I have a new kitten!

[alt_hannah]

Anne Cadwallader's cat had a litter, and they're old enough to leave their mother now, and so now I have the most darling little grey cat with white socks. I love her so much. She's very active, always batting balls of crumpled parchment around and stalking the dangling tassles of the bed curtains and pouncing on Megan's slippers when we get up in the morning (those pompoms on the slippers are just irresistable). But she's also happy to be a lap kitty when she collapses, worn out from all the play. There's nothing as cosy as a purring kitten on your lap when you're doing revising. I've put out a little basket on top of my trunk for her, but she prefers to sleep right at the foot of my bed.

I'm still trying to decide on a name for her. My roommates all like her, which is a relief. Eloise grumbles that we'll all get cat hairs over everything, but she snuck up a saucer of milk for her last night, so I know she doesn't mind too much.

Comments

[alt_luna]

A grey kitty with socks sounds really sweet.

[alt_hannah]

She really is. Her mummy is grey all over, a rather lighter shade, with no socks. I don't know what her father looks like. It's quite a mystery!

[alt_neville]

Does Cadwallader still have any other kittens left? Because if she does, I might like to get one for my sister Evelyn. She had a cat she really loved, but...well. She doesn't have it any more. She was really upset about it at the time, but I think she might be ready to have another kitten now.

[alt_hannah]

I can ask. It was a large litter, about eight or so, but I think several other people have taken some.

[alt_hannah]

What did your sister name her cat?

[alt_neville]

She named it Fitzwilliam, which was the name of a character out of a book that she liked.

Have you ever read T.S. Elliot's book, 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'? My Gran used to read that to Evelyn and me when we were little. The first poem's about the naming of cats. It said that each cat has three names. The first is sort of an everyday name, and the second is a name that is entirely unique, that particularly describes that cat. But the third name is the name that only the cat itself knows.

I always sort of liked that idea.

[alt_ron]

Why would a possum write a book about cats? Did they get up to adventures? Or fight duels?

I mean to say, practical cats don't sound very exciting.

[alt_luna]

Oh, 'Old Possum' is just a nickname for the poet, I think. It's quite a nice series of poems, very whimsical. Written especially for children. I especially like the one about the Jellicle cats. I always wanted to go to a Jellicle Ball.

[alt_lavender]

Imagine cats, having a ball!

That sounds like the sort of nonsense Muggles used to write.

[alt_luna]

I don't know whether he was a Muggle or not. Is that important?

[alt_neville]

My Gran never said whether he was one way or another.

It may be nonsense, but it's still a lot of fun.

[alt_amycus]

Well, well.

Not unexpected...

[alt_neville]

Um...sir?

[alt_amycus]

No, not surprised in the least to see the sort of muck that fills up childrens' minds in a blood traitor's home. Muggle filth.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_terry]

Neville! Don't answer, whatever you do!

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_neville]

Don't worry, I won't.

Blimey. It's just a kid's poem about cats.

[alt_amycus]

I'll take any that Cadwallader has left.

Might as well put them to good use.

[alt_hannah]

Oh! In, um, Transfiguration lessons, sir?

I'll mention it to her.

[alt_amycus]

Transfiguration. Among other things.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_gredforge]

Ugh.

We trust that Cadwallader will have more good sense than to comply.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_terry]

He uses most of the small animals he gets in his classes.

But not all of them.

You don't really want to know what he does with the rest.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_gredforge]

Eww. We can imagine.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_terry]

No.

You really can't.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_gredforge]

Double ewwww.

Private message to Anne Cadwallader

[alt_hannah]

I'm putting this up so that the Professor will think that I've passed on his request to you. But I hope you DON'T have any kittens left! Or at least none that will go to him! Why don't you tell him that the next time you see him in class?

And you'll have to warn everyone not to mention anything about spare kittens in his hearing. I just hate to imagine what he'd do with them.

[alt_susan]

She really is lovely!

And don't worry too much about the hair, we can always just scourgify if we need to.

I adore Valkyrie, but that's the one downside of owls--they can't really stay in the dorm and be everyday pets.

Private Message to Susan Bones

[alt_hannah]

Oh, my goodness! WHAT DO I DO ABOUT PROFESSOR CARROW READING MY JOURNAL? And throwing threats around???

Re: Private Message to Susan Bones

[alt_susan]

Erm, back away slowly??

And you might want to send a quick PM to Cadwallader warning her that Carrow's been asking about her kittens. That way if he asks her about it in lessons or something she can say they've all got homes already!

Or maybe Professor Sprout would take them down to the village for her.

Re: Private Message to Susan Bones

[alt_hannah]

Oh, that's a good idea. I'll start with Anne.

Re: Private Message to Susan Bones

[alt_susan]

And, I hate to say this cos I think he's a good sort really, but maybe you might not want to talk to Longbottom for a bit?

At least not here on the journals.

Re: Private Message to Susan Bones

[alt_hannah]

He is a good sort. And he doesn't deserve the awful things people say about him, or the way that Professor Carrow treats him. Oh, why can't people just leave him alone?

Re: Private Message to Susan Bones

[alt_hannah]

I suppose I'll say something to him in person. So he won't think I'm snubbing him if I don't reply to him in the journals. I'd hate him to think that.

I suppose--

Oh, bother. I do rather like him. I don't want him thinking that I'm a coward.

It's all a muddle.

Re: Private Message to Susan Bones

[alt_susan]

I'll sound incredibly first-year, I know, but maybe you could pass a charmed note to him through Weasley? No one's cross with him lately, and I don't think they'd notice anything suspicious if you asked him about lessons in the corridor

And honestly, I don't think Neville'd think you're a coward for wanting to steer clear of Carrow--it's for his safety too, in a way, since we all know who else he doesn't like.

I wish the same things you wish, but we don't live in that world I guess. And sine we don't, I hope you don't blame me for caring more about your safety.