Chapter 50: Magical Pets

Chris and Ginny had barely stepped on the stairs when they heard Ron's voice. 

"OY!" Ron roared, seizing his bag, as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deeply into it, and began tearing ferociously. 

"GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!" Ron tried to pull the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing. 

"Ron, don't hurt him!" squealed Hermione. 

The whole common room was watching; Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it, and Scabbers came flying out of the top. . .

"CATCH THAT CAT!" Ron yelled, as Crookshanks freed himself from the remnants of the bag, sprang over the table and chased after the terrified Scabbers. George Weasley made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed; Scabbers streaked through twenty pairs of legs and shot beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks skidded to a halt, crouched low on his bandy legs and started making furious swipes beneath the chest of drawers with his front paw. 

Chris hurriedly went there, "Crookshanks! No. It's a bad thing. Don't do it. Crookshanks stop. Hermione will be upset if you do this."

Crookshanks stopped and looked at Chris. Hermione and Ron came, Hermione grabbed Crookshanks around the middle and heaved him away; Ron threw himself onto his stomach and, with great difficulty, pulled Scabbers out by the tail. 

"Look at him!" he said furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. "He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!" 

"Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!" said Hermione, her voice shaking. "All cats chase rats, Ron!" 

"There's something funny about that animal!" said Ron, who was trying to persuade a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. "It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!" 

"Oh, what rubbish," said Hermione impatiently. "Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think —" 

"Hermione, I think Ron is right. He can understand humans language." Chris said and Hermione looked at her in disbelief. The people around them, who were giggling, looked at her as well. 

"What do you mean by that Chris? What are you talking about?" Hermione asked angrily. 

"— umm — I mean what I said, Hermione. He really heard Ron that Scabbers was in his bag, then he stopped when I told him that you'll be upset if he chases Scabbers." Chris answered. 

"See, even Chris understood something is wrong with that beast," Ron said fuming. 

"You two don't know what you're talking about," Hermione said stubbornly. 

"You believe it or not Hermione, that cat's got it in for Scabbers!" said Ron and marched through the common room and out of sight up the stairs to the boys' dormitories. 

Hermione also marched towards her room angrily. 

Harry looked at Chris, "Are you sure about what you said Chris? I mean how can be —?" 

"We live in a magical world, Harry, and Hermione brought her cat from a magical market. Isn't that enough proof for you? Anything is possible here." Chris said with a matter-of-fact tone.

Next day was no better, at Lunch and Dinner, Chris realized, Ron and Hermione weren't talking to each other. Harry was particularly looking sad. 

Chris couldn't help but ask, "What's going on?" 

There was a pause then a quarrel broke out... 

"Ron thinks that Professor Trelawney's prophecies are right — just because Lavender's rabbit died." Hermione hissed. 

"So it's just a rabbit nothing else for you, isn't it, Hermione? Only that cat matters to you." Ron snapped. 

"I didn't say it's means nothing Ron. I just said she can't dread a baby rabbit's death without any reason. Professor Trelawney is not right." Hermione slammed her hand on the table. "We can't trust her and be stupid." 

"Just because you're right, that doesn't make everyone else wrong, Hermione," Chris said calmly. "Relax." 

But Hermione wasn't in the mood of listening, she turned to Chris, "Of all people I thought you're smart enough not to believe in stupid prophecies and omens, Chris! But fine. I get it." She stormed out of the Hall. 

Chris watched her leave. 

"I really didn't mean to upset her," Chris said surprised.

Luna put a hand on Chris's shoulder, "I always found her as a booked and stubborn girl. She just believes she is right. Don't worry Chris, she'll come around when she'll understand her mistake, which I don't know when." 

Chris looked at Luna. She knew, Luna always speaks her mind, no matter what people think about her, but she never said anything bad about Ron, Harry or Hermione. Chris understood she didn't because she considered them as Chris's friends. Chris understood long ago that Luna was really different from Hermione. For example, Hermione complained about every careless thing Ron and Harry did. . . But Luna, she never complained about anything. She just loves the way everyone was. Hermione wanted to go everything according to her calculation where Luna accepts the unknown dearly. Chris looked at Harry and Ron. Harry was looking more depressed and Ron was shoving a piece of pie into his mouth angrily. 

'Hermione is a great friend but I'm glad my best-freind is Luna.' She said in her mind and started eating. ______________________________

On Hallowe'en morning, Chris woke up excitedly, for the first time, she was going to enjoy Hallowe'en with her friends, without stress or anything. Last year, she had a fight with Ginny at this day and also she had to go to the deathday party of Nick and had to miss the Hallowe'en feast, not to mention the first attack of that Basilisk on a cat.

Chris got ready and went to the Great Hall with Colin and Ginny. Then Luna joined them. They talked, laughed and ate many delicious things. Then they decided to go back to the Gryffindor tower and do something. Luna was excited to see the Gryffindor tower for the first time. As it was just a password they decided to tell that to Luna, Luna wanted to show them the Ravenclaw common room as well but it needed to solve a riddle to pass it, Chris wasn't in the mood of solving riddles, so they thought Gryffindor tower was the better option. 

As they started to leave the Hall, Chris saw Jason walking towards the other direction. 

"Guys, you all go. I'll join you in a bit," She said and ran after Jason. 

After following him in a few corridors, Jason stopped and turned around. Chris didn't feel like hiding so she stood there like she was just passing and just noticed him. 

"Why are you following me?" He asked seriously. 

"Who? Me? No — I was just passing." Chris smiled. 

"Really? Then just pass on." He said and waited for her to leave. 

"Oh! Well, I wanted to talk to you." Chris said rolling her eyes. 

"I don't want to." Jason started to turn.

"Please, Jason. Wait." 

"What?" 

"How did you know — I was going to save Ginny at the chamber?" Chris asked.

"Because you're an idiot." 

"Hey!" 

"What? I said the truth — other than that why will a person who doesn't know anything about dark magic and dangerous creatures will go to save a girl like that?" Jason raised his eyebrows.

"Excuse me, first, that girl is my friend. Second, maybe I don't know everything but I'm not entirely hopeless, ok?" Chris said defensively.

"Great. Then do more stupid things for your 'friends'. No one is stopping you." 

"What's your problem? I'm trying to make a conversation here." Chris said getting annoyed. 

"And I don't want to," Jason said.

"Fine. Go. All I came here to say is thank you. Thank you for the dagger. It was a great help. I will give it back." 

"No need. Keep it. You're going to need it if you continue doing this kind of stupid things for your friends." He said and strode away. 

Chris angrily went towards the Gryffindor tower. As soon as she entered she almost collided with Harry. 

"Sorry. Didn't see you coming." Chris said. 

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"Oh. No, it's ok." Harry said, distracted.