"Brr... so cold..."
Even with the thick clothing consisting of a puffer jacket and a sweater underneath, the biting cold still made Aurora shiver. Christmas was just around the corner, a holiday celebration that gathered her small family together in one place.
Her grandparents would be visiting this year instead of them going to the farm. Hence why her mother had instructed her to go to the supermarket to get ingredients. The Gryffindor girl traced the list with her numb finger again, making sure she didn't miss anything. Puffs of frozen breath flew out of her mouth as she sighed softly. "I hope Granny brought those delicious apple pies..."
The sky had started to turn yellowish-red behind her. Cars passing by on the street added to the hectic atmosphere of the city, people rushing home to their loved ones or getting ready for their night shifts.
Aurora took a deep breath and closed her eyes to really feel the moment. She missed this. The loud noises, the smell, the sight. Don't take it the wrong way, her life at Hogwarts had been good. She had gained lots of good friends and met an interesting cast of characters, but she belonged in the normal world. The world she grew up in.
While she waited for the pedestrian light to turn on, the girl felt the strain of the plastic bag's weight in her hand. As she was about to switch it to the other hand, she heard a soft meow. Looking down, she saw a small red tabby kitten pawing at her plastic bag, as if asking, Is there anything in there for me? And despite the cold weather, her heart melted.
The girl knelt down to the cute creature, cooing softly at it. "Hello there, little guy!" She had always been a sucker for animals, especially cats and dogs. Her fingers scratched under the kitten's chin and behind his ears, and he eagerly sought the warmth of her hand.
"Aren't you a handsome boy?" she giggled as she lifted him up to face level, eye to eye with his wide yellow eyes, blinking slowly and curiously. One of his paws reached out and batted at her short bangs that had recently been cut. "Do you like my hair?" she asked playfully, as if the cat could understand. "Well, I think you're the only one who liked it."
The cat meowed when he was put down. He immediately chased after her hand again, not wanting to part from the warmth. "Well, it is cold... Where's your mama?"
Looking around, she couldn't see any trace of a mother cat or siblings that the kitten might have. He meowed as if to answer. "I don't know if I could take you home... my mom's more of a dog person..." she grumbled, and the cat let out a low, disappointed mew. A few other passersby looked at her in concern as she kept on talking to herself.
"I know. How awful to not love cats and dogs equally, right? But she's a nice person, dont worry" She continued scratching him while rambling as she figured out her next course of action. On the other hand, it would start to snow soon, and if the small kitten was left alone in the cold, who knew what would happen?
"Alright. You're coming home with me." She smiled and placed the orange cat inside her puffer jacket, providing him with warmth.
Aurora grinned. "You're gonna love spending Christmas with me."
