Hogwarts : Grind is My Wizard Path Chapter 495 493: Crookshanks

It was all because of one young wizard's birthday.

A few of the others had co back to London way too early.

So the usual last-minute school-supply run got bumped up on the calendar.

With Hogwarts starting soon, Diagon Alley was already filling up with students in that third-to-last week of sumr.

Inside Quality Quidditch Supplies, Sean spotted two Gryffindors—Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas—pressed up against the glass, drooling over what looked like the brand-new broom of the season.

Outside Flourish and Blotts, Neville was waiting, stamring that he'd shown up too soon.

Sean smiled. "Maybe it's perfect timing. We can grab so raspberry ice cream while we wait."

Turns out Neville wasn't the only early bird. Outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, Ron's freckles stood out like always, and Hermione was tanned deep brown from France. Both of them waved like they were trying to flag down a plane.

"Morning, Sean! Neville!" Ron grinned, dropping into a chair like he owned the place. "Where's Harry? Co on, Sean—he's staying right here in Diagon Alley, right?"

Before anyone could answer, Harry's excited voice rang out from down the street.

"You guys are all here!"

He jogged over, and a second later Justin appeared from between two shops, waving.

Harry slid into the seat across from Hermione, who imdiately fixed him with a serious look.

"Harry… you really blew up your aunt?"

The whole table leaned in.

"It wasn't ," Harry said quietly.

In front of Minister Fudge he'd kept his mouth shut—better they bla him than Sean, since Sean had only been trying to help. But with his friends he wasn't going to lie.

"What kind of spell was that?" Ron asked, eyes wide. "Can I learn it?"

"Ron, this isn't funny!" Hermione snapped. She turned to Sean, frowning. "How on earth did the Ministry not haul you in right there?"

Harry muttered, "Sean used his grandfather's wand. That's why they thought it was ."

He stared at the table for a second. *If I hadn't been standing there… would they have even caught anyone?* The thought made him feel strangely useless.

"Grandfather?" Hermione blinked. Justin looked just as lost. Everyone knew Sean didn't have any living family.

Ron shrugged. "Well, I heard they didn't punish you two at all. Guess that's the perk of being the Boy Who Lived and… well, you know." He jerked his chin at Sean. "If I'd inflated one of my aunts, Mum would've buried in the garden before the Ministry even showed up. Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself tonight—we're staying at the Leaky Cauldron too! Dad said we could hang around Diagon Alley for a few days even though we ca back from Egypt early."

"Brilliant!" Harry lit up. "So… new books first, or new supplies?"

Everyone automatically looked at Sean.

He was still half-lost in thought, ntally tweaking the stabilization ritual for the Blinding Light Curse. He blinked and set his notebook aside. "How about a pet first?"

Hermione's eyes sparkled. "I'd love an owl. Harry's got Hedwig, Ron's got—wait, you do have an owl, right?"

"Nope," Ron said, pulling a very thin, scruffy rat from his pocket. "Errol's the family owl. I've just got Scabbers. He's been acting weird since Egypt—like he caught sothing. I want to get him checked out."

Scabbers looked even skinnier than usual, whiskers drooping like wilted grass.

Justin glanced at Sean, who gave a small nod.

"Let's go," Ron said, already on his feet. "I think the Magical nagerie is right down—"

"That way," Harry finished with a grin. He'd learned the whole alley in just a few days. "You can get Scabbers looked at, and Hermione can find her owl."

They paid for the ice creams and crossed the street.

The Magical nagerie was tiny, every inch of wall covered in cages. The sll hit them first—sharp, animal, and a little sour. The noise was nonstop: squeaks, chirps, hisses, and the occasional angry croak.

Behind the counter, the witch was explaining two-tailed newt care to another custor, so the group waited, peering into the cages.

Two enormous purple toads were devouring dead flies, drool everywhere. A massive tortoise by the window had a shell that sparkled like cut gems. Poisonous orange snails left shiny trails up the glass. On the counter, a big cage held sleek black rats using their long bald tails like springs, bouncing in so complicated ga.

When the newt custor left, Ron stepped up.

"My rat," he said, holding Scabbers out. "He's been off-color since Egypt."

"Put him on the counter," the witch said, pulling on a pair of thick black spectacles.

Ron set Scabbers down beside the big cage. Every sleek rat inside stopped playing and pressed against the bars, staring.

Scabbers looked exactly like the second-hand rat he was—originally Percy's, missing a toe on one front paw and half an ear. Next to the glossy black rats he looked pathetic.

"Hmm," the witch murmured, turning him over. "How old is he?"

"Dunno," Ron admitted. "Really old. Used to be my brother's."

"Any special tricks?"

Ron scratched his neck. "Not really…"

The witch clucked her tongue at the missing toe and torn ear. "Poor thing's been through it. Ordinary rats only live three years or so. If you want sothing that'll last longer, you might like one of these—"

She pointed at the black rats. They imdiately went back to their jumping ga. Ron muttered, "Show-offs."

"Or you could try this rat tonic," the witch said, pulling a small red bottle from under the counter.

"Sure, how much—"

A huge ginger streak shot down from the top cage and landed square on Ron's head with a thud.

The cat arched its back, hissing and spitting straight at Scabbers.

"NO!" the witch yelled.

But Scabbers was already airborne, shooting out of her hands like a greased bar of soap. He hit the floor, scrambled upright, and bolted for the door.

"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, tearing after him. Harry followed right behind.

Hermione didn't move. She was staring up at the ginger cat, who now sat on the highest cage, tail flicking, looking extrely pleased with itself.

"I like this one," she said softly to Sean and Justin.