At Hogwarts challenge 26 (1/2)
Author: ladymaidmarian and tartanboxers
Title: Ginny's Gift (1/2)
Challenge: At Hogwarts 26. Errol dies, and Ginny is sad. Harry tries to cheer her up with a new pet.
Summary: See above
Word Count: 8 848 (total)
Notes/Warnings: Thanks to carissa_lynn for the beta! More notes to follow at the end.
Ginny’s Gift
“What the hell is that?”
“It’s a cat, Ron!” Hermione said scathingly.
“That’s one evil-looking cat,” he said as he stepped back behind his sister.
“Harry, he’s...lovely. I can’t...thank you enough. You really didn’t have to get me anything,” Ginny fumbled, not really knowing what to say about this gift Harry bought her. Privately she thought Ron was right. She hadn’t got a good look at her gift yet, since it was still in its carrier, but based on what she could see through the bars over the opening, this creature was unlike any cat she’d ever seen before in her life.
“You can say that again,” Ron murmured.
“Ron! Honestly,” Hermione huffed. “I think it’s sweet that Harry bought Ginny a cat. Don’t you think it was sweet of Harry? Ginny!”
“Ye...yes! Yes of course. Thank you, Harry. Thank you so much, he’s...darling,” Ginny said, still somewhat shocked.
“Harry, Ginny just thanked you for the cat.” Hermione poked him in the side again.
“Oh, er, yeah, Ginny, you’re welcome. I...I’ve got to go do...do that thing I said I had to do. I’ll see you lot at dinner,” Harry said as he raced up the boys’ stairs.
Ginny stared down at the cat carrier on the table once again.
“What the hell did you do to Harry, Ginny?” Ron asked, unable to contain his smirk.
“Me! What did I do! I didn’t do anything!” Ginny spun towards her brother, frustrated because she wasn’t too sure what had brought on Harry’s sudden generous urge herself.
“You must have done something. Why else would he have given you that...Hermione, are you sure this is a cat?”
“Of course, it’s a cat! And this isn’t a punishment, Ron! Harry just wanted to do something nice for Ginny.”
“So he gets her this! Gee Ginny, you’d better hope you never make Harry mad at you. I wouldn’t want to be around to see what he’d get you if he were mad,” Ron said and then backed further away from the carrier as something that sounded like a growl emanated from it.
“Honestly! I think it’s sweet that Harry wanted to get Ginny a gift.” Hermione huffed again.
“But why, Hermione? Why did Harry get me this… this...cat?” Ginny asked, as she too backed away from the carrier. A single black paw was now protruding from the bars, but when it hung there limply, Ginny let out her breath.
Hermione seemed to hesitate before she answered, which only served to intrigue Ginny more. Harry had acted quite oddly at breakfast this morning, even though by recent standards that wasn’t saying much. Hermione insisted that Harry’s most recent strange behaviour was due to the tension of his extra training and their upcoming N.E.W.T.s. Ginny wasn’t convinced this was true but didn’t argue with Hermione since she knew a losing battle when she saw one. She crossed her arms and waited for Hermione to answer since she also knew that prodding the Head Girl would lead nowhere.
“Well...I don’t know if I should really tell you. I mean, it’s not my place, and I’m sure Harry would want to tell you. Actually, I’m surprised he didn’t tell you himself, and I have no idea what he had to do upstairs because he didn’t mention anything that he had to do today while we were in Hogsmeade. But I guess he wouldn’t mind. I mean it’s not like he hasn’t already given you his present. But all the same, maybe I should...”
“BLOODY HELL WOMAN! WILL YOU JUST SPIT IT OUT!” Ron bellowed.
“Ron! Language! I don’t understand...”
“Hermione! Just tell her! Why on Earth would Harry buy this...this...this thing for my sister?”
“Ron! I don’t appreciate...”
“Hermione, please,” Ginny begged. “You can argue with my brother later. I’m sure it will be the highlight of both of your nights, but please, for the love of Merlin, just tell me why Harry bought me this cat.”
“He wanted to make you feel better,” Hermione said quietly.
“He wanted to make her feel better so he buys her a deranged-looking cat?” Ron interjected. “For crying out loud, Hermione, it’s got fangs!”
“Fang, Ron! Singular! One of its canines is a bit overgrown and it’s...”
“Hold on!” Ginny called, stepping between Ron and Hermione and holding up a hand. “He wanted to make me feel better?”
“Well, yes. He wanted to make you feel better,” Hermione said quickly, as if she were afraid she was going to say too much and wanting to get it out before she thought better of it.
“I still don’t understand, Hermione. How is getting me this...” Ginny gulped. “Getting me this cat supposed to make me feel better? And what am I supposed to feel better about?”
“Errol,” Hermione said softly and then bowed her head.
Ginny stood there looking between Hermione, her brother and the cat carrier that Harry had just presented to her. Her throat was tightening dangerously, but she wasn’t going to cry! She had promised herself she wouldn’t cry anymore, but before her mind heard the words she felt the tears on her cheeks. Carefully picking the cat up out of its carrier and hugging it to her chest, she walked slowly up the girls’ dormitory stairs.
***
It had been at least two hours since Ginny had come into her dormitory and closed the hangings around her bed. She was grateful that none of her dormitory mates had come to ask about her or her new pet.
Her new pet.
Wasn’t that just like Harry? He’d gone out of his way to do something sweet and caring and screwed it up royally. Now that her gift was out of its carrier and lying on her bed fresh from a bath, she knew her initial impression that this was no ordinary cat was indeed correct. It was a Siamese, if the tan colouring offset by an almost black face, tail and paws were any indication, but huger than the typical lithe form that breed normally took. Its lower body was swollen like a bloated bag, soft and squelching, which swayed and sagged between its hind legs. Its ears were permanently folded back, giving the dark face an invariably annoyed expression. Its eyes were blue and glittering, seemingly full of evil purpose, and larger than expected. Indeed the entire face was broad rather than pointed, and protruding from the mouth was a single fang.
“What on Earth was he thinking? Can you tell me that much?” she asked the cat.
The cat didn’t answer.
“Fine, don’t answer me. I know what he was thinking. He was thinking that hose-pipe Ginny needed something to make her forget she’s an owl killer, that’s what he was thinking.”
The cat raised the bristles over one of its eyes at her.
“Oh, he didn’t tell you. I guess I should, this way you can make up your own mind about wanting to stay around me.” Inwardly she wondered what she was doing, talking to a cat. Of course, Harry wouldn’t have told the animal anything. It was wretched enough as it was.
The cat yawned.
“Lovely. First of all, my name is Ginny. Well, actually it’s Ginevra, but use it and die.” She smiled at the cat and the cat seemed to smile back. Or perhaps it was a smirk.
“And well...I kill owls. No, I take it back, I’ve only killed one owl. His name was Errol. And I sent him on a mission, and I told him under no certain terms he was to wait for a response and head straight back to me. And...bless his heart, he did exactly what I told him to do.”
She choked and for a moment considered simply dropping the subject. She was talking to a cat, after all; it wasn’t as if he was intelligent and could understand what she was saying. But the cat prodded her with its paw and she continued on.
“Well, he came back, and well...” She paused and sniffed. “He died. Right in my arms. He held his leg out to me and hooted with pride and then he died. I shouldn’t have ordered him to come right back. He was too old. I was being selfish.”
The cat gave her a look as if to say, “Is that the best you can do?”
“Excuse me if that’s not evil enough for you. It still...bothers me. And of course, Harry had to be there when Errol came flying at me on the Quidditch Pitch. And he had to see me blubbering on and on. Then the next day at breakfast when the morning mail came...I don’t even want to think about it.”
The cat yawned again.
Ginny picked up the cat and looked closely at him. “You know, by your colouring you should be a Ravenclaw, but that attitude tells me you’re pure Slytherin.”
She would have bet her last Knut that the damn cat smiled.
***
The next morning Ginny found herself suffocated by a very heavy snoring ball of fur.
“Move over, you pillow hog,” she said as she pushed the intruder away from her face.
The cat turned and scowled at her.
“Good morning to you. My, my, aren’t we happy and chipper this morning. Or maybe you just want another bath like the one you had last night?”
She would have bet Ron’s last Knut that the cat gave her the two-finger salute. It had assumed a rather odd position for a cat - it was sitting on its hind legs the way a human would.
“Don’t get shirty with me. You needed a bath. You had purple gunk all over your face, and I’m sorry to say, but you stunk to high heaven.”
The cat saluted her once more.
“I think someone needs to learn manners, but first you need a name.” She smirked at the cat. “Let’s see, with those legs of yours, you almost look like you have boots on. How about Puss-n-boots?”
The cat reached up with one dark paw, and tugged at the ribbon that Ginny had tied around his neck last night. It took only a few tries, but soon he held it in his paws, looking up at her with eyes full of evil purpose.
“Hmmm, don’t like that do you? Well how about Mr. Kibbles?”
The cat held up his free paw, extended one claw and placed in on the ribbon.
“Moogie?”
He dug the claw into the ribbon.
“Schnookie?”
He ripped the ribbon in two.
“Oh my, my. Mr Big Old Scary Cat Who Knows How To Rip A Poor Defenceless Ribbon. How do you like that for a name?”
The cat coughed up a hairball onto the ribbon.
“Oh, now you’re just being disgusting!” She took her wand and with a muttered “Scourgify” cleaned up the mess.
The cat raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, you’d better watch it. My great-grandfather was a taxidermist. I know some dead useful spells.”
The cat gulped.
“That’s better,” Ginny smiled. “Ok, back to names. How about Fatty Lumpkin?”
The cat got to its feet and walked toward Ginny. It climbed onto her lap and then stood on its hind legs. Once again, it extended the one claw from his right paw. Slowly it tapped her nose.
“Listen here, you, remove that paw this instant or you’ll find yourself minus a body part. An important body part. One that might mean I have to call you Mrs Whiskers after I remove it.”
The cat growled and slunk off to the opposite end of the bed.
“Damn, you are one evil cat. Evil cat. Evil. Cat...hmmm perfect!”
***
“Morning all,” Ginny said brightly as she sat down at the Gryffindor table.
“Morning,” Ron said as he shovelled a piece of toast in his mouth.
“Ginny, listen about the cat,” Harry began nervously.
“Oh, Harry, listen. I’m sorry about yesterday. I was just...a bit shocked really. I like him. He’s...different,” Ginny replied in all honesty.
“No, really Ginny, you don’t have to pretend,” he said as he turned and scowled at Hermione. “It’s just that...I thought you might like a pet of your own. Not that I wanted you to think I was replacing Errol. Because I wouldn’t do that. I mean, well, I got you a cat not an owl. And I only got you a cat because I remember Ron said...”
“Oh, no, don’t you dare blame that thing on me,” Ron protested around a mouthful of toast. “I said she was a cat lover, not a mangy, one-fanged wonder lover.
“Ron, there is nothing wrong with that cat. He just needs some love, attention and possibly a diet. And Harry knows Ginny can provide that, isn’t that right, Harry?”
Harry glared at Hermione before he turned to Ginny. “I just thought you’d like a cat,” He said, blushing. “And I’m sorry if he’s not what you would have picked.”
Ginny could have sworn he added, “He’s not what I would have picked either” under his breath as he shot another angry glare in Hermione’s direction.
“Harry, really, it’s okay. He’s not all that bad. We sort of...bonded last night and this morning.” She squeezed his arm gently and mouthed a thank-you.
Everyone focused on his own food for the next few minutes until Hermione spoke up.
“So, Ginny, have you named him yet? I have a wonderful book of animal names in my room. If you want I’ll nip upstairs for it,” she said in her matter-of-fact tone.
“No need, he’s got a name,” Ginny said with a smirk.
“Oh wonderful, what’s his name?” Hermione asked.
“Cattivo,” she said.
“Cattivo? That’s an interesting name,” Hermione said with a look towards Ron as if she was waiting for him to explode. Ron simply snickered.
“You can call him Cat for short,” Harry said, sounding rather relieved. “Just like Pig.”
“I suppose,” Ginny said as she looked over her notes before class hoping to hide her smile.
“Ginny, what kind of name is Cattivo?” Hermione asked.
“It’s Italian.”
“Italian? Interesting. Ron, don’t you think it’s odd, er...interesting that your sister gave her cat an Italian name?
Ron winked at Ginny and said, “No, actually I think it’s perfect. I never did tell you about our family’s Italian connections, did I?” he added to Harry and Hermione. “They’re on Mum’s side. It’s where she got Ginny’s name from in the first place.”
“Well, I’m off. See you at lunch,” Ginny said as she made her way from the table, but not before she heard Ron say add, “Cattivo is Italian for ‘meat hook’. Suits him, don’t you think?”
Ginny had to laugh. Her brother could be just as evil as she.
***
“Ginny! What did I tell you about missing Quidditch practice! I told you that we need to practice at least three times a week. Hufflepuff have a half-way decent team this year, and we need to be at our best!” yelled Ron.
“Listen here, you may think you’re Oliver Wood incarnate, but I’m in no mood. And if you want to yell at someone you can start with the cat-giver over there,” she fumed as she pointed her finger at a wide-eyed Harry who was sitting two seats over, scribbling furiously at some essay or other.
“Oh no, not again,” Ron said, laughing through his annoyance.
“Oh yes, AGAIN!” Ginny seethed. “You listen to me, Mr Let-Me-Get-Ginny-A-Cat-So-She-Can-Feel-Better-Again! You’d better have a nice little chat with your gift and tell him he’s one claw away from a gutting and stuffing charm!”
“Ginny, all you have to...” Hermione began.
“Stuff it, Hermione! I’ve locked him in my room. I’ve locked him in his carrier. I’ve used binding spells. Nothing will stop him from coming to Potions, which in turn means Snape won’t stop giving me detention! I just had detention with him three days ago! That damned cat flicked Colin’s porcupine quill into his cauldron before he got the Healing Paste off the flame. And just like the Boil-cure potion, the damned thing exploded.”
“Ginny, be realistic. He’s just a cat, he couldn’t possibly...” Hermione tried once again.
“Hermione, I’m going to say this one more time. HE IS NOT A NORMAL CAT! He thinks. He plots. He tricks. And most of all, he’s EVIL!
“Hold up, you didn’t have Potions today,” Ron said suspiciously.
“Of course, I didn’t have Potions you dunderhead; you lot had Potions.”
“So why did Snape give you...OH… OH!” Ron broke off and began to laugh hysterically, pounding Harry on the back as he proceeded to fall onto his chair. “Good show mate! Good show.”
Ginny glared at Harry who was now hiding his face behind Quidditch through the Ages - he was holding the book upside down. A hard kick on the shin seemed to get his attention.
“What. Did. You. Do?”
“I sort of...him...but...never...after all...cat,” Harry said, his barely rising above a whisper.
Ginny had her wand pointed at Harry’s face so fast that both Ron and Hermione jumped.
“Excuse me, but I didn’t hear you,” she said icily.
“It was a joke, honestly. I didn’t think he’d listen. I mean he’s a...”
“WHAT DID YOU DO?”
“Well, he came to class with us. He didn’t do anything, he just sat there,” Harry began.
“Yeah, except for coughing up that hairball on Malfoy’s shoes. That was brilliant,” Ron added.
Harry glared at Ron and turned a pleading look on Ginny.
“Go on,” she said calmly, which only seemed to scare Harry more.
“Anyway, he came to class like he usually does. And except for doing foul things to Malfoy he just sort of sits there and...I don’t know...watches.”
“I think he has a thing for Snape,” Ron said, working hard at keeping his face straight.
“Oh please. He’s a cat, Ron,” Hermione interjected patiently.
Ginny folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot. Harry got the message to continue.
“I sort of told him that if he followed Snape after class he’d find out where he lived. I was joking, Ginny. He’s a cat. It’s not like he’d know what to do!” Harry said defiantly.
“What part of ‘HE’S NOT A NORMAL CAT’ DIDN’T YOU UNDERSTAND?” Ginny bellowed as Harry slunk back further into his chair. “He did exactly what you told him to do. He followed Snape back to his room and...”
“Snape gave you detention because the cat followed him,” Ron said incredulously.
“No, he gave me detention because when he got back from lunch he found MY CAT sitting on his bedside table.”
Harry blanched as Ron howled with mirth.
“How can he blame you? It’s not like you let him in, Ginny. We don’t even know where the teachers live,” Hermione said matter-of-factly.
“I don’t, but my cat does. And he knows the password.”
“Oh, please...”
“Hermione, try and follow me. He. Is. Not. A. Normal. Cat. Snape said he changed the password after he kicked him out and just before dinner he found him in his room again.”
“You don’t think he’s an Animagus, do you?” Ron asked nervously.
“No, I had Professor McGonagall test him. He’s all cat,” Ginny said scathingly.
Just then, the portrait hole opened and none other than the cat in question sauntered in. Alone.
Ginny pointed her wand at him. Sparks flew out and several smacked him on his hindquarters. The cat made an odd sort of noise somewhere between a meow and a snicker and walked up the girls’ stairway, his tail swaying high in the air.
“Ginny,” Ron asked cautiously, “did that cat...” He swallowed. “Did that cat just call you Ginevra?”
***
“But...”
“OUT!”
“But...”
“You and that menace to society!”
Ginny looked dumbfounded at the outside of her dormitory door. How could they do that to her? They’d been friends for the past six years. They never turned on one another. Never. Not even during her first year she reminded herself with a shudder.
“Until YOU that is,” she hissed at her feline companion. “This is your fault, you know. You and that yowling you’ve been doing for the past three nights. Jumping on whoever has fallen asleep. What’s got into you anyway? Why don’t you go over to Slytherin and pay Malfoy another visit? The detention would be worth it.”
Ginny pounded down the girls’ stairs into the cold, dark common room. She looked around for a smouldering fire to stoke but found none. Sitting down on the nearest sofa, she huffed again as she hugged herself, trying to keep warm.
“At least they threw my pillow and blanket out with...Where do you think you’re going?” she asked the cat.
The cat didn’t answer. It just looked at her and then up the stairs and then back to her. It didn’t take her long to get the idea and follow.
Ginny didn’t bother to knock. What was the point of giving him any time to react? She rolled her eyes as she saw the seventh-year boys jump and cover themselves.
“Ginny! I’m not dressed!”
“Put a cork in it, Neville. It’s not like you have anything I haven’t ever seen before.” From the corner of her eye she saw a pair of curtains close.
“Hey, Ginny, I’ll light your fire,” Seamus said leering at her legs.
This comment caught Ginny off guard until she remembered she was wearing an oversized T-shirt that Charlie had sent her with “Dragons Light My Fire” written on the back. She turned to roll her eyes at him and then continued towards her goal.
“Hey! That’s my sister, Seamus. You’d better watch your step or she’ll get her cat after you,” Ron said jokingly.
Said cat then jumped up onto Ron’s bed and seated himself in his odd human way right in the middle of Ron’s pillow.
“Get off there, you mangy beast,” Ron protested. Just as he was approaching the cat, the feline extracted its favourite claw and tapped Ron’s pillow while glaring at the redhead.
“Ginny! Do something about your...” Ron didn’t finish because Ginny shocked him by ripping open Harry’s bed-curtains.
“Whoa! Harry’s getting some action,” Seamus roared. Ginny’s cat hissed at him and Seamus took a step back and shut his mouth.
Ginny looked down at Harry Potter’s serene and most definitely not sleeping face.
“Get Up!”
“Ginny, he’s sleeping,” the now dressed Neville said.
“Yeah, and my cat is sweet and innocent. Get up, Harry.”
“I think he took a sleeping draught,” Dean added nervously.
“He’ll need one after I get through with him. Either you get out of that bed on your own or I help you out. Which is it?” she growled as she pulled the covers from his body.
“Ginny, he could have been starkers! What’s this about?” Ron asked while keeping one eye on the cat.
“I’ve been kicked out of my dormitory. I need a bed to sleep in and I’ve picked this one,” she said, flashing her brother her sweetest smile.
“Ginny you can’t...”
“Potter, get your bloody cat-giving arse out of that bed right now or you’ll rue the day you ever gave me that beast!”
“Ginny, can’t you go sleep with Hermione?” Ron asked pleadingly.
“No, why should I? It’s not like it’s her fault. This is all his fault.”
“How is it my fault?” Harry had finally found the courage to open his eyes and speak.
“It’s your fault because you gave me that cat.” She pointed to Ron’s bed where the cat was now grooming himself as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “That cat has kept me and my dormitory mates up for the past three nights. Now my dormitory mates have kicked us both out. If the cat hadn’t caused a scene, I’d still have my bed. If you hadn’t given me the cat I’d still have my bed. Either way it’s your fault. NOW GET UP!”
“But it is Hermione’s fault! She’s the one that forced me to buy that… that thing!” he pleaded with her.
“Oh please,” Ginny scoffed.
“She did! This is all her fault. Go toss her out of bed,” he said defiantly.
“She made you decide to buy me a pet?”
“No, but...”
“She forced you to go to Hogsmeade that day?”
“No, I was...”
“She pushed you into Melton Mowbray’s Parrots, Pets and Creatures for All Occasions?”
“NO, but if you’d...”
“She pointed her wand at you and used Imperius on you?”
“Of course n-...”
“She stuck your hand in your pocket and made you take your money out?”
“Listen here...”
“She dragged you back to school and made you give me that cat?”
“...”
“Well?”
Ten minutes later Ginny found herself snuggled deep in Harry Potter’s warm, comfortable bed as the other occupants of the seventh year dormitory cowered within their own curtains. She hoped Harry had found a comfortable spot in the common room.
Just as she drifted off to sleep she heard her brother say, “Budge up, you great, hairy lump.”
Continued in part two.
Title: Ginny's Gift (1/2)
Challenge: At Hogwarts 26. Errol dies, and Ginny is sad. Harry tries to cheer her up with a new pet.
Summary: See above
Word Count: 8 848 (total)
Notes/Warnings: Thanks to carissa_lynn for the beta! More notes to follow at the end.
Ginny’s Gift
“What the hell is that?”
“It’s a cat, Ron!” Hermione said scathingly.
“That’s one evil-looking cat,” he said as he stepped back behind his sister.
“Harry, he’s...lovely. I can’t...thank you enough. You really didn’t have to get me anything,” Ginny fumbled, not really knowing what to say about this gift Harry bought her. Privately she thought Ron was right. She hadn’t got a good look at her gift yet, since it was still in its carrier, but based on what she could see through the bars over the opening, this creature was unlike any cat she’d ever seen before in her life.
“You can say that again,” Ron murmured.
“Ron! Honestly,” Hermione huffed. “I think it’s sweet that Harry bought Ginny a cat. Don’t you think it was sweet of Harry? Ginny!”
“Ye...yes! Yes of course. Thank you, Harry. Thank you so much, he’s...darling,” Ginny said, still somewhat shocked.
“Harry, Ginny just thanked you for the cat.” Hermione poked him in the side again.
“Oh, er, yeah, Ginny, you’re welcome. I...I’ve got to go do...do that thing I said I had to do. I’ll see you lot at dinner,” Harry said as he raced up the boys’ stairs.
Ginny stared down at the cat carrier on the table once again.
“What the hell did you do to Harry, Ginny?” Ron asked, unable to contain his smirk.
“Me! What did I do! I didn’t do anything!” Ginny spun towards her brother, frustrated because she wasn’t too sure what had brought on Harry’s sudden generous urge herself.
“You must have done something. Why else would he have given you that...Hermione, are you sure this is a cat?”
“Of course, it’s a cat! And this isn’t a punishment, Ron! Harry just wanted to do something nice for Ginny.”
“So he gets her this! Gee Ginny, you’d better hope you never make Harry mad at you. I wouldn’t want to be around to see what he’d get you if he were mad,” Ron said and then backed further away from the carrier as something that sounded like a growl emanated from it.
“Honestly! I think it’s sweet that Harry wanted to get Ginny a gift.” Hermione huffed again.
“But why, Hermione? Why did Harry get me this… this...cat?” Ginny asked, as she too backed away from the carrier. A single black paw was now protruding from the bars, but when it hung there limply, Ginny let out her breath.
Hermione seemed to hesitate before she answered, which only served to intrigue Ginny more. Harry had acted quite oddly at breakfast this morning, even though by recent standards that wasn’t saying much. Hermione insisted that Harry’s most recent strange behaviour was due to the tension of his extra training and their upcoming N.E.W.T.s. Ginny wasn’t convinced this was true but didn’t argue with Hermione since she knew a losing battle when she saw one. She crossed her arms and waited for Hermione to answer since she also knew that prodding the Head Girl would lead nowhere.
“Well...I don’t know if I should really tell you. I mean, it’s not my place, and I’m sure Harry would want to tell you. Actually, I’m surprised he didn’t tell you himself, and I have no idea what he had to do upstairs because he didn’t mention anything that he had to do today while we were in Hogsmeade. But I guess he wouldn’t mind. I mean it’s not like he hasn’t already given you his present. But all the same, maybe I should...”
“BLOODY HELL WOMAN! WILL YOU JUST SPIT IT OUT!” Ron bellowed.
“Ron! Language! I don’t understand...”
“Hermione! Just tell her! Why on Earth would Harry buy this...this...this thing for my sister?”
“Ron! I don’t appreciate...”
“Hermione, please,” Ginny begged. “You can argue with my brother later. I’m sure it will be the highlight of both of your nights, but please, for the love of Merlin, just tell me why Harry bought me this cat.”
“He wanted to make you feel better,” Hermione said quietly.
“He wanted to make her feel better so he buys her a deranged-looking cat?” Ron interjected. “For crying out loud, Hermione, it’s got fangs!”
“Fang, Ron! Singular! One of its canines is a bit overgrown and it’s...”
“Hold on!” Ginny called, stepping between Ron and Hermione and holding up a hand. “He wanted to make me feel better?”
“Well, yes. He wanted to make you feel better,” Hermione said quickly, as if she were afraid she was going to say too much and wanting to get it out before she thought better of it.
“I still don’t understand, Hermione. How is getting me this...” Ginny gulped. “Getting me this cat supposed to make me feel better? And what am I supposed to feel better about?”
“Errol,” Hermione said softly and then bowed her head.
Ginny stood there looking between Hermione, her brother and the cat carrier that Harry had just presented to her. Her throat was tightening dangerously, but she wasn’t going to cry! She had promised herself she wouldn’t cry anymore, but before her mind heard the words she felt the tears on her cheeks. Carefully picking the cat up out of its carrier and hugging it to her chest, she walked slowly up the girls’ dormitory stairs.
***
It had been at least two hours since Ginny had come into her dormitory and closed the hangings around her bed. She was grateful that none of her dormitory mates had come to ask about her or her new pet.
Her new pet.
Wasn’t that just like Harry? He’d gone out of his way to do something sweet and caring and screwed it up royally. Now that her gift was out of its carrier and lying on her bed fresh from a bath, she knew her initial impression that this was no ordinary cat was indeed correct. It was a Siamese, if the tan colouring offset by an almost black face, tail and paws were any indication, but huger than the typical lithe form that breed normally took. Its lower body was swollen like a bloated bag, soft and squelching, which swayed and sagged between its hind legs. Its ears were permanently folded back, giving the dark face an invariably annoyed expression. Its eyes were blue and glittering, seemingly full of evil purpose, and larger than expected. Indeed the entire face was broad rather than pointed, and protruding from the mouth was a single fang.
“What on Earth was he thinking? Can you tell me that much?” she asked the cat.
The cat didn’t answer.
“Fine, don’t answer me. I know what he was thinking. He was thinking that hose-pipe Ginny needed something to make her forget she’s an owl killer, that’s what he was thinking.”
The cat raised the bristles over one of its eyes at her.
“Oh, he didn’t tell you. I guess I should, this way you can make up your own mind about wanting to stay around me.” Inwardly she wondered what she was doing, talking to a cat. Of course, Harry wouldn’t have told the animal anything. It was wretched enough as it was.
The cat yawned.
“Lovely. First of all, my name is Ginny. Well, actually it’s Ginevra, but use it and die.” She smiled at the cat and the cat seemed to smile back. Or perhaps it was a smirk.
“And well...I kill owls. No, I take it back, I’ve only killed one owl. His name was Errol. And I sent him on a mission, and I told him under no certain terms he was to wait for a response and head straight back to me. And...bless his heart, he did exactly what I told him to do.”
She choked and for a moment considered simply dropping the subject. She was talking to a cat, after all; it wasn’t as if he was intelligent and could understand what she was saying. But the cat prodded her with its paw and she continued on.
“Well, he came back, and well...” She paused and sniffed. “He died. Right in my arms. He held his leg out to me and hooted with pride and then he died. I shouldn’t have ordered him to come right back. He was too old. I was being selfish.”
The cat gave her a look as if to say, “Is that the best you can do?”
“Excuse me if that’s not evil enough for you. It still...bothers me. And of course, Harry had to be there when Errol came flying at me on the Quidditch Pitch. And he had to see me blubbering on and on. Then the next day at breakfast when the morning mail came...I don’t even want to think about it.”
The cat yawned again.
Ginny picked up the cat and looked closely at him. “You know, by your colouring you should be a Ravenclaw, but that attitude tells me you’re pure Slytherin.”
She would have bet her last Knut that the damn cat smiled.
***
The next morning Ginny found herself suffocated by a very heavy snoring ball of fur.
“Move over, you pillow hog,” she said as she pushed the intruder away from her face.
The cat turned and scowled at her.
“Good morning to you. My, my, aren’t we happy and chipper this morning. Or maybe you just want another bath like the one you had last night?”
She would have bet Ron’s last Knut that the cat gave her the two-finger salute. It had assumed a rather odd position for a cat - it was sitting on its hind legs the way a human would.
“Don’t get shirty with me. You needed a bath. You had purple gunk all over your face, and I’m sorry to say, but you stunk to high heaven.”
The cat saluted her once more.
“I think someone needs to learn manners, but first you need a name.” She smirked at the cat. “Let’s see, with those legs of yours, you almost look like you have boots on. How about Puss-n-boots?”
The cat reached up with one dark paw, and tugged at the ribbon that Ginny had tied around his neck last night. It took only a few tries, but soon he held it in his paws, looking up at her with eyes full of evil purpose.
“Hmmm, don’t like that do you? Well how about Mr. Kibbles?”
The cat held up his free paw, extended one claw and placed in on the ribbon.
“Moogie?”
He dug the claw into the ribbon.
“Schnookie?”
He ripped the ribbon in two.
“Oh my, my. Mr Big Old Scary Cat Who Knows How To Rip A Poor Defenceless Ribbon. How do you like that for a name?”
The cat coughed up a hairball onto the ribbon.
“Oh, now you’re just being disgusting!” She took her wand and with a muttered “Scourgify” cleaned up the mess.
The cat raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, you’d better watch it. My great-grandfather was a taxidermist. I know some dead useful spells.”
The cat gulped.
“That’s better,” Ginny smiled. “Ok, back to names. How about Fatty Lumpkin?”
The cat got to its feet and walked toward Ginny. It climbed onto her lap and then stood on its hind legs. Once again, it extended the one claw from his right paw. Slowly it tapped her nose.
“Listen here, you, remove that paw this instant or you’ll find yourself minus a body part. An important body part. One that might mean I have to call you Mrs Whiskers after I remove it.”
The cat growled and slunk off to the opposite end of the bed.
“Damn, you are one evil cat. Evil cat. Evil. Cat...hmmm perfect!”
***
“Morning all,” Ginny said brightly as she sat down at the Gryffindor table.
“Morning,” Ron said as he shovelled a piece of toast in his mouth.
“Ginny, listen about the cat,” Harry began nervously.
“Oh, Harry, listen. I’m sorry about yesterday. I was just...a bit shocked really. I like him. He’s...different,” Ginny replied in all honesty.
“No, really Ginny, you don’t have to pretend,” he said as he turned and scowled at Hermione. “It’s just that...I thought you might like a pet of your own. Not that I wanted you to think I was replacing Errol. Because I wouldn’t do that. I mean, well, I got you a cat not an owl. And I only got you a cat because I remember Ron said...”
“Oh, no, don’t you dare blame that thing on me,” Ron protested around a mouthful of toast. “I said she was a cat lover, not a mangy, one-fanged wonder lover.
“Ron, there is nothing wrong with that cat. He just needs some love, attention and possibly a diet. And Harry knows Ginny can provide that, isn’t that right, Harry?”
Harry glared at Hermione before he turned to Ginny. “I just thought you’d like a cat,” He said, blushing. “And I’m sorry if he’s not what you would have picked.”
Ginny could have sworn he added, “He’s not what I would have picked either” under his breath as he shot another angry glare in Hermione’s direction.
“Harry, really, it’s okay. He’s not all that bad. We sort of...bonded last night and this morning.” She squeezed his arm gently and mouthed a thank-you.
Everyone focused on his own food for the next few minutes until Hermione spoke up.
“So, Ginny, have you named him yet? I have a wonderful book of animal names in my room. If you want I’ll nip upstairs for it,” she said in her matter-of-fact tone.
“No need, he’s got a name,” Ginny said with a smirk.
“Oh wonderful, what’s his name?” Hermione asked.
“Cattivo,” she said.
“Cattivo? That’s an interesting name,” Hermione said with a look towards Ron as if she was waiting for him to explode. Ron simply snickered.
“You can call him Cat for short,” Harry said, sounding rather relieved. “Just like Pig.”
“I suppose,” Ginny said as she looked over her notes before class hoping to hide her smile.
“Ginny, what kind of name is Cattivo?” Hermione asked.
“It’s Italian.”
“Italian? Interesting. Ron, don’t you think it’s odd, er...interesting that your sister gave her cat an Italian name?
Ron winked at Ginny and said, “No, actually I think it’s perfect. I never did tell you about our family’s Italian connections, did I?” he added to Harry and Hermione. “They’re on Mum’s side. It’s where she got Ginny’s name from in the first place.”
“Well, I’m off. See you at lunch,” Ginny said as she made her way from the table, but not before she heard Ron say add, “Cattivo is Italian for ‘meat hook’. Suits him, don’t you think?”
Ginny had to laugh. Her brother could be just as evil as she.
***
“Ginny! What did I tell you about missing Quidditch practice! I told you that we need to practice at least three times a week. Hufflepuff have a half-way decent team this year, and we need to be at our best!” yelled Ron.
“Listen here, you may think you’re Oliver Wood incarnate, but I’m in no mood. And if you want to yell at someone you can start with the cat-giver over there,” she fumed as she pointed her finger at a wide-eyed Harry who was sitting two seats over, scribbling furiously at some essay or other.
“Oh no, not again,” Ron said, laughing through his annoyance.
“Oh yes, AGAIN!” Ginny seethed. “You listen to me, Mr Let-Me-Get-Ginny-A-Cat-So-She-Can-Feel-Better-Again! You’d better have a nice little chat with your gift and tell him he’s one claw away from a gutting and stuffing charm!”
“Ginny, all you have to...” Hermione began.
“Stuff it, Hermione! I’ve locked him in my room. I’ve locked him in his carrier. I’ve used binding spells. Nothing will stop him from coming to Potions, which in turn means Snape won’t stop giving me detention! I just had detention with him three days ago! That damned cat flicked Colin’s porcupine quill into his cauldron before he got the Healing Paste off the flame. And just like the Boil-cure potion, the damned thing exploded.”
“Ginny, be realistic. He’s just a cat, he couldn’t possibly...” Hermione tried once again.
“Hermione, I’m going to say this one more time. HE IS NOT A NORMAL CAT! He thinks. He plots. He tricks. And most of all, he’s EVIL!
“Hold up, you didn’t have Potions today,” Ron said suspiciously.
“Of course, I didn’t have Potions you dunderhead; you lot had Potions.”
“So why did Snape give you...OH… OH!” Ron broke off and began to laugh hysterically, pounding Harry on the back as he proceeded to fall onto his chair. “Good show mate! Good show.”
Ginny glared at Harry who was now hiding his face behind Quidditch through the Ages - he was holding the book upside down. A hard kick on the shin seemed to get his attention.
“What. Did. You. Do?”
“I sort of...him...but...never...after all...cat,” Harry said, his barely rising above a whisper.
Ginny had her wand pointed at Harry’s face so fast that both Ron and Hermione jumped.
“Excuse me, but I didn’t hear you,” she said icily.
“It was a joke, honestly. I didn’t think he’d listen. I mean he’s a...”
“WHAT DID YOU DO?”
“Well, he came to class with us. He didn’t do anything, he just sat there,” Harry began.
“Yeah, except for coughing up that hairball on Malfoy’s shoes. That was brilliant,” Ron added.
Harry glared at Ron and turned a pleading look on Ginny.
“Go on,” she said calmly, which only seemed to scare Harry more.
“Anyway, he came to class like he usually does. And except for doing foul things to Malfoy he just sort of sits there and...I don’t know...watches.”
“I think he has a thing for Snape,” Ron said, working hard at keeping his face straight.
“Oh please. He’s a cat, Ron,” Hermione interjected patiently.
Ginny folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot. Harry got the message to continue.
“I sort of told him that if he followed Snape after class he’d find out where he lived. I was joking, Ginny. He’s a cat. It’s not like he’d know what to do!” Harry said defiantly.
“What part of ‘HE’S NOT A NORMAL CAT’ DIDN’T YOU UNDERSTAND?” Ginny bellowed as Harry slunk back further into his chair. “He did exactly what you told him to do. He followed Snape back to his room and...”
“Snape gave you detention because the cat followed him,” Ron said incredulously.
“No, he gave me detention because when he got back from lunch he found MY CAT sitting on his bedside table.”
Harry blanched as Ron howled with mirth.
“How can he blame you? It’s not like you let him in, Ginny. We don’t even know where the teachers live,” Hermione said matter-of-factly.
“I don’t, but my cat does. And he knows the password.”
“Oh, please...”
“Hermione, try and follow me. He. Is. Not. A. Normal. Cat. Snape said he changed the password after he kicked him out and just before dinner he found him in his room again.”
“You don’t think he’s an Animagus, do you?” Ron asked nervously.
“No, I had Professor McGonagall test him. He’s all cat,” Ginny said scathingly.
Just then, the portrait hole opened and none other than the cat in question sauntered in. Alone.
Ginny pointed her wand at him. Sparks flew out and several smacked him on his hindquarters. The cat made an odd sort of noise somewhere between a meow and a snicker and walked up the girls’ stairway, his tail swaying high in the air.
“Ginny,” Ron asked cautiously, “did that cat...” He swallowed. “Did that cat just call you Ginevra?”
***
“But...”
“OUT!”
“But...”
“You and that menace to society!”
Ginny looked dumbfounded at the outside of her dormitory door. How could they do that to her? They’d been friends for the past six years. They never turned on one another. Never. Not even during her first year she reminded herself with a shudder.
“Until YOU that is,” she hissed at her feline companion. “This is your fault, you know. You and that yowling you’ve been doing for the past three nights. Jumping on whoever has fallen asleep. What’s got into you anyway? Why don’t you go over to Slytherin and pay Malfoy another visit? The detention would be worth it.”
Ginny pounded down the girls’ stairs into the cold, dark common room. She looked around for a smouldering fire to stoke but found none. Sitting down on the nearest sofa, she huffed again as she hugged herself, trying to keep warm.
“At least they threw my pillow and blanket out with...Where do you think you’re going?” she asked the cat.
The cat didn’t answer. It just looked at her and then up the stairs and then back to her. It didn’t take her long to get the idea and follow.
Ginny didn’t bother to knock. What was the point of giving him any time to react? She rolled her eyes as she saw the seventh-year boys jump and cover themselves.
“Ginny! I’m not dressed!”
“Put a cork in it, Neville. It’s not like you have anything I haven’t ever seen before.” From the corner of her eye she saw a pair of curtains close.
“Hey, Ginny, I’ll light your fire,” Seamus said leering at her legs.
This comment caught Ginny off guard until she remembered she was wearing an oversized T-shirt that Charlie had sent her with “Dragons Light My Fire” written on the back. She turned to roll her eyes at him and then continued towards her goal.
“Hey! That’s my sister, Seamus. You’d better watch your step or she’ll get her cat after you,” Ron said jokingly.
Said cat then jumped up onto Ron’s bed and seated himself in his odd human way right in the middle of Ron’s pillow.
“Get off there, you mangy beast,” Ron protested. Just as he was approaching the cat, the feline extracted its favourite claw and tapped Ron’s pillow while glaring at the redhead.
“Ginny! Do something about your...” Ron didn’t finish because Ginny shocked him by ripping open Harry’s bed-curtains.
“Whoa! Harry’s getting some action,” Seamus roared. Ginny’s cat hissed at him and Seamus took a step back and shut his mouth.
Ginny looked down at Harry Potter’s serene and most definitely not sleeping face.
“Get Up!”
“Ginny, he’s sleeping,” the now dressed Neville said.
“Yeah, and my cat is sweet and innocent. Get up, Harry.”
“I think he took a sleeping draught,” Dean added nervously.
“He’ll need one after I get through with him. Either you get out of that bed on your own or I help you out. Which is it?” she growled as she pulled the covers from his body.
“Ginny, he could have been starkers! What’s this about?” Ron asked while keeping one eye on the cat.
“I’ve been kicked out of my dormitory. I need a bed to sleep in and I’ve picked this one,” she said, flashing her brother her sweetest smile.
“Ginny you can’t...”
“Potter, get your bloody cat-giving arse out of that bed right now or you’ll rue the day you ever gave me that beast!”
“Ginny, can’t you go sleep with Hermione?” Ron asked pleadingly.
“No, why should I? It’s not like it’s her fault. This is all his fault.”
“How is it my fault?” Harry had finally found the courage to open his eyes and speak.
“It’s your fault because you gave me that cat.” She pointed to Ron’s bed where the cat was now grooming himself as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “That cat has kept me and my dormitory mates up for the past three nights. Now my dormitory mates have kicked us both out. If the cat hadn’t caused a scene, I’d still have my bed. If you hadn’t given me the cat I’d still have my bed. Either way it’s your fault. NOW GET UP!”
“But it is Hermione’s fault! She’s the one that forced me to buy that… that thing!” he pleaded with her.
“Oh please,” Ginny scoffed.
“She did! This is all her fault. Go toss her out of bed,” he said defiantly.
“She made you decide to buy me a pet?”
“No, but...”
“She forced you to go to Hogsmeade that day?”
“No, I was...”
“She pushed you into Melton Mowbray’s Parrots, Pets and Creatures for All Occasions?”
“NO, but if you’d...”
“She pointed her wand at you and used Imperius on you?”
“Of course n-...”
“She stuck your hand in your pocket and made you take your money out?”
“Listen here...”
“She dragged you back to school and made you give me that cat?”
“...”
“Well?”
Ten minutes later Ginny found herself snuggled deep in Harry Potter’s warm, comfortable bed as the other occupants of the seventh year dormitory cowered within their own curtains. She hoped Harry had found a comfortable spot in the common room.
Just as she drifted off to sleep she heard her brother say, “Budge up, you great, hairy lump.”
Continued in part two.