I groaned as my sleep was interrupted by the sound of a toothbrush swishing in a mouth. My fox ears picked up the sound more easily, and it raked the inside of my ears. I quickly transformed into a human and my hands fell onto the plush white carpet. Gilderoy doesn't allow me to sleep on the bed. Trust me, I've tried. I sleep on the carpet instead. I gave up fighting on that a while ago, but it would be nice to have some human decency. I groaned and stood up. My arms and legs stretched out to their maximum and my body to a starfish pose. I wiggled my fingers and my arms and legs tingled as my body jumpstarted itself. Something felt off... I looked out the window. It was almost pitch black and the normal bird chirping was non-existent. I checked the clock. 6:00 am!? I peered at Gilderoy in the bathroom. "Why so early?" I moaned. He shrugged, made some incoherent noises, and pointed at the toothbrush and sink.

I sighed and headed to the closet and decided on a pair of blue jeans, a white tank top, and a comfy sweatshirt. My clothes consisted of a few pairs of each respectively and some other accessories. It wasn't much as I didn't have any money and was a fox a lot of the time, but Gilderoy got me enough to get by. I put on the jeans and slipped into the tank top. Then I slid the sweatshirt over my head and let the hood stay up. The water stopped running. I turned my head to look at my Master. He headed towards me with a grin. He put his hands on my shoulders and said, "I got a new job!" I gawked. This man? A new job? But he was so rich already from all of his books about his adventures and he already seemed happy with his current position. "A teacher!" he exclaimed, "At Hogwarts!" My jaw dropped even lower. Besides a new job, a teacher? This guy? He didn't seem the teacher type.

I thought of the poor students that would have to endure his annoyance and over-zealous attitude just like me. "I- How- What?" I was so confused.

"I was offered a teaching position at Hogwarts, as Professor Quirrel's replacement for Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! Isn't this wonderful? You and I will spend this year at Hogwarts- me as a new teacher and you as my loyal assistant. How does that sound?" We both knew it wasn't a question. I was coming whether I wanted to or not. I didn't have anywhere else, or anyone, to go to.

"Sounds wonderful." My voice dripped with sarcasm though I doubt he noticed - he never does.

"So today, we will be heading off to Diagon Alley to gather some supplies. Obviously, you will come with me. If you'd like, you can pick out a little something for yourself, too." Wow, he never let me do things like that. He must be in a superb mood, more than normal at least. "Right then, off we go." He opened the door and ushered me out.

~~~

I was waiting. Lockhart had dipped into a small store selling a variety of wizarding necessities. He told me to wait outside for him while he picked up some items. My paws hit the ground with a light thump as I paced, waiting for him to return. I peered inside, through the window, and saw Gilderoy talking frantically with the man with a charming smile. He clearly was trying to coerce this man into giving him a celebrity discount. I rolled my eyes and hopped down from the windowsill. But when I touched down, I could feel a deep rumbling. Not a good kind of rumbling. It was a grumpy, out-of-control sort of rumbling.

I strained my fox ears to hear whatever was incoming, and I wish I didn't. Little kids. A lot of little kids. Screaming and running. Chaos filled Diagon Alley as this herd of kids, probably around ages 6 to 10, started streaming down the alley, straight towards me. "Look! A fox!" One of them yelled. Oh god. I was petrified. All of them came running at me at once to look at the itty bitty fox which could so easily be crushed by their menacing feet and boogie-covered hands. The kids created a circle around me, all pushing and shouting to get to the center to look at me. It was an awful spectacle and I felt like I was the tiny carnival-won goldfish simply accepting its fate in a fishbowl way too tiny.

One of the monstrosities reached down with two hands, that had definitely been inside a nose recently, and grabbed me around the waist. The slime and grit stuck to my fur. Gross. I don't think he meant to, but he squeezed me harder than my little body could handle. I shrieked and bit him. If I shifted into a human here everyone would know mine and Gilderoy's secret, so that wasn't an option. He started crying and involuntarily flung me across the alley, and I'm pretty sure I heard a loud crack. The kid cradled his hand. I hadn't even made a dent! Wuss.

I shifted my weight and stood up on shaky paws and slowly made my way over to the shop where Master was, but I realized, I could not find it - I was lost. So, I started circling, trying to see where I came from. I panicked. People ran by with large trolleys, owls circled overhead, everything was bustling and busy. I backed up into the corner and the little heart in my chest pounded. My thoughts raced with turmoil: how would I get home, what if I never saw Master again? What then!?

"Why hello there again Nat," a familiar voice said from behind me. I yelped, surprised, and jumped back. I looked up to see a kind face, Harry, looking down on me and I chirped happily. "Awh, you're hurt. Poor thing," he frowned. He reached out a gentle hand, picked me up, and cradled me against his chest. He must've done his research and found that Gilderoy has a pet fox, Nat. I nuzzled my head into his arm. "Hagrid, look at this!" he called out to a man.

The man turned around. He seemed familiar. I think he was at Lockhart's signing; he helped break up the fight between the redhead's father and Draco's father. I chirped my hello. "Why lookie ere!" he exclaimed, "My my, what a cutie. What er name be Harry?" He was very tall and very large. His face was covered with a long and frizzy beard, and he had a full head of the same hair. He was pushing a large trolley with heaps of books, a wand, and a little cage with an owl. I hissed at the owl, and it flapped its wings and squawked. I smirked inwardly. My fox instincts were acting up again, and I had to get them under control.

"Aye, be nice," the big man pointed a gentle finger at me. He twisted his hand and opened up his palm. I stood up in Harry's arms and attempted to transfer to his hand, but I stumbled and fell on to his arm. "O my- it's hurt!"

"Yeah, I was going to ask if you could help me help Nat?"

"O course Harry!" he gingerly picked my up from below my shoulders and cradled me. I licked his face.

"Heya Harry!" Ron and Hermione emerged from around the corner.

"Aw, look who it is!" Hermione interjected. "Hello, Nat." She cooed and scratched my belly. I winced a bit, but I don't think anyone noticed.

"Arright Harry, let's get this little feller to Madam Pomfrey to heal er up." He placed me on his trolley on a pile of blankets and I snuggled in. The noise of the crowd had died down, and I suddenly remembered Gilderoy. He was probably worried, and I should get back to him soon. I looked around frantically as Hagrid and the others were chatting and saying goodbye. Harry seemed to stay with Hagrid, who turned around and started pushing the trolley, me along with it. I squealed in protest- I had to get back to Lockhart! "I know, little one, we will get ya fixed up right soon." I looked around, trying to spot a familiar person, shop, anything! But alas, nothing. Just the cloudy sky and the distant rumble of children- those petty children. I huffed and settled down into the blanket, defeated. All I remember is my eyes closing and slipping into darkness...