Crookshanks

[smtopliff]

No: HPFGUIDX 93448

I have always held the belief that Crookshanks is more than just part 
Kneazle.  I always wondered whether he was the pet of the Potters 
(Lily and James and young Harry).  I have wondered if Crookshanks was 
involved in some sort of Switching Spell the night of Voldemort's 
attack.  Simply put, I wonder if Lily or James is stuck as 
Crookshanks.  Why those thoughts?

First, our introduction to Crookshanks comes in POA when he lept onto 
the pet store counter at attempted to attack Scabbers/Pettigrew. Ron 
gave no indication that this was commonplace--such as a "not again!"  
comment, which leads me to reason that Scabbers has not usually been 
a target prior to that incident.  Hasn't been an issue in SS/PS or 
COS. How did Crookshanks know Scabbers was really Pettigrew?  He 
might have recognized him like Sirius did when he saw the photo in 
the Daily Prophet. 

Second, the shopkeeper at the pet store commented that Crookshanks 
had been there for ages...how come? (p.60 POA) Aren't Kneazles 
favorites of small children and other wizard families?  And why was 
the comment made--if you were trying to sell a cat/Kneazle would you 
make that comment?  NO! You want the buyer to think it's killing you 
to part with such a wonderful pet.  Hmmm.

Third, how come Crookshanks is hanging out with Sirius the dog in 
POA? (p.303)Harry viewed the two of them together when he was gazing 
out the window of his room-- How'd they hook up in the first place?  
Does Crookshanks--and other pets of Hogwarts students for that matter-
- make a habit of wandering the grounds at night?    At the end of 
the book, Sirius revealed that he gave Crookshanks the letter to 
deliver to the Owl Office to purchase Harry's Firebolt.  Even 
assumimg that in the WW animals can communicate on a different level 
than animals in Muggle society, this is atypical of behavior of other 
animals in the WW.  Even owls arent portrayed communicating with 
other species on the level Crookshanks and Sirius the dog did, and 
they understand where to go and what to do when given orders and 
mail.  


Still haven't resolved the "Lily and James came out of the wand in 
the graveyard" issue, but I'm working on it.


Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

smt