This will have some dialogue from my fanfic Harry Potter and the Other Side. Just giving you a heads up.
Chapter 45: The Other Ginger
There wasn't much room inside. Every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly and very noisy because the animals were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already busy, so we looked around as we waited.
A pair of enormous purple toads sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies. A gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window. Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise. Then there were cats of every color, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-colored furballs that were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.
When I seen the counter was free, I went and spoke about Scabbers
"It's my rat," I told the witch. "He's been a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt."
"Bang him on the counter," said the witch, pulling a pair of heavy black spectacles out of her pocket.
I lifted Scabbers out of my inside pocket and placed him next to the cage of his fellow rats, who stopped their skipping tricks and scuffled to the wire for a better took.
"Hm," said the witch, picking up Scabbers. "How old is this rat?"
"Dunno." I said. "Quite old. He used to belong to my brother."
"What powers does he have?" said the witch, examining Scabbers closely.
"Ummm...well, he's never shown to have any."
The witch's eyes moved from Scabbers's tattered left ear to his front paw, which had a toe missing, and tutted loudly.
"He's been through the mill, this one," she said.
"He was like that when Percy gave him to me." I said defensively. I would have never done a thing to hurt Scabbers, and I felt she was trying to accuse me of just that.
"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so," said the witch. "Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these -"
She indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again. "Show-offs." I muttered.
"Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic," said the witch, reaching under the counter and bringing out a small red bottle.
"Okay," I said. "How much - OUCH!"
Suddenly, I'm attacked by a frenzy of ginger and claws. A fucking cat had jumped onto my head and was using it as a bloody scratching post!
NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" cried the witch, but Scabbers shot from between her hands like a bar of soap, landed splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the door.
"Scabbers!" I shouted, racing out of the shop after him. It took us nearly ten minutes to catch Scabbers, who had taken refuge under a wastepaper bin outside Quality Quidditch Supplies. I stuffed his scared and probably traumatized self back into my pocket and straightened up, massaging my head.
"What was that?" I yelled, looking to see if I was bleeding.
"It was either a very big cat or quite a small tiger," said Harry.
"Where's Hermione?"
"Probably getting her owl."
We made our way back up the crowded street to the Magical Menagerie. As we reached it, Hermione came out, but she wasn't carrying an owl. Her arms were clamped tightly around WITH THAT SAME FUCKING CAT!
"You bought that monster?" I said, my mouth hanging open.
"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" said Hermione, glowing.
"Bloody hell Hermione why did you buy that demon cat?! I thought you were getting a bloody owl! That thing nearly scalped me!"
"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" said Hermione.
"And what about Scabbers?" I said, pointing at the lump in my chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"
"That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic," said Hermione, slapping the small red bottle into my hand. "And stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers in yours, what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."
"Wonder why." I mumbled sarcastically as they set off toward the Leaky Cauldron.
When we got back, we sat on a bench, waiting for the others. Hermione sat beside me on the long bench, placing her menace beside me.
"Hermione keep that weedwacker away from me!"
"Look Ron, he likes you." said Hermione.
I looked down at the cat. He looked as if he wanted to take my head off.
"I'm warning you Hermione. Keep that bloody thing away from Scabbers or I'll turn it onto a tea cozy!"
"You'll do no such thing! It's okay Crookshanks you pretty kitty. Just ignore the mean little boy" she said, petting him behind the ears.
I had a feeling that me and the cat will be going to war. I glared at him.
"I'm onto you, cat." I growled. "The only ginger that's coming out of this fight alive is going to be me."
He looked back at me intently and yawned, as if he was bored with me.
"It's on." I threatened him.
Dad came and greeted Harry, sitting at a table and putting his paper down. We looked and seen a picture of Sirius Black, the mass murderer, sneering and silently yelling at us.
"They still haven't caught him, then?" asked Harry.
"No," said Dad, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."
"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" I asked. "It'd be good to get some more money."
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron." said Dad, surprisingly sternly. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, You mark my words."
At that moment, Mum entered the bar with shopping bags, followed by the twins, the annoying Head Boy Percy, and Ginny. She went all red and muttered "hello" to Harry without looking at him. Percy, however, held out his hand solemnly as though he and Harry had never met and said, "Harry. How nice to see you."
"Hello, Percy," said Harry, trying not to laugh.
"I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking hands. He acted as if he was the bloody Minister.
"Very well, thanks."
"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy!"
"Marvelous!" said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing."
Percy scowled while all but Hermione laughed.
"That's enough, now." Mum said.
"Mum!" said Fred, as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand, too. "How really corking to see you!"
"I said, that's enough!" repeated Mum harshly . "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, her voice oozing with pride. I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
"And last." Fred muttered under his breath.
I don't doubt that." said Mum, frowning. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."
"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life."
Ginny and I laughed.
"You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Mum.
"Gunny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother." said Percy in an uppity manner. "I'm going up to change for dinner."
He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.
"We tried to shut him in a pyramid." he told Harry. "But Mum spotted us."
Dinner that night was brilliant. Tom the innkeeper put three tables together in the parlor, and Harry, Hermione, and my family ate our way through five delicious courses.
"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as he dug into his chocolate pudding.
"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars." said Dad.
We all looked up at him, confused.
"Why?" said Percy curiously.
"It's because of you, Perce." said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them-"
"- for Humongous Bighead." said Fred.
Even Hermione laughed a bit at that. Percy and Mum didn't find it so funny.
"Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked again, in a dignified voice.
"Well, as we haven't got one anymore," said Dad,looking over at Harry and I. "and as I work there, they're doing me a favor."
"Good thing, too." said Mum. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground. You are all packed, aren't you?"
"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet." snitched Percy. "He's dumped them on my bed."
"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning." said Mum as I scowled at Percy.
Bitch.
After dinner, we all felt very full and sleepy. One by one we made their way upstairs to our rooms to check our things for the next day. Hermione bunked with Ginny. I wanted to go to Harry's room, but I had to stay with Percy.
Apparently his stupid badge went missing, so I ended up even more trapped inside. I quickly threw the rest of my stuff in my trunk and laid down.
I pulled out the letters that Hermione had written me over the summer and read them over, along with Harry's. It felt good to finally be with my best friends. Though I couldn't help but still wonder exactly why Hermione was starting to stand out more.