Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Third Task and the Graveyard
Crookshanks was furious. It had been days—days!—since he’d received the proper attention from Hermione. Oh, she had been busy with her “studies” and “homework” and “supporting Harry” (whatever that meant). He had been relegated to second-class status. Even the infernal rat, Scabbers, had gotten more of her attention than Crookshanks.
"I am not a second-rate pet," he muttered to himself, tail flicking irritably.
Nagini, of course, had been a far more attentive companion during these trying times. She had slithered over with her usual grace, as if to say, I understand your plight, my dear.
"You know, something's going to happen in the Third Task," Nagini had hissed, her tongue flicking the air with knowing amusement. "It’ll be... interesting."
Crookshanks didn’t really care for the specifics, but when Nagini mentioned something would happen in the maze, his curiosity piqued. Hermione had left him to sulk in a corner while she fawned over that human boy, so it seemed as good a time as any to follow Harry into the maze.
After all, if something interesting was going to happen, Crookshanks wanted to witness it firsthand. Let them try to figure out what’s going on without me, he thought. I am not just a cat; I am a key player in this whole ordeal.
He followed Harry from a safe distance, tail twitching with excitement. The maze was dark, shadows stretching out in strange, unnatural ways. Crookshanks hated the atmosphere, but he was too determined to turn back. He had been practically ignored by Hermione for weeks, and this—this—was the perfect opportunity to prove how useful he could be.
At some point, Harry ran into a blast-ended skrewt, and Crookshanks almost stopped in his tracks. Such a ridiculous name for such a ridiculous creature, he thought. The skrewt barreled by, but Harry managed to escape its attention. Crookshanks, however, decided the best course of action was to follow Harry’s every step, like a silent shadow, always lurking just a bit behind.
The maze twisted and turned, but Crookshanks’ keen sense of direction never failed him. As they neared the center, he couldn’t help but notice the eerie, unnatural silence that enveloped the place. Something was wrong, something off.
When Crookshanks, one whisker barely touching Harry. They fell down. "I. Hate. Humans."
Then, suddenly, Harry found himself in a strange clearing. Crookshanks, from his vantage point just beyond the hedges, witnessed a sight that made his fur bristle.
A graveyard.
Crookshanks’s eyes narrowed. This was unexpected. Not nearly as fun as he imagined the maze would be, but there was still something oddly fascinating about it all. He crept closer, drawing near enough to witness the end of the confrontation between Harry and a man in a hood—someone Crookshanks recognized.
It was Peter Pettigrew, the weaselly little rat who, for reasons Crookshanks could never quite fathom, had managed to slip past his sharp senses on more than one occasion. Pettigrew was terrified, his beady eyes darting about. He appeared to be trembling, and Crookshanks would have laughed if the situation weren’t so absurd. The rat was, as usual, panicking.
But it wasn’t Pettigrew that caught Crookshanks’s attention. It was the large, snake-like creature coiling in the shadows. Nagini, of course. Crookshanks felt a wave of admiration for her cunning. Here she was, lounging by the gravestones, apparently unimpressed by the entire spectacle.
“Oh, look at the rat,” Nagini hissed, clearly delighted. “He’s sweating through his fur. How pathetic.”
Crookshanks rolled his eyes in exasperation. It was honestly no wonder Pettigrew was so terrified; Nagini was rather frightening when she wanted to be.
As Harry continued to argue with Pettigrew and eventually made his way to the gravestone where Voldemort would be revived, Crookshanks, completely unseen by all but Nagini, stayed put. He had no intention of getting involved, but the sight of the dark ceremony intrigued him.
The ritual completed, and Voldemort—that Voldemort—arose from the ashes of his rebirth, his cold red eyes scanning the surroundings. The moment Harry made an escape, Crookshanks saw it. Voldemort’s anger. He was furious.
And Crookshanks? Well, Crookshanks had had enough of being ignored.
As Voldemort monologued about Harry and promised to make him suffer, Crookshanks rolled his eyes. Oh, please. The melodrama with these humans...
His decision was made in a split second. He turned away from the graveyard and slinked off into the shadows, unnoticed by Voldemort, Harry, and even Pettigrew, who was far too busy trying not to wet himself.
Crookshanks made his way back through the maze, tail flicking in a gesture of smug satisfaction. He had seen enough.
And now, for a bit of peace.
Nagini had promised him a place to rest, and Crookshanks was far too irritated to go back to Hermione and deal with her endless lectures about “responsibility” and “being a good pet.”
He slunk through the dark corridors of the castle, slipping past the unaware students, before finding the dark corner where Nagini had agreed to meet him.
Nagini was already waiting for him, her tongue flicking out in greeting. “Did you have fun watching the humans? Such drama, wasn’t it?”
Crookshanks yawned lazily, settling down on a soft patch of moss next to her. “Humans,” he muttered, rolling onto his back. “I don’t know what’s worse—their antics or their constant need for my attention. I’m done with them for now.”
Nagini hissed in agreement. “Then we shall have a sleepover.” She coiled around him, and Crookshanks let out a pleased purr.
For once, he wasn’t concerned about being ignored. After all, he was a cat of fine tastes, and there was no better place to be than curled up beside a very powerful serpent who understood the need for peace, quiet, and, most importantly, no mortal distractions.
The night passed quietly, the only sounds being the occasional hiss from Nagini and the soft rhythm of Crookshanks’s purring. It was the first time in days that Crookshanks had truly felt content.
As for Harry and Voldemort? Crookshanks couldn’t care less. They could sort out their problems on their own. He had earned this nap.
And the humans? Well, they'd have to wait. Again.