Using teleportation magic, Maurise returned directly to the Ship in a Bottle.
This spell was undeniably convenient. He lay down on the living room sofa, stretched lazily, and pulled the Mandrake leaf from his pocket. He stared at the little green leaf for a few seconds before stuffing it right back in.
Never mind, he would torture himself with it in a few days. Or perhaps, he could invent a spell to glue the leaf firmly to the roof of his mouth.
"Tin?" he called out to his pet cat, but there was no response.
Instead, Cinder, who was perched on a nearby stand, squawked twice.
"You are saying he went out to play?" Maurise paused, then waved his hand dismissively. "Whatever. Cinder, come here, I need a pillow."
---
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the castle, Tin was busy hosting a gathering with his animal friends. As the undisputed overlord of the Hogwarts feline underworld, he naturally had no shortage of lackeys.
Tin sat perched atop a large rock. Directly below him, six cats sat neatly in a row. Practically every cat in the school was present. Even Argus Filch's beloved Mrs. Norris had not missed the meeting.
'Excellent.'
Tin scanned the assembly with profound satisfaction. He did not know when the students of Hogwarts had suddenly started a trend of keeping cats. But no matter who fed them during the day, they all eventually bowed to him at night.
'Hah, foolish humans.'
Looking down at his feline subjects from his high vantage point, Tin felt an unparalleled sense of gratification. Normally, he was thoroughly suppressed by Cinder, constantly forced to endure that stupid bird's bullying. It was only during moments like these that he could claw back a shred of dignity and feel like a true boss.
Suddenly, a dark silhouette intruded upon his vision. It was a massive black dog, slowly approaching from a distance.
Tin became instantly alert. As everyone knew, cats and dogs were natural enemies. His six underlings turned in unison, staring at the slowly approaching shadow. Two of them even bared their fangs and began hissing softly.
"Meow."
At that moment, the ginger cat in the lineup let out a soft cry. Translated from feline, it meant that the dog was not an enemy, but a friend.
'A friend?'
Although slightly suspicious, Tin lowered his guard. After all, this ginger lackey, named Crookshanks, was one of his most trusted and intelligent subordinates. He would not spout nonsense.
Soon, the black dog arrived at the base of the rock. Only then did Tin get a clear look at the newcomer. The beast was massive, nearly the size of a bear, yet it was absolutely filthy. Its fur was matted and severely clumped. It was also frightfully thin, looking thoroughly malnourished.
"Meow? (What are you doing here?)" Tin demanded haughtily. He displayed the full majesty of a king, remaining entirely fearless even though the other party was several times his size.
The black dog raised its head but remained silent, turning instead to look at Crookshanks.
Crookshanks stepped forward and meowed softly. Translated, it meant: 'Boss, he is here to pledge allegiance. He wants to be your lackey.'
Tin froze.
What? A dog? A dog wanted to be his lackey? Was that not highly inappropriate?
At this very moment, Sirius felt an undeniable wave of absurdity wash over him. Yes, the true identity of this giant black dog was none other than Sirius Black.
He had been trying every conceivable method to find allies to help him catch that wretched rat, Peter Pettigrew. This was highly likely to be a prolonged war of attrition. Enlisting the help of animals would not attract anyone's attention, making the cats of the castle the indisputably best choice for intelligence gathering.
Sirius smiled bitterly in his heart, meeting Tin's scrutinizing gaze. This cat was not simple. It was obvious that the creature's eyes were not clouded like those of ordinary beasts; instead, they gleamed with a sharp, calculating intelligence.
Tin paced back and forth in front of Sirius. Finally, he nodded and let out a light meow.
'Fine, you are in.'
What did cross-species matters mean to him anyway? Being a loyal lackey was not bound by race or breed.
Now, it was time for serious business. Tin shook his head, and a miniature pouch dropped from his collar to the ground. Instantly, all the cats turned their attention to the pouch, their eyes brimming with sheer longing. Even Crookshanks was no exception.
Sirius was completely bewildered. What was this about?
He watched as Tin pawed at the pouch and retrieved something with his teeth. It was a magic wand.
Sirius's eyes widened in utter disbelief. Who on earth could have predicted this?
Tin smugly flicked the wand in his mouth. Immediately, the tiny pouch expanded until it was the size of a large rucksack. He stuck his paw inside and began pulling things out: several large bags.
Sirius was completely dumbfounded. Was that an Undetectable Extension Charm?
"Meow!!"
The six cats cheered in unison and rushed toward the bags, giving Sirius a jolt. He leaned in closer as well, only to realize that large words were printed across the packaging: Specialty Pet Food.
Tin calmly tore open one of the bags with a claw. Inside were meticulously crafted dried fish and premium jerky, each piece emitting an incredibly tantalizing aroma.
Yes, this was the "serious business" he had referred to: dinner time. Although he himself was an undead creature and did not need to eat, his lackeys did. This was also his greatest capital for recruiting subordinates.
"Meow!"
At Tin's command, all the cats began to feast wildly. Tin's tail swished gently, his eyes filled with smug pride. He had begged his master for a very long time to get these treats.
(Note: At the time, Maurise had been extremely confused, completely unable to understand why an undead cat wanted premium pet food. However, since it was his own pet, he simply let him have his way.)
Tin noticed that Sirius was merely sitting on the sidelines, quietly watching without partaking in the feast. Was this new recruit refusing to give him face?
Tin Can roared fiercely at him, "Meow!"
'Eat! Why are you not eating? What are you staring at?'
Sirius immediately stepped forward. Without hesitation, he lowered his head and began wolfing down the food in large mouthfuls. Compared to the garbage he usually relied on to stave off starvation, this premium pet food was a rare delicacy.
Tin was highly satisfied. Now that this dog had eaten his food, they were officially family.
After the sacred dining ritual concluded, Tin led his posse of lackeys on a swaggering patrol around the school grounds.
The sky gradually darkened. As dusk fell, Tin received a recall order from his master. Cinder fluttered down from the sky and squawked twice at him. Undead creatures shared a unique telepathic connection, allowing Cinder to easily pinpoint his location.
Tin bid his underlings farewell, preparing to depart. Cinder had offered to give him a lift, but he adamantly refused. Cats were meant to walk honestly on the ground, not fly through the air.
The little gang disbanded on the spot, and the cats scattered in different directions.
Just as Sirius was planning to return to his own hideout, he suddenly noticed that his newly acknowledged boss was not heading toward the castle. Instead, the cat was trotting in an entirely different direction.
He hesitated for a moment before quietly trailing behind. As long as he could secure a solid bond with this "leader," his chances of catching Peter would increase exponentially.
Before long, Tin arrived at the edge of the Black Lake and came to a halt. The moonlight spilled across the tranquil surface of the water, and the night breeze blew gently, stirring up faint ripples.
Hiding behind a tree, Sirius watched as Tin crouched by the lake, unable to suppress his confusion.
What was the cat doing? Catching fish?
...
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