The commitment

Harry was a little nervous as Hermione pulled him into the building. The two of them had been together for a few years now. They had gotten together when Ron left them alone on the horcrux hunt and had truly opened up and become a solid unit when they had gone to Australia and found Hermione's parents. The two dentists had been rather upset at first but had quickly forgiven their daughter, then had decided to stay in Australia finding they preferred life down under.

Harry and Hermione had returned to the UK for their final year of Hogwarts, Harry hadn't liked the idea of being away from Hermione for so long so had turned down the offer from the auror office. Ron had of course jumped at the chance to be an auror and with just Hermione Harry had focused more on studying and had done well. After Hogwarts the two had moved in together while pursuing their mastery's

Now Hermione had decided that they needed a commitment, she hadn't asked for a ring, or a baby or anything that Harry could honestly say was unreasonable. No the bushy-haired love of his life had decided to expand their family in a much more insidious way. They were getting a pet.

Hermione wanted what she had taken to calling a fur baby. It was a pity they couldn't just go claim Crookshanks from the Weasley's but the cat had settled in there now and had become used to rambling around the countryside. He wouldn't be fit to be a house cat in the city anymore.

"Oh Harry look at this one, isn't he cute!" Hermione called as she gave a snowy owl a pet.

Harry shook his head. "I don't think I could have another snowy," Harry said quietly and immediately Hermione was by his side arm around him, offering the unconditional support that was a hallmark of their relationship even before they started dating.

Harry didn't want to dwell on the past so quickly led Hermione deeper into the magical Manasury. They passed two-headed snakes that Harry had a laugh as they were all arguing with themselves, three-eyed ravens that could apparently see the future, and snails that grew gemstones on their shells. None of them seemed to fit and then they found the cat section.

Harry had really hoped that they could get something other than a cat but seeing Hermione's eyes staring to sparkle with joy as she saw the fluffballs melted any resistance he may have had.

The magical cats could apparently be trusted more than mundane cats because all of them had no doors on their cages. Hermione didn't rush to the cages fuss and pet the cats like Harry expected instead she shot him a pleading look and when he nodded she had them both sit in the middle of the floor.

"Why are we sitting on the floor, love?" Harry asked confused.

"Because Harry it's not just us who needs to like the cat but the cat needs to like us. We wait here and we see who comes to join us. That way we get a new family member who wants to leave with us." Hermione explained.

Harry was sceptical but he couldn't bring himself to say anything about it. Hermione had been under a lot of stress recently, her apprenticeship was getting a little ruff the master she had found was being a hard ass and making Hermione review the basics if the discipline, things Hermione had down perfectly since her third year at Hogwarts. It was driving Hermione nuts who took it as an insult to her ability and a waste of her time. A waste of time she was paying for.

Seeing her smile like this for the first time in weeks had Harry prepared to give her anything she wanted. They sat there for ten minutes with nothing happening and just as Harry was going surest a different approach a young-looking tabby cat jumped from her cage and came over to give them a sniff. Hermione tried to give her a scratch behind the ears but the cat had walked away and jumped back into their cage. Obviously rejecting the couple. It seemed they were in for a bit of a wait.

Harry tried not to be offended he really did but after the fifth cat had rejected them it was hard not to feel slighted. Hermione was even more effected than Harry. After the first two rejections she had started to draw in on Herself and she was leaning into Harry for comfort.

"Oh, are you two still back here?" The shopkeeper was standing not far away a cat carrier in her hand. "I thought you had left a while ago."

"We were seeing if any of the cats would come to us but had no luck." Answered Harry.

"Ah well, that is often the best way with magical cats. Let me try something." And she opens the door of the cat carrier spin her hands and set it on the floor before stepping back. "Shadow here was just returned to us. He didn't get along with the family that adopted him. Something about a house full of kids and chaos. You don't seem like the chaotic type so maybe he will be a better fit for you."

There was a minute of silence while they waited until a cat that was as black as a void stepped out of the carrier and curiously made its way over to Harry and Hermione and gave them a cusps sniff.

"I'm looking for someone who would like to snuggle us as I read. Someone who loves lazy ear scratches and pets. Is that you?" Hermione asked.

The cat cooked it head to the one side as though it was thinking for a second them suddenly just leaped into Hermione's lap and curled up to sleep. Hermione let out as quiet eep of delight, Leaving Harry to smile at the shopkeeper and say. "I think that means we'll take him"

Hermione carried the fluffy patch of night out of the shop in her arms rather than in a cat carrier and the cat seemed to enjoy this arrangement, Harry not so much. Because Hermione was cuddling her new furr baby Harry was left carrying everything else. Cat food, Toys, Flee treatments, Food and water bowls and of course a litter tray and magical cat litter.

When Harry had seen the magical cat litter he grabbed it straight away the self-cleaning Magical it that would last a couple of months more than made up for the premium that it cost. Only needing to switch out the litter three or four times a year was definitely something worth dropping a few extra galleons on.

Harry looked at the smile on Hermione's face as she cooked at the little creamier curled up in her arms and he couldn't help but picture a baby in the place if the cat. That stirred feelings of longing inside of Harry. Sure he wasn't ready for that Yet, he didn't think either of them were. But now that their family had grown a little maybe it was time to start thinking about another step. A real commitment. He glanced over at the jewellers across the street. And even though he couldn't make any of them out from this distance his eyes tracked to the tray that he knew contained engagement rings. He smiled to himself and thought I'm definitely gonna have to come back soon, the only question is should I buy a ring and then ask or ask and let Hermione choose a ring?