Old Friend
November 1965, Diagon Alley
"Mama! Let's go!" five-year-old Hermione called as she ran ahead excitedly on the streets of Diagon Alley
Her mother chuckled at her daughter's excitement.
"Slowdown love or you'll trip" She reminded her but fasten her walk to keep up with her daughter
Her daughter has been pestering both of them to go to Diagon Alley since they arrive in Britain for a few week's vacations. She didn't know why the child wanted badly to go to Diagon Alley but when she uses her big round eyes and cute little pout, it didn't take long for Hector to concede.
"Mama look!" Hermione called as she stops at one of the shops
It was the Magical Menagerie. When they got inside Loreta was assaulted with the mixed smells coming from the magical creatures inside the shop. The shop was full of different kinds of creatures; firecrabs, owls, ravens, puffskeins even rats squeaking and hissing. Hermione though didn't mind all of that as she stops at the front of cages of cats looking straight at the cat sitting at the top of the shelf.
"Crooks!" Hermione called reaching out to the cat as if calling it "Come!"
"Crooks! Crooks!" Hermione called again beckoning the cat to come to her.
The large ginger cat meows back as if saying to Hermione she can't as she was locked in the cage.
Hermione looks at her mother with frustration.
"Mama! Crooks!" she whines as she pointed her finger at the cat
"What's the matter, love?" Loreta reaches for her as she tries to understand what her daughter wanted.
"Crooks!" was her daughter's only response as she pouted and pointed the ginger cat
Loreta looks at the large ginger cat more closely. It has a squashed flat face that looks ugly compared to the other cats Loreta has ever seen.
"You want her love?" She asked her daughter amaze and surprise at her daughter's choice.
Hermione nods vigorously at her question. "Pwease!"
Loreta sighs at her daughter "okay but you will promise you will take care of her!"
"I pwomise!" Hermione answered seriously
Loreta smiled at her daughter's face, "okay"
She then brought her daughter down to look for the owner or anyone from the store "excuse me, I'd like to purchase a cat"
"Oh! Certainly! What cat have you pick?" said the saleswoman behind the counter
"My daughter wants this cat" Loreta said as she pointed to the cage of the ginger cat.
"Are..are you certain? We have lots of different cats to choose from" asked the saleswoman as if not believing Loreta.
"Yes! I want crooks!" Hermione butted in.
"You see, my daughter likes this particular cat"
"If you're sure.." the saleswoman said as she walks to the shelf and reaches for the cat's cage to open it.
The ginger cat jumps as soon as the cage opens and went directly to Hermione.It purrs at Hermione and wags its bottle-brush tail to Hermione's chin making her daughter giggle.
They had purchased a new cage for Hermione's new pet and several things for taking care of the cat. The Saleswoman also discloses that the cat was a half Kneazle so it was to be expected that the cat is smarter than most cats.
Loreta only smiled at the Saleswoman "don't worry my daughter is also smarter than most girls her age so I believe they will be a perfect match"
Later at their vacation house, Hector looks at his wife incredulously as he watched the ginger cat with Hermione.
"She picked that hideous cat?" He whispered at Loreta as they watched their daughter with her new pet.
"Hush! Your daughter already loves the cat!" Loreta admonished but smiled at her husband.
They watched as their daughter read beside the cat and engaging him at the same time.
"She names him Crookshanks.." Loreta whispered to her husband
Her husband raises his eyebrows at her "like the one she always draws when she was three?"
Loreta nodded as she went back in watching her daughter. Crookshanks was one of the favorite stories Hermione like to tell when she was only three. She would draw an orange purrball and would tell her parents her cat named Crookshanks. She would also tell them tales on how Crookshanks caught the bad rat at Hogwarts.
"Maybe she saw Crookshanks at that cat," Hector said not really sure what to think.
"Maybe.." mirrored Loreta
They didn't notice the said cat when it walks over to them. They were pulled out from their thoughts when the ginger cat meow at them as if calling their attention.
The cat meow again before turning its head to where Hermione was now sleeping on the floor with her book already forgotten.
Loreta smiled at the cat before scratching its head and standing up to get Hermione.
"Thank you Crookshanks.." she said sweetly the cat meowed before following them to Hermione's bedroom.
Later that night Hector went to look at Hermione before going to the master's bedroom. He opens the door to see Hermione sleeping soundly while her cat sleeps at the end of her bed. It opens its eyes to look at the intruder. It stares at Hector for a long time that he felt like he's being scrutinized by her daughter's cat. After a long moment, the cat only meows at him before going back to its sleep. Hector looks at the cat as not knowing what to feel. He felt relieved that he somewhat pass the cat's test or Crookshanks approve of him. He chuckles at himself at the thought but felt relieved as he now knows that her daughter's new familiar would certainly indentify any suspicious person that would come in his daughter's way.