Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 496, Section 494: Banban's Secret

Chapter 496, Section 494: Banban's Secret
After Ron chased after him, Harry quickly followed him and ran outside the store.

Because Neville was standing at the very back, closest to the door, he inevitably became the first wizard Ron pushed out the door.

The three of them quickly disappeared into the crowds of Diagon Alley.

"I'm so sorry..."

The witch, wearing thick black glasses, hurriedly bowed, picking up the ginger cat as she did so.
"It's really strange, though. Although no one has adopted it and it's been here for a long time... it has never done anything so extreme."

The witch muttered.

She looked at the three young wizards who had disappeared into Diagon Alley, and then, as if she had thought of something, muttered a few words to herself.

Sheen and the other two could vaguely hear the words "rat" and "lived too long".

"What's the name of this cat?"

Hermione suddenly asked.

"Oh, dear, it has no name. The name was given by its owner, and it has never had a single owner."

"The witch said."

Can I buy it?

Hermione said happily.

"That's wonderful, darling!"

The witch's face shone brightly.

"The cat is nice."

Justin chuckled as he spoke, glancing furtively at Sheehan.

"Of course, cats are great."

Hermione paid quickly.

When Harry, Meghan, and Hermione returned, they saw Hermione tightly hugging the large ginger cat.

"You bought this monster?"

Ron's mouth gaped open as he asked.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Hermione said.

Harry thought, "Everyone has their own opinion."

The cat has fluffy, soft ginger-yellow fur, but its paws are noticeably pigeon-toed, and it has a gloomy expression with a strange, persimmon-like face, as if it had once run headfirst into a brick wall.

Now that Scabbers were out of sight, the cat contentedly purred in Hermione's arms.

"Hermione, this thing almost ripped my scalp off!"

Ron said.

"It didn't do it on purpose, did it, Crookshan?"

Hermione said.

"You've named it? Merlin, so quickly?"

But... what about the freckles?

Ron pointed to the small pouch bulging out of his breast pocket.
"It needs rest and relaxation! How can it relax with this thing around?"

"That reminds me that you forgot about your rat stimulant."

As Hermione spoke, she placed the small red bottle into Ron's hand.
"Don't worry, Crookshan is sleeping in my dorm, and Banban is sleeping in yours. What's the problem?"

Poor Crook Mountain, the witch said it stayed there for a very, very long time, and nobody wanted it.

"That's really strange."

Ron whispered sarcastically to Harry.

After Hermione bought the pet, the group headed to the Leaky Cauldron.

It was almost noon, so they decided to have a big meal first, and then buy their new textbooks and supplies.

Harry, Ron, and Neville walked in front, talking to each other, while Sheen, Hermione, and Justin lagged behind.

"Ron said that mouse belonged to his brother?"

At this moment, Justin asked calmly.

"Ah."

Hermione responded.

“That’s really strange. I heard from Ron that Percy had that mouse when he was very young…”

Justin said in confusion,
"Sheen, do you know how many years a garden mouse can live?"

Sheen paused, glancing quietly at Hermione and Justin.

Before he could speak, Hermione answered first:
“Didn’t the shopkeeper witch say that a garden mouse only lives for three years at most?” Hermione tilted her head back, grabbing Crookshanks’ paw. Crookshanks had practically clung to Sheehan since spotting him.
"It might not be a garden rat, but something like Crookshanks, which has cat shrew blood and can tell good wizards from bad ones."

After Hermione finished speaking, she still couldn't hold Crookshanks back. The ginger cat jumped onto Sheen's shoulder and lay down, as if wrapping Sheen in a thick scarf.

"you're right."

Justin agreed, but when he silently looked at Sheehan, his expression suddenly underwent a subtle change.

With his view blocked by Crookshanks' raised tail, Sheehan slowly thought about how Hermione and the other two were almost able to discover Peter's secret.

Come to think of it, the Weasleys and Peter shared a bed for twelve years and never noticed anything unusual about Scabbers?

We've been traveling together for about twelve years, and I never knew that Banban was Peter...

Break the Cauldron Bar.

Sheehan spotted Mr. Weasley sitting at the bar reading the Daily Prophet.

"Mr. Green."

He looked up, smiled, and said...

"How are you? And you, Harry? Of course, and all of you, guys?"

“Very good, Mr. Weasley.”

Sheen said.

After exchanging greetings, the group, carrying their purchases, sat down next to Mr. Weasley.

Mr. Weasley put down his newspaper, and Sheehan could see the picture of Sirius Black staring at him.

"Haven't they caught him yet?"

At that moment, Harry asked nervously.

"No,"

Mr. Weasley looked very serious.

"The ministry has transferred us all from our normal posts and is going all out to capture him, but so far there has been no progress."

"Is there a reward if we catch him?"

Ron asked,
"If only I had more money—"

“Don’t talk nonsense, Ron.”

Mr. Weasley said that up close, he looked very nervous.

"It's impossible for Black to be captured by a thirteen-year-old wizard."

Remember my words, in the end, it will be those Azkaban guards who will bring him back.”

Just then, Mrs. Weasley walked into the bar, carrying bags and bags of groceries.

Following them were the twin brothers Fred and George—who would be starting their fifth year at Hogwarts; Percy, who had just been elected president of the boys' council; and Ginny, the youngest and only girl in the Weasley family.

Percy, meanwhile, solemnly extended his hand to the crowd, as if they were complete strangers:

"Harry, it's a pleasure to meet you."

It was also a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Finley, Miss Granger...

Are you all doing well?

As Percy shook hands with everyone, he pretended to say that it felt like they were being introduced to the mayor.

“Oh! Mr. Green—”

Percy's demeanor changed significantly when he reached Sheehan.

He does know some inside information, after all... It's not hard to analyze...

How have you been lately?

“Very good, Mr. Weasley.”

Sheen said.

"That's good……"