Lucy Jones 3: Blackbird

2 The Leaky Cauldron

Harry and Lucy both stay in the leaky cauldron. They go out and buy their books. The woman in the store was so happy that Harry already had the book for care of magical creatures. Lucy says that she needs it, and her face falls. She takes some thick gloves.

On the last day before school starts, Harry and Lucy walk downstairs to see Ron and Hermione in the leaky cauldron. 'Hey.' Lucy says when they're at their table.

Their heads snap up, and they both greet them. 'You both have your books for school?'

Harry nods: 'You don't?'

Hermione wants to answer, but Ron is looking at Harry, clearly not listening but waiting until he can ask it.

'Yes, Ron, he blew up his aunt. We can go with you ...'

Harry interrupts: 'It wasn't on purpose. I kind of lost my self-control.'

Ron laughs loudly. Lucy and Hermione look at him, and he stops: 'Ron, that's not funny. I'm surprised he didn't get expelled.' Hermione says.

'To be honest, me too. I thought I was going to get arrested.' Harry says and looks at Ron: 'Does your father know why I didn't get punished.'

Ron shrugs: 'Probably because it's you.'

'That's possible.' Lucy says, not really wanting to talk about it anymore. Harry had brought it up before, and she didn't have an explanation except that he is the-boy-who-lived.

'I don't really want to know what the ministry would have done if I had blown up my aunt.' Ron says: 'Tomorrow we can all go to the train together. We are staying in the leaky cauldron.'

'Yes, my parents drove here this morning, so I have all my books and other things. We don't have to buy them.' Hermione adds.

'I have my books as well.' Ron says and takes a rectangular long box and opens it, revealing a wand: 'This is my new wand. This one will be so much better than the last one.'

'I do want to buy an owl.' Hermione says: 'My parents gave me some money.'

'Scabbers need to be checked. He looks a little ill since Egypt.' Ron says.

'We can go to the one across that place with the good ice cream. Harry, you know where it is?' Lucy suggests.

He nods: 'I know, and I think you can get what you want there, owl and rat.'

Inside the store, everything is crammed together. Cages with a turtle or a bunny close together. The cats are running through the store, and the smell is a mix of chemicals and the animals. Harry stays with Ron, and Hermione pulls her along to see the owls.

'What do you think of this one?' Lucy asks, pointing at a grey owl. She doesn't know what kind of breed it is. She sees Hermione petting a cat when she doesn't get an answer. One with ginger fur. 'A cat?'

Hermione looks up: 'She is adorable.'

Lucy moves closer and lets the cat smell her hand: 'Maybe a cat it is?'

'Yeah, I think so. Mina can have a friend.' Hermione says and stands up. The cat moves and runs up to the counter. Lucy looks at the counter but cannot determine what is happening.

When everything calms down, Hermione walks to one of the persons working here and pulls Lucy along. 'Can I adopt this cat.' Hermione points out the one she wants.

The woman looks at the cat: 'That's Crookshanks. You really want the ginger cat?'

'Yes!' Hermione says.

The woman forms a smile: 'I'm so happy. Crookshanks scares many people, but I think he likes you.' And indeed, Crookshanks is at Hermione's leg. Hermione picks him up, and Crookshanks starts to spin.

Outside of the store, they see Harry and Ron.

'Isn't she beautiful?' Hermione asks them.

'You bought that monster.' Ron says to Hermione.

Lucy pets Crookshanks on her head: 'She is a precious little thing.'

'That cat attacked me and Scabbers. You cannot...' Ron almost shouts.

'What? Have a cat? Lucy has a cat.' Hermione reasons: 'And here is your thing for your rat. You forgot.'

'Come Hermione. Let's go and let him meet Mina.' Lucy says, and the girls let the boys behind them.

'She must be in my room.' Lucy says while opening the door. And indeed, Mina is lying on her bed. Lucy pets her: 'Mina...' The cat wakes up and sits on Lucy's lap: 'Hey, we have someone for you to meet.'

Hermione puts Crookshanks on the ground: 'This is Crookshanks.' She says. They both look at the cats.

Crookshanks sits still on the ground and looks up. Mina watches, and after a minute, she jumps down and walks towards Crookshanks.

'I think it will be fine.' Lucy says to Hermione.

'Yes. I hope she isn't going to cause any trouble.'

'If you mean Ron, then my advice is don't react. Our cats sleep in our room, and Scabbers sleeps in his room. It's not like Crookshanks is the only cat in the castle.'