After Ron bolted out of the shop, Harry took off right behind him.
Neville had been standing at the very back, closest to the door, so he got shoved outside first—whether he liked it or not.
The three of them vanished into the Diagon Alley crowd in seconds.
"I'm so sorry…" the witch in the thick black glasses bowed frantically while scooping up the ginger cat. "It's really strange, though. He's been here forever—no one ever wanted him—but he's never acted like that before."
She muttered to herself, glancing after the boys, and the group caught a few words: "rat" and "lived way too long."
"What's his name?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"Oh, sweetie, he doesn't have one. Owners give them names, and he's never had an owner."
"Can I buy him?" Hermione said, beaming.
"That would be wonderful, dear!"
The witch's face lit up like Christmas morning.
"Cats are awesome," Justin said with a grin, sneaking a quick look at Sean.
"Totally," Hermione agreed, already counting out the Galleons.
By the time Harry, Ron, and Neville came back, they found Hermione hugging the big ginger cat like he was the best thing ever.
"You actually bought that monster?" Ron's mouth fell open.
"Isn't he gorgeous?" Hermione cooed.
Harry thought, Okay, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.
The cat's ginger fur was thick and fluffy, but his legs were a little bowlegged and his face was all squashed and grumpy—like he'd run face-first into a brick wall once and never got over it.
With Scabbers gone, the cat curled up in Hermione's arms and started purring like a tiny engine.
"Hermione, that thing nearly took my scalp off!" Ron protested.
"He didn't mean it, did you, Crookshanks?" Hermione said sweetly.
"You already named him? Merlin's beard, that was fast. But… what about Scabbers?"
Ron jabbed a finger at the lumpy pocket on his chest. "He needs rest! He needs quiet! How's he supposed to chill with that thing around?"
"That reminds me—you forgot your rat tonic." Hermione shoved the little red bottle into his hand. "Don't worry. Crookshanks sleeps in my dorm, Scabbers sleeps in yours. Problem solved. Poor Crookshanks—the witch said he's been here forever and nobody wanted him."
"Super weird," Ron muttered to Harry under his breath.
Once Hermione had her new pet, the whole group headed back to the Leaky Cauldron.
It was almost lunchtime, so they decided to grab a proper meal first before hitting the bookstores and supply shops.
Harry, Ron, and Neville walked up front, chatting away, while Sean, Hermione, and Justin trailed a few steps behind.
"Ron said that rat used to belong to his brother?" Justin asked casually.
"Yeah," Hermione answered.
"That's kinda weird. Ron mentioned Percy had him since he was little…"
Justin frowned. "Sean, how long do ordinary garden rats usually live?"
Sean's steps slowed. He glanced at Hermione and Justin.
Before he could answer, Hermione jumped in.
"The witch at the shop said it, right? Three years, tops."
She tilted her head, still holding Crookshanks' paw. The cat had spotted Sean and was practically trying to glue himself to him.
"Maybe he's not an ordinary garden rat. Like Crookshanks—he's got some Kneazle in him and can tell good wizards from bad ones."
She finished the thought, but couldn't keep the cat from leaping onto Sean's shoulder. Crookshanks draped himself across Sean like a very fluffy orange scarf, tail held high.
"You're right," Justin agreed. But when he looked at Sean again, his expression shifted just a little.
Sean's view was half-blocked by Crookshanks' upright tail. He was thinking the same thing: Hermione and Justin were only a couple of clues away from figuring out Scabbers' secret.
The Weasleys had shared a bed with Peter for twelve straight years and never noticed anything off?
Twelve years sleeping next to the guy and never realizing Scabbers was actually…
Leaky Cauldron.
The second they stepped inside, Sean spotted Mr. Weasley sitting at the bar, reading the Daily Prophet.
"Mr. Green," Mr. Weasley looked up and smiled. "How are you? And you, Harry? All of you lads doing well?"
"Very well, Mr. Weasley," Sean answered.
After quick hellos, the group settled in beside him with their shopping bags.
Mr. Weasley set the paper down. Sirius Black's moving photo glared straight at them from the front page.
"They still haven't caught him?" Harry asked, voice tight.
"Not yet," Mr. Weasley said, suddenly serious. "The Ministry pulled everyone off regular duty to hunt him down, but so far… nothing."
"If we catch him, is there a reward?" Ron asked hopefully. "We could really use the extra—"
"Ron, don't be ridiculous," Mr. Weasley cut in. Up close, he looked genuinely worried. "Black isn't the kind of wizard a thirteen-year-old could take down. Mark my words—the Dementors will be the ones dragging him back to Azkaban."
Just then Mrs. Weasley bustled in, arms loaded with shopping bags. Fred and George—starting their fifth year—trailed behind her, along with Percy (now Head Boy) and little Ginny, the only girl in the family.
Percy stepped forward like he was meeting royalty and shook everyone's hand with exaggerated formality.
"Harry, wonderful to see you. And you as well, Mr. Finch-Fletchley, Miss Granger… I trust you're all in good health?"
He sounded exactly like he was introducing them to the Mayor.
Then he reached Sean.
"Oh! Mr. Green—"
Percy's whole attitude changed in an instant. He knew a few inside details, after all.
"How have you been?"
"Very well, Mr. Weasley," Sean replied.
"That's excellent…" Percy started, but an elbow immediately shoved him sideways.
"The great Green himself!" Fred announced, bowing dramatically while elbowing Percy out of the way.
"Absolutely magnificent," George added, shoving Fred aside and gently taking Sean's hand like it was made of glass. "Truly an honor."