Pet Crookshanks

"Let's be friends. I'm Hermione Granger!"

Hermione took the initiative to extend her right hand to Jerry. She felt that this little boy was different from the other classmates she had met before; they seemed to get along well.

"Jerry Carmen!"

Jerry was taken aback when he heard Hermione introduce herself, then smiled and shook her hand.

"Jerry, I'm going to buy my textbooks. See you when school starts!"

Hermione returned to her parents, waved to Jerry, and left Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

"See you at school!"

Once Hermione and her family had completely left, a puzzled expression immediately appeared on Jerry's face.

Was Hermione supposed to have big front teeth and thick, bushy brown curls?

That seemed rather different from how she looked in the movies he had watched. He remembered that movie Hermione did not have big front teeth, and she was very pretty.

Then again, if the girl he had just met tidied up her hair and got her front teeth corrected, she would probably be very pretty too.

After all, she had big eyes and well-proportioned features. She simply did not know how to dress herself, and her big front teeth had hurt her appearance somewhat.

"It's ready, dear."

Ten minutes later, the short, plump Madam Malkin came over to Jerry carrying a bag containing Hogwarts uniforms.

"Alright, thank you!"

Jerry paid the bill, placed the clothes in his trunk, pulled his little cart, and pushed open the door to leave Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

"Professor McGonagall!"

The moment he stepped outside, Jerry saw McGonagall walking toward him with a bag of magic books in hand, and quickly waved.

"Alright, now we only need a pet and a wand. Ollivander's Wand Shop is at the end of Diagon Alley, so let's go to the Magical Menagerie first!"

After putting the magic books into the trunk, McGonagall pulled Jerry and his little cart onward along Diagon Alley.

When they passed Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, she even bought Jerry a Hundred-Flavor Ice Cream, an ice cream that could offer a hundred different flavors.

"That is Gringotts Bank, a wizard bank run by goblins. If you need to store valuable items in the future, you can come here. It's very safe—well, probably!"

Seeing Jerry staring at the tall white building on the right, McGonagall patiently explained.

But halfway through, she suddenly remembered yesterday's Gringotts robbery, and her tone became less certain.

Jerry nodded to show that he understood.

Actually, he had not been looking at the bank. He had merely been looking at the two goblins standing guard at its entrance and marveling at just how ugly goblins in this world were.

"By the way, Mr. Carmen, I must give you a serious warning. If you ever come to Diagon Alley alone, remember not to go into that alley!"

McGonagall suddenly pointed sternly at a narrow, gloomy alley across from Gringotts.

"That is?"

Jerry's heart stirred. He already had a guess.

McGonagall replied with a straight face:

"That is Knockturn Alley. You only need to know that it is a very dangerous place for you!"

"Alright, I'll remember that!"

Jerry nodded earnestly.

In his view, McGonagall was probably the sort of person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Though she looked stern most of the time, her concern for little wizards was no less than that of any other professor at Hogwarts.

Seeing how sensible Jerry was, McGonagall's expression softened slightly, and she led him onward toward the Magical Menagerie.

The Magical Menagerie was located between Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and Gringotts. The storefront was small, but it had plenty of pets inside.

The moment Jerry stepped into the shop, he saw a whole wall covered in densely packed iron cages.

Inside were purple giant toads greedily devouring dead flies, enormous turtles whose shells glittered like gemstones, white rabbits that could transform into silk top hats at any moment, as well as cats, rats, ravens, and more in all sorts of colors.

"Professor McGonagall, you're here. What can I do for you?"

A Young Witch wearing thick black glasses saw McGonagall at the door and immediately came forward respectfully.

"Pavla, I brought a first-year student to buy a pet for school."

A faint smile appeared on McGonagall's face.

"How has work been going?"

"Very well. The boss treats me nicely. What kind of pet does the little one like? I can give you a twenty percent discount!"

The Young Witch adjusted her glasses, lowered her head, and smiled at Jerry.

"Ma'am, I'd like a cat!"

Jerry swept his gaze across the entire shop and quickly found his target.

"How about this gray shorthair? It's very gentle and makes an excellent pet!"

The Young Witch immediately picked out the best-looking British Shorthair and placed it before Jerry.

Jerry took one look and shook his head, then pointed to the Big-faced Yellow Cat lying atop the highest cage near the ceiling.

"I like that kind of cat!"

He remembered that Hermione's cat seemed to be a yellow long-haired cat, and among all the animals in the shop, the one he was pointing at was the only match.

"Crookshanks?"

A surprised expression appeared on the Young Witch's face.

Because of his appearance, Crookshanks had stayed in the shop for several years without anyone wanting him. She had not expected Jerry to take a liking to him at first glance.

"Yes. I think he's ugly-cute—really adorable!"

Jerry replied with a straight face.

"That's wonderful. I've always worried that he would never find a good owner. I hope you'll take good care of him in the future!"

Pavla had once been a Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts. Because she loved magical creatures, she had become a clerk at the Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley after graduation.

She was happy that Jerry had bought Crookshanks not because she had made another sale, but because Crookshanks had found an owner who liked him.

"I'll do my best to take good care of him, though this is my first time keeping a pet."

There was a trace of sincerity in Jerry's voice.

After leaving the Magical Menagerie, Jerry carried Crookshanks, who was purring in his arms, and followed McGonagall to the last shop at the end of Diagon Alley.

It was Ollivander's Wand Shop, which had specialized in wandmaking for thousands of years.

The wand-selection process was just like in the movies. The owner measured him all over with a tape measure, then had him try wands.

Nothing unusual happened during the process. He was just like any ordinary little wizard, since what he had exchanged for was a normal Wizard Bloodline.

After trying two or three wands, Jerry quickly found one that felt right in his hand.

"Alder, Dragon Heartstring, Eleven Inches. It seems you must be a helpful little wizard!"

Watching Jerry wave the wand in his hand, Ollivander explained with a smile:

"Alder is a wood that does not bend easily, but I have found that its ideal owner is neither stubborn nor obstinate. Instead, it favors wizards who are helpful, considerate, and well-liked."

"Helpful?"

Hearing Ollivander's explanation, Jerry looked at the wand in his hand with a slightly strange expression.