Crookshanks

[capehoneysuckle]

No: HPFGUIDX 89031

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "watercolor_stain"
<watercolor_stain at y...> wrote:
<snip>
> Has there been any speculation that Hermione's cat Crookshanks is 
> perhaps a secret Animungus? I put forth this idea in a conversational 
> group, and was resoundly dismissed.
> 
> But as I was re-reading the OoP, there were a couple of times when I 
> wonder why JKR made Crookshanks the focus of a scene (i.e. 
> Crookshanks notices the "I will not tell lies" scar) and
> Crookshanks was also the one who outed Wormtail PoA.  
> 
> In the HpaSS when Hermione first purchased Crookshanks she made 
> mention that the shop keeper said that Crookshanks had been 
> there "for ages" and the cat is described in such away one
> would think that he is much older...hmmm.
> Thank you~watercolorz

I am afraid I am unable to locate the old posts on this subject, but I
think it was suggested that Crookshanks might be part Kneazle.

FB: "A small catlike creature with flecked, speckled, or spotted fur,
outsize ears, and a tail like a lion's, the Kneazle is intelligent,
independent, and occasionally aggressive, though if it takes a liking
to a witch or wizard, it makes an excellent pet. The Kneazle has an
uncanny ability to detect unsavoury or suspicious characters and can
be relied upon to guide its owner safely home if they are lost.
Kneazles ... can interbreed with cats."

It seems that Kneazles are different enough from cats in appearance
that Hermione or the shop owner would have known if he were a full
blooded Kneazle, but it is possible that he is part Kneazle, since JKR
specifically points out the possibility of interbreeding. Crookshanks
seems to be the first to recognize that Scabbers is other than an
ordinary rat and Sirius is other than an ordinary dog. I find no
evidence of exceptional guiding abilities, but the rest of the
description is a bit suggestive.

I don't think there is any suggestion in canon that an animagus is
able to detect other animagi in animal form any better than any other
wizard. The fact that Crookshanks was suspicious of Scabbers first
would be more suggestive that he is part Kneazle than that he is an
animagus in animal form.

Not really strong evidence either way though, I think, and I could be
convinced of any outlandish theory if you have a funny enough story to
present it. (Please?)

Honey