The Fox In A Snake Pit! Story 3

Cat V.S RAT!!

"Take this and deliver it to either Mr. Malfoy or Draco. If they don't respond, go with them back to the manor. If they do, return here and seek me out," Jade instructed firmly. With that, the fox kit perched on her shoulders took hold of the note, and gracefully made its way back into the bustling pub.

"Wow! I didn't realize that was an actual fox; I thought possibly the Malfoys had splurged on a fancy fur scarf for you," Ron taunted, his laughter ringing out as he sat beside Hermione at a table adjacent to Jade's.

"Jade, why not come over here? Ron is just droning on about his family's trip, and I could use some more stimulating conversation," Hermione suggested. 

Jade turned her gaze back to Harry, who remained engrossed in the shop window across the street. "Alright, I suppose so. I have a couple of questions for you two anyway," she replied, attempting a smile as she stood up from her table and shifted to sit opposite Hermione.

"Is that so?" Ron asked his voice a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, unsure of what Jade might bring up, secretly hoping it wouldn't involve any details about his trip.

Fortunately for Ron, Jade was far too preoccupied to dwell on his recent holiday at that moment. With a composed demeanor that contrasted her underlying agitation, she fixed her gaze on Ron and asked,  "Who told you when my birthday was?" Her calm facade did little to hide the intensity brewing just beneath the surface, and Ron could feel the weight of her stare pressing down on him.

Ron found himself at a loss for words, his throat tightening as he prepared to respond. "Well," he began hesitantly, "since it was also Harry's birthday, I just figured that all magical people living among Muggles would celebrate on the same day." His voice trailed off, a cautious attempt to make sense of his blunder, but the words felt inadequate as they hung in the air.

Jade's hand shot up with a swift motion, landing a sharp slap across Ron's face, her frustration palpable. "Do you really think that Harry and I share the same birthday just because I grew up with Muggles? Are you out of your mind? That would mean Hermione has the same birthday too!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with anger. 

Ron could only manage a sheepish, "Oh right, I forgot..." as he rubbed his cheek, the sting of her words lingering in the air.

As Ron sat there, still processing Jade's outburst, Hermione's gaze suddenly shifted. She spotted Harry, who appeared to be searching for someone in the bustling crowd. 

"Harry! HARRY!" Hermione called out, her voice cutting through the bustling noise around them. 

"There you are!" Ron beamed at Harry as he settled into the seat across from him, right beside Jade. "We checked the Leaky Cauldron first, but they told us you had already left with Jade. Then we tried Flourish and Blotts, and even Madam Malkin's, but no luck..."

Harry recounted, "I gathered all my school supplies last week." He paused, then asked, "How did you find out I was at the Leaky Cauldron?" 

Ron shrugged nonchalantly, replying, "Dad told me." 

Jade found out through eavesdropping that Mr. Weasley was employed at the Ministry of Magic and undoubtedly knew all the details about what had transpired with Harry's aunt.

"Harry, did you actually blow up your aunt?" Hermione inquired with a tone that brooked no nonsense. 

Harry responded with a sheepish expression, "I didn't mean to," while Ron erupted into peals of laughter, and Jade looked on, her surprise mingling with a hint of amusement. "I just... lost my grip on things."