For as long as I could remember, I always wanted a pet.
But my parents always said that they didn't have the time to care for some creature.
Over time I stopped asking.
That was until I entered The Magical Menagerie. Owls, cats, toads and rats all made their noises as I walked around.
Ron needed to get some food for his rat. Something about the rat made me uncomfortable.
But Ron wouldn't hear about it. So I kept my mouth shut as he looked for Scrabbers food.
That's when I saw a yellow, matted cat on top of a shelf.
It was glaring daggers at Scrabbers.
Something about the cat called to me, I walked up to the owner and smiled at him.
"What's that cat doing up there?" I asked.
"That's where he made his home, unfortunately I'll have to put him down soon, no one has wanted him for years, his original owners passed and no one claimed him, I need the room and quite frankly, I don't want him in anymore."
I looked at the cat. I felt sorry for him and something nudged me in the chest.
Them there was a yowl and a scream.
I gasped as the cat attacked the rat in Ron's arms. The shop owner pried the cat off of Ron and shoved him into a kennel.
"Keep that mangled cat away from Scrabbers!" Ron bellowed and stormed away. I gravitated to the kennel and snapped out of my daze when the cat yowled again.
I jumped and slowly looked inside.
"You're scared aren't you?" I whispered, "it's okay...I won't hurt you..."
"I'll keep away from the cat if I were you," the owner instructed.
I ignored them.
I slowly opened the kennel, the cat hissed at me but I didn't back down, I slowly put my hand in and he made move to scratch me.
"It's okay," I whispered, "I'm not going to hurt you..."
The distrust and hurt was still in his eyes. I smiled softly and slowly moved I hand to his head. I slowly began to pat his head. He continued to glare at me before his posture changed, he relaxed and closed his eyes and leaned into his touch.
"There...good boy," I whispered.
I reached in and pulled him out. He was shaking. My heart went out to him.
And I knew...
I knew I needed to bring him home.
"I'll take him," she told the owner.
"I wouldn't recommend that—"
"I don't care, I want to give him a home," I said.
The cat relaxed into my chest.
"What's his name?"
"Crookshanks."
"Hello Crookshanks," I whispered, "I'm never going to hurt you..."
Crookshanks fell asleep in my arms, I felt complete as I held him.
I signed the papers and the owner shrunk his things as I stuffed them into my pocket, I smiled at the owner and walked out of the shop.
With my Familiar in my arms.
"Everything's going to be okay..." I promised, "I'm never going to let you go..."
And I intended to keep it.
——————
Turns out that Ron's rat had been the traitor that killed Harry's parents.
And apparently Crookshanks thought that Wormtail would be a good appetizer.
I spoil him rotten, he lives like a king and he loves it.
He gets the best because for the longest time he got the worst.
Crookshanks was very picky and wouldn't go with anyone.
And he absolutely despised Ron.
Which was funny because whenever Ron got too close to me. He would try to scratch him.
I cried a lot...I tried not to be so obvious but the bullying got to me sometimes. Ron and Harry were inconspicuous to my sadness but Crookshanks wasn't. He wasn't big on cuddles and hugs but whenever I got sad, he would demand food. It shouldn't be funny but he looked like a pampered child with his short snout and it would cause me to giggle.
Apparently that must be his goal because he did it ever time I got sad.
He acted like the king of Hogwarts.
(Which he was of course, he was after all Crookshanks Granger)
And getting rats...
Well that was something I didn't like but Crookshanks looks so proud so I would just swallow my pride whenever I woke up with a dead rat on my pillow.
Until it all got worse.
I got hurt during the battle in the Department of Mysteries. I got bedridden and I couldn't much.
But Crookshanks was always there.
I was too weak to take care of him and it broke my heart. But apparently Crookshanks didn't care about me not being able to feed him his royal meal.
I was asleep most of the time. Drugged out with all the medication I was taking. So it was a surprise when I thought I had hallucinated seeing Malfoy sneaking into my room.
And seeing him crying really made me want to get off the medication.
Crookshanks had attacked him and that could have brought a smile to my face had I not been almost unconscious.
But then the flying ferret bought Crookshanks a sausage and the traitor exposed his belly to the boy who made my life miserable.
But after that incident. Malfoy and Crookshanks had become friends.
Until Malfoy stopped visiting me.
I didn't know why that bothered me...
——————
I was finally discharged and Harry moved me into Grimmaulds Place.
Crookshanks did not like the Noble House of Black, especially the portrait of Sirius's mother.
When I began to feed him. He looked rejoiced.
Then suddenly Crookshanks started hissing at Ron who was acting different around her.
Hermione didn't know why.
Her mind was still in a turmoil about what had happened to her the past year.
Especially what Malfoy had done.
When she began sixth year. Everything was going wrong. Crookshanks was acting strange, whenever he went out. He came back and cuddled with her.
Hermione noticed that Malfoy was acting different.
Something about him brought sadness to me. I could tell something was off. I wanted to help him for some reason but he was more closed off than before.
Harry suspected that he was a Deatheater.
Hermione didn't want to believe him.
Because why would Malfoy go visit me ever night only to become the thing that wanted to kill my kind?
I didn't want to believe it.
And then the Headmaster was killed.
Harry was right. Malfoy was a Deatheater. He let the Deatheaters into the castle and was the cause of the death for the Headmaster.
And the war had begun.
Hermione in an act of desperation wiped herself from her parent's minds. She wanted to keep them safe.
Especially since she had a target on her back.
Hermione wept into Crookshanks fur, he was asleep thanks to the sleep medication she gave him when he boarded the plane.
Hermione was breaking her promise.
"Be a good boy Crooks...you'll be so loved..."
She put him in his kennel and looked at him one last time before leaving her home forever.
Before leaving her Familiar forever.
——————
Hermione was alone on the train. Harry and Ron had forgone the choice of Eighth Year. But Hermione wanted to go back to school.
But she was alone.
No Harry...
No Ron...
No Crookshanks...
That was until Malfoy said my name.
I wanted to ignore him. Maybe he'll go away.
Until a loud meow snapped me out of my thoughts.
I looked up and saw Crookshanks. My heart soared as I looked at my Familiar.
"Crooks?" I whispered softly, in shock about the fact that he had come home.
Come back to me...
"I—er—I found him...wandering...I er...I brought him...here," Malfoy said and thrust Crookshanks into my arms, "there," he said and turned to leave.
That was until Crookshanks let out an annoyed yowl at him. I giggled softly and looked at Malfoy.
It seemed that the king wanted another servant.
Although I didn't understand why it was Malfoy.
Malfoy?" I asked him "I think...he wants to stay," I giggled.
"I wouldn't want to intrude" he mumbled.
I shrugged and blushed when he looked at me.
I finally felt complete. I felt the couch dip and Malfoy settled beside me.
This was not the way I wanted to start my new Hogwarts year.
But with Crookshanks in my arms...
Everything was going to be okay.
——————
Had you told me nine years ago that I would be married to Malfoy and expecting my first child.
I would have punched you in the face.
But fate—
Crookshanks—
Had other plans.
Because here I was. Married to Draco Malfoy and expecting my first child with him.
It had been embarrassing when I had to tell Ron I was in love with someone else. And it had been even worse when Ron found out it was Draco.
But I couldn't change the way I felt.
But he eventually got over himself and now was excited to be an uncle.
Crookshanks was on my stomach as I read a book to both of them. Scorpius was kicking me like crazy.
"Crooks that tickles" I giggled as I scratched him the way he loved.
The door opened and my wonderful husband entered and dropped a kiss on my cheek. He moved and pressed his hand on my stomach.
"How's our little rugrat?" Draco asked as he rubbed my belly.
Causing Crookshanks to move from his place and glared at Draco.
"Draco," I whined, "don't call him that."
I smiled at Draco before turning to Crookshanks who was sleeping soundly again.
This was my family.
All thanks to Crookshanks.
——————
The worse day of my life was here.
I was losing Crookshanks forever.
I wept into his fur as he tried to console me. Draco was rubbing my back as I sobbed.
I couldn't handle this.
It was as if a part of my heart was breaking.
Crookshanks cried out and I sniffed. I lifted my head and pressed my mouth to his ear.
"Shh...it's okay Crooks" I whispered.
"Daddy, what's wrong with Crooksy?"
I turned to my son as Crookshanks also turned to him.
Scorpius looked sad as he looked at Crookshanks. The friend that Scorpius had grown up with.
And teaching Scorpius to go in the litter box.
That hadn't been fun.
Crookshanks cried out as Draco lowered Scorpius onto the bed, Scorpius rubbed Crookshanks who was panting heavily.
Another wave of tears spilled from me as I cuddled Crookshanks for the last time.
He licked my nose.
"You can go now Crooks, you can rest," I cried softly, wanting him to not be in pain anymore.
"Is Crooksy going to get better?"
"Crooks is...in pain Scorp...he's too tired," I whispered.
"He's going to sleep now," Draco whispered tearfully, he had grown to love Crookshanks as his own.
"Is he going to wake up?"
"No Scorp...he's going to sleep like grandma Cissy," I cried softly. Remembering the passing of my mother in law.
"Oh," Scorpius whispered sadly, cuddling into Draco who was also crying.
Crookshanks tried to stand up but I stopped him. That's when the veterinarian entered with a tray.
"I'll inject the drug now, would you like to say something?" She said.
I began to cry.
This was the last time I would see my Familiar.
"'Y-You l-lived your n-nine lives h-h-here w-with me...m-my l-loyal...l-l-loving f—" she sobbed softly
"'F-F-Friend..." I inhaled shakily, remembering a poem I had read when I got Crookshanks prognosis, "t-then Merlin t-t-took you t-to P-Paradise to..." I stopped and another sob broke out, I kissed his head before taking another breath
"'To l-live life n-number ten.,...I'll b-bet y-you're p-p-p-peacefully lying u-upon an angels l-lap. P-Purring w-without a c-c-c-care—"
I broke down and struggled to catch my breath, He licked my hand and tried to assure her that I'll be okay
"'—Having a heavenly nap," Draco began.
I was sobbing.
"'I'll miss you for a little while..." he inhaled shakily, "'...but our f-friendship will not end.—"
"—Time will pass...a-and then a-at last y-you'll be on m-my lap again" I finished at last. I felt Crookshanks cuddle into my neck and purr for the longest time.
I was so glad I had chosen him to be my best friend.
"The drug is in..."
Immediately Crookshanks stopped panting, his breathing began to even out and I knew he wasn't in pain anymore.
"I love you Crookshanks," I whispered sadly.
Then Crookshanks stopped breathing.
And then the vet told me the news.
"He's gone"
My Loving Familiar was gone.