Cat-naps and Daydreams

Ch 3

Harry Potter belongs to us all. All profits from Harry Potter belongs to JKR.

121

01/01/93

When Harry trotted into the Medical wing, Hermione was sitting ,under the window at the end of the Wing, at a table set with a full English for two. Harry nodded to Poppy in her office, as he strode to sit opposite of his best friend.

"You said something about explaining last night?" Harry scooted close to the table.

"Last night." She licked her lips, "You did something...unwise." She sipped from her cup, working hard not to lap. "Not calling it stupid, because no one could have known what would happen when you did what you did." She looked into his dark green eyes, "Do you know what you did wrong, and why it is wrong?"

"No." Harry flashed his 'sorry grin' at her, "But I am willing to learn."

"You have had pretty much the same classes as I in primary school, correct?" at his nod Hermione continued. "As I am nine months older, and female, my body has began changing in ways yours has not. With the Potion incident, I have changed yet again." she ducked her head a bit, before looking back at him, "With me so far?"

"I think so." He frowned, "between you becoming a woman and a cat…"

"Yes." She reached for his hand, which he offered in return. "Now, due to our closeness level; good friends, but having just met fifteen months ago…" She swallowed, "My inner cat has chosen her Tom."

Harry blinked.

Twice.

"Soo... I am your Cat's choice for a mate." Harry swallowed, "That explains why Kitty was pawing at me. But not why you would not stop."

"The toy." Hermione sighed, "You gave me a drugged toy mouse. Do you know what catnip does to a cat?"

"Not the details." Harry frowned, "but the cats at Miss Figg's seem to like it."

"Within minutes of my first inhale of that toy," Hermione grinned at her 'mate', "My human mind was stripped of its control. Because of where I am on my cycle, my body decided to entice our Tom."

"So, you attacking me, as a Queen does a Tom when…" Harry spoke slowly, his eyes wide.

"Yes." Hermione spoke quickly. "Had you been older, you might have been enticed, and we would be having a very different conversation."

"Hermy." Harry, swallowed, "Seeing as part of you has chosen, and I would like to show my support…" He inhaled deeply, let it out, and took another deep breath, "Will you be my Girl?"

Hermione blinked slowly.

Twice.

"If this is…" the threat burning her tongue and lips.

"Just that you claim to be on the fence about Us, I thought a good shove…" he chuckled at his train of Puns, "And the odds are in my favor that you will say Yes."

"Just as long as you do not through a shoe at me." She grinned back. "Yes, Harry. I will be your Girl." She frowned, "And do Not call me Hermy."

121

01/09/94

The Express hurled through the countryside, its enchanted track aiding in it's speed towards it's destination. The students of the train had no idea what happened in the last car, third compartment. Even the students in said cabin had no idea what happened.

Dobby sealed the door, and crouched by 'Harry Potter Sir's leg. 'No, now Master Harry!' the now bonded elf silently squeed.

Slowly, the three of them awoke…

''Did anyone get the number of the Lorry?" Harry groaned

"No, but I think it got everyone." Hermione whined.

"What lorry?" Luna simppered.

Harry snorted, "It was a muggle reference. I was asking what hit us."

"Oh!" the blonde smiled, "That was you bonding with the elf…" she blinked, then cocked her head to the left. "Oh Dear, You did more than bond the Elf… you completed the bond with your familiar bird, Your beast-girl companion, and I think I am seeing a winged horse…"

The soon to be fourth years stiffened. "Beast-girl?" Harry asked

"Yeah. Mostly seeing her slicing at shadows with her claws, face shrouded, but ears and tail flickering…" Luna shook her head to clear the 'dream' from her 'sight'. "What you should be worrying about is your bird."

All eyes turned to Hedwig...a pile of white feathers sprawled on the bench…

121

14/04/93

Harry was pissed.

Hermione had been attacked…

Only her cat reflexes had saved her… but not the Seventh year Prefect that had been walking her from the Library to the pitch. Hermione had snapped her eyes shut, just before seeing the yellow eyes of the Snake. Penny was not so quick. Freezing in the larger girl's arms, Hermione was able to play statue, long enough for the snake to lose interest and return to it's lair.

Quidditch was canceled for the time being. (Oliver Wood was pissed about that)

Hermione was questioned by McGonagall and Dumbledor about what happened…

But that was the extent of that. Now class groups were escorted by teachers from class to class.

That night, in the 'Lion's Den' , Harry was very attentive to his Girl… to the point of telling off Ron.

"Come on Harry, a nice quick game of Chess will take your mind off it." a shit eating grin on the redhead's face did not help him control his rising fury.

"Listen to my words; Take your chess board elsewhere, before I shove it up your bloody arse, ya wanker." Harry hissed, "I spending tonight with Hermione."

"Why, what she got that I don't?" Retorted Ron.

"My Girl had a fright," Harry grated through his teeth, "As her boyfriend, it is my duty and privilege to comfort her, and cuddle her. Now Piss off, and Maybe, tomorrow we can do something." he then turned his back on the redhead, and cuddled with the bushy brunette.

They were together maybe five minutes before McGonagall burst into the common room. "Prefects to me!" Six students scrambled down the stairs...interestingly only one came down the girl's side stairs. "Are any students missing?"

This sent the six back up the stairs, as they did a bed check, and compared it to who was in the common room. Three minutes later Percy quick-stepped down the make side, "All boys accounted for, Professor."

"We seem to be short a first year, Ma'am." the Seventh year prefect, the one who came down the girl's stair the first time. "Miss Weasley, I believe. " she swallowed, "Please say she is in the Medical Ward."

"Would that I Could, Luv." The old Scot paled, before turning to Percy, "Gather your brothers, you're comin' with mea."

"Why?" Percy paled as well.

"A new message from the Heir. 'Her bones shall forever lie in the Chamber!'"

Hermione clutched at Harry, burying her muzzle in his neck. She stayed like that until the Redheads had all followed the Headmistress out.

"Now Harry, think." she hissed. "Yes I know you are thinking of going after her. I am going too. Just where are we going?"

Harry stilled, as his mind raced…

'...chamber last opened fifty years ago…'

'...a girl died, Hagrid was blamed…

'...all the attacks happened within a hallway from the same spot…'

'...a spot known for a ghost of a girl who died fifty years ago…'

"Hermy, what if the girl who died here fifty years ago, never left?"

"Don't call me Hermy!" she swatted his arm, "What are you thinking?"

"Need something from my trunk, come with me." Taking her hand, he led her to his dorm, his trunk. With a quick and practiced snap, the silver misty cloak settled about their shoulders, and together they quick stepped out of the dorm, out of the common room, and out of the Tower…

Outside the girl's loo, the floor was dry. Shrugging the cloak off, they slowly entered.

"Hello there Harry." the very ghost...er girl they were looking for

"Hey Myrtle." Harry grinned at her, "I am sorry to ask, but It has become important for us to know; How did you...die?"

121

(An hour later)

Albus poured another three fingers of Fire-whiskey into Molly's glass. The drink had turned her into a sodden and sopping mess, but it was better then her 'Raging Harpy' mode. She bolted the golden amber, burned a gout of flame, just before collapsing into her husband's chest, her tears renewed...yet again.

Suddenly, Fawx flamed into the office, carrying three students. Harry Potter, in a ripped robe and his muggle wear, Hermione Granger in a stained and slimed robes hold… Ginny Weasley, very pale and shaking.

"Mister Potter! Miss Granger! The great Scot witch drew herself up, "What… How… ?"

"Professor, Mediwitch first, yell at us second." Harry stepped back as Molly swamped the girls, engulfing them both in a hug." Looking at Arthur, "Sir, did you buy Ginny a diary this Last Summer? Either of you?" He held up a torn and ripped book.

"No. As much as we would like to, we never had the money, and Ginny never trusted her brothers enough to try and keep one...before." the balding wizard sighed, hugging his present eldest son, Percy.

"So where did she get it?" Harry asked.

The door to the Office was flung open as Lucius Malfoy strode into the Office. "I have you now you old fool. The loss and Death of the Pureblood girl…"

"Which girl, Lord Malfoy?" asked Albus. "What are you talking about?"

Poppy pushed her way through the redheads, to get to her charge, wishing her wand, with every step. "Possession damage, soul burn. Oh you poor girl, let's get you to a bed in the Ward." her wand flicked over Hermione, "You too Miss Granger, You and Potter will be spending the night with me." She stood, floating the girl at her knee, as she led everyone but the Headmaster, Governor, and Harry from the Office.

"Ask and you shall receive." Harry muttered to Fawx, before noticing the bundle at the Lord's feet. "Dobby?"

The elf squeaked, as the Lord prodded it heavily with his toe. "My Elf interest you, boy?"

"Very much so, sir." Harry locked eyes with the father of his rival. "I came across this rare object, this evening." he held the book up, showing the undamaged side, "heard by way of your son, that you … collect items of this sort."

"What sort?" Luci snarled.

"Rare, impossible to get… dangerous in the wrong hands." Harry raised the book a bit higher, flashing the gold embossed spine. "Trade you for the Elf. "

Malfoy licked his lips, his eyes darting between his elf to the book, "Done. Give it here." he thrust his hand at the boy.

"Release the elf first." Harry countered, "I will bind it, after our trade." Harry was playing on Dobby backing his play, once freed from the blond wizard.

Malfoy snarled, before grabbing a glove, "Dobby, I free you." he threw the glove across the elf's face.

Harry felt the bond snap, so he nodded, and passed the book over. Albus went to stop the trade, but Malfoy was quicker, snatching the black diary from Harry's hand.

Malfoy's smirk of Victory slowly died, before he turned the book over, seeing the hole and black ickor crusting the other side. "You tricked me!" he threw the book down, as he went for the snake head of his cane… only to freeze as the point of Harry's Sword appeared under his nose.

"Yes, I did." Harry spoke calmly, "But how did that book end up in the hands of an eleven year old girl? A relic of that Power? Take your glove, and be gone."

Malfoy snarled, and snatched at his cane head again, only to be nicked by the sword tip. The wand he drew from the cane, fell from nerveless fingers, as the whole arm went dead. His blood burned. "What did you do to me?"

"I defended myself." Harry held the sword before him, showing the rubies, "With the blade I used to kill the bloody big snake that book released on the school."

At that Albus stunned and stasis charmed the lord. Before tripping a lock-down of the school wards. "Harry, I need you to confirm, you saying that it was a Basilisk?"

"Yes Sir."

"Shit! Okay, sit right there, I have a floo call to make." Albus stepped to the fireplace, a pinch of powder, and he vanished in a burp of green flame.