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For years it has been only me and Hermione
I tried to eat Ron's rat which turned out to be a grown man by the way
(He still hasn't thanked me, that red Weasel)
Hermione spoils me, sure she could have gone for a younger familiar but she chose me, so it is my duty to take care of her
Which is hard when her best friend is that idiot Harry Potter
She cried a lot
Thanks to that red rat or that ferret boy
I think his name is Damian? When I see him I'll claw his eyes out
I don't do well with tears, so instead I demand that she gives me food, she'll giggle tearfully while she feeds me, I'll show my appreciation by rubbing myself in her legs before eating
It normally calms her down
Hermione will read to me
I don't care what anyone says or thinks about her, she is brilliant and I love listening to her read, her belly rubs are a plus
Hermione is my familiar, her hair matches my fur and she actually treats me like a prince I am
She knows her role
I was the king of Hogwarts, all those other beings were beneath Hermione and I
Killing rats
That was fun
Although none of them turned out to be adult men
Shame
Getting Hermione's sausages
Beat that Weasley
And getting her love
Still being the favourite
(Chosen one who?)
The years were fine
Until she got hurt in her fifth year
She was in bed for most of the summer, I sat protectively at the foot of her bed, making sure that the old hag wouldn't try to poison my Hermione
Even though she kept trying to kick me out
Like hell I'll leave you with Hermione alone, muttering old hag...
How else was I going to get belly rubs?
Harry did it too lightly
Ginny's voice went up an octave
Seriously...I'm not a dog
Ron...
We don't talk about Ron
Luna is weird
And Neville always talked about plants
Maybe I'll pay a visit to his greenhouse...
Hermione gives the perfect belly rubs
But I did notice something strange while I sat guard
That boy with too blond hair
Damn it what is his name? Daniel? No...
Would come to visit my Hermione when she was asleep, he would sneak through the shadows and settle beside her, at first I kept a sharp eye on him
After all, he was the reason why she would cry
When he reached out for her the first time, I scratched him
(I wished I had gouged out his eyes, oh well, beggars can't be choosers)
At first, he would ignore me, good, that way I could keep alert
Then he bought me a piece of bacon
I guess he's an alright bloke
Still too blond though
He came every night
He would cry too
What is it with humans and crying? Suck it up
Seriously
As I said, I was not good with tears
So instead I showed my belly
"Want me to pet you now?" He asked me
Not with that attitude
He brought his hand to my stomach and began rubbing it
Huh...
He also gave perfect rubs
One day he left early in the mornings before Hermione woke up
Then I never saw him again
——————
It took a while but Hermione was feeling better, finally, she would be able to feed me again
Seriously Harry...you're the boy who lived, at least learn how to feed me properly, or else I'll have to finish what Voldemort couldn't
And Ron...
Please tell me you're not that grand of an idiot, it's cat food, not pig food
And why must we live in Grimmauld's Place?
It smells and that old deaf hag surely loves to hear herself, unfortunately, she makes me suffer from her screaming
I need to sleep you dead hag
The rest of summer passed, Ronald started pining after Hermione
Poor
Poor
Ronald
She doesn't like you
And even if she did
I don't like you
And if I don't like you...well then you're screwed
Sixth year was a bit of a blur if I'm being honest
I walked through the halls of the castle, trying to find another man-rat, this time I was going to kill them and offer them as a tribute to Hermione
And then I heard crying
I was going to go the other way when I recognized the sobs
That blond bloke...
Denny!
No...
I slowly crept to him and saw him crying in an alcove, he was trying
(And failing)
To stay silent
I felt something emitting from him, I slowly went up to him and laid in front of him, belly side up
"What are you doing here?" He asked softly
Seriously? Please tell me you're not as stupid as Ronald Bilius Weasley
He picked me up and began scratching behind my ears
Damn he gives good rubs
He cried into my fur, but I knew he needed it
So I let him
Once he sobered up, he loosened his grip on me and I sat on his lap
"You can't tell anyone" he croaked
He pulled up his sleeve and a mark was on his forearm
I hissed at the dark magic
Something I remember from long ago but I can't really recall where I have felt this
"I know...I hate it too" he mumbled as he fixed his sleeve "at least I'll be dead before the school year ends" he confessed
I tilted his head in confusion
But Hermione...
"Take care of Granger alright? That witch is a magnet for danger" he whispered
He set me down and walked away
I made my way to Hermione
She needed a hug
——————
One day I was cuddling with Hermione and the next I was being shipped off with Jean and Richard
Although now apparently they go by Monica and Wendell
And where's Hermione?
I cry out for her every night, why would she leave me?
Didn't she love me anymore?
It wasn't because of Weasley, was it?
I cried every night
And apparently, that bothered Je—Monica, Wendell took me to the vet and they said I was heartbroken
I miss my Hermione
"I can't do it anymore Wendell! That cat is crying all the time!" Monica snaps
"He's—"
"Heartbroken I know! But he...he won't stop!" She yelled
"What do you suggest we do?!"
"Get rid of him! I'm done! I'm done!"
"Mon—"
"I'm serious Wendell! I can't with him anymore!"
I watched as the woman who once used to spoil me storm away, I took a step towards her but she slammed the door
"I'm sorry bud" Wendell whispered
He also left
I couldn't believe it
I had a full family a year ago and now...
Now I have no one
I saw the back door open and left the house
I wanted to find my Hermione
I wanted to find my home
——————
A year passed, I have barely survived but I finally made it back to London
I was dirty and I was cold and I was hungry
But I could feel her
I could finally feel her
I walked down the wet pavement, the rain was pouring down and soaking my once soft fur
My stomach growled again but there was no food around
"What are you doing here?"
I look up and saw him
David?
I meow and slowly made my way to him, he knelt down and reached for me
"Why aren't you with Granger?" He whispered
I meow sadly and he gives me a soft smile
"Let's get you home yeah?"
He picked me up and took me somewhere, he entered a flat and the warmth warmed my cold bones
"Let's get you cleaned up"
He took me to the bathroom
Normally I would not allow anyone to shower me, only Hermione, but the warmth of the water called to me and I let him dip me in the water
"I found you in time Crooks, I'm leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow, I'll give you to Granger tomorrow" he assured me
He cleaned me up, he was quiet
And he was sad
I nudge his hand with my head as he dries me off
"Get some sleep," he said as he settled me on the bed
I make my spot comfortable before curling in a ball and purring with relief
One more day and I would see Hermione
I feel the bed shift and I see him settle by the corner, he left the light on as he pulls the covers over his face
I watch him as he falls asleep, he starts shaking and as the night goes on the shaking only gets worse
And then he starts crying and whimpering
I remember Hermione used to cry when she slept, I slowly crept to him when his whimpers got louder
I curl beside him and purr
That always helped Hermione calm down
And it seems to do the trick
He starts breathing heavier as his body relaxed
I watch over him, I make sure he doesn't have any nightmares, I make sure he doesn't cry out in pain as Hermione used too
I stay awake all night even though I'm exhausted
The next day I felt Draco moving around and he picked me up
"Let's get you to Granger" he whispered
We left the flat and made our way to the train station, I have missed the train station
That's when I felt her
I began meowing loudly as I started looking for her
"There she is, damn she's getting on the train..." Draco muttered
We both got on the train and he walked to the carriage where my Hermione was
"Granger?"
I meowed loudly which caused her to widen her eyes
"Crooks?" She whispered softly
"I—er—I found him...wandering...I er...I brought him...here" Draco said and thrust me into her arms "there," he said and turned to leave
That was until I meowed and pawed at him
The idiot can't leave now
"Malfoy?" Hermione asked him "I think...he wants to stay" Hermione giggled
I looked at him and meowed again
How many times do I have to help him?
I saw...
Donald?
I should really learn his name
"I wouldn't want to intrude" he mumbled
I felt Hermione shrug as she sat down and I felt her kiss me
I nuzzle into her
I was home
What's-his-name settled beside her and he extended his hand towards me, I purred when he rubbed my ears
This was good
I was finally being treated like the prince I am
—————
I laid with Hermione while she read to me
It has been five years since Hermione graduated from Hogwarts and some things have happened
First of all, she put Weasley in his spot
Poor bloke cried for days
Then a surprising thing happened
(All thanks to me)
Hermione got married
To...
I should really remember his name...
Dra—Dom...
Draco!
Finally
Anyways they got married and now my Hermione was expecting a rodent of her own
I felt the thing in her belly kick me for the millionth time, I sigh defeatedly as I lick her belly again
"Crooks that tickles" Hermione giggled as she scratched me
Well it hurts me but you don't see me complaining
The front door opened and Hermione's husband walked in
He leaned over the couch and pecked Hermione on the cheek
"How's our little rugrat?" Draco asked as he rubbed Hermione's belly
Making me shuffle and lose my spot, I complain but apparently, that's funny to them since they chuckled at me
I'll teach my rugrat to go only go in the litter box
Let's see if you like that
Hermione giggled
"Draco" she whined "don't call him that"
He chuckled
"Hi Crooks" he said
I meowed and nudged his hand away from her belly before settling my head over her swollen belly
It was my rugrat
—————
Hermione was crying
Why was she crying?
I try to open my eyes but...but I can't see her
I call out to her and feel her put her hand on me
"Shh...it's okay Crooks" she whispered
"Daddy, what's wrong with Crooksy?"
I turn to that voice
My rugrat
I call out for him, I feel a smaller hand being placed on my belly
"Crookshanks is...sick...Scorp, he's tired" Draco told him
I feel something wet land on my nose and I turn to Hermione
I nudge her face and lick away her tears
"You can go now Crooks, you can rest" she cried softly
I don't want to leave her, she's too sad, I protest weakly and try once again to see her
"Is Crooksy going to get better?" My rugrat asked
"Crooks is...in pain Scorp...he's too tired" my Hermione told my rugrat
"He's going to sleep now" my Draco whispered tearfully
"Is he going to wake up?" My rugrat asked
"No Scorp...he's going to sleep like grandma Cissy" my Hermione cried softly
"Oh" my rugrat whispered sadly
No, I don't want them to be sad...
"I'll inject the drug now, would you like to say something?" Another voice said
I heard my Hermione crying
I don't want her to cry, I call out to her and she puts her head against my forehead
"'Y-You l-lived your n-nine lives h-h-here w-with me...m-my l-loyal...l-l-loving f—" she sobbed softly
"'F-F-Friend.,..." she inhaled shakily "t-then Merlin t-t-took you t-to P-Paradise to..." she stopped and another sob broke out, she kissed my head before taking another breath
"'To l-live life n-number ten.,...I'll b-bet y-you're p-p-p-peacefully lying u-upon an angels l-lap. P-Purring w-without a c-c-c-care—"
She broke down and struggled to catch her breath, I licked her hand and tried to assure her that I'll be okay
"'—Having a heavenly nap" my Draco began
I always liked him, he was good for my Hermione
My Hermione deserves the best
"'I'll miss you for a little while.,..." he inhaled shakily "'...but our f-friendship will not end.—"
"—Time will pass...a-and then a-at last y-you'll be on m-my lap again" my Hermione finished at last
I nuzzle into her neck and purr for the longest time I have, I needed her to know that I am forever thankful that she chose me to be her familiar
"The drug is in..."
Huh...
My body doesn't hurt anymore...
I'm getting really sleepy now...
I love you my Hermione...
Thank you for choosing to be my family...
Thank you for giving me such a wonderful life
"He's gone"