CATastrophe

CATastrophe

File the Second: Die, Potter! Die!

"If you're going to keep him, Harry, make sure he stays in the boy's dormitory," Hermione said, glancing darkly at Draco as he lay in Harry's arms.

Keep cool, Granger. I wouldn't want to go into your dorm.

"Don't worry, 'Mione. I wouldn't want to share him with you," Ron said teasingly, "He is soooo cute." And he began to stroke Draco on their way upstairs to their room. "Aren't you, kitty? Yes, you are a cutie." Draco tried to hit him with his paw, claws outstretched as far as he could, yet Ron avoided it easily. "Look! He wants to play."

Yes, Weasley. Let's play. As soon as I am myself again, I will - "Purr" - Stop it! How can I plan your - "Purr" - painful death - "Purr" - when you're doing - "Purr" - such incredible - "Purrrrrrrrr"

Hermione gave Draco a look of pure hostility, the likes of which he had never earned back when he'd been human. Nevertheless, she followed Harry and Ron into the dorm and sat down on Ron's bed. Harry let Draco down and Ron stopped stroking him, so he could have a good look around.

"Any idea what to name him?" Harry asked. He had been silent all the while, wondering about this and sniffing occasionally. "I thought, maybe -" But he had to stop to sneeze.

"Bless you," Ron said absentmindedly.

Hope it's fatal, Potter!

Draco looked around the room.

Bloody spoiled Gryffindors! This room is much bigger than ours. Wait until I tell my father, what this muggle-loving fool gives his darlings.

Ron stretched out one stroke-promising hand. "Come here. Come here, cutie." Draco hissed and tried to ignore him, as he went on exploring the room. "You're right Harry. He needs a name. What was your idea?"

Harry sniffed and was about to answer, but Hermione was faster. "Draco."

Harry, Ron and Draco turned at her in utter surprise. "What?" Or in Draco's case - in mild shock.

Shit! How does she know?

But she continued looking at Draco with a wicked smile. "Well, look at him. He is vicious and has the same arrogant look Malfoy always has. Maybe we should call him Draco." Draco hissed.

Who do you think you are, Mudblood? You've got to talk with a name like yours. Besides - He let himself gracefully down on his hind legs - I'm not arrogant. I'm simply better than your lot!

Harry and Ron chuckled slightly looking down at the tomcat. Harry, however, had to stop to sneeze again. He got himself a handkerchief and said, "You're right. He looks a little posh. But no innocent animal deserves to be named after Malfoy." Draco narrowed his eyes to small slits.

"He is not an innocent animal!"

Ron chuckled again and stretched his hand out again, offering to stroke Draco, if he came. "One might get the impression you are a little jealous, Mione." Draco got an inward grin and strolled playfully over to Ron, allowing him... to stroke him behind the ear.

Yes, Granger. Beaten by a cat. How does it feel, you scum. - "Purr" - Even like this I'm worth more than you. - "Purr"

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron!" But she eyed the two of them in a slightly suspicious way, while Draco purred pleased. Harry suppressed a quiet laugh at the sight of his two best friends getting worked up about a tomcat and sniffed.

Just then Seamus, Dean and Neville, who had been playing Exploding Snap downstairs in the common room entered the dormitory and looked from the girl in their room down to the cat. Harry immediately began an explanation. "Hagrid found him up a tree. Would you three mind, if I keep him here?"

Dean and Neville shrugged. "It's okay with me," agreed Seamus, "But are you sure you want to keep him? Look at you. Your eyes are red and swollen and you're sniffing all the time. My aunt has got a cat allergy and she looks the same way, whenever a cat is around." Draco's head jerked around. He looked hopefully at Potter.

Finnigan is right!

"I can't have a cat allergy," replied Harry, shaking his head and sniffing in a way very contradictory to his words.

"Yeah. He's totally all right around Crookshanks," Ron agreed

"Maybe," Hermione said thoughtfully, "Maybe it's something psychosomatic."

Ron looked at her in disbelief. "Come of it, Hermione! You're the one dead set on hating the poor little kitty for no reason, not Harry. Honestly!"

Hermione gave Ron an indignant look and stood up from his bed. "Very well, then. Good night to you all. And Harry, you better make sure this thing doesn't sleep anywhere near your head." And with that she swept out of the room. Draco wondered how the huge grin he momentarily felt looked on a cat's face.

This is almost too easy....

As the five boys got ready for bed, Draco's vicious inward smile grew wider with every single one of Harry's sniffs and sneezes.

All the years I have thought about how to get rid of Potter and now.... It's almost too easy, really.

When the boys lay down, Ron gave Draco one last pat, that the tomcat endured graciously, and said, "Time to sleep now, honey." Being an obedient 'pet' Draco laid down instantly, yet only half a minute later he began his play. He began to throw himself around as if finding no pleasant position in which to sleep. Truth to be told the floor was really hard and Draco, being used to silk sheets and fluffy cushions really felt rather uncomfortable on the floor. This made pretending even easier. But as no one really seemed to pay attention to his play, he topped it all off with a miserable sounding meow. And... "Look. He can't sleep on the floor." This was Weasley, of course. "Come here, cutie. You can sleep on my bed."

Urgh! Weasley germs. Thanks, but no thanks!

But he had reached his aim. Harry too was looking at him with mild sympathy.

Yes, I'm a poor little cutie. Potter, you can't let an innocent, defenceless little creature like me being miserable on the floor.

He went over to Harry's bed and looked at him in what he hoped was a pleading way. Yet he wasn't sure about it, not being common with cat mimic. Anyway it seemed to work. Harry's eyes - even more red and swollen by now - got this typical look good-hearted people got, when seeing a baby.

Yeah, Potter. Be a good saint.

He sniffed. "Okay, you can sleep up here." Draco felt triumph rush through his body, especially hearing the way Harry spoke with his nose apparently totally closed. "But stay at the foot end, will you?" And he patted the foot end of his bed and Draco hopped up.

You wish!

He made himself temporarily comfortable on the place Harry had patted.

"Oh my! It almost seems as if he understood you, Harry," Ron said happily, "He is smart."

Yeah, and it took you over four years to notice, you brainless git.

Draco waited, his excitement increasing, as Harry's rattling breath grew steady after several more sniffs and sneezes. When he was sure that his gracious host was fast asleep he stood up and... went over to the headboard. He gave Harry an almost thoughtful look.

It's almost too easy.

He grinned viciously, showing his sharp cat teeth, that blazed as brightly as his eyes in the dark.

Almost.

Then he carefully climbed onto Harry who sighed and sniffed, his mouth falling open in an attempt to breathe, and laid down on the helpless boy's chest, making himself comfortable for a good night's sleep.

Die, Potter! Die!

***