Window into the Past

🌙27🌙

"What the bloody hell was that book?" I shuddered. "The poor manager wanted to cry," Ron laughed. "Poor sod."

"Whoa," I gasped, stopping to look in the window. "A Firebolt!"

"It's also expensive, you can't afford it," Hermione mumbled. "Yeah," I sighed sadly. "My broom is fine anyway." 

"So, what do you think about Divination?" Hermione asked me, gawking at the book. "Well, I've had some mixed feelings about it but I'll have to see if it's a waste of time or not," I shrugged.

"What is there to look forward to this year?" Ron muttered pessimistically.

"Hogsmeade," I told him. "Quidditch, hopefully I can actually play a few matches this season." 

"Harry!" Hermione yelled. "Yeah, him too," I murmured. "He's over there, you idiot," Hermione thumped me.

I turned to see the messy raven haired boy walking over to us and my face quickly shifted into a huge smile.

I wrapped my arms around him, bringing him in for a big hug. "I finally got a new wand," Ron said happily, showing it off.

"Hermione, that bag looks like it's going to burst any second," Harry pointed at her bag. "Oh, I'm taking more subjects this year," she explained. "What I don't get is why you're taking Muggle Studies," I frowned, scrunching up my freckled nose.

"It's interesting," Hermione defended it. "So, I take it eating and sleeping aren't on your timetable?" I joked.

Hermione thumped me as Harry and Ron sniggered. "I've still got ten Galleons, I want to buy an early birthday present."

"Let me guess..more books?" Ron suggested. "I want an owl," Hermione declared. "Harry has Hedwig and Joy has Biscuit, you have Errol..."

"Not exactly," Ron mumbled. "All I have is Scabbers, he looks a bit sickly."

"I mean he was supposed to croak it eight years ago," I muttered. Ron shot me a glare.

We went into the Magical Menagerie. I was a little uncomfortable around the cats, must be the wolf in me. 

"Is it the cats?" Harry asked me. "More of a dog person," I muttered. "Since I'm kinda part dog?" 

"OUCH!" Ron suddenly screamed. A large orange cat was on his head, hissing at Scabbers. Scabbers ran for it as Ron tried to get the large cat off his head.

"Let's look for Scabbers," I suggested. We went outside and searched all of Diagon Alley. "There you are," I picked him up from underneath a filthy page of the Daily Prophet with Sirius Black's face plastered on the front.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron freaked out as I handed him Scabbers. "A cat," I stated. "Aren't you terrified of them?" Ron asked me. "Not terrified, I just prefer dogs," I told him. "I mean, you can see why I'm prejudiced."

Hermione came back out but she didn't buy an owl. SHE BOUGHT THE FLIPPING CAT!

"He's gorgeous isn't he?" Hermione cooed. "It tried to kill me!" Ron exclaimed. "You know Joy's afraid of cats!"

"I'm not afraid of cats!" I retorted. 

"He won't hurt you," Hermione mumbled. "It might smell wet dog off me," I muttered. 

"Now we have Scabbers to worry about," Ron muttered. "Here's the tonic, you left it behind," Hermione handed Ron the small red bottle.

"Poor Crookshanks," Hermione stroked her cat. "The witch said no one wanted him for ages."

"Not surprised," Ron whispered to me.

Half of this year will be Hermione and Ron bickering. That I'm sure of.

***

"Joy!" Ginny hugged me tightly. "Hey Gin," I smiled, hugging her back. "Ah Joanna, it's lovely to see you again," Percy said politely.

"You too?" I replied, wondering why he was acting like the Minister for Magic, I've been gone for what? Half an hour? "Honestly Joanna, it's absolutely lovely to see you again!" Fred said in a posh accent.

"Absolutely spiffing," George pretended to swoon, which made me laugh. 

Percy was scowling. "He knows not to call you Joanna, you hate that," Ginny frowned.

"I know," I rolled my eyes.

We all had a nice dinner together before departing for Hogwarts once again. "How are we getting to King's Cross?" Fred asked Mr Weasley. "The Ministry's sending cars," Mr Weasley told him.

"Why?" Percy wondered. "For you," George told him. "There'll be flags with HB on them."

"For Humungous Bighead," Fred added.

I nearly choked on my pudding because I couldn't stop laughing. The rest of dinner was enjoyable and I went to mine and Hermione's shared room and Crookshanks was there.

I was quite cautious when I walked over to my bed. I picked up the Daily Prophet and stared at the articles about Sirius Black.

I've never heard of him until now.