Crookshanks

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 93550

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "smtopliff" <topfor at a...> wrote:
> 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?

Marianne:

I have to say I hate the idea.  Not because of the evidence you're 
lining up, but because having James or Lily suddenly appearing from 
cat-form into themselves is like a magician pulling a rabbit from a 
hat.  I'd feel cheated if JKR resolves some of the mystery simply by 
saying "Voila! James (or Lily) has been here all along as 
Crookshanks!"

smt:
> 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. 

Marianne:
I don't know that Scabbers' identity is particularly important at 
this point.  Crookshanks is a feline. And, he's acting very feline-
ish here.  Had Scabbers been a garden-variety rat, I think 
Crookshanks may have acted the same.

smt:
> 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.

Marianne:
Well, perhaps Crookshanks, cat-kneazle or not, has been there so long 
that the shopkeeper despairs of ever getting rid of him. As to why no 
one has purchased him, he's not described as the most comely feline 
on the planet. I've volunteered at animal shelters for a number of 
years and my experience tells me that the good-looking, cute dogs and 
cats have a much better chance at adoption.  Crookshanks is not the 
eptiome of feline beauty - he's staying on the shelf.

Plus, I'm not sure how Crookshanks' apparently long stay at the store 
has anything to do with whether he's James or Lily.  Are you 
suggesting that he has acted up before, trying to dissuade people 
from purchasing him on the off-chance that he will someday be picked 
up by Harry or one of Harry's friends?
 
smt:
> 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.  

Marianne:

In the Shrieking Shack Sirius says that it took a while for 
Crookshanks to trust him and for them to be able to communicate.  I 
think this damages your theory, for surely if James or Lily were 
somehow stuck in Crookshanks body, they'd still recognize Sirius.  I 
do agree that Sirius/Padfoot and Crookshanks do seem to have 
developed a high level of communication. Perhaps we're just supposed 
to accept it as part of kneazle behavior. 

Marianne