#anyways the cat was Crookshanks

[twelvenotxii]

Remus Lupin headcanons that you can pry out of my cold dead hands

Remus loves music but he can’t sing for the life of him

This does not stop him from trying

He had the fattest crush on Sirius starting in third year but he didn’t say a word

No one realized until fifth year, and they were all sworn into silence

Remus experimented with punk in sixth year and that’s where Sirius got his iconic look

When Sirius ran away from home, James let Remus know immediately

Remus fell through the floo in a state of panic

He refused to leave Sirius’ side for three days, which is how long it took for Sirius to recover enough to tell Remus to fuck off

Remus was heartbroken after The Prank, more sad than angry through the summer and Sirius running away was the last nudge he needed to forgive him

Seeing Sirius pale and injured and so so scared broke any anger that was left

Remus was absolutely amazing at Charms

Despite his passion for DADA, he always got the best marks in Charms

Remus was obsessed with The Sandman comics when they came out

He injured his hip during a moon in fourth year and used a cane from then on (when Sirius could convince him to)

Remus fostered werewolf children while Sirius was in Azkaban

Welsh Remus !! (He once asked Sirius what his favorite color was, and upon hearing that it was red started giggling and only stopped to wheeze out “you love coch!” [the ch is pronounced like English ck])

Remus feathered his hair when it was a popular hairstyle

He hated wizarding robes and opted to wear corduroy trousers with his cozy sweaters

He kept an annotated copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray on his person at all times (and used a different color pen for each reread)

He studied with Regulus in the library even after Regulus stopped following Sirius around the castle

He liked to crochet accessories for the marauders’ animagus forms

He never glamoured his scars away because in second year, while riddled with sleep deprivation, Sirius told him that his scars were so so beautiful

Remus always asked for fun socks as Christmas presents

He kept every pair

He taught Sirius a nightlight spell in his first year after he found out that Sirius had nightmares when he was in a dark room

He knew the spell because his father used it every full moon when he snuck into the basement in between the transformation back and Remus’ return to the waking world

When he asked Lyall about it his father denied doing it but did direct him to a spell book

Hope Lupin taught him everything he knew about cooking

He learned sign language to talk to a younger Deaf student at Hogwarts who he found crying in one of his hiding spots

He gifted Lily and James a cat when they went into hiding so that they would have more company (and because Sirius hated cats)

He regularly checked up on Harry (in secret) while he was still living with the Dursleys

Sirius had to keep him from murdering the whole family

He was inconsolable when he came back from a remote Order mission to the news that three of his best friends were murdered by the love of his life

If anyone had been around during his grieving they would have heard his sobs for Regulus, James, Lily, Peter, and the Sirius that he knew and loved

He knew that his Sirius would never do that to James

[partywizard]

it's not like lego hasn't backed out of licenses before, they cancelled the overwatch line after the blizzard thing blew up

so the fact that they're still doing harry potter should tell you that they're aware of what you think is an issue and they don't agree that it's worth their attention

[katsitsiyo]

Lil cozy Dramione art (with Crookshanks! 🧡) I did based off of a panel from the Inuyasha manga. I’m constantly looking for Dramione references wherever I look anyway and when there’s a cat in there too !! I couldn’t not use it 😂😅

[the-colourful-witch]

* Hermione Sketches * I'm trying to work on my design for Hermione. To put a lot of character in her style. Usually, I sketch a bit like this. Trying one thing, then making a mess and starting again right next to it. I'm still working on Crookshanks. Cats are so bloody difficult to get right...

Anyway, still on holiday :)

[chdarling]

my theory has long been that crookshanks was lily and james’s cat (the one lily mentions in her letter from book 7) and that thats why he recognized padfoot and wormtail in their animagi forms, cuz he’d seen them from before the attack. anyways u mentioned a big orange cat in one of the dorcabella scenes so i am choosing to ignore the fact that crookshanks would’ve probably been a kitten at that point and deciding that that was a young crookshanks who will later be adopted by lily and james thank u goodnight

It’s a lovely theory 🥲❤️

[startanewdream]

#1 - Smile, for @hinnymicrofic. Around 500 words.

(So excited about this!)

The sound of the giggles made Ginny huff and throw an annoyed glance at the Fourth Year girls reunited around a table in the Common Room; Crookshanks, until then napping quietly on her lap, woke up with an indignant meow.

“Sorry,” she asked, patting him under the chin until the cat lied down again.

“What’s bothering you?” Hermione asked, peeking from her book.

“That stupid poll.”

“Oh.” Hermione smirked. “It’s not finished yet?”

“They are counting the votes.” She rolled her eyes. “I just wished they’d do it quietly. Harry is not even around.”

“If he were, he would be hiding.” Hermione laughed; she was enjoying this too much for Ginny’s taste. “He is not keen to find out what is his best feature according to a selected pool of eleven to seventeen-year-old girls and boys.”

“We all know what’s going to win. His eyes.”

“That was my vote,” agreed Hermione, unashamed. “Ron voted on his hair, but I think he was just teasing.”

“Harry’s hair is okay,” Ginny said, distracted. “It’s dark and messy, makes you want to ruffle it—”

“Does it?” Ginny bristled with the teasing. “That’s what you voted on?”

“No,” Ginny replied dignifiedly. “That was a stupid poll, I told you.” Under Hermione’s piercing gaze, she flushed. “And his best feature wasn’t even an option anyway.”

“What did they miss? Even his scar was there.”

“That was bad taste—and it’s obvious. It’s Harry’s smile.”

Hermione raised her eyebrows. “Smile? Are we talking about slightly moody, prone to snap, Harry? Or are you thinking about his oddly arrogant smirk ?”

“No, his smile. Normal smile. Happy smile. Lips curved, eyes lightened, dimples at the corner of his mouth.” A blush came to her cheeks and Ginny looked down quickly, glancing down to her pile of books to revise. “He smiled like that a lot during summer break, but I guess he has other things on his mind now.

“Or maybe he doesn’t have the same reasons to smile so much. You also seem less excited than you were in the summer.”

“You mean when I had no worries about exams and revisions and—”

“And Dean.”

Her blush intensified. “I smile around Dean,” she said. Maybe Dean had been annoying her lately more often than not, sure, but still, he made her happy—though she couldn’t recall the last time she’d met him and beamed… Wait, he’d told Seamus a joke the previous night and Ginny had laughed: did that count?

“I’m just saying,” Hermione noted calmly. “Maybe Harry’s smile is not viewed as his best feature because he saves it for special moments.”

She was going to reply, but then the portrait door opened, and Harry entered the Common Room with Ron. They were talking, an easy expression on Harry’s face, but when he caught Ginny’s eyes, his face lit up and there it was: the smile that Ginny associated with hot and bright summer days.

And then she understood why no one would notice it, because Harry quickly bit his lip, waving at her rather awkwardly, and looked away, the smile carefully hidden.

Around the table, Romilda let out a loud giggle as she announced they had the final result. Ginny rolled her eyes again and pulled a book to herself; that pool would never reveal Harry’s best feature.

[lunarlivs]

Omg that drarry collage has my heart. Like. The Malfoy's the morning after and Harry just sitting there like a good boy 😂😂😂

Also, I know nothing about Mr. Baby but I love him already.

harry really can’t think of a worse spot to be in, and he has faced literal DEATH!! i’m glad my humour works on other people too XD

MR BABY!!!! he is!!!! IMPORTANT!!!! he is draco (and harry’s) cat! the lore on when draco got him is not fully settled but it’s either a) cissy got him for draco the summer before eight year to cheer him up. or b) draco got him right after eight year. but anyway, they are b e s t friends, they are a team that no one can break appart. mr baby sleeps next to draco and follows him everywhere. draco has multiple picture albums filled with pictures of him that he will forcibly show to everyone.

mr babys hobbies include sleeping on HIS armchair (it used to be lucius’s but he took over it the first day home), hunting ants and spiders that crawl around the house, biting at every electrical cord he can find and eating cereal.

mr baby doesn’t really like harry, but if something scary happens (like post coming in or draco trying to hoover) he will hide under harry’s shirt for hours. he scratches him every time he walks by, so harrys shoes, socks and trouser legs are filled with little holes. harry loves it.

mr babys biggest idol is crookshanks, who could not care less about him. every time crookshanks comes over mr baby follows her around and meows really loudly. he desperately would love to play with her and shows off all his toys but she is very much not interested.

also harry and draco are pretty sure he thinks scorp is his child, he watches over him all the time and won’t let strangers get too close to him, esp as a baby. draco cries a little when mr baby changes his sleeping place from next to him to scorps bedroom. when scorp goes to hogwarts mr baby goes with him <33333

(also hello hi i gotta fangirl for just a second, your fic underneath it all is my absolute favourite favourite everrrr!!!! it’s so good and lovely and REAL i love love it!!)

[storiesofsung]

TWST HP AU 🪞⚡️ !!

AcexYuuxMalleus

Yuu will be depicted as female in this with she/her pronouns

I’ve been thinking of an AU of this for a while now due to the similarities between each story (magical school of wizards with respective houses of each powerful mage), however as I think more there are even more character similarities some, depending on how you view Yuu

🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞

Golden Trio ⭐️- obviously Ace, Deuce, and Yuu, my favorite trio

Deuce ♠️ - Harry Potter. I can’t connect many similarities between them, but at the same time I can. They’re both boys who love their parents and just try to do the best in what they can, especially since both have been given a second chance to succeed in this magical world. Now, Deuce isn’t perfect but he is trying and is not overtly prone to breaking the rules. He’s sweet, innocent, while still having bite to his bark. A bit clueless at times but with good intentions.

Ace ❤️- Ok now this asshole is perfect for Ron (I’m joking). But honestly his more outlandish personality does have some comparison towards Ron’s sarcastic personality. He’s more on the laid back side whilst still being a valuable friend. (Also they’re both ginger lmao) Plus his relationship with Yuu is more on the chill play fighting side, anyways…

Yuu 🦐 - Hermione, this one can be taken lightly depending on how your version of Yuu is but one thing is for sure: they always get Ace and Deuce out of overblot situations and manage to use some sort of semblance of a brain to figure shit out. However, in my AU let’s say that Yuu too is trying to make a life for themselves by working hard and doing the most they can of their schoolwork. Yuu also being the glue that holds these two idiots together. And honestly her whole schtick as the school therapist now makes sense

Grim 🐱 - Crookshanks. Nothing more to say, just Yuu’s stupid cat (with love)

Also the whole racist thing with Hermione and Yuu could have a connection, since Yuu basically has no magical abilities, yet are able to attend this magical school and work their way up. And because of this, there may be students opposed to Yuu’s magiclessness (mudblood—)

Extra:

Malleus 🐉- Victor Krum, this is slightly stretching it a bit but I can see these two sharing similarities. Malleus and Krum are both exemplary at their respective wizarding sport (Spelldrive, and Quidditch) and are known to be prodigies of it. They don’t have many friends due to being viewed as Gods, Celebrities, etc. in some way and therefore are quite lonely. Attracted to this specific person for not fawning over them and for seeing who they really are, and are able to appreciate their brains for what it’s worth 💚💚

Extra extra:

I totally see the Yule ball sequence happening in the TWST HP au because of these specific lines

❤️: Hoy, Yuu, you’re a girl arent you

🦐: Oh, well spotted

❤️: How about uh you and me go, since we don’t have dates as it is. Don’t wanna show up by ourselves right

🦐: for your information I already have a date *shuts book and walks away*

❤️: What’s got her wand in a knot

♠️: *clueless, spacing out* huh

And malleus totally showing up as yuus secret date AAAA—

🦐: Would you care to join Malleus and I?

❤️: Care to? You’re fraternizing with the enemy

🦐 *irritated*: The point of interhouse games is unity and—

❤️: *rolling eyes* So what

🦐*understanding the situation*: You’ve been rotten the whole evening. Next time there’s a ball, pluck up the courage to ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort

❤️: Women are scary

🦐: ACE, you’ve spoiled everything.

*cue weeping on the steps*

♠️: 🧍

And in likeliness, Yuu could end up with Malleus, and become the next Queen of Thorn Valley…but it could also take to the more erm in-canon Harry Potter ending cough (do you see where I’m going with this)

“Emotional range of a teaspoon x Nerdy Bookworm “

I love this AU, I could honestly go in so many directions with this AU

🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞⚡️🪞

[the-mellow-drama]

Another drabble (who is she)

nsfw, explicit sexual content, minors do not engage,

beta'd by EastWindmlk

It was risky to be sneaking around the Ministry, fucking in broom closets and bathrooms, occasionally sucking him off under his desk but Hermione wouldn't have it any other way. It was supposed to be just a mutually beneficial relationship, a way of easing the tension after a long day. Of course, they never went to each other's places; they would simply wait for Ernie to close up and then they would meet each other in an abandoned office or a broom closet. 

But the last time they ever fucked in secret; Draco told her he needed more and if she didn’t like that, she could find someone else.

"This isn't just sex anymore, Hermione, you know that." For Merlin's sake, they were even calling each other by their first name!

"No-Draco, I-" Hermione stuttered, grabbing up her skirt and torn knickers. He would destroy them every time, pleased with the idea of her Apparating home with no knickers on. "I can't, Draco," Hermione sighed, sliding the zipper up her thigh and smoothing out the fabric, busying her hands so that he couldn't see them shake. 

She turned to leave but stopped as she heard Draco say, "If you leave, that's it. You can find someone else to satisfy your needs,”  he spit out the last word as if it was such a burden for him. "Don't act like you didn't get anything out of this. I'm sure it was so challenging to have regular orgasms, Malfoy." The name tumbles past her lips, and she regrets them instantly.

Draco straightens up to his full height, wiping the fleeting look of panic from his face as he sneers down at her. "Fine. Have a good evening, Granger. " He emphasizes her last name, steps past her, and walks out the door, leaving Hermione alone and very, very confused. 

***

Their… ‘arrangement’...had begun very suddenly. It was only supposed to happen one time; exhausted, Hermione had walked a stack of files down to Draco’s office, her eyes drooping shut as he walked her through the case he had been assigned. 

“Granger, are you listening to me?” Draco asked and Hermione’s eyes shot open.

“What were you saying?”

 Draco has smiled at her devilishly and stood up, slowly walking around to sit in front of the chair Hermione was occupying.

“You look stressed, Granger.” He had said and Hermione couldn’t understand why she wanted to pull him toward her and kiss him. “It’s just work. Nothing to worry about.” But he had called her back. 

He offered, "just to take the edge off things" and Hermione had been more than happy to bend over and let someone take care of her, even though it was her childhood nemesis.

After that, they stopped by whenever one of them needed a physical release, usually it was more for Hermione’s benefit than Draco’s, but he assured her it was no problem at all. She would bend over her desk, and he would eat her out until she was so close to orgasm and then he would pull away, sliding his pants down and groaning as he filled her, holding her close to him as she rode out her climax. 

After Harry almost caught them in the locker rooms after a Ministry Quidditch game, they decided that they needed to be more careful going forward. Draco and Hermione decided that staying late after work would be best, considering they already worked late most nights anyway. 

***

Hermione went home that night and drowned her sorrows in a bubble bath with slow jazz music playing in the background. Crookshanks, her scraggly orange cat from Hogwarts rounded the corner of the bathroom, peeked in on her, and then stalked away, seemingly uninterested in her unrequited feelings for a certain blond prat. 

***

A week later, Hermione was an hour late to work, the night before was spent tossing and turning as she fitfully tried to sleep.

Honestly, it was embarrassing that she was this hung up on him. It was supposed to be just sex, but somewhere along the lines, it shifted into something… nice. And comfortable.

She would stop by his office for a quick shag but by the end, they would end up on the couch, sparring about work. Hermione would argue one point and Draco would do his best to convince her she was wrong.

The day before a particularly brutal court case. He would drill her on the facts, statistics, and evidence she was presenting until she stopped stumbling and tripping over her words and met his eyes with a quiet ferocity that spoke to how much the case meant to her. 

When she felt satisfied with the argument, she would present to the Wizengamot, Draco would crush her to his chest and whisper praises into her hair. She would smile and slowly unbutton his dress shirt and, in time they were sweaty and boneless on the couch. 

That afternoon, having got nothing done, she made her way to his corner office. A nice quiet space that resembled him, oddly. Simple furniture and a plant here and there, elegant and understated. 

She knocked on the door, a quick two raps of her knuckles, a pause, and then three more. If this was before, he would already be pulling his tie from his neck and slipping his shoes off. Instead, he simply stated, “Come in,” in a bored and uninterested tone.

Hermione slipped through the door and smiled sheepishly. She had enough foresight to bring a folder on the Donovan case, her appearance to the Wizengamot only days away. She held it up and shrugged. 

“For old time sakes?” She asked and Draco nodded, albeit a bit hesitantly. He asked her the same questions he normally would, attempting to catch her off guard or get her to trip up but his heart wasn’t in it. He looked as though he was waiting for it to be over. When he was satisfied, he closed the file and passed it back to her. 

“You’re ready,” Draco stated simply, and Hermione smiled again. 

“So, how are you?” she asked. Draco scowled.

“Don’t pretend to care for my well-being. Merlin knows you didn’t when you ended things.” He said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

His reaction made Hermione gasp. “Me!? You’re the one that said this was ‘over’!” Hermione shrieked and normally, she would have the decency to be embarrassed but she couldn’t bring herself to feel anything except anger. 

“I said I needed more, and you threw it back into my face,” Draco said, standing up and looming over her. 

“I thought you were having a go, Malfoy! Why the fuck else would you want ‘more’ with me?”

“Because I fucking fell for you!” He shouted and Hermione gaped at him. Draco scoffed and fell back into his chair. “Now you know, and you can leave.” Draco finalized but Hermione shook her head. “You fell for me?” She narrowed her eyes disbelievingly. The notion was laughable. 

“Of course I did, you dolt I fell for our arguments and your hair after we fucked and your smile when I would congratulate you and our quiet conversations about our favorite books.” Draco leaned forward in his chair and continued.

 “Our lunch conversations and our sex in the broom closets, but it wasn’t enough. And you wouldn’t want more, and I knew that and it felt like the easiest way to end it for both of us.” Draco finished quietly and Hermione stalled for a second before smiling and closed the distance between them. She ducked down and instinctively, Draco’s hands wrapped around her waist. “And you didn’t realize that I fell for you, you absolute git” She pressed her lips to his and her body sang, and heart fluttering.

Draco kissed her back just as intensely, standing up and spinning them around so that she sat in his chair instead. 

He kneeled before her and slid his hands up the back of her bare thighs, groaning at the feeling of her soft, warm skin under his palms. He grabbed her legs and dropped her feet on his thighs, working on the straps of her shoes.

When her shoes were off, he kissed her knees and her legs fell apart. His breath ghosted up her skin, and Hermione shivered, biting back a moan. His fingers pushed her skirt up, baring her lace knickers to him and he sighed.

“I’m going to take my time with you now, Granger. Gonna make you mine,” he told her, and Hermione stammered.

“Yes, Draco–please–” she was cut off as his fingers slowly pulled her knickers to the side and he thumbed her clit. He groaned against her thigh.

“You’re so wet for me, Hermione. Gods, you’re beautiful–” He delved between her thighs, and she sighed as he licked up slit, grazing his teeth along her clit nestled between her folds. “You taste divine. All for me,” he rasped, and Hermione let out a shaky breath. “All yours, Draco–” Hermione sighed, and Draco groaned again before pushing up off the floor, eliciting a whine from the witch on his chair. “Need to have you, Granger–please,” he begged, and Hermione was more than happy to oblige.  

He pulled her up and dragged her over to the couch that they had become intimately familiar with. She sprawled out on the couch after peeling off her skirt and practically ripping off her shirt, revealing her lacy brallete to him. She could have sworn he stopped breathing. 

Draco slowly crawled up the length of her, kissing every inch of her exposed skin until he met her lips.

“After this, you’re mine, Granger. Fucking swear it,” he demanded as he bit the skin of her neck and she keened. “Yes, Draco. Please–” Hermione whined and reached for his pants, unbuttoning them and pushing them down his thighs. He grabbed hold of his cock and sliding it between her legs, her arousal coating him, lined himself up, taking one last look at her reverent gaze before slowly filling her.

He couldn’t describe the feeling as anything other than coming home. She clenched around him perfectly, and he couldn’t help but drop to his elbows and bury his face in her neck, whimpering into her skin. 

He filled her until she came, her fingers desperately clutching his hair. He came after, fingers curled around her hair as he shivered before stilling, falling on top of her. 

Hermione carded her fingers through his hair, combing it back off his forehead. He kissed her neck, grabbed her hand, lacing it tightly in his much larger grip, and kissed her knuckles. 

“All mine, Granger. You’ll never get rid of me now,” he told her jokingly, and she laughed. 

“Good, I have no intention of letting you go any time soon.”

[di-daynamic]

Happy Birthday to my favourite character! @thethreebroomsticksficfest

“Hi, Hedwig,” Harry stroked his snowy owl’s head, settled comfortably in one of the nooks of the Owlery. The view from the window was astounding; even better, perhaps, than the one from the Gryffindor common room and dorms.

Hedwig made a crooning noise, flapping her wings as she hopped up his arm. Harry knew several fellow owl owners had special gloves or arm-covering they wore for this, but he had never felt the necessity for one. Hedwig never hurt him, and besides, the digging in of her claws into his skin was comforting even as it stung sharply.

“Ron and Hermione are fighting again,” he started on the update he always gave his owl about his day-to-day life. It was nice, telling it as though he had someone who cared.

Hedwig did care, after all.

“And this time. . . I dunno, Hedwig. It feels more permanent this time. Last time was – indirectly – because of me, and the Firebolt. Oh, and the Firebolt!” Harry gushed. “It’s amazing! It’s tons better than even the advertisements, and those would make you think the broom is worth your life. We won the match with Ravenclaw using it! I mean, I’m pretty sure we would’ve won even without—” He felt a dull pang for his beloved Nimbus. “But the Firebolt was a lot of encouragement, I’m sure. I bet I could outfly even you on it, Hedwig.” He teased.

He liked to think the look Hedwig gave him now was one of extreme derision. Sometimes he genuinely thought she could understand what he was saying. Hermione would know if magical messenger owls had any more special abilities.

The thought of Hermione was enough to bring down his euphoria. He drew his knees to his chest. “I dunno, Hedwig. I just miss her. But she is in the wrong here!” He added, voicing the thoughts he hadn’t dared to since that disastrous conversation with his friend. “I mean, it does look like Crookshanks ate Scabbers, and obviously that’s natural for cats and rats—” Harry spared a grimace for the school that allowed cats, rats, owls and toads as pets (he was sure this wasn’t the first nor last incident of animals clashing), “But she should still apologize, right? I mean, I don’t know. What do you think?”

Hedwig blinked at him, nipping his ear gently.

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m going to let them resolve this on their own.” He decided. He hadn’t liked the thought of interfering anyway, and the resolution was a relief. “But I hope they do it soon. I miss all three of us together. The homework help, too,” he joked. Hedwig hooted admonishingly.

“Good thing I got you, huh, girl? If I had a cat too, this’d be a never-ending mess.” He mused.

Hedwig fixed him with a stare, as if to say he should have gotten her anyway. “Yeah, obviously. You’re the best. Even if I don’t have that much mail that needs delivering,” he added guiltily. Hagrid, the Weasleys and Hermione used Hedwig too, but he still felt bad about her sitting in the owlery all the time without any work. “I wish I had someone to write to. For the sake of it too, but also for you.”

Hedwig just huffed, flapping her wings in his face.

Harry grinned. “Yeah. I’m glad I have you anyway too, Hedwig.”

[dreamerofasgard]

Artifacts of Merlin

Chapter Two -

Train rides and Hidden Ties

Draco Malfoy x Ravenclaw Fem! Reader

Word Count: 2.8k

Playlist

Ch 1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4

Warnings: Arguing, teasing, swearing, cuteness

Today was the day, you waited for Hermione at the normal spot on Platform 9¾. This morning you got dressed quickly in a blue blouse and black pelleted skirt, your mother always swore that you dressed as if Ravenclaw was more than just your house but your whole wardrobe. You were more than a half-hour earlier than the past couple of years due to your excitement. Taking a seat with your things and your two animal companions, Lyra your cat, and Hawthorn your owl, you began to go over what you know about the coded book to pass the time. Looking over what you know, it becomes clear that Merlin may have originally written in code to protect what he found from dark wizards.

Given that Morgan le Faye was one of the most powerful witches, a dark one at that, and a part of Authur's court it made the most sense for such caution but the more you looked at the code the more confusing it got. Once you were at Hogwarts you'd have access to all your code and cipher books again but until then you had to work with what you remember. The first thing about any code was to check for repeating words which you found quickly when Draco first presented the tome and journals to you.

Now all you had to do was figure out which words were part of the code and which were filler, you sighed as you looked over the passage you had copied. What words truly didn’t belong and which were the true code yet to be deciphered? As you sat there confused at your notes you didn’t hear the soft footsteps on the tile making their way towards you.

“We aren’t even on the train yet and you are already studying without me,” Hermione dressed in her normal casual clothes said as she set Crookshanks down to play with Lyra before sitting down next to you.

“Studying without you, never” closing your notebook before turning to look at Hermione, “Just a little puzzle Draco gave me to keep my mind extra sharp to beat you at the History of Magic, again,” you said as you hugged your her.

“I doubt Malfoy can help you beat me at anything, but I’ll take your word for it. Since you two are totally not into each other or anything of the sort,” she said as she looked down at the pen Draco got you for last Christmas.

“Hey now look who’s talking. You spent most of the summer at the Weasley’s and all you did other than fight with Ron was think about him,” you said crossing your arms as your cheeks turned red.

“Well he’s just being difficult and an oaf,” Hermione said as she looked down at the floor while blushing “Besides its not like we don’t hang out a lot we are practically glued to each other once Harry is around.” Saying as she looks up at you as another friend starts approaching from behind you as Hermione scowls at them.

“Well I think the three of you need to-AHH” you were cut off as someone tickled your sides from behind as you elbowed them in the stomach hearing them groan.

Hermione couldn’t help but chuckle as she saw Draco Malfoy dressed in an all-black suit hunched over holding his stomach as a ‘punishment’ for sneaking up and tickling you.

“Not funny Granger,” Draco said as he looked at the Gryffindor annoyed before he then Y/n turned around and looked at him, “Merlin’s sake Y/n that hurt.”

“Haven't I told you not to sneak up on me Draco,” you said jokingly as you got up and helped him sit down next to you. “Don’t you remember what happened last time someone did that?”

“I remember. I remember.” He said as he sat down on the small bench with you and Hermione as he leaned his head back groaning in pain.

“Says the one who didn’t learn from it and did it anyway,” Hermione said as she rolled her eyes. It was no secret that Hermione didn’t much care for Draco but in recent years he had become tolerable since she saw firsthand how different he was with you around.

“Last I remember I didn’t scare her, it was that Weasbee and Pottah,” Draco said as he looked over at Hermione with an amused expression, “I remember that I was working with Y/n in potions like always and Weasbee thought it would be a grand idea to try and take her wand while she was adding to the potion but he bumped her and then the potion blew up.” He said chuckling lightly before groaning again as his stomach still hurt.

“Ron bumped into her because Goyle and Crabbe behave like toddlers, you insufferable blonde ferret,” Hermione argued as you rolled your eyes at your two friends fighting like siblings.

"Hey now Harry dared Ron to do it," you tried to say before Hermione took out her frustration on Draco.

“Ferret? Why am I a ferret?” He said while sitting up and looking at both Hermione and Y/n as she shrugged her shoulders just as confused as he was.

"Because you are a spoiled, privileged, know-it-all trickster who up until two years ago was a bully toward me and so many other students," Hermione said as she looked at the blonde shooting daggers.

"And I've apologized for it," Draco said slightly pissed off as he looked from you to Hermione "I know I wasn't exactly the best these past couple of years," Draco said calmly as he looked over at Hermione before looking at you sadly as he knew that you hated the fighting. "I'm trying my best to make up for what I've done."

"I understand that Malfoy, but just because you are taking the right steps doesn't mean everyone will be quick to forgive you," Hermione said calmly while gathering her stuff and cat, "I'll see you later Y/n," she said before walking towards the Weasleys and Harry who just showed up.

"You have to admit Draco," you turn and look at him, "She is right. You kinda did put most of Gryffindor through hell until last year."

"I know I know," he says while looking down at the train station floor. "Thankfully you talked some sense into me before I got worse." He said shifting a bit in his seat remembering how angry you were after the Buckbeck incident. "Though I still don't understand how you tolerate Granger when she gets like that," Draco said as he sat up and looked over at the mostly ginger group as they chatted.

"Because despite how much you two hate each other my life wouldn't be complete without my two amazing and smart best friends," you said smiling at the blonde boy.

"When you put it that way it seems as though your friendship with both of them makes you feel whole, like how mooncalves without the moon hide away during the day. They would be lonely without the light of the moon every night,” said the soft angelic voice of Luna Lovegood as she knelt down to play with Lyra as both Draco and you looked at her dumbfounded.

“Luna you scare me sometimes with how accurate you are,” Y/n said as you smiled at your whimsical friend.

"And how you randomly appear," Draco said under his breath as you nudged him slightly, "I'm just saying."

"You two remind me of these Kneazles I raised over the summer," Luna started as she picked up your cat, "Both searching for some new adventure but coming back together when it gets too hard to go alone," she said mysteriously as she handed Draco the cat before leaving to get her stuff as the Hogwarts Express that just pulled into the station.

"We remind her of what?" Draco turned to you confused as Lyra played with his black tie.

"Apparently cats. But it was maybe, sweet? I don't know anymore" You said smiling a bit as you stood up and began to gather your things. "Come on now ferret boy we got a train to board." turning to him as you loaded up your trolly.

Draco groaned as he stood up and walked with you pushing his trolly as your cat jumped from his shoulder onto your trolly. "Really? I'm not a ferret," he said as he looked down slightly annoyed at the new nickname you made.

"Oh, come on Darco ferrets are smart and brilliant animals. Plus they are some of the cutest mammals out there," you said trying to ignore the blush forming as you nudge him while walking.

Draco blushed slightly as he looked up and smiled at you. "Ferrets are smart and brilliant you say?" he said as he walked with you.

"Indeed my dear Dragon, Hermione may have meant it as an insult but it does suit you," smiling as you parked your trolly by the luggage attendant and put Lyra in her carrier next to Hawthorn.

"Gotta catch up with a few friends," you said as you hugged Draco. "I'll see you and those journals, in a bit okay?"

"Yeah I'll see you soon Y/n," he said as he held you close not knowing that a few friends were watching from inside the train.

Draco POV

After Y/n walked away towards the booth that Hermione was most likely in. Draco just stood there for a minute before going to the booth his friends were in.

"What was that all about?" said Pansy as she was standing arms crossed just inside the hallway of the train.

"Excuse me?" he said confused about what Pansy meant as he tried to walk past her to their normal booth.

"That hug with Y/n. Please tell me you two finally started dating." Pansy said as she continued to block his path while smirking at him.

"No Pansy we didn't," he rolled his eyes, "Now please move I'd like to sit down." Getting more frustrated by the second.

"Well that's a shame, I like how she makes you less grumpy," she said as she stepped out of his way. "And she clearly has-” Before she could continue she was cut off by her boyfriend Blaise Zabini.

“Pansy, let him sit down and relax before you start gossiping, please darling,” Blaise said as Draco finally found his best mate in their normal booth.

“Fine I'll let the 'ferret boy' relax," smirking as she sat down next to Blaise as Draco sighed while sitting down across from the couple.

"You heard that?" Draco questioned as he wasn't angry but more embarrassed than anything else.

"Oh please Dray, I hear everything," Pansy smirked as the train car began to fill up with students from Ravenclaw and Slytherin.

"That's what scares me," said Draco under his breath as he looked out the window and saw all the parents waving at their children from the platform.

Blaise chuckled as he was the only one who heard Draco since Pansy was too busy watching people get onto the train car and carefully eavesdropping on each conversation. Draco's thoughts went to the journals and tome he had you look at. The books were safe in the black messenger bag you got him for Christmas since he put a small protection charm on it just in case someone wanted to take it.

Draco hadn’t been paying much attention to the conversation his friends were having until he felt someone sit down next to him. He turned his head slightly and saw Theo Nott had sat down next to him.

“I see that Draco is his normal quiet self. Nothing interesting happened this summer?” Theo asked as he looked over at his friends.

"Well I can tell you one thing that didn't happen this summer," Pansy said smugly while looking at Draco.

"Oooh, do tell Pansy. I'm all ears about what the 'Prince of Slytherin' wasn't able to achieve," Theo jokingly said as he leaned back looking at Pansy.

"Well our dear prince still hasn't confessed his undying love towards his dear childhood friend Y/n this summer," she said dramatically as Blaise rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"He didn't," Theo said pretending to be shocked as he turned toward Draco. "Come on mate it's been a good while now since you've started 'fixing' up your attitude and building up the courage to tell her how you feel, so why haven't you?" he said teasing Draco's new behavior.

"It's complicated," Draco said coldly as he looked at his friends while loosening his tie.

"Bloody Hell Draco, no it isn't," Theo said while throwing his hands up, "You fancy her, ask her out on a date."

"You are ridiculous," Draco said as he stood up, "Move Nott," almost growling as he looked at Theo.

"Fine be in denial," Theo said as he stood up and moved out of the way. "But just know if you don't make a move, someone else will."

Before anyone else could say anything to Draco he was already out of the train car. On his way, he grabbed the bag with the journals and the tome checking to see if anyone tampered with it. Once he was sure nobody messed with it, he continued to where Y/n would meet him.

Normal POV

You'd been staring out the window waiting for Draco to come with the journals for only a few minutes thinking about all the secrets Merlin kept in his journals. To think after all this time, that one of the greatest wizards of all time's journals were at your disposal, let alone with your best friend. You were too lost in thought to hear the compartment door open and close before someone sat down next to you.

"What are you thinking about?" Draco said as he took out the journals and tome before standing up and closing the compartment blinds carefully.

"Nothing that you don't already know," you said happily as you opened the first journal. "How was the Slytherin gang? Pansy still the school gossip?" you questioned as you took out your notebook and pen.

"Still the school gossip it seems," he said as he took off his suit jacket and loosened his tie before sitting back down next to you, "Blaise is his normal quiet self. Pansy hasn't changed him yet, thankfully," smiling as he watched you began to write some notes.

"I highly doubt that Pansy can change him unless he wanted to though I believe his attitude about blood status has improved since I started helping you understand," looking up from the tome to look Draco in the eyes for a moment before copying down more notes. "Even if it was hard at first."

Draco smiled as he listened to you talk about his friend and how much progress he made since that first day you started 'whipping him into shape'. He'd never admit to anyone except you, his mother, and Blaise how much of an ass he really was two years ago. Theo had made fun of him after he once saw you and Draco practicing with Luna and Neville practicing charms by the Black Lake. Theo complained about how he was hanging out with Looney Lovegood and Loasy Longbottom, for some reason this made Draco mad when he talked about your friends but he didn't understand why.

"Hard yes, but it's easier thanks to you and your endless amount of patience," he said as he looked over at what you were copying down, "Are those star maps?" confused about how you got to star maps.

"I decoded a few of the first lines and they were talking about how 'Casseopia greets the Lion and the Dragon on a cool evening. Once greeted the confusione shall disappear from thy parchment' so I drew up a rough star map to see how the stars would be positioned during the coming months," you said as you explained happily what you found.

"So when do Cassiopeia, Leo, and Draco greet each other in the night sky?" he said awkwardly unsure if this was a big clue or not.

"it seems so but I'll check the star maps in the library to be sure. So how does it feel that your namesake is a part of this riddle my dear dragon?" teasing him a bit as you nudged him playfully.

"Confused yet important," he said as he sat up giving you his smug smirk. "And if it wasn't for me snooping around my family library we wouldn't be on whatever adventure this is." nudging you back as he normally would though it felt a little different.

"Well as much as that is true, you'd be lost without me Draco," smiling as you stood up, "probably best to get changed into my robes before I get lost in the journals"

"I'll stay here till you get back Y/n," smiling as he watched you open the compartment door and close it behind you. He looked over your notes while you were gone trying desperately to read your handwriting when he thought he saw the slightest hint of a heart next to his name.

Taglist: @delaneysart12

[fairytalewonders]

Cat Guessing Game

This is just something I wanted to do for fun - cat’s have been assigned different stereotypes about their coats of fur and what personality traits they have as such, so I want to see if people can guess the color of my cat’s fur based off of the descriptions I give of their personality or unique quirks. And there’s one secret lizard thrown in for the fun of it.

I’ll reply and if they get any right, but I won’t say how many. In a week’s time I’ll reboot with all of the correct answers. Let’s see how many correct guesses people get.

First up:

Apple Pie (Male)

Called Apple for short

A huge talker

Stubborn

Passive Aggressive

One of the smartest animals I’ve ever seen (We had to change all of the door handle to door knobs because he learned how to open the doors. He still knows how to open the door knobs but can’t because he doesn’t have thumbs.)

When he wants to sit on you, he will sit on you, you have no choice

Half-a-tail (The vet thinks the mother licked it off when cleaning him. No obvious signs of wounds. But I remember him having a full tail when he was born?)

Quote from mom - “I saw him leading a crusade into your room.”

Binx (Male)

A sweet himbo

Very vain (I can’t express to you how vain he is)

Likes to go for car rides

likes to eat bread, doesn’t want the meat with any sandwiches though. Just the bread.

Equal opportunist.

Gets sad if you don’t at least say hi when you walk past him.

Quote from mom - “He’s…. Special.”

Cheshire (Male)

Super sweet

The chilliest animal ever (will just let you pick him up and tote him around everywhere, but my mom says I get special privileges.)

A secret sadist (has tormented the Binx.)

Has the biggest eyes I have ever seen. (My brother says he looks like a crack addict.)

Causes mischief as a fun past time when bored

Chirps?

Quote from mom - “he can’t be the one tormenting Binx, look at his face.”

Mushu (Male - probably)

I have never gotten more attitude from an animal in my entire life. Which is saying something.

Lots of side-eye

Very chill

Doesn’t like loud noises

Lazy

Quote from mom - “I have more pictures of him than I do of my own kids.” (We haven’t even had him for a full year.)

Batsy (Female)

Runt of the litter, super tiny

Will launch herself at you without a second thought

Doesn’t like big cats

Super affectionate

Quote from mom - “She’s like a flying squirrel.”

Peaches (Male)

Super sweet

Quiet

Chill

Super affectionate

(Don’t know much about him yet, I kidnapped him from outside. He’s still recovering, super skinny, can count his ribs. But we’re working on it!)

Quote from mom - “No, I haven’t seen the stray cat recently.”

Now for this next section, this section is sadly for my babies that have already passed on, but I can’t do this and in good conscious leave them out

Crookshanks (Female)

Had asthma (Did not stop her from stealing other cats kittens [as far as she was concerned they were also her children, no matter what they looked like] and occasionally picking fights and somehow winning?)

Super sweet

Also the chilliest animal ever (It may be a competition between her and Cheshire)

Passive aggressive - (Whenever she was mad at me she would put her butt in my face because she knew I didn’t like it.)

Quote from mom - “Sarah, come get your cat! She’s still the other cats kittens again!”

Tiger (Male)

Blind

Super long for a cat

Skittish

Demanding when it comes to food (he stole my fries)

Vocal when it comes to asking for attention

Would always seek me out and follow me around even though he couldn’t really see me

Gypsy (Female) (My mom named her after our Romanian heritage. I wanted something Halloween based, but after she started called her that, she responded to it.)

Also a runt

Super quiet - loved her personal space

Follower me around everywhere

Didn’t like being held

(Didn’t live very long due to health issues)

Quote from mom - “Well, she lets you hold her longer than anyone else, even if it is just for three seconds.”

Anyways, this is just for fun. I’m curious to see as to what people will answer. By the way, here’s a hint, none of these cats are purebreds.

[daydreamingfoxglove]

Fic claim from @hssrarepairs written for giftee requests:

Luna/Pansy Soulmates Redemption Crookshanks Draco/Ron Harry/Theo

Look What We Found

[Luna Lovegood/Pansy Parkinson, 3K, T]

Summary:

Luna finds a cat. Pansy finds humility.

They both find their soulmates. Everybody wins.

Inspired by Beauty and the Beast

Snippets

Loud bangs echo through the hallway, the door vibrating against Pansy’s back. “I said, ‘I don't have change.’” Pansy’s voice is high in a panic. What is going on with the security wards, anyway?! The man should have never been able to come into the small front yard, never mind cross the threshold. More bangs sound, along with a few muffled words Pansy doesn't care to hear. She simply wants the disgusting old man gone. “Sir, I will call the Aurors if you don’t leave! I don't have any change for Merlin's sake.” “You're a pretentious one, ain't ya?” the man shouts as he seizes his banging. “I'm just trying to return the scarf you dropped across the road.” Pansy grasps at her neck to find it indeed bereft of her favourite cashmere scarf. “Oh,” she says, embarrassed.

...

She tries to scream, but her voice catches in her throat as the man's eyes change, the green of irises disappearing behind a white mist. His tone is unsettlingly moist and phlegmy—as if every word is coated in a thin layer of saliva that clings to his throat—when he says, “You are as beautiful as your soul is corrupt and shallow. You will wake with a body that matches the depth of your soul. Only when you find it within yourself to appreciate another, not for their outward appearance but for who they are, will you be free of this curse. To aid you, as I am not as cruel as some, I will give you the sight of the red thread of fate. You need only look with intent to see the path that leads you to your one true love.” The man lets go abruptly, and Pansy—still twisting and pulling in an attempt to get away—tumbles onto her arse, head snapping back against the hardwood floor.

Read on AO3.

[onebedtorulethemall]

A very silly Crookshanks POV drabble

God of Lovers and Lost Socks

When longing overfilled the small flat and coalesced into a dense fog of misery that coated his whiskers with every movement, Crookshanks decided it was time to get involved.

He’d watched her wait passively for months with nothing to show for it but a black oil slick of frustrated loneliness that trailed her everywhere she went. He’d been coughing up hairballs with the effort of removing it from his fur.

There was nothing passive about the way Crookshanks now waited. He stalked an opportunity with the unflagging patience of a born hunter, and when he saw it, he didn’t hesitate.

It took the shape of a crack in the door while she brought in shopping. He slipped out, pausing briefly in the stairwell to clean the sour tang of yearning from his fur.

Cats have no need of maps, or of invitations. He dozed in a sunny patch on the plush chenille of Draco’s armchair for an hour or so until he got home.

“Hermione?” Hope punctuated the pall of Draco’s tension. Then, “How did you get in here by yourself?” 

Crookshanks, who guarded his secrets more closely than the pile of unmatched socks beneath Hermione’s bed, offered a different show of trust. He rolled onto his back and didn’t attack the hand that descended to caress the hidden white gossamer of his underbelly; only the second human to have done so unscathed.

When he judged that enough time had passed for the shopping to have been put away and the flat straightened, but not enough for her to panic over his absence, he led Draco to the fireplace.

“I’m certain her Floo won’t be open for me. I’ll have to Apparate you to her street.”

Crookshanks flattened his ears against the stupidity of men and dug his claws into the rug. When the green flames cleared, he twined himself in a rope of fur around Draco’s legs.

“Draco! What are you—oh!”

A voice could shoot up an octave for many reasons. Mild surprise over an unexpected visitor sounded no different than a heart-fluttering explosion of adrenaline that tightened the vocal cords. To human ears, anyway.

She grew flustered, embarrassed, and called Crookshanks away with futile enthusiasm. He coiled his body more tightly around his prey. Hands collided and foreheads nearly followed as they bent to remove him in unison.

“I’m so sorry,” she gasped, as Crookshanks sacrificed his dignity by clinging with stubborn claws to trouser fabric, only submitting when the stench of their shared mortification and uncertainty burrowed beneath his fur. He left to go clean himself on her bed.

Two days later, he allowed Draco a minute of chin scratches to ease his fog of anguish before herding him to the fireplace with a series of fluid figure-eights.

She scolded Crookshanks and promised Draco she’d keep the doors locked, since he’d evidently developed the capacity to open them. That night, he chewed a hole in her favourite jumper.

They both stewed in the haze of her jittery nerves for a solid week before he was able to breach the prison walls again. A window, opened to admit an owl, became a perfectly serviceable escape route through which her blunt human hands couldn’t hope to stop him.

Draco was permitted to lift him, languid and boneless, into the crook of his arm as they travelled back through the fireplace together. It was a strategic move that placed the pale, anxious face within striking distance.

Her gentle fingers administered a salve to soothe the sting of claws and betrayal, although a spell would’ve worked just as well. Crookshanks hissed in approval from beneath the sofa as a dinner invitation was extended under the guise of an apology for his violent antics.

Draco left that night smelling of wine and hopeful anticipation, a sweet mist of contentment left in his wake. It lasted throughout the night and filtered out into the hallway the next afternoon through the door, which she’d carelessly left open with a smile.

He did not operate on her schedule, and so he waited until the cotton cloud of happiness dissolved into streaks of agitated anxiety the colour of her empty Floo. Then he padded into the night to hunt.

His mark was a study in contradictions. Here was an optimist whose bedroom window was propped open wide enough to allow a half-kneazle to slip through, yet who slept with a murk of despair hovering suffocatingly over the bed. Crookshanks’ ears pricked to hear a familiar name muttered through dreaming lips.

He pounced.

They arrived into the silence of a sleeping flat, Draco’s nerves electrified with the knowledge of the hour and his location. When he tried to deposit his intruder on the ground and escape without notice, Crookshanks yowled with all the force of a fire alarm. She was a light sleeper.

“Are you serious, Crookshanks? Now?”

She stumbled into the darkened living room, unsteady with sleep and confusion and the urgent tugging-down of her oversized shirt.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how he keeps getting in,” Draco lied.

Cats are composed mainly of sinew and agility. It wasn’t his fault what happened next.

As she moved forward to accept responsibility and offer a hundredth unwanted apology, he barrel-rolled out of Draco’s loose grip and executed a perfect mid-air flip that landed him beneath her next step.

Strong arms broke her fall and held firm.

“I think your cat is trying to tell me something.”

“And what’s that?”

“He thinks I’m an idiot.”

“Oh. Are you?”

Crookshanks didn’t need his superior hearing to catch her breathless tone. He didn’t need night vision to see the plume of desire that surrounded them now.

“Yes, because I haven’t—I haven’t done this already.”

Lips met, followed by bodies. Crookshanks circled the perimeter of their legs until he was certain they were so attached they couldn’t ever be separated.

The flat smelled of sweet, hot joy and the fresh peppermint of beginnings.

Draco stayed, and he stayed, and he stayed.

[seriouslysam8]

Okay Sam hear me out. Crookshank is a magical cat and let’s say he doesn’t do well in the Muggle community… cause he’s stubborn af and prefers the magical community. So Hermione would have no choice but to leave Crookshank behind with Hagrid and then Ginny’s like ‘you have too much on your plate Hagrid, let me take Crookshank for you’

And BAM

Sirius dyes Crookshank black and turns his eyes green like a pickled 🐸 so no one will recognize it’s the same cat

Therefore… Crookshank now belongs to Ginny in Brumous and acts as a guard for while Harry is on the hunt with Sirius. Make it happen Samantha!

Real question though… where was Crookshanks in Deathly Hallows??

Anyway, I understand the cuteness behind this. But I already have people who slam me for having Ginny “replace” Hermione in Brumous. So, yeah. I feel like that would only fuel things. Sorry, Crookshanks. You’re stuck with Hermione.

[riverxsong-ao3]

“Don’t let that horrible monster run free!” Ron exclaimed. “I don’t know why you even brought him down to the common room, you know he’s got it in for Scabbers!”

“Ron!” Hermione replied crossly. “Crookshanks deserves to be here for Christmas just as much as Scabbers does. He’s just a cat, he can’t help chasing rats!”

An idea bloomed in Tom’s mind — Crookshanks — Wormtail — Capture. He looked towards Crookshanks, smiling as he met his eyes, flicked his gaze towards where the rat sat shivering in Ron’s pocket, then glanced back to the cat, giving it a fleeting and subtle wink. 

Crookshanks took the cue and leapt into action.

“ARRGH!” Ron cried as the cat pounced upon him.  Wormtail was off like a shot, fleeing Ron’s dressing gown pocket and darting under a chair.

“After that rat, Harry!” Tom commanded, unable to keep a smile off his face.

“Right!” Harry said, grinning as he dove toward where Wormtail had taken refuge. But the rat was too quick, scampering away towards a sofa with spindly legs at the far end of the room.

“Petrificus Totalus!” Tom yelled, aiming his wand at the sofa as Wormtail slipped beneath it. “Keep a hold on Crookshanks, Ron, I’ll fetch Scabbers!”

“What’ve you done to my rat?!” Ron cried, wrestling with the giant, ginger-furred Kneazle.

“Nothing that can hurt him,” Tom replied as he crawled under the sofa, retrieving the tiny prone body of the Animagus and shoving him into his pocket. “I’ve only paralysed – no, I don’t believe it – I’ve missed.” Tom wormed his way back out from underneath, pointing towards the corner as he stood. “He darted behind that bookcase before I could grab him.”

Fred and George jumped up, using their hard-earned strength from four years as the Gryffindor Quidditch team Beaters to drag the bookcase away from the wall. “No luck, Ron,” one of them said, panting, when they’d finally managed to muscle the heavy shelves out a few inches. “Looks like Scabbers made a run for it – he’ll turn up though, for sure.”

“On CHRISTMAS!” Ron roared, rounding on Hermione and shoving the Kneazle back into her arms. “I’ve TOLD you Crookshanks has it out for Scabbers, and you let him run wild anyway! Now he’s out there somewhere, alone, with no food –”

“He’s probably just found a hole in the wall –”

“And that’s any better?!” Ron demanded. “Scabbers needs peace and quiet, not to have to hide in some dark, dirty place in the wall!”

Hermione leapt up from her spot on the sofa and ran from the room, tears streaming down her face.

“Ron!” Tom snapped. “Stop blaming Hermione for Crookshanks just doing what cats do.”

“And you’re no better!” Ron accused, turning to face Tom with fury in his eyes. “Using magic on Scabbers when he’s ill? What were you thinking?!”

“I was thinking,” Tom replied, “that it would be much easier to recapture him if he couldn’t move.”

“You could have KILLED him!”

“Come along, Harry,” Tom said calmly, stepping back. “Let’s give Ron some space to cool down. We’ll see you all at lunch.” Harry picked up his new Firebolt and other presents, including the unopened one from Hermione, and Tom gently steered him toward the portrait hole that led out of the Gryffindor common room.