Crookshanks—that was the name of the cat resting in Draco's arms.
The large ginger cat had a flat face, as if it had once run headfirst into a wall, and a thick, bushy tail that puffed out like a bottle brush. By ordinary standards, Crookshanks' appearance was far from charming—some might even call it odd. That probably explained why no one had ever bought him. Of course, it might also have been because he wasn't particularly fond of people.
Still, as Draco had sensed, this cat seemed to be choosing its owner rather than waiting to be bought—and today, it had found him.
When the girls beside Draco learned that Crookshanks had been living in the shop for quite some time, both of them couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him.
"Poor Crookshanks. No one's ever wanted to buy him."
"He looks clever, though, doesn't he?"
Crookshanks, clearly unwilling to leave Draco's arms, was being gently petted by Hermione and Astoria as they spoke to him in soft, sympathetic tones.
What disappointed them, however, was that Crookshanks seemed perfectly content where he was. Even when Draco set him down, the cat simply sat by Draco's feet, showing no interest in either Hermione or Astoria.
Naturally, Hermione—whose strange sense of rivalry toward Draco always seemed to flare up at moments like this—refused to give up so easily.
"Crookshanks, would you like to come with me?"
"Meow."
Though he responded, Crookshanks made no move toward her. Instead, he rubbed lazily against Draco's leg, leaving Hermione's outstretched hand hanging awkwardly in midair.
For some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just been ignored by a cat.
Her plan to buy Crookshanks suddenly felt a bit foolish, and her frustration only deepened when she caught sight of Draco's innocent, almost amused expression.
As Hermione silently stewed over her embarrassment, Astoria suddenly spoke up beside her.
"Maybe you should buy him, Draco. He seems to like you a lot."
Kneeling in front of the cat, Astoria met Crookshanks' bright amber eyes and softly offered her suggestion.
Almost as if he understood, Crookshanks flicked his tail and brushed it lightly against Astoria's cheek.
The gesture, so deliberate and catlike, left Astoria blinking in surprise before her expression melted into a quiet, amused smile.
Had she not already noticed Draco seemed inclined to buy Crookshanks himself, Astoria might have been tempted to compete with Hermione for the right to take him home.
Still, if it was Draco who bought him... that didn't sound so bad either.
What had started as a simple errand to find a gift for Astoria's first year at Hogwarts had taken quite an unexpected turn.
Watching Crookshanks pad gracefully beside him as Hermione followed with a faintly regretful expression, Draco couldn't help but shrug, feeling like he had somehow disrupted something without meaning to.
Though it hadn't been part of his original plan, there was something about those sharp, clever eyes, that agile leap at Scabbers, and the soft, pleased rumble in his chest that made Draco unable to resist the cat's charm. In the end, he decided to buy Crookshanks.
"The shopkeeper said Crookshanks has some Kneazle blood in him. That's why he can tell who's an enemy."
"A Kneazle?"
"It's a particularly intelligent Magical Creature—it looks like a cat."
As Draco answered Astoria's question, he didn't notice the hesitation flickering across Hermione's face.
Maybe she wasn't sure whether she should keep following them.
But that uncertainty didn't last long, as two familiar voices suddenly called out behind her.
"That cat nearly killed Scabbers!"
"Hermione, don't tell me you bought it?!"
It was Ron Weasley, looking alarmed, with Harry Potter standing beside him, unsure how to react to Draco's presence.
Meanwhile, Crookshanks—now branded as the murderous "rat killer"—fixed Ron with a sharp, unreadable stare. The look made Ron clutch his robes tighter around the terrified Scabbers, clearly afraid the cat might pounce again.
Even though she wasn't the owner, Hermione immediately stepped in to defend Crookshanks. She refused to believe her adorable cat could have done anything wrong.
"He didn't mean to. You didn't mean to, right, Crookshanks?"
"Meow~"
Draco's lips twitched slightly. He wasn't sure whether Crookshanks understood Hermione's words, but that lazy, drawling meow definitely didn't sound like an apology.
Besides, wasn't he the one who owned the cat?
Just as Ron Weasley was about to retort, a sudden commotion from the distance caught Draco's attention, and he turned sharply toward the sound...
...
As the crowd parted, several tall, stern-faced wizards stepped forward. Their identities were easy to recognize from the uniform robes they wore.
In fact, Draco and the others had already seen these same people earlier at the entrance to Diagon Alley.
"Aurors? Are they here for me? Or perhaps for the Savior standing beside me?"
Draco didn't move. He had already realized that their destination was indeed this spot—and more importantly, he recognized the person those Aurors were surrounding and protecting.
Under the puzzled gazes of Harry and the others, a wizard stepped out from the group. He was dressed in a suit and black cloak, topped with a dark green bowler hat.
Draco couldn't help but think the man's sense of style was dreadful—it made him look rather ridiculous. Still, he kept that opinion to himself.
"Harry! So this is where you've been... Hm? Isn't that Draco? And this young lady... Miss Greengrass?"
"Good day, Minister."
"Minister?!"
Hermione's eyes widened in shock at Draco's greeting, realizing why the man had looked so familiar.
Aside from the calm and composed Astoria, Harry Potter and the others—who had met this man a few times before—stood awkwardly, tension clear in their expressions as they glanced between the wizard and the Aurors behind him.
For standing before them was none other than the Minister for Magic of Great Britain—
Cornelius Fudge.
...