Crookshanks

**Crookshanks** was a half-Kneazle, half-cat in the *Harry Potter book series*. He was the pet of Hermione Granger. He was very intelligent and perceptive, figuring out that Scabbers was a person was in disguise and couldn't be trusted. He could communicate with Animagi.

## Biography

### Prisoner of Azkaban

#### Adoption

Crookshanks lived at the Magical Menagerie for some time because he couldn't get adopted.Hermione Granger eventually visited the shop intending to purchase an owl. While she looked around, her friends Ron and Harry Potter took Scabbers to get checked out because he looked ill. Crookshanks saw Scabbers and knew he was an Animagus so he pounced and chased him, causing Scabbers to run away. Hermione decided to purchase Crookshanks instead of an owl when she heard how long he had lived there.

In September, Hermione scrapped Crookshanks into a basket on the train to Hogwarts. When let him out even though Ron asked her not to, Crookshanks headed straight for Ron's pocket where Scabbers was. Ron kept knocking Crookshanks away until the cat gave up. He sat in an empty seat but kept an eye on Ron's top pocket. Neville Longbottom later nearly sat on Crookshanks when the train stopped and a Dementor appeared.

In October, Crookshanks caught a dead spider which he took to Hermione in her common room and chewed up. She congratulated Crookshanks for a successful hunt. Ron asked her to keep him away because Scabbers was sleeping in a bag. Crookshanks heard and stared at Ron. He eventually pounced at the bag and Ron grabbed it but Crookshanks clung onto it and tore into it while Ron was swinging it around. Scabbers fell out of the bag and was chased by Crookshanks. George Weasley nearly grabbed Crookshanks but he kept chasing Scabbers who was hiding under a chest of drawers. He began using his paws to slash at Scabbers but Hermione grabbed him by the neck and took him away. Ron was very upset at what happened.

Crookshanks started staying outside Ron's dormitory at night. Harry opened the door and caught him trying to get in. He dragged Crookshanks away and nudged him down the staircase, telling Crookshanks Ron was right about him trying to get Scabbers. He kept having to pull him back down the staircase when he was in the common room for a few hours.

In December, Crookshanks was lying in front of the fireplace when Harry, Ron and Hermione spoke about Sirius Black. On Christmas day, she brought Crookshanks to Harry and Ron's bedroom wearing tinsel. Harry thought he looked grumpy. Ron put Scabbers in his pocket but soon jumped at at the pocket and tore into it. Scabbers escaped up to Ron's shoulder who kicked at Crookshanks. He knocked a trunk down causing Crookshanks stopped when he heard the Pocket Sneakoscope within it shrilling.

#### Helping Black

By spring, Crookshanks was helping Sirius Black. He was wary of trusting Sirius at first but soon understood that he was a good wizard and Peter Pettigrew was a bad wizard. He spent a while trying to get Peter for Sirius but kept failing so he decided to help him get into the school. He snuck into Neville's dormitory and stole his list of passwords. Sirius broke in and nearly caught Scabbers but woke up Ron who started screaming. Due to the situation, Peter decided he had to disappear. He put his blood on a pillow so it looked like he got eaten by Crookshanks.

Crookshanks told Sirius that Peter had faked his death. A while later, Crookshanks saw Scabbers return to Ron near Hagrid's Hut. He started walking toward them which Scabbers realised. He started running away but Crookshanks pursued him. Ron started running after them in an effort to save his rat. Ron grabbed Scabbers and put him in his pocket. In disguise, Sirus appeared to help. He grabbed Ron who was dragged into the Whomping Willow. Crookshanks helped Harry and Hermione placate the tree by slithering through its branches to tap the knot on the trunk. He slid into the gap in its roots, walked along the passageway underneath until he reached the Shrieking Shack.

In a room upstairs, Crookshanks sat on the bed. Sirius had Ron trapped with Scabbers.

## Appearance

Crookshanks was a huge and ginger bow-legged lion-like cat who had thick and fluffy fur, bushy tail and yellow eyes. He looked like his face had been banged in by running into a wall, causing him to look grumpy.

## Notes and sources

1. ↑ J.K. Rowling's website - Section: Extra Stuff - Crookshanks
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 19
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 4
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 5
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 8
6. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 9
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 11
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 17