Every Guy has a Soft Spot for a Cat

Draco, did you really have to show us your collection of potato chips that resemble Professor Snape before we left?" asked Harry.

"You looked like you needed a morale boost before we left," Draco said. "Besides they're very dear to me."

"I can tell," said Harry. "They must be if you keep them locked up in a gold encrusted chest like that."

Pansy trudged through the dark behind them scowling. "Why are we in the Forbidden Forest?"

"Atmosphere, my lady," said Draco. "Atmosphere."

She glared at him. "You know...when you said 'Down to business' I assumed you had some sort of plan."

The blonde laughed, brushing a hand against her arm. "Oh Pansy, you know I don't plan ahead. I'm spontaneous. We'll just have to play it by ear."

"We could have thought up some sort of strategy in the room!" she snapped. "We could--"

Draco rearranged his robes. "Nope, it's too late now."

"No, it's not! We could--"

"No! It's too late!"

There was an awkward pause as Pansy made a move for her housemate's throat while Harry performed some sort of act that one would hope was an attempt to stop her, although it could very well have been an attempt to assist her.

Draco had no notion that any sort of mutiny was in progress. He merely strolled along ahead of the tussle.

Whatever Harry's motives, Pansy was eventually successful at tripping their rag tag leader.

Draco gave a disgruntled "oof!" as his face met a particular portion of dirt that he had rather expected to be under his feet.

"Hello ground," he muttered.

Harry helped both Slytherins to their feet. "This is ridiculous," he said. "What are we even doing?"

"Saving HB the Fourth!" Draco cried.

"We should just go back to bed."

The blonde gasped. "Treacherous fiend! And I thought you cared!" He sniffled.

Harry looked pained. "I do, but--"

Draco grinned. "Good! Let's go!"

He pulled out a necklace and held it up in the moonlight.

Pansy took a break from wiping dirt off her robes and contemplating murder to squint at the object.

"What is it?" she asked.

Harry didn't like the look Draco had in his eyes.

"A time turner," replied the blonde.

"Why?" Harry inquired. He knew the dangers of time travel, especially when it involved the mentally unstable.

"Our quest."

"Draco, put it down."

Draco blinked. "We need it."

"Why?"

"Time travel."

"Why would we need to travel through time to find a cat?" asked Pansy.

Draco shrugged. "I dunno. Plenty of stories contain incredibly lame and baseless reasons for time travel...why not do the readers a favor and not have any reason at all?"

"Readers? What readers?"

The blonde chuckled nervously. "Nothing! Um...let's go!"

He wrapped the chain around their necks. "Hm...perhaps three turns will do it?"

Harry's eyes widened. "You mean you don't even know how to work this thing?"

Draco laughed. "Yeah...about that."

Whoosh!

Pansy kicked Draco in the shin.

"Ow, that hurt!"

"Don't just fuck around with time travel, you idiot! We could die!"

Draco sighed and patted her on the head. "Pansy, don't exaggerate. You could die. I'm far too attractive to die like that."

Harry dragged the infuriated Slytherin aside. "Pansy, calm down. It's Draco. You should know better by now. You can't expect him to be anything other than a complete and utter moron...no matter how much you want to strangle him until his pretty little head pops off...gorgeous blonde hair and all...you have to...you have to..."

"Harry, you're squeezing me really hard," she said," and comfortable would not be the word I would use to describe it."

Harry stepped back. "Oh right. What was I saying?"

"You were explaining how I should be patient with Draco and refrain from terminating his meaningless life?"

"Ah yes..."Harry muttered. "Do that."

Pansy looked up at him for a moment.

"What is it?"

She smirked. "Nothing."

"No really?"

She pulled a strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, it's just...Draco was right. You do have the sexiest green eyes."

Harry felt his ears go red as she spoke. "Oh...thank you," he mumbled.

Pansy rolled her eyes and walked back over to Draco who seemed engrossed with a leaf.

"Draco," she snapped. "Do you even know where we are?"

"Of course, I do," he said, still staring at the leaf. "The Forbidden Forest."

She gave an irritated sigh. "Do you have any idea when we are?"

He brightened up. "Oh! No...I don't."

Harry was beginning to wish he had studied more for that test on healing spells.

Pansy raised a finger and seemed about to speak when she froze.

"I hear something," Harry hissed. "Everyone in the bushes, quick!"

Draco sniggered.

"No dirty jokes involving the word 'bushes', please."

"Oh poo."

A pale figure broke into the clearing, screaming like a little girl.

Harry watched in amusement. "Hey Draco, isn't that you our first year? Remember when we had detention, and you got scared and ran off?"

"I was not scared!"

Eleven-year-old Draco curled into the fetal position and began to sob.

"Right," said Pansy. "Real manly."

"I don't like this game anymore," Draco sniffled. "Let's go."

He smiled suddenly as he wrapped the chain around his companions.

Harry and Pansy exchanged worried looks.

"This time...I've got a plan!"