Kat

Edited 13/04

Enjoy the chapter :)

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Jace slowly sat up, realizing that he was lying on a bed, but it wasn't his own. Confusion clouded his thoughts as he scanned his surroundings, trying to figure out where he was. This was definitely not his home.

Jace stood up and headed towards the door, intending to find out where he was. However, just as he reached for the doorknob, the door swung open from the other side, revealing George, the elderly man from the store. George's expression was one of concern as he looked at Jace.

"Hey Jace, are you feeling alright? Did you drink alcohol or perhaps something else?" George asked, his tone filled with worry.

Jace realized that he must have ended up at George's house somehow and he felt reassured. He knew that George was a kind man who meant well. "No, I didn't drink any alcohol. Why do you ask though? And why am I at your house?" Jace inquired, feeling puzzled.

"Are you sure? Don't feel embarrassed, I won't judge you." George asked for confirmation.

Jace looked at George skeptically. "Yes, I am. Can you answer my questions though?"

George visibly relaxed after that. "It's reassuring to hear that. I found you sleeping in my backyard. I was extremely worried when I saw you and brought you inside. Can you explain what happened?" George asked.

"Huh? How did I end up there? Wait, it must have been stupid Alexander. I'm sorry for worrying and bothering you George. Yesterday, I made a new acquaintance whose name is Alexander. He thinks must have thought it would be funny to place me in your backyard while sleeping," Jace explained.

George was taken aback by the revelation. He knew an Alexander who had a tendency to play pranks on others, and he briefly wondered if Jace was referring to that guy. He concluded that there was a very high chance for them to be talking about the same person since Alexander was known to pick up muggle-born wizards. He didn't want to ask Jace if he knew about magic though because, in case they weren't talking about the same person he'd have to obliviate him.

"So, this Alexander guy left you in my backyard? Well, I'm glad you're okay, but you should probably let him know that his sense of humor is lacking," George casually commented.

"Anyway, while you were sleeping, I made some ramen for you. Eat up, it'll help warm you up," George said before leaving and coming back with a bowl of steaming Chinese-style wheat noodles.

After properly thanking George for all the things he'd done for him, he left.

Jace trudged through the rain, walking back home despite George's repeated offers to drive him. Jace was stubborn, insisting that he preferred to walk. In the end, George gave him an umbrella and assured him that he was always available if Jace needed anything.

As Jace made his way towards his house, he suddenly spotted a cat running towards him, pursued by two kids who were trying to catch it. Jace would have normally ignored the situation and continued on his way, but something compelled him to take action. He grabbed the cat and patted it gently.

After a moment the two kids were in front of him. "This is our cat," the bigger-looking child stated.

"I don't think so. But if you want to try and take it, be my guest," Jace replied casually, unfazed by the two boys who stood before him. They were only 12 years old, and he had no fear of them. Jace knew that if they tried to attack him, which he doubted, he could easily handle them.

The two kids tried to persuade Jace with their words while Jace just stood in front of them, unfazed. The two kids eventually gave up and spat on the ground in frustration before leaving.

'Just as I thought,' Jace thought to himself, as he watched the kids leave. With a sense of satisfaction, he continued on his way toward his home, knowing that he had done the right thing.

After a few minutes, Jace arrived at his house and unlocked the door. He gently placed the cat on the floor, still unsure why he had felt compelled to rescue it, but he knew he couldn't just abandon it now. As the cat wandered around the room, Jace realized he would need to figure out how to take care of it and provide it with food. Nevertheless, he was determined to make it work.

Jace knelt down to get a closer look at the cat and checked its gender, discovering that it was a female. He furrowed his brow, trying to come up with a name for her. After a moment of contemplation, he smiled and decided on the name "Luna." It seemed fitting for the mysterious cat that had suddenly entered his life.

The cat however didn't seem impressed and looked at him disapprovingly.

Jace then proceeded to give the cat another name. After getting the same result he tried again and again. He finally gave up after trying out hundreds of different names.

Jace expressed his frustration out loud, exclaiming, "Gosh, I never knew that naming someone could be so difficult." He felt justified in his frustration as he had tried numerous names for the cat, but none seemed to stick.

Jace felt defeated. "You sure are a stubborn cat." The cat meowed happily in response to Jace's defeatist comment, which surprised him. It was the first time the cat had meowed happily.

Jace's expression turned thoughtful as he looked at Kat. "No way," he murmured.

"Cat?" he mused. The cat meowed again, and Jace was delighted. He took the cat in his hands and said, "Finally, a name that you like! It's going to be weird if I call you by your species though. Hmmm. How about cat with a 'K'? It sounds the same but it's less weird. Kat" The cat meowed happily in agreement.

"Alright, it's decided. I hereby name you Kat," declared Jace, feeling a sense of intense success. "Welcome home, Kat," Jace said softly as he put her down and stroked her fur. Kat purred in response, and Jace couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and companionship. He knew that taking care of the cat would come with its challenges, but he was willing to give it a try. With a determined nod, Jace set out to make Kat feel at home in his house, excited about the unexpected bond that had formed between them.

Jace proceeded to show Kat the living room first. However, when they reached the living room, Jace immediately noticed a change. On his late father's couch, where Alexander had sat before, there was now a tall stack of books. He also noticed the staff that had supposedly chosen him the day before, with its lower part inside his late mother's favorite cup. Jace was speechless and furious, unable to comprehend what had happened.

After calming down from the unpleasant surprise, Jace walked to the table where an envelope was placed. He didn't even bother checking who the sender was, as he already knew. He cut it open and started reading the letter that was inside, eager to uncover the truth behind the mysterious turn of events.

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"I want to start by apologizing for my outburst and throwing you out in the rain. My temper got the best of me, and I regret it now. Let's talk about your presents. The books I left you are all you'll need for your first year at Hogwarts, plus a few extras I thought you might enjoy. I'm sure the faculty at Hogwarts will assist you in acquiring any other necessary items. I got you the books so you could get a head start on your studies. You are free to use magic in your house as I have set up arrays to help you avoid some of the problems you might have faced otherwise. However, I wouldn't recommend it. Instead, focus on the books and catching up with your more fortunate peers who were born with access to magic knowledge. You'll have plenty of time to learn how to cast spells at Hogwarts.

P.S. When the staff from Hogwarts comes to introduce you to the magical world, try to hide our encounter.

P.S.2 The staff has additional abilities other than invisibility. I'll disclose one to you since I am so kind. If you touch the staff, you can wish for it to change its shape and colors to whatever you want. However, there are limits to its size and shape. You can make it a ring or something for easy carrying, but be cautious as you won't be able to use it in its transformed shape."

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