Mend Me

Fifteen

As the final day of summer break fades to an end, Danu sits on the edge of her borrowed bed and looks around the small room she has called home for the last month. This has been the first time in her short life that she has had a room of her own, she will miss it. There is still a quarter of an hour before it is official nightfall, a little over an hour before Snape arrives to ensure she is in her chambers. Danu decides to go for a final walk around Hogsmeade.

On the first day of her Hogsmeade stay, Snape had warned her not to wander off, and she took it quite literally. It was nearly two weeks before she could muster up the courage to ask him if she could go for walks; he stared at her like she had two heads, then laughed as he told her that he did not care what she did, as long as she was in that room by the time he arrived.

Danu's feet carry her to her usual evening spot; a small garden behind The Three Broomsticks. Large pots of culinary herbs litter the area, desperate for upkeep. Lilac shrubs grow large and out of control, having been weeks since their final bloom of the year, their secret beauty is now a mystery to the untrained eye. English lavender pops up sporadically, their deep purple heads reaching her hip. Danu closes her eyes and lifts her head to the setting sun and places her hands just above the heads of the lavender, letting the strong evening breeze flutter the plants oils against her palms. A rustling pulls her from her tranquility, a tiny scream causes her to drop to her hands and knees and begin carefully separating the low hanging branches of the lilac shrub. She spots the intruder cowering close to the trunk of the shrub and reaches for it; it hisses and swats at her hand but is too slow. She wraps her fingers around the tiny kittens midsection and gently lifts it from the ground, she hugs it to her chest and sits down in the dirt as the little creature trembles and screams.

Danu looks around, hoping the mother is close by, but sees nothing. She clutches the screeching fuzz ball closer to her chest and looks down at it. The kitten is black with huge paws and long downy fur that sticks up in every direction, giving it the appearance of a cartoon cat that was struck by lightning. It's little tail a quivering numb on its otherwise chubby body, she flips him over quickly to catch a glimpse, a boy. As she shushes him and rubs the pad of her thumb between the kittens eyes, he begins to quiet down.

"Where is your mommy, little guy?" No answer.

"Did you get lost? I'll take care of you, don't worry." She loses track of how long she sits in the dirt, stroking the kittens soft head. A strong breeze blows through the garden, wafting the scent of lavender with it, the faint scent of cloves follows.

"Put the cat down, Miss Black." Danu jumps slightly at the intrusion but has grown used to Snape sneaking up on her. Snape stares down at her in the dirt, he offers her his hand, and she takes it, pulling herself up to her feet, the kitten still clutched to her chest.

"But he's all alone."

"I am sure it is quite capable of being on its own. Put it down."

"Can't I keep it?" She asks, looking down at the little kitten cupped in her hands.

"No, Miss Black, you cannot keep it." Snape pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head as if she has just said the most ridiculous thing he has ever heard.

"Why? You are allowed cats at Hogwarts."

"You are hardly in any position to care for a cat, the thing is probably lousy with fleas, and who knows what else. Besides, its mother is likely searching for it." Snape stands straight and proud, towering over her, as if using every bit of his intimidation power to force her to put the cat down, but she stays strong.

"I can get rid of fleas, plus, his mother isn't around."

"It is likely someone's pet then. Put. It. Down."

"If it were someone's pet, they would be out here searching for it. I haven't seen or heard anyone."

"Why must you insist on being difficult?" She is beginning to wear him down; she can feel it.Before Snape can stop her, she turns from him and practically sprints around the building and to the front of The Three Broomsticks, she rushes through the door with Snape hot on her heels. A few patrons linger at tables near the back of the pub, the place has been quieter with school starting back soon. She spots Madam Rosmerta behind the bar, and rushes towards her before Snape gets to her first.

"Madam Rosmerta!" She says, a little too loudly, all heads turn towards her. "Is this your kitten?" She thrusts the tiny body towards the landlady, who takes it from her hands with a smile.

"No, Mis Black, it is not."

"Can I keep it in my room, just for the night? Please?" Madam Rosmerta ponders for a moment, glancing between her and an amused looking Snape, and finally relents, passing the tiny, hissing kitten back to her waiting hands.

Danu thanks her and rushes up the stairs, the thud of Snape's boots right behind her. In her room, she places the kitten on the bed and drops to her knees in the floor, resting her chin on the bed, she wiggles her fingers on the mattress for the kitten to pounce on and bat with his tiny paws.

"Proud of yourself, Miss Black?" Snape asks, looming over her, scowling.

Danu grins up at him and nods her head. Snape whirls around and slams the door hard enough to rattle the empty Firewhisky bottle on the bedside table.