a riddle. We are only permitted to enter if we answer it correctly. It's our version of your Gryffindor passwords." She looked to the eagle and asked for it to repeat itself.

Ron watched completely befuddled as the girl thought a moment before her eyes lit up, providing the answer forming on her tongue.

"A river," she answered.

The eagle nodded once before taking its original pose and the door swung open, revealing Ravenclaw's elegant common room.

"Thank you!" Ron said in haste before bolting through the door, leaving the strange girl behind.

He scanned the common area of Ravenclaw Tower for any signs of that bushy ginger tail to no avail. The place was virtually deserted aside from the raven-haired girl who now stood beside him.

"If I were a rat, I'd hide in the nooks and crannies by the bookshelf." She pointed in the direction where an oversized bookshelf rested perfectly against the curved wall.

"I am off to bed now. Good luck in your search." The girl vanished up a flight of stairs, leaving Ron alone.

He quickly set to searching. From looking under the furniture and end tables, to behind some desks and in drawers. Despite all this, Ron found no signs of either creature in the room. Judging from how dark it was outside already—the large curved windows reflected this—he was breaking curfew at this point and was going to be in some serious trouble if he was caught.

The thought of his pet rat not making it through the night made him sick to his stomach. He didn't care what the punishment would be as long as he could save Scabbers. Pulling a thin piece of rope from his pocket, Ron tied some Swiss cheese he saved from supper for Scabbers to the end as bait and tossed it as far back as he could under the large bookshelf.

"Scabbers? Are you under there?"

Ravenclaw Tower was soon shrouded in darkness, the rays of moonlight now hid behind puffy clouds. It made it difficult for him to see much of anything anymore. The eerie quiet was unnerving, causing the ginger to think that his rat may have taken refuge in the dorms. The little critter did like hiding under the bed in the Burrow and in Gryffindor Tower. However, sneaking into the rooms would be a bit creepy and a one way ticket to being caught by a Prefect or Head of House. After several long seconds, Ron pulled the rope from underneath the bookshelf with no luck. He got to his feet when he heard a ruckus from the stairs nearby.

"Scabb—"

The rat suddenly leapt from the steps nearby and right for Ron. Landing in his hair, Scabbers frantically scurried onto his owner's shoulders and wedged his frail body into the collar of Ron's shirt. The orange feline was not far behind, and before Ron could comprehend what was going on, the cat jumped him. He stumbled back and toppled over an armchair while fighting the wretched beast off him.

"Gerroff, you pile of mangey fluff!" he struggled through the hisses and claws striking at him.

"What are you doing here? Why are you attacking my cat?" a haughty voice called from the stairwell.

The girl quickly pulled the cat off Ron, cuddling the creature in her arms. "Are you alright, Crookshanks?"

"Me attacking it?" Ron snapped, pushing himself off the armchair.

He rubbed the back of his hand on his robes where a fresh scratch started to welt. "That thing jumped me and nearly killed my rat!" he jabbed a finger at Crookshanks.

Scabbers squeaked in terror, burrowing deeper into Ron's shirt. He cringed at the scratches on his neck and shoulder, but was glad to have his pet back safe and seemingly unscathed with him.

"Why was your rat even up here? You're a pretty irresponsible pet owner allowing it to wander so far from your dorm," she scolded, clutching the growling ball of ginger closer.

Ron was quickly growing irritated with this bushy-haired witch, especially with how dismissive she was being with the incident between their pets.

"I'm irresponsible? It's your stupid cat's fault! You need to contain that vile thing and keep it out of my dorm! It chases my rat all over the bloody castle every chance it gets!" He was quickly becoming very angry with this girl.

She let out a huff, knowing he was in the right as well. "Crookshanks is simply doing what any cat would do with rodents. You can't blame him for following his instincts."

Ron threw his arms up in defeat, finding the argument going nowhere. He decided to go for the exit. "Just keep that monster away from Gryffindor's Common Room!"

"Fine! And you keep better track of your rat!" she turned and stomped back up the stairs.

Ron threw open the exit and trekked down the tight staircase, grumbling under his breath about the insufferable girl who owned the ginger feline. When he finally got to the bottom of the stairs, he dug Scabbers out of his shirt and examined him under the torchlight.

"You okay, Scabs?" he whispered. "I have something tasty for ya."

He pulled out the wadded up piece of rope and picked the bits of cheese off it. "Sorry it's all gross, but I hope you will like it anyway. It's your favorite: Swiss."

Scabbers' nose twitched in the air before his little paw reached out to accept the treat. The rat eagerly nibbled away at it as Ron perched him on his shoulder.

"Let's get back to our room. I made you a new nest under the bed so you're safer from that blasted cat."

The rat squeaked his approval and seemed very happy to have found his owners years ago.

Originally Written For:

Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition

Harry Potter Fanfiction Competition

Word Count: (Per Google Docs) 1,784

Originally Written: August 2017