Although Hermione wanted nothing more than to get away from Su Er and sit in another compartment with Susan, whom she got along with quite well, the moment she saw that jerk's "pitiful" gaze...
Why did I go soft on him again?!
Grow a backbone! The more Hermione thought about it, the angrier she became, and she slapped her own thigh.
"Meow~"
Hermione's little ears pricked up. She looked at Su Er, sitting across the table, and tried again and again to hold back...
"Hey!" In the end, she couldn't help speaking. "Did you hear a cat meowing?"
"A cat?" Su Er tilted his head. "No."
As though to confirm Su Er's words, another "Meow..." rang out.
"Ding... radar activated..."
Hermione stood up with a serious expression and scanned the small compartment. The cat meowed at just the right moments, helping her pinpoint its location.
Soon, her gaze locked onto Su Er's-chest. More precisely, the inside pocket of his wizard robes at chest level.
Stare... "Meow..."
Keep staring... "Meow..."
"All right..." Su Er sighed. "There really is a cat meowing."
Hermione said nothing and kept staring...
"I was going to keep him secretly for a few days, then give him to you at Christmas..." Su Er muttered. He hadn't expected to be found out so quickly. If he'd known, he would have put something to help the cat sleep in his food before boarding the train.
Under Hermione's gaze, Su Er could only take out the little cloth bag tucked against his chest, open it, and reach inside to rummage around.
He pulled out a cage.
Inside was a ginger cat.
"Here. Your Christmas present." Su Er gently set the cage on the table and pushed it toward Hermione.
The surprise was so wonderful that Hermione was caught completely off guard. Warmth flooded her heart, and she eagerly opened the cage, scooped the cat into her arms, and kissed and cuddled him...
Only after quite a while did she lift her little face from the cat, looking utterly content. "How did you know I was planning to go to Diagon Alley at Christmas and buy him?"
"I didn't." Su Er's eyes curved with his smile. "But I knew you really liked him."
"Oh, thank you." Hermione awkwardly lowered her eyes.
"I really wasn't trying to tease you that day," Su Er said.
"I forgot about that ages ago." Her face slightly flushed, Hermione stroked the cat over and over. "Do I look like someone who holds grudges?"
Su Er inwardly rolled his eyes. You hold grudges more than anyone, all right?
"I'm going to give him a name..." Hermione said. "Any suggestions?"
"He's yours now. You can name him yourself," Su Er said with a smile.
Hermione lowered her head and thought for a moment.
"I've got it..." Her eyes lit up, and she lifted the cat to eye level. "I'll call you-Crookshanks."
"Hello there... Crookshanks..."
"Meow~"
Su Er froze for a moment. Watching Hermione gaze into Crookshanks's eyes, he drifted into thought.
Oh, even though it happened so much earlier, this cat still ended up with the same name, as though it were fate.
Like the scenery beyond the train windows, time slipped quietly away amid the rhythmic clatter of the wheels.
"Dad!" Holding the cat, Hermione ran happily toward Mr. Granger outside the station. In the end, she was still an eleven-year-old child, and her longing for her family had only grown stronger with time.
With Hermione carrying the cat, Su Er was left to struggle along with both suitcases.
On the other side of the wall, he could use the Floating Charm to make the suitcases follow him. Once outside, however, he had to haul two suitcases weighing at least ten kilograms each with his own small frame.
Why couldn't the house-elves just take the suitcases straight home for us...? Hermione must have packed loads of books again.
She never let a spare moment go to waste!
Dragging and tugging, Su Er finally managed to get the suitcases to Mr. Granger's car.
"Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Granger."
"Welcome back, Su Er." Mr. Granger gave him a hug, then took the suitcases and put them in the boot.
"Suli and Angel are already waiting for you at home. Shall we go?"
"Home, home!" Hermione quickly climbed into the back seat with the cat and urged them on cheerfully.
Su Er clicked his seat belt into place and looked at Mr. Granger, who was starting the car.
"Are Angel and my mum doing well?"
"Everything's fine at home. Your mum comes over every day to chat and have tea with my wife," Mr. Granger replied with a smile.
The car pulled away from King's Cross Station. Laughter, conversation, and the occasional meow kept the journey lively. Mr. Granger had a good sense of humour, and plenty of amusing things happened at his dental practice every day.
When the car turned into Lily Street and the familiar houses came into view, Su Er fell silent instead.
With a squeak of the brakes, the car stopped.
"We're home, young man." Mr. Granger gently ruffled Su Er's hair.
Su Er stared blankly at the two figures, one tall and one small, standing outside his front door, his mother holding a little girl's hand. Angel had grown quite a bit since he'd left home.
Su Er mechanically unfastened his seat belt, opened the door, and got out.
"Bwig brother!" Angel's cry drew closer and closer. The familiar scent, the familiar impact-a little cannonball crashed straight into his arms.
"Bwig... bwig brother..." Angel buried her head against his chest. "I... I missed you so much... Waaah..."
Angel's childish sobs melted Su Er's heart. "Don't cry. Your big brother's back now, isn't he?"
Su Er eased Angel away from his chest and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. The two of them pressed their foreheads together. "I missed you too, my little angel."
"I brought you presents. But if you cry until your face is all blotchy, you won't get any."
Under Su Er's gentle reassurance, Angel soon stopped crying.
Holding her hand in one hand and pulling his suitcase with the other, Su Er walked up to the front door.
"Mum... I'm home." Su Er looked at Mrs. Ellison before him, her eyes curved in a smile, fine wrinkles forming at their corners.
"Welcome home, son." Mrs. Ellison pulled Su Er into her arms and rubbed his slightly curly hair as she spoke with a smile.
Mr. Granger watched the scene with a broad smile, then turned to glance at his daughter, who was so moved she was on the verge of tears.
"Welcome home, Hermione." Smiling, Mr. Granger drew Hermione into his arms, gave her a tight squeeze, and let go. His little girl was growing up; he couldn't be too demonstrative anymore.
Neither family noticed the woman standing at a second-floor window in a house across the street, silently watching the scene.
"He has a lovely family, brother," the woman murmured to herself.
Before you continue