Several ferrets dart around in a wire cage, and Plimpy in a glass jar change color (red, blue, purple, etc.) depending on their mood.
But Hermione's attention was quickly drawn to the fat orange cat. As soon as she approached the cage, she frowned slightly, and heard the cat's aggrieved and angry barks clearly in her ear:
"These idiots just make noise, nobody understands me, they all think I'm ugly and want to leave me here..."
Hermione crouched down, gently placing her fingers on the iron cage, and softly replied in animal language, "I understand. You're not stupid; you're just different from them."
Crookshanks suddenly raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his wary eyes, and rubbed his fingers against the iron cage:
"Do you really understand? They all say I'm a weird cat, that I'm too big and too fierce."
"They don't understand you," Hermione said gently, reaching out to touch the cage bars before turning to the shopkeeper. "How much is this cat?"
The shopkeeper glanced at Crookshanks and waved his hand, saying:
"This ginger cat is unwanted. It has a weird temper and always bullies the other animals in the shop. If you want it, just give it a little money."
Hannah leaned closer to Crookshanks and whispered, "It looks so fierce, Hermione, do you want to buy it?"
Luna squatted down beside it. "Its eyes hold wisdom; it's no ordinary cat."
Hermione nodded gently. She had already chatted with the fat orange cat for a bit and learned that it had been abandoned by its previous owner because of its unusual appearance and had always been ostracized in the shop.
She paid, the shopkeeper opened the cage, and the fat orange cat immediately jumped out and nestled obediently in Hermione's arms.
He then nuzzled his head against her neck, his voice filled with dependence. "From now on, you're my master."
Hermione smiled and ruffled its fur, saying in a language only it could understand, "I'll take good care of you from now on, Crookshanks."
She casually named the cat Crookshank, Crookshanks seemed to like it, purring contentedly and gently wrapping its tail around her wrist.
Hermione then put Crookshanks back in its cage.
Hermione carried Crookshanks out of the Magical Menagerie in the pet cage containing him. Crookshanks was nestled obediently inside, only his ginger-yellow head peeking out.
As soon as I stepped outside, I saw Draco and Neville walking towards me, each carrying an ice cream cone—five in total, each with a different flavor, and a little cream still clinging to the rim.
Draco's gaze immediately fell on the pet cage beside Hermione: "Honey, you bought Crookshanks?"
The moment those words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent.
Hermione was taken aback at first, not even bothering to refute the term "wife," her mind filled with astonishment: How did he know the name she had just given the cat?
Hannah's eyes widened, and she instinctively looked at Luna, her face filled with shock.
"Could it be that you two are truly on the same wavelength?" Luna asked the question everyone wanted to know.
"What else?" Draco boasted.
"Who said he was telepathic! It was just a coincidence that he overheard me!" Hermione's cheeks flushed bright red.
"Stop making excuses, Hermione, they weren't even here just now," Hannah chimed in.
"Yes, I can testify. We were in the ice cream shop the whole time, we didn't leave. Draco shouldn't have been eavesdropping," Neville said, a bit of chocolate cream still on his lips.
Luna licked her ice cream and explained, "Telepathy is possible, just like how only those who have witnessed death can see Thestral."
People who care about each other can easily sense each other's voices and feelings, even from a distance; it's not just eavesdropping.
Hermione puffed out her cheeks slightly and stubbornly insisted, "It's not!"
"Don't be angry, honey. There's nothing you can't accept about being on the same wavelength. It's wonderful."
Draco handed her a sea salt caramel ice cream. "Eat it quickly, it won't taste good if it melts. I'll carry the cage, don't tire yourself out."
She then prepared to take the cage from his hand.
Hermione blushed again, and could only awkwardly hum, taking the ice cream and eating it in small bites, without refusing his help to carry the cage.
Hannah leaned against Neville, Neville grinned sheepishly and, as if struck by a sudden inspiration, offered his ice cream to Hannah, gesturing for her to try it.
The group chatted and laughed as they walked along the streets of Hogsmeade. Just as they were finishing their ice cream, they ran into Luna's father.
As soon as Mr. Lovegood saw Luna, his previously casual eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over, bent down, and carefully examined his daughter.
I glanced at the newly bought book in her hand, her gentle expression, and my anxiety finally subsided.
He affectionately ruffled Luna's fluffy, light blonde curls. "Looks like my little Luna had a lot of fun today."
He glanced at Crookshanks in Hermione's arms, the textbooks and candy bags in everyone's hands, and a naive and gentle smile appeared on his face, full of trust and affection for the children.
Seeing that the time was right, he naturally concluded, "Alright, that's all for today. Everyone, go back and pack your things, get ready for school."
"We're going to part ways so soon... See you at Hogwarts when school starts! Today was so much fun."
Hannah glanced at Neville beside her, her cheeks flushing slightly, her voice filled with a hint of anticipation.
"Okay, okay! See you when school starts! I'll choose my courses carefully when I get back, and next time... I'll definitely help you choose the right ones!"
Fortunately, Neville remembered this.
At this moment, Luna leaned back against her father and smiled at everyone, saying, "It was a very pleasant day. Crookshanks will like Hermione."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Lovegood straightened up, gave a graceful bow to the group, and his odd carrot hat swayed slightly.
"Thank you all so much for spending time with Luna today. You are all kind and reliable children. Goodbye Hogwarts —be careful on your journey!"
After parting ways with the other two couples, Hermione took Draco's hand and prepared to Apparition back.
But Draco continued to take her for a stroll.
Hermione was led a few steps by him before belatedly asking, "Didn't you say you were going back to pack your things?"
"Of course not." Draco didn't stop walking.
"Then what else do we need to do?" Hermione asked, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Draco suddenly stopped, turned sideways, and gently brushed aside the bangs that were falling against her cheek, saying, "Of course I have to take my wife to get her hair done."
Hermione's face instantly turned bright red. "Didn't you say you liked me like this?"
Draco looked at her flushed face and laughed:
"Yes, I like her, but my girl deserves better. It's been two years, Miss Granger's features have matured, she should get a new hairstyle and stun everyone when school starts."
Hermione's heart raced at his words, and she muttered softly, "Well... okay then, but it can't be too exaggerated."
As she spoke, her fingers unconsciously wrapped around his, obediently following him forward.