Come Together KeeperPawsoffme Chapter 10

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Mae

Half of KeeperPawsOffMe

Draco Black returned to Hogwarts he hoped a different person and if he was honest with himself he wasn't sure which would be worse entering Gryffindor House for the first time or facing his father. Draco stood outside the door to his new house and tried to screw up his new found Gryffindor courage; The Fat Lady smiled encouragingly at him and said, "It'll be fine dear, A tad uncomfortable at first but it will get better, I promise." Draco thanked her for her pep talk and stepped through the door.

Every head in the common room looked up and stared as Draco entered through the portrait hole, he froze momentarily and it reminded Hermione of his cat form. Trying to remember the sweet kitty he had been Hermione smiled at him and nodded. Draco smiled and continued into the room. Harry stood and walked toward Draco, "Black," he said looking Draco up and down, "It seems that we are oddly related now. My godfather has taken you back into the family and you have changed your name, Sirius is a good man and I trust his judgment.", Harry extended his hand "Welcome to Gryffindor House, Black and welcome to the family." Draco smiled "Thank you Potter. I wasn't sure how I would be received here, after all two weeks ago I was a Slytherin and a Malfoy."

George; or was it Fred Draco could never tell, looked up from his book and said, "If the hat put you here then there is a reason."
The other twin continued, "Our room is the third one up the boys' staircase. I'll show you where the house elfs stashed your stuff. It's gonna be kinda tight with six of us in there but it shouldn't be too bad." Both twins rose from the couch and showed Draco to the dorm. Draco looked around and noted that the boys' rooms were not as light and airy and bright as the girls' dorm had been but maybe it was because the room was full of boys and not girls. Draco smiled as he set up his belongings.

Draco Black had never considered himself a coward but it took him 2 weeks before he had the courage to speak to Ginny and Hermione. He had acknowledged them and greeted them but he couldn't bring himself to talk to them until that moment.

He walked up to them in the common room and sat down across from them.

"Hermione, Ginny may I speak with you two for a moment please?" he asked.

Hermione looked up from her book and again just for a moment could see the kitty he had turned into she sighed and said, "Sure, Mal- Black what do you need."

Draco looked at Ginny who nodded and he continued, "I just wanted to thank you both. You two had no reason to be nice to a stray cat, and I appreciate it. Becoming Cof, a cat had only happen to me twice before when I was much smaller, and Mother had always been around to help me come back to myself. I want you to know I behaved myself while I was a cat and your treatment of me helped me start to change my way of thinking. Your kindness helped me realize that what I was spouting wasn't my thanking it was what my father had taught me to say. Thank you."
"Draco," said Ginny "You were a good kitty. Does he have a name?"
"Who?" asked Draco.

"Why the kitty." said Hermione

Draco blushed, "Well the first time it happened I was about 4 or 5 so I called him Coffee since he looked like the coffee my nanny would have in the morning."
Ginny smiled, "Coffee is a good name for him. Do you want to go get your books and study with us?"
Draco nodded and grinned then ran up to his dorm to grab his bookbag.

The second semester of the school year went by quickly. Draco settled into his new life with more ease then he expected.

Professor Quirell became odder and odder in his behavior. He started to mumble to himself in class. Fred and George had fun at the poor professor's expense whenever the poor man went outside they had spelled his turban to be attacked by snowballs. The poor professor became more and more withdrawn until one day he wasn't at the staff table for breakfast.

Professor Dumbledore said that sadly Professor Quirell had become ill and would no longer be teaching at the school. A professor would be procured by Monday of the following week but until then there would be no DADA classes,

Ron met up with his friends later that evening and asked if they had heard the latest rumor about Professor Quirell. It seemed he was at St Mungo's to the incurable wing. He was spotted by Prof Snape and Prof Dumbledore wandering the third floor corridor talking to himself he said he was talking to The Dark Lord who was on the back of his head. He wanted to know how to get past the three headed dog on the third floor he needed to get into the room.

Prof. Dumbledore said he would show him how if he came with them to see Mdme Pomfrey. Percy was up in the hospital wing with a migraine and he said there was nothing there when they removed Quirell's turban but the poor man would talk then pause and answer whatever it was he was hearing. Percy said it was pretty scary. But since the professors were busy and he stayed still they either thought he was asleep or they had forgotten he was there. Percy got to watch the whole thing.

Neville, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George all looked at each other

"You don't think" started Fred

"Our snowballs hurt him" continued George

"Do you?" they both finished.

"Oh don't be silly." said Ginny "he was just nuts. We all knew this since the first day."
Everyone nodded feeling a little better and started to study,

A few days later Harry, Ginny and Draco were walking past the main door of the school and noticed Dumbledore speaking with a very elderly wizard. The trio heard the last part of the conversation before the elderly wizard left "Thank you for keeping that safe while Nelle and I were out of the country, Albus. We will have to have you over for dinner once school is out for the summer"

Ginny and Draco's eyes became huge as they quickly walked on their way.

"What?" asked Harry

"Honestly Potter," said Draco rolling his eyes, "don't you ever pay attention in all your schooling?"

Harry just looked at Ginny for an explanation.

"Harry," she said sounding very exasperated, "that was Nicolas Flamel"

"You mean, The Philosopher's Stone, Flamel? Really, cool! We can tell out grandkids we saw him." said Harry
Ginny leaned over to whisper to Draco, "Ya know Coffee sometimes he is just so thick headed."
"You are so right, Red" agreed Draco following her into their next class.

"Hey!" said Harry, "We have no idea what they were actually talking about you know. Dumbledore could have been babysitting his teacup yorkie for all we know." Harry gave his two friends a solid glare.

"Did you see a dog?" demanded Ginny

"Not me, but you could always ask the cat." said Harry side stepping the swat Draco was aiming at him.