#hoglockjim

And the same to you.

Meerr!! [The inky black tomcat yowled up at the Brook family's rear garden door, seated on the icy, flagstone stoop with his tail lashing..  It was bloody cold out here in the frosted December evening, and the cat wanted light, and warmth, and a tin of tuna wouldn't have gone amiss, either.]

Meeerrr!! [What the hell he was doing this far from Hogwarts Castle, away from Jim Brook, was anyone's guess, and a matter that certainly confused Mrs Brook as she finally conceded that the animal outside wasn't going away without an active shooing.  The door swung open just as he'd stretched himself up the antique wood planks and begun scratching, so the cat fell forward into the kitchen as it came away beneath him.]

Mao.. [The tom looked up at the woman above and immediately wound himself about her ankles as she called out to her husband.  After all, it was definitely something to remark on, when the familiar of their estranged son came to call, without said boy along side him.

While they puzzled the meaning and discussed options, such as sending an owl to Hogwarts, or simply apparating to Hogsmeade immediately to check on their boy, Sebastian invited himself further into the house.  It was clear now he wasn't going to see any hospitality from the Brooks before they took action, and he switched his tail in irritation as he turned back toward them, giving an indignant lick to his whiskers.]

Mrrrr...

[The woman had shut the door against the cold when she'd recognized him.  Difficult not to remember a cat with eyes like Sebastian's, even if one only bothered to look in occasionally on one's abandoned son.  Still, he was able to find his own way back out into the garden, after a thorough raid of the pantry.

Mr and Mrs Brook hadn't come quickly enough to a decision about how best to handle the appearance of the cat, so neither had managed to even start a letter, nor either one to leave the house.  How quickly their unmarked corpses were discovered would depend entirely upon the expectations of their friends in this busy holiday season. 

And the same to you, Jim. Merlin knows I'd rather be playing our dear little games than going to the Holmes manor.