A/N: Hail thee mates; this is an update for Shiver. This is another fluff antic and now I will be off to extend the plot to some degree. And for those of you that have questions and comments, please feel free to PM me or leave a review with your question. I will get back to you once I've figured out all the tiny knots and bolts. Yes, I am just writing what is on my mind. Yours truly, -August. P.S. NEW SONG—The Rumble Strips- Girls and Boys in Love. -love it!

Chapter Two: Of Punch Bowls and Pancake Syrup

A Year Later…

Draco could feel a soft, flat tongue licking his right cheek.

"Mmmm…stop Hermione, I'm sleeping."

He was still half conscious from sleep and turned the opposite direction, eager to overlook her. He felt a light weight climbing over his naked back and moments later he could feel the same tongue licking his left cheek. He groaned and pushed his face straight into his thick pillow, ignoring the nagging licks. While still half conscious--- he questioned to himself why the little brat was awake so early. Usually he and Hermione would awake at the same time; hell she sometimes even slept more than him!

'Meow!' Hermione nudged against his left arm, craving his attention. She crawled onto his waist and pulled at the hem of his shirt with her teeth. Draco sighed and surrendered, knowing he wouldn't get anymore sleep. "Who is the naughty little girl that dares to wake me up at…" His eyes got used to being open and he stared openly at the clock, wide-eyed.

"5 A.M.?!!! Be merciful Mione'!" He yelled at his kitten. The kitten's ears flattened back and she nuzzled her head into his chest. Draco rolled his eyes at this, already used to the treatment. Through the 12 months they've been together, Draco thought he already knew her all his life. They were the best of friends and although Draco hadn't seen her human form yet he didn't care, he could wait.

However, he was quite concerned that she didn't grow an inch since he had rescued her from Fudge. Of course, she was now a pristinely healthy weight and her icey-white fur was always brushed twice a day, but…from the information Draco and Lucius had gathered on her file from Fudge's cabinets, she was only a year younger than him, which means she was 9 years old and yet she still had the appearance of a kitten, it couldn't have been normal. He pondered this for a moment while instinctively reaching his hand out and giving Hermione her morning rub. Hermione mewed delightedly as his fingers stroked her soft stomach, then her furry back, then on top of her head, and then strategically scratched her ears.

"If I didn't love you so ruddy much you'd be hurting right now. You remember that the next time you do this, you unbelievably devilish cat." He scratched the back of his head and yawned--- ah to embrace the day. It was true; his kitten was quite devilish and willful when she wanted to be. When the folk of the land had first seen his choice of a familiar there was disbelief and snickers everywhere he went, but Draco could really care less. Glaring, his kitten hissed back at the crowd and her whiskers twitched from the expression. From then on, numerous events had been occurring around the kingdom to those who had made their snide comments known to the creature. Some people had woken up to find their house floating in mid-air and others had gotten suspicious cases of boils and warts. Draco did not even look at them twice, nor listened to them when they suggested that his kitten had something to do with it, he already knew that she did it. Somehow…

He grabbed a towel off a set of racks that were left there by his servants. He did not need to change because he usually only slept comfortably with his boxers on. Draco looked back at Hermione to see her in back of him, standing closer than he thought. He gazed at her amusingly and picked her up into his arms, "Alright Mione', do you feel like taking a shower today hmm? Huh…your nails look like they need to be re-filed." He peered at her small little claws affectionately and smiled up at her eyes, the large brown orbs pulling him into the deeper depths of her eyes. 'Beautiful' He kissed her tiny nose and carried her into the bathroom.

"Love, I suddenly remembered that today's my 10th birthday, aren't you happy for me?" He teased, stroking her tail from top to bottom. 'Mreowr' She responded, snuggling her head into the crook of his shoulders. "And soon… you and I will be off to Hogwarts together, as planned by mother and father. Do you think it'll be fun? When mother and father explained it to me, it seemed quite a bore. I see no use in going to a wizarding school when I could continue my advanced studies at home." He carelessly stroked at Hermione's fur and she affectionately nipped his thumb.

The tub was soon filled and he took off the rest of his clothes. Not feeling embarrassed at all, he lifted up Hermione and settled himself into the water, with Hermione on top of his chest. Early in their companionship, Draco was amused to find that unlike other cats, Hermione adored water, especially if it was hot. She kept herself in check and bathed twice as much as any cat he's ever seen. He soaped her up and then himself, and used a special wizarding's conditioner on her ivory-colored fur to make it soft and shiny. He rinsed her off with a towel and he then rinsed himself. Brush in hand, Draco carefully styled his familiar's fur until it was soft and frizz free. He then grabbed his 'Selkie Sleek' bottle and sprayed some onto his hair, also styling his own. He suddenly heard a ruckus coming from his closet. Slowly walking away from his mirror, Draco looked down to see Hermione pushing a pair of his shoes out of his closet and a small tie was in between her teeth.

"Oh thank you Hermione, you're such a good girl." He scratched the back of her ear affectionately and clad on his favorite pair of shoes, Black on black dragon hide boots. He gently took the tie out of her mouth and grinned, it was Hermione's favorite tie. The cloth was made out of green silk and had a dragon design on the edge. It knotted around his neck comfortably and could go with any robes that he had. He pulled on a white button up and tied the tie around his neck. He then grabbed a pair of black trousers and walked back to his vanity. He picked out two colognes from his magnificent collection and crouched down to Hermione, holding them out for her to view.

"you choose." She nudged her head at a bottle of Levsers cologne and he sprayed it all over him before momentarily picking her up and walking out of his room.

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"Morning Mother, Father." Draco kissed his mother on the cheek and nodded respectfully at his father before taking a seat. He placed Hermione gently onto the baby-lift seat to his left.

"Ah my darling, your birthday is today! We're going to celebrate it with a ball in favor of your 10th year of age yes?" Narcissa asked, hopeful in not just a ball--- but a humongous one, filled with different cakes and pastries of all sizes, and an enlarged dance floor to fit up to a 1,000 guests. It seemed impossible to do, but leave it to the Queen of Slytherin for half an hour and you've got yourself one hell of a party. "Mother the last time I agreed to your suggestion, I found myself in a room full of nutters and, might I mention... not one of them I knew. I might have not said anything against it last year, but I do feel myself declining this year." He grabbed his cup of tea and sipped it slowly with the gracefulness only managed by a person of nobility.

"Oh c'mon Draco, don't be a spoiled tart. Do it for your mum. My baby's only going to turn 10 once in his life, and I want to celebrate it. Is that so bad?" Narcissa gave her son the puppy-dog eyes and Draco sighed in defeat. "Really…do we…have too?" Draco made a sour face at the thought. His mother nodded immediately, with the same puppy-eyes. Draco hesitantly acknowledged her offer, "Fine...okay I surrender. You can plan your posh party mother, but if i get stalked by another one of your friend's daughters, I'm sicking Hermione on her and trust me when i say, it won't be pretty." He cut off a small portion of his pancake and fed it to Hermione, who happily swallowed it. Lucius at that time decided to stop reading the Daily Prophet and stared over at Hermione, "Didn't we agree that there'd be no animals sitting at the table? Rajara did her part, why is 'She' still sitting here." He sneered at Hermione and looked at Draco disapprovingly.

"Because Dear, Rajara has her own family now and her own cubs. She isn't even living with us anymore! Now come off it, Hermione is not an animal, she is a very competent young lady and she can take care of herself. Isn't that right Hermione?" Narcissa stated, smiling motherly at the little fur ball who was now digging her face into the pile of pancakes in front of Draco. Suddenly out of nowhere, her tail got caught in the front of the jar of syrup and she accidentally knocked it over onto herself. She was now a sticky, dripping mess. Narcissa chuckled at this and Lucius shook his head from side to side, disapprovingly. "Oh Mione', now look at what you've done. We'll have to make you take another bath." He held his kitten above the syrupy mess and called on a maid to fetch him a clean towel. Hermione's cat ears perked up at the sound of the word 'bath' as she licked her paw clean of the sugary liquid.

'Meow'

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On to the ball…

"Hello Prince Draco," and "Happy 10th birthday your highness," Rang from around the room. Draco nodded respectfully at the people and carefully ignored them.

The ballroom was dull, loud, and overpopulated with persons who shared a single mind of intellect. Draco was bored and on the verge of misery, but as crown prince of Slytherin he couldn't very well leave… well he could but why should he leave when everyone else could simple be hauled off his property. He sat on his princely throne and took small sips of his wine, watching the hordes of nobility and elites competing in an invisible game of who's who and comparing the sizes of their manors. Well he was happy that Hermione seemed to be enjoying herself. He gazed at her from his seat and saw her attempting to swan-dive into the punch bowl…and succeeding.

He laughed at the waywardness of his adorable feline, whose white fur had now turned a sopping red. "Come here love. That was very naughty of you." He suggested towards her, wagging his finger. The kitten obeyed, well tried to, but her mop of fur had trouble climbing out of the slick bowl. She kept struggling until an exasperated Lucius came over and grabbed her by the collar did she gain her freedom. Draco chuckled once more, she had the most adorable expression on her face as Lucius held her up by the collar, her lips were puckered and her cheeks were puffed up, like the face of a little girl caught taking out the cookie jar.

"Oh there you are. Thank you father." With a sneer, Lucius dropped the little monster into his young son's hands; It was apparent that Lucius didn't like the mangy creature. He tried to convince his son to take on a familiar that would benefit the Malfoy name but he surrendered after several arguments with his son…really a kitten? He had no doubt that it filled his son's heart with love and also accomplished the role of a companion, but why couldn't his son have picked out a more ferocious beast. A lion perhaps, like Rajara, or a strong stag. Hell he'd even let his son have a terrifying ape. Something with sharp nails, large teeth, a growl not a hiss, but alas…Lucius did admit to himself that he held a soft spot for the creature…a small one…a very small one. "Take her Draco…Just take her."

To those around him, they gave him pitiful looks because who would want to disappoint one's own father--- especially one's own king. But Draco was never normal, heaven forbid; he knew a way out when he saw one. Draco leaped out of his throne and with Hermione nestled safely in the crook of his arm--- he sprinted straight to his chamber. Hermione's sopping mop of fur dripping punch along the way.

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