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NYT Daily • August 20, 2025
Scabbers, to Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter books
Answer:
PETRAT
Hint:
Ron’s supposed furry friend turns out to be far more than just a misbehaving rodent.
Explanation:
In the Harry Potter books, Scabbers is Ron Weasley’s pet rat—so the answer plays on "pet" plus "rat." The word "pet" is used literally (since Scabbers is Ron’s animal), while "rat" is the creature itself, blending them into "PETRAT." It’s a straightforward pun where the clue hints at both parts of the word.