"Definitely! I've already gotten a head-start on the scarves, since those don't really need measuring in the same ways, and I usually do this subconsciously while I do my readings. If I really need it I also learned a spell that would do part of it for me while I need my hands for something else. I'd probably only use that if the cold hit early. I can knock out a hat in an afternoon if I don't have anything else going on, so provided no one wants any really fancy designs I should be able to get all these knocked out before the cold sets in mid-way through October." Hermione said with a smile on her face. "I do really need to thank you guys for making me find a hobby besides my reading. Knitting has really helped my nerves."
"Alright kiddos, lunch has been paid for. Your cauldrons should still be good, so I guess our first stop is the stationary shop right?" Andromeda said, coming out of the Leaky Cauldron with Daphne's mother.
"Sounds good." Harry said, everyone nodding and picking up their bags. Andromeda had made some temporary storage enhancing bags for everyone, they would only last the day, but would mean that they wouldn't need to carry around heavy books and supplies in their arms.
Shopping went smoothly, with brief stops for people to check out specific stores of interest as they came up. Susan spent a good deal of time admiring the new Firebolt broom in the Quality Quidditch Supplies store, but knew that even if she had it, she'd throw up riding it. Daphne cleaned up rather nicely in the Potions supplies store, acquiring a good number of ingredients to make many types of potions. When Harry asked what she planned on making, Daphne replied with a rueful 'You'll see.'
The day eventually reached its conclusion with their final stop before they departed for home, the same shop tha Harry had purchased Hedwig in, the Magical Menagerie. Entering the building, the five children were bombarded with a cacophony of sounds and smells, with Owls hooting, Parrots squawking, mice squeaking and even what seemed to be a two headed dog barking. Walking up to the counter, Hermione spoke to the woman at the till. "Excuse me miss, I was hoping to buy a cat to take with me to Hogwarts, can my friends and I meet some to see if I can find one?"
"Oh, certainly dear. I'd be happy to let you. Come, I keep all the kitties in the back room here, keeps them from attacking the birds up front. The owls hate their feathers being ruffled by some of the more playful youngsters." The woman said, as she led the gathered adolescents into a back room that, sure enough, was full of cats of various shapes and sizes. "Take your time! If you find one that takes enough of a liking to you, or you it, bring them up front and I'll ring them up for you."
"Thank you miss!" Hermione said, as the woman closed the door, leaving the children alone with a room full of felines. "Well Luna, are we starting the interview process?" Hermione asked, as she took a seat cross legged in the middle of the floor.
"Yes we shall. Excuse me kitties, if there is anyone here who would like to go home with this girl with the bushy hair, please make your way inside this circle! We want to make sure that we bring home a good friend today!" Luna said, and all the cats in the room made their way to sit in the middle of the circle the friends had created. "Ah! So many! Shame we can't take you all! Well, let's start the questions!" Luna clapped.
Harry was once more amazed at the ease in which Luna could conduct herself in seemingly bizarre situations, but the younger girl simply took being an interviewer in stride, working with Hermione to find what was important to her in a pet, and asking the cats what was important to them in an owner.
After about half an hour of questioning, which had been very odd to hear one side of, there were only a few candidates left that had matched all of Hermione's desire in a cat, and that believed that Hermione would be a good owner for them. "Well Hermione? Any of these guys strike your fancy?" Luna asked, waving her arms towards the gathered cats there.
"Ooh… I don't know. I can't pick! All of them are so nice." Hermione said, looking at the three who remained.
The largest of the group was not one Harry would say was traditionally cute. He had a very flat squished face, and was a large orange fuzzball who looked desperately in need of a brushing. He had introduced himself as Crookshanks, and was the oldest of the cats in consideration. Apparently he had been here for over a year, and people didn't typically look at him as an option due to being kind of ugly. That had made Hermione sad, and she had hugged him and said that she thought he was very cute.
The other two cats were nearly identical, as they were from the same litter. They were both thin, young kittens, with gray fur and white stripes. The only thing that really distinguished them was that one had a solid coloured tail, while the other had striped along hers
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.