A/N: I've looked at all the multi-chaptered fics I've written - all 3 of them - and realized that they all start out with really short first chapters like this one. I feel bad about that so since this one is so short, I'll post it with chapter 2 as an apology of sorts. As always, I thank Pips, my Brit-picker and beta for looking over this story and having the patience to put up with me.
"Crookshanks! Here kitty kitty kitty!" Harry called, shaking a box of treats and pausing hunched over for any noise of the flat faced cat. After a moment he made kissy noises and crept forward a step. "Come here boy! Crookshanks, I'm not gonna - GOTCHA!"
A blur of orange darted out in front of him and he leapt toward the streak, slipping on the carpet runner in the hall. He regained his feet quickly and dove under the high legged couch Hermione had insisted on buying because she liked its clawed feet.
Crookshanks wove his way through the legs, hissing and spitting, his hackles up, his bushy tail looking as though he had been electrocuted. He darted out from under the couch to under the coffee table thinking himself safe. What he didn't count on was an extremely determined Harry who crawled on his elbows toward the coffee table while Crookshanks edged toward the opposite side of the table.
Harry paused and stared at Crookshanks. Crookshanks paused and stared at Harry. Neither moved for a long moment, each staring at the other intently. The tension built between the two as they stared at each other neither daring to blink. Harry's fingers twitched against the floor, Crookshanks paws tensed in anticipation. A dust bunny tumbled lazily between them in the silence.
"There you are!" Hermione swooped in, picked Crookshanks up and deftly deposited him in his carrier.
Harry slumped, knocking his forehead against the wood flooring of their flat.
"Harry. Why are you on the floor under the couch?" Hermione asked bending at the waist to peer down at him.
"I almost had him!" Harry sighed then sneezed. "You would not believe the size of the dust bunnies under here."
"I believe it," Hermione replied wryly, walking around to the back of the couch to eye the delectable sight Harry's bum presented. "Come along, we're going to be late for our portkey and we still have to drop Crookshanks off at Tonks and Remus's."
Harry scooted out of the couch covered in dust which Hermione siphoned off with her wand. "This was a great idea you know," she murmured, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his lips softly.
"I know," he replied smugly with a grin.
"It's not often you have ideas, but when you do they're usually great," she added, a hand slipping down and patting his bum affectionately before slipping out of his embrace.
"Oi! Not funny!" Harry replied indignantly.
"Face it Harry. You're a sports whore," Hermione teased walking over to the fireplace.
"Let me say again: not funny!" he replied joining her by the fireplace with Crookshanks' carrier. A ginger paw reached through the door and gave him a half hearted swat. "I did decently on my N.E.W.T's!"
Hermione gave him what seemed to be a pitying look that reminded him that she not only scored the highest in their year but blew test scores out of the water of the fifty preceding years as well. "I still love you though," Hermione grinned. "The House of Ill Repute!" she called out tossing down her handful of Floo Powder before he could respond.
Harry grumbled and followed. "We men have to stick together Crookshanks otherwise she'll rule us all."
Forgetting their rivalry for the moment, Crookshanks mrowed in a showing of male solidarity
"Who'm I kidding? She already does. The House of Ill Repute!" Harry called out tossing down his handful of Floo Powder.
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