Megan eventually settled on an ugly tortoiseshell cat. When they arrived, this cat was majestically taking on three opponents. Calmly licked a tuft of yellow fur from its claws.
The volunteer sighed. Put on gloves. Walked in. Grabbed the cat. Separated the fighting parties into different cages.
"This cat," the volunteer pointed at the tortoiseshell complainingly. "Best fighter I've ever seen in my life. When we found it, its hind leg was already severely necrotic. But it still beat several dogs until they howled. Nothing in our center can beat it."
Megan approached the cage. The tortoiseshell cat opened yellow-green eyes. Watched Megan cautiously for a while. Meowed softly and hoarsely.
"Oh, good mood today, Miss Heathcliff?" the volunteer said. Lifted the cage. Moved the cat away from its defeated opponents—those cats were staring resentfully at the tortoiseshell. The tortoiseshell gripped the cage bottom tightly. Stared at Megan.
Megan followed. "It has a name?"
"Just what we call it," the volunteer said. "You know, demon-like creature. Sometimes pitiable... but a lady."
Anthony couldn't help laughing. "Sounds like you have quite a few complaints about this lady."
Megan stared at it. Said, "I think... I feel... she kind of likes me."
She cautiously extended one finger. Pressed it against the cage. Anthony confirmed in that moment—this girl liked high-combat cats. This cat that had fought through the entire rescue center was perfect for her.
The cat came closer. Sniffed her finger. Slowly closed its eyes. Tail hung leisurely outside the cage. Bit by bit.
The volunteer said matter-of-factly, "It's nice to visitors."
"Heath... uh, Miss," Megan clearly hadn't read these Muggle works. "Can I pet you?" As she spoke, she slipped her finger through the bars. Gently touched the cat's multicolored fur.
"Oh, so soft," she said. The tortoiseshell slowly turned. Pressed its head against her finger. Rubbed.
Megan showed a delighted, gentle smile. The volunteer timely opened the cage. Let the tortoiseshell out.
The fourth-year Hufflepuff refused the offered gloves. Reached out to gently stroke this little demon. The tortoiseshell immediately purred comfortably. Closed its eyes. Lay at her feet.
Anthony watched for a while. Saw nothing wrong. Returned to the interaction area to see how other students got along with adoptable pets.
Fred was laughing heartily rolling with a big brown dog. Both hands scratching its head and neck. His afro covered in quite a bit of drool. George held dog food. Jumped around teasing a group of small dogs that stood no higher than his waist.
Several puppies whimpered lying beside a student exhausted sitting in the corner. Looked at him with wet eyes. Made him have to gently scratch their ears.
Several students had already chosen pets they wanted to adopt. Were confirming their numbers with Ms. Howard. Impatient ones had already requested an application process handbook. Were looking at it heads together.
"Adequate living space, healthy food, patient companionship..." this student shrugged. "Too easy. I could have another cat on the way back."
His friend reminded him, "Here. Age restriction. We're not old enough."
The student looked more carefully at suggested terms below. "Wait, also need to prove financial stability. How do we prove that? Invite the rescue center to visit that G-starting bank?"
"Look at this one. We also need to fill out a questionnaire providing information about lifestyle, living conditions, and pet preferences," his friend pointed at the handbook. "Based on class content, if we fill this out truthfully, they'll definitely think we're all crazy."
He pinched his voice high. Said sarcastically in a low voice, "Yes, I live in a castle without electricity. My current favorite thing is a broom. Every weekend I play with the broom for a long time. No, sir, I don't know what cleaning a room means. I never need to do that."
The other person also said, "Why do I want a cat? Ha, because I don't want a toad, and I already have an owl. Wait, don't leave, that sentence really has logic. But I can't explain specifically because I don't want to go to Ahhhhh prison."
They laughed at their imagined scenario for a long time. Finally decided to throw the problem to Anthony. After all, the Professor said if they wanted to adopt pets, find him after the practical activity ended. He was a professor. He always had solutions.
The one-hour interaction time quickly passed. Anthony called out students covered in cat and dog fur.
He couldn't help marveling at how students could make such a mess of themselves in this short experience time. Not to mention those Gryffindors who looked like they wore sweaters, quite a few students had pants and clothes covered in dust. Hair disheveled. As if just picked up from the roadside by rescue center rescue workers. Students accustomed to Scourgify forgot—this meant they needed to carry this state until returning to Diagon Alley.
The volunteer also brought Megan out. Megan smiled gratefully at Ms. Howard.
Ms. Howard asked, "Found a cat you like?"
Megan nodded. The volunteer said with a trace of disbelief, "This young lady is very loved by Miss Heathcliff."
"That cat?" Ms. Howard confirmed.
"Yes, ma'am," the volunteer said. "You really should see it acting cute."
Ms. Howard said firmly, "I don't want to."
Passing the rescue center entrance donation box again, several students pulled out coins Anthony had distributed. Hesitated. Threw one or two in. Coins hit the mix of coins and bills in donations. Made dull collision sounds.
One student threw all three pounds in.
"I can't possibly adopt any," he said calmly. "But this afternoon was really fun. I'm willing to buy a ticket."
Other students held that little bit of money in hand. On the walk back to Charing Cross Road following Anthony, carefully budgeted buying small things.
Some were attracted by pocket books. Some liked non-moving, non-talking chess sets. Others chose the cheapest fridge magnets. Considering they couldn't use them back home anyway, buying the cheapest was very wise. Besides, whether "fridge," "magnet," or the simple one-year-old vocabulary "dog" on stickers—all quite fit this Muggle Studies practice theme.
However, after Anthony bought himself a sausage, the situation became somewhat unmanageable.
Students suddenly realized their professor had more than three pounds. Students originally planning to pool their pounds to buy something nice surrounded Anthony asking if they could exchange Sickles or Knuts for more Muggle currency.
After some dispute, Anthony clutched his wallet. Announced each person could exchange at most five more pounds. He hadn't brought that much money either.
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